never ask a man to choose...

Good morning everyone, hows your week been?, I hope it was a brilliant one...I think I sorted the pink out, isn't it amazing what a bit of old printer paper and some double sided tape can do, well it will do for the time being anyway, not the best but better...all I need now is to sort the room out lol...I managed to get all the holes filled in the bathroom but that's as far as I got...my lovely Dad had to go out so of course what choice did I have but to go with him, well that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it...I picked up a catalogue from our local diy store of all the new stuff they are getting in and wow wow wow to their range of wallpapers...I have my eye on three of them for our bedroom, now Phil keeps saying do what you want it doesn't bother me the colour or whatever so I chose what I liked...one has the most amazing pink and blue design on it and it very loud, the second is more muted with a pale washed out grey background and pale pink huge roses and the last is lavender and yellow roses (I cant show you photos yet as they aren't on their website until they stock them)...so I made the big mistake of asking Phil what he thought and which he would chose...apparently he doesn't like any...moral of that tale, don't ask lol but then I was only asking his opinion and will choose the one I want really, wouldn't you?...right now onto my card for today which is using this beautiful Hannah Lynn digi from Crafts and Me, stunning isn't she...this is Monarch Mermaid...I coloured her with my usual distress inks and used this lush yummy paper from Graphic45's The Magic of Oz collection...its called Poppy Fields...I used a wired checked ribbon for the bow and some of the poppies (my favourite flowers) for decorations, the sketch I made up as I went along but I'm entering this for the Crafty Sentiments challenge, Bearly-Mine challenge and the Creative Inspiration challenge...I have my paint brush poised today and I don't mean the craft sort so you know what I will be doing...whatever your up to today have a brilliant one and don't forget if you don't want to know don't ask
Mina xxx

Distress ink colours used
skin - antique linen, frayed burlap, tattered rose
hair - pumice stone
cat - frayed burlap
outfit - glittered
flower - fired earth, ripe persimmon
leaf - peeled paint

oh no that pink has to go...

Good morning everyone I hope your all well...well I managed to make a card but then where to photograph it, isn't it strange that you have a certain place your used to doing something but then finding a new one with the same light etc is really hard...ok one of the shelves in my new craft room would be perfect so I took them, then when I was doing this post I realised...oh no that pink on the walls so has to go, it has washed all the colours out of my image and given it a strange dirty look...never mind we live and learn don't we lol...I got my paint for the bathroom yesterday, I chose Olive Green but think that blue may need a coat of white before I even attempt it...we also needed a new toilet seat not glamorous but essential when the other is a bit icky...the young fellow in the shop got the one I wanted really huge box and heavy, would I like a bag he asked...no thanks says I...are you sure your ok carrying that to your car without a bag...then it just dawned on me the lovely young man thought I would be embarrassed carrying a toilet seat bless him...its ok I said I have long ago got past the age a toilet seat in public would worry me, well not unless I was sitting on it at the time anyway...he liked that lol...right now onto my weird coloured card for today, how super cute is this little fellow from Mo's Digital Pencil...hes called Fall Fairy Jesen...I coloured him with my distress inks and used some of this lush new pad called Studio Calico 6x6 Paper Pad - Heyday, its from Bunny Zoe's Crafts and I love that lush orange number paper don't you...I finished with a fab orange bow and pumpkin charm and a ceramic sentiment from my stash...the lush sketch is from The Sweet Stop challenge and I'm also entering it for the Simon Says Stamp challenge and Party Time Tuesday challenge too...well I'm not back in full swing with crafting yet but I will do my best so will be back tomorrow as usual...I'm off to fill holes in my bathroom wall before my first coat of paint...oh a quick question has anyone seen any of those lush flowered towels like Cath Kidson's but without the price tag, I refuse to pay a fortune for something to wipe my face on lol...whatever your up to today have a brilliant one, oh and if you see anyone carrying a toilet seat just ignore them lol
Mina xxx

distress ink colours used
skin - antique linen, frayed burlap, tattered rose
hair - antique linen
wings - crushed olive, frayed burlap
outfit - crushed olive, faryed burlap
pumpkin - wild honey, spiced marmalade

we have arrived...

Good morning everyone, how are you all...well we have arrived at our new house and wow are we exhausted...I don't have a card to show you today just a little chat and some pictures of the house...everything went fine on Monday except I smashed a mirror and stood on a piece of glass while I was trying to sweep it up, not a great disaster but really sore and loads of blood for a teeny sliver of glass too, well that will teach me to walk around in bare feet

this is a photo of our new bathroom, just look at that gorgeous bath, lush isn't it...I cant wait to paint over that blue though...I must tell you what happened on Tuesday, Phil went to work and I needed food so my lovely Dad went to the supermarket with me, I waved him off as I went into the house...now I should explain at this time, we have a front door, a porch then another locked inner door...I got into the first door fine then the key went into the lock of the second one and refused to turn...no matter how hard I tried it just wouldn't budge, so I text Phil three times, then rang him twice, nothing...my Dad was off out when he dropped me off and never ever answers his mobile so no joy there, our Daughter was off out with her other half 55 miles away...so I sat and sat and sat and waited in the porch, sitting on those freezing cold tiles for 3 hours until Phil got home, we ended up having to smash the security glass in the second door to get in...so more glass for me to step on lol...turned out the door opened fine from the inside, locks but doesn't open from the outside...go figure??????

this is my new craft room, the view is lovely all green and restful...you can see from the second photo of my craft room below why I don't have a card ready cant you. these boxes are just about half there's more....'groan' where to start but start I will...

well that's me for today, I'm starting my craft room, making at least one card then off out to buy paint with my Dad...oooohhhhh we do love a good shop together don't we...whatever your up to today watch out for flying glass
Mina xxx

WE HAVE A WINNER

At long last Im online so it winner time for our Bunny Zoe's Crafts candy....I hate this bit just giving one candy means only one winner...but dont worry you can enter my paper candy and there will be another Bunny Zoe's Crafts candy next month
ok no morw waiting...drum roll...........................
No 4

CEBELICA
congratulations Celelica...could you please email so I can pass your details onto Nikki
Mina xxx

why are we waiting...

Good morning everyone I hope your all well...I'm either sitting waiting impatiently for the engineer to come fit my new super fast modem or watching him fit it, I hope its the latter...I hate waiting about for people don't you but I guess it will give me some time to empty boxes etc, oh no does that mean I don't have an excuse to go out now then lol...I will bet you a fiver the boxes are emptied faster than they were filled, it takes longer to sort out than put sorted stuff away doesn't it...I suppose I could use the time to rip up the mingy stair carpet...or not lol...right now onto my card for today which is using one of my favourite digis from Sugar Nellie, this is the beautiful Sybil from the Simply Adorable collection...I love love love this collection don't you...I coloured her with distress inks and used some beautiful paper I found in my stash...its from S.E.I and is called Poppy/Pelican I finished with a huge silk bow, some organza ribbon and a red button to hopefully bring the red out...I have totally lost all timing for challenges and as I'm not online wont enter it for any...keep your fingers crossed for me that I get online sometime today as I'm sure I'm having withdrawal symptoms by now lol...have a fabulously good day everyone
Im entering this for the Lisa B Designs Monthly Challenge
Mina xxx

distress ink colours used
skin - antique linen, frayed burlap, tattered rose
hair - frayed burlap
dress - tumbled glass, barn door
shoes - bran door
teddies = antique linen
shading pumice stone

Ive lost her...

Good morning everyone I hope you all had a fantastic weekend...well the day is finally here MOVING DAY....oooohhhhhh I'm so excited I could crush a grape lol...it has been such hard work getting everything ready and boxed etc in time, you wouldn't believe how much rubbish we had gathered for two people over the last 5 years...its nuts isn't it, I'm sure our poor house was groaning at the sides and will breath a sigh of relief when we are gone...keep your fingers crossed everything goes to plan as these things have a tendency not too don't they...right now onto my card for today this is a stunning image from Saturated Canary but can I find her...nope...I haven't a clue if she was a freebie or I bought her but I have looked and looked but either I have brain fog or shes missing from the shop if anyone knows whats shes called could you leave a comment for anyone who needs to know...shes a stunner though isn't she and wow to that amazing hair, I coloured her with distress inks and used some of the stunning Glitz 6x6" Paper Pack - Pretty in Pink paper pad I bought from Bunny Zoe's Crafts...I finished with a mix of flowers, a couple of them are Prima...the sketch is from the One Stop Craft Challenge but I don't know if I'm in time or what as time has slipped away from me totally lol...right I'm sure I'm up and moving already and don't forget I don't have any internet but I will hopefully be online sometime tomorrow but my card will be up as usual at 7am...have a wonderful stress free day everyone
Mina xxx

distress ink colours used
skin - antique linen, frayed burlap, tattered rose
hair - pumice stone
dress - spun sugar, pumice stone
ribbons - spun sugar
roses - worn lipstic, shabby shutters

AN OOPS AND MORE CANDY...

Good morning everyone, are you all having a great weekend, I hope its more relaxing than ours will be lol...no card today but first a quick apology, I didnt think things out properly did I, I have no internet for a few days so wont be able to announce my Bunny Zoe's Crafts candy winner until Tuesday...so sorry for the wait but I do have a little bit more candy...I have sorted out about 40 sheets of 6x6 papers from my stash to give away...all you need to do is

enter your name and link into Mr Linky AND leave me a comment
post this photo and a link onto your blog (sidebar is fine)
its open worldwide and you dont have to be a follower
it would be lovely if you liked my work enough to be though
and thats it really, the candy is open until midnight GMT on Saturday 1st September

good luck everyone and watch out for the winners post on Tuesday...speak to you all tomorrow
Mina xxx

so nervous...

Good morning everyone have you anything wonderful planned for this weekend, I have so much going around in my head I'm so nervous in case I forget something for the move, or forget to change address with something important, you know whats wrong too much info and too little space lol...I don't have the internet until Tuesday so this is a virtual me, you know the scheduled one I use when I'm on holiday, I hope Mr Blogger plays along...right now onto today's card, how cute is this fabulous Tilda, I love her sweet little glasses don't you...shes from the Magnolia Turning Leaves collection and is called Editor Tilda...I coloured her with my usual distress inks and used these amazingly gorgeous papers from the Prima 6x6" Paper Pad - Romance Novel, I really love this amazing pad it has some of the most wonderful little cutouts (like the tags on here) including envelopes and sentiments...the stamp and paper pad are from Bunny Zoe's Crafts...I finished with some fabulous sparkly ribbon made into a bow and a couple of buttons...the fab sketch is from Sketch Saturday but was last weeks sketch so I'm doing my cows tail impersonation (always behind)...but I am entering it for the Simon Says Stamp challenge and the Inky Impressions challenge too...well that's it from the virtual me for today...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
outift - worn lipstick, pumice stone
shoes - worn lipstick
book - pine needles, pumice stone

come fly a kite...

Good morning everyone can you believe another week over, how fast is this year flying past...whoosh and its rapidly flying towards Christmas...can you believe it...I had a fab afternoon catching up with my Dad yesterday, we had coffee, lunch, then shopped and even managed to put the world to rights lol...you were all so right about needing the time out from the house, I thoroughly enjoyed just getting out for the sake of it...so I'm all refreshed for the last big push which means taking beds apart and getting the bigger furniture ready to go, I so wish we had our new sofas in time for the move but at least they wont be long, well that's what the salesman said anyway and they always tell the total truth don't they lol...I was having a little think about the stairs and would quite like a runner instead of carpet so did a bit of research and found a lot of painted runners which look fantastic and of course the colours are up to yourself arent they...will have to have a bit more thinking about it...have a look at this (not my colour though but the technique is brilliant) and let me know what you think would you I would be really interested to know what you think...the staircase has the original bannister which is very old wood but the spindles are replacements and I think the spindles would look great creamy white and the bannister's waxed to a high shine darker wood...right now onto my card for today which is using this fantastically cute image from Mo's Digital Pencil, I didn't notice until I saw the close up photo but there's a line across my image, it wasn't on Mo's so it must have been a glitch on my printer so sorry about that...anyway this little fella is called Kite and of course I coloured him with distress inks and some more of my paper offcuts I found again...this one is by Graphic45's An ABC Primer collection and is called Bedtime stories...lush isnt it, I finished my card with a huge blue bow and a few buttons...another made up sketch again but Im entering this for the Paper Pretties challenge, Bearly-mine challenge and the Truly Madly Crafty challenge too...two guesses what I will be up to today lol...whatever your up to I hope you have a fantastic day...oh btw today is the last day I will have internet until Tuesday but I have all my posts arranged so fingers crossed they will post on time...wish us luck for Monday please we will need it lol
Mina xxx

distress ink colours used
skin - antique linen, frayed burlap, tattered rose
hair - antique linen
clothes - peeled paint, pumice stone, weathered wood
kite - barn door

spring fresh...

Good morning everyone, how are you all...are you all well and happy I hope so...my lovely Dad is back from his travels again and he looks so well, its brilliant to have him back and we will be heading out to the supermarket today to stock up his cupboards...btw I have the freshest breath in Britain today lol, I was cleaning the kitchen cupboards so the new people wouldn't have too yesterday and was using a flash cleaner with added fabreze and getting on fine...a bit too fast though as I sprayed it the wrong way round and gave my face a good dosing lol...duh how thick am I, oh well it freshened my breath anyway lol...am I nuts doing this much cleaning for leaving a house or are you all the same, I couldn't bear the thought of it being dirty for the next owners and would hate it myself...please tell me Im not crazy lol...oh I forgot yesterday to say where we were going on holiday didn't I, I just grabbed the first bargain flight I could see and booked it so we are heading to Majorca and ooohhhhh I do love a bargain don't you lol....right now onto my card for today, isn't this beautiful Annabelle digi from Make It Crafty gorgeous, I coloured her with distress inks and used some stunning papers from the My Mind's Eye - A Happy Heart 6x6 Pad, I love the lush colour combo in this pad and its from Bunny Zoe's Crafts...I finished with a huge Prima metal flower, some pearls (yes these are the ones from under the sofa lol) and a ceramic sentiment...the fab sketch is from Tuesday morning sketches challenge and I'm also entering it for the Allsorts Challenge and Craft Your Days Away Challenge too...right I'm off to get the war paint on for the battle of the trolleys at the supermarket but a put the world to rights coffee and some cake will help I'm sure...whatever your up to today I hope its a brilliant one
Mina xxx

distress ink colours used
skin - antique linen, frayed burlap, tattered rose
hair - frayed burlap
outfit - antique linen, victorian velvet, pumice stone

a day of mixed emotions with a touch of madness...

Good morning everyone, I hope your all having a fabulous week...my day yesterday was a mixed one and serious highs and lows too...first I found a mysterious box and when I opened it, it was filled with memories of the last 30 years or so...some happy some with a twinge of sadness, I found a bag with something wrapped in tissue inside, I knew what it was but wasn't expecting opening it to find what I did...a few months before my Mums death she lent me a scarf for a wedding I was going to, such a beautiful scarf I had always loved...a delicate white organza embroidered one with teeny small blue flowers...and when I went to return it to her she said for me to keep it as she knew I loved it...the parcel was that, after my wonderful Mum died I wrapped it in tissue and stored it away as it upset me to see it...I pulled it out and opened it to be met with my Mums smell...she always wore Chanel No5 and I always remember her getting ready and putting lipstick on when I smell it...the scarf was so strong with her perfume, the tears came and I hugged it and blubbed like a baby for about an hour...thank goodness I was by myself lol...then we went to the supermarket tonight (yes even people moving have to eat Mina lol)...I bought a tv mag for next week and got that little flipping feeling in my insides realising that the new mag was for our new house...you know the feeling, like when you were a child thinking about Christmas day...then I think we both went a bit nuts and booked a holiday for September, yes that's just what we need again isn't it, a bit more packing lol...although Phil so deserves a rest I think....phew sorry for the long rant I will get on with my card for today...which is for our new challenge at the Crafts and Me Challenge, this week the theme has been chosen by our lovely Karen and she chose Autumn Colours...I used the beautiful Unveiling of the Heart by Sara Burrier for my card, isn't she stunning, I coloured her with distress inks and teamed her up with papers from the K&Co Life's Journey 8x8 paper pad I found it while I was clearing...I finished my card with a huge lush satin bow and some punched hearts I folded to try and make look like leaves floating...hhhmmmmm not sure about that lol...I'm entering this for the Simon Says Stamp and Show challenge, Bearly-Mine Challenges and the {Pin}spirational challenge too...I'm off to buy paint today as I cant wait to get my brushes on all that paintwork and spruce it up so want to be prepared...whatever your up to have a fantastic blub free day and when you have the time pop on over to the Crafts & Me challenge to see what the rest of our fab team came up with
Mina xxx

distress ink colours used
skin - antique linen, frayed burlap, tattered rose
hair - frayed burlap
outfit - tattered rose, antique linen
cloak - tattered rose

you just never know do you...

Good morning everyone thank you all so so much for your wonderful comments about our new house, it means so much all your good wishes and hopes, your such kind warm people...I decided to throw away the old sofa bed that was in my craft room, its a fabulous sofa but very old and needed to go, so we dismantled it last evening as there is no way to lift it fully assembled, do you know what I found underneath it, three packs of flat backed pearls I bought ages ago at a craft fair and thought I had lost there, two pairs of scissors, ribbon, buttons and two of those huge spiders (not living thank goodness) lol...now I'm not a domestic goddess but that's awful isn't it, my excuse (and I'm sticking to it) is the sofa is so so heavy I couldn't lift it...I'm dreading moving my wardrobes now in case I find something living and with eight legs, ooohhhh I wonder if theres anything else I thought had been lost hidden there too...right now onto my card for today, I love this fantastic Sugar Nellie stamp don't you, this is the fantastic Custard from the Soft Centres collection at Funkykits...I coloured her, well I say coloured, I really just shaded her and added black markings...shes so easy to colour and look at that adorable face...the paper is a scrap I found whilst I was sorting and didn't want to waste it, so I have no idea what make or name it is...I added some kraft card too, I finished with a black bow, some lush Prima roses and a stamped sentiment, I think the sentiment is a Magnolia one...the sketch is from the The Sugar Bowl challenge but of course I cant enter that can I being on the Sugar Nellie DT...I am entering it for the Simon Says Stamp challenge and The Crazy Challenge...I'm off to spray under beds and behind cupboards etc just in case theres anything waiting to spring on me lol...whatever your up to today have a brilliant one, oh and before I forget have you entered the Bunny Zoe's monthly candy yet, if not the link is on the top of my sidebar
Mina xxx

distress ink colours used
shading - pumice stone
spots and hooves - black soot
flowers - stormy sky, shabby shutters

dance with joy...the house photos are below...

Good morning everyone how was your weekend, I hope it was brilliant...ours was full of running around, but that kind of running around when you don't really seem to get anything done, do you know what I mean...btw I posted the house photos below this post as I don't want to overload this with loads and loads of photos...I hope you like the house, we love it to bits...right now so you don't have too much to read I will get on with my card for today which is using this stunning digi from Mo's Digital Pencil ,well of course its from Mo, look at those faces...this beauty is called Cutting the Rug and as always I coloured them with distress inks, don't you think the rich colours of this stunning Carta Bella - Beautiful Moments 6x6 Paper Pad go so well with these two cuties, I bought this from Bunny Zoe's Crafts and the tags are cut from the same pad...all I needed to finish was a huge green bow and a rose corner cut from the pad too...I made the sketch up as I went along as I don't have enough time to follow a load of challenges like before, but I am entering it for the Fairy Tale Challenge and Totally Papercrafts challenge too, they are both song inspired and I chose Dance with Somebody by Whitney Houston...so shocking that she isn't with us anymore isn't it...I hope you enjoy the photos of the house as well as my card and I will try my best to get around blog hopping tonight but I'm not having much luck fighting the 'eyelids attached to my butt' syndrome atm, I fall asleep as soon as I sit down lol...whatever your up to today have a brilliant one everyone
Mina xxx

distress ink colours used
skin - antique linen, frayed burlap, tattered rose
hair - girl - frayed burlap boy - antique linen
boys outfit - antique linen, pumice stone, frayed burlap
girls outfit - victorian velvet, pumice stone, black soot

our beautiful new home...

We were so excited when we were told we could get the keys to do some measuring of our new house...so out came the camera and this is what I managed to take in the time we had...Im so sorry I didnt manage to get one of the bathroom and other rooms but they will come later you will be fed up seeing them lol...the one above is one of the reasons we chose this house...this is the amazing kitchen/diner which leads out onto the deck, this is only half of it but what do you think...isnt it lush, the whole house needs a bit of work but nothing like the farmhouse did thank goodness lol

as you can see the last people havent quite moved out yet but this is the living room, gorgoues picture rails in here and the bedrooms and cornicing, and fab wooden floors too and I love the bay window

this is the floor at the front door and the first thing you see when you come in...how fab is that floor, bit mucky though and flecked with paint but nothing a bit of elbow grease wont sort out

and the last one is about half way down the garden, the deck and garden need loads of work, but Phil is going to sort that out, we were thinking of getting some outside sofas, wouldnt that be nice...well what do you think, can you see why we chose it...theres little special things about it and it has 'that' feel to it...I bet you all know exactly what I mean...I would really love to know what you think, out official moving day is Monday 27th and I wont have any internet for a few days before and the day after but I will still be around virtually if you know what I mean lol
Mina xxx

CANDY, CANDY, CANDYTIME...

Good morning everyone, no card from me today instead its our monthly Bunny Zoe's Crafts monthly candy time and this month you have another stamp I so want, Nikki keeps giving you things I want lol...this little cutie is from the brand spanking new Magnolia Australia Collection...they are so so so cute...you get the chance to win this fab NEW SPECIAL Australia Collection - Tilda with her kookaburra

so what do you need to do to win
the candy will run until the 25th August at midnight GMT
and the winner will be announced on Sunday 26th
add your name to Mr Linky AND leave me a comment
post either the candytime picture or the Tilda picture with a link on your blog
its open to everyone you don't have to be either a follower of me or Bunny Zoe's blog
but it would be lovely if you wanted to be as we both have candy all the time and you wont miss out if you follow
that's about it then...except to wish you all good luck
Mina xxx
p.s. I have photos of the new house to show you tomorrow so speak to you all then