a miracle in blue...

Good morning everyone I hope you all well and keeping warm, its freezing cold here and the gales have just died down...well coffee with my lovely Dad yesterday was a huge success we managed to end the rule of stupid politicians, put the economy to rights and had a rant at some of the idiots in the news too...see thats all it takes is coffee and my Dad and everything is sorted...he has fallen madly in love with his loaner Vauxhall car and doesn't want his Renault back lol...oops I smell trouble brewing lol...well have you all got your Christmas shopping sorted yet, I thought mine was done and dusted but Phil's present are causing a real pain in my bum...I haven't a clue and when I ask him for some ideas he says he hasn't a clue and there's nothing he needs...now its great he isn't in need of anything but just a few clues would be brilliant, all ideas would be gratefully accepted if you have any...right now onto my card for today which is for our new Digi teams challenge at Crafts and Me challenge the theme this time is Pearls and Swirls, the image I used is from Crafts and Me of course and is called Christmas Miracle and is from the December release which you will be able to get tomorrow...isn't she so beautiful sitting on her clouds with her gorgeous little lamb...I coloured her with distress inks and used some more scrap paper (can you tell I found a box of scraps lol), I have a feeling this is a Basicgrey paper, the swirls on it are snowflakes and its such a gorgeous colour combo...I used some gorgeous creamy coloured pearls and grey ribbon and added some scroll rub on's to finish...the fabulous sketch is from Sketch Saturday but I have just noticed I forgot the sentiment so I'm not sure it will count...I'm also entering this for the Fairytale challenge and Creative Card Crew challenge too...I'm having a crafting day today to catch up on some DT work anyway its far too cold to stray far from my heating...whatever your up to have a wonderful day and when you have time don't forget to pop on over to Crafts and Me Challenge and see what the rest of our wonderful digi team came up with
Mina xxx

MAGNOLIA SALE...

Evening everyone I have just popped on to tell you that Nikki from Bunny Zoe's Crafts has a massive Magnolia sale on, some of them have a massive 25% off...Im off to see what I can pick up so hurry on over before they are all gone girls
Mina xxx

shot down in flames...

Good morning everyone I hope your all well...well I got myself all revved up yesterday and rang the powers that be to give them a piece of my mind....er...well shot down in flames lol...turns out my Dad should have rang their helpline (which is what I rang) and let them sort it out, everything from arranging his car to be taken in, new car delivered to him and everything in between, instead of trying to arrange everything himself separately, its even a freephone number too...the girl on the phone was so sweet and lovely too and got everything sorted and a few hours later a brand new car was delivered to my Dads house...you see what happens when a woman goes shopping for the day, all hell breaks loose lol...anyway its sorted now and I didn't even have to threaten anyone with my army of fellow crafters lol, and he has transport until his car is fixed and good to go and bless him he thought he was doing what he should so its not his fault either, now you should all know by now my Dad can do no wrong in my eyes...my card for today is using one of the lush new Home Grown Sugar Nellie's, this beauty is called Contemplation, she is so sweet and pretty isn't she...I coloured her with distress inks (I'm still not happy with my colouring atm though, mojo still in hiding I think, I would look under my bed but I'm scared of the dust bunnies)...the lush papers are a half sheet of Basic Grey from the Marjolaine Collection, this one is called Buttercream...gorgeous colours isn't it...I added two strips of ribbon and a bow and finished with a stunning blue Prima glittered flower...the lush sketch is a really simple one from Fetch a Sketch challenge...I'm off out with my Dad today, I need to go to town for some bits and pieces and run a few errands, oh and of course our put the world to rights coffee session too...whatever your up to today have a brilliant one
Mina xxx

if at first...

Good morning everyone did you all have a fabulous weekend...wow how windy was it, I thought our roof was coming off at one stage....well Phil made his Dundee cake for my Dad again and this time it worked beautifully...we discovered what went wrong the last time too Phil forgot to adjust the temperature for a fan oven so it would have been too hot but as you can see the cake is gorgeous and it smells incredible...my Dad is so lucky hes getting it whole as it was so tempting...my kitchen smelled so much like Christmas yesterday as Phil was stewing the fruit for his Christmas cake, the mixture of fruit and alcohol is so scrummy smelling....yum yum yum

right now onto my card for today, I tried to make a Christmas card that was just a bit different but I don't think it worked at ll...oh well back to the drawing board lol...I used this lush Christmas cupcake from Meljen Designs and just shaded it and glittered it up adding some chocolate holly (well it seemed like a good idea at the time lol) and a chocolate coloured ribbon...the lush paper is really glittery and embossed and is another of the ones I bought from my local craft shop that doesn't have a name on it...

I added a chocolate coloured scrunched ribbon and a scattering of pearls to finish...this is one of those cards that I'm really not happy with (we all have them don't we) there's just something not quite right about it and Im so not happy with the colouring...I think I'm having a mojo crisis lol...Im entering this for the Totally Gorjuss challenge, The Ribbon Reel challenge and the Lollipop Crafts challenge too...I'm of to kick some serious butt to get my Dads car sorted out today, heads will roll and I will yell out if I need the rest of your fab girls for backup lol, thank you all for your support of my Dad yesterday, it so isn't right is it...whatever your up to today have a fantastic one and I hope wherever you are the weather isn't too bad
Mina xxx

the winner is...

its winner time...I hate this bit as I so want to give it to you all but there can only be one winner at a time but don't worry it wont be long until the next candy so keep an eye out for it... I used the random number thingy to choose and it chose no 189 who is

CHARITY CRAFTER
huge congratulations, could you please contact me before Thursday so I can pop your goodies in the post and arrange for the rest of your prizes
Mina xxx

a true Christmas image...

Good morning everyone well did you all get your cobwebs blown away lol...we had a gale all day long yesterday and every single time I stepped out of the car the heavens opened, to the extent that Phil said he would go to a shop by himself as he didn't want to get wet again, and would you believe it didn't rain while he was out of the car...sods law lol...my poor Dad, the powers that be said they would ring him as soon as they knew what was happening about either his car being fixed, a loaner or even a rental car...they finally rang back and said we can only get you a hire car but you have to pick it up in Belfast before 1pm, we live 60 miles away from Belfast and they rang at...have a guess what time...12.40am...yes that's right 20 mins before the place closed...how stupid is that, I am so angry that they have left a severely disabled 78 year old man without any transport at all, even though he pays for all the extra help hes supposed to get if anything happens to his car, at least Phil was here to drive him around this weekend but I don't know what will happen next week as I don't drive...if I could have got someone on the phone I would have ripped a hole in them the poor things lol...they better run and hide before Monday though...right my rant for today is over (phew thank goodness I hear you all yell lol), I will get onto my card which is using this fantastically christmassy image, there's something about an image with a Robin isn't there, this little darling is from Just Inklined and is called Gatepost Robin, I coloured it with distress inks and frosted the gatepost because I wanted to make it look snowy and covered with frost...the stunning papers are from the Fancy Pants 6x6 Saint Nick paper pad from Bunny Zoe's Crafts, this really is THE perfect Christmas pad and there's bits of everything in it, I love the paper with the Saint Nick printed on it as it has a real textured old leather look to it...I finished with some lush ribbon and a few berries, I'm rapidly running out of these berries must have a hunt around for more for next years cards...the fab sketch which I tilted is from Inkspirations challenge and I'm also entering it for the Fairy tale challenge, Craft Your Days Away Challenge and the Cardmadfairy's digi challenge...we are going to huddle indoors and have a lovely ulster fry lunch today so no jaunts out as I'm not ricking another umbrella blowing inside out...whatever your up to today stay safe and warm
Mina xxx

pretty in pink...

Good morning everyone did you all have a good day yesterday and I hope you have something fab planned for today...we went shopping yesterday and it was bleeding freezing and blowing a gale all day, but it didn't stop us having a good mooch time and I managed to finish my whole Christmas present list...wwwwooohhhoooo how excellent is that, I tried my best to persuade Phil to buy me a new engagement ring, a huge solitaire diamond for half price a steal at £1,600 but he wasn't having any of it lol...mind I did see him sneak into Boots I think to get me the two Sanctuary gift sets I wanted for Christmas, well he came out with two bags anyway...the only gifts I have left to get that weren't on my list are the ones for Phil and I haven't a clue at all and he isn't being much help I'm afraid, at this rate he will end up with a selection box lol...my poor Dads car broke down while we were out and the garage left him with no courtesy car, so we had to try and sort that out for him but as we only had half an hour we didn't make much headway...would you believe the Disabled Drivers place who are supposed to take care of his car needs told us they had to have 48 hours notice for a courtesy car...do you know anyone who has 48 hours notice of a car breakdown...well duh lol...right now onto my card for today which is using one of the brand new Wee Stamps digis, shes called Heidi, isn't she a cutie, I love her hair don't you...I coloured her with distress inks and just a teeny bit of glitter this time...the paper is just a scrap so haven't a clue what make it is I'm afraid...I finished with a huge satin bow, a few buttons, a punched snowflake and a Kaisercraft stamp...I must admit I have a soft spot for these lovely drawn Wee Stamps and of course I couldn't just buy this one could I, you know when you go shopping and things just throw themselves in your basket, we have all been there haven't we...the lush sketch is from Sketch N Stash challenge and Im also entering it for the Ribbon Girl Pink & White challenge, City Crafter Pink Christmas challenge and the Charisma Cardz challenge too...well I think we will be running a taxi service for my Dad today so haven't a clue where we will end up, but I will be doing some hopping tonight as at long last my internet seems to be working ok (well so far fingers crossed)...whatever your up to today have a fantastic one
Mina xxx
oh by the way dont forget today is the last day to enter my candy (link at top of sidebar) it finishes at midnight so if you havent already pop on down and enter now

anyone want a cookie...

Good morning everyone I hope your all well and happy and if you celebrated Thanksgiving I hope you had a wonderful family time...my Dad has been telling us over the last few months how disappointed he is that you cant buy a really traditional Dundee cake, he thinks the ones you buy in the shops don't taste like the real ones, so when Phil came home yesterday, off he went to the shops, bought all the ingredients and set about making him one, Phil is an excellent cook and he bakes the lushest cakes, so he made it last night and popped it into the oven and we forgot about it and yes you guessed it, it burnt...he was gutted as the inside tastes amazing...so he will have to get more while we are out shopping today and make another...poor lad worked so hard on it too, it even had the almonds on the top all arranged beautifully...oh well if at first and all that...we are off shopping for the day today and I'm so looking forward to it as shopping with Phil is so laid back, we just stroll round get what we need and stop for lunch and afternoon coffee and cake too...the most chilled shopping trips ever, we are then going to the light switching on ceremony in our local town this evening...right now onto my card for today which is using this stunning little sweetie from Whiff of Joy called Christmas Pastries plus two sentiments, isn't she so gorgeous, I coloured her with distress inks and paper pieced her dress and bow with papers from the same pad as the background...they are all from the stunning new Echo Park Holly Jolly Christmas 6x6 paper pad, this pad is so gorgeous, the colours are perfect for a fresh modern Christmas feel, but there's also ones (like the song one I used here) that have a real retro old fashioned feel to them too...I wish I had got a brighter picture as the colours are beautiful, the stamp and pad are from Bunny Zoe's Crafts and don't forget they are all 10% off for Nikki's Black Friday special sale...I finished with some fab blue satin ribbon from the Pretty Little Ribbon Shop and a scattering of buttons...the fab sketch is from the Stamp with Fun challenge and I'm also entering it for the Dutch Dare card challenge...I'm off to get ready for our day out now as I cant go without the polyfilla on the face can I lol, whatever your up to today I hope you have a brilliant one
Mina xxx

dont you just love a bargain...

Hi everyone I have just popped on to let you know that Bunny Zoe's Crafts is having a Black Friday event of 10% off everything from 10pm tonight until Midnight on Friday...so hurry on over to pick up a bargain...oooohhhhh I love a bargain dont you

Mina xxx

a winter fairy...Happy Thanksgiving to our American cousins

Good morning everyone brrrrrrrr isn't it cold...I'm sitting here wrapped in a fluffy blanket, heating on full and a hot water bottle and I'm still cold, it doesn't help that I'm watching the Frozen Planet I recorded last night lol...isn't that such an amazing series, I would bet it will win every award possible...well we didn't go out yesterday dress shopping as my Daughter saw one on the net she loved ordered it on Monday and it arrived yesterday and it an amazing glitzy one shoulder number with teeny little sequins in gold all over...she looks amazing in it...oh btw for those of you wondering why you haven't seen a picture of her in her ringmaster outfit, she was just a tad worse for wear and couldn't take photos but shes checking with her friends to see which of them was sober enough and took some...they all had a fantastic night though...my wonderful Dad came back today so we went out for a while instead, it was lovely catching up with him and Phil is on his way home as he has a couple of days holiday so we are off on a jaunt on Friday we haven't decided where yet but I will let you know...right now onto my card for today which is using one of the brand new December digi release from Crafts and Me, this is the beautiful Casting Down Imagination by Sara Burrier, isn't she stunning, I coloured her with distress inks and of course you all know the rule now, if it has wings, it has glitter lol...the amazing papers are from a new cART-Us Christmas (green) paper pad (the dark green snowflake one is really glittery), I bought this from a local shop but Nikki at Bunny Zoe's stocks this brand too, you can find them here...I added some gold ribbon, lace from the same company and a punched snowflake...the fab sketch is from The Sweet Stop challenge and I'm also entering this for the CES challenge and Crafty Catz challenge too...well its supermarket day today with my Dad but I think I will persuade him to go to town for a little mooch too, well depending on the weather as he doesn't like it when its too cold, so we will see...whatever your up to stay warm and have a good one and to all our American friends and family have a wonderful Thanksgiving
Mina xxx

Mo's winner...

Hi everyone wwwwoooohhhhoooo its Mo's Dreamteam blog hop commenter candy winner time, try to say that when you have had a few lol, this month its mine and Jak's turn to pick the winners of the $5 vouchers for Mo's Digital Pencil...my RNG says its No.86
and that's......................

LEE
congratulations Lee, you will need an account at Mo's Digital Pencil to receive your $5 credit, so could you please email your details and I will pass them onto Mo asap
Mina xxx

finger crossed...

Good morning everyone I hope your all well and managing to keep warm...well fingers crossed there are no spelling mistakes today...for those of you that didn't see before I managed to correct it as fast as I could...I misspelled Shabby Shutters and put an i where the u is lol...and its not the first time just the first time someone noticed before I did, oopsie lol...see I told you I was distracted...well I had a fantastic surprise yesterday morning and a bit of a chuckle too but I will tell you a bit further down about that...onto my card first which is using this fantastically drawn Ragged Santa from Mo's Digital Pencil, isnt he just fantastic and perfect to colour, well he was but I just had to use the dreaded red didn't I (groan!!!)...I used my usual distress inks and you will be pleased to know not any shabby shutter in sight lol...the lush yummy papers are from the Bo Bunny 6x6 Father Christmas paper pad, because the papers are so lush I didn't need to use anything else except two felt holly leaves cut from a ribbon of them and some berries I have in my stash...I'm entering this for the Papertake Weekly challenge, Lollipop Crafts challenge and Just Us Girls challenge too...

yesterday morning the postman brought me a large packet and was grinning from ear to ear when he handed it to me, ooooooohhhh somethings tickled his fancy I thought until I looked at the package addressed to 'The Lovely Mina' then my address lol...it was a lovely gift from the beautiful Lee (Crafty Loops) for a teeny favour I did for her...oooohhhh look at all these stunning handmade flowers she sent me...there are some fantastic felt roses which are so beautiful and there is a set of bead headed pins that I cant wait to use either...thank you so much Lee...I'm of to have a play with some of these today and of out to help my Daughter pick her dress for her work Christmas party (which means I get to hold her handbag while she tries on size 8 dresses lol)...whatever your up to today have a fabulous warm one
Mina xxx

a bit distracted...

Good morning everyone...aaarrrggghhh the light is driving me crackers and its so hard to get a photo looking like the real thing, although why am I telling you as I'm sure your in exactly the same boat, the photos are bright enough but all the colour seems to get washed out...it was ssssoooo cold last night a real snuggle in bed with a hot water bottle weather and it rained and was foggy all day long...I don't know if its the weather, time of year or Christmas rushing towards us but I am so distracted at the minuet, I seem to be doing one thing and my mind is off away somewhere else, to the extent I went into the shower yesterday with my glasses on the daft mare that I am...I didn't even realise until I went under the stream and they got wet either lol...well I rang BT and after many tries actually managed to speak to a human being who says they are working in our area (upgrading apparently, yeah right lol) and he will look into my problems and get back to me as soon as possible, so in other words don't hold your breath, it is so frustrating not being able to comment as much as usual, I'm getting around to some of you but not everyone but I will eventually...right now onto my card for today which is using another of the stunning new Country Cousin release from Sugar Nellie, these are such sweet girly images and lush to colour...I coloured this beautiful Cassie's Rendezvous with distress inks and used these beautifully coloured papers from the Fancy Pants OCT 31 6x6 paper pad I won in candy from the lovely Chris a while back (thanks Chris they are lush)...it just goes to show you don't need to use pads for what they are meant do you...all I added after the paper was a purple knot of ribbon and a lush glitzy Prima flower...the fab sketch is from ICS sketches challenge...I'm having another crafting day today so I can snuggle in the warm and paint to my hearts content...whatever your up to today have a fantastic one and stay warm
Mina xxx

colours used
skin - antique linen, frayed burlap, tattered rose
hair - frayed burlap
clothes are a mix together of - dusty concord & seedless preserves
flowers - milled lavender
grass - shabby shutters
gatepost - frayed burlap

bottoms up...

Good morning everyone, did you all have a fabulous weekend, I would love to know what you were up to...just because I'm nosey and love hearing what you have done...I'm still struggling with my internet and although I managed to comment on a few blogs last night it wasn't a teeny fraction of what I wanted to though...its so frustrating, I can get on blogs although it takes ages but commenting just takes forever and although I can see your fab makes I cant comment...I'm going to ring them again today and give them a good telling off, heads are gonna roll....come on now a girl cant do without her hopping can she...we had a lovely lunch yesterday then had a little mooch in Boots, I even bought some long needed make up replacements...did you know you shouldn't keep make up longer than 6 months...no neither did I...so I replaced my 2 year old blusher at long last and even bought a new lipstick, I'm one of those people who doesn't even put the bin out without her face on lol...and we had a little look at new tv's, I think we need a HD one but its a minefield and we haven't even decided on size so it may be a while yet although before Christmas might be nice...right now onto today's card, how fantastic is this Mo's Digital Pencil cutie, shes called Big Chair and there's a boy version too...I loved colouring this stunning image it is so lifelike and it so reminded of my Daughter when she was small, so independent and never wanted help lol...the stunningly bright paper is a double sided one from Echo Park but I cant find the name strip yet but I will find it sometime today and let you know what collection its from...the frill around the image is a doily cut up and ruffled around it and I finished with some lush coloured ribbons and a couple of pearls...the fab sketch is from Sweet Sketch Wednesday...I'm having a colouring day today as I have a pile of beautiful images just crying out for a bit of colour, I love those kinds of days don't you...whatever your up to today have a good one
Mina xxx

colours used
skin - antique linen, frayed burlap, tattered rose
hair - antique linen
dress - shabby shutters
pants & shoes - spun sugar
chair - tumbled glass, stormy skies

its about time but I think I finally got it...

Good morning everyone, I hope your all well and happy and have a wonderful day planned...I know your probably fed up with the camera saga, nearly as much as me, but there was sun yesterday morning and I ran around like a loony in my fluffy dressing gown before it disappeared again and managed to take some photos and by gum I think I cracked it, I was so chuffed with the photos I got, I even replaced the ones below made with the Manger, isn't it amazing what a bit of sun does to your colours...I was downloading them and was having a good look at my camera and noticed these photos were taken on the auto setting...so there you go all that faffing about with different setting, shutter speeds etc and all I needed was to put it on Auto and get a bit of sun lol...do me a favour if you have a sec scroll down and see the new photos on the Manger card below and these and let me know if you think I should stop faffing with the camera and leave well alone, because you know what I'm like I will niggle away at it until the cows come home lol...we had a fab day out yesterday I got loads more ticked on my list, we have a fab lunch and I even managed to get a late appointment to have my hair cut...I have never seen anyone look as bored as Phil did in the hairdressers, the poor man even resorted to reading the hair magazines...but then its his own fault I told him to do what he wanted while I was there but he would insist on waiting for me, maybe he thought I was going to talk about him lol...onto my card for today, how amazing is this stunning new Whimsy Wee Silver Fairy stamp I bought from Bunny Zoe's Crafts...I love her wings they are stunning, such a perfect clear crisp image too as all Whimsy stamps are, as soon as I saw her I knew I had to buy her...I coloured this beauty with distress inks and just to make up for yesterdays no glitter day I went ott with the glitter here but come on now shes a fairy and deserves a load of glitter doesn't she, I teamed her up with more of the Kaisercraft Velvet Ensemble papers, this is gorgeous and the black on it really is velvet...beautifully tactile, I finished with some punched leaves, a white bias binding bow and some more of these stunning new Prima gold tipped roses, I so wish I had bought more of these at the Kings Hall, the fabulous sketch is from Mojo Monday and I'm also entering this for the DYSU challenge...we are having Sunday lunch with our Daughter and her partner today which I am so looking forward too (well Phil does cook it and its so yummy too), whatever your up to I hope you have a brilliant one
Mina xxx
p.s. see why I don't like using red, I just noticed the glitter glue must have touched the red as there's a bit that has spread...oops

the look of love...

Good morning everyone, I hope you all have a fantastic weekend planned, we are off shopping and with a lot of luck and parking I might just get the rest of my Christmas shopping list, I'm finally getting the hang of my camera now if only the weather would just get a bit better I might get some brighter ones...this is very like the card except the colours are a bit brighter in real life...I will do a recipe post for my chicken and veg soup as soon as I can and thank you all so much for your kind comments on my photos...I'm having trouble again with my ISP, its BT so if any of you UK crafter's can recommend someone else as a provider that would be brilliant as BT is making me scream and yell at my poor little laptop every day, I know its them now as my TV has gone to pot too so they are out of here for sure...right onto my card for today, how amazingly stunning is this beautiful In The Manger digi stamp from Mo's Digital Pencil, I love it to bits and it is stunning to colour, but then which Mo's image isn't...Mo has really excelled herself with this beauty though, look at the expression on that beautiful angel, a look of pure love...I coloured it with distress inks and please take note...no glitter...I know its shocking but no fainting please lol...the stunning gold embossed paper is from the Kaisercraft Velvet Ensemble 6x6 paper pad from Bunny Zoe's Crafts, gorgeous isn't it, I used some gold flecked cardstock for edging and the star too and a fantastic wide lush ribbon to finish...the fab sketch is from Pink {INK} sketch challenge and I'm also entering this for the DYSU challenge and Stampactular Sunday challenge too...I'm off to get dressed bright and early as I want to hit the shops before the crowds (well hopefully anyway lol), whatever your up to today have a fantastic one
Mina xxx
colours used
skin - antique linen, frayed burlap, tattered rose
straw - antique linen, frayed burlap, walnut stain
manger - frayed burlap
hair - antique linen
blue swaddling - stormy sky, weathered wood
Angel wings and clothes shaded using a Marvy light grey pen

twinkle twinkle little snowflake...

Good morning everyone I hope your all doing great, did any of you watch the new series Pan Am? how fabulous is the soundtrack to it and how about Frozen Planet wow wow wow to those amazing filmakers, the phtography is beautiful I almost feel like Im there when Im watching it, well I'm happy to report yesterdays supermarket shop was trouble free lol...at last here's two photos taken with my new camera...its a fab bit of kit, it seems to suck all the light available into my photos, which makes them seem a bit blue to me, but maybe that's because my others were a bit yellowish...I would love to know what you think of them, good and bad as I'm still not sure if they are right yet, they look far too bright to me...I made chicken soup last night...by the way if you would like the recipe for my chicken and veg soup let me know I will do a post for it, although I think soup is a personal thing and most people have a family recipe they love...my beautiful Daughter and her other half came for dinner (I thought they would when they knew soup was made lol) and we had a lovely evening chatting and enjoying our dinner together, I love family meals don't you...my Dad is off to my Sister in Belfast for a few days then later this month he is off to England to my other Sister...I love him getting away, not that I don't miss him but I think its good for him to travel, get about and meet up with family and old friends...right now onto my card for today which is for the Just Magnolia & hAnglar & sTanglar challenge and wwwooohhhoooo this week I'm the host and my choice is...er...ribbons...well come on now what else could it be, so lets see all your gorgeous makes with either a teeny bit of ribbon or a huge amount and anything in between...I cant wait to see what you come up with...I used this gorgeous little Tilda from the new Sweet Christmas collection, I'm loving this collection aren't you, this little one is called A Little Gift Tilda, isn't she so cute and I love her plaits, I coloured her with distress inks and added a little bit of glitter to her wings, ribbons and gifts...I used her along with more of the Magnolia Sweet Christmas paper, this gorgeous paper is called Vintage Hellebore's, the stamp and paper is from Bunny Zoe's Crafts...I used some beautiful two tone sheer ribbon as a ruffle and added a big bow and finished with some Anita's sparkly glitteration white snowflakes...the fab sketch is from Tuesday Morning Sketches challenge and I'm sure there was a couple of more I was going to enter it for but I cant find my note book...it comes to something when you need a note to remind you of where you stashed your notebook lol...well I'm having a crafting day today whatever your up to have a fab day and when you have time pop on over to Just Magnolia challenge to check out the rest of the DT's amazing makes
Mina xxx

its a double...

Good morning everyone I hope your all managing to keep warm today, it was a cold night here last night, so the spotted dressing gown and fluffy socks came out to play...well I managed to have a little play with my new camera but judging from these photos I need a lot more practice and the manual is 147 pages long and I though 90 pages was bad enough...right its a double day today and lower down is my card for our new Colour Create challenge but to start with welcome to the Mo's Dreamteams blog hop, you should have arrived from the fantastic DEBBIES if you didn't then hop on over to the lovely LORI'S blog to start at the beginning, you dont want to miss anyone of them because theres a chance to win some goodies dont forget

Lori's choice of theme this month is to Make a Gift, I thought and thought about this long and hard then had a light bulb moment when I was in those of those beautiful shops that sell all the country craft goodies and saw a packet of Spiced Cider mix, well for £10 I though that was sssssoooo shockingly expensive and that's where this idea came from...I bought some vintage cider from a supermarket for £1.99 (yes it really is vintage cider lol) and I already had all the spices as my lovely Phil makes Christmas cakes every year...I soaked off the labels and made my own including a recipe for making the cider...I used the stunning Ragged Carolers set coloured with distress inks and the paper is scraps from a card I made a while back and the shape I printed using a royalty free shape image from the net
the tassel is from Dunelm Mill and are meant for curtains I think...I'm sorry the photos are so bright but I haven't got the hang of which setting to use yet and it may take a little while lol
I put the spices into a card bag and cut it to the right size and made the topper the same way as the labels for the bottle...I know this is a long post and thanks for sticking with me and there is more below for the Colour Create challenge too...your next stop on the hop is one of our fabulous Guest Designers who is the lovely POPS ...enjoy the rest of the hop and don't forget to leave a comment on everyone's blog to stand a chance of winning one of two $5 vouchers for Mo's Digital Pencil...ooohhhh and while your here why not pop over to my mega candy for my 3rd year blogaversary the link is here...now onto my Colour Create card

its time for our new challenge at Colour Create challenge of course and this time is our wonderful Kerry's choice of colours and she choice the stunning combo of Pink, White and Gold with the added option of adding some bling...I used this stunningly beautiful Apple Girl from A Day for Daisies, I coloured her with distress inks and teamed her up with some of the stunning papers from the Prima Printery 6x6 paper pad, this is such a lush pad...I added some ribbon in pink satin, a couple of the new Prima gold edged teeny roses and a sprig of blingy gems from a wedding cake decoration shop, isn't it amazing where we can find goodies to craft with and these are hugely cheaper than the ones you can buy from craft shops too...the fab sketch is from Sketch Saturday...I'm off out with my lovely Dad today, supermarket day uuurrrrggghhhh, oh and I might get a bit more playing with my camera too...whatever your up to today have a fantastic one and when you have time pop on over to the Colour Create challenge and see what the rest of our wonderful team came up with

Mina xxx

now thats what I call glittery...

Good morning everyone, I hope your all well and happy...I got up yesterday and took these photos, just managing to get them as my camera was running out of charge, so I plugged it in and went about getting ready to go slipper hunting with my Dad, when I was ready I pulled the charger cable out and the whole usb thingy came out with it...oops...I tried and tried to get it back in but had to give up putting it down to the technical term of knackered, aaaahhhhh my poor little camera has gone to camera heaven bless it...so I rang Phil and said you know you wanted to know what I wanted for Christmas...well er...so I'm now the owner of a spanking brand new bridge camera, that's the term for not quite the massively expensive SLR professional photographer camera but not a point and shoot digital either...its in middle of them, it even has one of those in and out lens and a viewfinder and its fab (here's the link to it if you fancy a peek), now I just need to go back to school to learn how to use it, or plough through the 90 page guide online, I have to take some photos today with it so goodness knows how they will turn out, luckily though the memory card fits from my old camera so at least I got these photos loaded and I didnt have to buy a new one...I got my Dad some lush leather slippers and he loves them so another off the list too, we were having lunch in Town and having a good old chin wag and he was telling me about a friend of his who isn't very well, I said aaahhhh that's a shame, whats wrong with her...he leaned over and very quietly said 'I think there's something wrong with her falujah', I knew instantly what he meant and starting roaring with laughter which set him off laughing too, he really is a lovely man I love him to bits...right enough waffle and onto my card for today which is for our digi teams challenge over at Crafts and Me challenge, this week the theme is 'Simples' so no masses of embellishments and keep it as simple as you can...I have been dying to use acetate lately so I found some printable acetate at my local office supply shop and printed this stunning Sara Burrier digi stamp called The Blessing from Crafts and Me, I then printed her out again and coloured her with distress inks and cut just the beautiful angel out and glued it over the top of the acetate, I then added white glittercard to the back to make it look frosty and added glitter glue thickly to the front where the landscape is, I wasn't sure it would work but I think it looks ok, I used some gorgeous frosty card for my blank and the only embellishment I added was a white satin bow...what do you think is there enough glitter lol...I'm entering this for the Allsorts challenge, Crafty Catz challenge and the Cardmadfairy digi days challenge too...Im having a camera education day today so wish me luck, if you have time hop on over to the Crafts and Me challenge to have a look at the rest of our fab Digi teams creation and have a fantastic day everyone
Mina xxx

a little bit of fizzy...

Good morning everyone, I hope you have all managed to stay sniffle free, I'm fine just a head cold and we women don't let little things like that bother us do we...well unless your working with glitter then its a good idea to stop the sneezes before they happen as my desk is testament to...its covered with a layer of very fine white glitter...I cleaned it the best I could but never mind its very festive and pretty anyway lol, luckily it was after I was finished and I was putting the glitter away or else all the cards I made yesterday would have been covered too...I had a brilliant play day yesterday, love those kinds of days dont you...I didn't realise until later when I was in the bathroom washing my hands I was covered from head to toe too, thank goodness I had my glasses on...anyway onto my card for today which is using this gorgeous little Fizzy Moon Wish Upon a Star stamp I bought when I struggled through that crowd at Dunelm Mill...isn't he just gorgeous, mind I think my colouring of him could have been a bit better, I don't think I got the colours just right, I used my distress inks of course and paper pieced his fab little star, the papers are from the Making Memories 8x8 Noel speciality paper pack I bought ages ago...I love this pack but its nearly finished, I finished my card with some lush lace and ribbon and a button, the sketch is from The Sweet Stop challenge and I'm also entering it for the Cutie Pie challenge too...I'm off out with my lovely Dad today to get his Christmas present...he wants slippers but I'm taking him to a posh shop to get them after finally managing to convince him that I should spend more on his slippers than on shoes for him as he spends most of his time in slipper, now does that not make sense to you lot too...whatever your up to have a wonderful day
Mina xxx

winter wonderland...

Good morning everyone...did you all have a fabulous weekend I hope so and what did you think about my candy...lush isn't it, I have been bursting to tell you about it but had to wait, but I hope you like it and will join in...we had a lovely weekend, Sunday lunch was fabulously yummy of course as Phil makes it and then we all went for a mooch around the shops together...since our Daughter moved out I miss those kinds of days but it makes them even more special when they happen...I even got some more Christmas presents so the list is going down fast...I have been sneezing and coughing for the last two days so I said to Phil, I think I caught your cold, he says...the only virus you have is a computer virus...cheek lol...ooohhhhh I do love a witty man, couldn't eat a whole one though lol...right onto my card for today which is for our new challenge at Bunny Zoe's Crafts monthly challenge and this month is our fabulous Marie-Theresa's turn to choose and she has chosen Anything Christmas with pearls...I used this gorgeous little Edwin on Christmas Eve from the Sweet Christmas collection, when I first looked at this stamp I thought Edwin was a strange shape until I stamped it and realised hes walking downhill and that's why his legs are like that, that made much more sense...I coloured Edwin with distress inks

I added some of the 3mm pearls mixed bag as snowdrops too...the lush fabulously yummy letter paper is from the Sweet Christmas 12x12 paper collection and called Christmas Letter, I cute a few of the letters from the paper and used more pearls for the berries on it...I finished with some ribbon and I decided to use some of the paper to decorate the inside too, everything except the ribbons are from Bunny Zoe's Crafts...I'm entering this for the DYSU Inspired by a Song challenge (I chose Winter Wonderland, you know the one that goes 'Walking in a Winter wonderland') I'm also entering it for the Christmas Stampin' all year round challenge (I haven't used the Edwin stamp before) and the Crafty Calender challenge too...I cant wait to see what you come up with for our challenge and when you have time you could hop on over to Bunny Zoe's Crafts blog to check out the rest of the teams amazing makes...I'm finishing a project today, one you will see on Thursday...whatever your up to have a fab day and don't forget if you haven't joined in my candy yet pop on down now as you never know do you
Mina xxx

colours used
skin - antique linen, frayed burlap, tattered rose
clothes, basket - peeled paint, festive Berries (from the winter set)
frayed burlap, aged mahogany
iced sprude (from winter set) for snow shadows

IT'S CANDY TIME...

Hiya everyone I hope you have a fabulous Sunday planned, we are having a family Sunday lunch...I love those days dont you, family sat around chatting over mountains of food spells perfection to me....well its that time finally, its my 3rd Blogaversary, wow how fast has the time flown by, I am so lucky to be on some amazing teams and to have all my wonderful followers and I appreciate every single one of the comments you leave every day...so to celebrate I have some candy just for you

from me I have three lush paper pads
the new Basicgrey 6x6 Little Black Dress pad
a fantastic Christmas Melissa Frances 6x6 Deck the Halls pad
another fabulous Melissa Frances 6x6 Vintage Attic Treasure pad
4 metres of my very favourite lush ribbons
well is that enough?....of course not...there's more

+ Mo from Mo's Digital Pencil is giving a fantastic $10 gift voucher
is that enough yet?....nope

the fantastic Nikki from Bunny Zoe's Crafts is giving a £15 gift certificate
enough????...no not yet

the lovely Karen from Sugar Nellie has given me 5 rubber Sugar Nellie stamps for my winner
well is that enough yet???...no of course not

the lovely Teresa is giving my winner 6 digis of their choice from Crafts and Me

well what do you think, now that is a prize worth winning isn't it

ok so now what do you have to do to win
leave your name in Mr Linky below AND leave me a comment
post the compilation photo above with the candy link on your blog to spread the word (sidebar is fine)
you have until midnight GMT on the 26th November to enter
its open worldwide so everyone can join in
you don't need to be a follower as I would prefer you like my work enough to follow and not just for the candy...of course I would love you to though
good luck everyone
Mina xxx