roses and butterflies everywhere...

Good morning everyone, how was your week...the most amazing thing has happened our garden has sprung up again its all blooming again and there are butterflies (and the dreaded wasps) everywhere...our three rose bushes have 42 new buds on them ready to flower (loads of photos will be posted when they are open)...I was gobsmacked and would you believe the plants I persuaded Phil to chop to the top of the soil and he said had died have new life and are flourishing too...is this another summer I ask myself, well we can live in hope cant we lol...my poor Dad has a really nasty chest infection the poor lamb, its sods law that happens after we have booked the cottage so fingers crossed it clears up before next weekend...I'm quite looking forward to the cottage it looks beautiful (I would be looking forward to it more if someone could promise me I wont be ill while Im there though) and don't worry I will take loads of photos, I bet you were really worried I wouldn't take any weren't you lol...yeah right...right now onto my card for today...I love this gorgeous Tiffany digi from the Simply Sassy's at Sugar Nellie don't you...she is so pretty and those eyes are amazing...like all Krista Smith's images she is amazing to colour and I used my usual distress inks for her of course, it was only after I had loaded these photos I realised the last time I used this digis the colours were almost the same, they must just suit her lol...the lush papers are from a very old pad...Bo Bunny Gabrielle 6x6 paper pad its so long since I bought this I cant even remember where I got it from...the fabulous butterflies are cut from the pad and I finished with a lush cream satin ribbon and a few of my favourite 15mm Flat Back Rose Cabochons - Mixed Bag from Bunny Zoe's Crafts to finish, perfect colours for the papers aren't they...the fab sketch is from the Sketch Saturday Challenge and I'm also entering it for the Saturated Canary Challenge and the Paper Crafting Journey Challenge too...I'm going to do a little bit of gardening tidying, some crafting  and make seafood pasta for dinner tonight so busy busy today I think...as you can tell I'm feeling a bit better today thank goodness so Im going to use my day while I can...whatever your up to today I hope you have a great one

Mina xxx

distress ink colours used

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

eyes - evergreeb bough

hair - antique linen, scattered straw

outfit - evergreen bough, pumice stone, tattered rose

headwear - evergreen bough, tattered rose

shading - pumice stone

watch out for head butting bees...

Good morning everyone are you having a good week?, enjoying good weather too I hope...ok hands up who thought we went to Ikea yesterday...nope...as Ikea is about 1hr 15mins from us we really didnt fancy sitting in a card for all that time in 27degrees...isnt it weird how it can be so hot but cloudy and dull, so instead we had a little mooch in town looking for Phil's Birthday present (yes hes 21 again today)...I hate shopping for men dont you, if you ask a woman what she wants she can give you a whole list to choose including prices and where they can be bought but ask a man and theres not a thing he wants lol...so I have his card (of course) but nothing to give him yet...the only idea I had our Daughter has pinched for her gift for him, cheeky girl...after our town mooch and lunch we were sitting in the garden and I was watching all the bees playing amongst the Nasturtiums and being nosey headed over to watch them gather their nectar...they are so relaxing don't you think...I got a little bit too close and got head butted by one of them, I don't know who was more shocked me or the poor bee although it did fly away probably wondering what the hell it flew into lol...I'm so pleased Phil was inside getting a drink he would have just shook his head and done that little grin...you know the one don't you girls lol...right now for my card for today and its using another of the brand new Summer Adorables from Sugar Nellie...did you get any of them yet, if you did I would love to know your favourite if you haven't seen them all pop on over to Funky Kits and have a look...I love this Ballet Student one she is stunning to colour...all those beautiful folds in her dress and that amazing hair...I used my usual distress inks and teamed her up with these lush papers from the Teresa Collins 6x6" Paper Pad - Summer Stories, I added a ribbon bow from my stash and finished with a couple of pins pushed through the bow and a stunning chocolate coloured resin rose from the 15mm Flat Back Rose Cabochons - Mixed Bag...the paper pad and cabochons are from Bunny Zoe's Crafts...the fab sketch is from the Sketch Saturday Challenge and I'm also entering this for the Simon Says Stamp Challenge and the Crafter's Cafe Challenge too...Phil's back at work today so I'm going to make him a roast dinner (his favourite) for dinner and our Daughter and her other half are coming for dinner to celebrate his birthday...so I will probably be flitting between the kitchen, garden and my craft room most of the day...whatever your up to today have a fantastic relaxing one and watch out for those head butting bees lol

Mina xxx

distress ink colours used

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

hair - frayed burlap

eyes - stormy sky

dress and shoes - tattered rose, tumbled glass

shading - pumice stone

not just for boys...

Good morning everyone are you all having a fab week?...Phil was marshaling again at the North West 200 yesterday but not just in the morning but afternoon and evening too in fact he wasn't home until 9pm...I don't know how he does it, it rained most of the day, but he came home with a very pink face from sunburn????...ok where did he get the sun from he was only a few miles up the road from our house...I have a hospital appointment very early this morning for some tests and a scan uuurrrggghhhh I hate hospitals don't you...a few years ago I was very very ill and spent a long time in intensive care and since then hospitals make my palms sweat, my blood pressure shoots up and I feel so sick while I'm in there...I don't know if its the smells or just the memory but whatever it is I have a dread and fear of them so much...so wish me luck I will need it lol...right now onto my card for today...it just goes to show that blue isn't just for boys doesn't it...this fabulous little sweetie is one of the new Saturated Canary stamps...shes called Tilly and she stamps perfectly so crisp and just as good as a digi which surprised me a bit as you know how much I love my digis don't you, I coloured her with my usual distress inks...I used more of the lush Bazzill Basics 6x6" Multipack - Freedom papers that I used for Mondays card and finished with a fabulous bow made from some Organza Ribbon - Baby Blue (25mm Wide), gorgeous blue roses from the 15mm Flat Back Rose Cabochons - Mixed Bag and the fabulous sentiment is a stamp from the Whimsy Mini Background stamp set...this is a great set, I will use these loads...everything I used on my card today is from Bunny Zoe's Crafts...the fab sketch is from the Sketch N Stash Challenge and I'm also entering it for the Natalie and Amy Challenge and the By The Cute and Girly Challenge too...right I'm off to get some war paint on and have a cuppa before I get my taxi to the hospital...my Dad and Phil wanted to take me but I think I'm better off by myself don't you lol...whatever your up to today have a brilliant one and I hope there isn't anything stressful happening in it

Mina xxx

distress ink colours used

skin - antique linen, frayed burlap, tattered rose

eye - faded jeans

hair - pumice stone

outfit - fired earth, pumice stone, faded jeans