Something To Make You Smile Plus Last Week’s Giveaway Winner :)

Hi there peeps and hope you are all OK today xxx

It’s been one of those weeks re work etc and I’ve been up to me eyes in it again  and time ran away with me. So no card to share today soz sweet peeps,  but I do have the winner of my giveaway from last week …… 

.. which was this gorge Elegant Wreath Kit from Craftwork Cards, and my winner is …

… YOU, lovely Hazel Conboy :)

If you ping me a quick email chick I’ll get this out in the post to you soon as soon xxx And thank you to everyone who entered the giveaway. I may have another one for you very soon – well it’s very nearly the season of goodwill to all crafters isn’t it lol :)

Is anybody coming along to the Lili of The Valley open weekend this coming Saturday btw? Well I say Open Day but it’s a bit more than that cos we are actually having a bit of a pardy :) You can read all about it here if you haven't seen the deets. These are always great fun and I have a sneaky feeling that this one is going to be a corker, so if you have a spare couple of hours, pop along and join in the fun with us all.

Right that’s me done but before I go, I thought I’d share this with you. Kyla has always loved writing, and even before she could actually write, she used to scribble all the time. So now she goes onto the computer and makes up little stories. Well, I found this one on Sunday and to be honest I almost peed my pants laughing, bless her.

It will hopefully make you smile as well and btw, the wonkiness is me on the scanner :(

Spoken as only a wise little 6 year old can !!!. It would be fab to be emaysted of juy (amazed with joy)  I think!!)

And yes, love and lathder is indeed what it’s all about - I couldn't have put it better meself !!!

Have a fab day and huggiest of hugs to all xxx

Simon Says …. You’re Late You Naughty Piggy!!!!!

(they didn’t really lol but it’s  true so gazillions of apols xxx!!)

So hi there lovely peeps and hope you are all OK today.

It’s that time of the week when we head across the water and catch up with our friends over at the Simon Says Stamp Challenge and this week and as it’s very nearly Thanksgiving in the jolly old US of A, our theme this week is

Thanksgiving / Thank You

so it’s self explan really, and for those of us who don't celebrate we can make a Thank You card / creation instead.

As always, our lovely Heidi is giving away a fabulous …

… for one lucky winner to spend …

…right here (lucky girlie!!)

So ….

… this is what I did.

I just realised that I used the same colour theme for last week. I must be in an apricot sort of mood!!!

The papers are gorge Basic Grey WHAT'S UP 6 x 6 Cardstock and I just die cut a heart shape using the largest Spellbinders Nestabilities CLASSIC HEART 6 Die and layered it up using dimensionals.

I had a bit of a mishap (surely not I hear you cry!!) because this was the second attempt.

I have sort of started inking up the edges of practically everything (I blame Debi at Crab Apple Crafts!). So I am merrily inking away when the paper slipped and I ended up with a nice big brown streak across the paper.  Well this is not at all attractive as you can imagine,  so I had to start again – doh!!!

I topped one of the fab Prima Craftable blooms with some Hero Arts 24 Flowers SUNSHINE PRINT CH206 Orange blooms. Then I had a little die cutting sesh with the Memory Box Delicate Fern die and of course the leaf bit from the Magnolia leaf and swirl die set.

 

Now where would we be without SAFMAT Self-Adhesive Printing Film???

I really do love this stuff and use it all the time. If you’ve never used it, go and and have a go – you will be hooked!!! Yopu juts print out whatever you want onto it, cut around the printed bit, remove the backing sheet and put it onto your card.  A quick rub and the film becomes practically invisible.

Awesome!!!

 

So that’s the old card done and I’ll be back soon as soon with some more cardage. If you get a sec, nip over and check out the challenge – and if you fancy joining in we would love to see you there :)

Have the fabbiest day and huggiest of hugs to all xxx

Bloomin’ Different – And a Nice Little Giveaway Too :)

  

Hi there peeps and I hope you are all having a nice day today xxx

It's that time of the week when we head on over and catch up with the Papertake Weekly gang and this week our theme is

Flower Power

… and quite simply all we want to see is a bloom of some description included on your card or project. This week we are sponsored by the Stamp Fairy.

So …

… this is what I did.

There's no image today - instead, I used one of the Christmas Wreath Kits from Craftwork Cards which I got from the NEC at the weekend.

Julie had made some gorgeous samples and I just could not resist buying a kit or 3!!! They are really good value as you can get 3 wreaths out of each kit and they are very easy to make .

Instead of making one to hang up, I thought I would make one and use it as a topper.

There are 96  gorgeous die- cut flowers, plus ribbons and chipboard wreaths in every kit and you simply layer them up and stick them onto the chipboard wreaths – as the meerkat would say, simples!!

I used a 6x6 card blank but I thought after (how flamin’ typical) that these would look really stunning on an 8x8 base.

Next time!!!!

So that's my card done for today – oooh that was quick for me wasn’t it!!!

Time for a quick bit of waffle then :)

Did you all have a great time at the NEC at the weekend? I went  on Saturday with my Nicola and we met up with Kath and those  fabulous Ribbon Girl's Andrea and Mary. After our usual  catching up sesh in Wetherspoon's  - it’s practically the law - we went for a bit of retail therapy and I'm sure you'll see the results on here at some point in the future as well as today!!

On Sunday, Kyla took part in her 1st Remembrance Day parade, bless her.

She has been going to Beaver’s now for about 6 months and she loves it.  Her pack were included in the parade and they had to ‘march’. Well, I cannot tell you how excited she was. We walked alongside her and I alternated between having a lump in my throat and sniggering every time I looked at her. Her little head was held high and she swung her arms and marched along as if her life depended on it!!! We've taken her to the parade for a few years now and she knows roughly what it's about – or as much as a 6 year old can I guess!!. Thea slept right through it all – the  Sea Cadet band, the booming Seargent Major, the lot!!!!  They are both in residence tonight as Emma and Tim are off to see The Killers. Now if only Miss Thea will sleep right through the night in the same way, Emma will be very happy. Sadly I don't think it’s going to happen. She is like me and my Mum, she’s a little lark and wakes up quite early most mornings which Emma the night owl  just about loves (not!!!).

We’ve  had another mishap here – this time it was Richard. He stood on a high pressure steam vent at work and the steam went through his work boot and all over the top of his foot. How it got through the leather I don’t know but it’s very badly blistered and looks awful. The poor beggar -  I feel a bit sorry for him to be honest. He even had to cancel his game of tennis which is practically unheard of !!!!

Right I better go and do some work but before I go, I have a  little giveaway for you.  If you would  like one of the Christmas Wreath kits …..

….this beautimous black and white Elegant kit here , then just leave your name with old Linky and I’ll get Mr Randomer to draw the winner next Tuesday :)

Have the fabbiest of days  and if you get a sec, nip over and have a moochie at the challenge.

Huggiest of hugs to all xxx

Keeping It Simple :)

Hi lovely peeps and hope you are all OK today.

It’s that time of the week when we head across the water and catch up with our friends over at the Simon Says Stamp Challenge. I bet you are all relived that your election is now over and congratulations to President Obama on his second term in office. I cannot believe it’s been 4 years since the last elections and I just went back through my blog to this post and found this …..

I made this when Obama was inaugurated for my friends in the US of A  and I still think it holds true now. But isn't this world so different now from 4 years ago – or is that just me????  Maybe it’s just nostalgia but it sure feels different now.

Anyway I hope that you all had a great night and that you got the result you wanted xxx

So anyway onto this week our challenge is ….

Thinking of You / Sympathy

As always, our lovely Heidi is giving away a fabulous …

… for one lucky winner to spend …

…right here (lucky girlie!!)

I couldn't face doing a sympathy card right now so I did a TOY card instead ….

… and this is what I did.

I kept it simple with lots of white space which I LOVE.

I made the flower using the largest of the Magnolia Doily Flower dies.

I went around the edges with a Copic and then inked over it and added some glitter.

The paper flowers on top are from this pack …….

… Hero Arts 24 Flowers SUNSHINE PRINT CH206 Orange.

I got 2 blooms with 5 petals and just overlapped 2 petals on each one  to make blooms with 4 petals and then glued them together.

The green bit in the middle is the smallest bit of this …

Martha Stewart 3 IN 1 HYDRANGEA Craft Punch

and of course these are all available over at the Simon Says Stamp store.

It’s so easy and very quick to make as well :)

So that’s me done today and I’m off to do some work.

Before I go, if you want to see something to put a smile on your face, check out these blog posts from my archives. I found them whilst looking for my ‘Born To Be Free’ digi. I think they are both fab and I had a good laugh re-reading them.!!!

Here’s the first

Here’s the second

Snigger snigger at both, bad Grandma  :)))))

Enjoy your the rest of your day and see you soon.

Huggiest of hugs to all xxx

Now Don’t All Faint!!!!!

Hi there sweet peeps, tis the stranger back here xxx

And blimey O’Riley, what a shocker……. I’ve actually made a card!!

It’s been a very rocky few weeks and it seems like aaaaaages since I posted but more of that in a tick!!!

Firstly it’s time to head over and check out what’s happening over with the Papertake Weekly gang and as it’s the first challenge  of the month, we have our usual

Anything Goes

theme with the option to make a Christmas card or gift.

Well as you can see, I didn't do that because I was just dying to share an image from the latest Lili of The Valley release which will be out soon as soon and as always they are super sweet and twice as cute.

We are sponsored this week by the lovely Lisa & Laila over at

Lili Of The Valley

And they have given us a …

… to give to one lucky winner – thank you chicksies xxx

So ….

.. this is what I did. 

The image is called Walkie Time  and I coloured it with Copics in these colours -

E50, E81, W00, W1, W3, W5, W7, RV0000, RV000, RV00, RV02,

All the papers are by Nitwits and I did a bit of a mix and match with the collections ( you can so easily do that with Mary Fran’s stuff) and these papers are from FQB One Birdie Lane and FQB Confection.

You can’t really see it from this pic – dreadful quality, soz peeps but the light has been awful here today - but there’s some glitter dashed about here and there as well.

 

A nice lil double bow made from 15mm shocking pink small check gingham ribbon which I topped off with an 8mm  White Flat Back Pearl and some natural button twine, all from Mary & Andrea over at The Ribbon Girl :)

The little tag is also from the new Lili of The Valley release – it’s part of a companion set which has all sorts of goodies on it.

                                  

  Check me out with me inked edges here!!! I still couldn't help myself with the glitter though!!

These are 2 of my new Cheery Lynn dies that I got when I was over at the LOTV shop. Seriously peeps if you haven't yet been, you are missing a treat – not only is it full of inspiration, but you can now get paper packs, dies (Cheery Lynn, Memory Box and Spellbinders etc) , flowers, ribbon and all of it just darn tootin’ beee-youtiful!!!

So there’s me card all done.

Well it has been a bit of a yucky few weeks here . Some of you will know that my aunty died on 15th October after putting up such a fight – I didn't realise she had such courage I have to be honest. It was a blessing in the end because what she has endured these last 18 months or so was truly awful. I will miss her dreadfully but I would not wish her back to live as she had been.  I found that I didn't want to craft or go near the computer and was quite down but life goes on and you just have to get on with it.

And so I shall!!!

But of course I did miss ya while I was AWOL and of course now that I am back to it I realise that I did miss the old crafting as well. So hopefully I will be back in the swing of things in next to no time.

Hugest apols if anybody has emailed me and not had a reply these last few weeks. I am ploughing through them all and will respond to every one asap and thank you for bearing with me. Thanks also from the bottom of my heart to all my fellow DT mates for covering for me and of course to my DT ‘bosses’ who have allowed me the space I needed - I am truly grateful xxx

Did you all have a good Halloween and Bonfire Night?

I had my card club last night and there were fireworks going off everywhere, as they were on Saturday night. Emma did a Halloween party for Kyla and her friends last Wednesday and they really went to town  decorating the house and making spooky food. There were 12 kids and I lost count of the grown ups and we all had a good time. I made some toffee apples and some cinder toffee which I’d never made before but it is easy peasy and tasted divine!!!

Right I better be off and get some din dins, but I just had to share these before I beggar off!!!

Emma and Tim and the kids had gone to another Halloween party at the weekend and here’s a couple of pics of my two treasures before they left  …..

…. wooohooo Miss Witchy Kyla, and who is that lil cheeky (and very chubby) chops in the corner?

Awww it’s Thea – what a cute skeleton.

The ‘bones’ glowed in the dark and she seemed quite happy wearing it, bless her. She wasn't at all fazed by all the noise and commotion but she wasn't to happy when anybody was blowing up balloons. She didn't mind them popping for some reason but she was not loving them being blown up!!!

Ohh I must just say congrats to my friend Joyce who has become a Grandma for the first time last Friday :)))))) Joyce you will be so poor now chick –but it is the BEST ever. Plus you can hand them back when they start whinging!!! And of course,  welcome to the world little Niamh – I will be round to see you with lost of cuddles very soon.

Right I’ll say night night and I’ll see you tomorrow.

Enjoy your evening and huggiest of hugs to all xxx

My Winner Is ……. (Plus A Little Update)

Hi there peeps and hope that you are all OK today.

I don’t have a card to share – more in  a sec – but I do have a winner from last week’s Papertake Weekly 5 Year Bash and that lucky girlie is ……..

… you Stephanie W

So what did I have as my giveaway then?

My giveaway was sponsored by the sweetness that is Sue over at

Craftwork Cards

and the prize is …

… one of the gorgeous Memory Lane Project of the Month kits :)

Please can you email me at dawnyp123@hotmail.co.uk along with your deets and I will pass them on to Sue who will send out your prize.

Thank you to Sue and everybody at Craftwork Cards for sponsoring  us and to everybody who joined in last week xxx

Now you may have noticed that  I’ve been a bit quiet on here recently and the cardage has been very hit and miss.

The reason has been that my aunty has been really ill. She has cancer and has had the worse time if it these last 18 months. You may remember that I said that my uncle had died suddenly (the post is here). Since then, her health has gone downhill. She was told back in early 2011 that she had bladder cancer but it had been successfully treated. Then just before he died in the May 2011 she was told that they thought it had returned, and all the worry of it caused my uncle’s ulcer to bleed which is why he died. Well following his death, they told her that it wasn't cancer after all, but residual scarring from previous treatments. Then she began to get really unwell and they admitted to hospital and they discovered that it was in fact the cancer after all. So they operated and although it was thought that the cancer had been dealt with, she ended up not being able to walk for months and months because of an after effect of the epidural.

Eventually after nearly 3 months in there, she got home but had to use sticks and a frame to get about (she was very active before all this). But after a very short time at home, she started being unwell again. They could not make up their minds what her problems were but had done scans etc and she was reassured that there was no sign of any cancer. Well in June this year, she was re-admitted again and has suffered in the most awful way ever since. Again they did all kinds of tests but once again we were told that there were no signs of cancer. But she has been so ill and we have just been doing what we could to make her life a bit more bearable, which in truth has not been that much.

In truth, as a society we would not allow an animal to suffer like she has but that’s another issue.

So this has been going on in the background but I could not say anything because she was still reading my blog. Then on September 20th we were told that this residual scarring was in fact cancer after all and that they could do no more for her. How I got through the demoing at Rosemary's I don’t know but I did, and hope that nobody noticed anything untoward. Some people would have been bitter  about all the messing about, but she hasn't been. She just said that there wasn’t anything she could do but to just get on with it, but she aged 20 years overnight.  The one thing she wanted was to just go home to die in her own 4 walls and we have been fighting for this to happen. On Saturday she got her wish and was so upset when she got back because I think she thought she would never see her home again.

The Macmillan nurses have been in – they are amazing – and the family have been with her 24/7 – we are doing a rota and taking it in turns.  She looks desperately unwell but for all that, the stress and worry that was in her face when she in hospital has gone and I think she is finding some peace from being at home. The end for her isn't far away now,  the nurses think days at the most - so all we can do now is make sure she is as comfy at she can be under the circumstances, and hope that  she goes peacefully. It’s also so sad when we take the kids to see her, because as frail as she is, she gives them extra hugs – as much as she can - because I think she is wondering if that will be the last time she sees them. I am dreading it because this lady has had my back from the day I was born and she is  the last link I have to my Mum (she is her only sister) and my beloved Grandparents. But that said, it has been hell watching her go through all of this so it will be a blessing that at last, her suffering will be over.

So the old mojo has taken a bit of a battering and I can’t really think about making cards right now  and to be honest it’s been a struggle for a few weeks.   I’m sure it will come back but for now, I have to just have to concentrate on what’s going on elsewhere.

I’ll be back soon as soon but I don't know when that is likely to be right now. My teamies have been fab, and I have to say a huge thank you to Lols because she has been there with the moral support and offers of practical help for the last few months xxx

I want to end this post with a smile because life is all about balance and there is always something to smile about. So I’ll  leave you with a pic done recently of  Thea who is nearly 5 months old now

Check out that punky hair do and cheeky smile :)  Not the  best pic of her perhaps, but it is cute I think.

Take care sweet peeps and huggiest of hugs to all xxx

Looking For Papertake Weekly’s Birthday Bash Blog Hop Post (There’s a Giveaway!!)

… then please click here and all will be revealed xxx