GOSSAMER (AGAIN LOL!!)

Hi Everyone

Hope you are all well and haven't been blown away by the strong winds.  The sun has been shining here but the wind is so strong that no gardening work happened other than watering the greenhouse .. .. .. but we were good and defrosted the big freezer we have in the garage (so that is one of the jobs crossed off the list - yay!!!).

Today's share is just a quick simple one .. .. I'm afraid you might be getting a week of these as hubby is on holiday and jobs are supposed to be the order of the week!!!  :-(

Are you sick of seeing this stamp yet?  Sorry if you are .. .. but I find it so versatile and gorgeous to use!!

This used:

Image:  Penny Black "3865K" Gossamer
Sentiment:  Pink Petticoat
Backing Papers:  Pink Petticoat
ProMarkers
Seed Beads
Crystal Stickles
Glossy accents (for attaching the beads)

Hubby has been to the last home match of the season today so I have been having a lovely guilt free crafty session.  Of course they finished the season off pretty much the same way they have played all season .. .. they lost!!!  Good job hubby doesn't sulk about it or he would have been a miserable person to be around nearly all year!!  LOL!!!

Never mind, a new season starts in August.  Let's hope for better things then.

OK off to tidy up my little craft pod a little and look what snippets I might use tomorrow!!

Have a lovely evening.

Catch you soon.

Love

LOVE IS THE MESSAGE

Hi Everyone

Awwww..... wasn't the wedding wonderful!!!

I don't think it matters if you are a fan of the Royal Family or not I can't image anyone not being touched by the lovely couple today. 

How beautiful and elegant the bride looked and how handsome the groom  .. .. and both clearly very much in love. 

I did think the ring wasn't going to go on Kate's finger though!!  It looked a bit of a tight squeeze!! and there were some very strange hats to be seen .. .. but  I loved watching .. .. starting around 10.00am and finishing once the couple had their two kisses and disappeared for their wedding breakfast.  I wonder what they had to eat and what song they chose for their first dance?

They have made me feel "super soppy" today (as opposed to my normal level of soppiness LOL!!).

So to celebrate the love that is in the air today I just had to make a romantic card and it just happens to fit nicely into the Penny Black Saturday Challenge where the theme is "Happily Ever After".

The challenge closes at midnight tonight so I am just in time!! 

Here is my creation:

This used:

Image:  Penny Black "4023K" Love is the Message
Backing Papers:  Pink Petticoat
Martha Stewart Punch:  Doily Lace
Adirondack "Lights" Pink Sherbet for distressing around the image
Crystal Stickles
Self Adhesive Pearls
Small white rosebuds coloured with ProMarker Pens
Ribbons from the Stash Box

So that is me for today.

Must get linked up before I am too late!!!!

Love

THE STAMP FAIRY CHALLENGE #20

Hi Everyone

Hope today has been good for you.

It has been lovely and sunny here but a bit nippy!!! 

I am a bit earlier today as I am going off to see my Mum and have a colouring session whilst we put the world to rights (again LOL!!). 

I thought I would play along with the Stamp Fairy Challenge again this week - where the theme is to follow a recipe.

The recipe being .. .. .. a bit of sparkle, three design papers and two dies or punches.

Here is my creation

This used:

Image:  The Stamp Fairy "Lenny" from the Happy New Year section
Woodware Clear Stamp for the corner stars:  "FRCL009" Must Have Retro Words
Sentiment:  Pink Petticoat
Backing Papers:  DCWV "Citrus Stack"
Woodware Punch for the heart (more than one today LOL!)
Nestabilities Die:  Scalloped Edge Frame
ProMarkers
Gold Embossing Powder
Glamour Dust

I know Lenny has come from the Happy New Year range of stamps but I think he will fit into any celebration theme   .. ..  birthdays, well done, congratulations .. .. .. and he is so lovely to colour!!!

So once again Thursday is the new Friday .. .. but for some strange reason it does actually feel like Friday already!! 

I am looking forward to seeing "the" wedding tomorrow.  I think they are such a lovely couple and Kate is going to make the most gorgeous, beautiful bride.  Lucky Prince William!!  What a shame his Mum cannot be there to share in their happiness.  That will be the only hint of sadness in what will be a wonderful day.

I hope everyone has a lovely evening and a great Bank Holiday weekend.

Love

CHEESECAKE WISH

Hi Everyone

I don't know about you but I am still struggling with what day of the week it is .. .. .. and it can only get worse once the next Bank Holiday arrives on Friday!!

Our radio is talking of possible rain on Friday.  I hope it is wrong.  It would be so nice for the weather to be beautiful for the Royal Wedding and for all the celebrations people have planned. 

Hubby breaks up tomorrow so I am busily trying to get ahead of myself in readiness for having my routine knocked for six!!  No doubt the time will fly far too quickly.

Anyway, here is my share for today

This used:

Image:  Penny Black "1652J" Cheesecake Wish
Sentiment:  Penny Black "2908K"  To You
Backing Papers:  DCWV Paper Stack "Floral Prints"
Martha Stewart Punch:  Traditional Scallop (with just a bit of it peeping out)
Woodware Punches:  Daisy and label
Leone Em Pty:  Ash Branch
ProMarkers
Distress Inks for the image background
Clear shrink plastic, brads and ribbon from the Stash Box

I was really excited after producing my little sentiment tag out of clear shrink plastic.  I think it looks dead cute.  There are going to be a lot more of these making an appearance.  I simply stamped my sentiment in Black Stazon and shrunk away!!!  Woo hoo!!

I'll catch you again tomorrow  .. .. my turn to cook tonight so no blog hopping for a while.  We have a glut of mushrooms so tonight I am going to try a Mushroom Stroganoff recipe I have found.

Have a good evening.

Love

LIGHT THE NIGHT

Hi Everyone

Well what can I say?  Today has been a very strange day in comparison to the beautiful weather of the last few days.

It has been very dull here for most of the day (but windy enough to dry all that washing that accummulated over the holiday break). 

No gardening today.  The only thing I have done outside is go down to the greenhouse to water my little seeds .. .. .. and can you believe that those pesky dandelion seeds have been making their way into my greenhouse and settling in my seed trays!!!  Grrr!!!  Nothing is sacred!!

Anyway, round to today's share .. ..

 

This used:

Image:  Penny Black "3687K" Light the Night
Sentiment:  Computer Generated
Backing Papers:  Pink Petticoat and Funky Hand
Leone Em Pty Punch:  Ash Branch
Martha Stewart Punch:  Doily Lace
Woodware Punches:  Daisy
ProMarkers
Crystal Stickles
Ribbon, black pearls, brad and Charm from the Stash Box

So that is me for today.  There should be no problem with the heart today.

Have a lovely evening and I will see you tomorrow.

Love

HEDGEHOPPER

Hi Everyone

So Easter has nearly come and gone :-(    ... .. . ...  but let's not be too sad .. .. another long bank holiday weekend is just around the corner and is going to follow very soon!!  In fact in three days time .. woo hoo!!!

Today has been another day of gardening jobs  .. ..  but it was just a bit too sunny for the heavy digging we need to do so instead hubby painted a couple of fences and I have sown seeds for putting into the greenhouse.  Runner beans, courgettes, cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers and lettuce.    I have never grown peppers before so that should be interesting.  Then just so I had at least some flowers about the place .. .. some marigold flowers.

I bet the marigolds will raise their little heads first.  They grow likes weeds really don't they?  LOL!!!

Then of course no day is complete without making at least one card!!

This one is for a friend to send to her Grandson .. .. I think the image is just perfect for a card that needs sending abroad.

This used:

Image:  Penny Black "4126K" Hedgehopper

Sentiment:  Computer Generated

Backing Paper:  Pink Petticoat

Josy Rose:  Nail Heads

Crystal Stickles

Cord from the Stash Box

So hubby is back at work tomorrow for three days then he has 10 days off.  Oh dear .. .. that is going to ruin my routine!!!

I see Mr Blogger didn't sort out the spacing problems over the holiday .. .. but I will let him off .. .. there were lots of things I didn't do either.

Enjoy what is left of Easter Monday and I will catch you again tomorrow.

Love

JULES' CRAFTY SNIPPET CHALLENGE - WEEK 16

Hi Everyone

Here at last .. .. and sadly only with two snippet makes!!

Why so late and why so few creations? .. .. .. well hubby and I were up early and decided to get cracking early on the garden (thinking the sun was going to make an appearance and stop us getting on).

We emptied everything out of the greenhouse so that it could have a good old "scrub out" and then carried on with the general gardening .. .. which we have plenty to do.

The sun never really did make an appearance and we kept going until we suddenly remembered we hadn't had any breakfast!!  So we stopped at this point .. .. had our baths and then ate breakfast .. .. at 3.00 pm!!!!  No wonder we were feeling a bit hungry LOL!!!

Then we needed to go and deliver a couple of Easter eggs to two very special little friends and pick our youngest Son up.

So with a breakfast that late dinner is only just cooking!!!  I think we will be managing on just two meals today LOL!!

Now I have made all my excuses   .. .. here are my snippet makes for today.

Only one picture of the last make .. .. for some reason it was camera shy and didn't want an "up close and personal" shot!!  (know how it feels LOL!!).   The flowers on this have been clear embossed onto some leftover white card and then I used the ink from one of my Big and Juicy stamp pads to colour the white card.

So that is me for this Sunday.

Two lovely players again last week.

First up was Sandra with a brilliant make.  Not only was it a great way to use up those snippets it included acetate .. .. double torture for the poor lady!!!  I love the way Sandra has used her ribbon.  Great for those small little lengths that seem to hang about the craft space!! 

Next was Andria who made two really beautiful creations that just look so full of sunshine.  Andria made a lovely tag to go alongside her gorgeous card.  Another great idea that I need to try.

Thank you for the inspiration ladies and for sharing with us.  I hope everyone gets chance to visit my lovely snippet friends.  They are getting just as hooked as I am.  Can't believe I am on Week 16!!

I had a few ideas in my head ready for today .. .. never mind they will have to transfer over to next week.  Although that will be another Bank Holiday weekend!!  Just think another special break so soon .. .. woo hoo!!

Hope you have all had a lovely Easter Sunday.

Love

Whoops .. .. forgot to add Mr Linky .. .. he is here now for anyone who wants to play along.  You don't have to use your snippets on a Sunday .. it is just me who does that.  You can play and share anytime!!

BIRTHDAY DOG

Hi Everyone

Another glorious day .. .. though the radio is saying there is rain happening in a few places !!!

Today has been housework and wedding work and only one other solitary make  .. ..  so you get to share the solitary make with me today and here it is .. ..

This used:

Image:  Penny Black "2078H" Birthday Dog
Backing Paper:  Aimee Asher
Martha Stewart Punch:  Embossed Zig Zag
Josy Rose:  Nail Head Stars
Crystal Stickles
Glossy Accents (for his little wet nose!!)
Ribbon and glitter from the stash box

So what has everyone else been up to today? 

I hope that none of you have got sore bits from the sun!!!

Short and sweet from me tonight because I am super early and want a blog catch up ahead of snuggling down with hubby for an evening in front of the "goggle box" ..  (aka the TV).  LOL!!

What a lovely feeling to think we are only just halfway through our long weekend!!    I hope you are all enjoying it as much as I am.

Love and Easter hugs

GOOD, GOOD FRIDAY

Hi Everyone

I hope you have all had a good "Good Friday".

Is it just me or has it felt like Saturday today?

Well after me saying I was staying at home for four days .. .. I went out today!!  LOL!!!

Hubby took me to a paper and card warehouse so that I could get some more goodies for my wedding stationery.  Lots of new lovely colours to work with.  Yummy!!!  I could have stayed there all day looking and stroking everything.

Eventually we got home and were super good then and got some jobs done.  All the window and door frames have been washed down at the front and the windows cleaned .. .. .. and well overdue they were too!!  Shame on me!!!

You watch it will rain now tonight or a bird will do its business on them!!

Anyway I have just managed to whip a card together whilst hubby was watching the football. 

Here is my make:

This used:

Image:  Lili of the Valley
Sentiment:  Computer Generated
Papers:  Dovecraft "Back to Basics"
Martha Stewart Punch:  Traditional Scallop
Sizzix Die:  "654995" Stars #2
Josy Rose:  Nail Heads
Glamour Dust
ProMarkers
Button and Cord from the stash box

and that is me for today.

Just waiting for my lovely Sister to land .. .. I was a bit worried I wouldn't have time to finished my make and get it posted before she arrived .. .. .. but phew!!  I made it!!

Catch you again tomorrow.

Love

THURSDAY IS THE NEW FRIDAY !!!

Hi Everyone

Woo hoo!!  A four day break .. .. though why I am saying that I don't know!!  We have nothing planned.  No exciting trips out or places to visit.  Just four days at home with hubby .. .. heaven!!

Lots of bullet points on our "things we would like to do about the house "list .. .. you know silly niggly jobs you never get around to .. .. plus some big ones we never get around to as well!!  LOL!!!

(I hope Mr Blogger is going to do the same and sort out some of his niggly jobs too as he is causing me a bit of grief at the moment).

But I am pleased to say there are also some "nice" things on our list too.  You know the DVD's you had at Christmas but still haven't watched etc.

However, for now I will share a quick make with you that carries with it some good news.

Firstly here is my share for the day:

This used:

Backing Papers:  Funky Hand Download "Love, Love, Love"
Sizzix Die: Flower Layers #5 and  "655217" Swirl
Cuttlebug Embossing Die:  Distressed Stripes
Martha Stewart Punch:  Daisy
Crafty Notions:  Dew Drops
Ribbon and fancy brad from the Stash Box

and now for the good news .. .. .. .. ..

There is going to be 25% off everything in the Funky Hand store .. .. woo hoo!!!

The sale starts tomorrow 22nd April at 10.00am and will last until Monday 25th April  at 10.00pm.. .. .. so if you would rather have a bit of craft stash instead of an Easter Egg you know where to go LOL!!!

You can visit the store by clicking here.

Plus whilst talking of all things Funky .. .. the new challenge started on the Funky 15th with a theme of Spots and Stripes. You can find the Get Funky! challenge blog here along with the free paper for this month (it is super scrummy).

Phew.. .. what a Funky long post!!!

Baby boy has come home tonight and I am cooking a curry .. .. best go and make sure it is OK.

I am looking forward to a good old blog catch up too.

Have a lovely evening everyone .. .. ahead of a lovely Easter.

Love

NO COLOURING FOR ME TODAY!!

Hi Everyone

What another wonderful day.

Our weather person on the local radio is saying we are going to have lovely weather up until Easter Monday .. .. wow .. .. that would be lovely.

Lots of jobs that Hubby and I need to get done outside .. .. and then Monday can be our "chill" day!!

I am having a few withdrawal symptoms today as I haven't coloured a single image.  My whole day has been devoted to wedding work (lovely) and then I finished off with this quick little creation .. .. which again didn't involve any colouring either .. ..

This used:

Image:  Imagination Crafts (no name or number on the packaging)

Backing Papers:  Aimee Asher

Martha Stewart Punch:  Valentine Lace

Heat it Up:   Seafoam White Embossing Powder
Cord from the Stash Box

I only chose to post one photograph today as there wasn't much to be gained from taking one at a quirky angle!!

The stamp is quite interesting.  It is one I picked up at the NEC last month and it stamps the opposite to most stamps.  My card base was a teal colour and I have inked the stamp with versamark ink and then embossed with white embossing powder.  

I think it gives quite a good look and can't wait to try it with different colours.

So that is me for today.

I hope everyone had a good Wednesday .. .. only one more day and the Bank Holiday weekend will be upon us.  That means this week Thursday will be the new Friday!!  Woo hoo!!

Take care everyone

Love

STAMP FAIRY CHALLENGE

Hi Everyone

Oh dear .. .. it wasn't until it started to go dark I realised how late it was getting.  Sorry about that folks!!

But never mind I am here now.

Well the tree that was next door is now just one big fat tree trunk sticking about 4' out of the ground.  I wonder what they are going to do with that?  I dread to think how far the roots have spread underground. 

You may remember I fell in love with a little bear over at The Stamp Fairy .. .. well I just had to have another few images because they are just so very, very cute!!  Better still the images are still on a 50% off sale (including new ones that have just been released).  I had perhaps best not look at those .. .. or should I ?   Mmmmm...  I will only be sorry later won't I if I don't?

Anyway, whilst over looking at the cute little characters I notice there was a Stamp Fairy Challenge .. .. so I decided to have a play along with this today.

The theme is "For the Girls - with a sentiment"

Here is my creation

This used:

Image:  The Stamp Fairy "Lenny - Flowers"
Sentiment:  Pink Petticoat
Backing Papers:  Aimee Asher
Nestabilities: Standard Circles Large, Classic Scalloped Circles Large, Large Square
Josy Rose:  Nail Heads
ProMarkers
Glamour Dust
Rik-Rak from the Stash Box

What a cute little chappie he is.  He could bring me a flower any day!!

OK - far too late with everything for my own good tonight.  You can tell my lovely Hubby is out at a meeting can't you?

I hope you have all had a lovely day and I will catch you again tomorrow.  Hopefully a bit earlier.

By the way .. ..  is anyone else having problems with spacing on their blog? Whenever I go into HTML mode and then back to compose mode I get extra spacing everywhere. It has been happening for about a week now and is a bit of a pain.

Love

MOJO MONDAY

Hi Everyone

Happy Monday!!!

I hope you have had a good day.

Mine started off a bit worryingly in that people turned up next door to fell a huge tree that must have been at least two double storey houses high .. .. huge would be an understatment.  Of course I had visions of some of it falling into my garden or worse still going through my greenhouse!!!

Thankfully I couldn't see them working away .. .. but I did sneek a peep every so often just to make sure all was still as it should be.  It truly was a work of art as they had to be so careful to remove the right branches first. 

I went down the garden at one point with my washing and the main "tree fella" was right up on the top branches of the tree with his magic hoist and chain saw and shouted down to me ... "I'm finding you some extra light for your garden duck" .. .. but of course being the cheeky person I am I replied "Does your Mother know you are up there?".

He laughed and said "No, and don't tell her .. .. she would be a nervous wreck if she knew".

We have ended the day good mates and he even came round before he went and told me to get my washing in as it is going to pour with rain!!    I fetched it all in and now it has brightened up .. typical!!

Still lots for them to do before the tree is gone .. .. it is the highest parts that are left .. .. eeekkk!!

Anyway, whilst all of that has been going on I have been crafting away and today's share is a creation that used this week's Mojo Monday Sketch.

 

This used:

Image:  Penny Black "1590F" Loving Mice

Sentiment:  LOTV

Backing Papers:  Aimee Asher

Crystal Stickles

ProMarkers

Ribbon from the Stash Box

and here is the sketch I followed

So that is me for today.

I hope you all have a lovely evening and thank you for all your lovely comments on my snippets of yesterday.  By far the favourite was the last one .. .. the Paper Artsy birdcage!!

Love

JULES' CRAFTY SNIPPET CHALLENGE - WEEK 15

Hi Everyone

Sunday again!!!  My how the weeks are flying!!!

Just three crafty snippet shares from me today as I have been in the garden again attempting to "make a difference".  At least we can see where we have been so that is good .. .. .. if we could do that much each week we would make a huge difference .. .. but sadly time and other pressures mean that it isn't always possible. 

Still, here are my shares for today:

 

As always these have all been made following my little Sunday rules of not being allowed to cut into new sheets of card or paper and no taking ribbons off reels .. .. but using up all the pieces that seem to get left and ignored.

Not sure which is my favourite .. .. but it definitely isn't the middle one.  I liked it until it was alongside the others.  Perhaps it is because the colours are not so strong.

So, last week another two lovely blog buddies joined in too.  It is so nice to see what other people put together with their snippets.

Firstly, Andria joined in with her lovely purple card and she certainly managed to get more snippets onto her project than I do .. .. I even recognised a bit of ribbon .. .. it was the same as I had used on one of my snippet makes last week.  Must try to take a leaf out of Andria's book and use more layers.

Secondly, Sandra played along again and made the most gorgeous stepper card.  Not something I have ever made .. .. but Sandra certainly inspired me to try.  The only thing about Sandra's contribution though is that she reminded me that I also have a box of papers I have either had free with magazines or pulled out from inside magazines !!!   Eeekkk!!!  I normally give these away to young people just starting out in crafting but do have some very special ones that I couldn't part with.  I suppose they had better come out to play one week.  (Thanks for that Sandra - I think!!   LOL!!).

So I hope you get chance to visit these two lovely ladies who like me like to "waste not, want not" - but don't just look at their snippet entries .. .. they have lovely blogs full stop and they are well worth visiting!!

Thank you for all your lovely comments yesterday - I had to laugh at some of them.  I would just like to say that the dandelions didn't have any adverse effects on my bladder control .. .. phew!!  That was lucky!!

But the gardening has had an adverse effect on my mobility.  Today we needed to submit a meter reading for our electricity .. but sadly the meter is right at the back of the pantry under the stairs and to read it I have to get on my hands and knees with a torch and crawl to the back.  Well .. .. getting down there was fine .. ..crawling along was fine .. ..  but I must have looked like a 95 year old getting up again!!  I am blaming it on the very restricted space in there and my demin skirt that is very long!!  LOL!!!

Have a lovely evening everyone and if you manage to make a snippet make sometime before next Sunday I hope you will add it to Mr Linky below and share it with everyone.

Love

THIS IMAGE DEPICTS MY DAY

Hi Everyone

I hope you have all had a good Saturday.

The weather for me has been just right for getting out into that garden .. .. a garden that is in need of much love, care and attention .. .. .. and boy do I know it has had its fair share of that today!!  Some parts of me are aching now so I dread to think what I will be like in the morning LOL!!!

But now I have had my lovely long hot bath (removed all the splinters and bramble thorns from my hands with a needle) and have cobbled together a quick creation for sharing which depicts my day perfectly  .. .. ..  an abundance of both dandelions and ladybirds .. .. but no hedgehogs :-(

When I was little my Mum used to say that if you pick a dandelion you would wet the bed .. .. .. oh dear!!  I have picked loads and loads of them today!!!!

So here is my share

 

This used:

Image:  Penny Black "

Backing Papers and Sentiment:  "Pink Petticoat"

Josy Rose:  Nail Heads

ProMarkers
Diamond Stickles

Ribbon from The Stash Box

I hope tomorrow is equally as lovely as I would like to get some more done in the garden .. .. in fact if I was locked outdoors for a whole year there would still be jobs to do out there!! 

Buying a house with a big garden seemed like a good idea at the time !!

Catch you again tomorrow with hopefully a snippet or two ...

Love

NO SPARKLE TODAY!!

Hi Everyone

Friday is here .. .. woo hoo!!!

Not a very exciting Friday weather wise here .. .. in fact it is pretty cold and looks likely to rain very soon.  That will be my fault because I watered all the "weed and feed" into the lawns last night .. .. and it took at least an hour (well it felt like it even if it wasn't).

Best rescue my washing when I finish this!!!

So today's share is one that is devoid of sparkle .. .. which is quite a change for me this week.  It seems to have been a bit of a sparkly week on my blog just recently LOL!!

This used:

Backing Papers:  Aimee Asher
Background Stamp:  Elusive "32531" Script Background
Marianne Design:  Heart Die
Heat it Up:  Seafoam White Embossing Powder
Josy Rose:  Acrylic Stones
Rose and Ribbon from The Stash Box

I somehow don't think anyone will have any problems finding a heart today!!

I had to smile at some of the comments you lovely blog buddies made about my Mum and her Nintendo. 

She really makes me laugh and often visits the game shops .. .. part exchanging the ones she has previously bought and not liked and buying new ones.  Her latest fav is Sonic but her all time favourite is the original Mario game.  I bet she wishes the mobile library that visits her carried games LOL!!!

Mum has always liked computer games and a few years ago had to have an enforced break from her Sega because she was getting RSI in her thumbs!!!!!

She is funny.

Anyways, off to the washing line for me now before the rain starts .. .. and of course once I have brought the washing in it will brighten up!

Have a good Friday everyone and a lovely weekend.  I am hoping to get some gardening done.

Love