back with a flourish of pink and white...

Good morning everyone did you miss me?...did you notice I was gone lol...well I'm back from our little break, we had a fantastic time and would you believe only had one day of rain...wow is that some kind of record I wonder lol...well what did you all get up too in my absence? anything exciting or spectacular, go on spill the bean.  County Wexford is one of Ireland's most stunning counties I think...its very like Devon and lots to do and see too...and strawberries everywhere you look in fact after a six hour epic car journey down there when we arrived we couldn't drive to our hotel as the annual Strawberry festival was in its last throws and the finish was in full swing right beside the hotel but with a bit of canny Galaxy tablet GPS manoeuvring we finally managed to get to the car park and find a space dumped our bags and headed to the celebrations...brilliant street market with food, music and celebrations...I was a bit miffed Phil wouldn't let me get my face painted but we enjoyed it anyway lol...when we finally crashed into bed that night despite a couple of hotel disappointments which I will tell you about tomorrow we were shattered but content...I have loads and loads of photos but will only put you through a few I think you will like so don't panic lol...right now enough waffling and onto my card for today which is for our new monthly Challenge at Bunny Zoe's...this month the theme is Pink and White, I love this colour combo don't you...for my card I used this oh so gorgeous stamp from the Magnolia Special Moments collection she's called Tilda with Little Hat isn't she so so sweet (shes on sale atm too)...shes coloured with distress inks I masked her up and stamped a frame from the Kaisercraft Clear Stamps - Miss Empire Frames set and cut them both out, the sentiment I used on on of the tags is from the same stamp set too, the lush papers and tags are from the Teresa Collins 6x6" Paper Pad - Summer Stories...I added a white satin ribbon bow and finished with a gorgeous flower from the Prima Flowers Perle Bebe - Almanac pack and a scattering of Flat Backed Pearls...everything except the ribbon is from Bunny Zoe's Crafts...I made the sketch up as I went along but am entering this for the No Matter Which Challenge, Addicted to Stamps Challenge and The Ribbon Girl Challenge too...when I went into my craft room last night to make a couple of cards for this week the images I had pre coloured before going away had been sitting in the sun and were so faded I could harder see them duh lol...so its back to the drawing board...I might not have a card made for tomorrow but if I haven't I will probably bore you to bits with some holiday photos and some tales so be warned lol...whatever your up to today I hope you manage to enjoy some sunshine

Mina xxx

distress ink colours used

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

hair - black soot

dress, hat and gloves - spun sugar, black soot

shading - pumice stone

flowers and leaves on frame - spun sugar, victorian velvet, peeled paint, shabby shutters

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

too much excitment before bed...

Good morning everyone hows the weather where you are...its still freezing cold here and we even had a few flakes of snow yesterday between it piddling down most of the time that is...oh please let the spring come soon I'm dying to be able to sit on the deck on my newly painted garden furniture, although I'm not quite sure about the colour, its a lovely shade of muted sage green but with the blue fence (a gift from the last people lol) it just doesn't look just right if you know what I mean...you know whats going to happen don't you...yep one of them is going to have to be painted isn't it...I thinking Phil is hoping its not the fence bless him lol....ooohhhh bit of excitement last night, I was sitting quite late watching the tv after Phil had gone to bed and heard a loud bang looked outside (cause I'm a bit nosey lol)  and there was a man hurrying down the street after parking his car about four doors up from our house...so I sat down again thinking nothing of it...ten minuets later I heard a really loud bang like a small explosion and looked outside again to see the car on fire and flames licking out of it...the panic that rises in your chest when something like that happens is terrible I had to stop myself running up to it to see if anyone was inside but I rang the police and fire brigade...the fire out the police didn't come near me despite me telling the 999 operator that I saw someone leaving the car...oh well I'm sure they will come to the house if they need to, it a very strange thing to happen on a quiet street like ours isn't it...there's nothing like something like that happening to make sure you don't get to sleep at all is there lol...right now onto my card for today its using another of the Bags of Fashion stamps release from Sugar Nellie, this is the fabulous Morgan, I cant choose which of these I like the best though...its a good thing I have them all isn't it lol...I coloured her with distress inks and used some lush papers from the Kaisercraft - Secret Admirer 6.5"x6.5" Paper Pad I bought from Bunny Zoe's Crafts...I finished with some buttons and two types of ribbon from my stash...the fab sketch is from The Sweet Stop Challenge and I'm also entering it for the No Matter Which Challenge and the Challenges 4 Everybody challenge too...I'm off for more tests at the Docs today...I think they are running a secret blood bank from there you know lol...whatever your up to today I hope your afternoon is nicer than mine and you dont need to go see the vampires too

Mina xxx

distress ink colours used

skin -antique linen, frayed burlap, tattered rose

hair - antique linen

eyes - frayed burlap

scarf - bundled sage, spiced marmalade

dress - bundled sage, antique linen

bag - spiced marmalade, bundled sage

boots - bundled sage

see the world through rose tinted spectacles...*UPDATED PHOTOS*

Good morning everyone I hope your all well...apologies for the photo for today's card, there's certain times of the day when the sun shines directly into my craft room and if I take photos at that time the pink from the wall (yes I still haven't decorated) reflects onto the photos its like looking at the world through rose coloured spectacles...I didn't notice until last night when I got my image ready for posting that it had this pink tinge to it (although the paper is lilac so that doesn't help either), I will take some more today when the light is better...I had a little mooch in the town after my hair cut yesterday, I still haven't got anything to wear for Phil's Christmas works party yet and am getting a little desperate...I was chatting to a shop assistant in town yesterday and she asked me if I have a LBD (little black dress) I should glitz up a bit with accessories...so when I got home I looked in my wardrobe, would you believe I found 3 lol...and even more shocking is two still had the labels on...how bad is that...so maybe some glitzy jewellery and I will be sorted, well that's the plan anyway...right now onto my pink tinged card for today...this amazingly beautiful image is of course from Mo's Digital Pencil...stunning isn't it...its called With The Baby and I coloured it with distress inks...the equally stunning paper is from the Magnolia Sweet Christmas Dreams 2011 collection and is called Vintage Holly, I bought it from Bunny Zoe's Crafts last year...I added a bit of very pale lilac glitterboard to the design too just to add a bit more glitz and finished with a stunning sheer organza ribbon bow and a punched glitterboard snowflake...the fab sketch is from The Sweet Stop challenge and I'm also entering it for the No Matter which challenge and The Ribbon Girl challenge too...I'm having a day in today and catching up with some DT work and hopefully retaking this photo...whatever your up to today have a brilliant one and whatever your doing I hope you have a day seeing through rose coloured specs lol

Mina xxx

distress ink colours used

skin - antique linen, frayed burlap, tattered rose

hair - antique linen

outfits - milled lavender, pumice stone, seedless preserves

do you need an Angel?...

Good morning everyone I hope your all well and thank you so much for your get well wishes....gggrrroooaaaannnn I'm still feeling like rubbish, its not like me to be floored by a stupid cold but this one has knocked me for six, poor Phil came in from work last night and made dinner bless him, I couldn't stand up long enough to cook, its a good thing hes an excellent cook and just gets on with things isn't it...but I'm fed up with it now so I have decided to get up off my butt today and try and fight it off, you go girl lol...a little trip to the greengrocers is needed as I have run out of lemons and oranges...although they don't seem to be working, I know what I need, some of my cure all chicken soup but I don't have the energy to make any, any volunteers...I need some crafters to come here, take over, give the house a tidy, craft with me and make me some honey and lemon and chicken soup...in return unlimited craft supplies, Phil's lush cake making and bed and board...please send all applications to lol......omg I think I'm rambling now so before I go off on one totally I better tell you about my card for today...this stunner of a stamp is from Sugar Nellie and is by the amazing Diane Duba...shes called Peace Angel and isn't she so delicate and gentle looking...I coloured very softly with distress inks and used some more of the amazing DCWV papers I bought the other week from my local craft store, the papers in my candy are from this range too, stunning isn't it, the photo really doesn't do it justice as not only is it sparkly but its glossed and embossed...now how could I resist cutting out all those stunning flowers and leaves and using them for decoration...you know me I cant resist a lot of cutting out, I finished with a wing and heart charm and a pearl...I'm entering this for the One Stitch at a time challenge, Addicted-to-stamps challenge and the No Matter which challenge too...I really do have to go out today as my lovely Dad has a hospital appointment and as his hearing is really bad (still no joy with getting him to get a hearing aid but I'm still working on it) he needs someone with him to hear the Doctors and tell him later what was said...so its war paint on and believe me I will need a lot today lol...whatever your up to today watch out for those nasty germs floating round

Mina xxx

distress ink colours used

skin - antique linen, frayed burlap, tattered rose

hair - antique linen

dress - tattered rose, stormy sky

bird - tattered rose, stormy sky

eyelids - stormy sky

paper distressed with antique linen

its still Summer...

Good morning everyone, how was your weekend?...well the sofas are bought and it isn't the ones I wanted or the colour I was the keenest on but there's method in my madness, they were my second choice and I still love them but I let Phil have his way and now the next dozen things I want for the house I wont hear a peep out of him about...see method lol...I have a mood board made for the living room but as my post is photo heavy today I will post it tomorrow...of course that's if you want to see it, I don't want to bore you all rigid bleating on about the new house you know...although I'm getting so excited about it now and might have a couple of excited girlie screams you know lol...dinner last night was cooked by our beautiful Daughter and her other half, it was chicken, porcini mushrooms, white wine and cream with carrots and mash...omg it was fantastically tasty and was so welcome with us running around like headless chickens its fantastic not to have to stop to cook a meal...she can defo come again to cook that lol...right now enough waffle onto my card for today which is for our new Challenge over at Bunny Zoe's Crafts

this month is my choice of theme and i chose Summer...so anything summery or summer colours or image...let your imagination go wild...I chose to use this amazing sweetie from the Morehead Acrylic Stamp Set - Blossom isn't she just fabulous look at that adorable face, I coloured her with distress inks and teamed her up with some paper from the stunning Prima 6x6" Paper Pad - Romance Novel (including the paper piecing), the little tag and envelope are from the same pad too...I finished her with a stunning yellow organza ribbon and some flowers which are Mini Tulips - Yellow Lily Rose - Cream and Open Rose-Gold Orange , everything except the ribbon is from Bunny Zoe's Crafts

its rare for me to be completely happy with a card I make but I'm so chuffed with this one, it turned out exactly how I imagined it in my head, do you know what I mean...the sketch I made as I went along but I'm entering this for the Simon Says Stamp challenge, Paper Crafting Journey Challenge and the No Matter Which Challenge too...I'm finishing some packing today, theres no rest for the wicked lol, whatever your up to have a wonderful one, when you have time pop on over to the Bunny Zoe's Crafts Challengeto see what the rest of our lush team came up with
Mina xxx