hop hop hopping along...

Good morning everyone...I hope your all well and having a brilliant week...and of course enjoying this months Teens blog hop from Mo's Dreamteam...isn't that a great theme as Mo has some amazing teen images and every one fantastic for colouring...you should have arrived here from the amazing 

KALY'S

blog as she is the start of our hop this month you need to go there to start too...don't forget you get the chance to win one of two $5 store credits just by commenting on our blogs along the way too so don't miss out

I chose the beautiful Roxy for my card, she is a dream to colour with my distress inks and I thought she really suited the colours in this beautiful Kaisercraft - Lady Rose 6.5"x6.5" Paper Pad don't you, so couldn't resist using them to add a real girlie girl feel to her...the sentiment tag I added is from the same pad too...I finished with a few resin flowers from the Blossoms - Resin Flower Pansy set, the pad and flowers are from Bunny Zoe's Crafts...your next stop along our hop if the fantastic

JAK

who is recovering from the flu bless her so wish her a speedy get well while your there...the fab sketch I used is from the Stampin' for the Weekend Challenge and I'm also entering it for the Craft-room Challenge and the Papertake Weekly challenge too...enjoy the rest of the hop and don't forget your comments for a chance to win...the worlds my oyster for the next week because Phil and my lovely Dad left this morning...oooohhhhhh what will I get up too...probably nothing except tidying my craft room to tell you the truth lol...I hope you enjoy your day and have some fun

Mina xxx

distress ink colours used

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

hair - antique linen, frayed burlap

pj's - antique linen, victorian velvet, spun sugar

chair - mixture of antique linen, shabby shutters

dressing gown - spun sugar

slippers - spun sugar

shading - pumice stone

just a touch of the dreaded red...

Good morning everyone how are you all...I hope your all well and having fun this festive season...well at long long last our trees are up and one is even decorated...the other will be done this morning, I had forgotten that the one in the lounge is 7ft tall (not that we need a 7ft tree but it was too much of a bargain to miss) and we both are struggling to reach the top so the step ladders will have to come out to make sure we can get the star on...when its finished I will take a photo to let you all see...well how much Christmas shopping do you reckon I got yesterday...er...none lol...I made the mistake of popping into the craft shop and got kinda stuck there, there were far too many pretty things...by the time we came out the shopping urge had kinda gone of the boil so we headed home to light the roaring fire and snuggle down...well I did that Phil made some more Dundee cakes, everyone is loving them but its costing a fortune to make them all...I told him next year you will have to charge for ingredients...well all except the ones for my lovely Dad of course, you better get your orders in now girls lol...right now onto my card for today...I'm determined to get past this fear of the dreaded red distress inks so went mad and used loads of it today...this little cutie is another of the Valerie's from Mo's Digital Pencil...shes one of a set of three called Valerie in Winter, they are fantastic to colour and paper piece and such a bargain price for three stamps too...I coloured her with my usual distress inks and teamed her up with one of my favourite paper pads of this season...these are from the Teresa Collins 6x6" Paper Pad - Santa's List...the sentiment strips are cut from the same pad too...I added some buttons and a lush bow made with Gingham Wired Edge Gold Thread Ribbon - Burgundy, this makes fantastic bows being wired they are so easy to plump up even after they have been squashed...the pad and ribbon are from Bunny Zoe's Crafts...the fab sketch is from the Sweet Sketch Wednesday challenge and I'm also entering it for the Stampin' for the Weekend Challenge and the Crafty Calender Challenge too...we really do need to start shopping today or nobody will get a gift from us at all...so I'm off to get sorted ready for going out...speak to you all tomorrow and whatever your up to today I hope its a brilliant day for you

Mina xxx

distress ink colours used

skin - antique linen, frayed burlap, tattered rose

outfit - antique linen, fired brick, frayed burlap

shading - pumice stone

extreme paper piecing...

Good morning everyone how are you all?...well and enjoying your first weekend shopping fest of the festive season I hope...sorry I didn't post anything yesterday but life sorta sneaked into the crafting time, it has a way of doing that now and again doesn't it lol...it was the festive light switch on in our local town last evening and we had planned to go to it so we headed off nice ad early to have a bite to eat first and as we got out of the car the heavens opened ad I don't mean a shower but it starting raining so hard it was bouncing off the car park ground, so with that and the really high wings we decided standing in it watching the lights being switched on wouldn't be happening...so after our food we headed home to sit in front of a roaring fire instead...oooohhhhhh are we getting old or just sensible enough not to get drenched watching lights being switched on, I'm going with the latter one lol...right now onto my card for today...how adorable is this brand spanking new Whimsy Stamp...its called Whimsy Elf Frame...I coloured him with my usual distress inks and then went to the extreme with my paper piecing, I couldn't stop and even paper pieced the border, holly and bow...I stopped at his lovely little face thank goodness lol...isn't this stamp just the perfect kids image for a Christmas card...all the fabulous papers are from the Kaisercraft - Holly Bright 6.5"x6.5" Paper Pad, the tag is from the same pad but the sentiment is from the stunning CC Designs AmyR Stamps Christmas Verses II, this is a fantastic stamp set at a fantastic price and perfect for all your Christmas tag or verses...I love it and you will see it on loads more of my cards, I finished with a bow made from Gingham Wired Edge Gold Thread Ribbon - Burgundy and a few scattered flowers from the Blossoms - Resin Flower Pansy set...everything I used is from Bunny Zoe's Crafts...the fab sketch is from the Papertake Weekly Challenge and I'm also entering it for the Simon Says Stamp Challenge and the Stampin' For The Weekend challenge too...poor Phil is having to work all day today there's a new computer system being installed at work so he will have square eyes when he finally gets home bless him so I'm heading out to hopefully get my Dad Christmas present so wish me luck I will need it lol...whatever your up to today whatever it is I hope its fun

Mina xxx

distress ink colours used

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

hair - antique linen

bells - antique linen

berries - fired earth

shading - pumice stone

Christmas roses with a chance to win...

Good morning everyone I hope your all well and have a brilliant weekend planned...its still freezing cold here but thank goodness we don't have any of the white stuff....yet...I feel there should be a duh duh dddduuuuuhhhhh there lol...how adorable are the new Winter Wonderland release from Sugar Nellie, have you seen them yet if not then pop on over to our Sugar Nellie blog and follow the links to the DT girls blog, oh and don't forget your comments at mine and all the other girls blog's for a chance to win some Sugar Nellie goodies too...this is the beautiful On The Wings of Love...isn't she beautiful, I used her to make a zig zag card and coloured her with my usual distress inks and glittered her up using Stickles Glitter Glue - Star Dust and teamed her up with papers from a brand new pad

these papers including the roses I cut from a sheet are from the Kaisercraft - Curiosity 6.5"x6.5" Paper Pad I bought from Bunny Zoe's Crafts...I think the colours suit her perfectly don't you and they even work for a Christmas card too...I added an organza bow and a few berries to finish my card off...now I wouldn't normally put cream, red, pink and green together but they really work don't you think...I'm entering this for the Stampin' for the Weekend Challenge, Fab 'n' Funky Challenge and the Charisma Cardz challenge too...don't forget to leave me a comment for a chance to win and pop on over to the Sugar Nellie blog and follow the links to the other girls for chances to win again and I would love to know which of the Winter Wonderland release is your favourite, I'm dead nosey like that lol...whatever your up to today I hope the weather isn't too bad for you and you have fun

Mina xxx

distress ink colours used

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

hair - antique linen

outfit - tattered rose, worn lipstick, tattered rose, peeled paint, pumice stone

birds - frayed burlap, fired earth

gift and basket - frayed burlap, antique linen, tattered rose, fired earth, victorian velvet, peeled paint

holly - fired earth, peeled paint

shading - pumice stone

I feel a pink and blueish weekend coming on...

Good morning everyone have you anything amazing planned for this weekend then?, I think ours will be a mooching and chilling weekend we have nothing planned but then you never know do you...I had one of those days yesterday...you know the ones where you haven't a clue what your doing but you seem to be doing more of it than you should...I kept going into rooms and forgetting why I was there lol...oh btw the new printer is fabulous really crisp printing and its wi-fi so cordless...which I got quite excited about until I realised I would still have to go upstairs to put the card into it...pity that cant be done remotely isn't it...but I must admit I'm more than happy with it...its an Epson Expression XP-215 and it was on sale for £49...a bargain eh as its also a scanner and copier too...ooohhhh I do love a bargain don't you...right now onto my card for today...I love love love this beautiful Whimsy stamp don't you...she could be used for everything from a christening to Christmas card I think with just different colours...I love stamps like that...this is the beautiful Whimsy Wee Silver Fairy stamp, I coloured her with my usual distress inks and teamed her up with one of my favourite pads atm...these papers are from the Kaisercraft - Bundle of Joy 6.5"x6.5" Paper Pad...its lush isn't it and that shade of blue/green is perfect...I finished with a huge bow made from some Organza Ribbon - Dusky Pink (25mm Wide) and a button from the Prima Buttons - Welcome to Paris pack...doesn't it match the colours brilliantly...everything I used for my card is from Bunny Zoe's Crafts...the fab sketch is from the Papertake Weekly Challenge and I'm also entering it for the Stampin' for the Weekend Challenge and the A Creative Romance Challenge too...right I'm off to get the war paint on just in case...well you don't know what may spring up do you...Brad Pitt could stop by to take me out to lunch...or off to Italy with Johnny Depp...well a girl can dream cant she lol...whatever your up to today I hope its a lovely warm fun day for you and those you love

Mina xxx

distress ink colours used

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

hair - frayed burlap, antique linen

outfit - iced spruce, tattered rose

flowers - tattered rose

shading - pumice stone

today is your day...

Good morning everyone did you miss me?...bet you didn't even notice I was gone lol...I'm feeling a bit better and although I still have to take it easy I thought I would do a bit of creating but it was so hard sitting in my craft room when it was 24degrees outside and the sun blazing down but I managed not just to make a card but decorate the inside too...will wonders never cease lol...I must admit Im feeling a little bit out of loop after not being about for so long (you would think it was years wouldnt you lol), so whats happening in the world of crafting then?, give me all the gossip, come on you know you want too...I don't have much gossip at all really, I haven't been out hardly at all and when I have I have been so exhausted when I get back I slept for hours...poor Phil must be fed up looking at the top of my head as I fall asleep on the sofa bless him, although he never moans and has taken such good care of me...oh one bit of news I got the results of the scans I have a few weeks back but will tell you about them when I have told you about my card...my card is for our new challenge at Bunny Zoe's Crafts monthly challenge, this months challenge theme is Wings. I used a fabulous stamp that has both these cuties on it with their tin can phones, the stamp is called C.C. Designs SN Fairwee Josie's and Jilly's Chat and I coloured them with my distress inks and cut them out to use one on the inside

the amazing paper pad I used is called Glitz 6x6" Paper Pack - Colour Me Happy , wow this is one stunner of a pad, I love it and the sentiment on the inside is from the same one...I finished with a thin cut of the gorgeous Section SMASH Tape, a lush bow made from Organza Ribbon - Dusky Pink (25mm Wide), buttons from the Big Red button pack - 25g and Camouflage button pack - 25g and Prima Butterflies - Divine pack...everything I used is from Bunny Zoe's Crafts...I made the sketch up as I went along but am entering this for the Crafty Calender Challenge, The Hobby House Challenge and the Stampin' for the Weekend challenge too...right now my test results...picture the scene I finally get to the docs and tell him whats wrong with me and he has diagnosed pneumonia...then he says I thought you might have been in touch before now...why says I...well for the results of your scans...but that was only four days ago the nurse said at least a week for the results...by this time I'm wondering whats going on...well I have news for you he says, you have gallstones and quite a few too, you will need an operation pretty soon...ever wish you had stayed in bed...not only Pneumonia and tablets but now gallstones... now that's what I call greedy lol...oh well things happen don't they and all will be sorted I'm sure...whatever your up to today whatever you do don't make an appointment at the Doctors, you never know what you might come out with lol...have a good one
Mina xxx

distress ink colours used

skin - antique linen, frayed burlap, tattered rose

hair - antique linen on front image

black soot on the inside image

clothes - front - shabby shutters, wild honey

inside - victorian velvet, peeled paint

shading on wings and cans - pumice stone

a spring flower...

Good morning everyone how was your Saturday?...we went to collect my Dads glasses and very handsome he is in them too, I managed to convince him to get some lush blue metallic frames, modern but he really suits them... then we popped to the supermarket for milk and a newspaper for him and we were sitting in the cafe having coffee and I looked over to our trolley and there were two young lads leaning over our trolley reading his paper, they had it taken to bits too so they could share it...how cheeky is that, mind I made them jump out of their skin when I shouted 'what do you think your doing...one of the cheeky replies 'we didn't know it was your trolly'...my reply 'well you certainly knew it wasn't yours...wheres your parents?'...they ran off with me wandering after them looking for parents...I couldn't find them, so settled down to my coffee again...I spotted them when we were leaving with a Mum in tow and headed towards them...you have never seen two young fellas move so fast with a trolley in your life, I couldn't get to them in time lol...seriously though do some parents not teach their children any manners at all and why oh why are they allowed to wander around by themselves, the youngest must have been about 9 and the eldest 12 at the most...don't these parents read the news and how easy children are lifted from public places, never mind the point that they should be supervising them maybe its just me that even the thought makes me scared and I would never let my Daughter out of my sight when we were outside...ok rant over lol...my card for today is to remind us that spring will eventually make it here and is using this cutie Bildmalarna stamp called LWF My Flower...how sweet is she holding her flower, I'm loving their new release...I teamed it up with some more of the stunning Prima 6x6" Paper Pad - Divine, the stamp and papers are from Bunny Zoe's Crafts...I added a Happy Birthday ceramic sentiment and a gold bow to finish...the lush sketch is from Simon Says Stamp Challenge and I'm also entering it for the Stampin' For The Weekend challenge and the Paper Creator's Crafts Challenge too...we are having a relaxing day today I think although I might just pop into town for a mooch later on...whatever your up to today have a brilliant one and watch out for stray children lol
Mina xxx

distress ink colours used

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

hair - frayed burlap

outfit - tattered rose, stormy sky, antique linen

flower - scattered straw, shabby shutters

wings - antique linen, tattered rose

shoes - tea dye, frayed burlap

bow - stormy sky

violet eyes?...

Good morning everyone are you all managing to keep your tootsies from dropping off?...it is so cold isn't it...I had a lazy day yesterday, well except for realising I hadn't clicked my post that is lol...so I did a little bit of colouring and printed off loads of stuff that I had meant to do over the last couple of weeks...it takes ages to catch up after the Christmas holidays doesn't it, it sort of lulls you into a false sense of being organised when really it just puts things off for a while then they all catch up with you and are hiding waiting to jump on you...plus January always seems such a long long month I think it seems like a five week month don't you...so the point of that ramble was that I'm finally managing to get caught up with my crafting, not quite there but hurtling towards the catch up line at full speed...I have been watching the news the last few days and I have never seen such a fuss about some snow, I mean shock horror snow in January, what next Christmas day on December the 25th lol...seriously its winter, its Britain so it hardly sneak up on you does it and for a country that has the same weather year after year a tiny bit of snow seems to bring everything to a standstill...I don't mean the places where they have a 30/60cms of course but here there was 2cm of snow and then an electricity breakdown which lasted for days...come on guys get your act together and get those poor people some power its only a bit of snow you know...ok rant over lol...onto my card for today which is for our new challenge at Crafts and Me Challenge...this time our theme is Vintage, I'm never quite sure the difference between vintage and shabby chic are you, if you do let me know please...I think I managed a vintage card though with the help of this stunning Hannah Lynn digi from Crafts and Me, this is the stunning Butterflies of Hope...isn't that hair amazing and do you like her eyes...I think Elizabeth Taylor had violet eyes didn't she, so I thought why not her...I coloured her with my usual distress inks and teamed her up with some stunning papers from the Prima Fairy Belle collection-6x6 paper pad...I used very little else for my card as I didn't want to cover up this lush paper too much...I finished with a huge Organza bow and a few scattered pearls in different colours...the pad I bought at Bunny Zoe's Crafts but its out of stock atm...I'm entering this for the Stampin' for The Weekend challenge, Challenges 4 Everybody challenge and the Kaboodle Doodles challenge too...I need to go out today as we need something for dinner and we are definitely overdue a put the world to rights coffee too...whatever your up to have a fab day and watch out for those electricity busting snowflakes

Mina xxx

distress ink colours used

skin - antique linen, frayed burlap, tattered rose

lips - victorian velvet

eyes - mixture of seedles preserves & milled lavender

butterflies - spun sugar, milled lavender

hair - pumice stone

Happy New Year...

Good morning everyone

HAPPY NEW YEAR

to you all and I hope 2013 brings Health, wealth and happiness to you and those you love, did you have fun last night...anyone go to any parties?...we did nothing at all in fact Phil was in bed way before midnight as he had to get up for work this morning so I saw the New Year in on my own which I didn't mind really as we don't normally celebrate it anyway...but then we are all just so grateful they have jobs there are so many out there still looking for one...2012 was a mixed year for us first there was our Daughters then Phil's redundancy, but luckily they found new jobs quite quickly...then it was losing the farmhouse in the South of Ireland but then Phil coming home and us finding this beautiful house we have now...so some bad things and some very good...I hope 2013 isn't so topsy turvy though and that the blessing of everyone being in pretty good health stays...right now onto my first card of the year...this stunner is one of the Simply Adorable digis from Sugar Nellie...my all time favourite range (p.s. theres news below of some new ones too)...this is the beautiful Rebecca...I coloured her very simply with distress inks and used a couple of scrap sheets of papers from pads I bought at Bunny Zoe's Crafts...I finished with a stamped sentiment from a Kaisercraft sentiment set and some thickers numbers for the date...its quite cas for me isn't it...not even a ribbon lol...I'm entering this for the Stampin' for the Weekend challenge, Hotshot Craft blog challenge and the Lady Anne's challenge too...

right now onto our news from Sugar Nellie

theres a brand new release this week and they are the amazing Vintage Adorable's...you are going to fall in love with these cuties so hard I bet...of course there is a hop to celebrate the release, with prizes as always too...so keep the date in your diary's and make a date to join us on the Sugar Nellie blog on Saturday 5th January...I'm off to prep the dinner for tonight's get together not one of my favourite jobs but it needs done if we are to eat I guess lol, whatever your up to today I hope its a great one

Mina xxx

baby its cold outside...

Good morning everyone did you have a nice weekend...all your shopping finished and the cards written and posted too I bet lol...hope your not as disorganised as me, I don't know whats up with me this Christmas but I usually have everything done by now and I'm the person people are jealous off and am so organised it makes you sick, but not this year...I need to catch up and get things done don't I...I blame Phil you know, hes a distraction and makes me go out and enjoy myself when I really should be home wrapping and making cards...well I'm sticking to that reason anyway lol...we headed out yesterday and wow Londonderry was busy...now considering the shops don't open until 1pm we were there at 1.15pm and all the car parks were bursting at the seams...we were getting dizzy going round and round the multistory but we finally got one and headed for the Continental market there grabbed a bite to eat and hit the shops...did we get the rest of our present...er...nope...but Phil bought me a fabulously mumfy fair isle sweater...lush pink and so so cosy (btw if you don't know what mumfy means, its the sort of feeling you get when you put your lovely warm fleece jimjams on)...its my Christmas after lunch, dessert and game sweater when everyone is cosy, full and ready for some TV and a snooze...that's the perfect mumfy moment oh and we bought some food from M&S Christmas range, just to try of course lol and we had to make a detour to the chemist as our beautiful Daughter has got conjunctivitis in one of her eye...yuck poor thing but hopefully the ointment we got will sort her out ...right now onto my card for today which is for our new challenge at Bunny Zoe's Crafts Monthly challenge, the theme this month was chosen by our lovely Silvie (wow wow wow wait until you see her make for the challenge its amazing) and she chose Celebration...so anything to celebrate something in fact...I chose to celebrate Winter in my card and used this gorgeous C.C. Designs Mashi's Muffins Baby It's Cold Outside  stamp for mine, isn't she fab, I coloured her with my usual distress inks and used this beautiful Magnolia Winter Night 12" x 12" Paper with her, I ripped the bottom to make it look like she was standing on snow, I finished with a yummy grey gingham ribbon from my stash, a scattering of gems from the Mixed Bag Clear Flat Acrylic Round Gems - 3mm, 4mm & 5mm and glittered her up with my usual Stickles glitter Glue - Star Dust, everything except the ribbon is from Bunny Zoe's Crafts ...I made the sketch up as I went along and am entering this for the Totally Gorjuss challenge, {PIN}spirational challenge and the Stampin' for the Weekend challenge too...I'm off to get my hair cut today and then a little mooch around the craft shop I think...whatever your up to today have a brilliant one and I hope you manage to get the things you need done

Mina xxx 

distress ink colours used

skin - antique linen, frayed burlap, tattered rose

hair - antique linen

outfit - tumbled glass, pumice stone, milled lavender

boots - tumbled glass

eyes - tumbled glass

Sunday treats...

Good morning everyone did you have a fab Sunday...look what my lovely Phil made for us while I was doing a bit of crafting, I followed my nose downstairs from my craft room and he had this beauty made...its an apple, cinnamon and raisin tart, even the pastry is homemade and wow it was so delicious (its almost all gone already lol)...did you see he put our initials on the top bless him...he is definitely a keeper isn't he...besides from Phil making his yummy pie, I made soup for tonight's dinner, it always tastes better made the day before so it can infuse although I did have a bit of a fight to keep Phil away from it lol...

we were going to head out for a walk then lunch but the heavens opened and it poured and despite Phil saying 'your not made of sugar girl, you wont melt', I voted for staying in the warm and stuffing my face with pie...well come on be truthful wouldnt you?...right now onto my card for today, how stunning is this beautiful  C.C. Designs Mashi's Muffins Tangled Tori stamp, I love her,so retro and perfectly Christmas, I coloured her with distress inks and used some of the lush Echo Park - Winter Wishes 

paper pad, this is a stunning pad and the colours are just a bit unusual for Christmas which is brilliant and a real change from the usual red and green, the pad and stamp are from Bunny Zoe's Crafts...I finished with a sentiment cut from the same pad and a few scattered buttons and pearls...I love this lush sketch its from Sketch Saturday and I'm also entering this for the Stampin' For The Weekend challenge and The Crafty Pad challenge...I'm off to town today to pay a few bills, bbbbboooo hhhhiiisssss to paying bills there's loads more stuff we could do with the money isn't there lol, then all the family for dinner tonight...whatever your up to today have a brilliant one and keep warm

Mina xxx

distress ink colours used

skin - antique linen, frayed burlap, tattered rose

dress, shoes and cuffs - stormy sky, milled lavender

lights and headband - ripe persimmon

oh no now I have started...

Good morning everyone are you having a brilliant weekend...well our front garden is done now...we have two smallish circular planting areas in a sea of pea gravel but they were just crammed with weeds so had to be tidied they were doing my head in every time I walked up the path to the front door...so we all trooped off to the garden centre yesterday (even my Dad came) and I bought some lush soft blue grasses, beautiful but they only had two left, I also bought some red grasses and lavenders...so we took a circle each (I got the smallest one thank goodness) weeded and planted and they are looking a little bare still but so pretty with all the colours and they match the house beautifully, the trim of the house is blue and the door is deep red wood and the lilac/purple will add a bit more colour...I should have taken a before photo shouldn't I but oops I forgot...I will take some photos now though although they would probably be better in a couple of months with the extra growth...I discovered I don't like wood lice at all uuuurrrrggghhhh...I was weeding a bit and felt a tickle on my hand, looking down there was about ten of them on my hand...one yell and a lot of shuddering later I was free of them but they did give me the judders...I will fish out the tags of the plants if anyone wants to know the name of the blue grass, the reddish ones are Cordilyns (sorry not sure of the spelling) and the Lavender is English lavender...right enough babbling about the garden Mina...did you all enjoy the hop yesterday? there's still loads of time to join in if you fancy winning some goodies, I seem to be on a Christmas roll now though...how cute is this gorgeous Mo's Digital Pencil sweetie...this is the fabulous Santa Kai, don't you just love his little jim jams poking out the bottom of his Santa coat...I coloured him with distress inks and paper pieced his suit, hat and the gift bow. I love paper piecing, I think its all that cutting out...doesn't it look like I spent ages putting this card together but most is one sheet of paper and is a ready made layout from the fantastic My Mind's Eye - All is Bright 6x6 Pad I bought from Bunny Zoe's Crafts, there's a few of these layouts in the pad and they work fantastically for cards as well as scrapbook all I needed to add was the tag (cut from the same pad) and a ribbon...I will have to buy more of these. I'm entering this for the Crafty Catz weekly challenge, Stampin' for the weekend challenge and the Paper Crafting Journey challenge too...I'm having a crafting day today I feel the need to colour and cut to my hearts content, well that's the plan anyway...whatever your up to today watch out for those wood lice they are sneaky things lol
Mina xxx

distress ink colours used
skin - antique linen, frayed burlap, tattered rose
shading - pumice stone
jim jams - tumbled glass, fired brick
gift - antique linen

the house hunting is over...

Good morning everyone did you all have a wonderful weekend, I hope so...it was so hot here yesterday but very cloudy and heavy, you know those kinds of days...we went to the garden centres and spotted some wonderful bargains which I will tell you about in a couple of weeks...a few weeks ago we went to see a house and it was one of those places that had no curb appeal at all it looked like it was made from lego and bits stuck out all over the place so we went in with our minds already made up I think...as soon as the door opened and I spotted the ceramic victorian tiles inside I knew it was something special...long story short it has all the original doors (thankfully double glazed windows), plate racks around the walls, wooden floors, original banister, claw foot bath and the icing on the cake a huge massive newly fitted shaker style kitchen with a dining room attached with double doors which open fully to a large deck and a few steps down to a private gravelled garden, it is stunning inside...that's why we were at the Estate agents last week to finalise some papers...we have a moving date of 6 weeks...we are over the moon and I have been looking at colour schemes, furniture, wallpaper for the last few days, I think that's why we went to the garden centres to stop me dragging Phil around wallpaper shops lol...isn't that amazing but very scary too, I cant believe how much we have to do in six weeks...aaaaarrrrgggggghhhhh packing my precious craft room (there's a extension room in the new house just perfect for my craft room)...anyway I will keep you posted with photos of before and after when we get the keys...seems ages away but it will go pretty fast I think...phew sorry for all the waffling, now onto my card for today which is using this beautiful Tilda from the Summer Memories - Rose Garden Tilda, I love this collection don't you and great for any occasion, I coloured her with my usual distress inks and teamed her up with these amazing papers from the Kaisercraft - The Lake House 6.5"x6.5" Paper Pad , I love this lush pad, the gorgeous are stunning...I finished with a grey organza ribbon and a sentiment stamp from my stash...the sketch is from Simon Says Stamp Challenge and I'm also entering it for the Stampin' for the Weekend challenge and Craft Your Days Away challenge too, everything I used except the ribbon I bought at Bunny Zoe's Crafts...I'm off for a haircut this morning as Im getting that busted sofa kinda look, I bet you know exactly what I mean lol...I knew it was time when my lovely Dad stared at me while we were having coffee and said 'when was the last time you had your hair cut girl, its looking a bit shabby'...cheek lol...whatever your up to today have a brilliant one
Mina xxx

distress ink colours used
skin - antique linen, frayed burlap, scattered rose
hair - frayed burlap
trousers and hair bow - pumice stone
trouser turnups and top - victorian velvet
roses - spun sugar, shabby shutters

knock it down and start again...

Good morning everyone do you have anything fantastic planned for this weekend?...I hope your having a brilliant one, Phil is away at the motorbikes today as its a huge bike racing weekend on the north coast of Ireland this weekend and although he isn't marshaling he has gone to watch so I think I will ring my Dad and head of to the garden centre, they have a sale on and I bought some fab planters a few weeks back that are just crying out for some herbs...we went to see a house yesterday, now you all know about the farmhouse so we aren't afraid of taking on something that needs fixing up...but this one oh boy, it was more a knock it down than a fix it up...I would need a bulldozer and a few skips and that was just for the inside lol...the only good thing was it had a small badly overgrown and wrecked garden but it was so quiet and secluded and you could really see it would be stunning...it wasn't enough to save the house though...oh well never mind its very early days and the estate agent had a real giggle with us as we went from room to room each once getting worse, she even apologised at one stage as she hadn't seen it before and was quite shocked herself, she was sssssoooooo nice too, she reminded me of our Daughter...right now onto my card for today which is using this stunning Mo's Digital Pencil girl, isn't she so beautiful...shes called Bubbles Girl and I coloured her with distress inks, I matched her up with these stunning papers from the My Minds Eye Miss Caroline-Howdy Doody 6x6 paper pad I bought at Bunny Zoe's Crafts (Its out of stock atm but there's loads of other lush pads here)...I finished with some pretty pearls, a gingham bow, roses and a cute fairy metal charm...ooohhh and I added some glitter to her bubbles...the fab sketch is from the Stampin for the Weekend challenge and I'm also entering it for the Charisma Cardz challenge and Crafty Catz challenge too....whatever your up to today have a fantastic one and watch out for Garden centre sales, they are lethal

Mina xxx

oh btw dont forget today is the last day to enter my candy

distress ink colours used
skin - antique linen, frayed burlap, tattered rose
hair - antique linen
chair - frayed burlap, antique linen,
outfit - spun sugar, victorian velvet
bubbles - scattered straw
bubbles bottle - scattered straw, shabby shutters

up up and away...

Good morning everyone...wow can you believe its April already...we seem to have had our good weather though and the cold is back, not just as cold but about 12 degrees lower than last week...is your weather the same...oh by the way are any of you have problems leaving comments, when I go onto some blog I'm getting an error message saying its not available, I can get on after reloading two or three time but its taking ages...oh no is Mr Blogger having a hissy fit again...ooohhhh sssssshhhhhhh maybe I should have said that...if your having problems too let me know so I dont think Im being picked on lol...we had a nice day yesterday, lunch with Dad then a little visit to my local craft shop 'just for some card for blanks' say I, Phil gave me that 'yeah right' look and £30 later he was ssssoooo right lol...well a girl cant resist new gingham ribbon and some new graphic45 papers too can she, oh and a replacement for my Martha Stewart doily punch that snapped ages ago, I replaced it with a Tomic punch, same design but much much cheaper...oh and of course we had to have a little coo over the owners 9 week old baby boy, he is so so gorgeous, Phil asked if I could take him home, yes but he would be straight back when he wakes at 4am crying though lol...right now onto my card for today, I love love love this MayzyArt image, isnt she fantastic and a dream to colour those balloons (see I told you I bought another one and you would be seeing it)...shes called Bibi Balloons, I coloured her with distress inks and used some of these amazingly bright gorgeous papers from the My Mind's Eye Miss Caroline - Howdy Doody 6x6 Pad from Bunny Zoes Crafts, I finished with some lush Sheer Ruffle Edge - White from The Pretty Little Ribbon Shop....I finished with a bow and fab Prima Flowers Perie Bebe - Meadowlark flower...the fab sketch is from the Papertake Weekly challenge and Im also entering it for the Stampin' for the Weekend challenge and Ditzy Craftymess challenge too...I'm off out shopping with our Daughter today which means I will be on handbag holding duty while she tries things on...whatever your up to I hope the weather is sunny for you and you have a fantastic day
Mina xxx

distress ink colours used
skin - antique linen, frayed burlap, tattered rose
hair - antique linen, frayed burlap
dress - tattered rose, scattered straw, shabby shutters, tumbled glass
ribbons - shabby shutter, tumbled glass
balloons - tumbled glass, tattered rose, shabby shutters, scattered straw
shoes - shabby shutters, tumbled glass

a blue haired christmas...

Good morning everyone, I hope the weather is being kinder to you wherever you are, its shocking here, there's gale force winds, one of my fences is bending in it its so strong, snow, hail, rain and just about everything it can throw at us...my lovely Dad was breathless and shattered by the time he struggled from the car to where we went for lunch yesterday and we both couldn't see a thing as our glasses were soaking, no point in struggling with an umbrella, anyway I didn't want my lovely green polka dot umbrella doing an inside out trick on me lol, we had a good natter and spent the afternoon together, I hope it helped him to cope a little better but must admit I had a few tears yesterday, the worst being on the phone complaining about where my TV was and why it hadn't been delivered, the woman on the other end was so nice and apologetic and I for some inexplicable reason just burst into tears, the poor woman thought she had upset me although I'm sure when the call was finished she probably had a few words to her friends about the middle aged tearful nutter on the phone lol...I want to say a huge massive thank you for all your wonderful kind comments yesterday, they made me feel I wasn't as alone as I felt, I'm always in awe of how kind and thoughtful fellow crafters are...your a lovely lot of people and thank you so much...my card for today is for our new challenge at Crafts and Me challenge, this week is the digi teams turn and our wonderful Mona chose the theme of Christmas, I wanted to use a non Christmas image for mine so I chose the stunning Moon Glow by Hannah Lynn coloured with distress inks, I coloured her hair slightly differently this time with grey and blue inspired by this lush glittered Christmas tree paper by Rayher, stunning isn't it...I used a white satin ribbon and finished with another of the amazing Lee's (craftyloops) amazing flowers, this one is a felt rose and the photos really don't do it justice, stunning...I'm entering this for the Stampin for the Weekend challenge, Dutch Dare Card challenge and Cute Card Thursday challenge too...Im waiting in for deliveries again today although Im secretly glad I dont have to brave the elements and feel the urge to do some colouring in the warm too...whatever your up to today stay safe and warm and have a good one
Mina xxx