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

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

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

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

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

Left of Center..New Challenge and 31 Days of Halloween..Day 30

Todays card is a design team make for the wonderful team over at Left of Center Creative Challenges and is also for Day 30 of the 31 Days Challenge. The challenge for this week s of course Halloween and will run for the coming week. You can as always join in doing an LOC make (for all details please check out the LOC blog)..if Halloween isn't your thing.

Our sponsors for this week is the great team over at Bloobel Designs. Now as you can probably tell I just adore these images and my greatest problem s deciding which one I would like to work with the most. For this challenge I chose to work with this wonderful witch and her cat. It's a bit like looking into a mirror apart from the fact she has a better figure..lol. It's a lot like me and my Raven..lol. I do hope that you will pop over to the Bloobel shop and take a look at all the amazing designs.

I can't quite believe it that the 31 days challenge will be over tomorrow. I have seen such fabulous creations and have loved every minute. I've got lots of ideas for next year..but some of them I will have to plan a little earlier and keep my eye out for some little oddities..lol.
Well the coffee is calling and then I've got some colouring to do. I'm undecided what medium to use yet though. I do admit to wanting to use my pencils but my paints are calling as well. It really depends where the cats are..lol. They tend to help so much where water is concerned. So until tomorrow...take care and happy crafting.

31 days of Halloween.....Day 29

Today's page features this fabulous image from Delicious Doodles. I chose this image for day 29 of the 31 days challenge. I've figured out during the last 29 days that I have a little passion for collecting quotes to do with Halloween...lol. It's nice to have them altogether in one place. I coloured the image with my inktense pencils..I just loved the crows..they just make me smile. I often sit here in my window and watch the crows strutting their stuff along the lane. The cats don't know what to make of them...I think that it's the size of them. Jeffrey is terrorised by the magpies. When he was younger, he was attacked by two who pecked his head. Ever since then he only has to hear their noise and he's running back home like the devil is behind him. He then sits in the window shaking..bless him.

I thought that you might to see my latest photo of Colin. This is him curled up with two of his pets..Bertie and Roxie. He obviously can tell the warmest spot..on top of them...lol. You can tell, just in the couple of weeks he's been part of the family just how much his fur is growing..he's just turning in a little bundle of fluff...soon to become a bigger bundle of fluff. To my mind he's lay on top of Bertie because they're the same colour..lol. In my house the cats if they are in a certain mood they lie together in colour range...the black and whites, the blacks and the tabbies.

And finally for today I thought I would share this picture of a Halloween decoration that I made a few years ago but still get out every year. It s my glamorous witch from Jiggery Makery. I thought that it would be nice to share..with love to you all this coming Halloween

Well the coffee is calling and then I'll be getting down to some card making. I got thoroughly multi coloured yesterday with my brushos and inks. I was various shades of blue and green..and so did the cats. Simon in particular seemed to be foot first into everything..it's a really good job that he's not a white cat..lol. So until tomorrow...take care and happy crafting.

31 Days of Halloween.....Day 28

Today's pages are from my Halloween book which I have made for the 31 days challenge. If I knew more about computers I would have put them side by side as they appear in the book but my skills on the laptop are not the best..lol. The thought of these pages was my memories of Halloween parties with my friends. A lot of alcohol and food was consumed and we always had a great time. All the ladies that I've used are from the fabulous team over at Lacy Sunshine. When I began the pages I just couldn't decide which lady to use..so I did all three..lol. I just love all the little details in the images.

Here in the mountains today the mists have come down and it's drizzling. All the cats keep looking out of the window in disgust..lol. I'm feeling very virtuous today as I gave the parlour a good hoovering. And I can honestly say that the cats were disgusted with that as well..lol. Jeffrey spent most of the time battering the hoover and the rest of the time he was trying to eat any cat biscuits off the floor before I hoovered them up. One of my old dogs Hilly hated the hoover even more than Jeff and every time I put it on she would attack it. I used to have a dyson and she once ripped the front bumper off it in temper. I wouldn't have minded but she wasn't a big dog and the dyson was quite heavy..she was determined to get her own way..lol.
Well the coffee is calling and then I'll get down to some work. I was intending to get my brushos out yesterday but I had visitors and thought that they wouldn't appreciate being covered in multi coloured pigments..lol. So I'm all ready to get messy and really looking forward to it. So until tomorrow..take care and happy crafting.

31 Days of Halloween.....Day 27

Day 27 of the 31 days challenge...I can't quite believe that I've nearly got there..lol. Today's page features this great image from SLS Lines. It's one of my favourites and I've used it on lots of different projects, so it seemed so right to include it in my Halloween book. I've always craved a top hat but just can't afford one..it doesn't help having a large head..lol..it's a family trait so I was doomed from the start. I love the photos of the steam punkers wearing their top hats.

It's a damp and cold day today here in the mountains..even the postman complained today. I've got my legs up and Milky has taken up residence on them..much to Ravens disgust. She keeps coming and trying to get Milky off..but to no avail. All the other cats are dotted around the parlour in their favourite places and are showing no interest in going outside. And I have to say, I don't blame them. I'm sat here surrounded by my afternoon projects. I am intending to have a play with my brushos and to create some backing papers. I just love the way the colours explode. I think that the black is my favourite because you really have no idea what you're going to get. For the past couple of weeks I've been looking for my spray bottle to use with the brushos..I know that it's in a box with my mica powders but the whole thing has disappeared and it was driving me crazy. Then last night I saw a spray bottle in my bedroom that was from an old air freshener..and I thought..that'll do the job. So this morning I rinsed it out and filled it with water and hey ho..I'm ready to go. No doubt now that I've done this the box of mica papers will turn up waving at me going I've been all the time..lol. Isn't that always the case.
Well the coffee is calling and then I'll be getting very messy...I just love it. No doubt there will be multi coloured cats by the end of the day..they won't be able to resist helping.It's going to be a very old fashioned dinner tonight..liver and onions with potatoes and green beans. It seems just right on a day like this. It was one of my Grandfathers favourite dinners and he always requested it once a week..So until tomorrow..take care and happy crafting.

31 Days of Halloween...Day 26

Finally here I am...a lot later than normal...and the reason..we have had no electricity all day. All I can say is that it's been a very dark today in the cottage..lol. To be safe I've stayed in my chair..it's one of the few places that there is light. With the cottages up here being so old the windows have really deep sills so they don't let too much light in...but still I wouldn't swop living here for anything.
For todays page, I have chosen to share this fabulous image from Bugaboo..another version of my dream home. I loved the fact that there is a cat at the side..a large one...we'll take it as Jeff..he's my biggest boy..lol. And an owl in the tree..quite like my house. Ever since I lost Henry a barn owl lands on the roof of my house and I can hear it walk along the roof. A lot of Owl 'experts' have told me that they all have their own routes and my house must just be part of the route..I like to think that he's been sent by Henry. We used to laugh that we should live in a gothic type house..so this image is one that I just had to use.

Well the coffee is calling as I don't think that my caffeine levels are up to scratch yet..lol. Sparkle has been really good..he has a portable gas cooker thing and brought it round to make me some coffee magic. Never has anything tasted as good as that first cup..lol Now I'm off to make dinner..it's sweet and sour tonight..homemade as always...it's miles to the nearest chinese..but anyway..it's still a treat. So until tomorrow...take care and happy crafting.

31 Days of Halloween....Day 25

I just can't believe that it's day 25 of the 31 days challenge. I've come to the conclusion that I have done more makes than I actually need..I think I got a little carried away..lol. I do admit though to having a face and hair very much like the lady in the photo..will we all have that certain look at the end of the 31 days challenge?I found this quote..I do have a passion for them...and then had a thought..5 of my cats are black and only Pinky has the green eyes...all the rest have gold coloured eyes. Two of the cats are the only ones inside..Raven on my legs and Nicademus on the couch. All the rest are outside...no doubt causing chaos around the village..lol

The image that I've used is from the wonderful team over at The East Wind. I do hope that you will pop over and take a look at the wide variety of images that are available. As well as having a moment there I hope that you are continuing to look at all the others crafters involved in this 31 days challenge. My efforts are so little compared to some of the other ladies wonderful creations. They have made me feel so inspired.
The sun is hidden today behind all the clouds. The air is cold and my blanket is on my legs. The weather is supposed to be on the change..to what, I have no idea. Everywhere I read about the weather, I read that we are supposed to being having a bad winter but who can really tell..lol
Well the coffee is calling and Sparkle has just arrived...he has such perfect timing..lol. I'm off for a caffeine hit and then down to some work. So until tomorrow...take care and happy crafting.

31 Days of Halloween...Day 24

Here I am on day 24 of the 31 days of Halloween challenge. First let me say that I'm sorry about missing off part of the saying...I blame it on cat help..lol. I was trying to photograph my pages for the rest of the challenge and my shoulders were like a cat roundabout. It wasn't until just now I realised that part of the quote was missing. It actually reads..don't make me get the flying monkeys..a quote that I'm sure you all know from Oz. The actual quote on the witch image always makes me smile. So many times in my life I've been referred to as a witch just because I don't follow the norm or fashion and I have to say it's never bothered me. If that's the worst thing that people can throw at me..so be it..lol. So it felt that I had to include this image in my book. The image itself is from the wonderful Bugaboo Stamps. I hope that you will check out their site..they have such a variety of images for whatever you want to do.

I have come to the conclusion that sometimes I can be really thick when it comes to the computer..lol. I have always said that I'm a bit of a techno phobe and am pleased to have learnt all that I have in the past three years. Henry was far better than me and I think that it was because he was never scared of it. Where as I came from a generation that didn't have computers..goodness me we didn't even have calculators when I was at school. I've never had a mobile phone because I'm mostly housebound and I live in one of the few areas in the country that don't have a reception. I think it's because of the mountains. Some people have found a reception if they shim up the second tree down the lane ..but that's never going to be me..lol. Back to where I began anyway..today I finally worked out how to play music whilst doing other things on the computer. Now stop laughing at me..lol..I never thought of it until today. So here I am..music playing...a happy woman. 
Well the coffee is calling and Sparkle has just arrived..so I won't even have to make it..a really happy day. I have decided to make quiche for dinner..with new potatoes and veg tonight and chances are I make 2..so we will be having it with chips maybe the next day. So until tomorrow..take care and happy crafting.

31 Days of Halloween....Day 23

Todays image is from the amazing SLS Lines and I thought that she should have a place in my 31 Days challenge. I just think that she looks so calm.I have coloured her with my promarkers and mounted the image onto some black card. Every time I make an image and have coloured it, finished it and have photographed it, I always look at it after a while and become aware of what I would have done differently. I think that next time I will use my paints and use some gems on her as well. I think that forms part of why I love digital images so much..you can always print another out and go again.

I have to say it's fairly cold here in the mountains..so much I have a blanket on my legs..plus cat of course..lol...and a shawl round my shoulders.It does seem to be coming to the point in the year when the biggest cat flap in the world will have to be closed. All that means is that I then become the gatekeeper and spend most of my time opening and shutting it. The cats always seem to wait until it's shut and then come and tap on it..lol.
I managed to get lots of painting done yesterday, so I was really pleased..but still have more to do. The hardest thing is doing the details due to all the cat bypass that keeps happening over me. If I was sat here doing nothing..they wouldn't come near..but should I get my watercolours out..there they all are.
Well the coffee is calling and I'll be back tomorrow with my next make. So until then..take care and happy crafting.

Left of Center.....New Challenge and 31 Days of Halloween...Day 22

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 coming week. The theme for this week is again Halloween..so it's the perfect place to share all your Halloween makes. As it is a Halloween challenge, I thought it would also be perfect to form another part of my 31 Days Challenge. And this image seemed perfect because it is after all 'near Halloween'. I just loved this image of the pumpkins and the brrom. The image and words are from the fantastic team over at Bugaboo Stamps. They have such an amazing collection of all things Halloween and you will be sure to find something to fit your needs. I hope that you will pop over to the LOC blog and take a look at all the wonderful makes of the rest of the team.

The sun is shining brightly here in the mountains today. I was up early and the frost was still out there and the mist was so low down on the mountains. it is something so magical..the nip in the air and the dragons mist lay low. I really feel blessed living here on days like this. It says something about the weather..all the boys are in and cuddled in their favourite spots while the girls are out and running about..lol.

I thought that today I would also share another photo of Colin. It was sent to me today and it seemed only right to share it with you.

Isn't he just so handsome. I will share new photos as they come in..then you can share him growing up. it is so lovely to see a ginger and white. Sadly I don't have a ginger any more after losing Icabod..so it will be lovely to watch Colin. I must try and find some pictures of Trevor and Boris..the other cats in this family. People will find it strange but most of my friends and I tend to ask after the animals before we talk about ourselves..lol .
Well the coffee is calling and then it will be time to get my head down and get on with some work. I have some wonderful new images to work with and am looking to forward to sharing with you under the next couple of months. I hope that you all have a great weekend. So until tomorrow...take care and happy crafting.

31 Days of Halloween....Day 21

Today's entry for the 31 days challenge is another page for my Halloween book. The theme I took for this page was inspired by this quote from Edgar Allen Poe. It was the idea of lost love. The images are from two different digital design teams...The East Wind..at the top and Lacy Sunshine..bottom right. The heart stamp at the top right is from my stash and I have no idea where it came from..it is from back in the day when I didn't note down the company and any details..lol. I just thought that the images worked together.I do notice that I have a bit of a tendency to do strange coloured hair..I think that's it's a hangover from my punk days.I changed the colour of my hair every week...I'm amazed that my hair lived through it all. I remember that I had a poncho type wrap but it had long black fringing..it was like wearing a dense spider web. I was known because I painted my face and was pretty outrageous..lol...these days I'm only outrageous on the inside. Saying that my hair has been pink, purple, green and blue in the last 12 months. A man that met me not long after he'd moved in to the village met me on the lane..my hair was pink, Reg was attached to my wheelchair and all the cats were out with us..I think he was a little shocked..lol and proceeded to tell everyone he met that he'd met a very strange woman..lol. I had to laugh because he obviously hadn't realised just how quick things get round a small village and that I've lived here so long everyone just told me. I think now he just lets me off by saying that I'm obviously arty..lol

The sun is shining and it's a beautiful day. My poor leg is having a rest and is up on it's box stool. It really doesn't like being fiddled with in any way. I've decided that it can have a rest this weekend..I have lots of work to do so I'll just stay in my chair and get covered in paint and paper. I'm sure that Raven will love every minute of it. She will be nested on my legs the whole time. It will be a little strange to be doing things that are not Halloween. All my Halloween projects are all finished and ready to blog.I think that Christmas projects are going to hit the ground running. Brace yourself..lol
Well the coffee is calling and then I've lots of printing to do. Luckily the printer is right by my chair..so I don't even have to move. I had to laugh yesterday I saw lots of people who were so shocked to see me out..lol. Three people actually said that they always thought of me in my corner working..that every time they came to visit me I always was in the middle of a project. I don't actually think about it very much..living in the middle of nowhere and being in a wheelchair means that going out is a major procedure and as much as I enjoy going out..I'm always so glad to be home. All my friends know that I'm here and I am so lucky that they come and visit. And anyway I don't think I could put up with cats sulking that often..lol So until tomorrow..take care and happy crafting.

31 Days of Halloween....Day 20

Today's image is another page out of my Halloween Book. To me this is a perfect image that makes me smile every time I look at it. If I had to have a representation of myself...this image from Bloobel would be perfect..so I just had to include it in the 31 Days Challenge. I'm thinking of working with this image again and creating a picture for my bathroom. This was definitely me last night..lol. I indulged in a long hot bath in preparation of my hospital visit...but I do have to say it was anything but peaceful. All the cats have to come into the bathroom to check that I'm ok..and they did. Gannie is fascinated by the bubbles and always plays until he finds my toes...I'm sure that one of these days he is going to end up in the bath with me..lol. Last night Milky arrived in the bathroom and headed off with the towel that I had put down to stand on. She managed to kick it into a ball shape and headed out of the door with it, the little madam.

I was up with the birds this morning and headed off to the hospital. I had my scan on my foot and bless them but what a waste of time. All the lady talked about was my scars and couldn't see what she was looking for. The fact that she seemed to be scanning in the wrong place didn't make any difference. But I have to say that I'm not going again..the pain in my foot is horrible and seems to be going up the bone in my leg. My friend that took me offered to take me shopping but all I wanted to do was to come home, take my tablets and get my leg up. And here I am. I'm just glad it's all over and done.
As I've been joining in with this challenge, I have been so inspired by the other creations made by the other crafters that have entered. I'm still trying to comment but BT are still playing up..they will let me the blogs..some days..but won't let me comment...I'm hoping to get round all the blogs in the next week. During this challenge I entered a competition on the blog of Susan R and was so lucky and actually won...I've never won anything before..so I was so chuffed. Well my prize arrived today and I was blown away with a huge envelope of treasures. A piece of Susan's Art is now on my mantlepiece and wow the goodies are amazing. Spiders, ribbons,papers, jewels and flowers..a treasure trove. I haven't stopped stroking yet..lol. This amazing gift has given me lots of ideas to include in my challenge next year. So thankyou Susan R for such a wonderful surprise win.
The sun is shining here in the mountains today. I'm looking forward to doing some peaceful colouring this afternoon whilst my pain killers do their work. All the cats have protested the fact that I left the house, filled their tummies with Mother is guilty as charged treats and have all left the building. Apart from Raven who is playing hot water bottle..bless her.
Well the coffee is definitely calling today and then it's colouring. I just love it. I use lots of different mediums..acrylic paints, H2Os, watercolour paints and pencils, alcohol pens..whatever I can lay my hands on actually. I think that this afternoon I'll be using my inktense pencils. I just love them..they start off looking very subdued but once you add the water the colours pop. So until tomorrow...take care and happy crafting

31 Days of Halloween....Day 19

Today I've decided to share another of my pages for the 31 days challenge. It's a page that I drew myself, so that I could use this quote from T.S.Elliot. I have always loved poetry and Elliot is one of my favourites. It was his poem 'The Wasteland', that I first found and just loved the way that he uses words and paints a picture with them. The quote that I found seemed perfect for Halloween..the thought of the unseen feet pressing on the lawn. I remember spending quite a lot of time with my friends sitting in the graveyard..perhaps it was a teenage thing. I think it was mostly because it was the one place that our relatives wouldn't think to look for us at..lol. The local vicar knew that we inhabited the Lytch Gates as our retreat..it had benches..but he never minded. In fact 2 of his own sons were often there as well. 
For my page, I began by painting the background with my H2Os because I wanted that shimmer that they provide...sadly it doesn't pick up quite as well on the photograph. I used purples,pinks and greens to try and give it a look of twilight. And then I just used a black pen to add the trees and the gravestones. I have never found grave yards scary..just a little sad.
The sun is shining here in the mountains today. All the cats are out apart from Raven and Nicademus. Rave is just a homebody. She always has been. She has always been allowed to go out but the furthest she seems to go is on the studio roof. The rest of the time she is either sat by me or on me...and most of the time she's lay on my legs..my personal leg heater,,lol. Nicademus is lay on his cushion. He is seeming to be rather stiff on his back legs today. I think that it's a mixture of his being an older cat, the colder weather arriving and still recovering from the dog attack the other day. But he's eating and drinking well and I think that he just needs a little cosy time.
Well the coffee is calling and then I'm off to do some more sorting. Now tomorrow I will be posting a little later than normal simply because I've got a very early hospital appointment.I have to admit to be dreading it. The one thing that I can't stand is my foot being touched in any way. Ever since my accident, many many years ago the bottom of my foot has been constantly hurting..I don't know what they think they can do now after all this time but I suppose that things will have developed and there may well be new ideas that they would like to try on my trotter..lol. So until tomorrow...take care and happy crafting
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Snowflakes Promise....New Challenge

Here I am again..with my coffee in hand. This 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. Check out the Snowflakes Promise blog for the theme. At this time of year, I love making Christmas cards..in fact I make them all year..lol. I have chosen to make this wonderful card from Decoupage Delights..The Vintage Christmas cdrom. The image is fully decoupaged and of course it cried out for a little glitter.
 As I'm also on the design team for Decoupage Delights, I just wanted to note that I will be doing a feature for Decoupage Delights after the 31 days challenge has finished. One funny friend said that I should do 31 days of Christmas after the Halloween challenge has finished. Oh how I laughed..lol. I think a week will do.
Here in the mountains, it's very grey again today but at the moment it's not raining. So the cats are in and out. Nicademus and Obie are asleep on their cushion, Raven on my legs and Pinky on the wing of my chair. All the others are out but I'm expecting them all in any time soon because their tummies will be twitching. Every night they know that I feed them when I have put dinner in the oven to cook. They all sit and wait for me to get back upstairs..lol...I have to say that Jeffrey and Simon always have a lot to say.
Now here's a question for all of the crafters out there..where do you get your gesso from? I've been after some for a few weeks and everywhere I would normally buy it from it's out of stock. Do you have certain crafting items that drive you crazy when you don't have any. I know I can get twitchy if I have less than 2 tubes of my favourite glue.
Well I've finished my coffee and I'm still thirsty so I think the kettle will have to go on again. It's my favourite dinner this evening..fish, new potatoes and salad..and as a treat we're going to have cherry pie for pudding. At least tonight there will be no sulking cats watching every mouthful..lol. So until tomorrow..take care and happy crafting.

31 Days of Halloween...Day 18

Another day..another candy skull. This is my page for day 18 of the 31 days challenge. I know that I've done other skulls but I have to say..I love them. All on the news is about mindful crafting and colouring...and I have to say that personally colouring a great candy skull is my perfect way to relax. This image is another from the fabulous SLS Lines.

It's been quite a day today and it's only 4 p.m. I've been up and at them since about 7 this morning and what with cats and phone calls, I don't feel as if I've stopped since my feet hit the floor. All the cats were so pleased when the delivery man arrived with their biscuits..it didn't matter that he happened to bring the rest of the food..they hounded him until they got some. He was laughing at them all and seemed to be very taken with Jeffrey. He said he's a big un isn't he..lol. He then asked if he always looked so miserable and I said that's his I want biscuits now face..so we gave him some to prove the point.
Also this morning I had a phone call regarding the dropped kerb. I was told that the councillors at our parish council will be discussing the matter later and I said that's funny because I'd had a phone call yesterday from the council saying that I wouldn't get one..so I'll be waiting with baited breath to hear what is said. And then no doubt, I will be back on ringing round everyone again..lol
Well the coffee is calling and then I will be back with a design team make. As it is a Christmas card and not suitable for the 31 days challenge, I thought that I would blog this one first. So until after a large dose of caffeine...take care and happy crafting.