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

I can do bright...

Good morning everyone did you all have a brilliant start to your week, I hope so...mine was very quiet getting stuff that needed washed together for our break and making some cards for this week and for while I'm away...we had a brilliant day on Sunday, I love family Sundays...everyone eating and joking and chatting to their hearts content, its one of the things that make life worthwhile don't you think...whenever we have a day like that I always feel a little pang in my heart that my Mum isnt there as she loved them too and a thought for those who are alone in life...my heart goes out to people without family for whatever reason, there should be some sort of scheme where you can foster someone for a family day so they know that someone cares about what happens to them don't you think...maybe we should start a 'Foster a family member' scheme...ok who's up for that then lol...I got a lovely phone call from the woman who owns the cottage we are renting for next week, just thanking me for booking it and hoping we had a fantastic time and bits and pieces of information for while we are away...that was nice of her wasn't it, she had one of those wonderful singing Irish accents too if you know what I mean...I'm looking forward to it a bit more today too by the end of the week I will be chomping at the bit lol...right now onto my card for today which is using a fabulous Sugar Nellie stamp from the Bags of Fashion range...this is the gorgeous Mia but I'm afraid she was so popular you can only get her from the set of four stamps now...your eyes aren't deceiving you yes she is very bright and I used my usual distress inks for her...the gorgeous bright papers I teamed her up with are from the Echo Park - All about a Boy 6x6 Paper Pad...I guess its not just for boys then as it works brilliantly for Mia don't you think...I finished with a sentiment cut from the same pad, a lush bow made from Organza Ribbon - Orange (25mm Wide) and a button from my stash...the ribbon and paper pad are from Bunny Zoe's Crafts...the lush sketch is from the Sunday Sketch and Stamp Challenge and I'm also entering it for The Cutie Pie Challenge and the 'ABC' Challenge too...Im doing the ironing for going away and some more card making today...I hope whatever your up to today you will get to have some fun

Mina xxx

p.s. scroll down below for some brand new Sugar Nellie's coming and don't forget you still have until Saturday to join in with my candy...the link is on the top of my sidebar

there is a brand new release from Sugar Nellie on Saturday and of course it starts of with a blog hop with some prizes...so mark it down in your diary...your gonna love them xxx

a butterfly baby for me...

Good morning everyone are you all having a fabulous week?...hasn't the weather been amazing lately, but its meant to break today, I know all the plants will be grateful for the rain but I will miss the sun...nothing seems too bad when its sunny does it. Mind you it does bring out some weird fashion sense and characters lol...sitting watching out of the window can make you start with some of the sights...like today...explain this if you can...a balding man from the front dressed in shabby shorts and t shirt, he had one of those hairlines from the front that looked like a monk you know what I mean don't you...just a circle of close cropped hair surrounding a bald patch but as he got closer I thought to myself, why on earth has he got a scarf on...it wasn't a scarf he had dreadlocks...starting at the back of the monks crop about 30cms long a thick lush crop of dreads...wow how on earth did he manage that...I spent ages just wondering lol...right my card for today is using this fantastic little cutie that Mo drew for me, she cheered me up when I had so many high temperatures I thought I would burst into flames...she really is one of life's good guys and such a super kind charming lady too...this is Baby Fairy Butterfly 2 from Mo's Digital Pencil...I coloured her with my usual distress inks and I know I normally do add glitter to wings (its the crafting law isn't it lol) but couldn't bear to cover these beautiful wings...I used some beautiful papers from the Graphic 45 Little Darlings 8x8 paper pad I bought ages ago from Bunny Zoe's Crafts and finished with some green ribbon, a punched butterfly and some flat backed pearls from the *Mixed Bag* 5mm Flat backed Pearls...the lush sketch is from the Sketch N Stash Challenge and I'm also entering it for the Heck of a Challenge and the ABC Challenge too...I will be back tomorrow with my last candy winner (no I hadn't forgotten lol) and then on Thursday with a bit more candy but no card until Friday, I'm going to do two cards then a couple of days off for a while until I'm fully recovered I think...it wont be long though it may take me a while to get back to a card every day...whatever your up to today have a brilliant one and I hope its not too wet for you

Mina xxx

distress ink colours used

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

hair - antique linen

wings - tattered rose, scattered straw, peeled paint, tumbled glass

tutu - tattered rose

shading - pumice stone

Happy Monday everyone - The Sugar Bowl-Lilian's sketch + ABC Design challenge-paper piecing

Happy Monday everyone...did you all have a fabulous weekend I hope so, mine was very very quiet, in fact I think I saw a few tumbleweed go past at one stage lol...well it wasn't that quiet I guess...I did watch the new Sherlock Holmes drama last night, brilliant, I love Sherlock Holmes and still read the books so it was just my cup of tea...my card today is for the Sugar Bowl challenge and I use this fabulous little Gorjuss girl stamp called A Little Birdie told me, paper pieced and coloured with Distress ink, I'm entering this for the paper piecing challenge over at ABC Designs challenge too...the papers are from the free paper pad from My Minds eye, aren't they fab...I cut out some flowers are a greeting from the back pages and added some yummy pink ribbon and a bow for her to sit on...I hope you like it and have a fantastic happy Monday everyone
Mina xxx