its all about the paper...

Good morning everyone how was your weekend?...good I hope...after the happenings of Friday, Saturday wasn't too bad but Sunday wasn't good when a friend of our Daughters was rushed to intensive care and we had to pick her up from the hospital...poor lamb and I'm hoping and wishing he will recover fast, my heart goes out to his family...so its fingers crossed for this week to go ok I think...thank goodness Phil seems a bit better but woke up yesterday with a stinking head cold bless him, maybe that's what the really bad headache's were about, that coming on...he has been told in no uncertain terms to keep it to himself lol...I will have to keep him away from my lovely Dad too the last thing he needs is a chest infection as hes really prone to them and it worries me sick when he gets one...I don't think we were the only ones having a bad weekend though, we called into a local store to get me some hairspray and in the middle of shopping a child let out the most blood curdling scream I have ever heard, it made everyone stop what they were doing and spin around...and why?...no sweets lol...the parents were mortified....right now onto my card for today...yes I have a card to show you and one for tomorrow and one for Wednesday made too...will wonders never cease lol...this little stunner is of course from Mo's Digital Pencil, now who else would draw this so beautifully...shes called Gathering Kindling and I coloured her in monochrome tones using my distress inks...I wanted to give her a sepia photo feel...what do you think did it work?...I found a stack of Christmas pads in my stash, long forgotten and stashed for a rainy day...this paper is from one I bought last Christmas from Bunny Zoe's Crafts and is My Mind's Eye - 6x6 paper pad All is Bright...I have decided to get back to basics for my mojos sake and go with an all about the papers theme...you will see what I mean over the next week or so...I started crafting because of my love of stunning paper pads and want to rekindle that love...this is just one sheet of paper would you believe all the layers are printed on it...beautiful isn't it?...all I added to finish was a strip of vintage lace and a Prima flower from my stash, I think its all that was needed don't you...I have been racking my brain trying to figure out how to make the cards I have seen around that have loads of embellishments on them then realised I don't have too I can just make 'my' cards cant I...silly mare that I am lol...there is no sketch as the layers were done for me but I'm entering this for the Our Creative Corner challenge, My Creative Moments Challenge and the Brown Sugar Challenge too...I haven't a clue what I'm up to today but am hoping it doesn't include hospitals, doctors surgeries or anything medical and am keeping my head down just in case lol...whatever your up to today I hope its a safe and well one for you and those you love

Mina xxx
p.s. did you enter my candy yet...its the post below if you would like to join in

distress ink colours used

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

hair - frayed burlap

coat - antique linen

jacket - scattered straw

skirt - old paper

boots and basket - frayed burlap

shading - pumice stone

back with a cricket...

Good morning everyone...I'm back, did you miss me? anyone? lol...we had a lovely time and wow the weather was amazing too...it never dropped below 20c and in September too, isn't that fantastic...the weather must have been about the same at home too as we came back to three dead hanging baskets and all my poor roses drooped over and so dry the soil had shrunk away from the pots...I will load some photos tomorrow of the amazing thatched cottage complete with beams in the attic bedrooms and the even more amazing gardens at the back of it...my Dad had a lovely time too but hes shattered I think we wore him out, we wanted him to have a good time so went to loads of fantastic places, but I'm not sure if my interpretation of wheelchair accessible is the same as some places you know...deep gravel or rocks do not a wheelchair path make as we found out a few times, which meant my poor Dad had to get out and walk which is not really fun for him when your half way round somewhere bless him and the terrible journey home which took two hours longer than it should have thanks to every tractor available being in front of us lol...so I think he will need a few days rest the poor man, but hes off to my Sisters on Sunday for a week so he will have some rest time there I hope...did anything exciting happen while I was away then?, go on spill the beans I'm busting to know...oh and I haven't forgotten about the prize winner for the last Bunny Zoe's Crafts candy I will be back this evening with the winners name...right now onto my card for today...look at that adorable face now who else could draw that but Mo...this is the stunning Fan's Cricket from Mo's Digital Pencil, I coloured her with distress inks and paper pieced her outfit with the same papers I used for the card...they are from the beautiful Kaisercraft - Miss Empire 6.5"x6.5" Paper Pad I bought from Bunny Zoe's Crafts...lush aren't they, in fact so lush I only had to add a thin chocolate brown ribbon to finish my card...the circle and corner piece I cut from the same pad...I made the sketch up as I went along as I haven't caught up with the sketch challenges yet but Im entering it for the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, Sister Act Card Challenge and the Creative Corner Challenge too...right I'm off to get ready to go for my MRI this morning so better get the war paint on and head off...whatever your up to today I hope its more fun than we will be having in the hospital for hours, I really don't like hospitals do you? they give me the chills and I hate the smells but they aren't there for pleasure are they, just to help when you need it...have a good one everyone

Mina xxx

distress ink colours used

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

hair - black soot

shading - pumice stone

basket - frayed burlap

shoes & cricket

dude card...

Good morning everyone did you all have a fab weekend...what did you get up too? anything exciting...we didn't go on our picnic as I decided I would rearrange the garden furniture and of course after that's done you have to put the plants in the right place...I must admit it does look good now even if I do say so myself...I was sitting on the swing seat taking a breather and looking around...you can tell I make cards as all the colours are co-ordinating and in sections...a little OCD in fact...I will take some more photos of the change and show you all on Wednesday as I have another card to show you tomorrow...yes I know all these cards are unexpected aren't they...I think my mojo has been kick started by the garden...thank goodness as I was beginning to think it wasn't going to come back...right now onto my card for today which is using this fantastic Skateboard Schoolboy from Mo's Digital Pencil...perfect for all those boy/teenager cards, he has that teenage stoop attitude doesn't he lol...Mo always has the knack of drawing images we really need doesn't she...a sign of a true artist. I coloured him with my usual distress inks and even used some of the dreaded red (it gets everywhere and I end up looking like I have poured it over my hands when I'm finished lol)...the fabulous papers are from the Bazzill Basics 6x6" Multipack - Freedom...I love this pad for men/boy cards its a great colour combo for them...I finished with a rub on sentiment from my stash and a few buttons...the pad and buttons are from Bunny Zoe's Crafts...the fab sketch is another from Tuesday Morning Challenge but I'm too late to enter it I think, but I'm also entering it for the Digi Haven Challenge and the Creative Corner Challenge too...we are heading out again today, well you don't waste days off work do you lol...haven't a clue where yet but I'm planning a sneaky trip to Ikea if I can convince Phil its essential (I hear you all saying good luck with that Mina lol) Im not holding out much hope of going really as its Phil s last day off before going back he might just fancy a chilling kinda day instead...whatever your up to today I hope your out and about and having a brilliant one

Mina xxx

distress ink colours used

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

hair - frayed burlap

outfit & skateboard - pumice stone, faded jeans, tumbled glass, Barn door, antique linen

forever blowing bubbles...

Good morning everyone did you all enjoy the hop yesterday and I hope you didn't forget to leave your comments along the way for a chance to win some prizes...it was really hazy and foggy here yesterday still dry and hot though but we didn't get the hottest day of the year that was promised...so we are still looking forward to that...we had to head to some garden centres yesterday because we had a minor garden crisis...something was eating the leaves of all our gorgeous new plants and leaving them like lace and on close inspection they are infested with tiny caterpillar type larvae and aphids so although I'm against using chemicals I don't like the idea of killing the good guys too but we had to get something to stop them in their tracks before the sweet pea were devastated to death didn't we...I managed to find an organic spray so Phil sprayed everything yesterday evening and we will see what happens...keeping my fingers and toes all crossed....oh btw I took some photos of the decking now its all flowery and colourful and will post them next week for you to see if your interested that is of course lol...but good thing is B&Q was our first try for a spray and we spotted a bargain two seater seat swing and couldn't resist buying it for the garden...well who can resist a bargain for the garden eh but I was cursing it after two hours of putting it together lol...right now onto my card for today and yes I actually managed to make one lol...how cute is this little darling...shes from the incredibly cheap C.C. Designs Sweet November Mermaids set, I think this set is a bargain for three stamps...I coloured her with my usual distress inks and used some Stickles Glitter Glue - Star Dust to glitter her tail and top...the papers and sentiment are from the Kaisercraft - Miss Empire 6.5"x6.5" Paper Pad...aren't those colours so lush....I finished with a few scattered pearls from the Mixed Bag of 3mm Flat backed Pearls, a bow made from Organza Ribbon - Orange (25mm Wide) and a single jade coloured rose...everything except the rose is from Bunny Zoe's Crafts...the fab sketch is from Tuesday Morning Sketches and I'm also entering it for the Inspire Me Friday Challenge and the Creative Corner Challenge too...Phil's off work tomorrow so he's had a long weekend this weekend its a Bank holiday here, he's getting a bit bored to be honest and I think we need to head out today so I was thinking maybe a picnic or something similar, what do you take on a picnic?, we love to take little tapas type things and a few sandwiches and of course dessert...whatever your up to today I hope you get out and about and have some fun too

Mina xxx

distress ink colours used

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

hair - gathered twigs, antique linen

eyes - peeled paint

tail and top - shabby shutters

shading - pumice stone

Return to Fairy Glen blog hop...

Good morning everyone are you all enjoying the hop?...aren't the new Return to Fairy Glen Fairies just gorgeous...bet you have a favourite or two or even three...I would hate to have to choose just one of these cuties...if you haven't been on the hop and want to start at the beginning there's a special price for this weekend only and a chance to win prizes too so just pop on over to our fabulous SUGAR NELLIE blog to start at the beginning...you should have arrived here from the super talented
 JUL'S

I got to use the stunning No Shell like Home for my card, I loved colouring this sweetie with my distress inks and kept her really soft and faded looking...the amazing papers, including the flowers and letters are from the Teresa Collins 6x6" Paper Pad - Summer Stories I bought from Bunny Zoe's Crafts last week, I think the colours suit this beauty don't you...all I added to finish was a beautiful silk ribbon bow and some pins...theres a very special price deal just for our launch weekend...all 6 stamps for £28 (individual stamps will be £5.95) but, that's only for launch weekend so don't miss out

and don't forget to leave your comments on everyones blog for a chance to win some goodies...I'm entering this for the In The Pink Challenge, Crafty Ribbons Challenge and the Creative Corner Challenge too...I'm the last stop on the hop, I hope you enjoyed it and had fun along the way... have some more fun shopping at Funky Kits and enjoy the rest of your weekend...oh and by the way just because I'm nosey I would love to know your favourites
Mina xxx

distress ink colours used
skin - anrique linen, frayed burlap, tattered rose, spun sugar
hair - pumice stone
wings - tattered rose, pumice stone, spun sugar
dress - tattered rose, spun sugar, pumice stone
shoes - spun sugar
flowers - shabby shutters, pumice stone
snails - pumice stone
shading -  pumice stone