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

cute as a button...

Good morning everyone well this is my last live post for a week we are off on our holiday in the morning...but as usual because I'm a bit obsessive I will be posting all week thanks to technology...don't you just love technology...we had to have a quick visit to the shops yesterday to pick up some things you just cant go on holiday without...you know those essentials like a new nail varnish, hairspray etc lol and of course we had time for some coffee...while we were sitting having a coffee I spotted a middle aged man on the next table scratching off a scratch card, of course I couldn't help a sneaky look...I almost fainted, he had six £10 scratch cards, 5 scratched and the one he was scratching away at...then he ripped them all up went away and came back with another 4...omg how can anyone afford to waste £100 on scratch cards...I must admit although of course its his money and he can do what he wants with it, it made me feel sick at the thought of how much he was spending on them...am I the only one that thinks that man has a real serious problem...my lovely Dad was flabbergasted and him sitting open mouthed trying not to look at him was a little funny though lol...right now onto my card for today...how gorgeous is this digi from Sugar Nellie, shes from the Simply Sassy range at Funky Kits and is called Tiffany...I coloured her with distress inks and used more of these amazing papers from the Kaisercraft - Needle & Thread 6.5"x6.5" Paper Pad I bought from Bunny Zoe's Crafts...the sentiment tag is from the same pad and the bow was made with Organza Ribbon - Pink (25mm Wide), I love this ribbon so much...do you like the little spotty buttons?, well they are actually made using a punch and papers...I had forgotten all about this punch, I bought it years ago and it was at the bottom of my punch box...the fab sketch is from the Feeling Sketchy Challenge (the punch is the button punch) and I'm also entering it for the Inky Impressions Challenge and the Saturated Canary Challenge too...right I'm off to do my packing...don't forget to pop back while I'm away, oh and I will be having some candy too you don't want to miss that do you...have a fantastic week while I'm away and whatever your doing have fun

Mina xxx

distress ink colours used

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

hair - frayed burlap, antique linen

eyes - stormy sky

outfit - pumice stone, stormy sky, spun sugar, victorian velvet

shading - punice stone

luuuurrrvvvveeee...

Good morning everyone wow can you believe its February already...I think this year is going to fly by as fast as last year at this rate don't you...ok who's bright idea was a greenhouse for Phil then?, wow how expensive are they I could take him on holiday with the price of one, I better get saving hard lol...we went to the supermarket yesterday and because I haven't done a big shop since Christmas I got a real shock at the prices, they have just shot up...has anyone else found that lately?...or maybe it just seems that way in the mean months after Christmas lol...I have a quick question for you does anyone have any ideas for something special for my lovely Dad's birthday, something memorable but remembering he's disabled and cant do anything strenuous so no bungy jumping ideas please lol...right now onto my card for today which is using a freebie I picked up from the fabulous Krista's blog of Saturated Canary fame...this is the beautiful Hugs & Kisses (sorry she is isn't free anymore I'm afraid), I coloured her with my usual distress inks and teamed her up with these stunning papers from the Teresa Collins 6x6" Paper Pad - Now and Then pad I bought from Bunny Zoe's Crafts...I finished my card with a lush cream silk ribbon and a couple of Roses...the fab sketch is from the Tuesday Morning Sketches Challenge and I'm also entering it for the Saturated Canary Challenge (Love Story) (oops too late) and the Bearly Mine Challenge too...I'm having a crafting day today, some colouring and cutting out I think is called for, I think cutting out is the best thing for relaxing, in fact I find it so relaxing I have actually fallen asleep doing it lol...whatever your up to today have a lovely day and I hope you manage to fit some crafting in too

Mina xxx

distress ink colours used

skin - antique linen, frayed burlap, tattered rose

hair - frayed burlap

outfit - pumice stone, victorian velvet, spun sugar, fired brick

hearts - barn door, fired brick, spun sugar

box - pumice stone, victorian velvet

eyes - shabby shutters

p.s. just wanted to let you know that the pre order is all go on Bunny Zoe's Crafts for the stunning new 

Magnolia Little Easter Collection

Stamps & Papers

Due in stock week beginning 4th Feb

they are so so cute and there are a couple quite unusual so all you need to do is just click on the image to go there

they dont all bite...

Good morning everyone do you have anything exciting planned for the weekend...my Sister and her family are visiting from Belfast, its the first time she has seen our new house, I wish it was a bit more finished before she saw it but she has imagination and can see what we will do with it, oh and I must make some jelly and fruit this morning for my Niece and Nephew, I always make them some and make the jelly with fruit juice, its better than getting them sweets which my Sister isn't keen on them having and of course they love it too...well hopefully anyway lol...I'm all finished with my cards for posting while we are away...phew that was a mega making session or two so I hope you will all visit to see what I have made...I still haven't started packing or even doing the ironing for packing yet, but Phil says he will do the ironing while I finish my posts, now that's love for you isn't it...right now onto my card for today how gorgeous is this little sweetie from Saturated Canary, shes the one with fangs and is called No Bites...I coloured her with distress inks and used this fantastic shimmering double sided paper from S.E.I., I don't know what its called though but love the colour, I finished with a flower cut from the paper and a fabulous orange bow...the sketch is last weeks from Dutch Dare challenge but luckily my girlie card fits with this weeks challenge from them, I'm also entering it for the Saturated Canary Challenge (touch of blue and bow) and Shelly's images blog challenge...I'm off to Town this morning to buy those last second buys you forget when your off travelling, now you know what I mean don't you, we always have a little list of last minuet buys...please tell me you all have one too and its not just my forgetful head lol...whatever your up to today I hope you have a brilliant day
Mina xxx
p.s. todays the last day for entering my candy and theres a new one tomorrow

distress ink colours used
skin - antique linen, frayed burlap, tattered rose
hair - pumice stone
eyes - tumbled glass
dress - mix of tattered rose & milled lavender
shoes and heart - milled lavender
apron - pumice stone, spiced marmalade, spun sugar
bow - spiced marmalade
puppy - pumice stone, spun sugar

look out for a fairy with a head under her arm...

Good morning everyone I hope you all had a beautiful day yesterday like we did, wall to wall sunshine but the rain returned last night...I went out with my Daughter yesterday for a little mooch around the shops (Thursday is her day off) and I needed to get a few more things for my Nieces invitations I'm making, I don't know if it was the sunshine or being on handbag duty in the changing rooms (how come I always end up buying my Daughter something to wear? lol) but I managed to forget everything I went for...my head was definitely away with the fairies (aaaaahhhhhh that's what the title means I hear you all cry lol)...oh well it gives me an excuse to go to the shops again doesn't it...we all went out to dinner to Portstewart which is a seaside town on the coast here, we used to live there years ago and the meal was amazing I had Teriyaki Salmon on a bed of noodles with soy, honey, coriander and lime dressing it was yummy...will have to go there again...so all in all a busy day...ooohhhhh and you will never guess what happened, the estate agent rang up to cancel our viewing, its already gone... aarrggghhh...maybe we should stop looking so hard and it will just come to us what do you think?...right now onto my card for today, I think my mojo is creeping back as I really enjoyed colouring this stunningly beautiful image from Saturated Canary shes gorgeous isn't she, shes called Springtime and I coloured her a little differently than normal, I shaded the background in Pumice Stone distress inks, just adding shading here and there and a bit of colour on the flowers, what do you think? do you like it like that?...I coloured the rest of her with distress inks too...the lush papers are from the Prima 6x6" Paper Pad - Fairy Belle from Bunny Zoe's Crafts but I think its out of stock atm, I finished with an amazing dragonfly charm I bought from a local shop, I added some pearls to the body...the fab sketch is from The Sweet Stop and I'm also entering it for the Crafty Sentiments Designs challenge and By The Cute and Girly challenge too...I'm having a colouring day today as I need to get a bit ahead with work to make time to make the loads and loads of invitations, order of service and menus I said I would make...whatever your up to today have a sunny one
Mina xxx

distress ink colours used
skin - antique linen, frayed burlap, tattered rose
hair - black soot
clothes - milled lavender, tattered rose, pumice stone
background - pumice stone
flowers - milled lavender, shabby shutters

butterflies everywhere...

Good morning everyone are you all well...go on let me know what you have arranged for the weekend...anything exciting?...Phil has to pop into work today so we cant go far as its his turn to be in charge in case hes needed, I need to go to the craft shop for card to make my blanks with though (well that's my excuse ssssshhhhhh dont say anything lol)...we had a lovely lunch the other day and then I held my Daughters bags while she tried on just about everything she could get her hands on in a vintage clothes shop, of course I ended up buying her a jacket that looked like it had been made for her, its a shame the prices weren't vintage lol...but it looked so stunning on her it was worth every penny and I think shes all set to head of to Amsterdam on Monday ...my lovely Dad is home on Sunday but then hes straight off for a week in England, international jet setter at 79 not bad eh?...right now onto my card for today which is using this stunning Cerridwen image from Saturated Canary...isn't she beautiful...there's three stamps on this card though, the two butterflies are from the Kaisercraft Clear Stamps - Tigerlilly this is just two of the butterflies from this stunning set, I stamped the butterflies on some of the Kaisercraft - The Lake House 6.5"x6.5" Paper Pad papers which I also used for the card...another amazing Kaisercraft paper pads, I bought the stamp set and pad from Bunny Zoe's Crafts I finished with some lush pink ribbon and punched lace...the sketch is a past sketch from Mojo Monday...I'm entering this for the Cute Card Thursday challenge, The Ribbon Girl blog challenge, Saturated Canary Challenge and the Digital Tuesday challenge...well I'm off to finish my Daughter and her other half's washing as their washing machine has broken down, just in time to do all the washing they needed done for Amsterdam...hhhmmmmm funny that isn't it lol...whatever your up to today have a brilliant fun one
Mina xxx

distress ink colours used
skin - antique linen, frayed burlap, tattered rose
lips & butterflies - victorian velvet
eyes - broken china
hair - pumice stone, Marvy grey pen
dress - spun sugar
gloves - broken china

peach and green valentine?...

Good morning everyone I hope your all well...did I sit around day yesterday then...nope...I had to go into my craft room for a pair of scissors in the early morning and looked at it and thought that's it...went down stairs and armed with bin bags, cleaning clothes and wipes and started to tackle it...6 hours later I was still doing it, besides for a couple of breaks I didn't stop until 10pm last night and it still needs more done...and the moral of this story is 'just don't start it' lol...I have a huge pile of papers to go through and sort, 5 boxes of flowers, sentiments, pearls, gems etc etc to sort out and a massive industrial size tub of ribbons, ever wish you hadn't started something ...I will crack it though as I have promised Jane some photos as proof it has been done...you will get them Jane...right now onto my card for today which is back to my usual colouring ...yesterdays was ssssssoooooo out of my comfort zone and I don't think I will do many without colouring as I miss it too much...this little stunner is of course from The Saturated Canary and she is called Queen of Hearts, isn't she stunning, I coloured her with distress inks and teamed her up with this amazing Graphic45 paper from the Once Upon a Springtime collection called Primrose cottage, I love love love Graphic45 papers don't you, I could use them every single day...I cut out some of the flowers and used them for embellishments, I used a cream satin ribbon and some lush gold thread and finished with some punched glitter board hearts...the fab sketch is from The Sweet Stop challenge and I'm also entering it for the Saturated Canary challenge and My Mum's Craft shop challenge...guess where I'm off to today, yep its Thursday so I have to go to the supermarket with my lovely Dad who makes it bearable, I really don't mind doing his shopping with him you know I just like a little moan about it now and then lol...have a fabulous day everyone and I hope wherever you are the sun shines on you
Mina xxx

colours used
skin - antique linen, frayed burlap, tattered rose
hair - antique linen
eyes - peeled paint
dress and shoes - tattered rose, shabby shutters
shadows - pumice stone

clean and simple...

Good morning everyone did you all have a fantastic weekend, I hope so...we had a quiet weekend topped off with our lush Sunday lunch, my lovely Dad is away for a few days visiting my youngest Sister in Belfast which is a fantastic sign that's hes travelling again isn't it, so there was just Phil, our Daughter and her other half, yes I have decided to call him her other half lol...while Phil prepped the lunch I made this card, now I hardly ever make clean and simple cards but this was so fast to make and I even used some of my usual lush ribbon so I might just make more as I really enjoyed just colouring and making this as simple as I could...well its clean and simple for me anyway...the stunning little baby is off course from The Saturated canary and is called Baby Cakes, A Ragamuffin...isn't she a cutie look at those eyes, I of course used my usual distress inks for her and just added a lush pink ribbon and bow, I bought this ribbon from Dunhelm Mill, they sell them on rolls in the curtain section and have the lushest colours, cant remember how much I paid but the roll I think was about £2 something...I finished with a couple of these fabulous pink crown pins from the Ribbon Girl...Im entering this for the Saturated Canary clean and simple challenge and the DYSU Pink challenge too...did you notice last week my crafty blogs banner dissapeared and I couldnt get the code to work whatever I did, well I finally got it loaded and in a week I had dropped from 40 something to 520, bloody hell...well its back and now and very very slowly creeping up its like some kind of gaming machine, where will it stop nobody knows lol...oh and did you all join in the new Bunny Zoe's Crafts candy below, you never know you might win you know, and I will have some Birthday candy when that finished so keep an eye out for that too...I'm having a crafting catch up day today and hope to do loads of hopping too...whatever your up to today have a fantastic one
Mina xxx

colours used
skin - antique linen, frayed burlap, tattered rose
hair - antique linen, frayed burlap,
pinks - spun sugar, victorian velvet
white shading - pumice stone, grey watercolour Marvy pen