where has all the light gone...

Good morning everyone hows your week going, its chilly now isn't it there a definite smell of Autumn about and before you know it the fire will have to be lit 'sigh'...with the Autumnal weather the light has changed too don't you think, it far more wishy washy (that's a technical weather term lol)...plus it doesn't show dust as much negative its harder to take your photos, although our garden is still blooming and I don't have enough vases for all the stunning roses which reminds me I must take some photos of them before they are all gone...I had a relaxing day yesterday but didn't get any crafting done at all so will have to head into the craft room today, its a real mess too and needs a proper clean up and declutter I think...I have a bin you know but never seem to use it and always have an ever growing pile of tape backing, if only there was something we could make with the backing strips, I will have to have a think about that, all suggestions gratefully accepted of course lol...right now onto my card for today and its another of the super stunning new Winter Wonder release from Sugar Nellie...this is the gorgeously pretty Elf Made Magic coloured with my distress inks and glittered, well glittered in fact lol, with a few pearls added to her outfit...the amazingly lush papers are in fact from a Baby paper pad, it just goes to show you don't have to use Christmas papers for a Christmas card do you...they are from the Kaisercraft - Bundle of Joy 6.5"x6.5" Paper Pad...I added a bow made with beautiful Organza Ribbon - Dusky Pink (25mm Wide) and cut out a couple of holly leaves from the check papers and added some pearls for berries...I like this colour combo for Christmas don't you?...the paper pad and ribbon I bought from Bunny Zoe's Crafts...the fab sketch is from the Just Us Girls Challenge and I'm also entering it for the One Stitch at a Time Challenge and the Totally Gorjuss Challenge too...I'm off for a coffee and a ponder over getting enough energy together to start tidying my craft room...or not lol...whatever your up to today have a gorgeously sunny warm one

Mina xxx

distress ink colours used

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

hair - frayed burlap

outfit and parcels - iced spruce, spun sugar, victorian velvet, pumice stone

shading - pumice stone

sunny yellow...

Good morning everyone...bbbbrrrrr its still chilly here although Phil reckons its just me...that could be true I guess maybe I didn't move enough yesterday lol...I had a great time colouring to my hearts content yesterday but only managed to make one card though and I couldn't resist using sunny yellow for it...well it had to be didn't it...poor Phil is worn to a frazzle this week, there's loads of people off on holiday and his boss left on Friday with no warning so hes trying to do two peoples jobs with a much reduced staff, all he can manage is to eat then he falls asleep on the sofa for the rest of the night, but then who can blame him...he needs some time off after this I reckon they owe him at least a weeks break don't you...btw I forgot to ask you all are the photos a lot better now, I think I have fixed the dpi but then again my eyesight can be a bit blurry so need you all to say if it is fine...don't worry about telling me if they aren't. Did you ever get the feeling something was going to happen...I have had that feeling for a few days now, you know the sort of thing like when you were a kid and it was coming up to Christmas....ooohhhh I hope its something fantastic, keep your fingers crossed for it lol...right now onto my card for today which is using this oh so cute digi from Sugar Nellie...shes called Daffy Pip and I used my usual distress inks to colour her...I knew which pad I would use for her and yes its another of my new buys from Bunny Zoe's Crafts...these papers are from the amazingly colourful and bright Echo Park - Here & Now 6x6 Paper Pad...aren't they lush colours and perfect for Pip don't you think...I finished my card with a couple of what I call fat pearls from the Mixed Bag 5mm Flat backed Pearls, a lush ribbon from my stash and a daffodil I bought many moons ago...the fab sketch is from the Sketch N Stash Challenge and I'm also entering it for the One Stop Craft Challenge and the One Stitch at a Time Challenge too...I'm off out with my lovely Dad this afternoon as hes need some shopping, I'm sure he only gets a little bit at a time so we have an excuse to go out lol...so its food shopping and a coffee break I think so I better get things done before I have to get ready and the way I'm feeling I may need the thermals on today lol...whatever your up to today I hope you don't need your thermals...have a brilliant one

Mina xxx

distress ink colours used

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

hair - antique linen

clothes - pumice stone, spun sugar, vistorian velvet, tumbled glass

shoes - tumbled glass, victorian velvet

pearls - shabby shutters

daffodils - scattered straw, shabby shutters

kiss kiss...

Good morning everyone did you have a brilliant weekend and didn't get drenched I hope....we went to Town with my lovely Dad uesterday and just as we were leaving a coffee shop there was a massive storm that came from blue skies and as my gorgeous Phil would say 'it plumped from the heavens' lol...I had a very light blue top on that has a bit of back on show and it was freezing cold on my back and made me yelp...well we dashed back to the car, well as fast as you can dash with a man who walks with two crutches and headed home, by the time we dropped my Dad off and got inside the house drenched to the skin the skies were clear blue and the sun was shining again...so weird...right now onto my card for today is using this amazing Kisses digi stamp from, yes you guessed it Mo's Digital Pencil...it has to be doesn't it...look at that adorable face and her cute little knees...I coloured her with my distress inks and used some amazing papers I found while having a bit of a rummage...these are from the Echo Park 6x6 paper pad - This and That...aren't these just the lushest colours and perfect for this little sweetie...I bought this Echo Park Pad ages ago from Bunny Zoe's Crafts but it isn't in stock anymore but there's loads of others...I finished with an incredible Prima metal flowers with a button attached to the centre and some sparkly letters sentiment...the fab sketch is from Tuesday Morning Sketches and I'm also entering this for the Joanna Sheen Challenge and One Stitch at a Time Challenge too...I have some crafting to catch up on today while my Dad is at the garage getting his tyres changed and then will be trying to rescue the flowers that have been battered by the storms...whatever your up to today I hope you manage to stay dry

Mina xxx

distress ink colours used

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

hair - antique linen

outfit, flowers and shoes - peeled paint, scattered straw, 

shading - pumice stone

sometimes you dont need a lot...

Good morning everyone I hope your having a fantastic Easter break isn't the extra long weekend brilliant...are you doing anything exciting with your holidays?...Phil's away motor bike marshaling today so I have a whole day uninterrupted crafting ahead...its seems ages since I was in my craft room but its only been a few days really anyway I'm so looking forward to bit of cutting and colouring...we had a super quiet day today except for a visit to a DIY store to pick up some wood to mend one of the chairs on our garden set which seems to have had a bit of the front disappear for some strange reason, it probably got left in the move we think...but Phil is going to put his diy skills to use and mend it and its a lot cheaper than buying a new teak chair with arms, they weigh a ton too so don't fancy trying to load one in the car to bring home...right now onto my card for today which just goes to show you don't need a lot of colouring to make a pretty card doesn't it?...the image is from Janey's Digi Designs...I love the simplicity of this image don't you, its called Icelandic Poppy Seed Head...I just added a little bit of colour and some shading with my distress inks and included a sentiment by Keats when I was printing it, I thought it went brilliantly with the image, btw Janey is having a sale atm at Janeys Digi Designs, there's 20% just by entering the code EASTER20 at the checkout...the stunning embossed and flowered papers are from the Kaisercraft The Lakehouse paper pad I bought ages ago from Bunny Zoe's crafts...I'm gutted that these are the last few sheets from it and its out of stock but there's loads of new ones I will have to buy I think...I finished with a lush organza bow and a button...no matter how hard I have tried I cant find where this sketch is from but if any of you know leave me a comment so I can put a link in for it...anyway I'm entering this for the One Stitch at a Time challenge, Paper Crafting Journey challenge and the Craft Room Challenge too...I'm off to my lovely untidy craft room now for a lock in...whatever your up to today have fun
Mina xxx

distress ink colours used

poppy head - scattered straw, shabby shutters

shading - pumice stone

you just never know what you will find...

Good morning everyone are you all having a good week?...its still tiddling down here and I'm expecting my first delivery of wood and nails this afternoon lol...I could hardly see a thing even with the light on either it was a very bad light day or my glasses need changed urgently...I'm hoping its the light lol...I was having a mooch through my cards and sorting them out and realised I seem to have an aversion to using black, mind you it is a bit like the dreaded red and takes care and time to use, just a teeny bit too much water and it goes everywhere and I don't know what is it about red and black inks but I always get covered in them when I'm using them and either look like an extra from a horror film or a coal man lol...so I thought ok bite the bullet and get colouring with black for a change so watch out I just used a tiny bit today but there is a card with much much more in the next few days too...I did get a bit distracted though, I found a box I hadn't touched since the move and loads of long forgotten goodies in the bottom of it, including these lush flowers I used on today's card...right now the details of the card...this stunner is of course one of the beautiful Vintage Adorable from Sugar Nellie and the last of the new ones I got to colour, look at all those amazing curls...this is the beautiful Suzie...I coloured her with my usual distress inks and teamed her up with some papers from the Teresa Collins 6x6" Paper Pad - Now and Then (I bought it from Bunny Zoe's Crafts but its out of stock atm I'm afraid)...I added some lush black ribbon and bow and these amazing flowers from K&Co, I'm sorry I don't know what they are called or which collection they are from but they match this card brilliantly don't they?...the fab sketch is from the Sunday Sketch & Stamp Challenge and I'm also entering it for The Crafty Bloggers Network Challenge and the One Stitch at a Time Challenge too...I'm off out today I need a walk around in the fresh air even if its still pouring down and feel a little bit of retail therapy coming on I'm sure its hiding somewhere at the back of my mind waiting to pounce...whatever your up to have a brilliant warm, dry one

Mina xxx

distress ink colours used

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

hair - frayed burlap, antique linen

ribbons - black soot

eyes - peeled paint

sweater - stormy sky, black soot

babe with a kiss...

Good afternoon everyone I hope you all had a fantastic weekend...I'm like the cows tail today...always behind...running around trying to get things done but I seem to be going two steps forward one back...ever had days like that?...we had a lush lunch yesterday and then all sat round a blazing fire chatting and laughing, I love family Sundays, they don't happen enough though other things always seem to get in the way...I was looking at my Dad yesterday hes looking really well for someone just coming up to his 80th birthday, he has such a cheeky grin and a real glint in his eye at times and he always makes me laugh...love him to bits just in case you hadn't noticed lol...right now onto today's card...how fab is Amy, shes from MayzyArt...of course I didn't just buy her though I had to buy another one...well its the digi stamp law isn't it lol...I coloured Amy with distress inks and paper pieced her beautiful dress, I was going to say I would love a dress like that but truth is I wish I could wear a dress like that...oh and of course those lush spotty shoes too...the fabulous papers I used are from the Echo Park - For the Record 2 Documented pad I bought at Bunny Zoe's Crafts, I love this lush lush pad...I finished with some sparkly sticky letters for the sentiment and a couple of organza ribbons...the fabulous sketch is from Sketch N Stash challenge and I'm entering it for the Simon Says Stamp Challenge and the One Stitch at a Time challenge too...quick post today as I must try and catch up without meeting myself in the hall...whatever your up to have a brilliant day

Mina xxx

distress ink colours used

skin - antique linen, frayed burlap, tattered rose

hair - pumice stone

eyes and earrings - crushed olive

shoes - tumbled glass, crushed olive, scattered straw

bow - tumbled glass

conspiracy theory...

Good morning everyone are you all having a brilliant week?...I did nothing yesterday and I don't mean a little bit I mean absolutely nothing at all...I did a bit of surfing on Pinterest which is fatal because I ended up with a pen and paper for writing ideas and three hours of looking...little wonder I didnt get around to anything...so it got to about 2pm and I thought right girl get your butt in gear and got all prepared to get started making decorations and doing a bit of crafting then the doorbell...just somebody doing marketing so a quick escape...back upstairs and the door bell rang...down again and this time the electricity guy to read the metre (ooooohhhhh goody an electricity bill before Christmas just what you need lol)...so a bit of nattering to the nice friendly leccy guy and back upstairs to the craft room again...settled down again and the door bell went again...I ambled downstairs muttering something like 'this is a bloody conspiracy' to be faced with another marketing person from the same company as the first....so a few choice words with him including the words 'get your companies act together and your kidding right'...by then the ideas and inclination has gone so I settled for some tv, a cup of Lady Grey and a chocolate biscuit...so that was my day...but at least I got a bit of exercise up and down the stairs lol...but my creative mind is working overtime now so it will get done today...well barring any random door bell ringers anyway lol...right now onto my card for today which is using one of my all time favourite Sugar Nellie releases this is the stunning Rebecca from the Simply Adorables collection...I only printed her head to use and coloured her with distress inks...Im not sure I got her skin tones right though she looks a bit streaky to me...I teamed her up with some more of the super lush Bazzill Basics 6x6" Multipack - Believe pack I bought from Bunny Zoe's Crafts...I finished with a huge organza bow and a sentiment stamped from the Personal Impressions Warm Winter Wishes stamp set from Funky Kits set behind a metal framed from Tim Holtz...the lush sketch is from The Sugar Bowl and I'm entering it for the The Crafty Pad Challenge, Stamping Sensations challenge and the One Stitch At a Time challenge too...right I have my crafting head on now and I'm not answering the door or phone for a while...whatever your up to today I hope its a peaceful one

Mina xxx

distress ink colours used

skin - antique linen, frayed burlap, tattered rose

eyes - tumbled glass

hair - antique linen, frayed burlap

dress and button - pumice stone

coat - barn door

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

nothing beats a teddy hug...

Good morning everyone are you all well and having a good start to your week? we had a lovely relaxing day yesterday starting with a bit of you tube hunting for songs and a little bit of a dance (really badly) and a lot of giggling to the Rizzle Kicks - Mama Do The Hump...then it was my stern face while I told face to get on with his studying for his exam today...he did for a few hours then he needed to get out so we went for coffee then straight back to his studying, in the meantime I made this card and a couple of others and was about to start colour a few more but the rumbling started and I knew Phil would be hungry too, I had made some Irish stew though as I didnt want to be rummaging in the kitchen for hours while he needed some quiet...so a nice dinner and then a bit of TV, Phil was snoozing on the sofa by10.30 and his snoring was making sure I knew about it too lol...I hope his exam goes well today...I'm sure it will though hes very clever, well he chose me didn't he lol...right now my card for today which is using one of my favourite releases from Sugar Nellie...this is one of the Simply Adorable's, shes called Nancy, isn't she stunning...I love colouring this release the way the shading is on the print always makes you look like you have spent ages shading and filling when really you haven't, I think a few people got a bit daubed when they first saw the shading and wondered how to colour them, but if you have tried one have a go I bet you will be amazed at how professional it looks when your finished...I coloured this beauty and her cutie bear with distress inks and used some of this lush Fancy Pants Designs My Family collection paper...this one is called Family Tree...I love the colours on it don't you and the tree and branches are a great designs not just for scrapbooking but great for a card too...I finished with a few buttons, a circle shape cut from the paper stamped with a Daughter stamp from the Crafty Impressions Baubles stamp set from Funky Kits these are fabulous sets and not just for Christmas either...the great sketch is from Sketch Saturday and Im also entering it for the One Stitch at a Time challenge and The Crafty Bloggers Network challenge too...right a crafting morning this morning and then a wait for a call to say Phil's exam is over...I wonder if I can colour with my fingers crossed lol...whatever your up to today try to do it with your fingers crossed too

Mina xxx

feeling pretty clever...

Good morning everyone I hope your all well...I'm feeling pretty clever with myself this morning...I managed to combine my Mo's Digital Pencil Dreamteams blog hop card with my Colour Create challenge card, am I allowed to feel a big smug do you think lol...oh and btw I made more cupcakes yesterday, lemon cupcakes with cream cheese and vanilla frosting...yum yum yum, I would have shown them to you but they have all been eaten would you believe, I made them at 6pm and they were all gone but one by 9pm and I ate that one at 11 lol...I didn't eat them all my beautiful Daughter and her other half came round to dinner and left with some after eating some after a rather large dinner too...

ok thats enough waffling from me and a big huge welcome to the Mo's Digital Pencil blog hop, if you arrived here from the super talented DEBBIE, if not then hop on over to our host for this month JULIE'S blog to start at the beginning and don't forget to leave a comment on the teams blogs on the hop to have a chance at winning one of two $5 credits for Mo's Digital Pencil...Julies theme for this month is Music and I chose to use the gorgeously cute Little Irish Dancer, I coloured her with distress inks, I so wanted a go at colouring that amazing mad hair, I wasn't too sure about combining the image, music theme and the new colours from Colour Create challenge, our combo this week was chosen by the lovely Sabrina and she chose Lilac, Blue, Kraft, & White and the extra option is to make a paper charm...I love these colours don't you, I used loads of scrap for my card and printed the music score on my computer, I finished with a huge bow and a charm I punched out and stamped...the fab sketch is from Mojo Monday and I'm also entering it for the One Stitch at a Time challenge...your next stop on our hop is the fabulous POP'S who I'm sure will have something amazing to show you...I'm off to the supermarket today as my lovely Dad is back from my Sisters this afternoon...whatever your up to today have a brilliant one
Mina xxx
p.s. I have candy just click on the picture at the top of my sidebar...everyone welcome to join in

colours used
skin - antique linen, frayed burlap, tattered rose
hair - gathered twig (from limited edition Autumn set)
dress and headband - milled lavender, tumbled glass
shading - pumice stone

Daddys little helper's...

Good morning everyone I hope you all had a fantastic weekend and did some lush crafting...we had a fab day yesterday but I was shattered when I got in and had to have a little nap which turned out to be a couple of hours long...oops...I wasn't too happy about it though as itv3 have had a Poirot weekend and I couldn't watch it as Phil loathes it, well I could have watched it as he wouldn't have said anything bless his little cotton socks but I wouldn't make him suffer like that now would I, but I was looking forward to snatching a few hours of them yesterday evening but I couldn't, it just doesn't work through your eyelids does it lol, when I finally got round to watching one wouldn't you know I had already seen it before many times...sods law...I love love love Agatha Christie, I bet she would have been amazing to meet, she had such a clean logical brain but there was a part of it that was a bit naughty and I bet she had a wicked sense of humor as it sneaks into all her writing...a woman way before her time I think...right now onto my card for today which is using these two fantastic helpers from Mo's Digital Pencil...the boy is called Fixer (Boy) and the girl is just called Fixer...I used my distress inks to colour them and teamed them up with these stunning papers from Pink Paislee's Hometown Summer collection, this is called Sunnyside Lane, the black numbered paper is the reverse...I printed the Daddy's little helpers on my laptop and added a house cut from the paper to finish...I love that paper don't you, see what you find when hunting through your piles of paper...the fab sketch is from The Sweet Stop challenge and I'm also entering it for the One Stitch at a Time challenge and Simon Says challenge too....right I'm off to get my war paint on as I'm out to lunch with my beautiful Daughter today and you never know maybe a bit of retail therapy too...whatever your up to today have a wonderful time and I hope it stays dry for you
Mina xxx