even witches can be cute...and some new release news....

Good morning everyone...bbbbbrrrrrrrr it was cold here last night, a real crisp clear chilly night and felt like Christmas...we went to the DIY store for the draught excluder and they had all the gorgeous Christmas decorations displayed along with a little garden shed made into a grotto full of soft toys and fairy lights, it was so pretty and festive, even my Dad stopped grumbling about 'Christmas decorations already' and said a little aaaaahhhhhhhh...we went outside and were chatting and I heard a 'oh I hear a fellow Geordie accent'...it was a woman who has just moved to Northern Ireland from London...now there's something you have to know about Geordies they will chat with anyone, any excuse for a good natter lol...so we chatted for ages and I told her some things about the area and where things were but as I was leaving I meant to give her my phone number in case she needed a bit of support as it can be kinda lonely moving to a new area cant it...so I'm hoping I bump into her again so I can at least invite her for a coffee...you never know she might even be a fellow crafter lol....right now onto my card for today...now who knew that even witches could look this cute...this is the gorgeous Bewitched from Sassy Studio Designs...shes fabulous isn't she and reminds me of the old fashioned movie witches like in the series Bewitched, I couldn't find her on the Sassy site so I have just linked to their shop instead ...I coloured her with distress inks and used some fantastic Halloween papers from the Fancy Pants Oct 31 paper pad...I paper pieced her dress and hat band with some of the same papers...the fab sketch is from last weeks My Mums Craft Shop Challenge but oops too late but luckily it fits for their challenge this week too...I'm also entering it for the {PIN}spirational Challenge and The Cutie Pie Challenge too...I'm off to the stupidmarket today with my Dad and might do a bit of crafting when I get home, well if I have the time

now onto my new release news...watch out for tomorrows post we have a fantastic lush new Christmas digi release at Sugar Nellie with a fab blog hop (with prizes of course)...so pop by here or start of on the Sugar Nellie blog for all the details at 9am tomorrow

right that's me for today...whatever your up to today have a brilliant one and speak to a stranger, you never know you might make their day or even better make a friend

Mina xxx

watch out for headless chickens...

Good morning everyone I hope your all well and happy...I decided enough is enough and its time to bite the bullet and start the clearing and packing (amazing how much rubbish you gather over 6 years isn't it), so bin bags, cleaning stuff and long duster in case of spiders in hand, I stood at the bottom of the stairs and the feeling of panic rose from my stomach to my chest...omg headless chicken act or what, I haven't a clue where or even how to start...any ideas?...my thinking was start at the top of the house (the attic) and work our way down but I cant figure out if that's a good idea or I'm just putting it off again as the attic is Phil's domain lol...so keep an eye out today for me running around doing my headless chicken act, if you see me catch me give me a good hard shake and say 'get on with it girl'...I'm so so pleased you all liked my first mood board, I'm loving that red and grey together even more every time I look at it...I only have another 8 or so rooms and a garden and decking to sort in my head now lol...right now onto my card for today...how gorgeous is this cute sweetie from Saturated Canary, shes called Krafty Kate and I bought her a while back but she got hidden in my huge digi files...I hate it when that happens don't you...I coloured her with distress inks and teamed her up with more of these luscious papers from the Carta Bella - Beautiful Moments 6x6 Paper Pad I bought from Bunny Zoe's Crafts ...I used a tag sentiment cut from the same pad and finished with some vintage seam binding and a yellow rose...the fab sketch is from Sweet Sketch Wednesday and I'm also entering it for the Ohh La La Creations challenge and My Mums Craft Shop challenge...I'm off out to the supermarket today with my lovely Dad, I will take him for coffee and get him to give me a talking too about starting the packing, he will sort me out lol...whatever your up to today don't forget to watch out for headless chickens lol
Mina xxx

distress ink colours
skin - antique linen, frayed burlap, tattered rose
hair - frayed burlap
clothes - antique linen, spun sugar, Victorian velvet, frayed burlap
bunting - antique linen, spun sugar, Victorian velvet, frayed burlap

the fastest needle in the west?...

Good morning everyone I hope you all had a fantastic day yesterday and didnt get too wet...remember yesterday I was saying about my beautiful Daughters time saving fancy dress outfit...well...guess who rang me half and hour before she was leaving with the pleading 'Mum can you do something with my costume its not quite right' voice lol...she wanted the sides of the front ruched so her legs showed a little, so out came the needle and thread and all the layers were ruched and stitched in under 15 mins...see fastest needle in the west lol...dont you just love that our kids think we can do anything in no time at all, I was the same with my Mum I knew she could sort anything out...well we went out to lunch yesterday but by the time lunch was finished the heavens had opened again and the water was running down the streets, so instead of a mooch round town we went home for a dry afternoon watching old movies instead...did you do anything?...right now onto my card for today, now I know I rarely use a stamp more than once (I know its shocking isnt it slapped wrist to me) but I had to use this stunning Whimsy Stamp called Cinnamon Sugar again she is one of my all time favourite stamps...this time I did her with darker hair, Im not sure it worked but it was fun colouring her...I used distress inks and her outfit is paper pieced with papers from the same paper pad I used for the card...they are from the Cosmo Cricket 6" x 6" Mini Deck - Baby Jane I finished with a gorgeous satin ribbon and some of the amazingly cute and pretty Flat Back Rose Cabochons - Mixed Bag these are fab as they are perfectly formed tiny little roses in loads of colours...everything except the ribbon is from Bunny Zoe's Crafts...the lush sketch is from the Willow Sketchie challenge and Im also entering it for the Allsorts Challenge and My Mum's Craft shop challenge too...I havent a clue what we are up to today but I think we might just head on a wee jaunt, you never know where we will end up...whatever your up to today have a fabulous one
Mina xxx

distress ink colours used
skin - antique linen, frayed burlap, tattered rose
hair - antique linen, frayed burlap
cupcake - scattered straw, fired earth
basket - frayed burlap, fired earth, scattered straw

asbestos fingers...

Good morning everyone did you all have a fantastic weekend...I hope it was a bit warmer where you are than it was here...have you seen the forecast for snow????...well I did my handbag duty yesterday, the older my Daughter gets the more I enjoy shopping with her although she does try to force me to try on clothes I wouldn't normally even look at...for goodness sake I'm a woman of a certain age but I drew the line at skinny jeans I dont think that would be a good look for me you would see every lump and bump and there is many lol...she was going out to dinner with her new work colleagues so wanted her hair curled...have you ever used GHD's, my hair is always super short so I have never needed them but she has long hair, the front and sides she could do herself but wanted me to do the back, omg they are as hot as the surface of the sun and I don't know if my fingers are just super sensitive or what but they were red raw when I had finished, my Daughters feelings ' don't be such a wuss Mum, suck it up' lol, that girl is ssssooooo my Daughter lol...my card for today is for our new challenge at The Pretty Little Ribbon Shop challenge, this month the challenge is to use Dies or punches somewhere on your card, I used this amazing new rubber stamp from Crafts and Me for my card, isn't this Believe Unmounted Rubber Stamp from Zindy S.D. Nielsen just stunning, its a beautifully clear crisp stamp and stunning to colour although I'm not 100% how the hair turned out so you will see her again with dark hair I think she needs used again don't you...I coloured her with distress inks and paper pieced her dress with some of the amazing Tropical Travelogue collection papers, this one is called Tiki Voyager, I bought loads of this collection on Saturday so you will be seeing more of them I promise...I used some 16mm Berisford Grosgrain WHITE Ribbon from The Pretty Little Ribbon Shop and my new Tomic doily punch for the border and finished with some Martha Stewart large punched butterflies to finish...the fab sketch is from the Crazy 4 Challenge challenge and I'm also entering it for the My Mums craft shop challenge and the Simon Says Stamp challenge...I'm having a craft catch up day today which means locked in my craft room and only coming out for food kinda day...I hope whatever your up to you stay warm and cosy and when you have the time pop on over to the Pretty Little Ribbon Shop challenge to see the rest of our amazing teams lush work
Mina xxx

distress ink colours used
skin - antique linen, frayed burlap, tattered rose
nails and lips - victorian velvet
hair - frayed burlap, antique linen

just like I promised...

Good morning everyone I hope your all well...we are definitely getting warmer weather now as my spiders are out again...uuuurrrrrggghhhh...its ok I wont post anymore photos of them and the two that were invading last weren't quite as big as the last ones I posted...and they are definitely not as big now they are squashed, I'm sorry I just cant pick them up and put them outside, I just cant go near them they make me shudder...I had one of those eyes attached to my bum days yesterday, I even fell asleep while colouring in my office chair, mind it is comfortable, I woke up with my paintbrush still poised to paint too lol, mind I did have a very stiff neck...right now my card for today, as promised here's a new artist I found called May Green and her shop is MayzyArt, isn't this gorgeous creature just wonderful and she is a dream to colour too...she is called Looks Like Rain Xandra, isn't she brilliant I love her, see what happens when you go surfing you never know what you will find do you...I coloured her with distress inks and I could resist a bit of glitter, she looks like a glittery girl doesn't she...the fab papers I chose for her are from K&Co Julianne 6x6 paper pad which is back in stock at Bunny Zoe's Crafts, I cut out loads of the flowers from the paper for embellishments...I finished with a ribbon and some seam binding...the fab sketch is from Tuesday Morning sketches challenge and I'm also entering this for the My Mums Craft Shop challenge and the Craft Room Challenge...I'm having another crafting day today hopefully without the closed eyelids lol...whatever your up to today have a brilliant one and when your surfing keep your eyes open you never know what you might find
Mina xxx

distress inks used
skin - antique linen, frayed burlap, tattered rose
hair - frayed burlap
dress - Victorian velvet, antique linen
bows and jewellry - peeled paint
umbrella - victorian velvet, antique linen, peeled paint
shoes - victorian velvet

splish splash...

Good morning everyone, I hope your weather is better than we have...we had all four seasons yesterday even snow and hail...nice to see Spring has arrived lol, I think the weather was the inspiration for my card today...I had a semi successful crafting day, one of those two step forwards one step back kinda days I got a few things done but not as many as I wanted, I even had a really early night last night 10pm would you believe that's unknown for me to go to bed before 1am...I was shattered by 8pm and could have gone to bed then, so cup of chamomile tea in hand of I popped with the best of intentions to watch a movie in bed I saw about 10 min's of it lol...right now onto my card for today inspired by our wonderful Spring weather, I used this amazing Singin' in the Rain image from Mo's Digital Pencil, isn't she beautiful, that umbrella and raincoat just cried out to be paper pieced didn't they, I know I'm a bit of a Mo freak but this one has just the perfect little face doesn't it...I coloured the rest of her with distress inks...the fabulous papers I think are from a DCWV paper pad, I was just attracted to the colours, they suit her don't you think...the letters are from the same pad I think, well they match anyway...I finished the card with a load of different ribbons and a bow made with 15mm Organza Ribbon LIGHT PINK from the Pretty Little Ribbon Shop, this ribbon has a lovely stiff feel to it, perfect for bows and holds its shape fantastically...the fabulous sketch is from Digital Tuesday challenge and I'm also entering it for the My Mums Craft shop challenge and Papertake Weekly challenge...I'm off to give myself a shake and a shower because my glasses fell off again yesterday, at least it wasn't down the toilet this time but just into my lunch, so I'm off to the opticians to get them tightened and reshaped...whatever your up to have a brilliant one
Mina xxx
p.s. quick question, are the list of colours I use at the bottom any use to anyone or are you fed up with me doing them yet lol ???

distress ink colours used
skin - antique linen, frayed burlap, tattered rose
hair - antique linen
dress and boots - milled lavender
shading - pumice stone

Happy Valentines Day - my first Sugar Nellie love...

Good morning everyone I hope your all well and happy and Happy Valentines Day to you all, did you all see my cake last night?...were you impressed?...I'm so impressed with myself and it made me want to more different kinds so watch this space...oh and did you all join in my new candy yet, if not the links on the sidebar at the top, have a go as they are so lush...I had a super lazy day yesterday and did absolutely nothing, well I did eat another cake lol...but besides from that all I did was watch chat shows all afternoon and didn't even get dressed out of my jim jams...oh well I guess a lazy day now and then does you good doesn't it...my card for today is using the stamp that made me fall in love with Sugar Nellie stamps, I love this beautiful stamp, that face is amazing and its a dream to colour...its by Kathy Hare Designs for Sugar Nellie and is called Worried, I think it shows a lot of love don't you...I coloured him in monochrome with distress inks and teamed him up with these super stunning Prima Printery 6x6 paper pad papers, love this pad, its so aged and distressed and perfect for monochrome or to add a splash of colour too...the beautiful sentiment is stamped softly to give it an aged look and is from my stash, I finished with some fab recycled ribbon from Christmas packaging and a beautiful bird charm that was part of a gift from a fellow crafter...the sketch is lush but I cant remember where its from but I'm entering this for the Simon says stamp challenge, My Mums Craft shop challenge and Simon says Stamp and show challenge too...We don't celebrate Valentines Day for no other reason than we are hardly ever together on it and try to show each other every day we love each other not just on one day (aaaawwwww ok now don't all get slushy lol)...I really must do some crafting today so no cake eating or chat show watching I promise...whatever your up to today have a fantastic one
Mina xxx

colours used
skin - antique linen, frayed burlap, tattered rose
hair - pumice stone, black soot
shading - pumice stone and grey Marvy pen

summer...not yet...

Good morning everyone I hope your all well there seems to be an awful lot of bugs going round...ok enough is enough isnt it, my poor Dad got a phone call from the docs yesterday to say there is a big problem with his liver function test so he has to go see him...ok now the powers that be thats enough my poor Dad has enough on his plate ok...we also have some other worrying things going on in our lives that I cant tell you about yet, but I will when we have them semi sorted...we didnt get out yesterday I dont really know why but just one of those days when it caught up with us very fast before we had really done anything if you know what I mean...well your all Wives, Mothers, Taxi drivers, general cleaner uppers etc so your bound to know lol...my card for today is a plea for spring to hurry up, Im sure the sun and bright skies brings good things and stops bad things seeming so bad, dont you?...this beautiful image is called Summer and shes from Sugar Nellie of course, shes one of the Simply Adorables, I coloured her with distress inks and teamed her with this lush Basicgrey double sided paper from the Marjolaine collection called Expresso Souffle...lush colours isnt it, I added a chipboard tag from my sentiment box and added a fabulous ribbon bow and a sprinkling of buttons to finish...the lush sketch is from Mojo Monday (I turned it around) and Im also entering this for the Paper Creations Ink challenge and My Mum's Craft shop challenge too...Im off out for coffee with our beautiful Daughter today and my Dads coming too, well thats unless my day gets ahead of me again lol...whatever your up to today have a fantastic trouble and bug free one
Mina xxx

colours used
skin - antique linen, frayed burlap, tattered rose
hair - frayed burlap
dress - stormy sky, walnut stain
umbrella - shabby shutters, scattered straw

peach and green valentine?...

Good morning everyone I hope your all well...did I sit around day yesterday then...nope...I had to go into my craft room for a pair of scissors in the early morning and looked at it and thought that's it...went down stairs and armed with bin bags, cleaning clothes and wipes and started to tackle it...6 hours later I was still doing it, besides for a couple of breaks I didn't stop until 10pm last night and it still needs more done...and the moral of this story is 'just don't start it' lol...I have a huge pile of papers to go through and sort, 5 boxes of flowers, sentiments, pearls, gems etc etc to sort out and a massive industrial size tub of ribbons, ever wish you hadn't started something ...I will crack it though as I have promised Jane some photos as proof it has been done...you will get them Jane...right now onto my card for today which is back to my usual colouring ...yesterdays was ssssssoooooo out of my comfort zone and I don't think I will do many without colouring as I miss it too much...this little stunner is of course from The Saturated Canary and she is called Queen of Hearts, isn't she stunning, I coloured her with distress inks and teamed her up with this amazing Graphic45 paper from the Once Upon a Springtime collection called Primrose cottage, I love love love Graphic45 papers don't you, I could use them every single day...I cut out some of the flowers and used them for embellishments, I used a cream satin ribbon and some lush gold thread and finished with some punched glitter board hearts...the fab sketch is from The Sweet Stop challenge and I'm also entering it for the Saturated Canary challenge and My Mum's Craft shop challenge...guess where I'm off to today, yep its Thursday so I have to go to the supermarket with my lovely Dad who makes it bearable, I really don't mind doing his shopping with him you know I just like a little moan about it now and then lol...have a fabulous day everyone and I hope wherever you are the sun shines on you
Mina xxx

colours used
skin - antique linen, frayed burlap, tattered rose
hair - antique linen
eyes - peeled paint
dress and shoes - tattered rose, shabby shutters
shadows - pumice stone

freaky happenings...

Good morning everyone, I hope your all well and having a great start to your week...I had a freaky one yesterday, I had a great time colouring and made some cards, but I forgot to make my bed so popped up to my bedroom at lunchtime to make it and sitting in the middle of the floor was a scarf, now not any old scarf but one my Mum lent me for a wedding about a year before she passed away, I loved it so much she gave it to me and after her death I stashed it somewhere and forgot all about it because I couldn't have it near me as it made me burst into tears, when I picked it up it still smells of Chanel no 5 my Mums perfume...I have no idea how it got there and as I'm the only one here it definitely wasn't me and couldn't have been someone else, how strange is that...then I went downstairs later on and switched one of the lamps on in my living room, the bulb exploded now I don't mean just went pop but shot out of the lamp and hit the ceiling exploded...now if my Mum is trying to tell me something I wish she wouldn't do it so violently and try to take my face off in the process lol...freaky eh?????...well I'm sure I will find out whats shes trying to say in time...now onto my card for today which is using this stunning little sweetie from Sugar Nellie, its from the newest Puppy Love release and is called Trip to the Park...I coloured her with distress inks and teamed her up with lush papers from the Prima 6x6 Madeline paper pad, defo my favourite pad atm...I love the pinks and blues in this pad don't you...I added a sentiment cut from the same pad and finished with a huge bow and punched butterflies...I'm entering this for the My Mums Craft shop challenge (my favourite colour combo blue and pink) and The Ribbon Girl Pink and Blue challenge...the lush sketch is from The Sugar Bowl challenge...I'm off out today for a catch up coffee with my Dad so you can all relax as hes sure to put all the worlds troubles to right while we are sipping it...have a wonderful day whatever your up to today and watch out for freaky happenings
Mina xxx

so much joy in one little face...

Yyyyyyooohhhoooo everyone I'm back...did you miss me?, yeah right I bet you did lol...I hope you all had the most fantastic Christmas ever, we had a very quiet one just family and lots of laughs and gift giving, my Sister and her family were down on Tuesday so I didn't get on to check my posting so oops, this should have been yesterdays but by the time I realised it was so late I just kept it for today...see what happens when your not about to check things...thank you all so much for your fantastic comments on my Nativity scene, I had so so much fun making that and gave it to my Sister for her two little un's and I'm chuffed to say they love it so much, my Dad still isn't very well at all and we are all very worried about him but will he go to the Doctors...nope, but I'm working on him and have a feeling if he doesn't go he will end up in hospital, its hard to get my head around anything else but my Dad atm but it helps to take your mind onto something else doesn't it...so my card for today is using this gorgeous little Snow Day cutie from Mo's Digital Pencil, I used this sweetie in pink but you could use it for a boy or girl I think, don't you...the lush papers are from a pack I bought from K&Co called Classic K Bailey scrap kit, it included the word and the flowers too and there's loads and loads for me to use so I'm sure you will see more of this lush kit, I finished with a chocolate brown ribbon and a scattering of pearls...I am totally lost with the challenges so I haven't a clue where this fab sketch is from but I'm entering this for the My Mums Craft Shop challenge, Joanna Sheen challenge and the Simon Says Stamp challenge too...I'm off to persuade my Dad to go to the Doctors or I'm getting him to come out, that will shift him I think, keep your fingers crossed it does for me please...have a fabulous day everyone
Mina xxx
p.s. I will be back a little later with my Bunny Zoes Crafts winner

Smile - Just Magnolia & hAnglar & stAnglar week 103 - sketch by Dena

Good morning everyone, I came onto the computer last night and though I will do some hopping and wow you could have slapped me with a kipper...did you see how many comments I got on yesterdays blog hop post...omg how incredible is that thank you all so much...my wonderful Dad comes back from his first holiday today, oh boy have I missed our coffee days putting the world to rights, but I'm sure he will discover how to have world peace and give all the politicians hell today...I love him to bits...my card for today is for our new challenge over at Just Magnolia & hAnglar & stAnglar challenge which this week is a stunning sketch by our wonderful Dena...I chose this beautiful Magnolia Butterfly Dreams collection Beautiful Tilda coloured with distress inks and glittered for mine, this and the fab pearls and lilac Butterfly Dream Magnolia paper is from Bunny Zoe's Crafts, the gingham is from Craft Creations and I finished with the beautiful Smile sentiment, sorry haven't a clue who that's by as I threw the wrapper away, a ribbon and bow and some fat cream pearls, I'm entering this for the Amber's Crafts & Stuff Ribbons and bows challenge, the Flutter By Wednesday butterfly, fairy or Angel challenge and the My Mums Craft shop Glitter challenge...well I finally got my craft room finished, I bet you thought I would, oh yea of little faith lol so I just need a quick hoover and I can play again...whatever your up to today I hope you get to spend it with people you truly love
Mina xxx