Sketchy Anya & Poorly 'Puter!!!

Oohh I've flippin struggled getting this post done this morning. My computer is seriously unwell and I am going to have to get the IT doc in first thing tomorrow.

But more of that in a sec.

As it's the last Sunday of the month, that means that it's time for another sketch over at Anyone For Anya. I used Dahlia - she is one of my faves - and this card is for a very special friend but I can't say who cos she will probably read this.

I coloured lil Dahlia with my PMs and gave her a bit of Glamour Dust sparkle :)

So this is the sketch - nice and simple, a bit like me lol xxx

And this is my take on it.

For a change, I raided my 12 x 12 box and the only thing I can tell you about this paper is that it had Craft Creations on it. So I am guessing that is where it came from originally but I think I got it from the sale I did ages ago!!!

And ohhh what joy!! Mr Postie brought me a parcel from a certain very special lady in the jolly old US of A and she has sent me 3 rolls of my fave ribbon!!

Woohoooo, no more nicking bits of other cards cos I have loads to play with again.

I won't name her but she knows who she is and she knows how chuffed I was with her gift.

Thank you my dear and wonderful friend- you are so kind xxxxx

The gorgeous centre of the ribbon (which sadly I haven't manged to capture properly) is a Prima Say It In Studs Crystal Centre which you can get from Tracy at Dies To Die For. It is so pretty and the sticky back is really good and tacky so it sits nicely. I am liking a LOT :)x

The pretty pink Bazzill card which you can just about see here is also from Tracy.

I don't know what I'd do without her xxxx

So that is my card and it is nothing short of a miracle that it has appeared.

I told you about this blank page problem last week? Well our IT guys had a look and there is a problem on the PC which they think it has caused. I asked them about using Chrome or Firefox and they are unable to recommend that for me for reasons I won't bore you wiht and as it is a company computer, I can't really argue. So I am for the moment stuck with IE and all it's foibles!!!!

It also seemed that my McAfee was not running like it should be so we got that going again and this was about 4pm on Friday afternoon - just as the IT boys were going home. Well it became obvious very soon after that that something is very wrong. I now cannot access my pictures folder properly, Photoshop is taking ages to open and sometimes it just crashes for no apparent reason, and the internet is, well, hit and miss to say the least.

So it has all been a bit stressful to say the least. I was seriously in danger of chucking it all through the window this morning but as I don't want to collect my P45 any time soon, I thought better of it!!!!

So this is a quick dart in and out today cos I don't want to push my luck. Hopefully it will all get sorted tomorrow and I will be back to normal (well as normal as I ever will be lol xxx).

Have the fabbiest of fab Sundays lovely peeps and see you soon.

Hugs to all xxx

Patriotic Anya :)

Hi peeps.

It's Sunday so it's time for another challenge over at Anyone For Anya.
This week, we've gone all patriotic and our challenge is to use the colours of your national flag, or colours associated with your country.

As there are a few UK girlies on the team, plus our lovely Debi from across the pond, there is a host of red white and blue on display (and there are other fab colours from Renata and Sabina!!) so if you get a sec, nip over and have a mooch.

I used this image from the Miss Dressy Anya set, which you can get over at Dies To Die For (plus brand new TGF AND Kraftin' Kimmie releases , so nip over and check it all out. And there could be other FAB offers as well!!).

Our AFA sponsor this week is the wonderful

and they have so kindly donated a set of Miss Dressy Anya - how fab xxx

So this is my card.
I coloured Anya in with PMs - no bling though.

The paper is one which was at in my mahoosive box of 12 x 12 papers (mahoosive cos I cannot bear to cut them but I still keep on buying the beggars!!!)

The buttons were also in my stash box


So there you go - all dressed in our Union Jack colours :)

That's me done for today.
Em has just made me a sausage butty for me lunch (spot the pleb and also the non diet lol xxx) then I'm off to The Paper Mill Shop to get some card for card club tomorrow night.

Have the fabbiest of Sundays and see you next week.

Hugs to all xxxx

Strictly Disappointing, Wonder Kid and A Bit of Anya Too :)

But in reverse order lol xxx
I hope everyone is having a fab Sunday :)x

Over at Anyone For Anya this week, our challenge is Funky Flowers. You can use home made or bought flowers or even flowery paper - it is up to you.

And there is a fabulous sentiments set up for grabs which has been sponsored by the loveliness that is Tracy at Dies To Die For. And there are lots of awesome team cards as well for you to feat yer eyes on.

I decided to use another image from my Miss Anya Dressy sets which of course you can get at DTDF

So this is what I did.

I thought I'd use this colour combi because it is so fresh and clean looking, and also a bit unusual. But I do love putting different colours together and as long as there aren't too many and they have a similar 'hue', it usually will work quite nicely.

I coloured this little Miss in with the old PMs and I got the Glamour Dust out again after it's rest. There isn't a lot on here - just enough to give a little sparkle :)

My funky flowers are punched and the centres are from Craftwork Cards

The papers are Pink Petticoat, but I made the soft lime colour up in Paint, printed it out then ran it through the printer again and over-printed the PP dotty paper on the top so it matched the little spotty band and ribbons on the image.

The sentiment is from a Woodware set.

And there's the old card with some nice dimension.
Hope you likee???

We decided yesterday to go and have a wander up Moel Famau which is a moutain near here. Well it's officially not a mountain (as the Welsh peeps will know, cos mountain is mynydd - how educational am I lol xx). It's listed as a marilyn (as opposed to a munro - seriously!!) and it's just over 18,000 feet high. And we decided to take Kyla and see how she got on. That kid and her little legs walked every step up to the top and was carried only for a short distance and whenever she saw a dog near by.

As we set off, the weather was cloudy but dry but about half way up it started to rain - that fine drizzly stuff that wets you straight through. When we got to the top for our picnic it was a bit disappointing because it was quite misty so we didn't have the usual stunning viww. But we all enjoyed it and I think for 3.5 she did really well, bless her.

Talking of disappointing, 2 words.

Joe Calzaghe.

I have been looking forward to seeing him trip the light fantastic for weeks and it just didn't happen. I don't know what I expected really cos he wasn't ever going to be John Travolta was he, and I've seen wet lettuces with more ooomph. NOT that I would ever say any of this to his face (which is still rather gorgeous I think !!!).

Maybe it's because I really truly cannot abide the blonde bit he is dancing with (too many affairs with other people's men for my liking - allegedly!!) and maybe it's because I assumed that being light on yer feet would sort of come in handy and he would be half decent.

But it wasn't at all good really was it?

Oh well, I'm sure we can rely on Tuffers to liven it all up next week, and Rickie Whittle is supposed to be awesome (well he was in that Mambo!!). So we'll just have to wait until then I guess. And maybe Joe will be better next time - we live in hope.

Right, I am off to pick up some head pins and get some stuff to make a chilli for dinner cos that is what his Lordship wants. Emma and Kyla have gone to Blackpool to see the lights so it's just the 2 of us. R has never had one of those huge sugar dummies so they are bringing him one back - he won't have a tooth left in his head if he eats it lol xxx

Have the most fabbiest of Sundays xxxx

PaperFAKE Weekly :)

Yes we're 'Faking It' over at PTW.

This sweetie lil sausage isn't a fake though. She is one of my new Miss Anya Dressy set. And the good news is that they are now in stock over at Dies To Die For and trust me peeps, they are even nicer when you get yer actual mitts on them :).

Also, keep your eyes peeled on the website cos Tracy has some awesome offers on at the mo.

Anyway, our challenge this week is to fake something your card. It could be stitching, flowers, ribbons, anything you want. And the team have done some stunning work as always so do nip and have a nosey.

Plus we have 3 brand new guest designers this week and one of them is none other than my spiritual cyber twin, Mrs Kath :)

So this is me card.

I don't know if you can tell from this pic but I've 3D'd her hat, skirt and collar. She was, as usual, coloured with my fabulous bad boys BUT there is not a single speck of glitter on here. Nor is there a border punch.

I must be ill or maybe there is a full moon lol xxx

But can you spot the 'fake' on here?

Well natch the stitching is drawn on cos I always do that!!! But there's something else not 'real' as well.

Yes, the button and thread are both made out of card!!!

The papers are both Pink Petticoat and the sentiment is from a Woodware set.


Due to the crappo angle I took this pic at, you can't really see the dimension but there is some there.

And that's it.
Don't forget to check out the rest of the cards chicks cos they are all so fab.

Ahhh it was so sad to hear about Patrick Swayze. Dirty Dancing didn't do it for me, I didn't have the time of my life watching it and you could have stuck Baby anywhere you liked as far as I was concerned.

But that scene from Ghost gets me every time.

Probably cos I used to be a potter - and I am still a bit potty as those of you who have met me will confirm. But sadly, the male potter I knew was a weasly little sod with more than a hint of Bobby Orange about him.

And to be honest, if he had sidled up behind me while I was on the wheel, I would have run a sodding mile.

And on that rather unsavoury note, I am off to bed, even though it isn't THAT late. But we did have a very very late night last night cos we stayed up to watch the US Open. We decided to have Pimms and strawberries and cream just for a bit of a laugh. And of course, it went to 5 sets, so that was more Pimms to keep us going - that stuff is so more-ish. I didn't want to get up this morning and I have not got out of 2nd gear all day, so the old batteries need re-charging.

Have a fab night and hugs to all xxxxx

PS - it was sad too about the culinary genius that was Keith Floyd. But can you imagine the party that is going on 'up there' right now -fantastic!!!

Sweet As Sugar xxxx

I love using black and white and red together. It's one of my fave colour combis I think.

When I got my Anya stamps out for PTW, I stamped a couple out and this was one of them, so I thought I'd use it for this weeks Spoonful Of Sugar challenge which is a gorgeous sketch by my friend Caryn.

Here's me creation.

I coloured this fabulous little Miss with my PMs and then practically threw the whole bottle of Glamour Dust over her, and of course you can get your mitts on some fab Anyas over at Dies To Die For.


The papers are both from the wonderfully talented Summer Driggs - her Year To Shine collection. I found a scrap of white organza ribbon lying about and there was just enought to make the bow. I don't know where it came from though, - sorry chicksies xxx

And there's a profusion of MSBP here - 3 layers per side!!! It has to be a record!!

The snowflakes were another left over from a recent card (I must tidy up a bit more lol xxx) and the litle red stones were from Creative Pastimes.

And here's the last pic.

So that's it for tonight.
Oh last night's chicken and chips was lovely. I alway put pickled onion vinegar on me chips like the good Northern lass that I am. Pickled onion vinegar and Maldon sea salt is what I have. Call me a pleb (and plenty have lol xxx) but there is nothing finer. If you've never tried it peeps then you've never lived.

And in the murk that has been today, there was a chink of sunlight. Yes, Kyla rang to say hello - and just when I needed it most. I can't tell you how glad I was to hear that little voice. They are having a lovely time and I'm so glad - although I will be gladder when they're back (naughty grandma!!). She is ringing again tomorrow because grandad was not home and she wants to talk to him - awww xxxx

And after a good old chinwag with the sweetness that is Marcea, I feel a whole lot better :)

So I'm off to read my jewellery mag that arrived today. It's a bit addictive this jewellery making I have to say. It won't ever replace the old cards but it's a nice change sometimes.

Have the fabbiest of nights peeps and if anyone saw Corrie, perhaps they could fill me in cos I missed it tongiht and Joe is worrying me with his pain killer addiction lol xxx

Huggles xxx

Inspirational Anya xx

It's all very sparkly in this post, so glare alert girlies:)))

I couldn't believe my eyes this morning when Mr Postie delivered this little sweetie.

I didn't have an Anya to me name and of course I've seen all the lovely work everyone has been doing with them, and of course, I had to have a set. And I just love them!!

So this is Miss Rain from the Rain, Snow & Shine set which are available over at the fabulous Dies To Die For - you can see her and the rest of her buddies here, but best be quick in case they all go!!

So I used her for the challenge at Inspirational Card Sketches which this week is a gorge sketch by Dawn

PMs, Glamour Dust, MSBP, PP, blah blah blah, you know the score, cos I am predictable, even down to the crappo pic!! I cannot seem to get the lighting right and some colours are worse than others.

I added Glossy Accent to her boots - I managed to un-clog the bottle!!!

Here's the papers and also I blinged up a strip of the grey spotty dude :)xx

Then I added a bit more bling -can't have too much sparkle I don't think!!!

And there ya go.

The weather has been awful here today - in fact, it has rained more or less solidly for the last 48 hours. Yesterday was really dreadful - it was literally bouncing. I was going to go back to Hobbycrap for some more jewellery making odds and sods but I just couldn't face going in the rain. To be honest, I couldn't really have faced going even if it had been cracking the flags - the rain was just the last straw :(

I did find some bits and pieces as per the earrings that Nikkie made, but also I went on line and ordered myself a bracelet making kit with Swarovski crystal beads. Well along with my Anyas, it arrived this morning. So guess what I have been doing all day!!!!!

I have come to the conclusion that being as blind as a bat is not really an advantage when you are making jewellery!!! I'm short sighted (one step removed from a Labrador), so up close isn't easy with the lenses in as they are for distance. So I took the lenses out - fab for the beads but everything else was a bit of a haze. I ended up with my specs on my head and the OTT light about 2 inches from my nose!! I am so going to have to get bifocals - another sign that I am crocking on a bit I suppose.

But I got there in the end and eventually ended up with this ......

I'm a bit chuffed with it to be honest for my first go.

It isn't up to any sort of standard, of course, but I'm happy with how it turned out. It has given me a bit of confidence to try and make something without a kit next time.

And finally, I got this cute teddy award from Jacee. She hasn't been blogging for long and her work is just gorgoeous. Thank you so much for this chick - I do appreciate it. I will pass this on next time I post cos it is a bit late and the hot choc, pjs and book are calling to me. I've had a hard day lol xx


Have a fab Saturday night lovelies xxxx