Time for tea

Todays card is from a Joanna Sheen cd..and I have to admit..I can't remember which one. Never before has my mind thrown me such a blank..lol. It is I think from Janet Kruskamp..The Collection. I promise that I will check later. I said to Sparkle this morning, I think that I'm all carded out this morning. The past week has been hectic, and I feel quite worn out. But I'm sure that with a bit of slow crafting this afternoon..I'll get back to normal.At least I hope so..lol The fan at the bottom of the card is a diecut from the Signature Range from Joanna Sheen. I just love the Signature die range..they just cut so well. I resent paying my hard earned money on a fabulous looking die that doesn't cut cleanly. You then telephone the company and they try to tell you that it must be the way that you're using it, you need waxed paper, you need to use shims..as far as I'm concerned at this point they've just lost a customer. I have never had any problem with any of Joannas dies..they have always cut cleanly the first time and have continued to cut cleanly after many many uses.

At the moment the weather in the mountains is calm with the occasional gust of wind. The weather man has said that tonight is supposed to be horrible with raging winds and rain. I've took the decision not to let the cats out today. If the weather is going to be so bad, then I'd sooner know that they're all safe. I don't think that they look too bothered..they've all got into their own special places and don't look like they want to move. Tankie and Sprout are on the bed, Obie and Nicodemus are in the airing cupboard, Milky is on the fridge and Jeffrey is of course on top of Reg..lol. Raven is on my legs..it's so cool having a leg warmer that never goes cold.

Well the coffee is calling and I think that after a good dose of caffeine,I maybe halfway back to normal..lol. I think sometimes I could do with caffeine on drip. I'm only organised as far as dinner tonight. I'm going to do fried chicken with jacket potatoes..I may make some coleslaw if I can find some mayonnaise at the back of the fridge. I'm going some time today planning the meals for the next week, just so I don't end up in the week with a blank head...at least I will have an idea what to peel..lol. So until tomorrow..take care and happy crafting.

Jiggery Makery...presents Pamela

Today's card is a design team make for the fabulous Jiggery Makery. This design is called Pamela and is available to buy as a digi from Adele at Jiggery Makery. Why not pop over and take a look at all the other fantastic digis that are available. The rest of the team have created some gorgeous projects and are also well worth a look. To make this card I coloured Pamela with my copics and glittered various areas with my glitter. I have had the stamp in my stash for a while and have always wanted to use it...when I saw Pamela..I thought that it would be perfect. I saw Pamela as an independent lady, who with her blue hair has created her own style. It would be a perfect card for a good friend.

I feel a bit like a hamster on a wheel today. I have still lots to do, hopefully it will be all finished by the weekend. All orders have now left the building..it's a lot of design team work to finish for the next week. I love being on the design teams that I work for as they are all very different to each other and I get to work with lots of different crafty items. I just need to get back on top of it all so that I can do a number of things that I want to in the house.In the next month or so I'm hoping to start the dining room and to rediscover the studio. Those two areas will take me  a while but am quite looking forward  to starting. The animals will no doubt hate all the rearranging..as they always do. I'm hoping for the dining room to become a cat free zone when I'm not in there. I'm also hoping to get the wood burning stove working again....such plans.

Today, my meat order arrived and now the freezer is full. Chicken breasts, stewing steak, minced steak, steaks and steak burgers...all great value. There should be enough there for at least 2 months if not more. I am a bit of a spot the meat in the stew woman...I just love vegetables and tend to fill the slow cooker with them..lol. I'm hoping to have a baking day sometime next week and make some meatballs for the freezer...I thought that if I did a tray of them, then we could have them for dinner one night and pack the rest into the freezer for quick dinners. You would have laughed if you'd have seen the cats when the meat arrived...they were all sat around the box and were ever hopeful that I may drop some..lol Their distress was palpable when I'd put it all away..it was so bad..the cat biscuits had to be topped up. What makes me laugh is when they do the 'we're starving' faces..if you could only see the fat little tummies..you would laugh too..lol.

Well the coffee is calling  and I'd better think about doing dinner. The weather here doesn't know what to do with itself..it seems very miserable today. Hopefully it will pick up over the weekend. So until tomorrow..take care and happy crafting.

JB-Crafting Supplies..Joanna Sheen cd

Todays card is a design team make for the wonderful team over at JB-Crafting Supplies. The cd that I have featured is Janet Kruskamp..The Collection. It has to be one of my favourite cdroms but yet it seems to have been a very quiet release and doesn't seem to have been well covered in the crafting community, yet it is filled with fantastic images and it seems such a pity. If you would like to pop over to the JB-Crafting Supplies blog, you will find other cards that I have made from this cd. The only different thing about this card is that the backing paper is from another Joanna cd..The Age of Elegance..and this is a William Morris design, many of which are featured on that cd. For this card, I diecut and coloured a plant pot and some small leaves, then added some small sequin flowers. I must be a very sad person, as I have hundreds of tiny sequin flowers...just because I love them so..lol.

I've had a hell of a week..just so much work to do and the end isn't even in sight yet. After dinner tonight, I will have to finish another card and then, I've lots to do..about another 6 before Saturday. I'm so busy that I've had to shut all the cats apart from one out of the parlour. The only one in here is Jeffrey..not because he's spoilt but because he's not too well and he's just lay with Reg. As most of you know he had a huge fight and has a wound on his face. All the other cats let me see to any injuries without making a noise...but not Jeffrey. The whole time I was dabbing the antiseptic on...he cried like a baby. Not fighting me, not moving, just crying. And after it was all done he wanted an hours fuss being told what a wonderful boy he was. I think sometimes I forget that he is such a baby because of his size. he's now the biggest cat in the house, but in his head he's the baby. He is now lay with Reg demanding sympathy..lol.

I'm so glad to say that the invitations have now left the building..and thank goodness for that. I was so worried in case the cats created any more chaos. I have to say that Sprout is still covered in glitter..lol .Because he got caught in the falling cards he got covered in glue and glitter. The glitter I was using was black..so it fitted in very well seeing as he is black and white..lol. He now has that little added twinkle.

I don't know what to cook for dinner tonight..it may well be pizza and salad .I'm waiting for my meat order, thats supposed to be arriving tomorrow. I buy my meat online and there should be enough to last a couple of months at least. It saves me a lot of money and means that I only have to buy my vegetables and fish in between orders. I tend to buy my potatoes and carrots in bulk and hopefully will soon be doing that with my onions. I live in hope that my onions will be a normal size and not the tiny ones that I've been getting lately. I know I buy value onions but honestly..in my Grans time she would have laughed and called them pickling onions. They have been so small, that you need to peel 5 to get the same amount of onions as you would with one good sized one..lol. I'm hoping to have salad tonight so it may well be pizza but haven't really decided yet...I may make quiche..I've just thought that as I'm typing. So it'll be cheese, onion and mushroom quiche with boiled potatoes and salad.

Well the coffee is calling and then I'd better get on with some more work. My friend the pa is coming to pick up a special card, so I'd better check it now before she arrives. It's finished but I always have to have that final look. So until tomorrow...take care and happy crafting.

Decoupage Delights...Spring Flowers

Todays cards are design team makes for the wonderful company of Decoupage Delights.For today I decided to feature these lovely spring flowers in a hope that the weather will improve..lol. The two first cards are from their Fancy Floral cdrom.  Just to show how good these cards are..I have added nothing, I just have made the card using what was printed from the cd. Somedays you have ages to spend making a card and personally I love taking my time, embellishing it to the full but other days, you'll wake up and realise you've forgotten a card for someone  and need to make one as soon as possible. The two cards featured here, I intend to feature the same designs next week with embellishments added. The image will be the same but the cards will look very different. I picked these cards because they represent spring to me. Daffodils because of my Grandmother and daisies just because they make me smile.I think that the daffodils would make a fabulous card for Saint Davids Day for any welsh friend. Also it would make a great Easter card.

And speaking of Easter, the card below is a free download on Friday on the Decoupage Delights facebook page...don't miss out on these really cute little chicks...what a great way to start your Easter crafting

I really must apologise for not posting since Friday.I have just come to the conclusion that I don't have enough hours in my day...lol. I've been concentrating on an order for invitations and goodness me at themoment I don't want to see another one. I personally blame the cats for my distress. Part of the invitation was a purple square in the middle of which was a highly raised glittered 21. Well it took me an age to glitter all these numbers and they were drying on a tray in an area out of the normal route of the cats...or so I thought. Well Sprout decided to have a flid and suddenly jumped up,caught the tray and the whole lot of glittered squares, shot in to air and landed face down on the carpet. I have to admit that the language was very blue and it took me 2 coffees to calm enough to begin again. Not one had survived the incident..lol. You may laugh but it took me a while to even raise a smile.

To make matters even worse, my computer has been having a moment. The space bar decided that it wasn't going to work. That will serve me right for trying to clean the keys...I must have caused something to move which got itself stuck under the bar...trying to type became a real pain. Mind you at the moment it feels very hard typing, thanks to the cat that has sat on my left wrist.It's Raven who has decided to sit there in disgust because Jeffrey has decided to sit on my legs. She has always considered that to be her place and now has her nose out of joint..lol. I have tried to move her about 10 times but have now given up on that. As soon as I put her down, she turns round and runs back. So here she sits on my wrist, so I can't move my arm and she is purring like a good engine.

Well the coffee is calling...I'm hoping that Sparkle will arrive soon. My plans for tonight involve making a card that features an actual shuttlecock..which is going to be blinged up...so looking forward to having a play. So until tomorrow..and I will be back with some design team makes for the fabulous JB Crafting Supplies...take care and happy crafting.

Jiggery Makery...Presents Penelope

Todays card is a design team make for the wonderful team over at Jiggery Makery. The digi featured today is called Penelope and was created by the ever talented Adele. Why not pop over to the Jiggery Makery Blog and facebook page and take a look at the wonderful creations that the other members of the team have made. They take my breath away. Even though we are on the same team, we all have very different ways of taking on a digi. For the card today, when I first saw the image of Penelope, I thought about an older friend who told me that whenever she made a new dress to go out in, she made a matching garter. That formed my idea for the card. I have used stamping and lace to create a border that looked like a garter. I can imagine Penelope wearing it under her dress as she gets ready to go out. I used Penelope to decorate a card using one of my favourite wording stamps, and I have also stamped some roses that have a look of lace. As I've said the other ladies on the team have created some wonderful projects and they are well worth a look.

For once it is quite a nice day here in the mountains. The nice thing is that we have had no rain today...though we have had a short burst of hail. The weatherman has suggested that we may get some snow..but we shall have to see. Sunshine and Mr. Cheeks are away on holiday at the moment. They have travelled to Iceland. I have told her that she could bring me back an Icelandic man in her suitcase..lol I am hoping that they are having a fantastic time and that they get to see the northern lights. I have only ever seen them on the television...but can imagine just how magical it would be to see them in real life. The colours are amazing and the thought that it is something made by nature, just shows us how little we really know. If I was ever lucky enough to see them in real life, I have a feeling that it would give me a whole different perspective on life. It would be a blessing that I could treasure. Life at the moment has been very different for me..losing Henry has made me look at my life in some very different ways. Over the next couple of weeks, I intend to make a plan on everything. I have been looking at the house, my life, my work..even my meals and am going to try to get a structure to everything. I need to feel as if there is a point to everything and that for me to feel that, I need to have a goal. At the minute things seem to very aimless...that I am just biding my time, just getting through each day but have come to the conclusion that I need more. Henry was always the point to everything in my life..passing on family stories,trying to help him become a rounded human being, teaching him everything I knew and encouraging his interests. And now there seems no point to everything and I don't want to feel like that any more. Over the next couple of weeks, I intend to find a goal, fill my days with a purpose and try to become more involved in life. My animals have given me a meaning to get up every day and am so thankful for the affection that they have shared with me. I still count my blessings everyday and in so many ways I have been so blessed. I was definitely blessed by having Henry in my life and know in my heart that he would now be saying , come on Mum what are you going to do. Well hopefully in the next couple of weeks I'll know. It involves a lot of soul searching, but I know I can do this. I do think that I need to be a little kinder to myself..if I get upset..I get very angry with myself and that is doing no one any good. But I have to believe that things can only get better...and hopefully sooner rather than later..lol

Well the coffee is calling and I have my fingers crossed that Sparkle will arrive...after all he does make a fantastic cup. I will be back to blog on Monday.The invitations and lots more work need to be done, so I have given myself the weekend, just to see how much I can achieve. So until Monday...take care and happy crafting.

Gruffies and Guests..A Very Happy Bunny

Todays card is a design team make for the wonderful team over at the Gruffies and Guests Challenge Blog. The current challenge is 'love is all around'..and it is only halfway through, so why not pop over and join in the fun. The card is made from the Gruffies and Happy Hopper cdrom brought to us by Joanna Sheen.This cdrom features the wonderful art work of Ellen Jareckie who is also the artist behind the fantastic House Mouse. For this card, I mounted the image and the backing paper onto some holographic card and then onto the card. The greeting was also on the image sheet. I embellished using some flowers from my stash and some heart shaped buttons.

My friend the pa has just arrived with another of her bargain corner deals.Todays treat is a bag of parsnips for just 4p..nearly a kilo.So this week will be seeing mashed parsnip and carrot, parsnips as part of the next stew and maybe some parsnip crisps. And all for 4p. Also last night Virgo man turned up with a sack of potatoes..so that gives me a whole range of possibilities. I can't decide what to cook tonight..maybe cheese and onion pie, quiche or fried rice. I do seem to be in a bit of a rut with my cooking at the moment but no doubt when spring arrives (veg wise), things will change. I do have rather a thing for salad so in a few months time I'll be in another rut with salad and potatoes every night. I have to admit to the fact that I would quite happily live on fish but as always the budget doesn't allow.If any of you have any recipes for good cheap and tasty meals..please share them with me and I'll blog them, after all most of us are in the same boat...with prices always going up and our money not going any further.

Well the coffee is calling and I have lots to do. The wind is still blowing hard here in the mountains and there is only 1 cat...Sprout...that has ventured out. All the others are draped round the parlour..lol. So until tomorrow...take care and happy crafting.

Decoupage Delights..The Lady and the Lions

Today's cards are design team makes for the wonderful company Decoupage delights. The first card is one from their upcoming fashion cdrom. I'm so excited about the new cds on the way. This wonderful art deco lady is decoupaged and is mounted onto some purple mirri. Then I mounted that onto the matching backing paper and then again onto some purple mirri. I have simply embellished with a peeloff and some strings of pearls. There is something about seeing this style of dress that makes me feel like swinging a string of pearls..lol. I remember that my Grandmother had a long string of pink pearls that she said reminded her of her younger days and that her and her sisters spent their money on pearls and the such like. The fashion at that time was to wear lots of pearls at the same time but she said that she had been brought up to believe that a true lady would never wear any more than three pieces of jewellery at one time. It's strange to think that when people spoke of the 20's they spoke of all the changes that happened during that time, yet something as simple as the amount of jewellery you wore could cause arguments in families. There was the previous generation trying to hold on to their Victorian ways and the bright young things trying to leave them all behind. I held those pearls this morning and wondered what my grandmother really felt when she held them. To me they are a link to the past but to her they were a hope for the future. How times change.

The card below is the free download from Decoupage Delights for this week. It will be available on Friday and well worth having in your stash. I think it would make a lovely card for a gentleman's birthday or even as an unusual Fathers Day card. On the sheet there is the whole picture, as well as the decoupage and various greetings. The matching insert will also be part of the free download. If you get the chance why not pop over and take a look at the cdroms that are available. They are a great asset to your crafting stash. Also the new cdroms that are coming out soon are so exciting..keep your eye on the page to see when they arrive.

The wind here in the mountains is raging today. All the cats are inside and there seems no hurry for them to go out. Jeffrey is sat on the wing of my chair and seems to have something to say on everything I do...lol. Nicademus is on the couch with his girlfriend Obie....they are curled up with my furry handbag. My friend Dotty brought me the bag for Christmas...it's a furry black cat and the zip is it's tail. I love it. My idea was to keep it on my bed as it just looks like a black catand thought that it would be lovely to use as a nightdress case. Well Nicademus has decided that he loves it. If I put it on the bed, he carries it by it's tail back to the parlour..lol. He is determined that it will live on the couch. So for the moment that's where it is..lol.

Well the coffee is calling and a caffeine hit is just what I need. Some days the cats make me feel as if I'm a special roundabout. They all run up me and round my neck, look out of the window and then come down the other side. It's fine for a couple of cats but when they're all at it...it can drive me crazy. And it looks as if it's going to be one of those days..lol. So until tomorrow...take care and happy crafting.

JB-Crafting Supplies...Dragonflies

Todays creation is a design team make for the great team over at JB-Crafting Supplies. I decided to make a little wallhanging for my bathroom. I used a paper pad called Perfect Prints...Blue Dawn.One of the papers was my inspiration for the wall hanging, as it was covered with dragonflies. For many years, I have collected little quotes and have always wondered what I'm going to do with them. Well, this year I decided that I'm going to pick my favourites and use them. I took two of the different papers from the pad and fixed them to a small canvas. I edged with a brush loaded with a distress ink.I wrote the saying onto some white card and then mounted it onto some rainbow holographic. I then took some peeloff dragonflies and stuck them onto some of the same. I cut them out and added them onto the canvas. I love the way that the rainbow holographic catches the light.

I have been so busy crafting lately. It's just as well really because I have been a little down. I think because it's been the anniversary of losing Henry...I think that it's just caught up with me. I'm not going to be rough on myself as I think that perhaps it's the natural way. It's just another way of reminding me to count my blessings. One of my blessings for today is the fact that the weather is nice today. Not so cold and the sun is shining...goodness only knows how long it will last, but I'll take it as it comes. Last night the rain battered the house and I have to say that the bed was full. Another of my blessings..the little furry beasts..lol. No matter how I feel, they always give me something to laugh about. Well the laugh that I was given over the weekend has to be one of the best. Obie, my little tabby had disappeared and I didn't know where she was until Sparkle arrived. He had popped home and had gone upstairs to his bedroom..and guess what he found. That's right...Obie. Somehow she had got to his house, gone in and found his bed the perfect place to have an afternoon nap! She didn't even run off when discovered...just gazed at him..lol. She had to be convinced to leave. I just live in hope that the other cats don't take it as a future plan to terrorise the village..lol.

Well the coffee is calling and more work waiting, so I'd better get on with it. So that I can work with a modicum of peace, I have shut the cats out of the parlour. For once I would like to make a card without my head being used as a roundabout...lol.So until tomorrow...take care and happy crafting

Crafting Musketeers...Cuddly Buddly

Todays card is the second card that I made for the latest challenge over at the Crafting Musketeers Challenge Blog. The design is a digi from the wonderful team over at Cuddly Buddly who are the sponsors for this month. I have to say that I so loved colouring this image. I spent an evening colouring it with my copics. I really let the girly side of me out.And as today is valentines day, I thought it would be perfect to share. The border lace is created with a Martha Stewart punch. The backing paper is also from the Cuddly Buddly team.

As I'm writing this I am listening to some of my favourite music. I have a strange mix of music that I listen to. I always told Henry that it's ok to listen to all sorts of different types..you don't have to stay in one genre. I like AC/DC, Fleetwood Mac, Slipknot but I also have a bit of a passion for 70's cheese, Smokie and even Jim Reeves. It always depends on what sort of mood I'm in. I always need some noise when I'm working, which is just as well as Icabod is snoring loudly in the corner..lol. When I'm cooking I tend to listen to Smokie or motown...and I can sing along quite happily while I'm washing up or baking a cake.

I am so happy today as my latest order for black card and glue has arrived. I was a little worried in case it didn't arrive..it would have meant that I didn't have any glue all weekend...I may have ended up in a meltdown situation..lol. Don't get me wrong I do have about 20 different types of glue but the one that I use the most had ran out. It's enough to send me in a tizzy..lol So this afternoon I'm going to make the cards for next week and tomorrow start the invitations. A good plan I think. The invitations may end up making me clean the bathroom..lol. It's always the same when I'm in the middle of doing an order for a lot of the same thing, I find myself having to have a little break..so this time I have a plan..

I don't know what we're having for dinner this evening. We had the three days of spot the meat stew in it's various guises and I have to say myself, that I enjoyed them all. I'm thinking of fish pie, sausage casserole and pizza, as my next few days meals but I don't know which I fancy the most for tonight. I also have some left over mashed potatoes which I need to do something with...I may make some potato scones but even that I'm undecided about.

Well the coffee is calling and the cats are demanding..but when is that any different. I've come to the conclusion that they're a bunch of greedy little monsters some days..lol  They've all had their breakfasts and no doubt have emptied the bowl of biscuits downstairs and are now complaining that they need it refilled..lol They will just have to moan until after the caffeine hit..lol So until tomorrow take care and happy crafting.

Jiggery Makery...Love is red challenge

Todays creation is a design team make for the great team over at Jiggery Makery. At the moment they are running a challenge using one of the valentine digi ladies. It was really hard to pick which one to use, as I love them all. The challenge theme is Love is Red so I created this heart shaped box. It is a matter of upcyling as well. I was given this box at christmas and it was just so nice, I had to keep it..it was just so pretty. And then when this challenge came up...it just seemed so perfect. I covered the box with three layers of different coloured card and edged each layer with a peeloff. I then used this wonderful Jiggery Makery lady I coloured her with my promarkers, then cut her out and added her to the box. On her string of hearts I wrote love you and to the other side I added a small bouquet of handmade roses and some pearls. I also added the always banner.If I had someone special I would have filled the box with handmade chocolates.But as I don't I may well keep the box until I do...lol If you get the chance why not pop over to Jiggery Makery and take a look.You still have a short time left to enter...why not spread the love.Below I have taken a close up of the bouquet

It's been a strange couple of days. Yesterday I was blessed to receive so many visitors..it was time to make dinner before I'd had chance to blink. My friend pretty always laughs and says that my parlour is like a meeting of the WI when a number of my female friends get together. We always end up talking food and baking and have a right time coming up with money saving ideas. This year we're all thinking of planting fruit trees. I would really like to try a cooking apple tree. Cooking apples are just so expensive..so it would be a real treat if we could grow our own. One of my friends is a really good gardener and grows so much..she is a wonderful source of information. If I could become even half as good as she is..I'd be a happy woman.

As for meals in this house we are on the third and final day of the extending stew..lol. On the first night, I made a stew using a little mince and every vegetable that I could get my hands on. It included carrots,onions,celery,peas, sweetcorn and cannelloni beans. This we had with mashed potatoes. Then last night, I divided what was left into two and added mushrooms, fresh tomatoes and pasta to one half. I made a white sauce and topped the stew and pasta with it and added some grated cheese. And finally for tonight, I'm going to make some mashed potatoes, add what is left of the stew and make a pie and we're going to have that with steamed cabbage and onion gravy. I don't know just how much meat will be in tonight's meal...when the stew started off it was a case of spot the meat..I only used  a 100g in the first place..lol.I am a bit of a vegetable loving fool but there we go.

Well the coffee is calling and I've got a mountain of work to do.I think that a definite caffeine hit is required. So until tomorrow..take care and happy crafting.

Decoupage Delights.....Vintage Roses and Gentian Butterflies

Todays cards are design team makes for the wonderful team over at Decoupage Delights. All the cards today are made using elements from the decoupage delights cdroms but perhaps not as intended. On the first card I was desperate to use the little vintage image of the girl with the cat. I knew that I wanted a decoupage of some roses and found just what I wanted on the Fancy Floral cdrom. It's knowing that you have a resource as good as this cd in your stash that makes all the difference. The cards below are used making the gentian and the butterfly image which I can announce will be a free download for you all on the decoupage delights facebook page on Friday. There will be a free quick card sheet containing the decoupage and a sheet with a matching insert. On the next two cards I have used the image but not as a Quick card. Last week I was working with the lamb and the lilies image and mentioned that I had a piece of blue backing paper left...well I used that to provide the backing paper on the card below.

 As you can see,I have used the same image on both cards..just using different backing paper and different shaped cards. So please pop over to the decoupage delights face book page on Friday and enjoy playing with this design.

It's still cold here in the mountains and it may be the time for special socks. The cats in the duplex are both cosied up on the bedroom level. Full tummies seems to have that effect on them. There has been a lot of chatter in the cottage with Virgo man about chickens and fruit trees on the land...so watch this space. It would be lovely to have some chickens but we shall have to talk some more and make some plans Exciting times are ahead I think.

Well the coffee is calling and I'm about to start some invitations for a 21st birthday party. I will share a picturewhen I've finished them. So until tomorrow...take care and happy crafting

Dreaming of the future

Todays card is made using a decoupage sheet from Le Shu. The baking paper is from the Perfect Prints..Blue Dawn paper pad. I completed the decoupage and mounted it to the card onto which I had mounted the backing paper. I added a sentiment from my stash, alongside a bow and some jewels. I just had to do this decoupage simply because the cat reminded me of a cat I had years ago called Peter. He was a little rescue kitty and was always at my elbow, helping me with whatever I did.People always ask me how on earth I can tell my cats apart..well I always find it easy...their personalities are just so different.

And now for the most exciting part of the blog today...let me introduce you to Merlin. He is Dotties new puppy

Isn't he the cutest puppy. He is a papllion and looks such a perky little boy. When he's a little bigger, he will be coming on a visit. I can't wait. I am truly blessed with the amount of animals in my life. When Henry was alive he could always remember the names of dogs or cats but sometimes couldn't remember the names of the people..lol. To him the animals always came first. The next dog I will be introducing you to is Jack who's human is Virgo man. That will be in the next couple of weeks.

All my animals have retired to bed after their breakfast and there is no sight or sound of them. It looks like a quiet day for once. Goodness only knows what trouble they will be up later. It's still very cold here although the sun is shining. Not the time to take my socks off yet though.

Well the coffee is calling and Sparkle has just arrived..so I will put on my hard done to face and hope he makes a brew..lol. So until tomorrow...take care and happy crafting.

JB-Crafting Supplies...Fairies and butterflies

Todays card is a design team make for the great team over at JB-Crafting Supplies. It features both a stamp sheet from Joanna Sheen and a paper pad. The stamp sheet is from the Enchanted Forest range by Joanna Sheen. The stamp sheet used is called Magical Day. The paper pad used is Perfect Prints...Blue Dawn. I have mounted the paper onto some blue card and have created a small border using the same. I coloured my stamped images with my promarkers and cut them out. I then added one of my favourite sayings and some butterflies. It would be a great card to send to someone who was having a bit of a rough time...just to hopefully cheer them up.

I was thinking last night what I was going to talk about today and then something came on the news that just left me with my mouth open, wondering what the world was coming to. It seems that there has been a health warning put onto daffodils because people have been poisoned by eating them. I just couldn't believe it. Things must have changed so much since I was little...even when I was 6 years old I could have told you what a daffodil flower bud looked like. People have often said that life is now run by a nanny state..well to my mind when grown people don't know what a daffodil looks like..perhaps they do need a nanny. Just what is the world coming to. When I was growing up I was taught to cook and to make the best meals I could using cheaper ingredients. It has stood me in good stead but daily I'm surprised by the number of people that rely on ready meals and take aways. To me a takeaway is something of a real treat...admittedly it's nearly a 30 mile round trip to a chinese but it's always been a treat.It seems that wherever I've lived..it's out in the wilds..away from shops, cinemas and the like. I enjoy cooking and finding bargains...mind you with the cost of everything these days it's a good job. My friend the pa and I have great fun searching out bargains..last week she brought me some potatoes that had been reduced to 5p a bag. Now that's what I call a bargain. There was nothing wrong with them and in fact I still have a bag left..and will use them this week.

Tonight I'm cooking for dinner some fried rice..peas,sweetcorn, mushrooms, onion included. It will like having a chinese without the cost. Tomorrow is going to be a cheese and onion quiche. I always make a meal planner of some sort..with ideas for different days,using what is in the fridge or freezer. It always make me laugh when I'm cooking dinner..by the audience of little furry bodies that are sat in a line watching my every move..ever hopeful that I'll drop the meat..lol. Talking of little furry things..tomorrow I shall be introducing you to Merlin..Dotties new puppy..just wait and see how cute he is.

Well the coffee is calling and so is the work...but as always caffeine is needed first. I hope that you all had a great weekend. I really enjoyed crafting away...at least it took my mind off the cold..lol. I have lots to do this week..I hope to get all my upcoming orders sorted so that I can have a few days in the kitchen, putting some more stuff away..but really that depends on how cold it is. Anyway until tomorrow..take care and happy crafting

Flowers for Sunday

Todays card is made using a kit from my stash..I think that it is a Hunky Dory one. I am renowned for buying kits and putting them away, forgetting where I've put them safe, and then discovering the delights of the kit sometimes months later..lol.I'm sure that most of us do the same thing.The image is decoupaged and is framed with a silver foil. To match, I created a border using a punch to create a silver lace edging. The punch is a Martha Stewart...one of many that I've collected over the years. I added some card candy and a ribbon.It is an ideal card to use as a get well card or even..it's Monday and I was thinking of you card.

The sun is shining today here in the mountains but it's still very cold. Jeffrey is still waking me up at 5 a.m. every morning and his routine never changes. He arrives on my chest and taps my face with his paw until I open my eyes and then he kisses me. I close my eyes again and 3 minutes later he does the same thing again. After about 4 times of this, I am so awake that I need to go to the bathroom and that is when he strikes. He is then convinced that I should take pity on him and feed him. Well not at 5 a.m. I'm not. He is such a large cat now but at heart he's still a kitten. He is a bit of a wimp and if he gets scared he either runs to me or Reg. He loves Reg so much and makes such a fuss of him. It's a wonderful thing to see. The cats in the duplex are in the sleeping area..probably waiting for Bargain Hunt..lol.

Last year when henry passed, so many people were so kind and gave me such support. During this time many people bought me flowers and plants. I was given a Hyacinth by some neighbours and the bulbs flowered and were beautiful. Well with everything that was going on I forgot about them. I had every intention of putting the bulbs in the garden, so I cut off the dead leaves and put it to the back of the shelves. Well by more luck than judgement they have flowered again. I was so surprised when green shoots arrived and blow me they are beginning to flower again. It really does give you hope. Despite the hardship that they have dealt with...being in a house with me..lol..they have fought their way through everything and now have appeared beautiful again.

Well the coffee is calling...I hope that you all are having a good weekend. Just before I log off, I can confirm that Twinkle and Icabod are yet again engrossed in Bargain Hunt. I thought that perhaps yesterday was a one off but watching their little faces intent on the television is so fascinating. I've ended up watching them instead of the programme..lol. So until tomorrow...take care and happy crafting.

Gruffies and Guests...Love is all around

Today's card is a design team make for the wonderful team over at the Gruffies and Guests Challenge Blog. The theme for this months challenge is Anything goes with the option of Love is all around. The fact that Valentines is coming gave me the perfect opportunity to create a Valentines card. I just love this cute image with the little mouse with the love letter. I have decoupaged the image and mounted it onto some red holographic which has little hearts on it. I mounted the backing paper onto some of the same. I had to laugh at myself though..the little red sequin lips, I must have had them in my stash for about 10 years..I just knew that they would come in useful at some time..lol The challenge this month has been sponsored by the great team at Di's Digi Stamps and they have given a $10 voucher as a prize. It's a great challenge so why not pop over and take a look. I have seen so many of your cards and they've been fantastic..so why not enter one in the challenge.

As I'm sitting here typing this, I am amazed by how quiet it is in the house today. All the cats have had their breakfasts and it seems that everyone has gone to sleep. Oh the joy of the quiet moments..lol. Last night Reg had to share his bed with 3 of the cats. He looked mighty warm and cosy.He had Nicodemus, Oberon and Jeffrey  sharing his dog bed. I have to laugh at Jeffrey...he doesn't lie by the side of Reg but lies on top of him, stretched out. It looks so funny because he sleeps with his front legs out in front and they are always left dangling out over Regs head. As I look out of the window, I'm quite surprised to see that the sun is trying to shine...but goodness me it's cold. I've blankie on my legs..they really don't like the cold. Just looking across the room, I've also noticed that the cats in the duplex are watching Bargain Hunt on the television..for some reason they're absolutely engrossed. They're both on the upstairs platform, fascinated by Tim Wonnacott . Some friends of mine have just done a Bargain Hunt and should be appearing on the television soon. I'm really looking forward to seeing them on the screen...I'll have to tell the cats, to make sure they don't miss it.

Well the coffee is calling and I've decided to try and finish all outstanding work, so that next weekend I can spend the whole weekend doing an order for some 21st Birthday invitations. So I need to get everything together and get on...but caffeine is definitely needed. I also need to think what we're having for dinner tonight. I made the Lamb crumble the other night and it was just as fabulous as I remembered. Last night was toad in the hole with onion gravy. Tonight I have no idea...I hope that inspiration will come along. So until tomorrow..take care and happy crafting.

Jiggery Makery..Georgia

Todays card is a design team make for the wonderful team over at Jiggery Makery. Ever since I received this wonderful digi from Adele...the song lyrics have been going through my head..and I thought that the only way for it to stop was to use them on the card. The image has been coloured with my promarkers. I have printed the digi out in quite a large size to fit a 8x8 card. Over at Jiggery Makery there is a great valentine challenge, using one of the 4 valentine girls..why not pop over and take a look. And I have to say watch this space..there are some fabulous digis coming out soon. I can hardly wait to get to work on them.

 For some reason, I just love this image...I only wish that I had a figure like her. Saying that I would probably get into so much trouble if I had such a figure..it's probably safer this way.It's strange really..having bad legs..I can't even remember what it was like to have 2 legs with no scars.Just recently I found an old photo of a time when my legs were unscarred and I didn't even recognise them..lol. It's just a head space thing I think..my Gran always used to say that scars were just a map of the journey we have travelled...all I can say is that I've had a hell of a roadtrip..lol

It's still very cold here, but I'm nice and cosy..blanket on my legs and a cat on top of that. Raven is the equivalent of a never cooling hot water bottle..and she is really toasty I have to say. All the snow has disappeared except for the flat roof of my studio. I'm hoping to get in there in the next couple of months..once it's warmed up a bit. I can't wait to see what I've got that I've forgotten. I know that there is a large number of stamps in there..so you'll probably see lots of them come the summer. One thing that I'm going to do first is to create a dining room, in the downstairs parlour. I haven't touched there yet in my doing the house quest..but it's pecking my head at the moment.But again..I'll have to wait until it's a little warmer. My legs can object lots to cold weather and that just wears me out...so bring on a time when it's not below freezing.

Well the coffee is calling, as always. I think that as a car needs petrol...I need caffeine. And I can smell it on the air because Sparkle has just brewed. So until tomorrow...take care and happy crafting.

The Steam Train

Todays card is one that I made for a steam train fan. The image and the backing paper are from a Joanna Sheen cdrom called Times Gone By. It features the artwork of Kevin Walsh. There are masses of different images on the cd all recalling times long since gone. Every time I look at pictures of steam trains, I remember living next door to a railway line. My Grandmother bought an old station house..which still had a platform..and had it remodelled. The platform area became the pantry with the bathroom above. When I was little, I always waved to the engine drivers..a bit like the railway children of another generation. The funniest thing about this time that I remember was that we had an outside toilet..and everyone knew never to go to the toilet at 11a.m....that was when the goods train came along...and if you happened to be sat on the loo at that time..the whole place shook. It was if your teeth were being rattled out..lol..Still to this day I never go to the loo at 11a.m. It was at the time in the early 70's when British Rail were shutting lines and selling off housing stock. I know that my Grandmother purchased a lot of the properties and had them remodelled and used them to house all the elderly family retainers.I still have pictures of all the houses and they were lovely.They were the old railway workers cottages. I shall have to try to find the photos and then I'll share them with you. By now they're all probably unrecognisable..having been done up so much over the years..it would be interesting to see.

It's still very cold here and all the snow has virtually all gone.The weatherman says that it's going to be even colder at the weekend. Thank goodness that I don't have to go out. I'm bad enough on my feet at the best of times but if there is the slightest chance of ice..it's a no go for me. The last time I had a bad fall it took nearly 6 years to heal my leg..so I'm taking no risks.

Well the coffee is calling and Sparkle has just heard the call. He has just made a brew so I think that I'll treat us to a shortbread (the remains of the christmas treats). So until tomorrow...take care and happy crafting.

Decoupage Delights...The Lamb and the Lilies

Today's card is a design team make for the wonderful company of Decoupage Delights. And the exciting news is that this image is a free download on their facebook page. So why not pop over  and have a look. I love their cdroms and find that I can use the images in lots of different ways. With this download, you get the quick card sheet and the insert to match. When I first saw this image, I thought to myself what a lovely Easter card it would make. The lilies are all decoupaged. On looking at the matching insert sheet I thought straight away just how useful the lily image would be. So many times I'm looking for the perfect lilies to put on a wedding or anniversary card...and these would be perfect. Also..even though we don't like to talk about it..there are times when we need a sympathy card..and again you could use the lilies. The card below has been made just using the insert sheet which I printed twice and used the second sheet to make up another set of decoupage. The plain half (blue patterned) of the insert sheet, I have kept to use on another card. All I have added to the lower card is a peeloff around the edge. I have yet to decide what to do...I may just add a greeting or find a stamped greeting to put inside the rectangle. It is always handy to have a similar card in your stash ready to go. The lamb and the lilies picture above is one that I will definitely be using for an Easter card.

The card below is another framed decoupage..to which I've added my own picture. This decoupage frame with the pansies is from Decoupage Delights..Fancy Floral cdrom. I do have a bit of a thing for pansies..it comes from my childhood...they always make me remember my Grandmother. I seem to remember a story book that I had in which the pansies all had little faces and chatted to all the other flowers in the garden.

The snow here has almost gone but it's still really cold. I have my thick cardigan on today and I'm lovely and cosy whilst crafting. Last night there was the trauma to end all traumas here. I was downstairs making my dinner and suddenly a first glass fight broke out in the parlour. I had to dash upstairs...a trauma in itself..I only have one speed and that's not very fast..lol..only to find all three of the boys..Jeff, Sprout and Nicademus were having a fight. As I came into the parlour there was a ball of fur bodies, determined to get the better of the other. Fur was flying and so was the glitter. I had a vase with a candle in, which I had put glitter in the bottom of..well that had been caught up in the melee. I know better than to put my hands or legs into the middle of the fight so I put my grabby stick into the ball to split it up and they managed to break it. Then they all sat there looking at me as if nothing had happened. But the parlour was now covered in cat fur and glitter..lol. They spent the night all curled up together as if I had imagined the whole thing. At breakfast this morning everyone was as friendly as they have ever been and all were convinced that they were starving..lol

Well the coffee is calling and as always,I have lots to do. According to the weatherman, we have more cold weather coming..I wonder if we will have more snow..I can't say that we've had it half as bad as they predicted. But then knowing how they work..we'll probably end up with it in May..lol. So unti tomorrow...take care and happy crafting.

JB-Crafting Supplies...Joanna Sheen Stamp

Todays card is a design team make for the amazing team over at JB-Crafting Supplies. I was lucky to get this stamp from Joanna Sheen to work with and loved every moment of it. It is from the Enchanted Forest range from Joanna Sheen. This fairy is part of the Magical Day sheet. I coloured the fairy with my promarkers and have glittered her dress and wings..well I just had to..lol. I die cut a plain oval to mount her on and created a background. Around this I added some die cut ivy leaves and small sequin flowers. I also added a larger die cut flower to the corner. I thought that this would make a lovely card for a little girl who was into fairies...or even a larger girl who was into them as well.

It's certainly cold here in the mountains today. We did have snow and we have a certain amount left but I haven't seen any today. All the cats are staying into day I think. They seem to have taken over the couch ...I think that it's a cunning plan to keep an eye on me..lol. Every time I move from my crafting corner, I am followed by my own little entourage. I'm sure that they're just checking that they don't miss a chance of food.

At some point during this week, I need to finish sorting the work area out. After Jeffrey clearing out a shelf for me...kicking the paper about until he could get his bottom in the space...I need to sort the resulting pile. At this moment Jeffrey is lying on top of Reg in the dog basket. He never lies by the side of Reg but always stretched out over him. To Reg it must be like having an extra quilt on his back..lol

I'm going to on my own this evening so I'm wondering what to cook. I had fried rice last night and I may very have it again tonight. Although I am thinking that I have a cabbage in the fridge and I am a bit of a cabbage loving fool. I know that I'm going to make some scones for the cake tin. I've been driving myself mad trying to find a recipe. I can see the book in my mind but can I find it. The recipe is for a sort of lamb crumble..I know that sounds strange but it would be really good with cabbage and a good gravy. It is a recipe that I've made since the 70's and it's been pecking at my head for a couple of weeks. I've even bought the lamb...so when I'm downstairs, I'll again be looking for the Pennywise Cookbook circa 1970 something..lol

Well the coffee is calling and I'll have to be making my own. Sparkle has left the building for the moment...he's probably had enough of the riveting glitter that goes on in this house..lol. So until tomorrow..take care and happy crafting.

Crafting Musketeers..The Cute Challenge

Todays card is a design team make for the wonderful team over at The Crafting Musketeers Challenge Blog. It features this cute image of cupid from the great team over at Cuddly Buddly. They have an amazing online store..well worth a look. They have provided the image and the backing paper for this month for the design team as sponsers and have kindly given a gift voucher as a prize.I just loved working with this image and had a great time working out what I was going to create. I have coloured the image of Cupid using my copics and a silver gel pen. I mounted the backing paper onto some silver holographic and created the border using the same. I sat the cupid on the border, after edging it with peeloffs. I then created the heart decorations using peeloffs and heart shaped buttons.

I didn't blog over the weekend because it was the first time I faced Henrys birthday without him. I was lucky to have had lots of visits from friends and lots of phonecalls...I did manage to hold it together until last night and then I was a bit of a mess. But as always I got through by remembering to count my blessings and fuss a cat. And I have got loads of work to do this week...that will at least keep me occupied. As I write this Raven has just arrived and demanded me to lift my board that I work on, so that she can return to lie on my legs..lol. She is acting a bit stupid silly at the moment...it's coming up to a full moon and it always seems to affect her. Do any of your animals get affected by the changing of the moon. Ever since she was a kitten she has always gone really giddy come a full moon..lol

My friend Dotty came yesterday. It was so good to see her and I have to tell you that her family have just become the proud owners of a puppy. Goodness me he is the cutest little bundle of fluff I have ever seen. He is called Merlin and is a Papillion It will be so exciting to watch him grow up. When I have remembered to ask Dotty I will try and post a picture of him. Hopefully when he is a little bigger he can come over on a visit.Saying that I don't know how Reg would feel. He loves Dotty and goes and sits by her...our Reg really is a ladies man. Some days he will let you think..oh bless him he's an old dog and the next thing..a lady has arrived in the parlour and he's skipping round like a puppy,managing to jump up on the couch and dominate the visit so it's all about him. When they've left he's back to 'old man dog'...demanding everything done for him..lol

I hope the weather is being kind to you wherever you are. We have snow and the gritter hasn't managed to make it here. If we have just a bit more..I'm going to take the wheelchair out and have a play..lol. It does keep trying to snow some more but it's very little. I count it as proper snow if I can see the flakes without my glasses..lol

Well the coffee is calling. I'm missing Pretty and his girlfriend gorgeous, they also visited over the weekend and he makes a mean brew. I'm making party invitations for gorgeous...she's going to be 21..so we're all going art deco here in the mountains. Sparkle is not going to be a happy bunny...there is going to be a considerable amount of glitter flying in the air round here ..lol. So until tomorrow...take care and happy crafting.