Sunday 30 November 2014

Silver Bells for The Christmas Card Club!

Hello to you all, and I hope all is well and your all set for the weekend.

Our weather here today, is foggy one minute and sunny the next, but it's dry which is good. I hope where ever you are it's much better.

Thank you so much for your lovely comments on my last card and of course Teallach.  He is enjoying going out now, the only thing is during the day, he likes the outside door open so that he can come and go as he pleases. a bit chilly this time of the year though.  Amazing what we will tolerate for our pets, if Alistair went out and left the door open, I'd be shouting at him.

I have my card for the friendly CCC which this time around is the choice of Asha and it's Silver Bells;
I've used an Embossalicious folder with bells and used Gilding wax on it.
Tattered Lace Bells and Merry Christmas Dies
Blue ribbon from my box
Papermania Gems
Star Dust to sparkle the sentiment.

Sorry the photo isn't all that brilliant, I was struggling with the light, so it's not showing up to well.

As this is Saturday, I'm going to schedule my post for tomorrow.

So it just remains to say a big thank you to Asha for a lovely Challenge which I enjoyed, not least because I got to play with my new Xcut.

Keep well and warm Crafting Friends and see you soon.


Friday 28 November 2014

Winter Village for Oldie Friday!

Hello Everyone, hope you are all well, but if not here is a Hug that you feel better soon.

Not too bad weather over the last couple of days here, but getting colder, but I suppose that it is the end of November. Where has the year gone?????????

Well I've been playing with my new Xcut machine and it is super, and today saw the delivery of a set of SB Decorative Circles, the large ones, I've wanted them for ages.  My Christmas to myself.  As I was working late I'm not going to be able to have a play yet, but I just keep looking at them and seeing all sorts of cards.

Another fab thing to happen is that I've won the Challenge at Chocolate Baroque, I'm so delighted as I don't enter many challenges now because I get left with so many cards that I can't really use, but I do like using the CB stamps so that is really the only challenge I enter. I've chosen some gorgeous stamps for my prize which I will show when inked up.

I'm scheduling this card for tomorrow, Friday and it's my Oldie for Friday;
Here I've used an image by Micheal Powell, I can't remember what else I used, but I would guess It was coloured with Promarkers. It's all a couple of years old.

Here is a photo of something a bit more recent;
Our lovely boy, he is just wonderful, and it feels like he's been with us for ages, not just a few weeks.

That is all from me tonight, just before I go I just want to thank everyone who leaves lovely comments, I very much appreciated your time in visiting my blog.
See you soon

Sunday 23 November 2014

Pine Cone Wreath!

Good Afternoon Everyone, and a lovely clear, crisp wintry day it is up here in Inverness, the light is gorgeous too, so much better than the dark and gloomy days we've been having recently.

Hoping everyone is fit and well, but just in case here  are kind thoughts and Hugs in the hope that you'll feel better soon.
Thank you for the comments on my last card, I do appreciate your time in visiting and commenting, in this busy life we all lead.

I'm having a quiet day, I always do the day after the concert, the long day fairly takes it out of you, even although it's an enjoyable thing to do and I love it.  The concert was a success, we did very well going by the applause we receive and our soloists were wonderful. A longer piece of music than normal, with very high notes for Sopranos, but thankfully no sore throat today.  So that's done and dusted, now we begin rehearsals for our Carolthon, which we do every year to raise money for ourselves and a charity of choice, this year it's Sight Action. I've never heard of them, but it sounds a good charity to choose.  We sing Christmas carols all day in the Eastgate Centre which is our main shopping mall in Inverness, and it raises quite amount of money. Last year we managed to raise over £4000 so it's worth while to do.

I got an early Christmas gift from Alistair today, an Xcut die cutting machine. I just wanted money towards it, but he just bought it out right, he tried to put it away till Christmas, but I wasn't having any of that.  I have a Big Shot which I love, but can't use larger dies and embossing folders, and although I mostly do 6x6 cards just sometimes a larger one is needed. So I'm a very happy bunny today.

So on to today's card;
Using another new NEC acquisition from Card-io, their new Pine Cone stamp along with the branch stamp from Oriental Blossoms set. The bird stamp is from the Winter Walk set, and stamped with Versarmark in.   Dark Brown card and gold Mirri.  This was a lovely card to make and I do love Card-io stamps, so easy to use.  The Sentiment is CC from their freebies with their magazine Star Dust to give a bit of sparkle. I hope you like it.

I'm off now to have a visit around your blogs, enjoy the remainder of your Sunday and see you soon.



Friday 21 November 2014

Rockers for Oldie for Friday!

Hello to all my crafty friends and anyone how visits, it always a pleasure to have you here.
Thank you all for all the lovely comments on the Celtic Cat die, It was a lovely die to use and I'm pleased you liked it.

Do you remember I was looking for curtains, well I managed to find something similar to the Dunelm ones I liked in Next, similar in respect that they are plaid and a woven, heavier material. With my good man's help got windows washed and put up the curtains and I am very pleased with them. oh the things that make me happy!! changed days.

I'm here with my Oldie for Friday, which is Erika of http://snappycrafts.blogspot.co.uk/ idea to share something you've made a wee while ago, it doesn't need to be a card, could be sewing, knitting, I've even put up an oldie photo of Alistair and myself. It's fun so why not join in.
These were made from a CC kit and I think they were requested for some children, but can't quite remember. Very easy to make.

We are off to the cinema tonight to see Imitation about Alan Turin and the Enigma story.  The lovely Benedict Cumberbatch is the main lead and I really like him as an actor. Looking forward to that.

We have had fog all morning in varying degrees of thickness. When Teallach came in this morning it was real pea soup, then it lifted within the time of me feed him and making a coffee, and has been down and lifted several times. It really is Winter.

That's me for now folks I hope you weekend is good, I'll be singing all tomorrow, rehearsal in afternoon and concert in the evening, sore throat on Sunday, but love it, not the sore throat of course, but the concert and all the buzz of performing.

Bye and

Wednesday 19 November 2014

Timeless!

Good Afternoon Crafty Friends, hoping all is well with you, but here's a HUG for you if you're not so well.

Thank you all for the very kind comments on my last card, and some new faces too, so Hello to you, I am so pleased you popped in and I will return the visit.  Welcome to Cotnob, Pauline who is my latest follower, I hope you will return often and like what you see. Lovely to see, Shirl, Lucy and Janice.
Janice I've tried to visit you but you are on the Google Circle thingy and I'm not sure how that works.

It is really quite dark now and it's only the back of 3pm. I'm going to be forced to put the lamp on to type the remainder of this post.

I've had some really lovely days off work, but back tomorrow on a late shift and then off again for a few days.  Saturday sees another Choral Concert and As I was working on that day I had to request some Annual Leave. We are doing Bach's Christmas Oratorio, quite a hefty piece of music, but a lovely one. I think it will be well received. 
Anyhow this is a short post today as I'm catching up with some cleaning.

Had another play with one of my new dies;

I've used one of the new Celtic Dies from Lavinnia Stamps, of course it had a cat on it so had to buy, it's called Timeless. It is so easy to cut out too. I've used Wink of Stella on the Bluebells, and various DI on front of the card, Acetate on the back of the image and a few off the little Bluebells for decoration. One of the Scenic papers from Lavinnia as an insert.
I was going to use my creative Expression gilding was on the flowers but each of them seemed to have dried out, hardly been used either, I was rather annoyed, I tried to soften them up with my heat gun, but didn't work, anybody got any ideas !

That's me for now, thanks for visiting and keep well,


Monday 17 November 2014

White Winter!

Hello Everybody, I hope all is well with you all.
Well it's been another dark day, just like a day in November really!!  I've had a lamp on most of the day. I don't mind cosy dark nights but I hate it to be dark during the day.

Well I got nowhere with the curtains, didn't have my size in shop or online, and it was just as well that I measured as I was out with my drop. When we first move in  here I has a notebook with measurements, and notes about info I would need to replace items when the time came, can I find it? not on your life.  Anyway, then I decided to try Next, found a pair that I thought  would be good, out of stock again and not sure if they will be in again.  Guess I'm not buying new curtains any time soon.

Alistair came home after a few days cleaning and gutting Jim's house and really upset by the state Jim was living in. He is just not managing to keep up with house cleaning. I feel so sorry for Jim as this is a new state of affairs for him, but he has put on a lot of weight so getting around isn't easy, but he also seems to have given up a bit on things From what Hubby describes, sounds as if Jim is in a depression and completely overwhelmed by the state of the house.  He is also not good with authority and asking for help, he does have a social worker, but believes he is useless and doesn't do anything for him. Which is not actually true. Poor Jim is his own worst enemy really.  Alistair has spent a bit of time writing to Jim's daughter to inform her of her Dad's condition in the hope that she will support him and advocate for him.  She lives near him, we will support her, but are too far away to be putting in frequent appearances.  Poor Alistair is exhausted but quite worried about his brother, but I'm sure between us all we can sort it out.  This getting old and vulnerable is no good.

Enough of family troubles. I've finally managed to have a play with some of my new stash;
I've made this card with an Imagination Crafts Stencil and Sparkle Medium in Silver.
Black and Silver card, the snowy effect is on my photo editing program, but I'm thinking that it's made the photo a bit blurry.

This is my first time using a stencil and the sparkle medium, and I think I need a bit more practise. I think I will buy some of the card that is advised for the sparkle medium, as I used Cor'dination card and it bevelled a bit.
Anyway I hope you like it.

Thank you all so much for your kind comments on my last card, I do appreciate them.
See you soon, take care of yourselves,
 

Saturday 15 November 2014

MacIntosh Beauty!

Hello Everyone and welcome to my blog, I hope you are all having a good Saturday and keeping well.  We have fog and it's feeling damp and cold, another day for staying indoors, I had to go out earlier but I'm sure in now.

I could do with new living room curtains and the best time to buy things for the home is when hubby isn't here, you know what I mean ladies, anyway, we have a Dunelm here in Inverness so I thought I would go there. A super variety of curtains, and finally settled on a pair only to get confused by the size I needed.  The more I thought about it the more I could remember what size the ones I have are. So I gave up and now if I can find Alistair's measuring tape, I'll note the correct size and go again tomorrow, Alistair isn't back till tomorrow evening.

He has been down visiting his brother who is not managing to clean his house just as well as he used to, so Alistair to the rescue, Jim is the older brother and is not as fit as Alistair.  However Jim has a young daughter, who could help a bit, but he won't ask as he feels she is working hard and doesn't need his problems.  She has her own flat but lives fairly near he dad. Alistair thought it better I didn't go down with him as I would have shaken them all up a bit too much, but it's what's needed. Anyway enough of our family dilemmas.
I'm here today with a card I've made for the Chocolate Baroque Challenge using this colour pallet;

The images are from the Macintosh Beauty set which I thing are gorgeous. I've matted and layered with Tattered Lace Lilac Paper and a free download from CB which has all the colours of the challenge.
Coloured with SN and Wink of Stella, doesn't show up though.
SB Rose die and a Marianne Flourish Die
Purple Pearls from Hobby House.

That's me for today, unfortunately I won't have a card for the CCC tomorrow as the theme is origami/teabag, neither of which I can do, so sorry about that Karen.

Enjoy your weekend and keep well everyone,
I would like to enter my card into http://chocolatebaroquechallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/challenge-four.html 



Friday 14 November 2014

Maisie an Oldie for Friday!

Good Morning One and All, It's been a wee while since I managed to post anything and I've been finding commenting on your fab creations difficult to get around to. I just haven't managed to get myself into gear since my break away to Birmingham, in fact I've not even had a play with any of my new goodies.  


I've have quite raised blood sugars and finding it difficult to get them under control, and with being very busy at work, sometimes not being able to keep my insulin shots regular, result being that I am completely out of sorts and very tired. However the good news that I am now no days off and this is my long spell, so I can concentrate on myself, Alistair is away down to Glasgow for a few days to visit his brother, so it's just Teallach and me, Bliss!! Hopefully I can get back on track.

I have been scrolling through your blogs and loving what you've been making, sorry though to be such a poor commenter.

So It's Friday once again, and time for an "OLDIE", it's amazing to think that at this time last week we were going around the NEC, it's sure been a fast week, here is my oldie;
This is Maisie and she is my favourite little girl from LOTV, she is coloured with Promarkers.
Sentiment is LOTV too, I think I used a SB Embossing Folder, not sure now where all the other bits and pieces are from.

It's a really dark blustery morning here, but I'm cosy with Teallach cuddled up to me, we're going to have a lovely day together just chilling.

I do hope you are well, but Hugs to those who are not, and thank you for your comments on my last post.





Sunday 9 November 2014

A Happy Trip Away!

Good Evening to You All,
I hope everyone has been well since I lasted posted, but sending out kind thoughts if you haven't.

Well I had a fab time in Birmingham at the Nec and of course meeting up with Blogging friends, here we are;

Sorry they are a bit grainy, but in them you can see, Christine and Patricia at the back, then from right to left, Hazel, Mrs. Duck or Ang and her friend Nesta whom she has mentioned  on her blog. I'm in the top photo.  This was us at the Harvester where we had a lovely meal and a good old laugh and chat. The evening was over all too quickly though.

On Friday morning Patricia, Hazel and my good self headed for the craft fair and when we walked in this was what was on display;


Isn't this quite something! all made of paper and created by the readers of the Woman's Weekly Magazine.  Very apt for this particular time. the wreaths of poppies are all knitted or crocheted.

Here is some of the goodies I bought;





 
Sorry about the amount of photos, please feel free to switch off it it gets boring for you.
I really didn't think I was going to be buying all that much, but I couldn't resist the butterfly set and the pen holder from the MDF Man, and the Envelop Punch. The other buy I couldn't resist was some cross stitch from Micheal Powell and of course some stamps and a beautiful die from Lavinia Stamps Celtic range. So I'm looking forward to getting down to play.

It was a super few days but very tiring, I was glad to get home, when away somewhere coming home feels like I live at the other end of the world. I didn't even have the delicious peanut fudge that Ang had made, I'd packed it away in my case in the bus hold.  Didn't get all that much of it either as Alistair claimed it, said he had never tasted anything so good, so thank you Ang.

It's a long post, but some of the lovely friends from around the world might like to see what we've been doing.
I must try and catch up with your creations, but I will say Good Night for now,

Wednesday 5 November 2014

Keep Climbing!

Good Afternoon Everyone, I hope you are all well, but I know that there are some of my crafting friends a having difficult times at the moment, or their loved ones are, so I'm sending out positive thoughts and Big Hugs that you'll soon be well again.

Thank you for the lovely comments on my Anniversary card for Alistair, and your good wishes. We enjoyed a lovely meal last night, stuffed full as usual, no room for dessert though.

Today is Alistair's 69th Birthday,  but as he is fit and well he certainly doesn't seem that age, well not physically,  sometimes I think I'm dealing with an adolescent, ha ha!

Anyway, here is is birthday card;
I had seen the mountain image on a card that Christine of Christine's Cards and Crafts, and I thought just perfect, I couldn't get it here, so Christine kindly sent to the US for it. It's from Our Daily Bread range of stamps, The sentiments are from the same set, which is called Keep Climbing.
The climbing gear is from Just Inklined another great find.
The sky is coloured with a blend of DT inks and there is Wink of Stella in Clear on the mountains and Glossy Accents on the helmet, and coloured with SN.
I'm awfully pleased with how it's turned out, and Alistair is delighted. He is also delighted with the new music stand that I gave him, and Damian and Moreen will be over later to see him, so all in all he is having a lovely day.

I'm getting myself together for my trip to Birmingham tomorrow, really getting excited now at meeting up with everyone, and going to see all the wondrous crafting goodies at the NEC. It's an early rise to get down to Perth to meet up with Patricia and Hazel, who then drives us to Edinburgh for our flight.  Going to be a long day though, but I'll get a second wind. We will then meet up with Ang' aka Mrs. Duck and Christine whom I've mentioned above and have a lovely meal and a right old laugh and chat. The time will go too quickly but it will be great fun.
I'd love to think I'd meet some of you at the NEC too, so if you recognise me Please say hello.

Before I go here is the set of stamps I won from Sue Wilson the other week;
Summer Flowers... I just love them such beautiful designs and sentiments.

I'll say cheerio for now and see you in a few days, keep well and happy crafting

 

 

Tuesday 4 November 2014

I Got You Babe!

Hello Everyone from a dim and drizzly Inverness, yes it's a dreich morning out there, but not in here as it's our Wedding Anniversary, a whole nineteen years and everyone of them just got better.
We will be going out for a meal tonight to a restaurant that is pretty popular here in the town, Urquhart's, gorgeous food.  I'm going to be like a house end with all this eating out, I'm half way there as it is. What with the Indian meal last Friday then at a night out at our Assist. Manager's home where she wanted to have her leaving do rather than go to a restaurant.  She cooked the most amazing food and baked gorgeous cakes, and you know what's like, you keep going back for seconds..... then thirds. What a lot of work was put in to feeding us. Now out tonight, and tomorrow is Alistair's birthday, not going out but I usually cook something special, I hope he just wants scrambled egg!

Here is the card I made for him:
When I saw this image from Justinklined it was if it was meant.  Alistair a few weeks back asked me to see if I could download the music and words for the Sonny and Cher song as his little band was wanting to learn to play it, they sound awful at it by the way, lots of practise needed. I thought this was a fab image for an anniversary card.
First Edition New Leaf Papers
Black card
Spectrum Noir Pens and WOS, except it doesn't show up
Card Candy
Gloss on spectacles
Papermania Sentiment
I don't know if Alistair ever dressed like this back in the Day, but I certainly did, oh I shudder at the memory.

Anyway he loves it, and the new Leonard Cohen album I gave him, it's a brilliant album, not so much music to cut your throat to like his older stuff, more country/blue.

I hope you are all well, but kind thoughts and hugs to those who are finding life difficult just now.
Thank you also for all the lovely comments on my CCC snowman card, you are all very kind.

Well I've decided I'm not doing much today, a sort of chill out, have a good day whatever you're doing and see you tomorrow with the Birthday Boy's card.




Sunday 2 November 2014

Snowmen for the Christmas Card Club!

Well Hello to you all, I hope you're all well and enjoying your weekend. I'm scheduling this post for Sunday, so writing it on Saturday, where I'm feeling the effects of my Indian meal from last night.
We had a lovely evening with Damian and Moreen at this new little eatery just along the road from us, the food was beautiful and the decor too, but Indian food doesn't sit well with me, I think it's the rich sauces that's the problem, however, I just sacrifice my digestive system for a day.
It's a lovely bright but cold morning here, it might rain later though, the sky is a bit cloudy, but as I'm not planning on going anywhere I'm not bothered.

We had six little boys come in to entertain us last night before we went out, all dressed up for Halloween, and they were ever so funny, with jokes that have been on the go since before the ark. They had a sort of tape recorder with a pop song that neither of us knew and the mimed and danced to that, they were hilarious.  Alistair started to tell them jokes which I'm sure they were trying to remember to use themselves, and when they had their treats and going away, they all handed us some of their sweetie.  How sweet was that, so I guess they thought we had done our party piece too.

Now for a bit of sad news, my orchid which I've been nurturing so carefully and was going to photograph and show, was pushed off the windowsill last night and the three lovely flowers have broken off. Damian gave me this for Mother's Day a couple of years ago and I was so pleased that I managed not to kill it and that it was blooming again. It does have other buds on it, but it would have looked gorgeous. Teallach didn't look the least bit guilty.
Anyhow on to my card for the friendly CCC chosen this time around by Lorraine
The theme is Snowmen of man in this case.  I've used one of the stamps from last months LC Club Stamps, coloured with Sectrum Noir Pens and Wink of Stella in Silver. paper came along with the club stamps as did the sentiment and ribbon, Tonic Snowflake punch, gems and Star Dust.

So Thank you Lorraine for a lovely challenge, I adore Snowmen, so this was an easy one for me.

Enyoy your week end and Keep well everyone, and thanks for visiting.


Saturday 1 November 2014

No Patterned Paper at CCAYR November Challenge!

Good Morning Everyone,  November already, it's scary how time is just flying past, all the more reason to make the most of every day.

Just a quick post from me today showing my card for CCAYR, and this time we are looking for cards with out using pattered paper

I've tried to keep my card fairly simple by using a SB Embossing Folder edged with a little Brilliance Gold Ink,
Die'sire Bell Die, SB die to stamp my sentiment on to which is from CC
Gold Lace from Hobby Crafts, Liquid Pearls in Gold and a Gem from my stash

A very quick card to make.  Do visit the Challenge Blog at;
http://christmascardsallyearround.blogspot.co.uk  http://christmascardsallyearround.blogspot.co.uk/
and see what the other DTs have made, you're bound to beautiful inspirational cards.
Good luck with the challenge.