You Make Me Happy!

Good Afternoon Blogging Friends,
I hope everyone well, and for those who are perhaps not too well, sending you Hugs!!
Thanks to all of you who took time to visit me and left a wee message, I love reading them.

Lovely day here, sunny, although when putting the washing out this morning it felt quite cold, hands were like ice, but never mind it was sunny without wind or rain.
Had a day to myself, Alistair away for a walk with his chums, an early start of 7.30, so he'll come home exhilarated, but tired. I've knitted, made a card, thought about making soup but did'nt, reallyjust took things easy.  I was so tired last night when I came home from choral practise I couldn't even be bothered to post anything, in fact at one point I thought I was going to have to leave early, but we are so close to our concert date that I can't afford to miss anything.  There's always instructions from our conductor to take note ofn not only musically, but when to stand and when to sit, and it's always an anxiety that I'll get something wrong on the night.

Anyhow here is the card for today;

Isn't this image fab, the minute I spied it I had to have it, it's from The Paper Shelter, digi stamp, and I think it's called Love Bubbles. It comes as a set with image for colouring and one already coloured, this is the coloured one, the background paper is also part of the set. I've matted it on to black Core'dinations and distressed the edge to reveal an orange shad underneath. Xcut border, Sentiment from LC, Ribbon Girl ribbon, and hessian, Hobby House pearls. I think the foliage is a SB die only because I had trouble cutting it, big gem from my magic box and Star Dust.
It's very green and in reality much more vivid, but I'm pleased with it, hope you like it too.
I will probably get some more crafting done tonight, the football will be on and Alistair likes to watch the big European teams.
Bye for now hopefully see you all soon
Kate x

We Cannot Direct The Wind!

Good Evening Everyone, gosh I'm late tonight, I hope you have had a great Sunday whatever you were doing and that the weather was kind to you.  It's been quite a mixture here today, but I've felt cold.

Thank you for all the lovely comments about my previous card, I'm pleased you you all liked it.
I've another new follower, so a warm welcome to Janina, it's great to have you visit.

I was left rather annoyed and frustrated earlier on as I was trying to get through to BT, I've decided at long last to go to another broadband provider and I needed to get a particular cod from BT.  An hour and a half I held on the phone, listening periodically to how busy they were and my call would be answered shortly.  Well I gave up, still not through, During this time I made the dinner, brought in washing and did a bit of ironing all with the phone glued to my ear.  What an unacceptable service BT provide and I am even more determined to change providers now.  Needless to say I'm disgusted.

Anyway, apart from that I've had a very pleasant day, didn't manage to get any crafting done but, here is a card I made a while back but not posted;

This was a commissioned card.  Creative Expressions stamp set, I've kept everything in shades of black grey and white. Papers are from a Debbie Moore Vintage Travel CD, Xcut dies Black card, inked around edges with Memento London Fog, the sentiment comes along with the stamp set, computer generated happy birthday, a couple of black gems.
Now when I asked what sort of thing was the recipient like I was told "shinty", well I hunted and hunted for something to do with this sport, even trawled the internet, but no luck.  So this was what I came up with, I thought that as it is for a older man, it would do, and after all it does begin with an S.

Off to bed now, hope everyone had a good night, see you soon,
Kate x

Francesca in the Winter Field!

Good Afternoon to You All, I hope the day has been good to you.

Weather is a bit better here today, no hailstones at least thought still a good chill in the air. as I was on my own today, I took myself off to Nairn in the morning to go to my little wool shop, quite a ways to travel for some wool, but I didn't buy enough of the particular one I wanted for more socks.  As it was so nice I had a walk along the beach, bracing is the only word for the experience, but I still enjoyed it, I was really early so not many folk about,only the early dog walkers.
 I've been knitting whilst watching "Notorious" an old black and white film with the wonderful Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman.  gosh they don't make movies like these anymore. Some might say thank goodness, but I'm afraid I can't really do with all the crashing and banging that goes on in some of the modern films.

I've been wondering how Alistair is getting on.  He has been at an Archaeology Seminar since early morning and it goes on all day.  He finds it difficult to sit in any one place for long and this seems a mammoth amount of time for this.  Hope it's interesting for him, because if it's not he will wish he'd been off into the mountains.

Thank you all for the comments left on my previous post, as always very much appreciated.
I've been having a tour around your blogs and what marvelous work there is, and I'm always amazed at where people live and yet we all reach one another.  I have a new follower, Nikki, who lives in Torrance, well, I got all excited as for the first twenty four years of my life I live about five miles away from Torrance, in Kirkintilloch, and I thought, wow, someone from almost home.  Well yes you've guessed it, this Torrance is in the USA. It's amazing is'nt it!!  Anyhow, Nikki, glad to have you here.

My card today;

This is I think a beautiful stamp from Sarah Kaye called" Francesca in the Winter Field" and I've used Promarkers for colour.  Stamped on to card cut with Xcut die shapes, and Core'dinations. Sentiment from stamps which came with Creative Stamping.  Papers from First Edition, Stocking Fillers and Christmas Vintage. MB Fabuolus Phlox, Lace from the Ribbon girl, Olive green gems from the Hobby House, Card Candy, a little bit of Star Dust and Glossy Accents on Francesca's wellies.
My colours have been inspired by the beautiful rich reds in the photo for Winter Wonderland Challenge.

I would like to enter this card into;   http://christmasblogchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/photo-inspiration.html
and also into;   http://ilovepromarkers.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/challenge-165-square-card-with.html

That's me for today, I hope you like my card, I'm rather pleased with it myself.
Must away  and forage for tonight's dinner.  Enjoy the rest of your Saturday.
Bye for now, Kate x

It's a Hoot and a little bit of Leg!!

Good Evening to you All,  Well we have had horrible hailstone showers this afternoon and it's become quite cold.  I really think we are skipping Spring this year.  As some of you who have been following my blog for a wee while know Alistair and I  are off to Iceland, (the country) in early June, I bet it will be warmer there than here. 
Anyway I hope you are all well, and a big Hug to those who are struggling at the moment, that includes me as I'm one of those struggling.  It's like two steps forward and one step back just now.  Due back to see the doctor next week, so will see how that goes, but at this moment in time I don't feel ready to be facing my work.

I've been noticing new followers ove the lst couple of days, so welcome aboard, it's great to have you here and I hope you continue to visit.  Thanks to all who left comments on my last post and I have to smile whilst reading them about the comments on the comment I made about my paper flowers being pants.  This is a term used by my son to refer to anything thats a disaster and I'm afraid I've cottoned on to it.

I've got a couple of projects to show today, here is the first;

My latest socks modelled by "The Lovely Alistair", he thinks I should show more of his legs as they're so lovely, however it's the socks that's the project I tell him not his lovely legs.
These I have to say are not toe up, just regular knitting, and they are for one of Alistair's friends.  I love these randomly dyed yarns, cos this is the only way I'll get near to knitting anything resembling Fairisle.
And now;

A card I was asked to make, and I've used a Papermania Urban Stamp, and coloured with Promarkers, paper is Kanban from the Mechanic paper pad, Core'dinations embossed with Tim Holtz, wood folder. Sentiments done on computer, Sizzix foliage die, buttons, twine and card candy from my magic box.

That is all from me today, hope everyone has a good weekend.
See you soon, Kate x

Venice Carnival!

Good Afternoon to you all, and hoping that you are well today.
Thank you very much for all the lovely comments on my last post , not only about my card but about my friend Dale.
I would also like to give a very warm welcome to my latest follower and say thanks for deciding to visit me, I hope you like what I create.

It's been a mixture of weather today and I've been nowhere, Alistair has been painting the fence but has had to stop off and on because of rain, for me it's been a pottering around the house sort of day.  I finally managed to finish today's card though, I have been working on it for three days off and on.

I have also been trying to make SB flowers.  I bought a new die, Bauble Blossoms One and couldn't work out how it was make, had an eureka moment and thought You Tube and sure enough there was a video.  So I watched it and took note, returned to my table and proceeded to copy what I'd watched, and guess what, my flower turned out to be pants!.  had another go, no luck with this one either, so gave up, and decided on a WO flower for the time being.  Me thinks a good deal of practise is required.

I then decided that I should really try and learn how to knit toe up socks as I had bought a book of toe up patterns a couple of years ago and it's just been gathering dust.  So off to You Tube again, found some videos, and started watching, tried to cast on along with demo got in a fankle, six times I might add, then decided I do OK with how I do socks at the moment.  Maybe just now isn't the right time to be learning new things, the old brain is just not functioning.  I'll have another go at some other time.

On to my card;

This is one of the lovely digi images from The Paper Shelter called Venice Carnival, the background paper is also from the same set, but as I am needing ink in my printer has not coloured up well.  Image coloured with Promarkers, image matted on to Hunkydory Adorable Scorable card, MS punched border, LOTV sentiment, WO flowers, ribbon from my box, gold and burgundy gems also from my box.

I really loved this image the moment I saw it as it reminds me of another thing for the bucket list.... to be in Venice during carnival time.  I would need to win the lottery for that though.
So that's me for today, better get going with the dinner now.
Have a great evening whatever you do, me... well I might just have another go at casting on for toe up.
Be back soon, Kate x

Ivory and Cream!

Good Evening Everyone, hoping you are all well and for those who are perhaps struggling just now for whatever reasons, well, sending Big Hugs.

I was wishing I was with my friend Dale today as she was having results of a biopsy, I was on tender hooks all day waiting for her to phone, and as the day wore on I was beginning to fear the worst and wondering whether to call her.  You know the kind of dilemma, should I phone or wait a bit longer, should I phone her  daughter who went along with her.  Anyway, she eventually phoned and all is OK.  I could hear the relief in her voice, and I thought how brave she's been waiting all this time  to find out.  Dale tends to keep things to herself.  It puts my problems in the shade.

Thank you everyone for all your lovely comments on my last post.  Very much appreciated.

This is just a short post tonight, I'm a bit tired, sleep eluded me last night and I'm a bit whacked, I do have a card though;

I've used one of the LOTV new stamps and coloured with Promarkers, stamped on to an Xcut die shape, Hunkydory Adorable Scorable card. SB Paisly pattern embossing folder. Papers are Kanban Vintage Tapestry, Hessian, ribbon and pearls from The Ribbon Girl, WO roses with a Sizzix Foliage die,  Crafty Individuals Butterfly die, Flower Soft sentiment, finishing off with Glamour Dust.

I would like to enter this into,  http://ribbongirls.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/april-colour-challenge.html  
Ivory and Cream.

Just another for my box.
That's all from me just now, see you soon,
Kate x

Three Little Gift Bags!

Good Morning All, hope Monday finds you well, and not being blown away with the quite high winds there seems to be in some places.  We have a blustery day here, but I put towels out so hopefully they will dry.
This is just a short post today, I'm still in my PJ's, and it's after 11 am, such laziness I hear you shout, but I had a poor night with not too much sleep and when I was asleep it seemed to be quite troubled.  Alistair told me I shouted "help" a few times.  I can only think that there is still stress there, I suppose years of bottling it up means it's not going to be solved in a week.

Thank you for all the lovely comments on my previous blog, and a warm welcome to my new followers, great to have you here.

I've got three little gift bags to show today, made a few weeks ago, for my crafting visitors, with a little something in them to remind them of their visit. I was rather pleased by how they turned out, see what you think;

The stamped images are a mixture of LOTV and Little Claire, and various papers from my hoard, WO flowers Sizzix dies, and charms from The Ribbon Girl, ribbon from my stash.

I'm off to visit another crafty friend this afternoon, Margaret got me started with embossing and die cutting when I began making cards, so we will have a blether and a couple of hours of crafting.
Have a good day everyone and see you soon,
Kate x

My Friend Flakie

Good Afternoon Everyone and what a lovely one it is too, a bit blowy, but it is sunny.
Thank you everyone who left comments on my last post, I love when they arrive, and it's great reading them.
A warm welcome also to my latest followers, I am so chuffed that you take the time to visit my blog.

Yesterday, Patricia, Sister Hazel and their friend Elaine came up to Inverness and we had a lovely afternoon.  this is the first time we have met and it was if we had known each other for donkeys, plenty to talk about.  They are three very lovely ladies, and it's going to be such fun going to the craft fair in Birmingham together in November.  We blethered about everything, crafting was mentioned occasionally of course.  I hope to be able to travel down to Perth or somewhere nearer them later on in the summer, I'll have my flexible friend (bus pass), by then, so not so expensive to travel. Gosh I would never have thought that turning 60 would have anything to recommend it!!  It was a full day for them, but we all enjoyed meeting one another.

On to my card for today;

I've used a Sugar Nellie digi stamp, and coloured with pencils, stamped on to SP oval die, sentiment is LOTV, Hunkydory swirlie card, and First Edition Stocking Fillers paper from LC. Snowflakes punched out of glitter card, WO flowers Card Candy and gems from my box.  Inked frame with Festive Berries Distressed Ink. A little Star Dust.

I would like to enter this into;  http://www.sugarbowlblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/challenge-102-april-2013.html 
"Anything goes"

Another card for the craft fair in November.  I can't really bare that I'm doing cards for Christmas in April, but I  guess I'll need quite a few for selling so must crack on.
Thanks to everyone who has given me advice on what to do for the craft fair, everything hepls as this will be my first.

Off now to finish the socks I've been making for a friend, I had one row of shaping to do and I just couldn't manage it last night, all the talking and excitement wore me out, ha ha!!
Have a good Sunday,
Kate x

Wishing You Sunshine!

Hello Everyone, hoping all is well with you and that the day has been kind to you.
Thank you all so much for your kind words of empathy, it does encourage me.  It isn't nice feeling stressed, especially when you've got to give in to it, and I do feel guilty having to come off work and leaving my colleagues struggling, but I just knew I couldn't go on and the last thing I wanted was to go completely down the tubes.  As I have to continue to work thanks to the government moving the goal posts, I do want my last few years to be constructive and enjoyable, It's ironic that I work in the mental health field.  Anyway enough of that.

Welcome to my latest followers too, great to have you visit me and thrilled that you want to do so.

We had a lovely day in Elgin, the weather was sunny with just a little bite to the breeze, and we eventually found the craft shop.  Oh such goodies!! Alistair remained in the car and I thought great he won't see what I'm buying, but I must have taken too long cos in he comes, however I continued to wander around and he soon got fed up and went out again to the car.  Didn't buy lots, but I wanted to get some Sugar Nellie stamps.  The shop had quite different things to the craft shops here in Inverness.  loved it.  I really want to get through to The Papeterie, but I think that is somewhere nearer Aberdeen, and for another day, maybe with out hubby.
Then we walked in to the centre of Elgin to the music shop for something called a "frog", which is on the end of a fiddle bow.  Not lucky, shop didn't have any and would cost £27 if it was ordered.  You can buy a new bow for half that price.  Now I'm not sure why this piece is required as his the bow he plays with seems fine, but what do I know, he was a bit disappointed he couldn't get one.  He soon cheered up at the Ashvale fish and chip restaurant where we had a fantastic lunch. Needless to say my blood sugar is through the roof, but it was a day for treats.

Back home now and Alistair is away for a cycle to work of his meal, I don't do exercises, it's against my religion, so I thought I would catch up on your blogs, and what lovely creations there are, such talented people out there.
 I have a card to share today;

Isn't he just so cute, one of Mo Manning's latest stamps and it's called Sunshine, I've coloured with Promarkers, LOTV sentiment, Papers are First Edition New Leaf, The Ribbon Girl Lace, Xcut dies and MB dies.  Kraft card base with Centura Pearl card , gems and Star Dust.
The colours are a bit more vivid, doesn't show here too well.
I would like to enter this into;  http://mosdigitalchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/challenge-181-spring-and-blog-hop.html
Just before I go, I have to tell you that there is another treat in store tomorrow, Patricia(SummerhouseCrafts), and her sister Hazel and their friend Elaine are coming to Inverness tomorrow and we are meeting up, I'm really excited and looking forward to eventually having them here.  The weather rained off play the last time it was arranged. Fingers crossed for tomorrow.
That's me for today, Have a great weekend, whatever your doing,
Hugs Kate x

Gorjuss and the Bear!

Well Hello to You All, and I hope today finds you well.  We have a horrible dreach day here in Inverness and I think the temp may have dropped a bit as I'm feeling a wee bit cold, hope where ever you are the weather is better.
Thank you everyone for the lovely comments on my cushion cover, I love reading them, and also welcome to my latest followers, it's great to know that you take the time to visit, that goes for all you very talented people.

I have had to come off work, hit a blip with stress and things became a little too much, a long time in the coming I have to say, so the doctor  was completely understanding and agreed I needed time out.  But, she warned to continue doing nice things, so I certainly plan more card making.  I'm awfully tired though and now that I know that for a spell I don't have to drag myself into work, it's almost as if I have permission to collapse.  I'm sure those who have maybe been there will know what I mean.  Anyway, just as soon as I feel a bit better, I will use the time to recharge my batteries in order to plan my strategy for returning to work.

Anyway enough of this,  I am looking forward to going through to Elgin tomorrow and going to find the couple of craft shops there.  I can't believe Alistair has agreed to this, it's brilliant, although, I think the lunch out a a famous fish and chip restaurant, can't remember it's name, is a motivator, whatever, I'm delighted.

I've made a Christmas card today, it will be the first of many as I have booked a table to do a craft fair in November, it's in Nairn, and a friend who also knits will share it with me.  Never having done a fair before I have no idea how many cards I will need, but if I start now I just maybe have plenty.  This is more to have experience of taking part in craft fairs, even although I might not sell anything, I think It will be good fun.
Susan who will be doing the knitting goes like lightning with her needles, so she will manage to make loads of lovely things.
Here is my card;

As you can see it's Gorjuss, coloured with Promarkers. XCut dies and MB Fabulous Phlox die, which I've inked with Tumbled Glass Distressed inks.  Embossing folder, I think it might be Papermania, Sentiment is LOTV and paper is Nitwits also from LOTV. Dark blue card from my box of bits, The Ribbon Girl ribbon and pearls.  Star Dust to finish.
I would like to enter this card intohttp://christmasblogchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/winter-wonderland-red-and-green-must.html

I'm rather pleased with how it's turned out, hope you like it.
That's me for today, I've a few blogs to visit so I'm off for a tour around them.
Hugs Kate x 

Aran Cushion Cover!

Hello Everyone, hoping today finds you all well.

We have had some awful blustery weather today, with some sunshine in between, wouldn't like to be at sea today.

I would like to offer a warm welcome to my latest follower, Karen, it's lovely to have you visit my blog.  I get really excited when I find someone new because it means that I have a look at what you do and that leads me off into a wonderful journey of more inspiration.

Just a short post today, and instead of a card I'm showing the Aran cushion cover that I was trying to finish for part of my son and daughter-in-laws Christmas.  Well I didn't make it, and in fact when we were with them on Christmas day, I noticed that Moreen had lovely new cushions. That said, the knitting finally got finished and I've kept it, so here it is;

This is the back which is just stocking stitch,

It's a lovely pattern and not at all difficult, but I found it difficult to concentrate, and Alistair would just have to ask if I wanted a cuppa and it would throw me off count. 
It is knitted in Sidar Aran and it's a brown fleck shade, doesn't show well here.

I've got yet more socks on the pins and hopefully will finish them soon.  Can't knit for long these days as I have tennis elbow and my arm gets quite painful, Old Age!!
That's all for now, hope to be back soon,
Happy Crafting, whatever it is you do,
Kate x

Adventure Guy!

Hello Blogging Friends,  I hope your Sunday has been a good one.  We have had rain, wind and sunshine today, in fact, just what was forecast, but we went for a walk in North Kessock, and blew away the cobwebs and it was really lovely, on the way home however, the rain began again.  Hope you have good weather wherever you are.

Thanks to all who left comments on my last card, I do appreciate every one of them.

I've managed to produce a few cards today, on a roll, I guess, I won't have the same opportunity during the week as I will be at work. Here is one of them;

This card is for yet another of our friends who is an outdoor guy.

I have so much use out of  the Little Claire Outdoor stamp set, here I've used elements from the set as embellishments, the main image is by the wonderful Mo Manning, all coloured with Promarkers. LOTV sentiment, Kraft card and Core'dinations card, Paper from Nitwits, it's xmas paper, and card candy.  Found a bit of map I'd photocopied for one of my other cards so used that. The little sentiment on the main image comes with the LC stamp set, and it is just right for Graeme, in fact all of Alistair's friends do "enjoy every moment" when they are off doing their thing.

It's always difficult to find an image for a man's card, especially if the person is interested in  pursuits other than footy, wish I could find something with a Canadian canoe, cos that's one of the other things they do, so if anyone out there knows of any, I would love to hear of it.

That's me for today, off to pour myself a small G&T and devote myself to getting dinner ready.
Enjoy what's left of the weekend,  Kate x

A Glamorous Shoe For Sarah!

Good Afternoon Everyone.  Hoping you are all enjoying your Saturday, whatever you're doing.
Thank you for all your lovely comments on the previous cards, I will be telling the two people who made them that their cards were very much liked.
I've been trying to catch up with housework, no matter how much you put it off, eventually needs must.  We have had a lovely day up here, not so cold and some sunshine so at least I've managed to get washing out, and I did the ironing whilst watching "To Kill a Mocking Bird", a fantastic film, in my opinion, and with Gregory Peck, whom I just love.  Ahhh, they don't make movie stars like him any more.

Anyway, I've got a card which is a request for a daughter's 18th birthday;

For a young lady who likes shoes, and who doesn't, I've used a digi from Justinklined, and colours with pastels and distressed inks.  Paper is First Edition, Noir et Chic, and grey core'dination card. numbers by LC, Marianne Happy Birthday die, letters from Tim Holtz.  Feathers from Papermania Art Deco range, pearl Pins and flowers from WO. gems from my box of stuff and loads of Glamour Dust.

I had fun doing this, I hope she likes it.
That's all from me today, hope to be back soon.  Enjoy the rest of your weekend

Hugs, Kate X

Butterfly Wishes!

Good Evening Blogging Friends,  I hope this evening finds you well and that you've had a good day.
Thank you so much to all who have commented on my last card, love reading them and hugely appreciate your time in visiting my blog.

This is just a quick post tonight to let you see a couple of cards made by two of my clients whilst at the little craft group I run at work.  We are only a few, and sometimes it's a bring your own, whatever that might be, craft, some folk bring knitting or cross stitch, and at other times we make cards.  As there is no funding to do this I just use my own stash and everyone pays a £1 which we save in the hope that at some point we can buy basic materials. I am a firm believer in the therapeutic benefits of crafting of any kind and it is quite plain to see that my clients really enjoy the couple of hours spent doing this, especially the card making as they go off with their own creation and feeling good about achieving it. Here are the two cards;

Once again the photos are not great, sorry, maybe one day I'll manage to take better ones.
The cards were made with a selection of Hunkydory Button Cute crafting kit, and gems, ribbons and lots of sparkle.
Although I made suggestions, really everyone designed there own card and had quite definite ideas. One card was for a sister's 60th and the other for a girlfriend.  Yes there are two guys in the group.

So there we are, just a little taste of what I do some of the time at work.
Hope to be back soon
Good Night, Kate x

Gardening Grandad!

Well it's good to be back, it seems such a long time since my last post.  I hope everyone is well and I can see that most of your are happily crafting away, going by the lovely creations on your blogs, I've tried to keep up with them at least.

My best'est friend, Dale, and hubby, Stewart came for a visit and brought their little Grandson Kerr, at the weekend and it was full steam ahead.  Kerr is only 9 and such a great wee lad and so interested in the things that Alistair is interested in so we planned his time here with lots to do, looking for fossils, going to the observatory, an Egyptian exhibition at the local museum, none of which we could do due to snow and the museum being closed on Mondays.  It was turning in to a bit of a disaster for him as he was all geared up for it. However, Damian, my son, came to the rescue by taking him to see the exotic animals at his friends sanctuary for rescued beasties.   So, he arrived back grinning from ear to ear and full of it. Weather apart we all had a lovely time, and Dale and I caught up with all each others goings on, and Stewart and Alistair talked none stop from the minute they bid each other Good Morning till saying Good Night, and it was all about politics.  So now they've changed the world.  And they say women can talk.

With all this excitement I didn't manage to get any cards made, but this one tonight is one I was asked to make the other week and hadn't posted, here it is;

Do you know, I can't remember where I got this image, it's a digi one, and when I find out I will let you now, anyway it's coloured with Promarkers. Brown Core'dinations card, free papers from somewhere, LOTV sentiment, Sizzix foliage die, twin from my stash, charm from The Ribbon Girl and some peel off numbers, card candy and a little Glossy Accents on the spade and ho.

It was for an 80th birthday and the feedback was that Grandad loved it.

That's all from me tonight, have a good evening,
Kate x

For You!

Good Evening Everyone and, I hope that your day was a good one.
Thanks to all who visited me and left comments on my last card, I really do love reading them.
This will just be a short post tonight, I am not long in from work, it's been a long day so I'm ready to put my feet up for an hour or so before taking myself off to bed.  I woke up last night at the back of 3am and couldn't get back to sleep, then a 9hr. shift so I'm whacked.

Here is my card;

Another of the new Little Claire stamps coloured as usual with Promarkers, Papers. flowers, button and pearls from Riverbank Revels and core'dinations card. Sizzix border die.  Foliage is MB. ribbon from stash.
I've left off a sentiment, will wait and see what I need a card for.
I like these new LC stamps, the drawings are very sweet, I've still another to ink up.

That's me for tonight, take care all
Hugs Kate x

Lambs and Lighthouses!

Good Afternoon Everyone and I hope it is such a beautiful day where you are as it is for us here in Inverness.  In fact the whole of the Easter weekend has been glorious, pretty cold but the sun has been brilliant.  The best part of it for me is that I'm of a couple of days off work and enjoying every minute.
Yesterday we went to visit our friend who had the heart attack a few weeks ago, he was able to have visitors and is very much improved.  It was great to see him and considering what he's been through, looking so well. however he is trying to come to terms that he has to change his life style. Out goes the smoking and unhealthy food and he will have to rethink his job.  He is a Housing Officer with the local Council and the stress was overwhelming, it's a stressful enough job, but now with all the welfare changes it's even more so.  He would waken up in the middle of the night, thinking about all the vulnerable folk he couldn't find accommodation for, especially women and children needing to get away from abusive husbands. So no wonder he became ill.
  He and his partner live out in the country and have a croft, on which they have all sorts of animals, as you can imagine I just love going there.  Since our last visit they have a fairly rare breed of sheep called, Zwatbles, and they are gorgeous, really friendly.  And this is the best bit, the sheep have lambs.   Now you might think I'm crackers, but it's always been an ambition to cuddle a lamb, so finally, that one is now off the bucket list.   One of the lambs has needed a bit of extra care so he's been bottle fed and here is a photo of that;

He is such a tiny wee thing, much smaller that the others, but so endearing, he is so light weight too, Alistair did snap a photo of me holding him but it didn't come out, which was annoying as you don't see his face as there is a great bottle stuck in it.
So with geese, hens, ducks, dogs and cats, oh and not forgetting the turkeys, I had a great day. 

I managed to make a card too, not really all that creative as it is a kit and I only had to decide where I was putting the bits, but it reflects the good weather......hopefully;

I'm sure you will all recognise this as a Michael Powell image from Docrafts.  Bought last year along with stamps but not used yet.  Anyway, it is a decoupage kit and I've added an anchor charm from The Ribbon Girl, a couple of shells from Nairn beach and a little Star Dust, with Glossy Accents on the light at the topof the lighthouse.
 Thank you one and all for the previous card's comments, I love to read them and really appreciate the time you give my blog.
I'm back to work tomorrow, still short staffed and not looking forward to it, but at least I feel as if my batteries are recharged.

Enjoy the remainder of your holiday weekend, and happy crafting to you all.
Kate x