its still M.I.A...

Good morning everyone are you all well and happy, we finally got a bit of sun yesterday but I'm still struggling with my photos and still cant enlarge them, but if you click on them you can see them larger...I'm probably doing something really simple wrong but my poor brain cant get round it at all, maybe I just need new glasses and they only look blurred to me lol...I managed to get some rummaging done yesterday and found loads of things I had forgotten I had (its shocking isn't it how much stash we have that we forget about isn't it) but my mojo is still sadly lacking and missing in action, I must have a look under my beds for it, that's where I usually found things I have lost lol...I have a couple of cards and some DT cards made for this week so I'm going to just forget about my missing mojo for a couple of days and hope it will sneak back when I'm not looking...its sneaky like that you know...anyway onto my card today which is using some of the paper I found yesterday I had forgotten about, I have the Prima Madeline paper pad but I bought this sheet ages before I got that and forgot about it, I love that beautiful Rose paper side but the other is an amazing blue sheet music, gorgeous collection this isn't it, this paper is called Prima Madeline Spring Tide, I want the job of thinking up the names for papers, wouldn't that be a brilliant job imagine getting paid to look at lush papers all day...the cute little twins stamp is a Fizzy Moon stamp called New Addition, I bought it from Dunhelm Mill and coloured it with distress inks, I finished with one of the sentiments from the same Fizzy moon set and added a shocking pink bow and some blue buttons...the fab sketch is from Stamptacular Sunday challenge and I'm also entering it for the Crafty Catz weekly challenge and the Simon Says Stamp challenge...I'm going out with my lovely Dad today for lunch, I'm taking him out to Town for his lunch, we still haven't heard anything from the Hospital and we are going with the 'no news is good news' attitude...have a fabulous day everyone
Mina xxx

roll on the spring...

Good morning everyone, did you all have a fabulous weekend?...we did nothing yesterday at all, we were meant to go to town but I wasn't feeling too well and fell asleep at 2pm yesterday afternoon and didn't wake until 8pm would you believe...and I was still in the same spot I fell asleep in, woke with a really stiff neck though...ouch and I woke up after Phil had gone back to work so missed him leaving, I hate doing that...I think its the time of year you know as everyone seems to be the same, after all the hustle of Christmas things in January are very very quiet aren't they and I think we could all do with some fun and sun, so sign up below for a holiday away and we will all go somewhere warm for a crafting holiday oooohhhhh or how about a crafting cruise...anyone up for it lol...onto my card for today which is for our new challenge at Bunny Zoe's Crafts challenge, this month our lovely Bettina chose the theme and its a inspirational photo challenge...my photo is once again rubbish because of the weather to get any photo at all I had to use the overhead light and that was in the morning too, roll on the sunshine of spring I say and it might give my mojo the boot up the bum it needs too...I chose to use this beautiful little Whimsy stamp called Valerie & Kitty Sitting Pretty, so cute isn't it and coloured it with distress inks...the lush papers and tag are from the Kaisercraft English Rose 6x6 paper pad this pad is so lush and the colours are beautifully muted too, I finished with some soft pink bias binding and some of the flowers from the same pad cut out and raised around the sentiment...I added some more of those lush Kaisercraft Resin flowers in Fuchsia as I cant resist them...I used the fab sketch from the Totally Gorjuss challenge and I'm also entering it for the Fussy & Fancy Friday challenge too...I'm going to have a rummage through my stash day to see if I can jump start my mojo...if your hiding it own up so I don't have to hunt for it lol...whatever your up to today have a brilliant one
Mina xxx

Kissy kiss...

Good morning everyone did you all have a wonderful day yesterday, ours was very very quiet but we are going to have a mooch in town today so we will make up for it, oooohhhh and I still have gift cards to spend...thanks for all your emails asking about my Dad, your such lovely thoughtful people, hes much better but we are still waiting for some results from Hospitals and Doctors but we have all our bits crossed that its nothing too bad, but like I said to him yesterday even though its happening to him whatever it is we will cope with it together, as a family...oooohhhhh that's deep for this early on a Sunday morning isn't it lol...right now onto my card for today, how beautiful is this Hannah Lynn digi from Crafts and Me, shes called Kissy Fish, I love how Hannah Lynn draws hair don't you and its a dream to colour...I used my usual distress inks and added a little bit of glitter to add a bit of bling...the lush papers are from the K&Co 12x12 Classic K Bailey scrap kit, love this kit so much, I finished my card with some of my favourite cream satin ribbon and a bow and a couple of flowers from my stash...the fab sketch is from Sweet Sketch Wednesday and I'm also entering it for the CES challenge and Creative Inspirations challenge...I'm off to have a look at the Boots website to see what goodies they have on offer for me to spend one of my cards on...whatever your up to today have a fantastic Sunday
Mina xxx

return of the glitter...

Good morning everyone, do you have anything fantastic planned for this weekend?, I don't think we will be doing very much at all really, but then you never know do you...when my lovely Phil came home last night after we had eaten he was gone for ages and I could hear him pottering about in the kitchen, then slowly this wonderful smell started to tweak at my nose, he had been baking and made pasties and pies and they smelt incredible, it was all I could do to stop myself having one then and there, only the thought of the molten lava insides and what it would do to my tongue stopped me, I did manage a little nibble or two when they had cooled though of course...he is the best baker ever, his pies are to die for...everyone loves them to the extent he made two huge ham and egg pies last Saturday and by Sunday morning they were both gone...I didn't eat them all honestly although if I put my mind to it I probably could....right now onto my card for today and before I tell you about, I'm having a real problem posting my images, is anyone else having problems?...I can get them posted but when I try to enlarge them they go all blurred, I have tried saving them in different ways etc and they look great on my computer, its only when I upload them it happens...its driving me crackers

right now card Mina...ok...how fantastically beautiful is Winter Fairy Talva (look at those cute toes) from Mo's Digital Pencil, she like every other Mo's image is a dream to colour...I used distress inks and of course loads and loads of glitter...the fabulous papers which I think are a perfect match for her don't you are from Whiff of Joys 6x6 paper pad Frühlingserwachen from Bunny Zoe's Crafts, I used a few punched snowflakes and a huge organza ribbon bow to finish, I love that ribbon its lush, I so wish I could remember where I had got it from...the lush sketch is from Inspirational card sketches challenge (sketch 126) and I'm also entering it for the Stampalot monochrome challenge and the Do You stack up challenge...right I'm off to have a pastie lol...whatever you get up to today I hope its a brilliant one
Mina xxx

clowning around...

Good morning everyone have the winds finally settled down where you are, they died down a little yesterday afternoon then there was stillness last night and it seemed so weird because it has been blowing so long the silence was surreal...we went to the supermarket yesterday and put the whole world to rights over our coffee and tea so prepare to see things pick up over the next few days lol...my beautiful Daughter text me and asked me did I fancy dinner which is Daughter text for 'do you fancy cooking', well I didn't but I did buy us all takeaway instead...we had pizzas and I don't know if it was the garlic or what but I was so so thirsty I couldn't stop drinking water all night...we had a good old natter and spent some time together and her lovely fella even put my bins back for me bless him...I never know what to call him, partner sounds like their names should finish with Ltd or & Co doesn't it, I cant say boyfriend because they have been together 5 years and living together for nearly 3 of them, boyfriend sounds like they go on date or two...maybe I should call him my future Son-in-law might give them ideas to make it legal and give me an excuse to make some wedding invitations lol...what would you call him all suggestions greatly accepted...anyway onto my card for today which is another dark photo as the skies are still so grey the colour gets all washed out...this gorgeous little cutie is from Belles and Whistles and is called Clowning around, isn't she so gorgeous, I coloured her with distress inks and paper pieced her outfit, I love paper piecing, its all that cutting out...btw a little hint when your paper piecing, when you cut whatever your doing out go around it with a black pen and then you wont get those raw white edges...the fantastic papers and sentiment I used are from the Kaisercrafts Blea and Ivy 6.5x6.5 paper pad, the pad and stamp are from Bunny Zoe's Crafts...I finished with some fantastic red gingham ribbon, the blue, green and red isn't a combo I have used before but I think it works well don't you...the fab sketch is from Sketch Saturday challenge and I'm also entering it for the Papertake Weekly challenge and Truly Scrumptious challenge too...I'm going to do some crafting and tidying today so not going out at all...whatever your up to today have a fantastic one
Mina xxx

roses in bloom...

Good morning everyone I hope your all safe and warm, its still blowing a hurricane here and I finally picked my bins up just to hear them go flying to the bottom again a couple of hours later...they are bloody staying there now until the wind and rain and hail has gone for at least 8 hours and so is the rubbish...its seems most of Europe got these storms too, there has been thousands of home without electricity too...strange in these technological days that a few storms and the whole grid goes haywire...haven't these people heard of more modern ways of getting it to us...right rant over, well for today anyway lol...I managed to get some DT commenting done last night and a few more of my own but it was like ploughing through treacle, I think the storms have slowed down the internet too if that's possible lol...I was watching Mamma Mia last night and thought hhhmmmmm I fancy a Gin and Tonic to help lubricate the vocal chords for singing along, fatal mistake all it did was make me incredibly sleepy, see that's what happens when you have a drink every six months or so lol...ok now onto my card for today which is for our new challenge at Colour Create challenge, our lovely Edna chose the colours of Cream, Sage and Red this time and I love them except you know what I'm like with red and of course I had to colour this beautiful Just Inklined digi called Rose Bloom in red didn't I (would you believe this is the amazing price of £1)...everything went brilliant until I picked it up and smudged the top corner...aaaarrrrggghhhhh another revenge of the red lol.... I used this amazing velvet embossed paper from the Kaisercraft Velvet Ensemble 6.5x6.5 paper pad from Bunny Zoe's Crafts and added some cream card as a contrast, I finished with some lush wide cream satin ribbon and a huge bow...the lush sketch is from Mojo Monday...I'm off out with my Dad today so hope the weather improves a bit, he struggles in the wind and it takes his breath away...I'm always scared getting out of his new car in case the door snaps back and dents, I have done this before oops...whatever your up to today keep safe and warm and watch out for bendy doors
Mina xxx

colours used
reds - Fired brick and Aged Mahogany
green - Bundled Sage
shading in box - Antique Linen

cobweb free...

Good morning everyone, I hope you haven't been suffering the storm we have here, I woke up yesterday morning to my two bins empty at the bottom of my garden and the contents all over the place (thank goodness they were emptied on Friday), the wind had whipped one of them so hard it dug a huge chunk out of the grass...needless to say the contents and bins are still there as I wasn't going to brave the elements to collect them, they can wait until the storms die down...my lovely Dad was telling me that his neighbour woke to a satellite dish in her garden and she doesn't even have one, well I suppose she does now lol...I wonder how far it travelled, I had visions of it sailing though the air like a scene from the Wizard of Oz...we did go out for a while though as my Dad needing some food shopping but we didn't stray far as the wind, snow, rain and hail was almost horizontal...straight home a fire on and heating full on and we were sorted for the rest of the day...ok now onto my card for today which is a midway reminder for our mega challenge over at Crafts and Me Challenge, you still have until the 18th January for a chance to grab one of the 6 amazing prizes on offer, the theme is anything goes and you can enter a maximum of 3 times too, so what you waiting get on over there and join in...I used this amazing Dusk digi stamp by Sara Burrier, beautiful isn't she and one of my all time favourite Crafts and Me digis...I coloured her with distress inks and the stunning paper is a Michele R Digital Design paper called Vintage Postcard, I printed it three times and layered the flower, butterfly and one of the leafs...because the image and paper is so beautiful I didn't think it needed anything else...well I hope it didn't anyway lol...I'm entering this for the Top Tip Tuesday challenge and Magical Monday challenge too...oh btw is anyone having problems with blogger?, some of my sidebar info and gadgets keep disappearing and I seem to be dashing around chasing them...oh well I'm sure it will settle down...I'm not going out today I'm going to watch the bad weather from inside in the warm...whatever your up to I hope the weather is better
Mina xxx

not just for Christmas...

Good morning everyone I hope your all well and happy, I had a semi successful crafting day yesterday and managed 3 dt cards, but I so need to do so so much more...at least over the last couple of days I have done some fabulous blog hopping and plan to do loads more tonight, I so miss it when I don't have time to do hopping, I love a good surf don't you but I'm so easy distracted by links lol...I wont get any crafting done today as my lovely Dad needs some shopping and I feel a coffee to put the world to rights is desperately needed...well it wont sort itself out will it lol...my card for today is using a Christmas stamp, don't you just love it when you can use something all year round..I used this stunning little Wish Upon A Star from Funky Kits and with the addition of some cute teeny tiny pearls and a load of glitter I changed its use, I think it works really well don't you...I coloured her with Distress inks and I'm so sorry but I keep forgetting to keep a note of the colours I use to add at the end, but I will do my best in future...the lush papers are from the new Basicgrey Little Black Dress paper pad, this pad is so lush, when you first look at its you think its all greys and blacks but it isn't there's some pale blues and creams/gold as well, there's also an amazing animal print in it that I cant wait to use...this pad and loads of other crafting goodies were a Christmas gift from the fabulous Karen at Sugar Nellie, isn't that amazing...I finished my card with some fabulously glitzy sparkly ribbon and a bow and a couple of crown pins from the Ribbon Girl...that fabulous sketch is from the Sugar Bowl challenge and I'm entering this for the Basicgrey Challenge, have a wonderful day everyone and whatever your up to I hope you have fun
Mina xxx

young love...

Good morning everyone, I hope your all well and are having a great start to 2012, Phil has gone back to work and it seems so strange to be here alone again but at least I will get loads of work done today, well that's the plan anyway...we had a fantastic family lunch yesterday and my lovely Dad seems to have his appetite back and even asked for a second Yorkshire pudding, fingers crossed he is well and truly on the mend, you probably heard the sigh of relief from where you are lol...because my Dad wasn't with us for Christmas we had a extra special lunch and even had Christmas crackers, and he chuckled at each and every terrible bad joke in them too...I missed his laugh as we haven't heard it much when he wasn't well, we are going shopping together tomorrow so he can spend some of his gift cards he got for Christmas, I don't like shopping for clothes with my Dad, he doesn't really need anything and the men who complain women are picky shoppers should spend the day with my Dad, I will give you an example when we were shopping for a new TV for him, it took him 12 weeks and I mean looking at them at least twice a week too...couldn't make his mind up if I paid him lol...anyway onto my post for today, its for our new challenge at The Pretty Little Ribbon shop challenge...

the choice of theme this time is from our fab teamie Peet and she chose Be My Valentine, as soon as I started to think about this DT project I knew I had to use this amazing Ragged Romeo from Mo's Digital Pencil, stunning isn't it and look at that little girls face, perfection, I coloured them with distress inks and used them as a tag for a box...the stunning ribbons are from The Pretty Little Ribbon shop and are Antique Gold Sheer Ruffle Edge 16mm (just peeping behind the white) and White Silky Crush wired ribbon, I finished with loads of Prima roses and a mixture of velvet and satin leaves from my stash...wait until you see what the rest of our wonderful came up with, wow...I'm entering this for the Simon Says Stamp anything goes challenge, the Joanna Sheen Celebration challenge (mines Valentines) and the Dutch Dare Card challenge too...I'm having a crafting catching up day today and I'm not coming out of my craft room until I have caught up...have a wonderful day everyone and when you have time pop on over to The Pretty Little Ribbon shop challenge and join in
Mina xxx

Happy New Year...Asprin anyone?...

Good morning everyone and Happy New Year, I wish you all love, happiness and good health for 2012...anyone got a hangover?, oh and have you made any resolutions I would love to hear them, I never make any as I never ever keep them so its not worth the guilt trip when I never manage them...er...remember I said I wasn't going to buy anything in the sales, well we all went to Sainsbury's yesterday to get the food for today's New Years Day/Sunday lunch and I couldn't resist a little mooch through their sale goodies now could I, then I saw it, the fluffiest, biggest dusky pink dressing gown I have ever seen and an amazing 40% off now how could I resist that...so I didn't and bought it...I look like a polar bear who is going through its pink phase but it is so warm and lush, I love it...my card for today is for anyone who needs a little help with their hangover lol...the fantastic image is from Mo's digital pencil and is called Nurse, shes great for any get well card don't you think, I coloured her with distress inks and these lush Christmas papers (see you don't have to use Christmas papers just for Christmas do you), I haven't a clue who they are by though as there's no markings on them at all, I bought them from my local shop Crafter's and Co so must ask Sara who they are by...I finished with a white satin ribbon and a red tartan bow, the letters are from a sheet of Basic Grey embellishments...the fab sketch is from the My Time Made Easy challenge and I'm also entering it for the Card Crafter's Circle challenge and the Charisma Cards challenge too...I am so so behind with all my DT work that Phil's says he is going to make lunch today to give me a chance to at least get organised as to what I need to get done, thank goodness for men that can cook lol...we are having a lovely family lunch today, my favourite thing to do...whatever your up to I hope you have something wonderful planned too
Mina xxx
p.s. sorry about the photos but the sky is so grey atm it seems to wash out all the colour

a bit of time and some favourites...

Good morning everyone, I hope your all well...well we hit the shops yesterday and I got a huge bargain...an oven mitt lol...it was a bargain but hardly enough to get me excited I'm sorry to say, I looked at loads of sale goodies but found nothing that I really wanted so I will save my gift cards for something I really want instead of just buying something from the sale because its a bargain...my Dad is loads better thank goodness and since he started taking the re hydration solution he even looks lots better, but like most people he doesn't drink enough, I did try to tell him that tea doesn't count lol...do you have anything planned for New Years Eve then, we never do anything, in fact its usually just another night, we will maybe have a glass of wine at midnight, so go on make me jealous with all the lavish lush parties your going too...my card for today is to wish you all a very Happy New Years Eve, this gorgeous little fella is TeddyBo_84 and I coloured him with distress inks, these lush papers are from the Prima Printery 6x6 paper pad, I love this pad, the papers have an aged Victorian feel to them...the large clock is an acetate one from Kaisercraft that I bought at the last Kings Hall craft fair I went too, gorgeous isnt it...I finished with more clocks cut from the same pad and a swirly ribbon...the fab sketch is from the Crafty Ribbons challenge and I'm also entering it for the Cute Card Thursday challenge and The Ribbon Reel challenge...

have you seen the lovely Debby has a five favourite cards challenge at this time of year, she has one for Christmas Eve (which I missed) so I was determined to join in with her New Years Eve one, why don't you hop on over and enter too as you can win some candy for entering...
so here goes with my five favourite cards of 2011...boy did I find it hard, not because there is so many of them my favourites but because I make an awful lot of cards and had to go through them...I hope you like them too, the names above them are their links to the posts

Its all about the eyes

Midwinter

Welcome to the Carnival

Ive been steampunked

The Look of Love

phew that was a long one so thanks for sticking with me...have a fantastic New Years Eve everyone and I wish you and those you love the best for 2012
Mina xxx

nothing says I love you like flowers...

Good morning everyone I hope your all well and keeping warm, are you getting the wind we have, it certainly blows the cobwebs away doesn't it...my Dad is a little better and thank you all so much for your lovely wishes for him and your kind emails, I must have sounded very worried yesterday...I couldn't get him to go to the Doctors but hes taking the re hydration powders that were left on prescription for him, so at least we can stop worrying about him getting dehydrated, isn't it strange how we seem to change places the older our parents get...I seem to have turned into his Mum and spend ages nagging him so have decided my Dad knows what hes doing and just because hes getting older it doesn't mean he cant know his own body and mind, I have to respect that and he will let me know when he wants help, until then I'm just going to enjoy being with him as my Dad not as my child...soap box moment over lol...I'm gutted today, I have a favourite top its huge, long and covered with ink and has Leonardo Da Vinci's Vitruvian Man on the front (much to my Nephews amusement lol), Phil bought it years ago for me from a tiny stall in a back lane in Venice and I love it to bits, it had a small hole on the bottom of the long sleeve and I caught it on a door handle yesterday and lets just say the hole isn't small in fact its another armhole, Phil thought it was funny but I was devastated (I'm still wearing it to paint though lol)...right enough waffling Mina, my card for today is using one of the gorgeously cute Fizzy Moon stamps, I bought it from Dunelm Mill, oh and btw they are on sale as I bought one yesterday and only paid £2.99 for it, bargain eh..I coloured this one called With Love with distress inks and used a half sheet of paper from my scraps, so sorry haven't a clue where its from but its so gorgeous isn't it...I added some lush ribbons, the blue one is 16mm Berisford grosgrain Sapphire ribbon from The Pretty Little Ribbon shop, I finished with a pale blue button, the lush sketch is from the Tuesday Morning Sketches challenge and I'm also entering it for the DYSU challenge and Simon Says Stamp challenge too...I'm off out to spent some of my gift cards I got for Christmas today, oooohhhhh I love a bargain in the sales don't you...whatever your up to today have a fab one
Mina xxx

WE HAVE A WINNER...

Hi everyone its that time again...we have a winner for our lush Bunny Zoe's Crafts stamp
the Random number thingy says its no. 71
and thats......drum roll please

ADRIANA
huge congratulations Adriana, could you please email me your address and I will pass it
on to the lovely Nikki so she can get your stamp in the post
dont worry if you didnt win though as it wont be long until my next candy
Mina xxx

so much joy in one little face...

Yyyyyyooohhhoooo everyone I'm back...did you miss me?, yeah right I bet you did lol...I hope you all had the most fantastic Christmas ever, we had a very quiet one just family and lots of laughs and gift giving, my Sister and her family were down on Tuesday so I didn't get on to check my posting so oops, this should have been yesterdays but by the time I realised it was so late I just kept it for today...see what happens when your not about to check things...thank you all so much for your fantastic comments on my Nativity scene, I had so so much fun making that and gave it to my Sister for her two little un's and I'm chuffed to say they love it so much, my Dad still isn't very well at all and we are all very worried about him but will he go to the Doctors...nope, but I'm working on him and have a feeling if he doesn't go he will end up in hospital, its hard to get my head around anything else but my Dad atm but it helps to take your mind onto something else doesn't it...so my card for today is using this gorgeous little Snow Day cutie from Mo's Digital Pencil, I used this sweetie in pink but you could use it for a boy or girl I think, don't you...the lush papers are from a pack I bought from K&Co called Classic K Bailey scrap kit, it included the word and the flowers too and there's loads and loads for me to use so I'm sure you will see more of this lush kit, I finished with a chocolate brown ribbon and a scattering of pearls...I am totally lost with the challenges so I haven't a clue where this fab sketch is from but I'm entering this for the My Mums Craft Shop challenge, Joanna Sheen challenge and the Simon Says Stamp challenge too...I'm off to persuade my Dad to go to the Doctors or I'm getting him to come out, that will shift him I think, keep your fingers crossed it does for me please...have a fabulous day everyone
Mina xxx
p.s. I will be back a little later with my Bunny Zoes Crafts winner

Wishing you Peace, Joy and Happiness

Good morning everyone, thank you all so much for your lovely Christmas wishes
and I wish I could have sent everyone of you a Christmas card, I couldn't so I wanted to
make something special to show you how much I appreciate you all and to wish you all the
best Christmas ever, I hope you have a fantastic festive season with
your loved ones

all you well wishes for my lovely Dad must have worked because hes feeling
much better and he is away to Belfast with my Sister for his Christmas dinner...
I'm so sorry the pictures are so small but every time I enlarge them they go really
blurred??? (if anyone knows what I'm doing wrong let me know please)...this
is the stunning Nativity from Mo's Digital Pencil and when I decided I
would make something special to wish you all a Merry Christmas this sprung to mind
straight away (only Mo could draw those beautiful faces)...I coloured them with
distress inks and attached a triangle of card to their
backs to stand up the Angel is attached to acetate so she can float over the scene,
the stable I made from a free download of plank paper from a model making website
and I couldn't get any straw so cut this from straw coloured card...thank you
all so much for taking time to visit me today and
I will leave you to enjoy your Christmas holidays
and I wish you Peace, Joy and Happiness
Mina xxx