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

distress inks vs lady grey tea...

Good morning everyone how are you all...all finished then?...is your present wrapped and food bought...nope? me neither lol...well the curse of 2013 is still with us I'm afraid, my Niece was in Hospital and my Uncle then yesterday I found out my cousin had a heart attack and has to be transferred from our local hospital to a larger one for a pacemaker...they are all being sorted and on the mend hopefully and that's the three so no more hospital troubles...finger, toes, arms, legs and eyes crossed...I only have a few things left to buy and of course the big food shop...going around supermarkets at Christmas you could be forgiven for thinking they were going to be closed for a fortnight not just one day wouldn't you...its nuts how much food is bought and money spent on it at this time of year and looking around the shoppers there is always so many miserable faces, I sometimes thing if we spent less time and money worrying about food and gifts we might even remember the essence of Christmas and start to enjoy it...what do you think?...right now my card for today...can you see the smudging? that's what happens when your enjoying a cup of Lady grey whilst your gazing out of the window...just one little drip and its smudge city...I thought I had managed to save it until I saw these photos so will have to reink this cutie and this time no tea in sight while I'm colouring lol...so ignore the smudges and pretend its perfect...this little cutie is from the new CC Designs release...this is the gorgeous CC Designs Rascals Sking Henry coloured with my distress inks (and lady grey lol) and glittered with Stickles Glitter Glue - Star Dust...I teamed it up with some stunning papers from the beautiful Kaisercraft - Marigold 6.5"x6.5" Paper Pad although its not a winter or Christmas pad I think the colours and patterns work great for this one don't you...I added a bow made from Gingham Wired Edge Gold Thread Ribbon - Blue, a stamped sentiment from the C.C. Designs Naughty Or Nice Sentiments (the tag is from the paper pad) and a few buttons from the Primary - 25g button pack...everything I used today is from Bunny Zoe's Crafts...I made the sketch up as I went along but am entering this for the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, Brown Sugar Challenge and the Craftitude Challenge too...I'm off out to town today for a little mooch what you up to?...whatever it is I hope you have some festive fun

Mina xxx

distress ink colours used

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

hair - antique linen

outfit - stormy sky, shabby shutters, pumice stone

skies and poles - antique linen

ok enough already...

Good morning everyone I hope your all well and having a fantastic weekend...sorry I haven't been around for a few days but you will understand when I explain...firstly my Daughters gorgeous fluffy sumo cat had to go back into the vets hospital and I'm heartbroken to tell you all she didn't make it out this time...they found a mass on her scans and her liver stopped working properly so with a lot of soul searching my Daughter decided to agree with the vet that she shouldn't be allowed to just waste away...we will miss her so much, although she was my Daughters cat officially it was us she lived with while she was away at Uni and we cat sat her every time they went away...there were a lot of tears I can tell you...then the next day I fell down the stairs, managed to grasp onto the rail and wretched my hip and knee so am walking around with the help of a stick atm...but there is semi good news the surgeon I went to see last week said I will only need one operation instead of the three he thought it would be...it comes to something when having an operation is your only bit of good news isn't it lol...oh well onwards and upwards but please the powers that be that's enough already...pretty please lol...right my card for today and I have to say its not my best colouring on today's card but my hip was sore sitting on my office chair while I was colouring...that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it lol...these little bits of gorgeousness are of course from Mo's digital Pencil, who else could draw these eh...this is called Jumping and I coloured it with distress inks...the lush paper pad I used (the sentiment tag is from the same pad) is the Kaisercraft - Bundle of Joy 6.5"x6.5" Paper Pad I bought at Bunny Zoe's Crafts...although this is a baby paper pad I think the papers and colours go with anything and even the baby sentiment works for these two cuties don't you think...I finished with a few punched butterflies and a scattering of buttons...the fab sketch is from the Tuesday Morning Sketches challenge and I'm also entering it for the Brown Sugar Challenge and Sister Act Challenge too...what you up to today? anything exciting?...I have so so much crafting to catch up with so really must make a start today so I'm off to my craft room if you don't hear anything in 24 hours sent parcels of cake and painkillers lol...whatever your doing have a great day and I will be back tomorrow for our new Bunny Zoe's monthly challenge oh and did you enter this months candy if not its just below this post...have a good one

Mina xxx

distress ink colours used

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

hair - frayed burlap, antique linen

outfits - tattered rose, spun sugar, iced spruce, pumice stone

skipping rope - victorian velvet

its all about the paper...

Good morning everyone how was your weekend?...good I hope...after the happenings of Friday, Saturday wasn't too bad but Sunday wasn't good when a friend of our Daughters was rushed to intensive care and we had to pick her up from the hospital...poor lamb and I'm hoping and wishing he will recover fast, my heart goes out to his family...so its fingers crossed for this week to go ok I think...thank goodness Phil seems a bit better but woke up yesterday with a stinking head cold bless him, maybe that's what the really bad headache's were about, that coming on...he has been told in no uncertain terms to keep it to himself lol...I will have to keep him away from my lovely Dad too the last thing he needs is a chest infection as hes really prone to them and it worries me sick when he gets one...I don't think we were the only ones having a bad weekend though, we called into a local store to get me some hairspray and in the middle of shopping a child let out the most blood curdling scream I have ever heard, it made everyone stop what they were doing and spin around...and why?...no sweets lol...the parents were mortified....right now onto my card for today...yes I have a card to show you and one for tomorrow and one for Wednesday made too...will wonders never cease lol...this little stunner is of course from Mo's Digital Pencil, now who else would draw this so beautifully...shes called Gathering Kindling and I coloured her in monochrome tones using my distress inks...I wanted to give her a sepia photo feel...what do you think did it work?...I found a stack of Christmas pads in my stash, long forgotten and stashed for a rainy day...this paper is from one I bought last Christmas from Bunny Zoe's Crafts and is My Mind's Eye - 6x6 paper pad All is Bright...I have decided to get back to basics for my mojos sake and go with an all about the papers theme...you will see what I mean over the next week or so...I started crafting because of my love of stunning paper pads and want to rekindle that love...this is just one sheet of paper would you believe all the layers are printed on it...beautiful isn't it?...all I added to finish was a strip of vintage lace and a Prima flower from my stash, I think its all that was needed don't you...I have been racking my brain trying to figure out how to make the cards I have seen around that have loads of embellishments on them then realised I don't have too I can just make 'my' cards cant I...silly mare that I am lol...there is no sketch as the layers were done for me but I'm entering this for the Our Creative Corner challenge, My Creative Moments Challenge and the Brown Sugar Challenge too...I haven't a clue what I'm up to today but am hoping it doesn't include hospitals, doctors surgeries or anything medical and am keeping my head down just in case lol...whatever your up to today I hope its a safe and well one for you and those you love

Mina xxx
p.s. did you enter my candy yet...its the post below if you would like to join in

distress ink colours used

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

hair - frayed burlap

coat - antique linen

jacket - scattered straw

skirt - old paper

boots and basket - frayed burlap

shading - pumice stone

at long last...

Good morning everyone what you all up too this weekend...anything special?...oh before anything else a huge massive thank you to Allison you are a genius and reminded me it was all about the dpi, so thanks to you my photos are loads better...well I think they are anyway lol...I wish you would leave me a link to your blog Allison so I can thank you properly...I don't think our poor little garden is going to recover you know, I have chopped, watered, fed and gave it as much love as possible but I'm obviously either doing something wrong or I was sitting swinging looking at the poor pots when it hit me, could it be that the deck is in a really sheltered hot spot and the plants are just not right for it...maybe I need to look for something that will flourish in dry heat for the future...what do you think, all you gardeners out there might be able to give me some suggestions for the future...my gorgeous Sister and family are coming to stay at my Dads this weekend as its my beautiful little Nieces birthday...I cant wait to see the kids they seem to change daily when they are growing don't they and I never get to see them enough atm...oh and before I forget I got my MRI scan date, 7th September...so another thing ticked of my list lol...right now onto my card for today...this image made me smile so much when I was using it...now all together now who on earth could have drawn this little sweetie?....er....could it be Mo from Mo's Digital Pencil, now who else could draw this...although this is the male version of the royal babies she drew, The Royal He, I printed the wrong one and decided to use him as a girl anyway, oops lol, oh and btw Mo's Digital Pencil is having a huge 20% off sale atm so pop on by and grab a bargain...I coloured him with distress inks and glittered the fur and added a few pearls to the fab crown...how perfect are these amazing papers?...they are from one of my new pads I bought from Bunny Zoe's Crafts, this one is the Kaisercraft - Bundle of Joy 6.5"x6.5" Paper Pad...isn't it lush...I finished with some fab tartan ribbon I found at the bottom of my ribbon scraps bag, I really must go through that more often you know...the tiny feet I cut from the same pad...the sketch is from Mojo Monday and I'm also entering it for the Crafty Ribbons Challenge and the Brown Sugar Challenge too...poor Phil is going into work for a while this morning but I'm sure we will be heading out when he gets home so I better get the old war paint on...whatever your up to today I hope wherever you are its a bright and sunny one

Mina xxx

distress ink colours used

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

nappy - pumice stone

cloak and crown - mix of tattered rose & spun sugar, pumice stone

the scent of summer...

Good morning everyone...did you all enter for this months Bunny Zoe's Crafts monthly candy yet...if you didnt then its the posts below this one and its a good one too...a chance at a spending spree...the garden seems to be bucking up a bit since we decided drastic action was need and last week I decided I would use my new sacatures to chop away at one or two (or even three lol) plants that looked like they had died and despite Phil mocking me and saying he wanted to dig them up and reuse the pots they have sprouted again would you believe..a bit chuffed and very smug dosent even touch how I felt when I showed him last night lol...I think even my lovely Dad was a little impressed as he was down for his dinner yesterday evening and said he thinks the garden is slowly coming back to life...phew I thought it was knackered to tell you the truth (thats a technical term by the way lol) and Im so releaved that all the work and love we put into those plants and making the decking somewhere lovely to sit hasnt gone to waste, we did have a bit of a giggle though when Phil went behind the swing seat to check on his tomatos and touched the canopy, whatever water was there tipped over him and he turned to me giving me a look because I was watering some plants with the hose pipe and he thought I had squirted him with it, it took ages to convince him it wasnt me, well it was a bit harder with me rolling about laughing at the time lol...right now onto my card for today which is using one of the new Crafters Companion Barkley stamps...this cute one is called The Scent of Summer...like I have said before Im not the best colourer of animals but I enjoyed this one anyway so I hope you think its ok...I used my distress inks for it and teamed it up with some beautiful summery papers from the Carta Bella - Cool Summer 6x6 Paper Pad, the little tag is from the same pad but is stamped with one of the sentiments that came with the stamp...I finished with a huge blue bow and a Prima Flowers Primmers - White Cotton flower topped with a pink button, everything except the bow and button are from Bunny Zoe's Crafts...I made the sketch up as I went along but am entering this for the Crafty Calender Challenge, Brown Sugar Challenge and the Challenges 4 Everybody challenge too...Im off out with my lovely Dad this afternoon so best get some war paint going later...whatever your up to today watch out for hidden pockets of water
Mina xxx
p.s. sorry the photos are blurred again Im still struggling finding all the programmes for photo editing

distress ink colours used

cat - antique linen, spun sugar

dog - pumice stone, black soot

birds - scattered straw, stormy sky

garden - peeled paint, shabby shutters, victorian velvet, stormy sky, scattered straw

aaaaacccccchhhhhooooooo.....

Good afternoon everyone at long last I have managed to do my post...my poor little laptop had a virus bless it...my galaxy tablet was fine but I couldn't post my pictures on there as they were saved on my laptop...so after a lot of checking and scanning and rescanning I think I have got it so fingers crossed everything works ok now...phew right start again...did you all have a fabulous weekend and do something exciting?...we were supposed to do the long put off trip to Ikea on Saturday but sods law Phil got called into work and spent the whole day there....so part two we decided we would go on Sunday but I couldn't ask Phil to spend his only day off trekking through a shop now could I...so instead we had a chill day but did manage a detour while we were out for coffee to buy a few new plants for the garden (you can always find somewhere that sells plants cant you lol)...right now I better get on with my card hadn't I before this goes kaput again even though all my bits are crossed for it not too...I used this fantastic Mo's Digital Pencil image for my card today...I love the look on her face don't you it always makes me smile...shes called Bad Hair Day and she reminds me of when our Daughter trimmed her fringe when she was about 12...it was as short as her fringe and just as spiky lol...I coloured her with my usual distress inks and paper pieced her dress (any excuse for cutting out lol),,,the fabulous papers I used and the sentiment tag are from the My Minds Eye - Oxford Lane 6x6 pad I bought from Bunny Zoe's Crafts...I love the colours in it don't you...I made the sketch up as I went along but am entering it for the Brown Sugar Challenge, and the Alphabet Challenge  too...I'm off to make dinner for tonight now as my lovely Dad is coming for it...it has been fantastic catching up with him this weekend, then maybe a little bit of sun while it last as its meant to be stormy this week...oh no out comes the umbrellas again its a good thing we kept them close by lol...have a fantastic day everyone and watch out for those virus's floating around they are little devils

Mina xxx

distress ink colours used

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

hair - frayed burlap, antique linen

eyes - tumbled glass

shoes - faded jeans

trim on dress & scissors - faded jeans

shading - pumice stone

always follow your heart...

Good morning everyone...well we had a mega trip to garden centres yesterday...three of them would you believe, we got 10 plants, a cordyline (which is a type of tall decorative red grass) and 36 bedding plants for pots and a hanging basket...the deck is going to be awash with colour...many many photos will follow when they all bloom...I cant wait...as to the Japanese Maple that wasn't so successful...the cheapest one I could find was £39.99 and tiny, I refuse to pay that much when all the plants together didn't cost that much...we did find a stunning Eucalyptus tree though, six foot tall and a fantastic olive green with red branches for a bargain £18 but we couldn't fit it in the car with the rest of the plants...well we could have but my Dad objected to being left at the garden centre even after we bought him coffee and promised we would come back for him on Saturday lol...we got loads planted up when we got home but ran out of pots so I guess we can pick up the tree when we head back to get more pots...aaaaaahhhhhhh I have a devious side to me lol... right now onto my card for today...this is the stunning Sugar Nellie Make A Wish from the digital Home Grown Collection at Funky Kits...isn't she beautiful, I don't think I did her justice and will have to give that dress some paper piecing in a few weeks I think, it will be fun will all those layers I think don't you? I coloured her with my usual distress inks and glittered her wings and star on her wand, well I couldn't resist and you know the crafter's rule don't you...if there's wings there's glitter lol...I teamed her up with some of the amazing papers from the Kaisercraft - Elegance 6.5"x6.5" Paper Pad I bought from Bunny Zoe's Crafts...I finished with a sentiment and border from the same pad and a few punched glitter card stars...the fab sketch is from The Sweet Stop Challenge and I'm also entering it for the Chocolate, Coffee and Cards Challenge and the Brown Sugar Challenge too...I'm going to have some crafting time today, I'm determined to get ahead with things just in case the mojo demon sneaks back and steals it again...whatever your up to today I hope you manage some fun crafting time too...have a good one
Mina xxx

distress ink colours used

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

hair - frayed burlap, antique linen

dress - scattered straw, antique linen

shoes, star and tips of wings - evergreen bough

shading - pumice stone

wwwoooohhhoooooooooo.....

Good morning everyone well I did it, hit the big half a million hits, how amazing is that...I'm totally gobsmacked when I first started my blog I remember getting so so excited when I got my first hit and never in my wildest dreams did I think I would get to this many, so thank you all you wonderful people you...to thank you I will be doing a lush candy with not just one winner or two winner or....oh no too much info you will just have to wait and see lol...did you all enjoy the new release hop yesterday, they are gorgeous boy digis aren't they...great to colour too...its getting really cold now here and we even had sleet and hailstones yesterday, I was freezing last night and had on my fleece Minnie mouse pj bottoms, a pink fleece top and my huggy bear dressing gown...its an amazing dressing gown almost to the floor, huge and very very fluffy its like being hugged by a bear lol...I had a hot water bottle and the heating on full blast and poor Phil was sitting in a t shirt and shorts he was so warm...there's defo something wrong with my inner heater I think lol...right my card for today...how adorable is this little cutie from Mo's Digital Pencil...shes called Beatrix with Bear and she is so so wonderful to colour as all Mo's images are...I coloured it with distress inks and glittered up the bear...it reminded me of a bear my Daughter had when she was small, it was huge, so soft and had a little sparkle to its fur...I wish I could get a better picture of this amazing paper, its so stunning, really soft colours, embossed and loads and loads of glitter...I think its from Kars, theres no mark on it but I will double check for you if you would like to know...I finished with a huge organza bow and a oh so cute pram charm...the sketch I made up as I went along but I'm entering this for the Fussy and Fancy Friday challenge, Brown Sugar Challenge and the A & T Emerald Faeries challenge too....we are heading out today as we need to buy a new stair carpet and cant decide on a runner or a fitted one, I suppose the fitted one would be much quieter wouldn't it...I will keep you informed on the big candy as I have a couple more things to arrange for it, whatever your up to today I hope you manage to keep warm without looking like a huge pink teddy bear like me lol

Mina xxx

distress ink colours used

skin - antique linen, frayed burlap, tattered rose

hair - antique linen

outfit - tumbled glass, shabby shutters,

antique linen

bear - pumice stone, spun sugar