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 Winter..so the perfect place to enter all your fabulous Christmas cards, as well as any other winter inspired pieces of work. I so love seeing all the amazing creations. We are so blessed that the fantastic Rick St. Dennis has sponsored this challenge..and I just loved the image I've been lucky enough to work with. To know more about Rick and the different images that the team used, please check out the Snowflakes Promise blog. Over at Ricks shop you are guaranteed to find an image that you will love..I always have such a time trying to decide what to work with.

Here in the mountains it's a very cold day..most of the cats are in and out like yo yos. I don't think that Gannie has stopped complaining since he got up..lol. He really doesn't understand or like the frost. Everywhere was covered with frost this morning and there are still places that haven't defrosted in days. Sprout has turned into a little homebody and has been sat on the wing of my chair all day. It was delivery today for the cat food and I felt so sorry for the delivery driver. They all sat around and watched his every move. And they got quite a surprise...Tesco had sent a Christmas cracker containing cat treats. It seems that it something they are doing for cat and dog owners online. How nice a surprise....I have had to put it away as it didn't take long for Milky to realise that there was something catty inside..lol. The delivery driver was lovely as well and was quite taken with Jeffrey..he just couldn't believe the size of him and how friendly the rest of the cats were. I had to ask him to check the van for any nosey cats though..it's always better to be on the safe side...I don't any of them going on any trips out of the village without me..lol.
Well the coffee is calling and then I have a birthday card to make..it will make a nice change for an hour. It's my favourite dinner again tonight..fish, salad and potatoes...everyone usually has something that never gets old and always is enjoyable..and I'm afraid that tonight's dinner is my go to comfort food. My other comfort foods are shepherds pie, fish pie and roast lamb dinner. They all seem to be all old fashioned dinners. They were all meals that my Grandmother made and I suppose that's part of their appeal.Anyway, I'm off to decide on an image for the birthday card..so until next time...take care and happy crafting.

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 has just begun and will run for the coming week. The theme for this weeks challenge is Fair Maidens. As always you have the option of going LOC...for details about that please check out the Left of Center blog. We are so lucky this week to have been sponsored by the fabulous team over at MoonFlower designs. I chose to work with ths beautiful image of an Oriental maiden. The background was created using my distress inks and a stamp. The image was coloured with my H2Os..and even though it doesn't show in the photo has a lovely shimmer to it. I do hope that you will pop over to  MoonFlower Designs and take a look at the beautiful and unusual images that they have available.

I got quite a shock today when I came onto Blogger..it had all changed and I've still got to take some time and work it all out. And you all know that computers aren't really my thing. Ever since I began this blog, t has been a learning journey and I'm so glad to say I still love it. I haven't been blogging much in the last couple of weeks purely because I've been knee deep in paint, glitter, snowmen and holly. I'm trying to get all my Christmas makes finished...but there seems to be no end to it all..lol.My own Christmas cards are slipping further down the list as people keep ringing for other things. I have the feeling that I may be all glittered out by Christmas. That will probably not last for long though..you know how much I love the coloured stuff..lol.
It's certainly got colder here in the mountains. The cats are all out at the moment..making the most of it being dry. They are all in come dinner time and the biggest cat flap in the world is now closed after 6 p.m. And they are all horrified by the fact. Gannie has been shocked by quite a few things lately..especially the frost. Being one of the youngest he had never seen white frost before and goodness me but he had a lot to say about it..lol. The first time he went out and saw it and put his paw on it..he ran back to the window sill and spent half an hour telling me. He then spent the rest of the day going in and out checking to see if it had gone. Goodness only knows what he will be like f it snows..lol. Sparkle and I were talking, remembering the first time that Icabod saw snow...it was so funny..he was trying to get from one side of the road to the other without touching any snow. He would take a giant leap and then disappear in the snow..only to reappear and leap again. When he finally made it home , there was no going out for him until the white stuff had all gone..lol.
Well the coffee is calling and then it will be back to the paint. I've about 10 projects all on the go and all at various stages..so whilst one is drying, it means I can continue on another. The hardest thing is keeping the cat paws out of the wet paint. I'm sure that word gets out and they all come running. My work table is becoming a beautiful rainbow of paw prints..I may let it sit though and put a layer of varnish over it..a one off piece of art..lol. So until next time..take care and happy crafting.

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 has just begun and will run for the next week. The theme for the challenge is Creepmas/ Christmas. And of course, as always, you have the option of going LOC. Our sponsor for this challenge is the fantastic Karleigh Sue. This card is inspired by the non pc 1970s..I have been watching some 70s based videos and can't quite believe what we considered ok or funny back then. Even though some of it just seems wrong a lot was really funny and seemed to be a lot freer..before the world went over the top pc. The backing paper is also 70s inspired..bold design and bright colours..I just love it.

I hope that you will pop over to the LOC blog and take a look at all the wonderful creations made by the rest of the team. I'm always inspired by all the other ladies..they always put me to shame but inspire me to go further and try harder,

What a week. I am amazed that I have managed to find myself a way out of the glitter, ink and card pile. I have been ensconced in my corner beavering away. Yesterday I couldn't move..I had so many projects around me drying..the cats spent the day driving me insane. As soon as the paint palette comes out the cats arrive around me. My table is becoming beautifully coloured by paint and paw prints. Even though I have kept working all last week ...my list of things to do doesn't seem to be going down..lol. My Christmas cards seem to be heading further away...I'm trying to finish all the things for other people before I start my own..but the phone keeps ringing. It's as if the rest of the world has just noticed that Christmas is coming soon. I may end up white haired by the time it arrives..lol At the moment all the cats are outside...no doubt causing chaos around the village. I had to smile yesterday..Sparkle went for lunch with his son and his Grandchildren and I just had to smile. His little grand daughter had painted his nails. Sunshine will love this..when he came round his nails were pink and sparkling..such a good look on him..lol. I wish I had taken a photo now. Well the coffee is calling and then it will be back to the grind..lol. I'm really loving every moment but just wish that I had more hours in the day. I shall hit the caffeine and then back to the glitter. So until next time...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. For all details of the challenge, please check out the Snowflakes Promise blog. I so enjoy seeing all the wonderful entries at every challenge..I hope that you will have a look..there is always some wonderful inspiration created by some very talented crafters.
Our sponsor for this challenge is the fantastic team over at All Dressed Up. I just love working with their images..there is something so cute and whimsical about them.

I've spent most of the day trying to get online...yet again. The joys of living in the middle of nowhere though are still wonderful..despite BT giving the village a continuing headache. The clouds have been down all day but the weather forecast for the end of the week is telling of cold weather coming. I may have to finally give in and put the electric blanket on the bed..the cats will love that moment..lol. No doubt it will turn into a tussle to be able to get into bed.
Well the coffee is calling and then it will be time to go down and do the prep ready for dinner. I admit to being very boring and every week I have to have my favourite meal. It's fish, new potatoes and salad...to me it never gets boring.I think that if it was just me..I could have it every night..well perhaps a fish pie every so often..just for a little variety...lol. So until next time...take care and happy crafting.

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 has just begun and will run for the next week. The theme for this challenge is 'Inspired by...'..so a great chance to let your imaginations run wild. Our sponsor for ths challenge is the fabulous team over at Alicia Bel.

yet again I had a weekend with very little internet connection. It seems to be getting to be a regular occurrence..but what can you do. With this in mind I worked my little fingers until they hurt..colouring a huge pile of designs...and I still have a pile to work through.

I had a lovely surprise on Friday night. I had visitors..Pretty and his girlfriend...I will have to find her a name on the blog.It was so lovely to see them and the cats were made up to have so much fuss. Raven was the funniest..she has always had a thing for Pretty..and goodness me ..you could tell how she had missed him. No sense out of her all evening...she was only interested in Pretty.lol. And Nicademus was very taken with the lady...he seemed to think that he was in the perfect place and wouldn't share his space with anyone.It was such a nice night..catching up with all the news. I have to say the next day I had a room full of cats who thought that they were hard done to because I didn't spend all my time giving them attention.You can tell that the weather is getting colder..just by the number of cats that are on the bed when I go. I think that they are all waiting for the electric blanket to go on..lol.
Well the coffee is calling and then it will be back to work. I have a feeling that the glitter may be on it's way out..lol. I had been hoping to photograph some new work but it's so dark here in the mountains..the clouds are down..it will have to wait until tomorrow. Of course..the only way to brighten the day is to get the glitter out...it always puts a smile on my face. So until tomorrow..take care and happy crafting.

Decoupage Delights....Christmas Designs..Day 5

Here I am again, with a design team make for the wonderful Decoupage Delights.  Both the Christmas images are from their fantastic Vintage Christmas 1 and 2 cdrom. I think that I'm having a bit of a bell day today...lol. Both cards have been decoupaged. The first one I have matted and layered and used some backing paper from my stash. The card below I have shared before but I love it so much, it seemed only right to share it again. I have glittered both of the cards..just because I can't resist.

The third card is one from the Decoupage Delights latest cdrom..Those were the days. What a wonderful selection there is on this cd. So many male themed card possibilities  and lots of them are very different from the norm. I particularly love the image of the rowers. What a different type of card for a change. Also contained on this cd are the most amazing backing papers..images of the sea, wood patterns and grass..they are just so useful for any of your crafting. And the price point is fabulous. I hope that you will check out their facebook page and take a look at all the wonderful cds and downloads that they have available.

Well I need another coffee..the first one has disappeared like a flash..so I definitely need more caffeine..lol. So until tomorrow...take care and happy crafting.

Left of Center...New Challenge

Finally..I'm here. After a weekend of fighting with Bt..they have finally decided to let the village onto the internet. They have played with every ones connection and we've all been on and off like yoyos and yet they demand the same money here as they do for people with a full connection. Well that's my moan for the week..lol.

Today's picture is a design team make for the wonderful team over at Left of Center Creative Challenges. A new challenge has just begun and will run for the coming week. The theme for this weeks challenge is Fairytales and as usual you have the choice of going LOC. For all details of this, please check out the LOC blog. We are so lucky this week to have been sponsored by the fabulous team over at A Day for Daisies. I just adore their images and always find it so hard picking which image to work with. I finally decided to work with this image which is called a kiss for my unicorn.

 For this picture, I began by creating a background using my Brushos. I then coloured the image using a mixture of my H2Os, Inktense pencils and my promarkers. I added pearl embellishments using the Imagination crafts..Just Pearls. I was really impressed how easy they are to use. I finally added some glitter..which you know by now I just had to do...lol

The weather here in the mountains is getting colder by the day. Nearly time to get the vests out. The cats love it because it's dry at least and are all out. We had some hail yesterday and that just proved just how quickly the cats can get home when they want to.It was like a cat train coming in through the window. I've had a lot of work come in over the weekend..so I think it's got to the point where I may need to make a list and just work my way down it. I've also had a major sort out..to help with all the work that has come in. The cold weather makes my legs not want to move very far at all..so I needed to ensure that my paints, pens and papers are all close by. Then I can put my legs up and work away. Sorting all that out was a job all on it's own..but I'm really pleased that It's all done.
Well the coffee s calling and then it will be time to get on with some work. Sparkle has gone to hospital to see the consultant who did his operation. I will be on edge until I know what he said. Fingers crossed that everything goes well. I will be back in a bit though with another design team make..so until then...take care and happy crafting

Decoupage Delights....Christmas Designs...Day 4

Today's card is a design team make for the wonderful Decoupage Delights. This is another card from their vintage Christmas 1 and 2 cdrom. I love the soft effect of this image and it reminds me of a lot of cards that arrived in the post when I was a child. On the farm we didn't get the post until lunch time and quite often the post man would sit down for a natter and something to eat...how times have changed. These days the postmen are given so little time to complete their rounds..after all these days it's all about doing it for the least money possible. In the old days the postman and the milk man were means of getting the news about surrounding farms and villages. Looking back to the Christmas cards of the era, getting one with glitter on it was considered to be a very upper class product..perhaps where I got my glitter obsession from. I was always fascinated by the twinkle..lol.
It's quite nippy here in the mountains today. The local paper has given out a hail and snow warning but who knows. My Grandmother would have said that it's too cold to snow but who knows. The sky is a very strange colour..I don't know what to expect.Most of the cats are in..all claiming their special spots. I think Simon has the strangest..it's behind the parlour door..when it's open..lol. He likes to sit in the triangle made by the door being wedged open. He likes to sit head first into the wedge shape...I think that it's something to do with his problems with his eyes. It may make him feel safe and secure. Isn't that what we all want when we're looking to settle down for a little rest?
Well the coffee is calling and then it's off to get the paint and ink out. A messy afternoon is called for..lol. So until tomorrow...take care and happy crafting.

Decoupage Delights...Christmas Designs Day 3

Today's card is a design team make for the wonderful Decoupage Delights. For this card, I decoupaged the image and then mounted the image onto some purple and then some gold mirri. I used some paper from my stash and mounted that on some more mirri. I found this image to be so classic that I just couldn't resist it.If  you get the chance, please pop over to the Decoupage Delights and take a look at the fantastic cdroms that are available.
It's been a busy day already today. I spent a while last night stamping hundreds of images. Some I have to admit ended in the bin due to cat help..lol. Their timing is incredible...as soon as the wet ink comes out, they just can't help jumping on it. They were quiet all day until the ink came out. It's as if a bell has gone off somewhere and they're all running in and out. I'd just sat down this morning to start colouring and the phone rang. It was a gentleman who gets me to make a card every year for his elderly Father. He comes to me for the card because there are not a lot of things that this elderly gentleman likes apart from large gardens..so that's what I've provided for the last 10 years at least . And I always provide the Christmas card..that always have to be vintage..so Decoupage Delights has filled that gap for quite a few years now.
Most of the cats are outside..it's bright and cold outside..so they don't mind as long as it's not raining. Nicademus has decided to stay in..I think that's because of his stiff back legs. The cold always seems to affect him and he just curls up on the couch. He's my oldest cat now and he's 12 now..it doesn't seem 5 minutes since he arrived with his brothers and sisters to be rehomed. Henry just fell in love with him..so he just became part of our family.
I heard a great thing this morning. There are builders just up the road from my cottage working on a drain. I heard a shout.I've found summat..and then one of the builders said..it's a sovereign. Much excitement ensued and it turned out to be a sovereign from 1874. The last thing I heard was one of the builders saying Google it. It made me laugh. The sovereign must have been dropped when the chapel was built..probably by one of the mine owners..I couldn't imagine any of the workers having one.
Well the coffee is calling and then I'll be getting down to searching out an image for the elderly gentleman's card. An hour sifting through images should sort my problems out. So until tomorrow..take care and happy crafting.

Decoupage Delights...Christmas Designs Day 2

Here I am again, with a design team make for the wonderful Decoupage Delights. This week I will be featuring cards made using their Vintage Chruistmas 1 and 2 cdroms. With this card, I mounted it onto some blue mirri and some blue snowflake background paper from my stash. I hope that you will pop over to the Decoupage Delights face book page and take a look at all the fabulous cds that they have available. And one of the things that really surprised me when I began with the company was the total value for money. I have bought many cds over the years and the amount of content in the Decoupage Delights cds and the price of them..blew me away.
I'm just enjoying my coffee..thanks to Sparkle and am just getting prepared to do some stamping. I have been a collection of wonderful flower stamps and thought that they would make lovely little notecards. I have also a collection of things to alter for Christms presents. I have all the ideas in my head..it's about time that the ideas got transferred into actualities...lol. Sometimes my head is so full of ideas..until I get them down onto paper or created..I don't get much peace.
I'm off to finish my coffee and then to get my inks out. No doubt there will be an influx of cats in to help any moment..lol. So until tomorrow..take care and happy crafting.

The Crafting Musketeers....New Challenge

Todays card is a design team make for the wonderful team over at the Crafting Musketeers. A new challenge has just begun and will run for the next month. The theme for this month is Christmas Wishes..so I hope that you will pop over and join in the fun. There are some fabulous prizes to be won..for all the details of those, please check out the Crafting Musketeers blog. Our sponsor for this month is the great team over at Sunsational Stamps. I got to work with ths cute owl...I decided to do a little of a zentangle on him. The more I do zentangling..the more I want to do. It is one of the things that I find so relaxing..and as Sparkle often says..at least it keeps me quiet..lol

I feel as if I've been working for ever today..lol..and a lot of it has been done in my chair. I got up early and moved some furniture..very slowly I have to admit and then the shopping delivery arrived. The cats were made up as it was their favourite delivery driver who brings them treats and stays to fuss them all. I put all the shopping away..playing fight it into the fridge. I always end up with a packet of tomatoes in my hand saying where are these going to go..lol And then I cam to pay some bills online. That has taken me longer than I can believe. I began at 11.30 and it has taken me until now..2.15, to pay 2 bills. All thanks to BT. I wouldn't have minded but I was trying to pay my phone bill..lol. The internet connection was on and off like a yoyo. I have to admit there was much shouting and I'm always tempted to throw the computer through the window. There is no point at all speaking to them..you might as well just bang your head on a brick wall. At least it's all done now and I can finally get down to work that I enjoy..some crafting.
All the cats are outside apart from Raven..who is as always sat on my legs. I think that my legs will be up for the rest of the day. My right knee is playing up..I don't know what has set it off..perhaps it's the weather. It is very bright here but very cold. The sky is blue and the birds are singing but you definitely need a vest..lol
Well the coffee is calling and after a little caffeine hit..I'll be back with another design team make. So until later..take care and happy crafting.

Decoupage Delights...Christmas Designs 1

Here I am again with a design team make for the wonderful Decoupage Delights. This is the first of a 7 day stint featuring their wonderful Vintage Christmas cdroms 1and 2. I have been lucky enough to present their vintage cds for quite a while now and absolutely love them. If you get the chance please pop over to their facebook page and take a look at all their cds..they are a really great collection and the backing papers alone make them a great resource. For the beginning of my Christmas special week, I have chosen this fantastic image. I like this one because it would be suitable for friends who like a religious card. The amount of decoupage that you get with the image makes it's a stunning card. All I have added is some mirri card and of course I couldn't make a Christmas card without a little glitter. After all it just wouldn't be right. It is a very traditional vintage image..one of so many on these 2 cds.
Now that Halloween is over, it's time for me to get my head down and get on with some serious crafting. I have got lots of ideas in my head but now it's got to the point where I need to be making a goodly pile. No doubt that the cats will spend the next few weeks glittering. It seems that they are no where near me and yet still they are covered in it. Sparkle hates it..he ends up twinkling with out even touching it. Even my old milkman would go back with glitter on him and his wife knew that he had been here..I'm convinced that it's in the air..lol.
Well I'm off to begin with Christmas designs. I'll be back tomorrow with another vintage Christmas make. So until them..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. For all details please pop over to the Snowflakes Promise blog. Our sponsor for this challenge is the great team over at Bugaboo Stamps. When I saw this sheep, I thought it was perfect for Christmas cards, as I spend most of the time watching the sheep in the fields surrounding the cottage. They just make me smile.

I have to say it seems to seem really strange to not be doing a Halloween creation. I hope that you all had a great time. It was very quiet here in the mountains and made me think back to the days when Henry and his friends got together and trick and treated their way around the village. They used to have a great time...I don't know what the rest of the village made of t. I think that they did enjoy it because some of the elderly ladies used to phone me to make sure that they would call at their cottages.
All the cats are in and out like yoyos..it is drizzling and they don't know what to do with themselves. Raven in particular is running about like a maniac...I always say when she is like this that she has the wind up her tail..lol. I have Jeffrey on the wing of my chair and he looks like he is settled in for the afternoon.
Well the coffee is calling and Sparkle..bless him..has just made me one. I'm off to enjoy a caffeine hit and then I'll be back with another design team make. So until then..take care and happy crafting.