Steampunk Balloon!

Hello Everyone, I hope you are all well and having a good day.

We have lost our sunshine, boo hoo, and as cold as ever with a biting wind, but it's still a day and one just wraps up warmly.

Thank you for all the lovely comments on my last card, they are much appreciated and I read every one of them.

It's just a fairly quick post today as it's choral rehearsal night so I have to have the dinner made, eaten and out the door before 7pm, so here is my offering for today;

This is a card made for one of our friends who has just found out he has the big C. However, word is that it isn't spreading and well may be able to treat it. We are all quite shocked by his news and obviously thinking about him.
Now I have no idea why I chose this fabulous Papermainia Steampunk Balloon image other than I do love Steampunk images and I thought it would do for a male card. 
Prismacolour pencils , WOS, balloon backing paper, can't remember by whom and  Papermainia Mirror embellishment.

We will go over and see him soon, after he has some treatment and if he is up to it.

We went for a fab walk on Sunday and I took a some photos from a viewpoint of Ben Wyvis our nearest Munro,

Glorious Scenery as you can see, looking out over the trees in Culbin Forest, over the Moray Firth to the Ben, and middle photo is looking up North towards Golspie and Tain.

I know some of my Blogging Friends like to see our Scottish scenery when we are out and about, but if your're not interested please forgive.

Thanks for taking the time to visit and comment, I hope you continue to like what I make and blether on about. Take care and see you soon,

Chinese Lanterns for Friday Oldie!

Hello Everyone, I hope you are all well and enjoying your Friday whatever you're up to. We have another beautiful sunny day and not just so cold.
I can hardly believe where this week has disappeared to and here we are almost at the weekend and time for sharing another "Oldie".
Erika of Snappy Crafts began sharing cards she had made at an earlier stage in her crafting career and invited anyone who wanted to join in, you can find Erika's blog here.  It's all just a bit of fun, and it's good to look back at what you made a while back and see how your crafting has changed.

Here is mine for this week;

I love this LOTV stamp of Chinese lanterns,  I can't remember what they are coloured with, but more than likely Promarkers.  My style has definitely changed over the time I've been making cards because I make less cards with flowers as embellishments or dies shapes, and I'm trying to create my own backgrounds with inks rather than use papers, although I have loads of gorgeous paper pads, so I will have to use them up at some point.

I had a lovely day in Glasgow on Wednesday, good weather and a good journey down. As the bus wasn't busy I had no one sitting beside me so I could spread myself out and I got on with my knitting.

I had a lovely lunch in the Willow Tea Rooms, all Rennie Macintosh designed, and then got on with the business of wandering around the shops.  I didn't spend much but had a good time rummaging around.

Thank you all for the lovely comments about my last card, always so kind and I do appreciate them.

Off now to put a bit of lunch together, have a great day and take care of yourselves,

  

Crackled Rose!

Hello Everyone, I hope you are all well and have had a great day.

We have had sunshine and snow flurries today, and really cold, but a healthy sort of day.  I just hope there won't be snow overnight as I am having a day out to Glasgow tomorrow and having to start out early. It's a long journey, but would you believe it, I enjoy sitting and reading, knitting and just taking time out for myself, and Alistair will pick me up from the bus station at night.  It's been ages since I've been away anywhere so I'm looking forward to it.

I've just been ooing and ahing at the loveliest story on tonight's news, perhaps some of you might have caught it, the baby gorilla that was born with a c section brought into the world by a surgeon more used to human babies. Imagine being part of that, totally amazing.  Had a lump in my throat watching it, and in he midst of all the awful news just now it's just great to hear of good things happening.  Certainly made a change from the rumbling about will we or will we not leave the EU, sick to death of that one and there is still months to go.

Anyhow, I'm here with another card made with the new stamps from Chocolate Baroque which you can find here, do visit their shop as they have the most beautiful stamps.

Crackled Rose this time and again coloured with my Kuretaki  watercolour paints. in shades of lavender. I've used a bit of a mask from Imagination Crafts to give interest on the background. An Xcut die shape, lace and ribbon and a sentiment from Crafters Companion and some glitter pen.

I hope you like this one. Thank you all for the kind comments on my CCC card, I hope you managed to see the other cards by the other club members, every one was a stunner.

Early bed for me tonight, well not this early, it's only just after 7pm, but hope to see you all again soon, take care and keep cosy,

Icicles for the CCC!

Hello Everyone, I hope you are all well and enjoying whatever you happen to be doing.

It's been a very fast couple of weeks because the Christmas Card Club Ladies are back to share their latest creations, theme this time around chosen by yours truly which is ICICLES.
Now I'm not sure why I chose this to be the challenge because I've not really got all that much by way of icicles, but I managed to come up with this;

I've used a log cabin stamp from a free collection that came along with Creative Stamping Magazine, the sentiment is also from the same set. Loads of Star Dust on the roof and on the hills.

An icicle die from Die 'sire dies, and various shades of blue to give the cold look.

I'm not all that sure about the icicle die, I think it looks a bit  like a comb, oh well it will have to do.

I'm sure the other team members will come up with some fabulous creations, so don't forget to pop over to see them.

Once again thanks so much for all your lovely comments on my previous card, enjoy your weekend and see you soon,

Flora Musica

Good Afternoon Everyone and I hope wherever you are it's a pleasant day. We have a bit of sunshine although cold, but good enough for Alistair to get away for a walk with is pal Bill. They have both had a bit of cabin fever due to the poor weather conditions.

Even Teallach is taking advantage of the better weather as he has been in and out like a jack in a box. I don't know why I'm not fitter with all this up and down to open the door for him and the rascal just seems to wait until I'm busy doing something or just sat down when he wants to be on the move.

I enjoyed watching Pride and Prejudice earlier on this morning, Sir Laurence and Greer Garson, have to say it's my favourite  out of all the films made of the Jane Austin novel, although Colin Firth's wet shirt and breeches are hard to ignore.

Part of my love of Jane's stories are that they bear no reality to the real world of ordinary people, even although the Gentry were poor they were still Gentry and I just love the line from Mrs. Bennet, about Mr. Darcy having £12.000 a year, no indication of where it comes from, just that he has it, and of course that just outshines Mr. Bingly as he has only £5.000, we're not told where he gets his money from either.  Now all this is in contrast to Dickens where all his characters have Great Expectations, even Sykes and poor old Bulls eye.  I just love Dickens as he offers a bit of trickle down effect to the poor.

Anyway, better show my card;

One of Chocolate Baroques's latest Stamps Flora Musica, which you can find here, beautiful image and I've coloured it with my Kuretaki watercolour paints and stamped the treble cleft from Musical Fanfair stamp set on to my background. Sentiment is from the free stamp set from Crafters Companion Magazine.

Thank you all for the lovely comments on my last card, your visit and comments do mean a lot as I know it takes time out of your precious day, so everyone is appreciated.

I hope you are all well, I'm off now to do a wee bit of house work, needs must I'm afraid, and I just might get a wee bit of crafting done.
Enjoy your day whatever you're doing and take care,

Black and Red for Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day and hello from a snowy Inverness. Yes we woke up to about 3 inches of snow this morning, a real winter wonderland and not expected, as we had looked at the weather report last night so that we could plan a walk and a nice lunch. So that was scuppered to a degree.  We thought we would go to Culbin Sands and hopefully see the colony of seals that laze around the beach and then head to Brodie's for a Valentine lunch, never daunted though we still made it out to walk around the new Campus of our University, it's a lovely walk and usually there are swans but not today, off to warmer climb  I dare say.  Beautiful walk though as the sun was shining, no lunch though, back home for a bit of a fry up.  

So how is your day going?? I hope everyone is well and whatever your doing your having a good time.

It will come as no surprise that I'm showing the card I made for Alistair;

A few heart dies which were free with the new Crafters Companion Magazine, the sentiment is also from the magazines free goodies. Sara Davis Signature embossing folder and Creative expressions Gilding Wax in Red. My Valentine was delighted with it, but more especially with the little heart chocolates from M&S.

Mind you far from cosying up on a cold and snowy Valentine's Day, I've lost him to the climbing wall at the local sports centre, however he did ask was there anything he could help me with (I was up to my eyes in spag bol sauce), as he was halfway out the front door clutching his climbing gear. I thought that in the spirit of the day it was better to let him go, he was as happy as a sand boy....whatever that is.  No matter how old men are, there is always a Peter Pan element to their natures.

Thank you all so much for your lovely comments on my Owl card and so pleased I made you smile.

Enjoy your Sunday, and I'll see you soon,

A Parliament of Owls!

Hello Everyone, hope you are all fit and well and enjoying your day.

We've had snow overnight, now that was a wee bit of a shock, it's mostly all away now though and it's turned out a lovely day.  We went of a walk around Culloden Battlefield, and because it's higher up than we are there was quite a bit of the white stuff, but the sun was shining so it was very pleasant and we were wrapped up warmly.

Alistair has a good visit with Jim his brother, and returned last night. He was also meeting up with his oldest pal from school days and some other friends from his former climbing days as they are all going to Greece for a climbing holiday in a few months time. He was remarking that they, the friends, are all quite old...... meaning that he is not. Funny how one thinks they are still not as old as their contemporaries, even although they are.  Bless him!.

Thank you all so much for your lovely comments on my last card, I love reading them and appreciate each and every one.

I have card made using a Chocolate Baroque stamp which was their November AYOS stamp;

Now I thought that the collective noun for owls was College, my reasoning for this is that owls are deemed as  wise, but the noun is  Parliament,  isn't that odd cos in my opinion there aren't many wise individuals in Parliament.

Anyway, it's a fabulous stamp and I've coloured it with SN Alcohol pens and added sparkle with the new glitter pen.
Lesley from CB created the background paper and I've matted and layered on to brown and green card. Centura Pearl light gold card embossed with a SB EF. Foliage dies are also from SB. CB Sentiment from the Macintosh set of sentiments.

It's quite Autumnal looking, but I have to admit to these being some of my favourite colours.



Well that's my share for today, off now to have a colouring session with my new CB Floral stamps which are gorgeous, and my wonderful Kuretaki watercolour paints which I just love, so I will see you soon. Enjoy your day,

Be Happy!

Good Afternoon Everyone and I do hope that you are all well.

It was a gorgeous day here, sunshine but quite cold, now the rain is on, which means that my whirligig of towels will be far from dry. Mind you if that's all I have to concerned myself with, I'm pretty lucky.

Enjoying a few days of piece and quiet as Alistair is way to Glasgow to visit his brother, Teallach also enjoys the piece and quiet. Alistair is always on the go.

So I have a card to share and I have to thank Pauline of  http://craftingwithcotnob.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/f1.html  for her lovely design, I hope you don't mind that I borrowed your lovely inspiration.

I've used a card base that I've since Moses was a boy, and I think it's from Hunky Dory, beautiful Kanban paper, Centura Pearl card embossed with one of the new Sara Davis Embossing folders.
Dragonfly from the free stamps from the new Crafters Companion magazine, the sentiment is also in the stamp set. Coloured with SN Alcohol Pens and sparkled with their new Glitter pen in Crystal.

I made this card for a former client, who has managed to get her life back on track and is leaving Inverness to go back with her hubby, I am so delighted for her and how hard she has worked to cope with her mental health issues. She was a stalwart at my little craft group whilst I was still working, and she even joined the Choral Society. At one time my colleagues and I feared for her life, so it is just wonderful that she is now in such a better place.  I will miss her though.

Thank you for all your lovely comments on my last card, I do hope you will like this one.
Enjoy your evening and see you soon, take care of yourselves,

A Cosy Christmas for CCC!

Hello Crafting Buddies, how are you today? I hope well and enjoying your weekend.

We have had quite a nice day weather wise, so I meant getting around the town not being buffeted by wind and soaked with rain.

Alistair is feeling a bit better and thanks you all for the good wishes, I'm still snuffling a bit but otherwise I would say I'm over it.

I meant to mention to you that I am managing the non dairy really quite well, avoiding yeast is much more difficult as it is in just about everything.  However, I keep going and finding a difference in my system, I've also lost just over a stone in weight, which is a bonus, which in turn has meant that I have reduced my intake of insulin. So it's all good news, and having the challenge of finding alternatives for dairy is really very interesting and so is the researching of recipes.  Alistair, is also eating what I am, although he still eats dairy, and he has lost weight too, not that he was big, but he is pleased with himself.

So, enough of all that, I'm sharing my card for the CCC and it's our lovely Rachel's choice this time round and it's to make a card with texture, here is my effort;

I've used this beautiful Sheena Douglass stamp and coloured it white SN Pens and added Fluffy Stuff to the snow, it puffs up when heated but not showing up well in the photo. An embossed folder in the background, I thins it's Sara Davis for Crafters Companion.  Sorry it's not a good photo.

I'm scheduling this for tomorrow when the post goes live, so do visit all the other CCC members and see their fabulous creations.
Thanks to everyone who commented on my oldie yesterday. I do appreciated all of your kind words.

Enjoy the rest of your evening and the weekend, see you soon.

Ivory and Cream Friday Oldie!

Good Morning, Friday once again, boy does it come around fast. Mind you I've spent a good bit of the week indoors with this cold, but I'm pleased to say I'm much better, just a fraction of a cough, but my poor hubby is now afflicted with it, inevitable I suppose, so I've got my nurse hat on now.

Anyway, I hope you are all tickity boo and making plans to a great weekend.

I'm here to share another Oldie with you and of course Erika who began this a while back to have a look at handmade projects made in the past. It's just for fun, and good to look back and see how our styles have changed and hopefully improved.

Now I can't really remember when this was made, but you will recognise on of the beautiful LOTV floral images, probably coloured with Promarkers.

Why not join in with us and share your Oldies, we love to see them.

Thank you all for the lovely comments you left on my last card, everyone appreciated.

Enjoy your day and see you soon,

Pastel Daisies and Butterflies!

Hello Everyone, I hope you are all well and keeping warm and dry in this awful weather that we have just now. It has been raining horizontally today and so dark that the lamps have been on most of the day, and to make matters worse, I've come down with a cold/sinus infection and feel utterly miserable. Keeping this short today, Blogger is misbehaving and this is the third time of trying to type this out, I keep getting symbols and what I can only call codes every time I save my work and go into drafts, most strange. Anyway, here is my card; 

 Using one of the newer stamps from Chocolate Baroque called Daisy head, I coloured with with SN Aqua pens and added glitter with their new glitter pen in Crystal.

Butterflies from the Honeysuckle Butterfly Stamp set and Sentiment from the Macintosh sentiment set.

The butterflies are coloured with Promarker and glittered as above.
Background made by colour washing pink, blue, green and yellow water colours from my Kurietaki paints, (love them), Liquid Pearls, ribbon and a pink heart gem and job done.

Thank you all for commenting on my Oldie card, you are very kind, and I hope you will like this one too, I aways appreciate your kind words.

That's me for now, so take care and see you soon,

I would like to enter my card into the;
http://chocolatebaroquechallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/challenge-nineteen.html