Friday 29 May 2015

Martha, "Oldie for Friday"!

Well it's that time once again to share an "Oldie for Friday", it sure comes around fast.  
"Oldie for Friday" is the brainchild of Erika of http://snappycrafts.blogspot.co.uk/
Just a wee bit of fun showing handmade creations from earlier on in our crafting career. Doesn't have to be a card, just something handmade.  It's good to see how our styles change over time, how we develop with crafting and in some case move out of our comfort zones.

Anyway here is mine for this week;
Here is Martha, a fab image from Acid Drops and Whatnots, brilliant images with a humorous twist. I made this one for a friend's mum a couple of years ago.

Why not join us and share what you've made, there quite a few of us now.
I hope you are all well and making plans for a great weekend.

Thanks to everyone who left a comment on my last card, and cheerio for now,


Wednesday 27 May 2015

With Sympathy!

Good Evening to Everyone, I hope you are enjoying your evening and are well.
We have had a dismal day up here, raining and cold, back to woolie socks, boots and gloves for going out this morning.  What has happened to May, it's usually a nice month.

Thank you all for your lovely comments on my last card, I love reading them and appreciate every one of them.

Just a quick post tonight with one of these cards we all hate to have to make.  A few months ago I had to make quite a few of this kind;
I would love to tell you what the stamp is but for the life of me I can't remember, but once again I've kept it fairly simple.

Well just one day to work and then off for six days, I got my official redundancy dismissal letter today, and the last day will be 30th June, it was to be the 23rd. but from somewhere an extra weeks funding appeared. Counting the days!

Take care everyone and see you soon,


Sunday 24 May 2015

Gifts for The Christmas Card Club!

Hi, these fortnights are sure coming around faster I think for the Christmas Club Challenges, and this one has been chosen by our Zoe and her challenge is Gifts. Here is what I've come up with;
Well there are plenty of Gifts here in a Papermainia Decoupage kit,, the sentiment is from the same kit.  The embossed background was given to me by a friend so can't tell what it is, green card and some Star Dust, which of course doesn't show up in the photo. Just a very simple wee card to do.
Thank you Zoe for the challenge, I enjoyed creating my card.

Just wanted to say, thanks for all the lovely comments on my last card, I always appreciate the time you take to visit me.

I hope everyone is tip top and enjoying their weekend, I'm just about to as I've been working but now off for a couple of days.
Cheerio for now,


Friday 22 May 2015

A Movie Star for Friday's Oldie!

Good Evening to You All, I hope you have had a good day and that the weather was fair. I've found it quite cold today and it was dull, though the rain kept away.
Not long finished work, but I thought I would do a quick post to share my "Oldie for Friday"!
Started by Erika of Snappy Crafts as a fun thing to show handcrafted items made at an earlier stage in our crafting life. It can be anything, not just a card.  There are quite a few of us "Oldies" now and it's great looking back at what we've made and how our style has changed, improved not not as the case may be. So why not join in the fun, here is mine for this week;
Now I can't remember where this digi image came from, might be from Mo, but coloured with Promarkers, and Papermainia Papers.  I think it's a brilliant image, but then I'm a huge Chaplin fan.

Thank your for all your comments on my last card, and just to say that my client who wanted the wedding card, just loves it, thinks it's fabulous, I am so pleased.

Short post tonight, and I'll schedule this for tomorrow,

Wednesday 20 May 2015

A Wedding Card and a Mucky Boy!

Hello to Everyone, I hope you are enjoying your evening, I'm on my own for a wee while as Alistair is at his little music group and won't be home till late.
Thank you all for your kind comments on my little hearts, I got them wrapped up today and will give them over on Saturday when we all go for coffee and cake.

I have also been trying to finish a card asked for by one of my clients for his niece's wedding, here is what I came up with;
I've used one of the new Die'sire Create a Card Dies and Centura Pearl card, SB Cherry Blossom dies, MB Bow die, Xcut hearts, and I'm not sure what the flourish dies are., Pearls from Hobby House. Hunkydory sentiment. Made the box myself Yeah!!
I hope it will do, I struggled with this one, don't know why, My client couldn't give me much to go one, except it was a same sex wedding and his niece was very girlie. I have to say, these dies by Die'sire are absolutely beautiful and cut out well.

I thought you might like to see a couple of photos of my very dirty cat,

He came in this morning with two very dirty front paws and a nose that looked like he had snucked up all the soil in the garden. Picture doesn't show it too well. He was having none of me cleaning him though. No explanation from him, but later I found a wee mouse in the front garden, so I think he has been under the shed or something chasing his prey. Thankfully he didn't bring it indoors, I freak at things like that.  This is the first time he has brought anything home, cats will be cats.

Well back to work tomorrow, I've had a lovely holiday off, manged to get the bedroom cleared, had to be brutal though, but glad it done.  Strange to think this will be my last ever holiday from work.

I hope you are all well, but sending out positive thoughts for anyone not too well for a quick recovery.

See you soon and thank you for your visit,




Tuesday 19 May 2015

Hearts for the Craft Group!

Good Morning Lovely Friends and Visitors of course and welcome to my wee bit of cyber space, so delighted that you pop in.

I hope everyone is well, but for those who are not, I wish you hugs and a speedy recovery.

Dodgy day weather wise this morning, sunny then dark skies, not sure what it's going to do, but I have no plans to be going out so It can do what it likes, hope the weather is good where you are.  We had a lovely walk along Rosemarkie beach on Sunday, looking for dolphins, but they weren't out playing, so just had to have and ice cream instead, with a flake too, naughty, naughty.

Anyway, I've been busy over the last few days making little keepsakes for the ladies in my craft group. As those of you know who follow my blog, I am being made redundant in June, so this Satuday will be our last get together as a craft group. I have been really amazed at the commitment of these folk, coming along even when they weren't feeling too well, and joing in the crafting. Their makes were so very individual and lovely, I've shown some of them, and I'm so pleased to say that at the end of the session all felt better. I really do believe that crafting, any crafting is so theraputic...especially for those who experience poor mental health.

So, I 've been wondering what could I make for them to remember their time in the craft group, but also their time at Cairdeas Cottage, where we have the project, which is completely going as the NHS Highland is pulling our funding, here is what I came up with;

MDF hearts with elements that I hope will reflect something of that person. One young woman makes the most fabulous cross stitch pictures, so I've made hers with lots of sewing elements, anothe r loves knitting, so you can see there is one for her, another  its flowers. I've also tried to look for sentiments that suit, one young woman has always been told by her father that she is rubbish and no good, the sentiment I chose for her tells her that she is special. The owl heart is for my colleauge who sometimes faciltitaes the group, she loves these creatures, and I know that she dreams of going on to study once her little ones are up a bit.  I hope I've managed to let them know that they will be missed and thought about as they cope without our service.
I won't list what I've used, too much.

It remains for me to say thank you for all the fab comments on the Star Box, I really do appreciate each and every one.

Hope to see you soon, enjoy your day whatever your up to and take care,


Wednesday 13 May 2015

Star Gift Box!

Hello to All my Crafty Friends and Visitors,
I hope you are well and have enjoyed your day.  Our weather has been a bit kinder to us today, so I got the washing out and it all dried, I'll iron tomorrow.  Teallach loves when the weather allows the door to be kept open and he can come and go as he pleases, now I know you'll think I'm daft, but I think he runs in to tell me things as he miaows and runs back out again and then a wee while later in he comes again with another miaow, this goes on for a while. Gosh I'm putting human behaviour on to my wee animal.

Thank you so much for your kind comments on my last card, I appreciate the time you take to visit me.

Here is what I've been doing today;

Crafters Companion Star Box template, made from Centura Pearl and First Edition Rose Garden Papers, SB Rose Die, MB and Marianne Foliage dies, Spiders Web, Papermania lace.

Took me ages to do this, I'm not good at following instructions, and this was easy, I learn better when shown, but I'm quite pleased with the result and it is my first one, hope you like it.

I'm away to get my PJs on and make a cuppa, enjoy the rest of your evening and see you soon,


Tuesday 12 May 2015

Mermaid Dreams!

Good Evening All, I hope it's been a good day for you whatever you've been doing.  
I've not been doing much, I stood in the doorway of the spare bedroom and couldn't think where to start with the sorting out, so I turned about, made a coffee and picked up my Kindle, and tried not to feel guilty, as Scarlett O'Hara says.."tomorrow is another day"!

Thank you all so much for the lovely remarked on my previous card, and the good wishes for my diabetic check up.  Not so bad as I thought it would be, my HbA1c which is a blood test which take in BG for the last three months was up a bit, but there was no surprise there. I will have to try and cut way down on carbs, but not easy on our Western diet, but I managed before, so hoping I can do it again.

Not great weather today, rain off and on, so it was a day for crafting,

I bought a few digital images from AuroraWings, and this is the first I've coloured. I love Mermaids and this image especially.  I've coloured her with a mixture of SN Aqua Pens, Copic and Prismacolour Pencils. I also used small stamps from CB Mermaid Queen Stamp set, DI for the background blended with the new Creative Expression's Smoothies,(need a bit of practise),
CC Sentiment, Hobby House Pearls, Glamour Dust and Liquid Pearls
I stayed away from ribbons and bows as I wanted the image to be the focal point.
I'm quite pleased at the outcome, I think.

Alistair is watching the footy, and I'm wondering if I should do any more card making, I've been asked to make a wedding card, but I'm struggling with getting a design worked out, but I've still time. I sometimes find that my approach to making commissioned cards is a bit like when I was studying and had to get an essay produced, lots of mental activity going on, but nothing being put down on paper.....till the last day, and then the pressure.  No, I've decided to read instead.. 

So I will leave you now, and hope that everyone is well, but if not I wish you a speedy recovery.
Thanks for popping in and see you soon,


Monday 11 May 2015

Pop Up Flowers!

Hello my lovely Crafty Friends, Visitors too and welcome to my wee bit in Blogland.
I hope you are all tip top, but if not sending out kind thoughts for a speedy recovery.
Thank you so much for all the lovely comments on my CCC card, I do appreciate each and every one of them.

Heavy rain at times today, and quite windy too, put some towels out and there are too wet to come in, hoping for a drier day tomorrow.

I'm off for my Diabetic Review tomorrow, it's not going to be as good as it could be, lots of up and down BG results, after my bout of illness during my holiday, I've found it difficult to gain the control I need.  It's such a pain in the neck having this condition, and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.  I was doing so well a while back, but I've slipped back and I don't always feel well.  Anyway, we'll see what the nurse says tomorrow.

Here is my offering for today;


Sorry about the amount of photos, but it's really difficult to get it all in
The papers a from a cheap but lovely floral pad from the works, SB Roses and Astors, Sizzix Words dies, Crafty Individuals Butterfly, Xcut Butterfly die, Little Claire Hugs and Kisses sentiment,and some Pearls.

This little pop up ended up going with me when I visited one of my elderly clients who is in hospital, as they don't allow flowers in the wards, I thought this would be nice on her locker, and it wouldn't die.  She loved it I am pleased to say.

That's me for tonight, feet up now and watch a wee bit of TV.



Sunday 10 May 2015

A Village Scene for CCC!

Gosh don't the weeks fly by!  Time again for another card for out friendly Christmas Card Club. We make a card every two weeks with a theme chosen by one of our members, so that when Christmas comes around, we have quite a few cards made and not rushing to do them at the last  minute.

The theme this time has been chosen by our lovely Rita and it's to show a Village Scene, this is what I came up with;
I've used a pre-coloured topper from LOTV and papers are also from LOTV. Blue card from Papermaina, ribbon from Hobby Craft.  Tonic Snowflake punch, the sentiment from a Blogging Friend, Papermania gems and Star Dust.

Well folks having done my day's work I am now off on holiday, around 10 days, oh and I am looking forward to doing very little but catching up with friends, and pottering around at home. Our spare bedroom is needing a clearance, so that is first on my to do list.

I hope you are having a lovely weekend, and that you are all well.
Thank you so much for your comments about my scarf, you are very kind.
Take care and see you soon,

Friday 8 May 2015

A Lacey Knit "Oldie for Friday"!

Just a quick post this time around. It's once again Friday and that means that it's time to show your "Oldies", those handmade makes from an earlier time in your crafting career. This was all started as a bit of fun by Erika of Snappy Crafts. It doesn't have to be a card, just something hand made. Today I'm sharing a piece of knitting;
Yarn and pattern from a knitting magazine a while ago, and this scarf went to Dale..
Why not join our little band of "Friday Oldies", so to speak and share your earlier hand made projects.

I hope you all have some super plans for the weekend, sadly I'm working , but somebody has to.
Thank you all so much for the lovely comments on my last card, you are all very kind and encouraging.
Till next time,


Thursday 7 May 2015

Musical Fanfare!

Good Morning Everyone, I hope the day has started well for you and continues throughout the day.
It started with sunshine but, now the clouds have come across and it's become quite cold, I think the rain is not far away.

We went down to Edinburgh yesterday to visit a friend who has just had her hip replaced, it was a long way and a long day, but it was good to see her and whilst we were there another friend of Alistair's turned up and they hadn't seen each other in about twenty years.   I didn't get the chance to shop, I needed some Liz Earle skincare, as the opportunity arose to get an earlier bus back home, thee difference between 8:45 and 10:45, so it would have been daft no to get back home earlier.

I have another card today using CB stamps;
From the Musical Fanfare set and coloured with SN Aqua Pens, the music score in the background is also in the set and I've DIed it a little, Sentiment from one I had in my box. SB Dies, Embossialicious EF, rickrack and flowers from my box Liquid Pearls and Glossy Accents on the violin. I was a wee bit heavy handed with it.  Alistair thought I had made the violin too dark, I think he could be right.
Anyhow, I think this is a beautiful set of stamps and really lovely to colour up.

Well we have just had hailstones, Teallach wasn't amused as he was out in the garden and as I had closed the door he couldn't get back in, I've had an real row from him, he's now sitting on his cushion with his back turned to me, guess I'm in the doghouse.

Off to work today, this is the start of my three days on, it's getting more and more difficult to motivated myself to go in, I know 23rd June is not far away, but I just want to be done and to get on with the next bit of my life.

I hope I can find something for tomorrow's "Oldie for Friday", so hopefully see you soon.

Thank you for visiting and leaving your lovely comments,


Monday 4 May 2015

Glorious Spring!

Hello Crafting Friends and I hope that you are all enjoying the May Holiday. We are at home, Alistair and his pals came home yesterday as the weather was so awful, scuppered my plans, well not plans exactly other than to suit myself, but that's life.

Is everyone tip top? hope so, but sending out positive thoughts that those of you who are not so good that you will feel better son.

Thank you all so much for your very kind comments on my last card, and especially to two new visitors, Julia and Alizabethy, I hope you will call in again.

My card today is all about Spring, even although it's not all that Springlike outside:
From CB this is from the Glorious Spring collection, unfortunately my green DI is not showing up too well, I don't know what has happened to my colours, as the sky looks lavender when in fact it is shades of blue.
I've matted on to Green card from Papermaina and used Gold Liquid Pearls to finish it all off. I didn't want to have much by way of embellishments on it as I think the stamps say enough.  I do assure you it looks better in real life.

Just a short post today, lots to be getting on with, enjoy your day and see you soon,


Saturday 2 May 2015

A Hot Little Number!

Good Afternoon Crafty Friends, I hope all is well with you, but wishing you a speedy recover is your not so good.
Thanks to all who visited my blog yesterday and left a comment, you are all very kind.

Another cold day here, but with the sun peaking through every so often, goodness knows how the boys are doing camping out, don't envy them at all.

I am trying to gather up the motivation to go food shopping, I just hate it, but the cupboards are pretty bare and most importantly Teallach need food, but I'm nice and cosy here at home and the thought of going out is chilling, but needs must I suppose.

I have another Butterfly Dress card for you today, but in bolder hot colours;
Image coloured with a mixture of Copics and Prismacolour Pencils. Background coloured with DI and stamped with butterflies from CB Honeysuckle stamp set. Sentiment from CB Macintosh Stamp set. Xcut Butterfly die and Papermaina Lace. Flowers coloured with Aqua markers, Liquid Pearls and Glamour Dust.

I just love this wonderful image and it's fab to colour up, I hope you like it.

Well I'd better bite the bullet and get going, enjoy your Saturday and see you soon,


Friday 1 May 2015

What a Pear! Oldie for Friday!

Good Morning Friends and Visitors and welcome to my  Cuilliesocks Blog. If there is anyone out there who wonders about the name of my blog, it is named after my darling cat who died almost four years ago, whose name was Cuillin after the mountain range in Skye and my love of knitting socks. He was always beside me when I was trying on the socks and had to have a great inspection of them.  I get asked from time to time the origin of the name.

So we have a bit of watery sun this morning, but the washing is going out in the hope that the rain stays off. Imagine May already, where has the months gone, scary what what!!
Thank you so much for the lovely comments on my last card, I love reading them and always feel encouraged by them.

My hubby came back exhausted from is visit with is brother, has settled him in and he is getting on fine and walking well with his new hip. He also had a heart to heart with Jim's daughter about her dad needing more support from her, so I hope she takes it on board.  He has cleaned and shopped, contacted various support orgs. and and the council housing dept. about a ground floor flat/house.  Two brothers couldn't be more different, Jim doesn't know how to do these things without getting people's backs up, Alistair is more assertively diplomatic.  So, I think he deserves his weekend away with the buddies.

Well, it's time for another "Oldie for Friday", and mind you I'm running out of them, but I found this;
As you can see it's for an Anniversary, the image and sentiment really tickled me at the time. I think I got the image from the Internet, and I've matted and layered with Hunkydory card and gold mirri.

This bit of fun was started by Erika of Snappycrafts and you can find her blog here, to show earlier crafty makes, it can be anything handmade. It's good to look back at what was created in our earlier crafting careers and how we have improved, progressed, it's just fun so why not join Erika and the rest of us in sharing your "Oldies"

That's the next batch of washing finished so I'm away to get it hung out and the scare away the huge black cloud that's hovering over the house.
Have a super weekend whatever you do and I'll see you soon, I've got a bit of catching up with some of you, take care of your selves.