Sweet Amelia & A Bit Of News xxx

I just love this image – its one of my fave TGF images ever. She’s Amelia and she’s one of the new Buddies which Tracy has in stock at Dies To Die For – you can see her and her pal Oliver here :)

So I thought I’d use her for this week’s Anyone For Anya Challenge which this week is a sketch.

So this is the sketch …..

… and this is me card.

I coloured her with Copics in the following colours -

B0000, B00, C00, C1, E00, E21, E31, E50, R11, YG0000, YG03

The papers are all Wild Rose Studio Polka Dots and you can get them from Tracy – here they are and check out the new Japan and Spring Fling paper stacks as well cos they are verrrry delish :)

The ribbon is from my stash and the tiny rose is of course from Wild Orchid Crafts

The DT cards are amazing – some crackers over there lovelies so if you get a sec, nip and have a mooch. We’ve also got a GDT call as well if you are interested.

I did say that there was a bit of news and it’s just to let you know that with effect from the end of June, I am stepping down from running the AFA blog. I am finding that I have less and less time and something has to give. We now really only get to see Kyla at weekends so I want to free up some time for her. But Yvonne is going to carry it on so it won’t be closing and I know it’s in very good hands :)

Now I just have to show you this as well.

DotComGiftShop sent me a lovely package of heart decorations and bits and bobs to have a look at and I just love them. If you haven’t already checked out this site, nip and have a look peeps. It’s full of yumminess and there’s lots of stuff us cardies and crafties can use and the prices are really good.

Anyhoos, the package included these fab goodies -

and

… this gorgeous little pink felt hanging heart kit which I’m going to help Kyla to make for her bedroom. We are just about to re-decorate it as it’s still sort of toddler-esque. Now she is 4 now, she needs it to be a bit prettier and less baby-ish, so this is perfect to hang up in there.

I really don’t know where she gets the pink and girlie thing from because my girls were tomboys – both of them – and would not entertain pink, or dresses or ribbons etc. No, it was jeans, wellies, muck and ponies with both of them!!!! And I suppose I know where they got that from cos I might like pretty things now but I was the same as them when I was younger!!!

Although I am surprised that I can actually remember that far back lol xxx

So anyway I had better get on and get some stuff sorted. We are supposedly going to climb Moel Ffamau again today. It’s got to be good for another couple of pounds of lardage I reckon and seeing as I am now in single figures re the weight ie 9 stone (plus lots of pounds admittedly lol xxx), then I am running up that flamin’ mountain / hill / big rock / whatever!!! Yeah course you are Dawny – in yer dreams girl!!!.

Have the fabbiest day and enjoy the Bank Hol and hugs to all xxx

Hot Hot Hot!!!!!

Yes we are feeling hot and spicy today over at the Just Magnolia challenge :)

This week it’s open to your own interpretation, so either hot as in summer, weather, or  colours or Spicy as food or colours, or both together if you are feeling adventurous!!!

Well I went for hot colours ie hot pink (it had to be pink of course!!) and it was a struggle cos I always shy away from anything remotely bright!!! But it turned out OK in the end and considering the headache I had, it was nothing short if a miracle I can tell you!!!

More in a sec.

So this is what I did. I used an older Tilda for a change and used Copics in the following colours -

B0000, B00, B02, C00, E00, E23, E50, E33, E35, R0000, R11, RV0000, RV00, RV02, RV10, RV21

The punch is of course the wonderful MS Doily Lace Punch and those gorgeous papers are GCD Eye Candy.

Copics, the MSBP and papers are all available from Tracy at Dies To Die For

The gorge blooms are all Wild Orchid Crafts – I LOVE them :)

And that's the old card peeps.

Oh the headache I had yesterday – and it wasn't all to do with the bright coloures.

I mentioned that they were doing the trees and were going to turn off the power.  9am came and went and I thought I had gotten away with it and I was actually on the phone to Marcea and was just saying that maybe we had got away with it when off it went. 

Well that will teach me!!!

So into girl guide mode I went and got out me billy can and matches so at least I could have a hot drink. One of the trees they were trimming / felling was an old dead one that sort of hangs over the aviaries. Well as some of  our birds are still on eggs, Richard was NOT happy about this and of course I was here and he wasn't so I had to go and try and sort it out, which I did.  And bless them,they are coming back at a later date, so I am so grateful to them for that.  But then I had the noise from the chainsaws pretty much all day long – grrr!!!

I thought that once they’d finished, peace and quiet would return.  But once they switched the electric back on, next doors flamin alarm started going off. No probs usually but I think they are away. It did eventually stop after about an hour (only to resume again at 4.30am this morning , the */:&%^£ thing),  so consequently by this time, I was reaching for the paracetamol.

But we got there in the end as we usually do. I was so fed up though that I went and bought a pack of leerdamer cheese and some croissants to cheer meself up. I haven’t dared check out the WW website for how many points the combination of bad boys has. Sometimes ignorance is bliss –  yes, and sand and ostriches heads spring to mind!!!

So in a damage limitations exercise (literally), we are off on the bikes again later. I will have to do a fair bit of pedalling to shift that lot :(  I am psyching meself up as I am typing lol xxx

Have a great day and see you on Sunday if not before. I have a bit of news re the AFA challenge as well which I will share with you then.

Huggiest of hugs lovely peeps. xxx

Something VERY Special For You :)

It’s a bit of a double  whammy today cos  we are nearly at release day for the gorgeous  new Lili Of The Valley images and for one lucky person, Lisa and Laila are giving away a full set of images.  So how do you fancy getting your mitts on that lot? Well nip over to the challenge blog and read all about it.

But be quick cos you only have 2 days lovely peeps xxx

And talking about being quick, I really am on a flyer today because they are cutting trees again and our power is about to go off!!!

So it’s just time for me to say that this week over at the Lili Of The Valley challenge blog, we have a fabulous sketch by our Bev and sneak peeks of the new releases, and I can tell you, they are just beautiful.

I coloured this sweet little poppet in Copics and I’ll put the colours on here later. I’ll leave you to look at the pics and the shopping list is at the end – see you in a sec xxx

 

Papers are Wild Rose Studio Polka Dots from Dies To Die For, and the beautiful blooms are of course from Wild Orchid Crafts

So do nip over and check it all out peeps and I am so sorry to dash but I need me brekkie and it’s about to go off lol xxx

Have a fab day and hugs to all xxx

At Last!!!!

Honestly, the mither I have had with me camera and this flamin pic!!!

But we got there in the end – good job I don't give up easily (ie I am a stubborn old boot!!).

So yesterday was Papertake Weekly time and we are back in the swing of things with another sketch challenge.

And it’s …. .. this one.

And this is my take on it. If you haven’t already (and you probably have cos I am late and so behind the times!!) and you get a sec, do nip and have a butchers at what the other girlies have done with it peeps. It;s th last challenge of the month so there’s a lovely $25 vouchers to spends over at Simon Says Stamp up for grabs – wooohoooo!!!

I used the old Copics in the following colours -  B00, B02, E00, E11, E21, E35, E37, E50, R11. I don't know why but these colours together always remind me of my lovely blog bud Mrs Kath.

The gorge papers are the new GCD Studios - Elle Blue 12 x 12 Collection Pack which are available from Tracy at Dies To Die For and of course, those blooms are from the one and only Wild Orchid Crafts :) the little pearls are from The Hobby House.

And that’s me card.

Also just to let you know that the usual awesome service over at Dies To Die For will be interrupted for a short time. This is because poor Tracy’s Dad is very very poorly right now so she is spending most of her time at the hospice with him and her Mum. If there are any queries etc then please do not hesitate to ping me an e-mail and I will try my best and sort anything out for you. And my thoughts are with her and her family at what is a very sad time for them.

On that sad note I’m off to sunny (haaaahaaa) Birkenhead. What happened to the nice weather peeps? Was that summer? Ohh there is no pleasing me is there cos a few days ago I was whinging about the heat.

Have a fab day and see you tomorrow for an awesome LOTV challenge and something nice and new to share with you.

Huggiest of hugs xxx

Bloomin’ Winners Plus Mega Apols :(

I really have to apologise peeps cos I am so soooooo late with my Papertake Weekly card today. It’s all done but I am having mahoosive probs with me camera and getting a decent pic is proving nigh on impossible.

Even by my standards the ones I have are pretty darn crappo, so as soon as I get it all sorted, I will have the pics on here.

But I didn’t want to wait to announce who won the blooms, so

(drum roll!!!)

Cazza B, tis you my love

and Jane Johnson, my fab JM teamie, it’s you as well :)

Good on yer both and if you drop me a quick e-mail; I’ll sort out your flowery goodies, amd hugest of thanks to everyone who joined in. I wish I could send you all something !!!.

So until tomorrow and / or when ever I can sort out me pics, I’ll say night night and hope you are all OK and huggiest of hugs to all xxx

I Must Be An Eskimo :(

…cos I am toooooo hot!!!!

But isn’t it nice to see the sun peeps. We had a BBQ yesterday – the first one of the year – and it was so nice sitting outside having our dinner.  It was so nice that we may do it again later. That's if I don’t collapse  into a soggy heap after me bike ride.

Anyway, Happy sunny Sunday peeps and it’s time for another challenge over at Anyone For Anya. This week our challenge is

Double Trouble

so we want to see 2 or more images included and the DT cards  this week are just fab. I mean they are always fab but this week I think they are doubly fab.

 

So this is what I did.

Both if the images I used here are the new CC Designs images which you can get from Tracy at Dies To Die For. I coloured them with Copics in these colours -

C1, E00, E21, E31, E35, E37, E50, R11, YG0000, YG03, YR00, YR02

And check out those gorgeous papers peeps. They are the new My Minds Eye papers, the So Sophie range. I used Family Ties - Consistent Ledger and  Pretty Girl - Persistent Bloom.

They are also from Tracy and you can see them here 

The blooms and pins are of course from the wonderful Wild Orchid Crafts 

and I used some of their rose leaves as well.

So that’s the old card done.

Righty-oh I am off to the shops to get something nice for din dins.  His Lordship  has a tennis match this afternoon and I do not envy him playing in this heat. It’s a county thing so it’s quite important,  but the heat doesn’t seem to bother him like it does me.  Come to think of it, the heat doesn't seem to bother most people like it does me!!!  Then me and our Nik are off on the bikes later – maybe the blubber will melt away????

Nah, probably not but wouldn’t  it be fab if it did!!!

I only lost a pound this week (cry cry) but yesterday’s combi of Jersey Royal spuds with a fair bit of butter, garlic bread and a good old dollop of mascarpone on the fruit salad possibly has something to do with it. You see, that’s where I fall down. I have something healthy and then I turn it into the most coronary making, lardage enhancing  thing possible. And it takes some doing I  can tell you, but it’s the one area that I truly excel in lol xxx!!!

Not to worry. This time next year Rodney, we will be thin!!!!

Have a fab day in the sunshine and see you soon.

Mucho chubby hugs to all xxxx

Lovely Lilac & Lace :)

 

Morning peeps and hope everyone is well.

This week has just flown by – probably cos I have been so busy and I’m sooo looking forward to the weekend, which is apparently going to be glorious!! Mmm, well now they said that it's bound to have put the kiss of death on it.

But you never know!!!

Anyhoos it’s Friday so that means it's time to check out what the Just Magnolia girlies have been doing and this week our Jane has done a sketch for us to work with and here ….

.. it is.

I rotated it to fit the image…..

… and did a spot of paper piecing cos I liked the idea of her having gingham shorts :)

The rest of Miss Tilda was coloured with Copics and I used these colours -

BV0000, BV00, BV02, C1, E0000, E00, E21, E33, E35, E50, E53, R11, YG0000, YR00. You can get oodles of these bad boys from Tracy at Dies To Die For and she is also sponsoring our challenge this week, so do nip and check it all out if you get a sec xxx

These gorgeous blooms are of course from Wild Orchid Crafts and if you missed my last post, nip and have a quick look cos there’s 2 assorted packs up for grabs if you are a follower.

The papers are just fab I think and they are both Pink Petticoat colour collections. One is Gingham and the other is Little Check and there is a free stamp offer on until this Sunday. Check it out here peeps :)

The lace was just sitting at the bottom of  the heap that is my ribbon stash and I just added a few gems to bling it up a bit.

So that’s me card done peeps.

It’s very hazy here this morning which I am hoping will mean it will be nice later on. We are still doing the bike riding thing cos I am still trying to shift the blubber. I think I mentioned that the lucky diet this month is Weight Watchers and you get more points if you exercise,  hence all this activity here at the mo.

Well you didn't think it was for the good of me health did you chicksters?

No, it is just so I can stuff more grub down the mush lol xxx  BUT I have to say that I felt a bit cheated last week cos I had got quite a few points over in preparation for the big splurge I had planned for the weekend.

But no such luck cos little did piggy Phillips  know that you only have them for a limited time and if you don't use them then bingo, they are gone – never to be seen again. You can image my face when I found that little gem out. I very nearly cried!!! 

But all in all I’ve managed to get rid of 11lbs of lardage since I started (although it might only be 10 now cos I was a bit naughty yesterday).  But onwards and upwards as they say and on that note I am off to have a bit of brekkie before the detritus of the day hits me!!!!

Have a fab day, see you soon and hugs to all xxxx

Who Wants Some Flowers?

 

Morning peeps and I am very VERY late getting this on here this week. But we’re sorted now and better late than never I guess.

Yesterday was Tuesday and Papertake Weekly time and this week we are sponsored by the fabulous Wild Orchid Crafts so our challenge is

Say It With Flowers

And I thought I’d do a little mini giveaway for my lovely followers – just to say thank you and that I appreciate each and every one of you  xxxx.

I’ve 2 lots of assorted blooms which need a good home so if you want one of them to wing its way to you, then all you need to do is …

Firstly, make sure you are a follower if you aren't already and then leave your name with Mr Linky at the end of the post, and that’s it. Mr Random Thing will pick 2 next Tuesday so don't forget to check back.

So back to the challenge and this .……

is what I did.

I thought I’d use a H&S image cos I haven’t done for a while and I do love them. I coloured her with Copics and I’ll do the pics and then put the list at the end.

Copics used were -

B0000, B00, B12, BG01, C1, C5, E00, E21, E33, E35, F50, R00, R11, R20

Papers are Wild Rose Studio which are available from Tracy at Dies to Die For (as are the Copics)

Blooms,  lace and pins are Wild Orchid Crafts

The other DT cards are as fab as always so if you get a sec, nip over and check it all out.

Another short one today lovelies but  work is overwhelming me at the mo so I need to try and get it all done so I can get some time back again :(

Have a great day and see you soon if not sooner and huggiest of hugs to all xxx

Where’s The Pics?

Ohh it’s a bit mean over here today on the pics front, but that’s because I don’t seem to be able to  photograph this darned easel cards. I mean I love them, but I can never seem to get the angles right. So sorry lovelies, there’s only a couple.

But the card is for our Anyone For Anya challenge which this week is

Don’t be Square,

and we want to see something different from the usual 6 x 6 bad boys. The DT cards are wonderful and there are lots of ideas over there so if you get a sec, nip and check it all out :)

So this is what I did.

I used three images on here and they are the new CC Designs images which of course are just gorgeous. I had to sit Nora down on the fence verrrrrrrrry carefully cos I didn't want her to get splinters, heehee.  Everything on the card is available from the loveliness that is Tracy at Dies To Die For and Tracy is also our fab sponsor this week.

So I’ll just list and link the products and also the Copics colours to make it easier.

Copics – BG10, BG15, E0000, E00, E21, E31, E33, E35, E50, R0000, R11, R32, RV34, Y0000, Y06, YG0000, YG03, YG11, W1, W5

Images - CC Designs Butterfly Fence,  Butterfly Nora,  Hansel With Flower and stamped onto Digital Ultra Smooth Premium Cardstock.

Papers – My Minds Eye Quite Contrary  Little Miss Muffet - Hello Beautiful - Little Flowers

Martha Stewart Doily Lace Punch 

See the little green gems? Well time to fess up  because they were in our Kyla’s CBeebies mag and I thought I might ‘borrow’ them for this. They were her leftovers from when she decorated her cress growing pots so I don’t suppose she’ll mind lol xxx

I’m also on another flyer because we’ve been out all day climbing up Moel Ffamau and I am plain knackered!!! I am still on  this ruddy diet re the forthcoming hol and I’m doing the old Weightwatchers this time cos I like to share out my failures amongst them all lol xx . On this plan, if you exercise, you can gain points and as points really do make prizes (in this case, more food lol xxx) I am going for it majorly. Yesterday we had a 14 mile bike ride and then this today. 

Blimey O’Riley!!!!!

Anyway, have a great evening peeps and see you soon if not sooner.

Hugs to all xxx

I’m Sooooooooooooooooo………

 

…. predictable at times.

I was determined to use an image I hadn’t used for a while for my card for this week’s Just Magnolia challenge.  But I kept going back to this one.

This week, our challenge is

One For The Girls,

and this has to be one of my fave girlie Tildas.

And the DT cards are as always, just stunning. There’s a total girlie fest over there so if you get a sec, nip and have a mooch peeps.

Come to think of it, the colour scheme was quite predictable for me as well, as were the Copics, MSBP and blooms.

Ohh dear – it would seem that I really am a creature of habit. Not sure if that’s a good thing or not really. Anyway, the Copics used were -

BV0000, BV00, BV02, BV13, E0000, E00, E21, E33, E50, E53, YG0000, YR00

The blooms are of course Wild Orchid Crafts and the papers are Nitwits.

You can just about see the old doily punch on this pic and of course, you can get those plus your Copics from Tracy at Dies to Die For .

The pearly things were from the local floristry warehouse that I go to and the ribbon (which you can’t see on here) was form my stash.

There’s a fair bit of dimension as well.

So that’s me and my predictability done for today lol xxx

Are we all the same or is it just me that seems to live in a Groundhog Day sort of world ???? I can’t make up my mind if it’s to do with a lack of imagination or if it’s a comfort zone thing or what.  I do have a very low boredom threshold which would on the face of it seem to be a bit of a contradiction, but there’s certain things that I just seem to fall into to – and then stay there.

Maybe next time I WILL do something completely different. Ohh I just went and had a peep at what the next AFA challenge is and you know what, I think that might well be the case.

I am on a flyer again (yes, there’s another thing!!) cos I really cannot see my desk for paper (and there’s yet another lol)  so I must go and clear it.

Have a fab day and a great weekend lovely peeps and see you Sunday if not before.

Hugs to all xxx