dont you just love a bargain...

Good morning everyone I hope your all well and having a fantastic week...thank you all so so much for all your birthday wishes and sympathy...it wasn't fair though was it lol...omg before anything else did all you people from the UK see Corrie last night?, ok hands up who blubbed like a baby...yep me too...what a soppy lot we are aren't we, it was so so sad and my tears were for poor little Roy aaaaaahhhhhh bless him...I had a lovely dinner with all my family last night and got loads of lovely little presents, our Daughter is the best at buying little bits and pieces you had forgotten you even wanted...I mentioned before Christmas I needed  a new purse and yep there is was alongside, face goodies, jewellery and chocolates...I always look forward to any goodies from her...right now at long last a card, I know shock horror a real live card...not the best colouring but at least I managed to make one...this beautiful stamp is one of my prizes for my mega candy and there's a few other Sugar Nellie stamps too...I will put a photo on of the Sugar Nellie prize and if you haven't joined in my candy yet just click on the picture in the sidebar theres a load of lush prizes...this beauty is from Sugar Nellies Leanne Ellis range and is called If Only...I coloured her with my usual distress inks and the fantastically coloured papers are from the Basic Grey Fresh Cut 6" x 6" Paper Pad from Bunny Zoe's Crafts...it has such lovely fresh spring colours in it...now don't we all love a bargain or two this huge flower on my card is actually a hair ornament from a pack of two I bought from Sainsbury's for the vast amount of £1 in their sale...Phil's well used to me by now and knew exactly what I wanted them for so didn't even ask lol...I finished my card with a few pearls, a lush white organza ribbon and a key hole from Tim Holtz...I made the sketch up as I went along and am entering it for the Addicted to Stamps Challenge, Brown Sugar Challenge and Craftitude challenge too...I'm going to spend today trying to get my colouring mojo back so fingers crossed a lot of hours locked in my craft room will do the trick or I might have to start taking lessons lol...whatever your up to today have a good one and don't forget to join in my candy and spread the word so everyone gets a chance

Mina xxx

distress ink colours used

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

hair - frayed burlap, antique linen

outfit - spun sugar, shabby shutters

rose - ripe persimmon, shabby shutters

frame - shabby shutter, antique linen

oooohhhh I love making Christmas cards...

Good morning everyone hows your week going...good I hope...I didn't have any luck with my baby shopping yesterday, I don't know if its a girl or boy yet so buying something fabulously girlie or cute and boyish is out...so what do I go for, something to help the parents or maybe a gift card so they can shop when they need too...but that seems kinda impersonal if you know what I mean...did any of you get the perfect gift for a new baby and let me know what it was please...I want to get THE perfect gift...help...but my lovely Dad took me for coffee anyway and we had a laugh and a moan, I so enjoy our coffee chats, they are so special and always make me realise how precious my time is with him...he is a lovely man and that's not me being biased, well maybe just a teeny bit lol...right now onto my card for today...how adorably cute is this Wild Rose Studio stamp, this is Bluebell with Robin and it comes complete with a sentiment stamp too so a real bargain...I coloured this cutie with my distress inks and used these lush papers from the Echo Park - Reflections Christmas 6x6 Paper Pad...the papers in this pad are so fab, they aren't just the traditional green and red but have soft blues and chocolate browns too...I added a stamp from the Wild Rose Studio - Christmas Labels stamp set, this set is a real bargain...I finished with some covered tabs from the Wooden Flourishes - Pennants FL441, a bow made from lush Gingham Wired Edge Gold Thread Ribbon - Green and added a button from the bag of Camouflage - 25g buttons, everything I used on my card today is from Bunny Zoe's Crafts...the fab sketch is from Mojo Monday and I'm also entering it for the Addicted to Stamps Challenge and the Crafty Catz weekly Challenge too...I'm going into my craft room for a mooch today, I'm going to sort out all my Christmas stuff, I love making Christmas cards don't you, I never seem to run out of ideas for them and that's always makes them a little bit easier...whatever your up to today I hope you have fun and spend some time with someone special
Mina xxx

distress ink colours used

bluebell - antique linen, frayed burlap, spun sugar

robin - frayed burlap, fired brick

wreat and bow - peeled paint, bundled sage, fired brick

colouring on holly sentiment stamp - peeled paint, fired brick

back with a flourish of pink and white...

Good morning everyone did you miss me?...did you notice I was gone lol...well I'm back from our little break, we had a fantastic time and would you believe only had one day of rain...wow is that some kind of record I wonder lol...well what did you all get up too in my absence? anything exciting or spectacular, go on spill the bean.  County Wexford is one of Ireland's most stunning counties I think...its very like Devon and lots to do and see too...and strawberries everywhere you look in fact after a six hour epic car journey down there when we arrived we couldn't drive to our hotel as the annual Strawberry festival was in its last throws and the finish was in full swing right beside the hotel but with a bit of canny Galaxy tablet GPS manoeuvring we finally managed to get to the car park and find a space dumped our bags and headed to the celebrations...brilliant street market with food, music and celebrations...I was a bit miffed Phil wouldn't let me get my face painted but we enjoyed it anyway lol...when we finally crashed into bed that night despite a couple of hotel disappointments which I will tell you about tomorrow we were shattered but content...I have loads and loads of photos but will only put you through a few I think you will like so don't panic lol...right now enough waffling and onto my card for today which is for our new monthly Challenge at Bunny Zoe's...this month the theme is Pink and White, I love this colour combo don't you...for my card I used this oh so gorgeous stamp from the Magnolia Special Moments collection she's called Tilda with Little Hat isn't she so so sweet (shes on sale atm too)...shes coloured with distress inks I masked her up and stamped a frame from the Kaisercraft Clear Stamps - Miss Empire Frames set and cut them both out, the sentiment I used on on of the tags is from the same stamp set too, the lush papers and tags are from the Teresa Collins 6x6" Paper Pad - Summer Stories...I added a white satin ribbon bow and finished with a gorgeous flower from the Prima Flowers Perle Bebe - Almanac pack and a scattering of Flat Backed Pearls...everything except the ribbon is from Bunny Zoe's Crafts...I made the sketch up as I went along but am entering this for the No Matter Which Challenge, Addicted to Stamps Challenge and The Ribbon Girl Challenge too...when I went into my craft room last night to make a couple of cards for this week the images I had pre coloured before going away had been sitting in the sun and were so faded I could harder see them duh lol...so its back to the drawing board...I might not have a card made for tomorrow but if I haven't I will probably bore you to bits with some holiday photos and some tales so be warned lol...whatever your up to today I hope you manage to enjoy some sunshine

Mina xxx

distress ink colours used

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

hair - black soot

dress, hat and gloves - spun sugar, black soot

shading - pumice stone

flowers and leaves on frame - spun sugar, victorian velvet, peeled paint, shabby shutters

its here at last...

Good morning everyone I hope your having a good week despite the snow and bad weather...isn't March supposed to be the start of spring...well I guess that slipped by a week past Sunday lol...well its here at long last, my lovely Dads 80th Birthday, I wont show you his card today as I think he should see it first don't you...he and my Sister came back last evening and they had a fantastic time at the hotel, he said he felt like a king even if he was shattered, he nodded off in front of my fire bless him lol...I just hope he likes our presents as much (ssssshhhhhhh saying nothing yet just in case of prying eyes lol)...I cant wait to see him today for his massive birthday hug though and then out for coffee before I tell him about his first present...right now onto my card for today which is using another of the new Bags of Fashion stamps from Sugar Nellie...this one is the beautiful Chelsea coloured with distress inks and teamed up with some lush papers from the My Mind's Eye-Oliver 6x6 paper pad from Bunny Zoe's Crafts...I finished my card with a stunning organza ribbon bow and a few flowers I bought ages ago from a craft sale at The Works...I love this fab Charisma Cardz challenge sketch don't you?...I love to mix shapes like this and think I have an OCD thingy for symmetry lol...I'm also entering this for the Artistic Inspirations Challenge and the Addicted To Stamps Challenge too...I'm off to ring my Dad to make arrangements for today...isn't it strange how much Mum's love other people's birthday's except their own lol...whatever your up to today I hope you have a brilliant one with a little added sunshine

Mina xxx

distress ink colours used

skin - antique linen, frayed burlap, tattered rose

eyes - stormy sky

hair - pumice stone

jacket - scattered straw, stormy sky

skirt - pumice stone, stormy sky, scattered straw

boots - pumice stone

bag - antique linen, stormy sky

do you need an Angel?...

Good morning everyone I hope your all well and thank you so much for your get well wishes....gggrrroooaaaannnn I'm still feeling like rubbish, its not like me to be floored by a stupid cold but this one has knocked me for six, poor Phil came in from work last night and made dinner bless him, I couldn't stand up long enough to cook, its a good thing hes an excellent cook and just gets on with things isn't it...but I'm fed up with it now so I have decided to get up off my butt today and try and fight it off, you go girl lol...a little trip to the greengrocers is needed as I have run out of lemons and oranges...although they don't seem to be working, I know what I need, some of my cure all chicken soup but I don't have the energy to make any, any volunteers...I need some crafters to come here, take over, give the house a tidy, craft with me and make me some honey and lemon and chicken soup...in return unlimited craft supplies, Phil's lush cake making and bed and board...please send all applications to lol......omg I think I'm rambling now so before I go off on one totally I better tell you about my card for today...this stunner of a stamp is from Sugar Nellie and is by the amazing Diane Duba...shes called Peace Angel and isn't she so delicate and gentle looking...I coloured very softly with distress inks and used some more of the amazing DCWV papers I bought the other week from my local craft store, the papers in my candy are from this range too, stunning isn't it, the photo really doesn't do it justice as not only is it sparkly but its glossed and embossed...now how could I resist cutting out all those stunning flowers and leaves and using them for decoration...you know me I cant resist a lot of cutting out, I finished with a wing and heart charm and a pearl...I'm entering this for the One Stitch at a time challenge, Addicted-to-stamps challenge and the No Matter which challenge too...I really do have to go out today as my lovely Dad has a hospital appointment and as his hearing is really bad (still no joy with getting him to get a hearing aid but I'm still working on it) he needs someone with him to hear the Doctors and tell him later what was said...so its war paint on and believe me I will need a lot today lol...whatever your up to today watch out for those nasty germs floating round

Mina xxx

distress ink colours used

skin - antique linen, frayed burlap, tattered rose

hair - antique linen

dress - tattered rose, stormy sky

bird - tattered rose, stormy sky

eyelids - stormy sky

paper distressed with antique linen