How very Tweet!

Wandering through the blogging world last week, I came across a wonderful little birdhouse template - I can't remember the link so need to go back through my history and links - which I thought would be absolutely brilliant for the challenge over on LOTV this week.

The theme this week is Animals, and I had some of the fantastic die cuts leftover from sample making for the program on Create and Craft. And what did I have that would go with my birdy house? Of course, the little parrots..

Don't they just look the cutest? Would you like to treat yourself?? Then take a nosey over at the Lili of the Valley website where they have got some fantastic offers on at the moment, there are stamps, die cuts, and even promarkers on offer. (the promarkers are selling for £1.75 each now, which is reduced from £1.99!)

And if you'd like to join in with this challenge, don't forget to take a mosey over to the blog.

I've had a busy-ish week trying to get new samples made for my demo this week over at Southport, The Range, so I'll have more cards to show you later.

Until then.. happy crafting xx

Little additions and a bit of chatter

Hi everyone.

Just a quickie this morning before I get up and start the day. I made this little card yesterday as it's a new stamp that has never been inked..

Isn't she lovely? She's an Elizabeth Bell stamp, can't remember where from, but all her stamps are definately must-have's. This one caught my eye because it's the first 'pregnancy' stamp I've seen that appealed to me, so thought it would come in useful.

The papers I got from the lovely Lynne at the Craft Den, I think they're Bo Bunny, but don't hold me to that. I kept the card simple and just added a little flowersoft for the strings of the swing. The image was coloured with prisma's. I don't use these often enough these days, although the effect is wonderful.

By the way.. before I disappear again, did you hear that High Hopes stamps are only going to be selling wholesale from 1st August? How gutting is this? I can understand their position at the moment, and I wish them all the best.. Must order some stamps before the end of July though!

FOR SALE

Don't forget if you're loving Stampin' Up, there is a great offer on at the moment where you can earn yourself a free background stamp. Ask for more details if you're interested.

I've also got some Eazi Score and Eazi Box boards for sale. Just let me know if you need more details. These are the brilliant score boards that I went onto Create and Craft with. The possibilities are endless with these two boards!

It's been a while...

Sorry everyone who's been visiting and seen nothing new. I've had a very busy week this last week and time got the better of me, and besides me coming on here for a general natter, I couldn't show you anything that I've been making. Sigh.  Yesterday I had a demo up at the Range, in Doncaster, and I'd like to thank each and every one of you who turned up to make the event a success. It was lovely to see so many familiar faces.
I have got something to show you now though, and I hope you like 'em.

The first **ta-da** goes to my Challenge card over at Rosie Dees last week, and as you know I showed you all a sneak peek.. here's the full thing I made.

I made it as per the sketch last week, but decided to use it to make this little book. I've turned it into a little photo album with photos of who? You guessed it.. the woofers. It'll make a little prezzie for Moi for Christmas.. lol.  Incidentally, the papers and everything else to make this little book came from a prize I won over at Rosie Dees Challenge a while ago, and seeing as it was my first DT entry over there, I thought it was appropriate to use it.

Here's a sneaky of my project for this week, which has just gone live on the blog, and the theme is Wedding. Nip on over .. there are some fantastic cards over there.. I've gone all mushy over one of them - but I'm not saying who's it is!

So, back to the demo yesterday. I had made loads of samples to take with me.. some rather unique ideas too, a little bit of consumer crafting and me - stupid - forgot to photograph them. A lovely young girl came with her mum and nana, and I let her take a few of my samples as they are easy to recreate. She was so enthusiastic about her crafting too which is really lovely.

Here are some of the cards I took with me.

Oh I lovey this lickle birdy. Everything on this card was made by using the contents of the Goody bag - stamp included for the bird! - and everything matches, lovely quality and some new products too! Fantastic!! I watercoloured the little birdy in brown whispers pens and created the little background.

I think this must've been the favourite card of the day. The spotty background is the new Papermania Handmade papers which are absolutely stunning. I didn't think I would like them, but they're fantastic! The trees are dimensions stickers - I love these for a quick, instant card you can't go wrong!

This card started off life as a tryout with Kathy's sketch. but I really liked it, so finished it up for the demo.

This is the little Daisy - or could it be Dandelion? Whichever it is, it's sooooo cute!! Love his little antlers and baubles.. lol.

This was a very quick card that I ran up at the demo. It is using the handmade papers at the bottom - these are lovely.. so pearlescenty and glimmery, perfect for christmas. The bunny is a sticker, placed onto white card and the top section is stamped.

Well.. that's it for now.. I'm off for my cuppa nettle tea. It's my first one today so my brain is actually quite functional - so far I've tidied up my craft studio so I can actually get in it!, I've also had the tyre replaced on my car, and been laptop shopping for my daughter. Fun day all round if I say so myself - and hubby cooked dinner. Yum!!

Night all..

Sue's done her time!

LOL... Sue has been blogging now for two years, and I've been on her fab blog a few times. Today however, whilst popping on, I found out she's got some blog candy up for grabs - and it's awesome!

I missed my two year anniversary of blogging, and thought this is a fab way to celebrate it!

To stand a chance of winning the candy, you need to take a look at her blog HERE and answer which ones of these 99 you've done! Mine are shown in bold.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band (at comprehensive school.. lol)
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world/Disneyland Paris (All three on more than one occasion) Not a chance!!
8. Climbed a mountain (yes, but not a very big one.. it was one in Wales!)
9. Held a praying mantis No, but I have held a tarantula on more than one occasion.. and stick insects  - these are the same aren't they??
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped (yeah right!!)
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child We did foster, but never adopted
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill (shortly before I told 'em to stick the job!)
24. Made a Snow Angle ??
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping Skinny Dipping? Me?? More like bloody chunky dunk!
27. Run a Marathon I've eaten a few!
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Stood in the rim of the Grand Canyon
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an erupting volcano in person.
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance (with my son when he was teeny tiny)
47. Had your portrait painted (at art college - we had to do each other!)
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkelling Never never never a chance on this one!!!!
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theatre
55. Been in a movie ( a wedding video.. does that count?)
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia (flew over it during a snow fall - looked magnificent!)
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Cookies for charity
62. Gone whale watching
63. Been given flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favourite childhood toy
70. Visited Buckinham Palace
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt or blanket
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Been to the top of the Empier State Building
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life  by giving blood most probably..
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit (take it this is American? But yep.. did get sued for driving without due care and attention - after the accident last year! Great eh?)
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee (and a wasp!)

49 out of 99.. not bad I guess! There are a few things I'd like to do on this list, but all in good time..
 

Rosie Dees Peekie time..

OOOOooooohhhhh How exciting is it today? I've managed to get the bloomin' charger working on the computer - OLE! Mind you, it's bent in half at the end and held in place with a water squirter! Cool technical stuff here you know.. hehe..

Anyway, I've just popped on to show you a quick sneak peek of my 'item' this week as part of my three month stint over at Rosie Dees Challenge blog.

I'm not showing you the whole thing - you'll have to take a mosey over to the blog to look at all the other fantastic DT entries.. what a selection!

Here it is.. and this is my last word for tonight - I'm not feeling too well actually, so milky drink and off to bed me thinks!

LOTV

Oh what a joy it was to make this card. This was what I entered into this weeks challenge for the LOTV Blog -

The sketch for this weeks challenge was created by our very own Mummy Fairy, Jacqui. It was a great sketch to work with too. The papers and little fluffy sheepy are from the LOTV range. Check out their shop here. There is also a show currently on Create and Craft too with their new products on.

I haven't anything else to show you for now, as my samples for my demo tomorrow at Samuel Taylor's in Leeds are all packed and sorted ready to go. I'll photograph them when I get back and put them on for you to take a peek at.

Today, I've spent the day wandering around McArthur Glen, East Midlands. Did I say wandering? I meant I'd had a business meeting with a lovely lady! I can't tell you what about for now.. but I'm sure I can tell you the exciting news relatively soon! Very very very interesting stuff though! So watch this space! We did find time to do a bit of shopping too - Papermill to be more exact. They have some really lovely coloured card in at the moment in their new range - well, who could resist at £4.99 a box?? Not me, I say, not me!!

Well.. I'm off to unload my goodies for now. It was a hard journey back - a 10 car pile up on the M1.. slow traffic... air ambulances.. quite a while to get home! Now I'm gonna make a cuppa tea!

A little black and white challenge..

After being busy all week with one thing and another, I thought I'd have a bit of fun for me...

I decided to take a peek over at Rosie Dees Challenge blog and have a go at their colour challenge.. this is it -

Sunday, 28 June 2009

Rosie-Dee's Challenges - No.41

The final week here in June for our Colour Combo month.

This week we've chosen Black & White as our theme.

I bought some copics the other week from the Craft Den at Sheffield, and also some wonderful papers (Bo Bunny), and basically gave it a go.. here's my card.

Isn't this little GJ just the cutest.. she just reminds me of my stroppy daughter.. lol. She came from a swap I did with a wonderful lady called Teri. I did decide to colour her face in skin colours, as I thought she may look a bit odd with grey tones.

I absolutely love these papers and will probaly - most definately - have to go and purchase some more!!!


Here's a close up .. you can see the texture of the papers is absolutely lovely! Just to add, Lynne at the Craft Den also does mail order.. just ring her and she'll sort it for you. Link on her site HERE

Two police dogs dead? It's bloody disgusting!!

Sorry for the language.. but this is just bloody ridiculous!!

Two police dogs have been found dead in a car after the thick, unintelligent Police man who was in charge of them had left them alone in the car - in this heat!!!! I mean how bloody stupid can you get???

I just can't believe this - I mean, just how many warnings do people get about leaving dogs in red hot cars without a window open?? My woofers are kept in the house, in the shade, with a large floor standing fan spinning around at full speed! I would never dream for a moment about taking them out in this heat - they are finding it hard going as it is with the weather.

Now the poor little police officer is at home on leave - wonder why?? And he won't be charged? That's just plain ridiculous. I hope the RSPCA do something about charging him for it.. any normal Joe Bloggs would be charged, so why not he? Obviously he won't be, because he's a PO.. and we know they're a law unto themselves at times! (as I know only too well after our car accident on the IOA last year - as bent as they come!)

Sorry for the rant.. but I think people should have more respect for the animals that are put in their care.. especially someone in this position! No wonder he got angry calls.. bless!

If you haven't heard about this.. here's the story, taken from aol this morning.

Dog deaths: Officer may be charged

Last Updated: Thursday, 02 July 2009, 20:41 GMT

- Search: Police dogs car deaths

A police officer could be prosecuted after two dogs died when they were left in a car, it has emerged.

The RSPCA can prosecute the officer if it believes he or she broke the law by leaving the two German Shepherds in the baking car.

The animals died after being left in the car park of Nottinghamshire Police headquarters when the officer went inside.

The dogs were found dead in a private car belonging to their handler, which was parked just yards from a new set of kennels at the force's HQ.

The handler has not been suspended is currently on leave at home.

The force has received a number of angry calls from members of the public throughout Thursday.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission said it would not be investigating the deaths. The matter would be handed back to Nottinghamshire Police for an internal investigation, the watchdog added.

The dog handler at the centre of the RSPCA inquiry will be questioned by inspectors from the charity next week.

David Green, a spokesman for the RSPCA, said there were a number of penalties the charity could seek if the officer was found to have broken the law.

The maximum sentence for causing unnecessary suffering to an animal is six months in prison and a £20,000 fine.

Last Updated: Friday, 2 July 2009, 23:41 GMT

Do you want a freebie

Stampin' Up!® Summer Design Challenge.

What does summer mean to you? It's time to start thinking about that because this summer you could win free stamp sets when you participate in the Summer Design Challenge.

Create a summer-inspired project using current Stampin' Up! products for your chance to win some fabulous stamp sets!

There are three prizes available for customers:

First Place: A prize package consisting of stamp sets to the value of £150
Two runners-up: A prize package of stamp sets to the value of £50

Let the season inspire you to craft a unique and original project featuring or interpreting your summer 2009. Your project will be judged on excellence of content, interpretation of the theme, skilful use of technique, use of current Stampin’ Up! products, creativity, and innovation.

So what are you waiting for? Get stamping!

How to Enter
Post your original project to Stampin’ Up! UK Ltd, Aston Court, Kingsmead Business Park, Frederick Place, High Wycombe, Bucks HP13 1LA, to arrive by 31st August, 2009.

Your entry must include your name, postal address and telephone number. A list of products used must be included with the project submission. Please take a photo of your entry before submitting it as sponsor will not acknowledge receipt of entries, and entries will not be returned as they may be displayed at future Stampin' Up! events or on the Stampin' Up! web site. For a copy of the full rules, please click here.

If you are wanting any Stampin Up! products - especially for this competition - then feel free to email me  as I can take your order directly. Also, if you do place an order, I am offering my own personal gift to you ...... I will place you into a draw for a free stamp set of your choice, from the current catalogues.

Your project must be created using only Stampin' Up! products – so no Cuttlebugs, no binding machines, no altered tins (unless it’s a SU tin, such as the Flower Fusion tin, for example). No sneaking in non-SU white cardstock as, trust me, they'll know! Your project can be a card, home decor, a scrapbook page, or a 3D item. It must be on a summer theme and only one project per participant will be accepted. Your project must also be unique, original (this is not a time for CASEing, I’m afraid), and created for the Summer Design Challenge.




 

Sneaky Peeks and Cakey-buns..

After many days of wiggling, I managed to get the lappy to take some charge off my wrecked AC lead, finally! And I am able to upload a few photos that have been stored on my files.

I'm going to keep this quick before the charge runs out again.. so please bear with me if I'm MIA for a few days until my new charger arrives - or at least until I can get on my daughters laptop.

Firstly, here are a few sneaky peeks at some of the projects that are in this month's Docrafts Creativity magasine. I've had quite a bit of parchment craft in for the last couple of issues, and actually, I'm quite pleased with them. I'm not offering you too much to see, to see the projects in full, you'll have to buy the mag - it's only a couple of pounds and you get a fantastic little stamp on the front too!

And lastly, a little bit of sweetness.

My daughter Carley, had a total weekend of partying! Lucky Girl! She had her 6th form prom on Friday night, which incidentally was also the pre-evening of her friends 18th. So she asked if I could make some buns for Natalie, to take with them to the hotel they were stopping in. They then spent all day Saturday at the races in town, Ladies Day, and the evening watching a RnB concert with the likes of Alesha Dixon etc and onto town to 'celebrate' aka get drunk!

Here are the little cakey's that I made - they were absolutely delicious too.. mmmm

They were vanilla based buns with lemon flavoured pinky coloured icing, with little iced shapes on the top, candles and sprinkles. I made around two dozen for five people, and apparantly they all disappeared quite sharpish! I didn't even get one left for myself!

Oh sigh... once on the lips, forever on the hips so they say....

Right.. I'm off, as I'm down to about 30% battery power - I do wish my charger would come.. I did price one up to purchase, and it's around £50! Can you believe it! I'm so glad that the lappy's insured.. so I get it for nowt!