a stamp is not just for Christmas...

Good morning everyone I hope your all well and having a fantastic week...it was a strange day yesterday, one of those days when you seem to be doing loads but not getting much done if you know what I mean...I had to book flights for my lovely Dad as hes going to a funeral in England...such a sad death of a young Nephew in tragic circumstances so not the best reason to be travelling and my Dad doesn't travel well alone now so Phil is going with him...I wanted to go but am not feeling up to travelling atm...I seem to be waiting ages for my operation don't I but it has only been about six weeks feels more like six months though...wish it would hurry up but the waiting lists seem to get longer and longer by the day here...so I will just have to be patient I guess...but anyway their flights are booked and they are away from Thursday for a week...don't know what I will do by myself for a week but my craft room is in desperate need of a clean up...Phil popped his head in the other day to ask if I wanted a cuppa and left shaking his head and muttering 'how can you find anything in that mess' lol...so a clean up is needed...that should keep me busy for a few days anyway and if I find some extra goodies I will do a candy...fancy some candy???...right now enough waffling...my card for today is using another Leanne Ellis stamp from Sugar Nellie...I know this little cutie is called Poinsettia Girl but it doesn't mean you can only use her for Christmas...I coloured her flower blue/green and made the card a bit more spring like and I think she matches it great...what do you think?, do you use Christmas stamps all year round too?...I coloured this beauty with my usual distress inks and papers from the lush Kaisercraft - Secret Admirer 6.5"x6.5" Paper Pad...the flowered centre paper has metallic flowers and is gorgeous...the tag I used is from the same pad too...I added a yellow bow made with some Organza Ribbon - Sunflower (25mm Wide) and finished with a Prima flower and a punched heart...the pad and ribbon are from Bunny Zoe's Crafts...the lush sketch us from the Sweet Stampin' Challenge and I'm also entering it for the ABC Challenge and the Feeling Crafty Challenge too...right I'm off to get Phil a new shirt for going away and some bin bags for the rubbish in my craft room lol...whatever your up to today I hope you don't have to waste a lot of it cleaning and tidying...take care and I will speak to you all tomorrow
Mina xxx
p.s. my colouring today is using the rubbish paper not the older one like yesterday's...what do you think is it better with the older one?...I think it is but would love to know what you think

distress ink colours used

skin - antique linen, frayed burlap, tattered rose, spun sugar

hair - frayed burlap

outfit and hat - wild honey, antique linen, iced spruce

flower - iced spruce, wild honey

shading - pumice stone

splish spash...

Good morning everyone I hope your all well and happy...now own up who left the tap on over Britain...go on own up...how shocking is all this rain, it tipped from the sky not ordinary rain but bouncing off the roads, the only time I have seen similar was a tropical storm in Barbados...then after all that rain snow started then rain again which of course turned into sleet...ten minutes later we are tucked up in the house and the sun is beaming through the windows...what on earth is going on is the world ending... all those poor people in the floods in England my heart goes out to them, I watched them on TV kast night and one young man who had only bought his house last week was knee deep in water and struggling to use a bucket to get rid of it he burst into tears and I just wanted to give him a hug the poor young fella...I hope you havent been touched by all these horrendous floods and your safe and dry...right now enough weather ranting from me and onto my card for today...this sparkly beauty is from Sugar Nellie and is a stamp by Leanne Ellis of course...shes called Mermaid...I used my usual distress inks for colouring and added loads of Stickles Glitter Glue - Star Dust...I teamed her up with more of the lush Basic Grey Fresh Cut 6" x 6" Paper Pad from Bunny Zoe's Crafts..the ribbon is another of those 'never throw things away that might be useful' things...its from a perfume box I think...dont you just love it when you use something you have saved for a rainy day...I finished with a metal rose charm I bought ages ago at a local shop...the fab sketch is from the Seems a Little Sketchy Challenge and Im also entering it for the Challenges 4 Everybody Challenge and the Crazy 4 Challenges Challenge too...Im off to my craftroom today to hide from all the rain...whatever your up to today stay dry and safe

Mina xxx

distress ink colours used

skin - antique linen, frayed burlap, tattered rose, spun sugar

hair - antique linen

star - shabby shutters

tail - worn lipstick

shell - tumbled glass

shading - pumice stone

waste not want not...

Good morning everyone how are you all...having a good week I hope...its still such horrible weather here rain, sleet and wind...oh how I would love a couple of weeks in the sun...just lying around in the hot sun and discovering new places...sounds like bliss doesn't it...well a girl can dream cant she lol...I had all intentions of doing loads of stuff yesterday but ended up doing nothing at all except bundle up on the sofa with the kitten as a hot water bottle, then I decided to take some photos of him but hes so dark he came out like a ink blot bless him so I will have to wait for a sunnier day so you can see him lovely blue grey eyes, can you tell I'm in love lol...right no onto my card for today...this beauty is from Sugar Nellie's Leanne Ellis stamps range at Sugar Nellie...shes called In a While and is gorgeous to colour, I used my usual distress inks...and glittered her up with my usual Stickles Glitter Glue - Star Dust...what do you think of the paper?...well this is actually my beautiful birthday card from my Dad, I loved the colours so much I couldn't resist making a card with it...I cut the flowers from the back and raised them up, see throw nothing away you never know when you will use it...I added a lush bow made from Organza Ribbon - Cerise (25mm Wide) from Bunny Zoe's Crafts but I think its out of stock atm...I finished with a birthday button charm from my stash...I made the sketch up as I went along but am entering it for the Glitter N Sparkle Challenge, Crafty Calender Challenge and the Dragonfly Dreams Challenge too...I'm off out today some rain or shine I'm beginning to get a bit stir crazy and feel the need to escape for a while...whatever your up to today I hope it stays dry for you and you manage to get out and have some fun too

Mina xxx

distress ink colours used

skin - antique linen, frayed burlap, tattered rose, spun sugar

hair - pumice stone

collar - pumice stone

dress and cuffs - worn lipstick, victorian velvet, tumbled glass

shading - pumice stone

hair brooch - tumbled glass, worn lipstick

dont you just love a bargain...

Good morning everyone I hope your all well and having a fantastic week...thank you all so so much for all your birthday wishes and sympathy...it wasn't fair though was it lol...omg before anything else did all you people from the UK see Corrie last night?, ok hands up who blubbed like a baby...yep me too...what a soppy lot we are aren't we, it was so so sad and my tears were for poor little Roy aaaaaahhhhhh bless him...I had a lovely dinner with all my family last night and got loads of lovely little presents, our Daughter is the best at buying little bits and pieces you had forgotten you even wanted...I mentioned before Christmas I needed  a new purse and yep there is was alongside, face goodies, jewellery and chocolates...I always look forward to any goodies from her...right now at long last a card, I know shock horror a real live card...not the best colouring but at least I managed to make one...this beautiful stamp is one of my prizes for my mega candy and there's a few other Sugar Nellie stamps too...I will put a photo on of the Sugar Nellie prize and if you haven't joined in my candy yet just click on the picture in the sidebar theres a load of lush prizes...this beauty is from Sugar Nellies Leanne Ellis range and is called If Only...I coloured her with my usual distress inks and the fantastically coloured papers are from the Basic Grey Fresh Cut 6" x 6" Paper Pad from Bunny Zoe's Crafts...it has such lovely fresh spring colours in it...now don't we all love a bargain or two this huge flower on my card is actually a hair ornament from a pack of two I bought from Sainsbury's for the vast amount of £1 in their sale...Phil's well used to me by now and knew exactly what I wanted them for so didn't even ask lol...I finished my card with a few pearls, a lush white organza ribbon and a key hole from Tim Holtz...I made the sketch up as I went along and am entering it for the Addicted to Stamps Challenge, Brown Sugar Challenge and Craftitude challenge too...I'm going to spend today trying to get my colouring mojo back so fingers crossed a lot of hours locked in my craft room will do the trick or I might have to start taking lessons lol...whatever your up to today have a good one and don't forget to join in my candy and spread the word so everyone gets a chance

Mina xxx

distress ink colours used

skin - antique linen, frayed burlap, tattered rose, spun sugar

hair - frayed burlap, antique linen

outfit - spun sugar, shabby shutters

rose - ripe persimmon, shabby shutters

frame - shabby shutter, antique linen

the great tomato debate...

Good morning everyone I hope your all well and having a great week...the weather was desperate again here yesterday...dull, grey and very very windy...my poor plants are getting battered too bits...its so bad Phil has taken to covering his tomato experiment with plastic in the hope it doesn't shrivel up and die...oh did I tell you about the great tomato debate?...we were at the garden centre a few weeks back if you remember and Phil wants to start growing tomato's...I said I thought it should be all about the taste and doesn't matter the size, shape or yield etc...Phil said he thought a bigger one would be better and one with a higher yield...I know fascinating isn't it, you can see how exciting our conversations are cant you lol...anyway we are having an experiment we have bought three kinds to see what does the best and has the best taste...I will keep you all informed that's if your all still awake lol

right now onto my card for today...Sugar Nellie is having a Leanne Ellis Spotlight week and I got to use this stunning haunting Leanne Ellis stamp for mine...this is the beautiful Pick Me and I coloured her with my distress inks and paper pieced her pretty little dress...I finished my image with some Pumice Stone distress ink distressing it to give a faded look to her...I'm not quite sure it worked but it seemed like a good idea at the time lol...the beautiful papers are from the  Echo Park's Victorian Garden paper pad. I only had these few sheets left as its an old pad from a while back...I loved the faded colours don't you...I edged the papers with distressing in the same way as the image too...I finished my card with some fab black lace, a black satin ribbon bow and a few pearls...the lush sketch is from the Sketch and Stash Challenge and I'm also entering it for the Fussy and Fancy Friday Challenge and the Joanna Sheen Challenge too...keep popping by the Sugar Nellie blog all week for some stunning makes from my team mates, they are so super talented...wow did you see Pats yesterday?...I'm having another crafting day today as I'm still playing catch up...whatever your up to today have a brilliant one

Mina xxx

distress ink colours used

skin - antique linen, frayed burlap, tattered rose, spun sugar

hair - antique linen

dress flowers - black soot

rose - victorian velvet, shabby shutters

shading and distressing - pumice stone

is it a bird...is it a plane...

Good morning everyone...no its the sun, yes we had sun yesterday I almost didn't recognise lol...big huge success for the dinner last night and because my lovely Dad is heading off on his travels for Birthday no 2 we even exchanged Easter eggs...I bought my Dad a Caramel egg as that's his favourite sweets...of course even though our Daughter and her other half are 28 and 32 they got chocolate Easter eggs too...oh and one for Phil too...in fact I'm the only one who didn't get one...now that doesn't seem right does it there's something amiss there lol...I had a little colouring play after I had finished preparing dinner yesterday and had one of those days...you know the sort...no matter what I coloured or how I coloured it, it just wasn't right...too bright, too faint and then some that were well, just rubbish...so I just coloured today's and didn't do anymore I think colouring days like that shouldn't be dwelt on and the paint brushes should be put aside for a better day when the hands and brush work in unison don't you...anyway onto the card I did manage to use...this fabulous stamp (which I didn't do justice too) is a stunning Leanne Ellis stamp from Sugar Nellie called Day Dreamer...I think I will have to have another play with this one...anyway I coloured her with distress inks and I don't know if it was the suns influence or wishing thinking for spring, I used these amazingly colourful papers from the Echo Park - For the Record 2 Documented paper pad I bought from Bunny Zoe's Crafts for my card...lush colour combo isn't it, I must use this again...I finished with a fab green ribbon and bow, a sparkly letter sentiment and a gorgeous Prima flower from my stash...the fab sketch is from The Sweet Stop Challenge and I'm also entering it for the House of Gilli Challenge and No Matter Which Challenges too...I'm in two minds today...either a cleaning day (the sun showed up the dust too much lol) or another try at colouring day...hhhhmmmmmm I wonder which I will pick...whatever your up to today I hope wherever you are the sun shines a little on you and you don't get that horrible cold white stuff on you

Mina xxx

distress ink colours used

skin - antique linen, frayed burlap, tattered rose, spun sugar

hair - antique linen

outfit - stormy sky, scattered straw

flower - scattered straw, shabby shutters

birds - scattered straw, stormy sky, shabby shutters

window - shabby shutters

shading - pumice stone