A Winter Robin!

Hello to You All, hoping things are good with you and that your weekend was a great one. Did everyone remember about the clock change?? I didn't bother to change the clocks as we had nowhere to be on Sunday that we needed to be time accurate, so changed them later in the morning. However, what a long night it was as I had difficulty sleeping....no surprise there, but it seemed worse than usual, so yesterday I was really tired.
I blame all sorts of things for my poor sleep patterns and indeed have been like this for years and have tried all sorts of remedies to no avail, but now as a last resort we have a new bed arriving on Thursday, so fingers crossed, and if that helps, the expense will be worth it.

Thank you all so much for the lovely comments on my last cards for the CCC. I have to say a have a big box which is overflowing with Christmas cards, however I still have a few special ones to make. So I must get a wiggle on there.

I have something a wee bit different today;

Sorry the photo isn't great, It looked better on my tablet. Anyway, this is my first attempt at doing this sort of thing and really I don't think it's bad at all... of course self praise is no praise as they say.
I found this little wood slice in Hobby Crafts and thought to myself maybe I could do something with that, so I gave it a coat of white gesso then, stamped this beautiful Robin and branch from Hobbyarts. The branch is embossed with WOW powder in Copper and the bird has been stamped in black Archival ink and clear EP. I put some Gansai Tambi watercolours over the bird, then stamped some of the small leaf stamps from JND around the edges. Liquid Pearls and that's it done.
Not too bad for a first attempt, what do you think! 
I found it quite difficult to take a stamped image, perhaps I was using the wrong ink, I'll have another go later sometime.

We had the most marvellous skies a few nights ago, I just had to go out and take a snap of them,

The street lamps on takes away just how dramatic the sky was, and I thought how marvellous the changes taking place between photographing from the front of the house and walking around to the back of it. Nature is phenomenal.
Talking about Nature.. did anyone watch the new series of the Blue Planet last night and catch the part with the mother Sea Lions and their pups?  Honestly, I had to wipe a tear or two watching one mother and pup trying to find a piece of ice to climb up on to get away from a hungry Polar Bear. The love between them was amazing once the pup was helped on to the ice, the gentle way the mother held it and stroked it was amazing.  I thought that's why I pay a TV licence, a magical moment in Nature.

Well, that's me for now, it's our respective musical evenings so early tea,  just some leek and potato soup, easiest thing to do ,so I'm away to put the finishing touches to it, so cheerio for now, take care,

Sentiment as Focus for the CCC!

Hello Everyone I hope you are well and enjoying your weekend.  We've been for a lovely walk along the side of Loch Ness at Dores and boy was it rough. I've never seen the loch with such turbulent waters and the waves fierce. Very dramatic.

Another fortnight has gone and it's time for the CCC ladies to show off their creations and this time it was our lovely Sylvie who did the choosing and she would like to see the Sentiment as Focus, so without further ado here is what I've come up with;

Both very simple cards using an Xcut die. The first card has a shadow made by cutting the die out twice and the second card is matted on to a JND EF. Gems and sequins and that's that.

Please remember to check out what the other ladies have created, you'll find there names on my side bar.

Thank you all for the lovely comments on my last card, very kind of you and most appreciated.
Just before I go here is a photo of  the Loch from our walk today, there was some sunshine between the hills looking down the Loch but unfortunately it hasn't shown  up.

Take care everyone and see you soon,

Poinsettia!

Hello Everyone, it's a lovely sunny day here, hoping it's good where you are too.

Are you all well?,  certainly hope that you are as it's getting to that time of the year when cold and flu are on the go. Having diabetes I am able to have the flue injection, but every year I ponder about having it as I don't as a rule suffer from all that many cold or flu for that matter. Only twice in my life have I been floored with a flu type virus and way before diabetes was present. One of the times I was delirious and thought little men were trying to upend the bed to get me out of it. Funny the things that stay in your mind. My friend was looking after me and said I was the most awful patient. I think it was because I apparently kept trying to get out of bed. It was the last time she offered any help in that way lol.

Thank you all so much for your lovely comments on my last card, I love reading what you have to say and of course it's encouragement too.
Here is what I have to share today;

Another of Chocolate Baroque Big Background stamps, it's Poinsettia and I've embossed it in white EP and used the resist technique with Oxides, Matted with black and red card and added some ribbon, gems and sparkle, which of course doesn't show up CB sentiment on velum. I felt that such a lovely image didn't need much more to it, it speaks for it's self.

Our Teallach is not a happy pussy cat, there is competition  for his territory from a new cat on the block.  We have new neighbours, a lovely young couple and they have a beautiful cat. Now, this is quite an elderly cat and was an inside one until the move her mum Angela informed me. As they have a fenced off back garden and because of her age, it was thought that she would stay put as jumping the fence would be too much. Well, she is getting out and is all over the  gardens much to Teallach's disgust. He has had the whole area to himself since he came to live with us three years ago.
We had a long discussion about sharing the other day but, I don't think it's done much good. I do hope though that they find a way to work it out, thought last night we heard a bit of a fight going on. 

Well that's me for now, have a lovely day whatever you are doing and see you soon,

 

Fairy Door!

 Hello Everyone, I hope you are all well, but sending out kind thoughts to those who aren't so good.
We were lucky once again in that we had no sight of Storm Brian, I hope though that no one had any problems with it.

Thank you for leaving me lovely comments on my last card, you are all so kind.

I've had a real break from puppy minding this last week as Moreen was on holiday, but I did go with them one day for a long walk in the woods and my goodness did they enjoy themselves. They are very well behaved off the lead and love rummaging around and paddling in the pools,of which there were many, I could have done with wellies.  Anyway, it was a lovely time with the three of them, I don't often get the opportunity to spend time with Moreen.  I thought with all the exercise and fresh air that I would have a good nights sleep, ha ha!, I had about an hours sleep than awake for the remainder of the night.

I have another  ribbon embroidery frame for you this time, again made for a gift,

This is a kit from Crafty Ribbons and they are really lovely, I added sequins and a butterfly and a Sizzix fairy which I glittered up, and to put it in, here's the box,

I'm afraid I can't remember everything I used here, however I'm pleased to say that my friend liked it.

Well tomorrow is the start of another week, they are going in so quickly, no great plans for it, just take it as it comes.
That's me for now, take care of yourselves and see you soon,

Hello!

Yes Hello Everyone, I hope all is well with you and you've not been caught up within storm Ophelia. Just awful that there have been deaths in Ireland.  We were supposed to be hit last night, through the night, but up here it was really only heavy rain, we were very lucky. I think though that the weather is still to be stormy till the weekend.

Thank you all so much for your lovely comments on my CCC cards, you are very kind and I appreciate then all and the time it takes to visit and comment.

I have a little Hello card today;

A simple card but I think it's very effective, I started off stamping the Big Bold Leafy Background stamp from CB and heat embossed in white, then coloured with Oxides, I believe this is called the resist technique. Added a sentiment die from Xcut and a few sequins. I think this style would be good for batch making.

Now for another pair of socks;

This was lovely yarn to work with, Arne and Carlos and I loved the way the pattern of the yarn takes shape. They were for Mr. Duck when we went to Coventry, and as I had never met him, I had no way of knowing his size, but all was well, fitted and liked.

Alistair is out at his music group tonight, quiet night for me and puss and for some reason, it really will be quiet as I plan to sit and read...no TV, so I will get myself comfy, get a coffee and settle down.

That's all for now, enjoy your evening too and see you soon,

Non Traditional Colours for the CCC!

Hello There Crafty Friends and Visitors, I hope you are well today and enjoying the weekend.
Well we are half way through the month, can you believe it! where is the time going?  I feel I just want to press a button to bring it to a stop.

It's also time once again for the Christmas Card Club to share their lovely creations and this time it's Carol who has done the choosing of the theme and she would like to see cards with non traditional colours, so here we go;

Blue, grey and pink for this one with Inkylicious tress and some sequins, sentiment is from CB, finishing with lots of sparkle.

A pretty tree made from CB Snowflake stamps, with a CB sentiment heat embossed in the middle of it. I've used Hero Arts Ink pad in Ombre Autumn and plenty of gems.

Snowflake embossing folder, tree and snowflakes which have been heat embossed with white powder are from JND and can be purchased from Mrs. Duck here. 
I used black Centural Pearl card and sanded it back, then added some pearl sequins. The sentiment is from CB and heat embossed also. Ribbon and a dazzler and job done.
Do you think I've got a thing about trees?? Carol, I enjoyed this challenge, and I think it could be said that my colours are more winter than Christmas, thanks for the challenge.

It was a lovely morning here so we decided to go for a walk around the Culloden Battlefield, very busy it was too, still lots of tourists visiting, mind you Outlander is contributing to that. The visitor centre has lots of items for sale inspired by the drama, I've resisted . Alistair treated us to a pot of tea for two and fruit scones, which were really poor, I didn't ask how much it cost, but I bet he didn't get much change from a tenner.

Thank you for all the lovely comments on my last card, I do appreciate them all. 

That's me for now, do please visit the other members of the CCC as there will be plenty of lovely creations , off to schedule this for the challenge going live tomorrow,

Beautiful Autumn!

Hello to Everyone,  hope you are well and enjoying your day.  We have had sunshine but no warmth today, but still got washing out and semi dry....I've turned into my mother.

Thank you all for visiting and leaving such lovely comments on my last post, it means a lot, especially when it's something  I've not made before and not too sure about.

I've got a couple of little Autumnal projects today, first up;

I started off with a gorgeous CB  stamp, Big Bold flower and heat embossed in white powder. Applied Oxides in autumn shades mounted on to Black card. Last year I bought a beautiful paper pad by Sara Davis, I've used some as a background.  Inkylicious sentiment stamped on to velum.  The leaves are dies from Sara Davis  using up some scraps from the same paper pad.  I added some red sequins. 

Next up; 

Lovely cosy socks knitted for a friend. I can't remember what yarn it is, but it's alpaca which is warmer than sheep's wool . I was concerned that I wasn't going to have enough yarn to get the pair out of the skein as I bought it a few years ago so wouldn't be able to buy more. But I made it.  Just love the colours.

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

I would like to enter my card into:http://movingalongwiththetimes.blogspot.co.uk/2017/10/56-autumn-fall.html

Printer's Tray Collage!

Hello Everyone, it's been just over a week since I was last here, so I hope all is well with you, but if not, here are some kind thoughts and hopefully you will be tickity boo soon.

I've been busy finishing off projects started ages ago and them left as my momentum disappeared, anyway, I've managed to get some finished, here is one of them;

I bought this Printer's Tray from Crafty Individules a while back after watching Lesley from CB using them on one of the Hochanda shows, then forgot how it was decorated up, so as you do it was left in a drawer. So eventually, in a flash of inspiration it was finally brought out and this is the result.
Mostly stamps from Chocolate Baroque and Crafty Individules, coloured with Aqua Pens from SN. Butterfly dies from Signature. The tray itself is painted with Starlight Paints.
I hope you like it, once I got started I quite enjoyed it.

I've been spending a lot of time with Milo and Rowan,we have great fun as you know, here a couple of photos,

They both have gigantic hide chews, Rowan loves them and her's is almost as big as her self, but still manages to carry it around with her. Milo, eventually gets bored with it, he's too laid back and cool to to bother with it much.....unless Rowan leaves her's, they are comical.

Thank you for all the lovely comments on my last card, you are all very kind and I do appreciate your time.

That's me for now, off  now to put a curry together for dinner. Alistair asked especially for one this week so it's going to be a lamb korma. He is off up a hill to day with his chum Bill, they have a lovely day for it, so till next time, take care of yourselves,

The Night Before Christmas!

Hello Everyone, I hope you are well and ready for a new week. I have to say that Autumn is well and truly here up in the Highlands of Scotland, it's pretty cold and we've had lots of ran and blustery winds.
 Alistair has just left to go on one of his traditional canoing trips... he and is chums are mad.
He was looking out his really good sleeping bag, it's one that cost him a fortune and apparently he could sleep on the top of Everest in it....not that I'm intending to allow that to happen. 
Anyway, off he went with  all his gear and a great big container of Chilli con Carne that I made for them all, there are four of them, as happy as a sandboy. Peace perfect peace for a couple of days.

Thank you all so much for your kind comments on my CCC cards, and a warm Hello to Bridgit who popped in from Duchess's blog, I hope you will come back and thanks for your visit.

Here is my card for today;

I've used a variety of stamps here, the lovely cat and dog sitting in front of the tree is from the Gift stamps set from Chocolate Baroque and I've been wanting to use it for ages. The lovely fireside is a freebie from a crafting magazine, the sentiment and snowflakes are also CB and the little baubles are from Card-io.  The little Christmas stocking is a Signature die which I've paper pieced.
Coloured with Oxides, watercolour pens, Gel pens. A real mixed media piece. I found some lovely paper in my stash and matted black card on to it. Gems and sparkle to finish off.
This little creation may  well be Damian and Moreen's Christmas card, because of the animals but we'll see.  I hope you like it, I had fun making it. It is much more vivid in colour in real time, somehow the colour has been washed out a bit with photographing it, sorry.

I'm out at choir practise tonight, my goodness this piece we are doing for the concert is a tricky one, quite a challenging piece for everyone, but it's coming along and it will all come together for the concert in November.

So, take care everyone, and cheerio until next time,

I would like to enter my card into: http://craftstamper.blogspot.co.uk/2017/10/take-it-make-it-challenge-october.html

Make it Round for the Christmas Card Club!

Hello Everyone, another fortnight has passed, can you believe it!  and it,s also the beginning of October, the year is flying by.

Anyhow, here we are again with our cards for the CCC, a little band of crafters getting ahead of the game to save a rush in making our Christmas cards in time for the big day.

It's a fortnightly challenge and we all get a chance to pick a theme, this time around it's our lovely Valery's choice and it's Make it Round, here is what I've come up with;

First up is a little round number using stamps by Card-io, I've used images from various stamp sets. It's a little unclear but, that's geese flying off in the sky....no doubt heading for warmer climbs
I also used CE double sided adhesive and glitter. The round shape was cut out with SB Decorative Circles, very pretty, but not the easiest to cut out.

And because of this my second card is a square with a round on it,

I hope this will do Valery, the round die is from Tonic and as you can see, I've cut a white one to stamp on and another in gold card.  This disappointed young chap is from LOTV and he is a digi image. I think his expression says it all. A bit of a mixed media for colouring, but he is mostly coloured with Prisma Colour Pencils, I've used Faber Castell alcohol inks for his skin, SN Sparkle Pens for the wrapping paper. I found this backing paper in my stash and rather liked it, I love this CB sentiment and thought it went well with the image, finished off with some gems.
This will be Kerr's Christmas card as I think the boy looks just like him now, and he just might be disappointed by a Christmas jumper LOL!

Just before I sign off, thank you for the lovely comments on my last card, and for your continued visits, I do appreciate it so much.
Till next time,