a little bit more Glitz...

Good morning everyone Im feeling loads and loads better today, phew thank goodness for that as I was beginning to bore myself lol...its my lovely Dads his[ital appointment today to have his other eye measured for his new lense, he says he cant wait to get the other eye done now he has one done, mind he does see dust and fluff that he didnt before and he says he needs his carpets cleaned now, see what happens when he can so well I get a job or two to do lol...hes hoping he will get it done before he is off to my Neices wedding in Sicily...isnt he lucky, wish I was going but the numbers are so tight even us Auntie's arent invited which we understand of course but my Dad needs to be there for his Grandaughter...he has instructions that now he can see the hairs on a bats wings he has to take loads of photos, he wanted to borrow my camera but I just couldnt do it, I tried to let go but just couldnt stretch it that far lol...so we are lending him Phils camera as he dosent mind...anyway now onto my card for today which is using the last MayzyArt image I bought, this gorgeous ballerina is called Digi Dancers Ballet, isnt she a sweetie, I coloured her with distress inks and used a little bit more of this lush Glitz 6x6" Paper Pack - Pretty in Pink paper pad from Bunny Zoe's Crafts, lush colours arent they...I used one of the sentiments from another sheet from the same pad for the sentiment tag and finished with some lush Satin and Organza ribbons and a few buttons...the fab sketch is from Stetch & Stash challenge and Im also entering it for the Crazy 4 Challenges challenge and Paper Crafting Journey challenge too...right Im off to get ready, why on earth do appointments have to be so early in the morning that your half asleep in the waiting room...whatever your up to have a brilliant day and I hope you get a lie in
Mina xxx

distress ink colours used
skin - antique linen, frayed burlap, tattered rose
hair - walnut stain
dress - spun sugar
pearls and shoes - victorian velvet
edges distressed in antique linen

whos a sassy girl then...

Good morning everyone did you all have a fantastic weekend?, I hope you did and that your all well, I feel a lot better since we went out yesterday, I really needed some fresh air I think and the sun shone all day too although the wind would have cut you in half it was so cold, we had a mooch around the shops and I even bought the new paint brushes I desperately needed, mine seemed to have had an arguments, all the bristles were going in opposite directions...so hopefully colouring will go a little more smoothly from now on...well that's the plan anyway ...oooohhhhhh I forgot to say yesterday I just noticed I'm only a few followers away from an amazing 1500 follower, how amazing is that...oh no I feel a big candy coming on...I have already started collecting the bits and prizes together so watch this space...right now onto my card for today which is using this amazing Saturated Canary digi called Circus Trixie, don't you just love her and wow all that hair to colour to my hearts content...I coloured her with distress inks and used some of these amazing papers I bought from Bunny Zoe's Crafts...these are from the Echo Park This & That Graceful pad...lush aren't they and perfect colours to work with for Spring/Summer...I finished my card with a rub on, some lush bright green satin ribbon and a selection of flowers from my stash...the fab sketch is from Sketch Saturday and I'm also entering it for the Cute Card Thursday challenge and Card Makin Mamas challenge ...right I'm off to try out my new brushes today so I feel a mega colouring session coming on...whatever your up to today have a brilliant one
Mina xxx

distress ink colours used
skin - antique linen, frayed burlap, tattered rose
hair - frayed burlap
dress - tattered rose, pine needles, shabby shutters
hoops and ribbon - tattered rose, victorian velvet

a Sunday covered in roses...

Good morning everyone I hope your having a wonderful Sunday...the weather was sunny here yesterday which Phil was happy about, there's nothing more miserable than being outside all day long in the soaking rain is there, although his face was a little bit red last night from the sun and that's with sun screen on...poor lad lol...I didn't go out all yesterday but did a bit of cooking and a bit of crafting too so managed not to just lie about...it would seem the sleepy sickness has worn off a bit...we are heading to Town today for a little mooch about and some lunch so stretching my legs will be nice and lunch even nicer...its the Belfast craft show this week are any of you northern Ireland crafter's going to it, I think I might just head there on Thursday to stock up on some essentials, I mean where else can you get huge rolls of easilift tape for £1 each, its worth the trip just for them I think...right now onto mu card for today which is using the stunning Iris from Crafts and Me, I love the look on her face don't you, so peaceful and serene...I coloured her with distress inks and of course glittered her wings, I used the K&Company Julianne 6x6 paper pad from Bunny Zoe's Crafts again, this pad is such amazing value it last for ages and I still haven't used even half of it...I'm so pleased I bought it...I finished my card with some beautiful cream satin and blue organza ribbons and roses and leaves cut from the same pad...a little hint for you if your cutting out flowers like these cut them from the bottom layer, I traced around the blue layer and leaving an edge cut out the flowered paper and cut them from that, does that make sense at all...the sketch I made up as I went along but I'm entering this for the Sweet Stampin' challenge, Simon Says Stamp challenge and the DYSU challenge too...I'm off to finish a card then get ready for Town, whatever your up to today have a brilliant sunny one
Mina xxx

distress ink colours used
skin - antique linen, frayed burlap, tattered rose
hair - frayed burlap
dress, wristbands and iris - antique linen, stormy sky

a splash of orange...

Good morning everyone I hope you all survived Friday the 13th without incident, I have a little snippet of information for you today, did you know this year there are 4 Friday the 13th's and they are exactly 13 weeks apart...my head is full of rubbish like that that's no use to anyone lol, Phil's away at the motorbikes racing marshaling again so I'm not up to much today, would you believe I spent most of yesterday in bed sleeping, I'm hoping that's the end of the virus thingy I have, when I finally woke up Phil had a lovely dinner of lasagna, salad and garlic potatoes, it looked fantastic but I hadn't the heart to tell him I wasn't hungry, well you cant do that when someone has gone to all that effort can you...it was tasty though and I ate some of it...I stayed up for a few hours but nodded off on the sofa again, woke for another hour did a teeny bit of commenting but couldnt keep my eyes open so then off to bed and slept like a log...maybe I have sleeping sickness lol

I didn't even switch my laptop off which is unknown for me, I'm really careful with electrical stuff...right enough of my moaning are you up to anything exciting today, go on let me know so I can be jealous lol...my card for today is using another MayzyArt digi, this is the fabulous Jean Reading, I love how she does faces don't you...I coloured her with distress inks and had to make her a redhead with these lush papers I bought from Bunny Zoe's Crafts, they are from the Kaisercraft Homemade 6x6 paper pad, these papers are fantastic in this pad and like all Kaisercraft pads they have four pages of tag, embellishments and paper borders at the back, the tag on the image and message are from the same pad...I added some lush rich orange ribbon to finish...Im entering this for the Fairy Tale Challenge, Charisma Cardz challenge and Card Makin Mamas challenge too...I promise I wont have a moan at you tomorrow, I'm sure your fed up with reading me feel sorry for myself, so today I will give myself a good shake and get down to some serious crafting as my stash is feeling a bit neglected I think...whatever your up to today have a fantastic day
Mina xxx

distress ink colours used
skin - antique linen, frayed burlap, tattered rose
hair - gather twigs (from the Fall limited edition set)
jeans and head scrunchy - stormy sky
top and socks - tumbled glass, spiced marmalade
book - spiced marmalade, antique linen

togetherness...

Good morning everyone I hope your all doing great...I'm feeling loads better and even went out yesterday, I invited everyone for dinner last night then wasn't feeling great so a trip to M&S was called for, thank goodness for their goodies, we had a lovely meal and some great chat, nothing like it for lifting the illness spirits is there...I even did a bit of crafting yah...Phil's home and ouch his chin and arm looks so sore, I feel bad for not giving massive sympathy now and I always knew yomping across all those fields in the great outdoors wasn't good for you lol see exercise is dangerous...I was going to say to him crafting is safer but then sometimes it isn't with me is it...my card for today is using this stunning stamp from Wild Rose Studio, isn't it fantastic, its called Wild Rose Studio - Bella and Butterfly its so beautifully soft and pretty isn't it and a dream to colour, I teamed it up some of the lush papers from the Echo Park - This & That Charming paper pad, this is a lush pad and the spotted and pink papers were perfect for this soft looking stamp, the stamp and pad are from Bunny Zoe's Crafts...I finished my card with a piece of ribbon with a sentiment on it, a lush chocolate brown gingham ribbon, lace and a fantastic Prima flower...the lush sketch is from Tuesday Morning sketches challenge and I'm also entering it for the Anything Goes challenge and Allsorts challenge (I chose pink, yellow and blue from the bingo chart)...I'm going to do a bit more crafting today I have loads and loads and loads to catch up with so might not surface from my craft room until tomorrow, whatever your up to today keep your head down remember its Friday the 13th
Mina xxx

distress ink colours used
elephant - pumice stone, spun sugar, victorian velvet
flowers - pine needles, crushed olive, victorian velvet, scattered straw
butterfly - pine needles, spun sugar, scattered straw

a fairy and lots and lots of glittery stuff...

Good morning everyone I hope your all well and happy, I didn't get out at all yesterday as I still didn't feel up to it, I didn't even do any crafting...shock horror...I'm definitely going out today though as I'm starting to go a bit stir crazy and need some fresh air...I did nothing at all yesterday how lazy is that, although my throat and head do feel a bit better so maybe putting up with my rubbish conversation was worth it, mind ya I know when its time to go when I start arguing with the TV lol...btw Phil's chin and hand are fine just a bit grazed and I did give him just a teeny bit of sympathy finally, well he deserves a little bit even if he didn't give me any doesn't he lol...onto my card for today which is for our new challenge at Colour Create challenge, this time its our lovely Sharon's choice and she chose the fantastic combo of Yellow, Blue and White and an added option of using shells, no matter how hard I looked I couldn't find anything at all with shells on in the right colours so I didn't use the option...I used this amazingly beautiful stamp from Crafts and Me for my card, isn't she so amazingly beautiful, I seem to have a thing for fairies and butterfly, omg I'm such a girl lol...this beauty is called Turn to Hesed and is by the amazingly talented Sara Burrier, she is amazing to colour and I used distress inks and loads and loads of glitter, well I had too didn't I...the beautiful papers are from the new Prima 6x6 paper pad - Fairy Belle (see I told you, more fairies), I bought this from Bunny Zoe's Crafts and it is such a magical, beautiful pad...I finished with a sentiment from my stash and a selection of crystals (I bought these so cheaply from a wedding cake shop), diamond and pearls and a few sparkly Petaloo flowers...the stunning sketch is from a new challenge for me, Card Patterns challenge and I'm also entering it for the Simon Says Stamp challenge and CCEE Stampers challenge...I'm off to get ready to get myself out now because if I dint you will have to put up with the ramblings of a stir crazy loony again tomorrow (yes I heard all those people saying isnt that normal lol)...whatever your up to today have a brilliant one
Mina xxx

distress ink colours used
skin - antique linen, frayed burlap, tattered rose
hair - frayed burlap
dress - stormy sky, scattered straw
leaves - crushed olive

watch out for that sympathy fairy...she will creep up and bite you in the butt...

Good morning everyone, thanks for all your good wishes, I'm feeling loads better, still sore throat but not as bad feeling which makes all the difference doesn't it, I think my day lying around watching bad tv did me the world of good, I'm not sure Phil will agree when he hears my cough though...a word of warning today I forgot to mention that last week I tripped up the stairs and fell with my hand onto the vacuum, I whacked my wrist and boy did it smart, I was fine but it left a big blood blister welt across my palm where I fell across the the vacuum foot...so I was talking to Phil that night and was telling him, although like you hes used to me being a klutz by now, did I get sympathy...er...no lol...his reply 'were you drunk, did you have floppy socks on or did you trip over your jim jams' oh yes ha ha very funny says I...well last night I was chatting on the phone to him and he was telling me he went for a walk across the fields at the farmhouse and tripped, whacked his hand on a stone and grazed him chin....so did I give him sympathy...er...no lol...I said ' were you drunk, did you have floppy socks on etc etc'...see watch out for the sympathy fairy she will bite you on the bum when you least expect it lol...right now onto my card for today which is using this fantastic Chocolate Smile from Mo's Digital Pencil, only the wonderful Mo could draw that smile...I coloured her with distress ink and teamed her up with these amazing papers from the new Echo Park -This and That Charming 6x6 paper pad I bought from Bunny Zoe's Crafts, gorgeous papers aren't they...fantastic colours...I added a couple of ads from the same paper pad and finished with some buttons, pins and a distressed green gingham ribbon...the lush sketch is from the Fussy and Fancy Challenge and I'm also entering it for the Cute Card Thursday challenge and Really Reasonable Ribbons challenge too...I'm going to see how I am later and might just take a little walk into town, or maybe not as it snowed and hail stoned here yesterday so might just stay in the warm...whatever your up to today remember give sympathy as you never know when you might need it back lol
Mina xxx

distress ink colours used
skin - antique linen, frayed burlap, tattered rose
hair - antique linen
socks - pine needles
dungarees - pine needles, crushed olive
chocolate - walnut stain

come fly with me...

Good morning everyone...you have been warned stand back 'cough cough'...well at least I did warn you lol...I have a sore throat my head is thumping and I definitely have whatever my Dad had, good thing his only lasted a couple of days so hopefully mine will too, although my Daughter is still feeling very rough...we did go the shops yesterday though but everyone seemed to have the same idea though...I would normally stay away after holidays because people seem to buy things like there is going to be a shortage but my poor Dad needed the essentials so needs must, mind not feeling the best I nearly had a couple of trolley rage incidents though I managed to keep it going, now I know how they felt on Sunday and cant believe they even managed to eat their lunch...my card for today is for Sugar Nellie and is using a gorgeous uninked Simply Sassy stamp from Funky Kits...I cant believe I have never even opened this stunner can you...smack on the legs for me I think...this is the fabulous Amelia coloured with distress inks, how lush are these fabulous papers from Graphic45, its from their An ABC Primer collection and is called Bedtime Stories, the advertisement is from the reverse...gotta love Graphic45 haven't you...I finished with some fab cotton twill ribbon and buttons from my stash...the sketch is from the Totally Gorjuss Challenge, I'm sure there was a couple more challenge I was going to enter but I need to get back to my bed but hopefully they will come to me later...I'm just going laze around feeling sorry for myself today (well everyone deserves a day like that every now and again dont they) but I will hopefully catch up with all your fab blogs tonight...whatever your up to today watch out for those virus's (is that even a word lol) cyber or irl
Mina xxx

distress ink colours used
skin - antique linen, frayed burlap, tattered rose
hair - frayed burlap
clothes - peeled paint, antique linen,barn door
clouds - stormy skies

we should all sparkle now and again...

Good morning everyone did you all have a wonderful Easter weekend, it isn't finished here as today is a public holiday too...well Sunday lunch was the biggest of success, my poor Dad and Daughter have both come down with some mystery virus and felt really rotten (although that could explain why I haven't felt the best for the last few days) they had high temperature and felt ill, so there was a lot of leftover food and lunch was at 2 and everyone had left by 3.20 leaving Phil and me to watch Happy Feet and Jurassic Park before nodding off for a few hours...I hope they are feeling better today the poor things...there's a virus doing the rounds here atm but hopefully not everyone will get it...they all had plans for today too which have had to be shelved...I really feel for them its rotten being not well isn't it...right now onto my card for today which is for our new challenge at the Bunny Zoe's Crafts monthly challenge, our host this month is the fabulous Dorcas and she chose Ribbon or Twine, great choice but instead of my usual ribbon I chose twine...the stunning cute stamp is from The Greeting Farm and is called Glimmer Bean, I paper pieced her cute little outfit and coloured her with distress inks, she suits those colours don't you think...the lush paper is from the Glitz 6x6 Paper Pad Vintage Blue...I'm loving these fabulous Glitz paper pads...the twine is from the Sew Easy Bakers Twine Neutrals set but I dyed it a little with some scattered straw distress inks, I did this by adding a few drops to some water and soaking the twine in it...when it was dry it was tinted yellow...I will definitely tint more like this its a great way of altering the colourway slightly to fit with your colours...I finished with the sparkle sentiment which is from the same GF stamp Glimmer Bean...we should all feel like we sparkle now and again shouldn't we, even if its just us that notices lol...the sketch is from Sweet Stampin but I'm like the cows tail, always behind lol...I missed the deadline for it...I'm entering it for The Cutie Pie Challenge, Anyone for Anya challenge and the ATC's & Cards with attitude challenge...I'm off to the supermarket with my lovely Dad today is hes feeling any better, I don't think its a good idea but he wants to go out for food shopping so will do as I'm told lol...whatever your up to today have a fantastic Easter Monday and when you have time check out the rest of our wonderful DT's work over at Bunny Zoe's Crafts challenge
Mina xxx

distress inks used
skin - antique linen, frayed burlap, tattered rose
hair - scattered straw, antique linen, frayed burlap
wings on heart - stormy skies

darker or lighter?...

Good morning everyone and Happy Easter to you all...do you have anything special planned for today, we are having a family lunch...roast beef and the works...yum yum...I love these kinds of days dont you, the whole family gathered around a groaning table, laughing and chatting and just enjoying being with each other and my lovely Dad is home from Belfast, he got the all clear from the surgeon for his eye so now its operation no 2 to start arranging for his other eye...I keep telling him this is just his 80 year mot lol...now my card for today and I warned you I would have to make another card with this amazing Believe stamp from Crafts and Me, I really needed to try to redo her hair, I wanted it more texturised and dishevelled if you know what I mean...I dont know if I managed it and Im still not happy with it and might try her with black hair but she does look just as gorgeous with dark brown hair dont you think...I coloured her with distress inks and teamed her up with more of the lush K and Company 6x6 paper pad Julianne (Im totally addicted to this pad from Bunny Zoe's Crafts) and finished with some of this fantastic Sheer Ruffle Edge 38mm ribbon in Light Blue from The Pretty Little Ribbon Shop, stunning ribbon isnt it, and some punched butterflies...Im entering this for the Papertake Weekly Challenge and the One Stop Craft Challenge (the challenge is pastel and dies but as I dont have a die cutter I hope they allow punches)...Im off to peel some carrots and then some crafting while Phil makes lunch and yes I know Im lucky having a man who loves cooking lol...whatever your up to today I hope its a wonderful family day and dont eat too many chocolate eggs
Mina xxx

distress ink colours used
skin - antique linen, frayed burlap, tattered rose
hair - antique linen, walnut stain
nails and lips - victorian velvet
dress, headband and roses - stormy sky

Beauty...

Good morning everyone did you all enjoy your Friday, did you get away for the day or stay at home, Phil didn't go to the racing and spent the day with me instead, what a little Darling isn't he...we went out for lunch and yummy it was too, had a little mooch around some shops and later on I cooked Chinese food, yes I know I cooked it don't all faint lol...Phil's away at the racing today though so I'm all alone for the whole day as hes usually very late back...so crafting and maybe some tv today...btw I forgot to tell you all about a bit of excitement that happened the day before we went down to the farmhouse, I was just getting ready to go in the shower and Phil was getting some things together to take with us and I heard really loud screaming for help, you know the panicky feeling you get in your chest when you hear something like that well I dashed out of the bathroom looked out my bedroom window and the young woman who has just moved in across the road from us was on her knees in her front garden leaning forward with her head in her hands screaming help I dashed out the bathroom and met Phil in the hall who was heading for the front door, the man next door and two neighbours further up the cul de sac were running towards her at the same time, I had visions of her being cut open or worse...they were having an argument and he wouldn't give her the keys to the car would you believe...we all asked if she needed help and she totally blanked us and on her feet as quick as a flash continued to scream at him through their front door...well really woman you nearly gave us all a heart attack lol...anyway onto my card for today, how amazingly beautiful is this Spring Fairy Aleta from Mo's digital Pencil...she is so gorgeous to colour but then when isn't one of Mo's images...I coloured her with distress inks and used this shaped paper from the Prima Madeline collection, I don't know what the sheets called though as this was by itself...I loved this paper so much I only added a ribbon and bow to finish...the Beauty sentiment is already on the sheet...there is no sketch today but Im entering this for the Fairy Fun Friday challenge and the Delightful Challenge...I have loads of printed images to colour today not for any reason just for the sheer pleasure of colouring, oh and I might just make a couple of cards with them lol...whatever your up to today have a brilliant one and if you need to run out in the road make sure your not in your dressing gown lol
Mina xxx

distress ink colours used
skin - antique linen, frayed burlap, tattered rose
hair - frayed burlap
skirt - worn lipstick
dandelion - antique linen, peeled paint, shabby shutters

Any knitters out there?...

Hi everyone a quick post for an appeal for any knitters out there that could spare a little time out of their busy lives to help this worthy cause for the 'Fish & Chips Babies'
The post all about it and explaining how you can help is on my lovely teamie Dawny's blog...just click here...thanks for looking everyone
Mina xxx

a Happy Easter bunny...

Good morning everyone and Happy Easter to you all, this year is just flying by isn't it...whhoooosssshhhh and its Easter...I still buy my Daughter, her other half and Phil Easter eggs you know, I just dont seem to be able to get out of the habit...do you still buy your grown up children Easter eggs or is it just me...although they don't complain about it lol. One year when our Daughter was 6 she got an amazing 28 Easter eggs, I think we were still using them for rice crispy buns at Christmas lol...after that we asked people not to buy them for her it just seemed such a waste as she never was a great sweet eater but give her a Sunday roast and stand back lol...my card for today is for our new challenge at Just Magnolia & hAnglar & sTanglar challenge, this week I'm the host and its our special monthly challenge and the theme is Anything Goes, so lets your imagination run riot as long as it has either a hAnglar or Magnolia stamp used on it...I chose this cute Bunny Tilda stamp I bought ages and ages ago, I love this stamp and its fab to colour, I used distress inks and the fantastic papers are from the Glitz 6x6 paper pad Pretty in Pink, I love this pad I bought from Bunny Zoe's Crafts...gorgeous rich pinks toned down with chocolates and greys...lush...I finished with a stamped sentiment, a mixture of different size roses, yes they are roses and not paper cut outs lol...and I added some punched leaves and fronds...the lush sketch is from the Sunday Sketch and Stash challenge and I'm also entering it for the Crafty Cardmakers and Ribbon Carousel challenge...I'm having a crafting chilling day today as I'm all alone for the day, well that's the plan anyway...whatever your up to have a wonderful start to the Easter weekend and whatever your up to have fun
Mina xxx

distress ink colours used
skin - antique linen, frayed burlap, tattered rose
hair - frayed burlap, walnut stain
bunny suit - spun sugar, pumice stone

Easter Goodies galore...

Hi everyone I have just popped on to tell you that Bunny Zoe's Crafts has a
10% OFF EVERYTHING
offer for Easter...pop on over to get your bargains
speak to you all tomorrow
Mina xxx

loads and loads of flowers...

Good morning everyone, I'm not mentioning the weather today as I'm rapidly becoming one of the weather police lol...how are you all, well and happy I hope, are any of you lucky enough to be going away for Easter, we aren't as Phil is marshaling at the races all day Friday and Saturday (for those that dont know he marshals motor bike road racing in his spare time), so I'm looking forward to loads of crafting and some old movies on tv, there's always some goodies on isn't there, my absolute favourite films are sci-fi or scary...the scarier the better as long as they aren't too gory though...my idea of heaven is a cup of Lady Grey tea, tucked up in bed and watching a really scarey movie in the dark...my Daughter doesn't know how I do it when I'm all alone in the dark...but I think real life is far scarier than any movie don't you...whats your idea of heaven?...thank you all so so much for all your positive vibes yesterday I don't know if its worked yet but with all those good vibes its bound to have...we wont know for about a week but will let you all know as soon as I can...right no more waffling Mina onto my card for today...how gorgeous is this little sweetie, shes from the brand new Stampavie Sarah Kay collection and is called Alice in the Morning, isn't she so pretty and girly, I coloured her with distress inks and used these lush papers from the K and Company Sweet Nectar 6x6 paper pad, the flowers I cut out from the same pad (btw theres a try me pack of these too in case you didnt want the whole pad) and because they were so gorgeous I didn't use anything else on my card except a sentiment...the stamp and papers are from Bunny Zoe's Crafts...I'm entering this for the Papertake Weekly challenge, Stamp with Fun Challenge and the Simon Says Stamp Challenge (my favourite tool is my teeny little curved pergamano scissors I use to cut out everything)...I'm off to do the dreaded weekend supermarket shop tomorrow as we are having family lunch on Sunday and I wont get out again before...ohhhhh my life is just one mad social whirl lol...whatever your up to today have a good one
Mina xxx

distress ink colours used
skin - antique linen, frayed burlap, tattered rose
hair - frayed burlap
nightgown and slippers - spun sugar, shabby shutters
shading - grey marvy pen, weathered wood