Left of Center......New Challenge

Today's card is a design team make for the wonderful team over at Left of Center Creative Challenges. A new challenge is due to begin later and will run for the following week. The theme for this challenge is Dots and/or Stripes. And as always, you have the choice of going LOC..for all the details of that..please take a look at the LOC blog.

We are so lucky this week to have been sponsored by the fabulous team over at Lacy Sunshine. I found it so hard to decide which one to work with. I finally chose this little Woodland Wisp. I just adored her.

I wanted to go with orange and green..my favourite colours. To fit into the theme of this challenge, I added some dots to her dress and scarf and also to her hair ribbons. I also added some stripes to her dress. I am also thinking of using this image in a larger piece of work. I'm thinking of drawing a background of flowers and trees and placing her in the middle. It will be put away until a time when I don't have a pile of work to get through. I always need a project in hand..lol.
The bank holiday has just begun and I've already had the music of a chainsaw playing in my ears..lol. I wonder what the rest of the day will bring. I got up this morning with the chickens...I surprised myself and have even been colouring already. All the cats are outside sunning themselves. My neighbours have been away but came back last night..and one of the first things they did was throw water at one of my cats. It was one of my older girls and she was so shocked...she ran in and expected me to say something by the look on her face..lol. She refused to go back out and sat on the windowsill glowering at their garden. I have to say that I don't mind the water treatment..after all not everyone likes cats and it doesn't hurt anything except their pride. So in more than one way, I am left wondering what the bank holiday will bring..lol.
Well the coffee is calling and then it will be back to the colouring. After that their are lots of painting projects waiting to be finished. Also I have cards to make and stamping to do..I'll be in my element. I hope that you all have a peaceful bank holiday and that the weather is kind to you.I'm off to hit the caffeine and then to the promarkers...so until next time..take care and happy crafting.

Jiggery Makery....Pretty in Pink

Today's card is a design team make for the wonderful Jiggery Makery. For today's make, I decided to work with the fabulous Penny. I just love the way that her skirt swings out..I would have been forever twirling if I had had a skirt like this when I was younger..lol..I can remember having a bit of a thing for that.I have coloured the image with my promarkers and just added her to a background paper matted onto some navy card.I decided to colour her skirt navy and cerise after seeing a very similar design on a television programme. If you get the chance why not pop over and take a look at all the Jiggery Makery ladies..you are bound to find one to suit whatever make you want to create. Also on the facebook page, you can see all the other makes..I always have a look for a little inspiration.
Well the sun is shining here in the mountains today and all the cats have left home yet again. When I got up this morning there wasn't one in the house. They came in one by one and said where is our breakfast. I filled the trays and it's been like a permanent buffet ever since. Simon in particular comes in, eats a mouthful and then leaves..and then repeats..again and again..lol. Nosey keeps popping in just to check in case anything has happened. Jeffrey seems to only come in at dusk..eating a whole tin and then leaving. It's so different in the winter months when everyone is curled up in their special places.
The bank holiday weekend is just about ready to begin and no doubt there will be power tools and loud music, dogs without leads and people wandering aimlessly talking about people that live here as if we can't hear. I've got my weekend planned though..I have a heap of work and am so excited about it all..lots of colouring and lots of mixed media..even involving a moonshine jug..watch this space..lol.
Well the coffee is calling and then the pens will be out. I feel as if I need a caffeine hit. I went to the doctors yesterday and now am to keep my right hand strapped. My thumb is having a bit of a moment and seems to kick out..and then it hurts like nothing else. And this is a real pain because I'm right handed..so every thing from holding a pen, paintbrush or working scissors can make me want to scream. So it looks like I'll be doing a bad Keith Lemon impression with my hand strapped. Just as I'm sitting here the sound of a power tool is echoing around the village..it's begun..lol. So anyway, I'll be back tomorrow..until then..take care and happy crafting.

Decoupage Delights...Vintage Motorcycle

Today's card is a design team make for the wonderful company of Decoupage Delights. This wonderful image of the vintage motorcycle is going to feature on the next cd rom. I just love this image with the gentleman dressed as he is..no leathers for him back in the day. Lets hope that he only went slowly.For the background paper I decided to have a play and crumpled some cream paper and went over it with some distress inks. I'm pleased with the outcome as it looks as if it has texture when in fact it's perfectly smooth..it's the way that the paper has picked up the ink. I matted and layered the image onto some gold mirri and then onto some black.I decided to put the greeting onto some blue card to echo the blue of the sky.
The sun is trying very hard to shine here in the mountains but me thinks that we have rain on the way. I'm hoping that it holds off until tonight, as I've got to go to the doctors later.I don't know what the kittens will make of me going out.It's such a performance to get the wheelchair into my friends car but it's got to be done.I really don't know what has happened this week..I seem to be a day behind and seem to be playing catch up. Goodness only knows what I'll be like after the bank holiday..that's guaranteed to confuse me..lol. I've braced myself for the hoards of second homers and their power tools..bring out the chainsaws.
All the cats are in and out like a collection of yoyos..back and to..I've told Sparkle it's a wonder that I haven't got paw prints permanently indented into my arm..they can't walk past me without putting a paw on me..lol. As I write all the kittens are sat on the studio roof...I think that they don't want to go too far, just in case it starts to rain. They are not used to it yet and seem to find it a trial..this getting dry lark. I had to laugh last night..I was having a bath and Gannie just has to keep me company. he loves nothing more than playing with the bubbles and I'm unsure who is the most shocked when he finds my toes..lol. One of these days he is going to end up in the bath..and goodness only knows what he will think of that. He does insist on tapping my head when I'm washing my hair..I think he worries that I'm not going to come out of the bubbles.
Well the coffee is calling and Sparkle has just made a brew. I just feel so spoilt some days. Norah Jones singing in the background and a coffee in my hand..who could ask for more. I'm just being grateful for the little things today. So until tomorrow..take care and happy crafting.

JB-Crafting Supplies Just a piece of Paper.

 Todays cards are all design team makes for the wonderful JB-Crafting Supplies. I created all the backgrounds with distress inks and a piece of paper. I had a play the other day just creating backgrounds. Some paper I just inked directly, some I crumbled before inking and on some others I used glossy card. I then cut various shapes out, stamped them and mounted them to create the cards. I loved playing with the inks and then just seeing what I could create. Some I sprayed metallic inks on and some others I added some mica powders..just had a really good play..which I have to admit...I loved every moment.

The weather here today in the mountains is glorious. The sky is blue with white fluffy clouds. The type of clouds that when I was a child, I used to lie in the fields looking at and imagining what they looked like. Fluffy bunnies seemed to feature quite a bit..lol. I can't see any bunnies today but I'll keep looking.
All the cats have deserted me..they are all lay out on the studio roof. They keep coming in to have a little nibble of their food and then they go straight back out. Last night,when I went to bed there wasn't a cat in the house. But when I woke in the middle of the night..the three kittens were all curled up round me. Nosey is getting more and more like a little dog. He likes to lie at the top of the stairs so that he doesn't miss anything. If he happens to be outside when he hears someone arrive..he will run in to see who it is..and then just leaves again. He certainly lives up to his name..lol 
Well the coffee is calling and Sparkle has arrived to fix my computer for me. I seem to have lost a whole programme and I don't know how to get it back. He has just put the kettle on..so my timing is perfect..lol. So until tomorrow...take care and happy crafting.

Left of Center......New Challenge

Today's creation is a design team make for the wonderful team over at Left of Center creative Challenges. I just love being on this team because I get to work with such a wide variety of images and sometimes it takes me out of my comfort zone...which I love. Today, a new challenge is just about to begin and will run for the following week. The theme for this weeks challenge is Stars. Of course, as usual, you have the option of going LOC. For all details about that, please pop over to the LOC blog. We are so lucky this week to have 2 sponsors..Karleigh Sue and Sassy Studio Designs. The image that I have chosen to work with is from Karleigh Sue.

For my creation, I was lucky enough to find this sentiment which fitted perfectly with my way of thinking and also fitted with the stars theme. I coloured the lady with my promarkers and then cut her out. I created the background using a piece of paper from my stash that had the star constellations on it and added the coloured image to it.

I thought that I would share my thoughts with you that came up when I was creating this project. When I began..seeing this image of the lady wearing not a lot and having tattoos..it made me think of my Mother. She was a very strange lady herself and had some strange ideas about morals and the way people lived. I grew up thinking that she was my sister and have to say didn't get on with her even then. Despite the fact that she didn't want me and thought that that itself was ok......she was forever telling me off for my chosen lifestyle. When I was younger I helped in a pub and she hated that and then over the years I coloured my hair many times and had tattoos..and she always had something nasty to say. I found it very strange because we had in fact been raised by the same woman and my Grandmother always taught me to judge people by their actions not by their appearance. My Grandmother had many many friends from many walks of life and they were always welcome at her home. My Mother didn't like many people at all and always looked down on people...I don't know why..I would have loved to understand her but she never let me in. So I suppose in a way, I just had to use this image to celebrate the differences in us all.

It's raining here in the mountains today and despite this the kittens are in and out like yo-yos. Simon has just ran through with a large stick in his mouth. He was just so pleased with himself and won't let any one else near his prize..lol. They are growing so quickly now but they are all different sizes. Simon is getting very large..I think that he may take after his uncle Jeffrey..he certainly talks alot..he has a comment on everything..lol. Gannie is getting to be a chubby little boy..he's really stocky and is still in love with his food bowl. And finally Nosey..he is just so thin and long..everything about him is so lanky..he's all legs and is so long in the body. It's so strange that they're brothers and all look so different but come bedtime..they're all the same..they're on the bed..lol

Well the coffee is calling and then I've got lots of work to do..which I love. I hope that you all have a great weekend. I will be back on Monday...BT willing..lol. So until then..take care and happy crafting.

Jiggery Makery....Summer Moments

Here I am again with another design team make. This is a creation for the Jiggery Makery design team and I've decided to use this in one of my scrapbooks..to highlight a page on Summer.I think that this lady is called Daphnie..I can't always be sure because I have so many of the fabulous Jiggery Makery ladies on the go, I can sometimes forget. I created a background beach scene for her and intend to put her on one side of the scrap book page. She has such an amazing figure and looks as isf she is having so much fun..I thought that she would be the perfect image for my Summer season page. I intend to work with the 4 seasons..so I can share the others with you when I've finished.
One of the things that I love about the Jiggery Makery ladies is the scope that you have when you work with them. You can always find the right one to work with...whatever you want to do. Whether it's a card, scrapbook project or a piece of home decor...you can always find a lady that is just right. Why not pop over to the facebook page and take a look at the variety of ladies and the different ways that you can use them.
I'm really enjoying blogging today because BT seem to be working ok. I'm getting it done now while there are no problems..lol. I'm hoping to get some inky crafting done over the weekend. I've managed to find my micas and sprays..so the cats had better watch out else they will all be shimmering...lol. I'd looked and looked for my micas and just couldn't find them..even when I had sorted most things out for the cupboard. And then yesterday I suddenly had a thought..under the shelves behind the sofa..and there they were..all neatly in their box, waving at me..lol. Isn't it strange when you're convinced you know where something is and it just isn't there..it drives me insane..lol. All is well now thank goodness and tomorrow I will be getting all inky and messy...I just can't wait..that's the sort of plan I like.
Well the coffee is calling again and my cleaner has just put the kettle on..so I'm off again into the caffeine zone. So until later...take care and happy crafting.

SLS Lines.....New Challenge

 Today's canvasses are design team makes for the wonderful team over at SLS Lines. A new challenge has just begun and will run for the next month. The theme for this months challenge is monochrome. When I've worked with this theme for different challenges, I have had a lot of messages asking what does it mean or does it just mean black and white. Well as far as I work..monochrome means shades of 1 colour. So it could be something that is just shades of pink etc. To highlight my point for this challenge, I have made two canvasses...the top one being shades of grey and the one below..shades of orange.

For the shades of grey..the background was made using crumpled brown paper, which I stuck to a canvas, covered with pva and then painted it with black acrylic. When it had dried I polished it with a pearl gilding wax...I just adored doing this technique..so no doubt you will be seeing more of it.

For the shades of orange..the background was made using starlight paints in shades of orange and gold. The trouble was it didn't work well being photographed..there was just too much shine. I shall have to work out a better way of photographing it. On the orange one, I also used glossie accents on their eyes. I love using glossie accents but the trouble is in this house is finding somewhere it can dry undisturbed by furry little noses and paws..lol.

I do hope that you will pop over to the SLS Lines challenge blog and take a look at all the other fabulous makes created by the other members of the team. They really are an inspiring bunch of ladies and I count my blessings every day that I'm lucky enough to work with them.

The weather here in the mountains today doesn't know what to do with itself. The sun is shining but it feels as if it's going rain any moment.I have a load of complaining cats because at the moment they are all shut out of the parlour. I need to do some work without cat help. If you could hear them complaining..Simon is scratching at the door like a dog..lol. It will only be for about half an hour but they all expect to be around me all the time..lol
Well the coffee is calling and I will be back in a while with another design team make..or two even. I'm off for a huge caffeine hit and then I'll be back. So until then..take care and happy crafting.

A Snowflakes Promise.........New Challenge

Today's card is a design team make for the wonderful team over at A Snowflakes Promise. A new challenge has just begun and will run for the next fortnight. The theme for this challenge is Anything Goes and the prize is a £10 voucher from the Joanna Sheen online Shop.
For my card, I really enjoyed having a good play. The first thing I used was this wonderful fish stamp which my friend Sunshine brought me back from a holiday that she had in India. I stamped the fish three times in a row and coloured it with my distress inks. The background has also been created using my distress inks. I brushed the ink onto some gloss card and then stencilled the bubbles over the top.I then layered some black and white card. The fish strip I gave a curve to..just to add a little more shape.
The weather here in the mountains is still gorgeous..and all the cats are outside sunning themselves. Gannie has chosen a neighbours garden as his favourite sun spot...luckily for him it is a holiday home and no one is there to disturb his little bit of peace. I've calmed down now about the kittens going out but I'm glad to say that they all come home for bedtime. In fact they think that my ed is the only place to be.
I was intending to blog yesterday but BT had other ideas. I didn't manage to get online until about 10.30 p.m. and by then I'd lost the will...lol. If I had the energy I would complain but I'm so sick of the lies, arguments and down right rudeness of the operators who, aren't even in this country, reading from a script that I don't seem to have any fight left..at the moment. The number of people that have messaged me, telling me of the horrible times that they have with BT..I wish there was someone working for BT who actually cared about their service rather than their profits.
Well the coffee is calling and then it will be time to do some work. I've just looked out of the window at the mountains and can see that they have changed colour. There is now a purple haze over the mountain side..the bluebells have just come out. It looks as if a watercolour artist has swiped their brush over the mountain side, leaving a trail of purple. Just beautiful. So until next time..take care and happy crafting.

Left of Center....New Challenge

Todays card is a design team make for the wonderful team over at Left of Center Creative Challenges. A new challenge is just about to begin and will run for the next week. The theme for this challenge is Anything not square or rectangle. As always you have the option of going with a LOC make. All details for this option are on the LOC blog.

We are so lucky to have been sponsored by the great team over at Aliciabel. There is such a great collection of images over there...they are well worth a look. I chose to work with this beautiful image of the curious fairy. I created the leaf and flower background using my H2Os. I coloured my image with my promarkers.

I hope that you will pop over to the LOC blog and join in with the fun. The other ladies are as always a wonderful source of inspiration.
Well the coffee is calling  and I have to say that trying to blog today has been a nightmare with BT playing at their normal games. The internet has been off and on flashing like a disco so it's a case of do it while you can. So I have..lol. Until next time..take care and happy crafting.

Jiggery Makery....Crinoline Lady

Todays card is a design team make for the wonderful Jiggery Makery. This card has been the subject of much middle of the night thinking..lol. It all began by the making of last weeks card featuring some parchment craft and looking at all the digis available from Adele at Jiggery Makery. It began taking me on a train of thought...and as you know heaven only knows where I'll end up..lol. When I saw the hat that the digi Ginger was wearing, it set me to thinking of all the times since the 1930s that a crinoline lady had featured on home decor. When I was growing up you saw her in her garden..on cushion covers, tray mats..all embroidered..you saw her painted on boxes and mirrors. It was an ever favourite image for lots of ladies. Well all this late night thinking drove me to create a crinoline lady of my own. I knew that I wanted to use the top half of Ginger and decided that the digi of Victoria had the right shaped dress. So I used both. I cut them down until I had the shape that I wanted and then I used a piece of tracing paper to draw a dress that covered as I wanted. I then transferred this dress image to some parchment, coloured the back with pastels and white spirit and then parched a pattern on to. Ginger was holding a watering can in one hand and a gardening fork in the other and I knew that I wanted to keep those features in..which I did. I added the parchment dress to the joined digi and I had my crinoline lady all ready to garden. I then thought to myself it's alright having my lady but she still needs a garden...so I painted her one. I used my Lyra watercolour crayons to create a landscape and added her to it.
The sun is shining here today in the mountains and all the cats are outside enjoying every minute of it. I decided yesterday to let the kittens out for the first time and spent the rest of the day in nervous terror. After all they are my babies. Gannie managed to go missing and most of village ended up looking for him. He hadn't returned by bedtime, so I left the window open for him. I had been in bed for about half an hour when I heard the noise of a kitten heading my way. It was Gannie..he came up to me and tapped me as much to say..here I am. He had some fuss..talking to me the whole time...no doubt telling me about his adventures in the big big world..lol. He then got himself comfortable and stayed with me for the rest of the evening. All the kittens are out today..at least today they keep popping in and out.
Well the coffee is calling and then I've got to finish the little girl card I've been working on. I shall share it with you next week. I hope that the weather is as lovely where ever you may be. So until tomorrow..take care and happy crafting. Oh and I forgot to tell you..Friday is normally an LOC day..but the challenge has now moved until a Saturday..so I'll be bringing that creation to you tomorrow.

Decoupage Delights...I just couldn't help it

Today's card is a design team make for the wonderful company of Decoupage Delights. And I really couldn't help it..lol..I know that I've picked this image before but it is one I just adore. I was actually working on some vintage motorbike images to share with you, when I found this image which I had printed out. I had used the decoupage on another card and this topper was what remained. So really I had no other choice..lol.
I just love all the vintage images that are available from Decoupage Delights. I'm very excited about the upcoming cd rom. There are many unusual vintage designs which are perfect for the men in your life and I just can't wait for it to come out. Next week I will share one of the vintage motorbike images that are due to be on it. So far I have made two versions using the same image...goodness only knows just how many I will have made by next week..lol.
I'm still working on a card for a little girls first birthday but my head is full of another design. I'm so sad that I lie in bed at night having ideas about cards that I could make. My new idea involves 2 digi designs,parchment and needlework..I don't even know if it will work yet...I'm going to have to have a go..else it will drive me crazy. If it works, I'll share with you all soon...if it doesn't I'll just keep on with the original thought in a different way.
Well the coffee is calling and the colouring pens are as well. On the cat front..they are all stretched out on the stairs..pretending to be well behaved. They have all had their lunch and are now sleeping off their full tummies. It's the one time of the day when a little peace reigns..lol. By dinner time they will all be running round and round, telling me that they haven't been fed for an age..lol. Anyways until next time..take care and happy crafting.

SLS Lines......New Release Day

Today's creations are both makes for the wonderful design team over at SLS Lines. Today is new release day and both these images will be available from SLS Lines. They will be featured on the SLS blog later today, alongside some other new releases. The first image was one that I absolutely loved working with.It is an absolute mix of images and I thought it was perfect as an illustration of a crafters head..lol. Well mine at least. My head is always full of new ideas and part designed cards. And I have noticed that crafters always say..my mojo has left me...well this seemed the perfect illustration of where it might have gone..lol. I coloured the image above with my promarkers. The image below has to be another favourite of mine because it features the cat sat on the girls shoulder..a place that my Simon loves to sit. And when I found the sentiment...Home is where cat fur sticks to eveything but the cat..it just sums up my own house. For this make, I coloured the image with my Lyra watercolours. I do hope that you will pop over to the SLS Lines blog later and take a look at all the wonderful creations made by the rest of the team. I feel so lucky to be able to work with this amazing team of so talented ladies..they constantly inspire me.

And now as promised, here are the latest pictures of the kittens. Let me first introduce you to Gannie. On this picture, you can see his poorly ear...I'm afraid that is what happens when you think you are big enough to take on one of the big ladies..and she lays down the law..lol. It is looking better though even after a couple of days..bless him. Gannie is the most affectionate of the three but lives up to his name as well..his greatest love is his food bowl.

And next is Nosey. I didn't think that I'd be able to get a photo though because he just wouldn't stop playing with the camera.

Finally let me introduce Simon the Brave. He really didn't want his photo taken....as you can tell by his I'm not amused face..lol.

They are the nosiest, noisiest bunch of kittens that I have ever had. When they are running up and down the stairs, you would think that there was a herd of beasts chasing around. All these things that I read that say how quiet cats are, have obviously never met the likes of these boys..lol. What really makes me laugh is the fact that should they want my attention they all come over to me and tap me..usually on my face. I always imagine that they're saying come on mother pay attention. My friend the pa came round the other evening and Gannie sat on her knee and bless him, he put up his paw and gave her a hug..it was so sweet.
Well the coffee is calling and then I'm going to working on a baby card. I'm going to try and make a very elaborate one..I've a head full of ideas but just don't know how it will turn out in reality. I will share it with you when I've finished. So until tomorrow...take care and happy crafting.

Gruffies and Guests.....Hello Baby

Today's card is a design team make for the wonderful team over at Gruffies and Guests. A new challenge has just begun, sponsored by Gruffie team mate Silvia. The theme for this challenge is Hello Baby..so as you can guess any make for a new baby. As always though..you do have the option of going Anything Goes..the only rule being that it must feature a House Mouse, Gruffie or Happy Hopper. Silvia has offered the wonderful prize below for the winner of the challenge.A great prize..I'm so jealous that I can't enter myself..lol

As always I would recommend popping over to the blog and taking a look at the wonderful creations made by the rest of the team. They are always a wonderful source of inspiration to me and a great group of ladies.And why not join the Gruffies and Guests facebook page. We just love seeing all your wonderful House Mouse creations.

For my make I decided to use one of my House Mouse stamps/ I loved this image of the baby mouse asleep under the flowers and thought it would make a sweet little baby card. I stamped the image using my versafine ink pad and coloured the image using my Lyra watercolour crayons. I stamped extra flowerheads and coloured them as well. I diecut the image into an oval and cut the flower heads out by hand. I layered 2 types of paper onto some pale lilac card. I edged the oval with a peeloff and added the flowerheads to the edge as well. I finally added the sentiment and a ribbon. I thought that if I made the card using lilac colouring, it could be for a girl or a boy..for those times when you don't know what is to be expected..it always a good colour way to have in hand..just in case.
So much it seems for the promised heat wave. Here I am in the mountains watching the rain fall. I;m sat here with my legs up, watching the athletics. All the cats are in and have all been shut out of the parlour. I decided that it won't hurt them for an hour and I can do some work with out the help of a cat paw..lol. I discovered that when Nosey wants my attention he will sit by me and tap me with his paw. And believe me he can be a very persistent tapper. Jeffrey is the only one in the parlour and that's just because he has bedded himself at the back of the shelves and can't be reached. I can hear him snoring though.
Well the coffee is calling and then I need to update my files with work for June and July. I've finished most of my work for May and am now thinking June and July...this year has just rushed by. I've taken some new pictures of the kittens which I will hopefully share with you next week. I hope that you all have a great weekend and I will be back next week. So until then...take care and happy crafting.

Jiggery Makery......Remembering the Debs

Here I am again. I thought that I'd better blog now as BT are now in the village and goodness only knows just how long I'll be online. This time I am featuring this wonderful image from Adele over at Jiggery Makery. This card was inspired by a television programme that I watched the other evening. It showed the last original debs being presented to the Queen. Now my Mother was one of these. It was 1958 and being presented was the highlight of many a debs season. It had been planned for a long time and was all alot of people talked about for even longer. I have watched many different clips of the presentation and have not managed to spot my Mother yet. I do have the pictures of her dress and still have the tiara she wore in her hair..it was made out of pearls..very pretty. The dresses had to be white and a piece of the lace still remains. So with all this in mind..I chose to work with Victoria from the Jiggery Makery range of wonderful ladies.
To make the card, I began by tracing the dress outline onto some parchment. I drew the leaf pattern with a white pencil and then parched it from the back. It gave the look of the lace overdress that my Mother had. I then attached this parchment dress to the original and glittered along the lines and at the bodice. I decoupaged some duflex roses from my stash as they were often given to the debs. I added the white leaf sprays to create a border..adding some pinky red pearls to decorate.
Well yet again the coffee calls and then it will be time for my cleaner to arrive. He is going to be laughing at me today because I'm covered in glitter. No doubt he will get used to it over time..lol.I always used to smile over Reg being covered in glitter. I would be working on a lot of cards and he would come over for a fuss and before I knew it he would be shimmering..bless him. I still miss him and it feels so strange to be without a dog. This is the first time in my life that I haven't had one...I will get another eventually...I will let you know when I'm thinking about it. All the cats must miss him..they made such a fuss of him and always lay with him...now they all lie with me..lol. I'm off for a coffee...I'll be back tomorrow with another make...so until then...take care and happy crafting

Left of Center.....New Challenge

Today's creation is a design team make for the wonderful team over at Left of Center Creative Challenges. A new challenge is just about to begin and will run for the next week. The theme for this week is Witches..so it's the perfect excuse to let your imaginations fly.

We are so lucky this week to have been sponsored by the fabulous team over at A Day for Daisies. I just adore the art work that is available..it has such a whimsical edge to it. To go with our theme, I chose to work with this wonderful image of the young witch on the fence. When I saw her, I wanted to place her looking down into a valley...I couldn't find an image that fitted what I wanted her to be looking at..so I painted my own. I used my Lyra watercolour crayons to paint the valley. I used the same crayons to colour the young witch and her cats as well. I just adore this image of the young girl and her cats..there is something so timeless about it. It could be that she is looking from her world into ours.

The sun is shining and I have shut all the cats out, so that I can get along with my crafting in peace. Saying that Pinky has managed to get in and is lapping me as I speak..lol. Yesterday I bought myself a seat to use in the shower..Sparkle put it together for me and then I placed it in the shower area. It's legs hadn't even had time to settle and Nosey was there. I went into the bathroom today and both Nosey and Gannie were asleep on it. I wouldn't mind but they do have their own space in there...I have put a cat bed on top of a storage until..but obviously new is better..lol.

Well the coffee is calling and Sparkle is here..so I will be spoilt by having my coffee made for me. I shall be back later with another design team make...so until then..take care and happy crafting.

The Crafting Musketeers......New Challenge

Today's card is a design team make for the wonderful Crafting Musketeers. We are so blessed that today is our 3rd. Birthday as a team and all want to thank everyone that has supported us and entered our challenges. A new challenge has just begun and will run for the following month. The theme for this month is Summer..so it's a perfect excuse to focus on what you would really like summer to be. As I write this I'm wondering when we will be seeing some more snow..lol. no body would think it was May. We are so lucky to have been sponsored this month by the fantastic team over at Sunsational Stamps. They provided the team with the images to work with and I was lucky enough to be able to work with the pirate. I thought that it would make the perfect card for a little boy.

https://www.facebook.com/sunsationalstamps/?fref=ts As I look out of my window, all I can see is the sun shining and hear the sound of banging over powering the birdsong. I as so amused by different messages that I received from lots of you...it seems that I'm not the only one to suffer bank holiday weekend power tool madness..lol. We should form a support group for people who would like the chance to hear some other than a chainsaw, banging or thudding on a bank holiday..lol. I'm so relieved to actually have internet connection..last night, the whole of the top of the village was offline and this morning was exactly the same...who knows when it will go off again. I have started to growl every time I see a BT advert. The best service they say..the worst in the world I say. It has been officially acknowledged that we have the worst service in the whole of the U.K Even a BT customer service person said that they had never seen anything as low as we have.So I may be writing this now but who knows when I will be able to upload it...lol. Well the coffee is calling and then I've got two birthday cards to finish.The cupboard is now sorted and it's really easy to get to anything. But yesterday I had to laugh..I went in it to get my beads out for a project and remembered to lock the door. Well as soon as I turned away..pathetic noises began coming from the cupboard. Unbeknown to me Simon had jumped in and had got himself locked in there in the dark. lol. I don't think that he will be doing that again in a hurry. So until next time...take care and happy crafting..and I hope that you manage to have a few quiet moments.