Decoupage Delights...Vintage 8x8 Lady with Roses

Todays card is a design team make for the wonderful company of Decoupage Delights. It features one of the 8x8 cards which will appear on the forthcoming Vintage Fashion cd. There is something about this image that I love. Perhaps to me this is my ideal of what sums up vintage to me.  The image comes with the decoupage and the background already designed.I have decoupaged the image and have embellished using diecut leaves, fabric roses and some diamante buds. The diecut leaves I cut out in ordinary white card and then coloured them with my promarkers. Also I must let you all know that there is a freebie on the Decoupage Delights facebook page on Friday..so make sure to pop over then.
What a day today..the wind is raging and the sky is a funny colour. The last few days we have had rain, hail, sunshine and snow...so whoever knows what comes next. I was lucky enough the other day to receive a pair of glorious winter socks. My friend Sunshine had brought them back from Iceland for me and they are truly wonderful. They are a red/burgundy colour and will be fantastic as my new winter socks.Mind you if the weather continues like this...they may well be on my tootsies before the end of the week..lol
Well the coffee is calling and then it will be time to go down and cook the dinner...it may be pasta tonight..but who really knows until I'm stood in front of the fridge..lol. Wherever you are..keep warm. Until tomorrow...take care and happy crafting.

JB-Crafting Supplies..Cogs all the way

Todays card is a design team make for the wonderful JB-Crafting Supplies.I had great fun making this card.I first embossed some blue pearl paper using an embossing folder created by Xcut. I then stamped this card image from the Stampendous stamp range, using a distress ink. The ink pad is called faded jeans and has to be one of my favourite blues in the collection. I then used the same ink to colour the image and the background oval. I mounted some blue mirri onto a card and then applied the embossed paper to the mirri. I then mounted the image on top of the layers and embellished with some cogs which I had die cut from some silver holographic. The embossing folder is one that I think I will be able to use on lots of different cards. It is always worth having a look at all the embossing folders that are out there now and deciding which ones would work well with the stash that you have, I don't have many embossing folders but those I do, I know that I can use alot. I have butterflies, roses, a chain link design and now this one. They seem to be the ones that I use the most....and of course, I have a number of christmas ones.
It's a lovely day here in the mountains today. The birds are singing and the only other sound is the noise of wheelie bins being moved round the village. Council madness again. There is a row of cottages that are down a small lane and the council in it's wisdom says that it cannot send the bin lorry down there. Even though it managed to for the previous 20 years. So these cottages...there are 4 of them have to wait until the council send a smaller waggon up. It's madness...and don't even get me started on these recycling trolley blocks. To my mind it is the biggest waste of money. We have recycling bins..the large ones at the end of the lane and they were perfectly fine. But now we all have to have these stupid green trolley blocks...and every time the wind blows..they're off. The wind just picks them up, strewing all the rubbish as it goes right down the lane. We are currently just watching to see just how far that they can travel. The furthest so far has been to my piece of garden where Virgo lives and believe me that is quite a distance.
I had a really nice weekend...just crafting away. And last night we had a proper Sunday dinner of pork, apple sauce, roast potatoes,carrots, green beans and stuffing. And of course gravy. It was really nice. It seemed ages since I had cooked a proper roast and it felt really good to be doing it. Tonight we are having a cheese and onion quiche..I shall make it later. My other cooking plans for this week, include a fish pie..I do think that I have a bit of a thing for fish..I just love it. I was lucky enough last night to be given a great pile of good food magazines...so I'm looking forward to have a good read and hopefully some new ideas. Goodness knows what Sparkle will end up eating in the coming weeks..lol
Well the coffee is calling  and I've got a pile of work to do.But a caffeine hit is definitely needed first. I hope that you all had a great weekend. So until tomorrow...take care and happy crafting.

Rosey Hearts...When a woman needs coffee

Todays creation is a make for the wonderful Rosey Hearts design team. I loved working with this image and felt that it was perfect for how I feel when I'm in need of a caffeine hit..lol I have coloured the image with my promarkers, cut her out and attached her to some black card. I have attached some magnetic strip to the back of the card and she will be living on my fridge as a warning to all that enter my kitchen,,lol. If you pop over to the Rosey Hearts Blog, the winners of the last blog candy giveaway have been announced and there is a new givaway beginning. While I'm on I'll also just remind you that on the Rosey Hearts Challenge Blog there is a current challenge running..'Things with Wings' and this will run until the 15th May. So there's plenty of time to enter a creation of your own. All the artwork for Rosey Hearts is drawn by the super talented Melissa...there are designs to suit everyone..so it's well worth taking the time to take a look.
The weather has really changed today...it's like being back in the autumn. The mists of Brigadoon are hanging low down the mountains and it's raining. The cats are all in and Reg has just been for a walk. It really doesn't bother Reg if it's raining. It's as if he doesn't notice the rain. Mind you he doesn't take a lot of notice of anything besides food..lol. He can be fast asleep and you can call him...nothing..but should you happen to rustle a packet of crisps...by goodness, he up and in your face..lol.
Well the coffee is calling and I have a need for a little caffeine hit before I go down to cook dinner. It's going to be a suitable meal for a Saturday night...steak burger on a bun with salad and chips. I'm quite looking forward to it. The fact that I may have to eat it with a knife and fork isn't even going to put me off tonight. So until tomorrow...take care and happy crafting.

JiggeryMakery...presents Fay and a Freebie

Todays card is a design team make for the wonderful Jiggery Makery. This design is called Fay  and is available to buy from the Jiggery Makery page. I just love this design...I don't know what it is about her, but she always makes me smile. I loved the way that Adele over at Jiggery Makery has designed her hair and just felt that it called to be zentangled. I do admit to going through phases of wanting to zentangle everything  and I think that I'm in the zone again..lol. But I couldn't not tangle her tangled locks. I also wanted to work the tangles onto a colour. I coloured her hair with three shades of pink using my promarkers.

And I have to share the great news from Adele at Jiggery Makery....she has decided to do a freebie Friday..if you like Denise that I used last week,,then make sure to pop over and like the Jiggery Makery facebook page, like the page and she will email you a free digi of Denise. I have shared the card I made using her again so you can just see how versatile she is. If you do go and claim your free digi..then please, if you would like, share your makes with me and if you do I'll share them on the blog.

I'm amazed that I'm managing to blog at all today. With the cats using me as a roundabout because it keeps raining on and off and BT keeping cutting the broadband connection...it's enough to drive a person insane. Luckily for me I've always been a little off the wall..lol.
My friend the pa is off on her way to London. Her husband..the builder..is running in the London Marathon. I shall be sat here watching, shaking my pom poms in support. Goodness only knows how he does it. It's not that long ago that he did a marathon in Barcelona.My legs would still e recovering, but off he goes again.It looks as if it's going to be a good weekend viewing for me. I have the womens triathlon on Saturday, the marathon and men's triathlon on Sunday and a canvas to work on. That is, if I can find it..lol. I managed to find my glue yesterday but I've looked for the canvas and just can't find it. I've found my larger canvases but not the smaller one that I want to work on. Again it's driving me mad. I have everything else ready to go but no sign of the canvas. I shall hope to keep calm and find it..lol
Well the coffee is calling and a caffeine top up will be very welcome. I've had my meat order today, so the slow cooker is one. It's going to be steak and onions tonight with mash cabbage and gravy.I'm thinking of doing burgers tomorrow with coleslaw and chipand then Sunday will hopefully be Roast Pork dinner. The smell of the steak and onions is driving me mad..it's drifting up the stairs, past all the cats that are sat there with their noses in the air..lol. They seem all determined to not take their eyes off the slow cooker. So until tomorrow..take care and happy crafting. And don't forget to pop over to Jiggery Makery and claim your free digi.

Busy Day

Todays card is another House Mouse from the wonderful 'The House Mouse Decoupage cdrom. I just love this image of them all doing patchwork I made this very simple little card as I thought that it would be perfect for a friend who is very much into her sewing.There is so much on this cd..not just House Mouse but also Gruffies and Happy Hoppers. There is also a selection of backing papers. There is a lot of christmas backing papers which will come in very handy later in the year.
I may do a version of this card and put it in a frame..it would be perfect for the sewing room. I have been thinking a lot lately about sewing again. It has been a few years since I did any. When I am able to go through the studio, I know that half way through, lies my sewing machine. I have saved a lot of Henrys baby clothes and it was always my hope to make a quilt..perhaps I will.I will have to wait until the upset of everything has calmed down a bit. I have other sewing that I could get on with. I have lots old rather old fashioned chair covers that are all embroidered and would look lovely turned into cushion covers...that way at least you could get to enjoy all the embroidery. There is some fabulous flowers on their. Even the small ones you could use in a patchwork design. It just means that I will have to sort myself out and get on with it.
I'm having a bit of a time with myself today. I had a new tube of glue, unopened and perfect and can I find it. Not on your nelly. It seems to up and left the room. I've spent an hour so far today looking for the little beast and it has simply disappeared. I'm getting to the point where I may have to check the rubbish. I wouldn't mind that much if I had another one...no I'm lying..it would still drive me crazy but at least I could get on with some work. I have a large project for the weekend and I need glue...ahhhh.
Well the coffee is calling and perhaps after a good dose of caffeine, I'll feel a little more human. A human who can't do any more work until she finds this blessed glue..lol. I hope that you all have a good day..so until tomorrow..take care and happy crafting.

Decoupage Delights..Vintage in Pink

Todays card is a design team make for the wonderful company of Decoupage Delights. This image is from the forthcoming Vintage Fashion cdrom. I am so excited by the thought of all this wonderful fashion to play with. I just adore vintage fashions..the glamour of them. I have decoupaged the main image. The backing paper and the borders, I have mounted onto black card. The pretty pink backing paper is going to be on the cd as well. The owner has sent me some of the easy 8x8 card designs which will be appearing on the cd and I have to say that they are fabulous. I will be sharing them with you next Wednesday. If you get the chance, why not pop over to the Decoupage Delights face book page and take a look at the cds that are available now..I love them all. Mind you I have always loved decoupage and have continued to do it, even when it seemed to go out of fashion. I have to say that I don't tend to make cards that are in 'fashion'...I just tend to make cards using what I love.
It's a lovely day today. The sun is shining so much, that all the cats are outside sunning themselves on the studio roof. Apart from Jeffrey...who in his wisdom is stalking a chicken. I am watching the action from my window...and Jeffrey is getting just what he deserves..a peck on the nose. When he finally gets it into his head that the chicken is large and angry..no doubt he will come home. For whatever reason, the chicken. has decided that it wants to lay in the garden opposite my garden, instead of the field where it lives. But it is just so funny. Jeffrey just doesn't get it at all. I don't know what he thinks that he's going to do but it makes great viewing. No doubt when he gets pecked hard enough, he will be home with his tail between his legs..lol
This afternoon is going to be filled with colouring..lots to do..I'm looking forward to it. I am lucky that I get to work for so many different companies..they are all so different...it makes my life a joy. It's from scary to cute to vintage to cards to canvasses...and that can be one week..lol.
Well the coffee is calling and there is an egg custard with my name on. The perfect start to an afternoon I think..lol. I hope that you have a lovely afternoon...so until tomorrow..take care and happy crafting

Gruffies and Guests..Patchwork

Todays card is a design team make for the wonderful Gruffies and Guests. As you know I just love these images. The current challenge is half way through and I thought it would be a great time to remind you all. Why not pop over and join in the fun. This months challenge is sponsored by the fabulous team over at Bugaboo Digi Stamps and they have offered a wonderful 7 digis as a prize.For this card I used this image from the House Mouse Triple cdrom. As the theme was patchwork, I also used this pretty paper from another Joanna Sheen cdrom..In Other Words, which features the artwork of Lois Miles. It is a wonderful cdrom if you are looking for a pretty paper. For todays card, I mounted both the backing paper and the main image onto some spring yellow card. I added a strip of lace and some extras that were on the printed sheet. I just love that little image of the mouse stitching. I also added a yellow bow and a greeting. I think it makes a lovely spring time card. Mind you that could be the colours...I just love the yellow tones. Well the sun is shining and I'm sat here with my legs up, watching Magnum on the television. I just love it..there is something about Magnum..lol. At least you can watch it and enjoy it. So many nights there is nothing to watch. I can remember when there was only 3 channels,,and now with hundreds there is nothing really exciting. I admit to being one of the few that doesn't watch the soaps. My Mother was an avid soap queen and I think that she must have put me off. It was always a case of if you should phone her when her soaps were on..you got shouted at and the phone put down. Such was her nature. We never got on and were so very different...which I still find strange, as we were brought up by the same woman. I'm aiming to start a mixed media canvas this afternoon. I will share it with you once I'm a little bit along. It's a nervous time beginning a project. In my head is what I hope it will become but once you start you can never tell.It will involve a lot of sequins and gems, if my ideas come to anything..lol. Wish me luck. Well the coffee is calling and a good caffeine hit is just what I need. All the cats are outside so it seems really quiet here today. It drives me mad when they use me as cat roundabout..lol So until tomorrow..take care and happy crafting.

www.bugaboostamps.com

JB-Crafting Supplies...House Mouse Decoupage cdrom from Joanna Sheen

Todays card is a design team make for the wonderful JB-Crafting Supplies, using the latest House Mouse cdrom from Joanna Sheen. As most of you know, I just adore House Mouse, Gruffies and Happy Hoppers and they are all featured on this cdrom. Every image has it's decoupage on the same sheet. For this little card, I simply did the decoupage and placed the image onto a card. What a perfect little image for a friend who knits. It brings a smile to my face every time I look at it. I do know however that in my house there would be a group of cats just dying to cause chaos..lol.
The sun is shining here in the mountains today and I feel a little bit overwhelmed by what is going on. I had a phone call on Friday concerning Henrys inquest. It is a horrible thing to have waiting. The coroners office called and said that it may be at the end of July but it all depends on whether every one is available. So now we are playing the waiting game. Until everyone has been contacted and confirmed that they are available, we are still in the air. No matter how well I think that I am coping with all this..I know that the inquest is still looming and I think that I really won't know where I am until a final date has been set. So many things are going to come up and you never know how people are going to behave or what they will say. I feel as if Henry is being lost in all this official procedure. They all talk about Henry but they never knew him and what a truly amazing lad he was. At the moment  I feel as if I'm in a food processor with all my emotions and thoughts just going round and round.I am lucky that I know that I will have two friends with me when the time comes....but I would just feel better if I knew when it was going to be. Mind you I may feel worse when I know a date...I can't say. With loving Henry as I do and losing him as I did...I feel as if it's still a nightmare that I get to live. Deep breath..big girl pants on, and count my blessings..that's the only way to go I think.
Well the coffee is calling and I hope that Sparkle will arrive. I haven't seen him so far today and I think it's about time he arrived..lol. All the cats are very quiet today..all the full tummies are being slept off I think. It never ceases to amaze me how starving they are every morning..lol. This is despite the fact that they have biscuits to chomp all night. But every morning..there they are...all telling me it must be weeks since they last ate..lol. I'm off to do some work, so until tomorrow...take care and happy crafting.

The Crafting Musketeers...It's a Man's World

Todays card is a design team make for the wonderful Crafting Musketeers. The current challenge is A Mans World and I thought that this would be the perfect card for a lot of men that I know..lol. The image and backing paper are from 'The Nostalgia Collection' cdrom by Joanna Sheen. It features the art work of Kevin Walsh. I have mounted the backing paper and the main image onto some dark green card and have also created a border with the same. The three smaller images, I have mounted onto some different green and added them to the border. I have also fixed two small charms from my stash. I have added a bow..but it is made from gardening twine, which I thought would be appropriate. The challenge over on the Crafting Musketeers Challenge Blog is only halfway through..so why not pop over and join in the fun.
It's quite a nice day here in the mountains today. A gentle day. No wind, no rain..just a day to be grateful for. The trees which have been planted seem to be doing ok. It's such a nice thought  that maybe next year we shall see some fruit. I'm still thinking of buying a Bramley Apple some time this year..it would be so good to have some cooking apples that haven't cost me a fortune. I think I was spoilt when I was little..there were always apples. My Grandmother had an orchard..apple trees, plum trees and damson trees. There was always fruit..either fresh picked or stored to last over the winter. I can remember going into the shed where the apples were stored, wrapped in paper. It would be my job to go on a Sunday to get the apples for an apple pie or for apple sauce.I can also remember preparing the plums for the freezer. My Grandmother must have been a very forward looking lady. She was one of the first in the area to use freezers. The first time she ever saw one was at a Spar. It was the first supermarket that I ever saw. It had everything on pallets and the first place that I saw a freezer. It was a large one similar to the ones that they have in the likes of Iceland. I remember it seemed to be enormous. The owner of the Spar got one for my Grandmother and she loved it. I also remember back in the day that Lakeland...the kitchen specialists now..began by selling only plastic bags for use in the new fangled freezers..how times change..lol
Well the coffee is calling and I'm waiting for a delivery of some new paper for the printer. I'm looking forward to tomorrow...it's time to de clutter a bit more. I have unloaded a lot of stuff into my bedroom and intend to go through it all and throw away what is damaged or I no longer like. I've decided that it's time to sort a little more.I will continue to do it until it starts to upset me and then I'll have a little break. I haven't got to the point where I can sort Henrys stuff out yet but I have faith there will come a time when I can...but it's not now. Perhaps I will feel better about it all after the inquest....I don't know..but I tell myself that there's no rush. So until tomorrow...take care and happy crafting.

Rosey Hearts..Enchanted Beauty

Todays creation is a design team make for the wonderful Rosey Hearts. The digital design has been created by the ever talented Melissa Stevens and forms part of todays feature over on their main blog. Why not pop over and take a look at the wonderful examples created by the other members of the team. They are so talented and are a great source of inspiration. For one of my makes, I decided to tangle this image. As you have probably seen on previous makes...I do love a bit of zentangle.I find it so relaxing. I had great fun tangling the hair on this design. The only other thing I have done is a little shading with a grey pencil.There is a giveaway on the blog today..if you follow the blog and leave a comment you will be in with the chance of winning two digi designs. I must also remind you that on the Rosey Hearts Challenge Blog a new challenge has begun, with the theme Anything with wings.Why not pop over and join in the fun.
The sun is shining here in the mountains today...and all the cats have decided to go out and get some fresh air. Of course that means that I am again playing cat round about...lol. Pinky is sat on the studio roof, sunning herself. All the others seem to have taken themselves off into the valley. What makes me laugh is that they will all be telling everyone who will listen, that they are all starving. It won't matter that they have only just finished eating...they will all be out there trying it on.
I'm happy to say that I've got lots of work to do today. I have at least 10 cards to do this weekend..at least it will keep me quiet. I also have a lot of die cutting to do today.Trying to do that, alongside a lot of cats help can help drive me slightly insane. No doubt that the air will be blue around my chair later. I have also quite a bit of printing to do today..but I'm looking forward to deciding what images to work with this coming week.
Well the coffee is calling and then it will be a case of ready, steady craft here in the middle of nowhere..lol. I hope that you all have a great weekend..I'm watching the gymnastics as I'm working. It always amazes me, the way in which they can twirl themselves in the air with such precision..goodness knows I have enough trouble walking across the kitchen...I don't think it could even be classed as walking...more of a sideways gimp..lol. At least when I'm in my wheelchair, I don't tend to fall over. I just have to make sure that I don't run over a cat..lol. So until tomorrow...take care and happy crafting.

Jiggery Makery...Legs in the air

Todays card is a design team make for the fabulous Jiggery Makery. I picked this image as the perfect birthday card for my friend.I look at a lot of Adeles digital designs and it really is a case of jealousy..how I wish I had a set of legs like this. For her company Jiggery Makery, Adele has created a fabulous collection of vintage supermodels...so glamorous and just calling out to be used on cards for your friends.I hope that you will take the time to pop over and see all her wonderful designs. For this card I began by layering two shades of blue on top of each other. I made the greetings with the same card. The lady, I coloured with my promarkers and then cut her out and added her to the card.
It is a very sad day here in the mountains. Today is the funeral of a friend, my best friends brother. He was just too young to have left us. Sometimes life throws us curve balls and it is so hard to deal with them. As with Henry, my friend was taken far too early and it's hard to make sense of anything. Some days I wonder what is the purpose to everything, but then I have to have faith in the fact that there must be a reason...a reason that we just can't share. Our lives will be less because they are no longer in it but we have to go on and I believe that I can honour their memory by doing just that. The fact that we may share our memories of them, means that they will never be forgotten. I can only send out love to everyone who has lost someone. The hardest thing that I find is the fact that life is going on despite losing them. It felt so wrong after I lost Henry that life was continuing outside. The fact that cars drove out of the village, that birds sang and that people laughed about things I didn't know. It felt almost obscene that life could continue, even though it felt that my life should have ended too. But in my heart I knew that Henry would expect me to go on and be strong. And I think that it is the same for all of us....we honour their lives by living ours.
Well the coffee is calling and then it will be time to make dinner. I think that this evening I will make a dinner that reminds of my Grandmother. It is bacon, mashed potatoes, broad beans and parsley sauce. I think that I need that bit of comfort today. What is your favourite comfort food? We all have some dishes that may hard times a little better. But anyway..until tomorrow..take care and happy crafting.

Rosey Hearts...Things with Wings

Todays creation is a design team make for the fabulous Rosey Hearts. There is a new challenge over on the Rosey Hearts Challenge Blog and it's theme is Things with wings. Why not pop over, take a look and join in the fun. There is some wonderful inspiration provided by the rest of the team. For my design team make I picked the wizard and friends digi and decided to make a canvas with it. I coloured the wizard, tree, dragon and owl with my copics. I then painted a canvas with my twinkling H2Os, creating a landscape and the trees at the side. I wanted to make it look as if they were entering a forest. The middle of the canvas, I painted in a blue, to look as if the wizards globe was letting out a blue light. It was so much fun doing this, as I got to use some of my stash that I hadn't used for a while. When the canvas had dried, I cut out the wizard group and attached them to the canvas.
I hope that you are all having a good day. It's a lovely day here...the sun is actually shining. It seems to me that BT are playing yet again..the Internet has been on and off all day again and has slowly been driving me mad. The minute you get on a site and try to do something..off the connection goes..and you're sat there watching a little circle going round and round. It's not enough that we have the slowest connection in Wales..they have to mess that up too...lol.
Well the coffee is calling and I've lots of work to do. It's now 4 o'clock and I've trying to write this blog since 10 a.m....it's unbelievable what BT have driven me to. Hopefully tomorrow they will leave the wires alone..lol. So until then...take care and happy crafting

Decoupage Delights...Vintage Ladies

Todays cards are design team makes for the wonderful company of Decoupage Delights. As most of you know I just love vintage fashions. I think it is because I just love the wonderful dresses and know that I never get to wear any thing like this. Both of these designs will be appearing on the forthcoming Vintage Fashion cdrom. On both of these cards feature the ladies, which have both been decoupaged. I love the background paper on the card above...it is so different to a lot that I have seen.

The weather here today is lovely and calm. The wind has calmed down and I can see the mountains...a good day all in all. Jeffrey is lay out on the studio roof...quite happy in his own little world. In fact all the animals are quiet today...thank goodness. Last night it was if they all had the wind up their tales, running up and down, chasing each other, Milky in particular was so funny. She is a right little chubby madam and spent last night chasing everyone. Poor Sprout got rolled over many times and ended up at the top of the stairs looking as if he didn't know what to do next...lol.
I'm so looking forward to the pile of work that I have waiting. Lots of strange ideas on where I want to do. I'm thinking of using my pencils..something that I haven't used in a while. Sometimes it's just down to the amount of time that I have to work on a project, but at the moment I'm slightly ahead of myself, which will give me a longer time to work on the projects at hand. I'm hoping to work on a canvas...a sort of mixed media approach..I will share it with you if I like it when it's finished. You can never know how things will turn out...you just have to hope.
Well the coffee is calling and so are my pencils. I would just like to thank all of you who have been in touch while I was feeling a little down and after I fell. I have spoken to the nurse today and have some new dressings coming for my leg...which will hopefully help with the pain. Sometimes I wish that I could just have a break from the pain but I just have to get on with it. It's the time for big girl pants again..I've been here before and got through..but thankyou so much for taking the time to contact me. So until tomorrow take care and happy crafting.

Lady in Pink

Todays card features a beautiful lady who was created by the artist Di Kaye. It features on a cdrom which has gone astray from my collection. As soon as it appears I will post the title and producer. It's all thanks of course to Jeffrey who is continuing to cause chaos in the cottage. He can make my stash disappear and it turns up in the strangest places. The cdrom will turn up and as soon as it does I'll be posting all the details..lol. I had already printed out this lovely lady, so I decided to make the card and share it with you. I liked the fact that she was wearing a pink dress and that the background featured some brown colours...just a little different. I edged the image with art deco borders and created the end border using black and pink flowers. I am amazed that I am able to blog today..the internet connection has gone on and off all day. No doubt BT are doing something in the village. It has given me a headache trying to do my work...a lot of my work is online..so it did get to the point that I was ready to throw it out of the window..lol. At the moment, fingers crossed, it seems fine. I look at all the internet services and all that you can get..provided you have the right speed...well I think that it may well be another 20 years before we have any speed other than slow..lol
I'm feelings lots better today, thank goodness. Yesterday was a disaster. When I went down to cook dinner, I managed to fall over. I was walking to the cooker, bearing in mind that I have only one speed and it's slow...lol, and suddenly my knee gave way and I ended up on the floor, crying like a fool. I have come to the conclusion that sometimes when you cry, it's like a pressure gauge going off. I remember sitting on the floor crying,with all the cats sat round me looking at me. They must have thought that I had lost the plot.I got upstairs..more by luck than anything else..got to my chair and had another little cry. I managed to get my leg up and it felt a bit better. Sparkle then arrived and continued to cook the dinner. What a day yesterday was. I'm so glad that it's behind me now.
Well the coffee is calling and I have lots of work to do. The wind is raging at the moment but at least it's not raining. I'm looking forward to doing some colouring or 'art therapy' as it is now called..lol. I hope that you are all having a good day and that you get to do something that you enjoy. So until tomorrow..take care and happy crafting.

JB- Crafting Supplies...A Man and His Travels

Todays card is a design team make for the fabulous JB-Crafting Supplies. I have used 2 stamps from the Stampendous range. One is called'Toy car' and the other is Luggage Labels. I found the quote in my stash, it was one that I had previously stamped and embossed. The quote was the inspiration for the card. I stamped the luggage stamp and the car with a distress ink..vintage photo. I also coloured the images using the same ink pad with some water. I mounted the backing paper and all the images onto some black card. The backing paper is a piece of old map from my stash. When I get out and about I often look for things that I can use in my crafting and the map was part of a set of old maps that were for sale in a charity shop. It has proved to be a good buy..I have had the box for about 10 years and have often used different pieces over the years and it is still a great resource. I have embellished with some ribbon and some card candi.
The mist is sat at the top of the mountains and it is drizzling..but at least the wind has stopped raging..at least for a while. All the cats are asleep and it's very quiet here today. I'm in a bit of a fog myself today. I don't know what is the matter with me. I feel a little ill, a little down and a little bit fed up. I've opened the window and am sitting in a draught, in the hope that it will help blow the cobwebs away. I'm still trying to find a new dream to follow but it seems a hard thing to find. I'm going off to find some work to do and at least it will fill my head.
Well the coffee is calling and I think that today I will need a double caffeine hit..lol. I hope that you are all having a good day. So until tomorrow..take care and happy crafting.

The Red Head

Todays card is from the 'Age of Elegance' cdrom from Joanna Sheen. I just love this cd and cannot praise it higher enough. I have mounted the backing paper and the image onto some gold mirri. I have a created a border and have embellished it with die cut ivy leaves and some blue sequin flowers. The backing paper is a William Morris design.
It seems that we are back to normal with the weather. The wind is raging and the rain is sideways. All the cats have taken a look at the window and said no way! So it is very quiet in here today. Out of the window it looks as if we are back in Brigadoon. The perfect crafting day.I managed to get quite a bit of work done yesterday, watching the Trialthlon on the television. As well as athletics, I am an avid watcher of the Triathlon and sit amazed at what these athletes put themselves through. I have watched the Brownlee brothers since they began and cannot believe how they gain the stamina to continue. Yesterday there was only Jonathan competing and it seemed that he was on his own, in his own world. There is another Triathlon in a fortnight and hopefully both brothers will be competing. I don't know why I like it as much as I do but I find myself captivated by the sheer effort that they all put in. I also watched the womens and the winner was so far ahead the rest of them that she could take a 15 second penalty and it made no difference to her competition. I couldn't even do the swim, let alone the bike ride or the run. Personally I'd still be swimming...lol
Jeffrey is the only cat in the parlour at the moment and seems to wandering round looking for something. He's spent the last half an hour on my legs and has just decided that he needs more food. Well he can carry on wanting. He's just eaten a whole tin of food to himself..because of course Jeffrey cannot eat with the other cats. It all started when he was a kitten...because he was the baby he got fed on his own so that he wouldn't have to compete with the big cats..and since then he has decided that he still shouldn't have to compete and insists on his own bowl. And of course it can't even be in the same room as everyone else. I reckon that he's just been spoilt by Henry and no doubt will continue to be spoilt by everyone else. After all he still is the baby after all..lol. The fact that he is taller and heavier than all the others doesn't seem to come into the argument..lol
Well the coffee is calling and there are a pile of  cards waiting to be finished, And then I have a huge pile of papers that need to be sorted. When I'm working I always seem to end up with a huge pile of images and backing papers that need to be sorted and put away. I tend to put it off and off until there is a quivering pile of papers, card and stamps in a heap  and finally they keep falling down until I get to the point that even I can't stand it any more..lol. And today it's driving me mad..lol. So until tomorrow take care and happy crafting

The White Coat

Todays card is from the forthcoming Decoupage Delights 'Vintage Fashion' cdrom. I just love these ladies in the fabulous fashions of yesterday. I have mounted the backing paper onto some black card and have created a border with the same black card and some black lace. The image is decoupaged and I have mounted it onto an oval of gold mirri. I have embellished with a corner of white roses and diamante.I have also added some jewels to the border.
The sun is shining in the mountains today and the birds are singing. I've spent most of the morning swearing under my breath. At 5a.m.Jeffrey did his usual and woke me up but I was determined to go back to sleep. Well I finally managed it, only to be woken again at 7a.m. by my lovely next door neighbour banging on the wall. He always seems to pick the early morning to bang bang and bang on the adjoining wall. So I gave up the thought of a lie in and got up. The cats were very happy to receive their breakfasts. When I finally made it into the parlour..I was not a happy bunny. Reg had managed to yet again damage the phone. I wouldn't have minded but yesterday he managed to break the normal phone by knocking it into my coffee...it was not enough that he'd already killed a remote control by doing the same. So I had replaced the phone by replacing it with my spare phone. Well now that is dead as well. Only Reg! He seems to be on a roll. I remember back to when he was a puppy..he had a bit of a thing for anything wicker. He ate the top off every basket that I had. I had just bought a large wicker basket that had cost me about £30 and it had only been in the house for 24 hours and I returned from a trip out to discover that Reg had eaten the top rim off it. The house was littered with small pieces of wicker. Today the house is littered with dead phones..lol.
There will be more photos of the cats next week. It's as if they know that I'm after catching them with the camera...and head off at great speed when they spot it...lol Hobo has just arrived yet again. He really is determined that he will become one of the family..whether we like it or not..lol. He seems to spend most of the day on the studio roof and complains every time one of my cats arrives on the roof. I have to admit that the roof of the studio is littered with magazines that I have thrown out of the window to try and stop the boys fighting..lol. No doubt it will be a job for pretty boy when he visits again. One of his jobs has always been to clear the studio roof of all the 'presents' that the cats bring home. In the past he's had to remove moles, voles,shrews, birds, rabbits and even a weasel.I had never seen a weasel so close before and it was a fantastic thing to see...it was such a wonderful colour and it is so rare to actually be able to hold one and admire it's build. I was amazed that one of the cats had managed to catch one..they really are aggressive animals. But then it always amazes me when they manage to bring a rabbit back. Sometimes the rabbits are heavier than the cat itself and yet they manage to get the better of it and then they somehow manage to heave it up the tree and onto the studio roof. They really are amazing animals.
Well the coffee is calling and I have a pile of work to get on with. I hope you are all having a good day. So until tomorrow..take care and happy crafting.

Jiggery Makery....presents Denise

Todays card is a design team make for the fabulous Jiggery Makery. The lady which I have been lucky enough to work with this week is called Denise and is available to buy as a digi from Jiggery Makery. I just love this digi because she looks like the kind of woman who looks perfectly happy with the space she is in. I have coloured her with my copics and then cut her out. I have mounted some backing paper from my stash onto some purple card which matches her dress. I have added one of my favourite sayings to the card and have just embellished with some flowers. This would be a great card to send to any of my female friends as a I was just thinking of you card. I am lucky enough to be friends with some amazing women who never cease to surprise me with their inner strength. My life is a better place for just having them in my life.
The sun is shining but there is a mist over the valley. Is this the smog that they are talking about on the news, I wonder? Only a few of the cats have decided to go out...Jeffrey, Sprout and Tankie. But I di have to say that I'm convinced that Tankie has lost the plot..lol. About half an hour ago, she ran in and out, round the studio roof and then back in. Every time she ran out she bounced on one of my shoulders and when she ran back in she jumped in using my other. I now feel as if I've been beaten on both shoulders. I have no idea what she thought she was doing but she looked as if she was having a wonderful time..lol. I sadi I would share another picture of one of my cats...so cat number 2 is Nicademus

Currently, Nicademus is the oldest of my cats. He is 11 this year but still thinks that he is a young boy. He is half Bengal and has wonderful tummie that is gold coloured with spots. His Mum was the Bengal and she was a fabulous golden colour all over.Nicademus...in the cat world must be quite the handsome boy as all the girls just love him. But the one he has a special relationship with is Obie...if you find one..the other is not far behind..lol. When Henry was younger he used to go swimming in the river and Nicademus would always go with him and have a swim with him. That must come from the Bengal side who are descended from Asian wild cats who were well known for swimming to hunt. No-one wanted to believe Henry that the cat went swimming with him but I have seen it for myself and it was an amazing sight.
Well the coffee is calling and I have the excitement of a new cdrom which I will be sharing with you in the next few weeks. I can't believe that the weekend has come around so quickly..I must try and get more work done next week. I hope that wherever you are, you have a fabulous weekend. So until tomorrow...take care and happy crafting

Decoupage Delights....Vintage Ladies

Todays cards are a design team make for the wonderful company of Decoupage Delights. Both of these designs are from their forthcoming cdrom..Vintage Fashion.  On the first card I have decoupaged the figure. On the cdrom there will be 2 backing papers that co-ordinate with the main image. There are also greetings on the same sheet as the main image.I have embellished the card with some fabric roses, diamante flowers and some pearl strands.I also created a border and embellished that with some wonderful crystal gems.

For the second card, I have decoupaged the image and mounted it onto some gold mirri. The backing paper, I have mounted onto some black card and have also created a border. I have edged the border with some black lace and some crystal jewels. I just love this pink backing paper and can see that I will use it for many other projects. There is an offer on the Decoupage Delights page involving the pre order of the cd...why not pop over and take a look.
Well the sun continues to shine here in the mountains. I'm looking forward to an afternoon of crafting. Reg is so far into the doghouse...it may take him a week to get out. He was first in trouble for managing to break the remote control for the dvd..then the sound connection for the tv and his final act of destruction was the telephone. Yesterday he managed to spill my coffee onto the phone...the result being that the phone was full of coffee. It was literally dripping. it took all day and a lot of tissue to dry it out. It is now working thank goodness. Reg has really had the devil in him lately..I think that it's the sunshine..lol. He is very perky at the moment and is quite funny, despite the destruction. The cats are all well and are all stretched out in the sunshine. The only noisy one is Twinkle..who is on heat and is determined that everyone in the valley should know it..lol
I thought that it would be nice to share with you, pictures of the cats, one by one..so that you know who I'm talking about as I rabbit on. So for the first...here is Milky  

I was quite lucky to get her sitting still...lol.Milky has always been a character. After Henry passed Milky took it upon herself to be a dedicated comfort cat and didn't leave my side..even at night. Even now when I'm not feeling my best, it's as if she knows and will appear at my side. Milky is sister to Raven and Tankie. She was the only one out of the litter that had any white on her and she was the first born. When she was tiny she used to have a thing for drinking milk and used to run up my leg at every opportunity to drink cat milk off a teaspoon. My legs still bear the scars..lol
Well the coffee is calling, the birds are singing and the crafting is waiting at my elbow. I hope that you are having a lovely day and that this weather lasts for a while. So until tomorrow..take care and happy crafting.

JB Crafting Supplies....The Vintage Car

Well I bet you thought that I'd disappeared but no..here I am again. I was busy with visitors over Easter..I felt really spoilt. But then I was back down to earth with a bump when my camera decided to play up and there I was with a huge selection of cards ready to go and nothing I could do about it. It's all fixed now..thank goodness and it feels like I will be playing catch up all week. I hope that you all had a fantastic Easter.
Todays card is a design team make for the fabulous JB Crafting Supplies. I am using a picture from a Joanna Sheen cdrom but my main objective was to use this wonderful car stamp from Stampendous Stamps. It seemed to fit in so well with this image that I just had to use it. I stamped the image using my memento ink pad and then coloured it using my promarkers. I cut it out and then added it to the card as a form of embellishment. I also added some twine. It reminded me of when the family owned a petrol station and to close at night, we just ran a rope across the entrance. I can remember serving petrol back in the day and it was only 25p a gallon..it seems so unbelievable now. Somewhere I still have a little plastic tiger that we had to hand out with every purchase..to remind you to put a tiger in your tank..lol Also I remember that the first time that I ever saw a smurf was when I was giving them away with petrol as well. It's strange what you remember..lol.
Well the sun is shining here in the mountains today..and all the holiday makers have left the valley. Virgo man came yesterday and he seems determined to get me outside..so I had to go through all the rigmarole of explaining that I can't sit out in the sun because of my skin...I have a condition which means I don't have any protection from UV and if I get over hot, I end up with brown patches. Virgo has now decided that he's going to get me a parasol for the garden. He's a bit like a dog with a bone when he gets an idea in his head..so no doubt before summers over I'll be sat under a parasol..lol. At the moment all the cats are asleep..you have to enjoy every moment of peace you can...lol. Jeffrey is still waking me at 5a.m., thinking a kiss will make it all better. It must be in the male gene..both cat and human..lol. I have to say I don't mind it half as much when it's a cat.
Well the coffee is calling and then it's back to work...until it's time to make dinner..it's going to be chilli with jacket potatoes tonight and maybe some salad. I think that I may be salad obsessed but that can't be a bad thing. Nothing makes me happier than some spinach,rocket and watercress.I would be a very cheap date..lol. So until tomorrow..take care and happy crafting.

Gruffies and Guests...Patchwork

Todays card is a design team make for the wonderful Gruffies and Guests. The new challenge starts today and the theme is Anythng Goes with the option of Patchwork.The most important thing to remember is that any card you enter must feature a Gruffie, Happy Hopper or House Mouse. It's always so hard to decide which one to use as they're all so cute. This months challenge is sponsored by the fabulous team over at Bugaboo Digi Stamps and they have offered a fabulous 7 digis as a prize. So it's well worth joining in the fun.
For my card I have decided to use this lovely image from the House Mouse Triple cdrom brought to us by Joanna Sheen. The backing paper is actually from another Joanna Sheen cdrom...In Other Words, which features the artwork of Lois Miles. I think that this cdrom is now retired but you can normally get a copy from ebay or other sites.I love this cd and work with it often, and one of the things that it features is a selection of patchwork papers. I picked this green coloured one because I thought it was just so spring like in it's colourways. I mounted the image and the backing paper onto some spring green card. On the image sheet there was some cotton reels, which I cut out and mounted onto some stiff card and then wound thread around them to embellish the card. I also added a bow and a button. I love the image of the little mice, all being busy in their sewing space.
I had a lovely day in the end yesterday. I had a number of visitors and it was so good to catch up with old friends. Also a lady for whom I had made some invitations for sent me a wonderful bouquet, as well as other delights...I felt properly spoilt. The flowers are gorgeous and have an actual smell. So many times these days you have flowers and there is no smell whatsoever...but this bouquet just smells divine. The sun is shining here in the mountains...a miracle by itself..lol.
Well the coffee is calling and for this afternoon, I intend to do some stamping for a change. I really enjoy stamping but don't seem to do it very often..so I'm really looking forward to it. All the cats are quiet, which makes a change..lol. So until tomorrow..take care and happy crafting.

Jiggery Makery...It's Eastertime

Here I am again bringing you another design for today. This card is a design team make for the wonderful Jiggery Makery. I just love this image of an Easter bunny. How I wish I had a set of legs like that..lol. This was designed by the ultra talented Adele and what a great easter card she makes. I really enjoyed making this card. My first decision was how to colour her. I could have gone down the classic playboy bunny of black and white, but I was drawn towards using the pastel shades, which I did. I have used my promarkers to colour her and then added her to a green background paper from my stash, which had been mounted onto some purple card. I then finally added an easter greeting. If you get the chance why not pop over to Jiggery Makery and take a look at all the wonderful digital images that are available to buy.
I can tell that the easter holidays have begun by the number of cars in the village. Easter is the first holiday that really grabs the people who own holiday cottages. They are arriving in droves...last night was punctured by the slamming of car doors.I love the way they have no consideration for any one who lives here and may have gone to bed. They arrive at 1 and 2 a.m...carry on conversations at full voice and see just how many times that they can slam their car doors as they empty their cars. But of course the peasants that live here should be thankful for their gracing the village with their presence..lol When I take Reg out for a wheel and the cats follow us, they manage to look at me as if I'm a freak of nature. It makes me laugh so much as they stand there with their mouths open as me, my wheelchair, Reg and 8 cats go for a walk. What really does make me laugh out loud is the tutting that they do when they have to slow down and wait as my cats take their own sweet time. The worst experience I have ever had was being patted on the head and told I was so brave. I felt like taking the wheelchair and running her over..lol
Well the coffee is calling again and then I'll have to head off and prepare dinner. We are having stew again but with roast potatoes. Tomorrow, I have decided that I'm going to do fried chicken with chips and coleslaw. I shall have to hunt in the freezer to see what we can have on Sunday. I hope that you all really have a great bank holiday and that you all make some happy memories. So until tomorrow...take care and happy crafting.