explore tomorrow...

Good morning everyone did you all have a fab weekend?...wow what a change in the weather, it was very chilly last night...in fact so much that the old bed socks reared their ugly head...I thought we had seen the last of those for at least another month lol, oh and an extra blanket went onto the bed too...before long the fire will have to be lit again and the daily choir of cleaning it out will have to be done...I'm sure some people manage to clean out fire grates without getting ash everywhere but it seemed to be a bit above my competency level...we had a nice weekend despite the chilly wet weather and poor Phil having to go into work on both Saturday and Sunday morning and the weekend finished off with a tea party yesterday evening for my beautiful Niece's birthday...she is such a little cutie and did a little girlie squealing dance when she opened her presents...especially for the handbag and make up our stunning Daughter bought her...it was also my Nephews birthday a few weeks ago so we celebrated that too...they are such lovely kids and my Sister should be very proud of them...one thing yesterday did show though was our deck needs cleaned and resurfaced as my poor little Niece slipped and came down with such a crash we thought she had broken her arm...I hate that sick queasy feeling in the pit of your stomach when something like that happens don't you, but like the little trooper she is she bounced back and was running around again in a few minuets...it was a good day despite the fall though...right now onto my card for today which is for our new challenge at Bunny Zoe's Crafts monthly challenge and this month was our fab Silvie's choice and she chose to do a Bingo card for us to follow...I chose Ribbons, flowers and buttons for mine and used this fantastic new stamp from the brand spanking new Magnolia Sea Breeze collection...this is the super cute Handy Tilda coloured with my distress inks and paper pieced with some of the lush Teresa Collins 6x6" Paper Pad - Far & Away, one of the new ones I bought and wow do I love love love this pad you will be seeing a lot more of this one I'm sure...I added some cream satin ribbon from my stash and a bow made from Organza Ribbon - Ivory (25mm Wide) and finished with a few scattered buttons from the Camouflage - 25g and Big Red - 25g button bags and a couple of coffee coloured cabochons from the 15mm Flat Back Rose Cabochons - Mixed Bag...the sentiment tags are from the same paper pad and everything except the satin ribbon is from Bunny Zoe's Crafts...the lush sketch is from The Sweet Stop Challenge and I'm also entering this for the Delightful Challenges challenge and the Lovely Hanglar or Sweet Magnolia challenge too...I'm having a crafting day today so will be locked in my nice toasty warm craft room...whatever your up to today have a lovely warm one and watch out for slippy decking

Mina xxx

distress ink colours used

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

hair - pumice stone

buttons, handle and headband - barn door, pumice stone

shoes and shading - pumice stone

you are loved...

Good morning everyone are you having a good week...hows the weather where you are...it was sunny here for a while yesterday and we headed to a garden centre (we seem to be addicted atm) bought a few things and then headed into town to take our Daughter two dozen white roses for her birthday...she was so surprised and super excited by them...it makes the effort worthwhile when someone loves a surprise like that doesn't it.....then back home where I fell asleep on the sofa for would you believe three hours...Phil had to wake me up for a phone call and then dinner...so still not that well but at least getting out and about and eating a little bit...I'm going to ring the Doctor for an appointment and wont hopefully have to wait a fortnight for one lol...its daft isn't it, having to make an appointment just in case your not well...Phil's back at work today so I wont hopefully be asleep all day and will manage dinner this evening, I don't like the idea of him coming home to me being in bed and him being alone...he did it for so long when he was working away it doesn't seem fair for him to have to do it now, but he understands and thank goodness his Mum made sure he could cook lol...I'm sorry I'm being such a pain in the bum lately...what a moaning Minnie I'm turning into lol...right now onto my card for today and you know the way Bildmalarna stamps make such cute little stamps well the girls have grown up a bit and this beauty is called Bildmalarna - JustMe Nr.7...I used my distress inks to colour her and teamed her up with these fabulous papers from the lush Echo Park - Sweet Girl 6x6 Paper Pad, the sentiment across the middle is cut from the same pad too, I finished with a gorgeous coloured bow made from Organza Ribbon - Lime (25mm Wide) and added a lime green rose from the 15mm Flat Back Rose Cabochons - Mixed Bag...everything I used is from Bunny Zoe's Crafts...the fab sketch is from the Sweet Stop Challenge and I'm also entering it for the Creative Stamp Friends Challenge and the Card Makin Mamas Challenge too...I really have to try and catch up with some DT work today so fingers crossed the sun doesn't shine and I get drawn into the garden instead lol...whatever your up to today have a brilliant one

Mina xxx

distress ink colours used

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

hair - frayed burlap

outfit, ribbon and boots - tumbled glass, victorian velvet, scattered straw

flowers - scattered straw, shabby shutters

shading pumice stone

it wont be a stroppy Christmas...

Good morning everyone I hope your all well and happy this fine morning...I'm feeling loads and loads better thank goodness, it must have been all that imaginary chicken soup lol...I didn't get out yesterday at all, my Dad refused to have me go with him to the hospital and said 'dont be daft girl, I'm going to a COPD clinic I'm not taking you with a cold to infect everyone', well that's me told isn't it...but he went for his tests himself and did as I told him (for a change lol), he told everyone he was hard of hearing and they all spoke up for him...brilliant news too, his COPD is stable the medication is working fine and it hasn't got any worse...phew what a relief because he had a chest infection not long ago and I know he was very scared that it had affected his COPD...I love love love my Dad to bits, he is so precious to us all but especially to me, when my Mum passed away about 10 years ago he told me he thought his life was over and it broke my heart to see him like that...it took a lot of love and affection and showing him how much he counted to get him back to enjoying himself and living again, then he was told he had COPD and it took me a long time to convince him that with care and the right medication it wasn't the death sentence he thought it was...we have got very close over the last ten years and I cherish every moment I have with him...life is so short isn't it and we should always tell those we care about how much we care don't you think...I think I'm feeling it more lately because we found out a friends Mum had died on Sunday night, she had been very ill and slipping in and out of a coma but no matter what the circumstance the loss of a parent is so devastating don't you think and my heart goes out to him...Phil went to see him last night and he is coping but I don't think its hit him yet, heaven help him when it does, I remember the feeling well...ok now enough waffling onto my card for today...I'm hoping Christmas isn't going to be as bad as Stroppy Beth from Saturated Canary thinks lol...shes fab isn't she and has that teenage pout we all know and love lol...I coloured her with distress inks and paper pieced part of her outfit...I seem to be very into cutting out atm don't I, the lush pad papers are from the Glitz 6x6" Paper Pack - Joyeux Noel pad, perfectly Christmassy aren't they with a real nostalgic feel to them...I finished with a bow from my stash and three Flat Back Rose Cabochons - Mixed Bag embellishments...I love these little cuties don't you...the roses and papers I bought from Bunny Zoe's Crafts, the fab sketch is from The Sweet Stop Challenge and I'm also entering it for the Anything Goes challenge and Papertake Weekly challenge too...I AM going out today no ifs ands or buts...I need some fresh air now I'm feeling a bit better so a trip to the shops and coffee I think is definitely needed...whatever your up to today have a brilliant one and tell someone you care about how much you care, you never know do you.

Mina xxx

distress ink colours used

skin - antique linen, frayed burlap, tattered rose

hair - frayed burlap

eyes - peeled paint

white shaded with pumice stone

bow and striped - barn door

shading on paper piecing - pumice stone

a gift...

Good morning everyone...I forgot to tell you when we went on our girlie shopping trip a few weeks back when I got home Phil had painted every pick of wood in the hall...wow now that's good going or the trip was a lot longer than I had intended lol...now 5 hours for three woman shopping for a wedding isn't bad going I think how about you, mind we didn't even have time to stop for a coffee, although my Niece did manage to grab a huge bag of candy floss which we all ended up sharing...I managed to leave my umbrella in a shop and my Daughter nipped back to get it for me and while she was away I managed to lose a bag with her new burgundy coloured jeans in it...panic on hunting about town to see if we could find it and when we didn't I said I would buy her another pair so we headed back to the shop to find when we arrived some lovely kind woman had found the bag in the street and handed it into the shop, which really restored my faith in human nature...what a lovely thing to do isn't it...right now onto my card for today which is using this new stamps from The Greeting Farm...she is called TGF Anya Celebrates and is perfect for any gift giving occasion don't you think...I coloured her with distress inks and paper pieced the gift and used the Glitz 6x6" Paper Pack - Hello Friend for her...this pad is full of soft soft colours...the sentiment is from the same stamp sheet and I finished with a sprinkling of the lush roses from the Flat Back Rose Cabochons - Mixed Bag for embellishments, these are so pretty and cute...everything I used on my card is from Bunny Zoe's Crafts...well that's me for another day...whatever your up to today have a wonderful day full of gifts and roses
Mina xxx

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

listen for the sirens...

Good morning everyone...well the busted sofa look has gone thank goodness and at least I'm tidy and presentable for our holidays much to Phil's relief...thank you all so so much for the lovely comments on the house photos yesterday, you all seem to really like what we are doing...btw for the couple of people who mentioned it the sofas aren't leather they are like a tweedy type fabric...oh btw when I was leaving for the hairdressers yesterday guess what happened the front door lock broke, it was just spinning and wouldn't lock at all, luckily Phil had replaced the glass in the porch door (remember he had to smash when I got locked out) and it has bolt locks inside so at least I got out...I think we have a lock gremlin lurking in the skirting boards waiting to see which one he can sabotage next lol...my Dad keeps telling people that he was cheeky to me and I gave him the black eye before laughing and saying that he did it on the car door...I fully expect the police to arrive to arrest me for assault so am listening for the sirens, he thinks its hilarious lol...right now onto my card for today...I must admit I have a real soft spot for these gorgeous Morehead stamps...now look at that hat and the cut dungarees, how cute is she...this is part of the Morehead Acrylic Stamp Set - Raindrops set and the sentiment is from the same set too...I used more of my favourite pad, I love this Carta Bella - Beautiful Moments 6x6 Paper Pad and I'm going to be gutted when its all used up...the little banner I stamped onto is cut from the same pad too...I finished with some lush white satin trimmed organza ribbon and a bow, a rose from the Flat Back Rose Cabochons - Mixed Bag and a few gems from the Mixed Bag Clear Flat Acrylic Round Gems - 3mm, 4mm & 5mm...everything expect the ribbon is from Bunny Zoe's Crafts...the fab sketch is from Sketch Saturday and I'm also entering it for the Bearly-mine challenge and Try it on Tuesday challenge too...right I'm finishing my posts for while I'm away, oh and btw I will have more candy on offer on Sunday after the newest candy finishes...whatever your up to listen for the sirens then follow as fast as possible to get me out lol

Mina xxx

distress ink colours used
skin - antique ;inen, frayed burlap, tattered rose
hair - frayed burlap
hat - spun sugar
outfit - pumice stone, victorian velvet, frayed burlap
boots - frayed burlap
flower - scattered straw, crushed olive