Toilet Paper Dudley!

Hi Everybody, how'er things with you, managing to cope with the requirements I hope!
We don't have the best of weather today, but I decided I'd go for a walk anyway, only really half an hour stroll, but I managed to not get rained on. Alistair was hoping to go for a cycle later, but I've washed his cycling gear, you know the kind of thing...pants with a padded bum, so he says he can't go. What did he do before he he had these pants??? Anyway, he's been for his walk, and it bucketed rain, aww!
I hope you are all keeping yourselves occupied and importantly, laughing. Having a good laugh, you know the kind of belly laugh that brings on tears, well it raises the endorphins and give that good feeling. I do hope that you can find something in the day that makes you laugh,cos this enforced isolation will play havoc with mental health well being too.

When I was still working I used to run laughing classed, I worked with people who experienced mental health issues, and the feed back from staff and client alike was that they always felt better. Have to say sometimes you felt daft starting to laugh from nothing but by the end of it tears were running down the face and we all felt lifted. Sometimes it was telling funny stories or jokes, whatever it took.  I know times are scary for so many folks, but it's important to stay as positive as you can.

Anyway, I've got a card that I saw on Faye Wynn-Jones blog, and I just had to have the fun image, it's a free digi from Whimsy stamps and you can find Faye's blog here

Now isn't he just adorable! Faye is the most fabulous colourist and used Copic Markers and she list's what colours she uses. I had only three of them, so I had to fall back in my SN, unlike Faye, I'm not a fabulous colourist lol, but I've done my best. It's such a tongue in cheek image and great for these times. I used a Tim Holtz Crackle Stencil with Oxides straight on to my base card and added some gems. Love the sentiment.

So, that's me for now, keep yourselves well and safe, and Big Virtual Hugs to those who need them,

Christmas Candles for the CCC!

Hello Everyone, I hope you are all well and  coping.

Can hardly believe that two weeks have past since the last Christmas Card Club post, and what a lot has happened in those two weeks. Anyhoo, here I am with the theme for this time around chosen by the lovely Rita and it's Candles on our cards, or anything goes.
I've managed three this time;

This is a much loved stamp from Papermainia, bought yonks ago, and this time I've used non traditional colours with Prisma Colour Pencils, matted on to blue sparkly card and a cream card base. Shimmer and pearls to finish. Sentiment is from A Creative Stamping magazine.

This card shows a Memory Box die that I hardly ever use, and it's such a lovely one, perfect for this challenge. Cut out in white, then again in green and the green stuck on to the holly image. More cutting in yellow card just to get those tiny bits of flame. Shimmer pen to give a bit of sparkle and some tiny pearls. I've used a Tonic Studio sentiment.

This lovely image is one from a Creative Stamping magazine and coloured with Copic markers with some shimmer. Sentiment again from Tonic Studio. Papers are from  a  Dovecraft  pad, Time to Sparkle. I decided to put and frame around the edge of the paper and  few gold gems to finish off with.
 I hope this fits the bill Rita, I had fun making these cards and using  some old stash, so thank you so much for the challenge.

Thank you all for your continued visits to my blog and the lovely comments that you leave, and it's great to hear how you are all doing, it's a great way of offering each other encouragement and support at this time of uncertainty....and it ain't going to be over by Easter, so we just have to keep doing the right thing, stay at home mostly, just going out when necessary for food and medicines and a wee bit of exercise. 
Did you all clap the Carers the other night? I dragged Alistair to the door to do it, Scottish men are not good at showing emotion, but he did it and quite a few neighbours did too. We have a nurse in our street, that was really how I got him to the door. The funny thing was that the day after we met Carrie's hubby out with their children, and  he told us that they had forgotten that it was happening so missed it. I just wish they had the PPE that they need, apparently our hospital here in Inverness doesn't have enough and we are the only major hospital in the Highlands and Islands.
I live very near the hospital and seen an increase of the helicopters flying into the hospital, Army helicopters too, obviously bought in to assist. Much of the Highlands is very rural and of course there are all the Islands to take in to account.

Anyway, we thankfully remain fine,  I'm joining in with Jo Wicks doing a bit of exercise in the morning and a wee walk most days. Alistair is going out on his bike  when the weather permits. He is missing his mountains though.  I'm trying not to let my days be filled with housework, no need to go daft with that lol, but getting quite a few cards made.

Do look at the  lovely cards that my teamies create, and I'll say cheerio for now and see you soon,
stay well and safe,

Robins!

Hello Everyone, hoping all is well with you today and that you are coping okay.

We're doing fine, and count ourselves really fortunate in not having a complicated life, so there's the diabetes, have to be careful, but it's well controlled, Alistair is very fit. We are retired, so it's easier to isolate, there is only the two of us in the house...though I have said that if it's necessary he can go down to the shed lol.  We were never people who went out socialising all that much anyway, we don't have Grandchildren, which for those who do it must be so difficult not to see and hug them. I do miss Damian's dogs though. I've always been someone who likes their own company, and content myself just being home, so all in all as I said we are absolutely fine. 
Mind my mind does wander to people who are rough sleeper and former clients who because of their mental health conditions will find it so hard to comply with things now,  I just hope they are being looked after.

Anyway, I have a card today for Maureen's https://scrapsoflifebyscrappymo.blogspot.com/2020/03/march-rudolph-days-challenge.html

This lovely image is by Little Claire, and I've coloured it with  Prisma Colour Pencils on to kraft card. I've used a little Glossy Accents on the little heart, and some shimmer pen. Little clear gems and white pen for snow. Some very old paper and a Tonic Studio sentiment, with red gems.

So, that's me for now, I hope you are not finding things too difficult, and have plenty to occupy yourselves, not listening to the depressing news too much.....thank goodness for Star Trek at 6 pm, always was a Trekkie fan, I'll see you soon ,

Pretty Tulips!

Hello Everyone, I do you are well and coping with these necessary new measures that have been put in place. Still not as stark as some countries, but it's so important that folks take notice of them and comply. I never thought I would see the day that  hanging out your washing would become an outing to be looked forward to Lol.

Mind you for all those who acting like ass....les, there's  fabulous people doing things for others. People entertaining children online, making sure that those less able in communities are being helped and of course our fabulous NHS staff, in fact all emergency staff who are working tirelessly to make people well and many with no PPE. Scandalous how successive governments have eroded the NHS, now it's coming back to bite them.

On a more happy not, baby Alessandro came home on Sunday, and his dad, held him up outside our window so that we could see him, he's just such a wee toot,  beautiful, of course dad is proud as punch. Poor mum's feet are swollen so much that she was in her bright pink fluffy slippers, she looked very tired. So although we won't see much of them until this crisis is over, it's just so heartwarming to think of them next door.

Right then have you all been going mad making cards? I have been quite busy, as I wanted to make some cards for friends that I don't see often, here is one of them,

This is a digital image from Beccy's Place, and it came along with the lovely sentiment which fitted just who I was sending it to. I coloured it with Copic  markers and added some sparkle pen. Unfortunately, it came out too fast on one of the flowers and it wouldn't mop up, but hey ho it is handmade. I splattered some Perfect Pearls and added a few sequins. I heat embossed some tulips from CB onto the card base in white EP.

I hope you are all taking care of yourselves, and not becoming depressed. My advice is not to listen to too much news, cos that will depress you. Of course you need to know what's happening, get the daily update, but is there a need to listen to all the analysis, I don't think so as it's just all repeating it's self. And let's face it, in my opinion, even the experts are not sure of how it's going. Listening to the Health Secretary last night, stuttering, prevaricating, dissembling, I just wanted to slap him.  That's my rant over. 
Cheerio and  keep safe,

  

Shades of Pink!

Hello Everyone, how are you doing?  No doubt like me trying to get to grips with all that's happening at the moment with this awful virus. I hope you are all keeping safe and taking no risks.

I felt that I couldn't continue with the aqua aerobics and had my membership frozen for a couple of months, and now of course yesterday all gyms and leisure centers were told to close. Needs must, but just as I was feeling that the exercise was so beneficial for my knees so it's disappointing. So with the Choral suspended indefinitely, thank goodness for card making, and knitting.

We got ourselves up and out for the supermarket opening at 6 am, boy what a shock to the system, and to find that shelves were still empty. Seems like certain foods are not getting through from distributors, a lack of drivers who have health issues and need to isolate themselves. Having said that, we got most things that I needed, except cat food, however, Teallach's not run out yet, and he'll have to learn not to be so fussy...good luck with that Kate.  So all in all we are lucky and won't really need to shop for around two weeks, just milk and bread. I hope you are managing to get food in the shops, it's very worrying, and the man from the NHS today, was quite right, the hoarders and panic buyers should be  ashamed, I wonder if they are?

So, on to my card;

Watercoloured blooms, from a recent Creative Stamping magazine. I used my Altenew watercolour paints and fussy cut them out.
The background was taped off to make different section and painted and when dry, I stamped flower images and heat embossed with white Wow EP.  sorry but I cant remember where the sentiment is from, a few small pearls to decorate. I wanted to keep the colours soft.

Thank you for your lovely comments on my last card, I do appreciate every one of them I have no news about the new baby as I've not seen my neighbours, so I hope all is well there.

Whilst I'm typing this post I'm watching the most fascinating wild life programme about Australia's wonderful creatures, stunning photography, that's the sort of programme that's worth the licence fee.

Anyway, I'll love you and leave you, and hope you are having a good weekend whatever you'er doing. Keep yourselves safe and calm and carry on crafting,

Congratulations!

Hello Everyone, I hope you are all keeping safe.
 Life is just so confusing these days with all the mixed messages coming from the Government, and as for the panic buying, well it's just unbelievable how selfish and greedy some of the human population can be, and not just in the UK, seems like it all over the world. But why toilet rolls! bowel problems are not part of the symptoms and they are made in the UK, apparently some people thought they came from China...eh? it's astounding the level of stupidity that's around when we hit a crisis. I managed to get some paracetamol this morning, but had to witness a customer having a right go at the manager for not allowing more than the two packets, which has been around for years, let alone at the moment. How he kept his calm I don't know, and this lady finished off by saying if her daughter dies, he's to blame. Just awful. 

Anyway, thank goodness there's crafting. My Choral Society has suspended our rehearsals until further notice, which means our May concert is cancelled. All understandable as our choir members are mostly 60 upwards. But, on a brighter note, we've a new little person on the block.

So here is the new baby card made for our neighbours Angela and Eddie 

A Pink Gem digital stamp, and thanks to Annie and Marianne who knew the image I was looking for', it's just so cute. I did eventually manage to make a box for it.

 New baby Alessandro arrived on Sunday night, but mum had to undergo a cesarean section. Baby still in hospital but nothing serious and mum home, hopefully the little one will be home in the next few days, mind you Alistair and I might be on lock down by then  lol.

So, that's me for now, the sun is shining, got the washing out and hopefully it will dry, off to get some lunch now. Keep safe everyone and see you soon,

Wreaths for the CCC!

Hello Everyone, I hope you are all fine and keeping yourselves as safe as you can from this virus. It's a scary time at the moment.

It's time once again for the Christmas Card Club to show their cards and Lorraine has chosen this fortnight's theme which is Wreaths.
Here is what I've come up with;

I use a lovely wreath stamp from a Creative Stamping magazine, one of last year's and coloured with Copic markers. Added some sparkle pen and glossy accents to the bells and berries. a few gold coloured gems to finish. Gold mirror card ans some very old paper which I thought went very well.

A bit of recycling from a lovely card received last Christmas, I love the colours on this one and just added some gold mirror card and dotted paper and I didn't think it needed anything more.

Another recycled card from last year, that I cut with a stitched circle die and matted it on to red card, and used a kraft card base. There was already glitter on the little scene, added an already made sentiment and that was that.

Thank you so much Lorraine for a super challenge, I really enjoyed it, especially getting to use some old stash and a bit of recycling.

Do look out of my teammates cards, they always come up with stunners.

Thanks for you lovely comments on my last card, take care and see you soon,

Spring Tulips!

Hello Everyone, I hope you are well and that you've got a lovely weekend planned, even if it's to do nothing special.  A quiet one for me, a little bit of housework and a bit of crafting. I've got my leek and potato soup trotting away and mince and tatties all ready for tonight's dinner.  I'm on the ball today lol.

Thank you so much for your visits and your lovely comments. I do appreciate that you continue to visit my blog, it all takes so much time so thank you.

I have a card that I would like to enter into;
https://theflowerchallenge.blogspot.com/2020/03/the-flower-challenge-42-anything-g

Not a great photo sorry about that. Anyway, this is a lovely Chocolate Baroque tulip image and I've watercoloured it with my Altenew Watercolour paints and splattered Gold Perfect Pearls over it. I've added a few tiny gold pearls and mounted it onto matt gold card. The sentiment is also from CB. I had another base card embossed, so I thought it would go well.  That's it folks.

Well we are still awaiting news of the new baby. Angela was booked into the hospital on Thursday night, but all is quiet next door, so hopefully soon.  Damian took 48 hours to make his appearance, and he and I were so tired that he had to be helped out.  It all seems like yesterday, but it's 49 years ago....eeek!

I spent the best part of an afternoon trying to make a box for their card. Anything I've got to measure beats me as I'm hopeless with numbers. I was trying to follow a You Tube video on a 5x7 box. Easy peasy...not for yours truly, the amount of card I used up was ridiculous, anyhoo, I finally managed it. Not the best, but not my worst.
Alistair laughed saying why didn't you ask me for help, I could have made it for you....just great!

Rightie oh, the cat's cleaning the windows with his paws, I don't think... trying to get me up to let him, so I'll say cheerio for now and see you tomorrow for the latest Christmas Card Club creations.
Take care of yourselves,

Life's a Climb!

Hello Everyone, I hope all is well with you and that you've had a good day. A mixed bag of weather for us today, with downpours and brilliant sunshine and feels quite cold tonight.

Thank you all for the lovely comments on my last card, I do so appreciate each and every one of them.

Just a short post tonight to show a bookmark I made for Alistair using stamps from the latest Creative Stamping magazine;

Now I know that it's not the usual bookmark shape, but I wanted to use this mountain scenic stamp, so it had to be more of a rectangle than a long shape.  I've water coloured the scene with Altenew watercolours....I have to say I love these paints, the have a super pigment in them and are just lovely to work with.  I have to report that Alistair loves it....well anything with mountains is his thing.

I've a new baby card to make for our neighbour who will be induced on Thursday, and I think the whole street is excited about the event. It's many, many years since there has been a new baby in the street, and the mum to be is an older mum, so we are all on tenderhooks for her.

Now I've a question than someone might know.... I seem to remember an image, and I think it was a digital one of baby animals in a boat, sort of an ark. I thought I had it, but I must have  been dreaming it. Does anyone know of it and who is it's creator?  I'm not short of baby stamps, but I just loved that one.

So, that's me for now, enjoy your evening and be back another day,

Spring Crocus!

Hello Everyone, I hope all is well with you and that you are enjoying your weekend.

We have a lovely day here and even managed a drive out to Nairn and I had a wee walk without too much pain. Very breezing though and glad I had remembered to take my hat....cold on the old ears.
I've not been around Blogland much over the last week, I've been out every day and and just not had the time, but I hope to get around to commenting on your blogs today. 
I find I'm less in the house these days since I started with the aqua classes, and last week I met my friend and even went to see Emma, which I thought was really good. I'm a bit more tired these days too, obviously not used to exercise and my blood sugars a a bit up and down at the moment too.
Anyway, all will be sorted out I'm sure, and isn't it great that daylight is lengthening now, Spring feels as if it's finally on it's way. Which leads me into the card I'm posting today as it has a Spring theme and is for; http://sirstampalotchallenge.blogspot.com/2020/03/march-spring-florals.html

This little card sees the Chocolate Baroque Spring Crocus stamp, which I've water coloured with Altenew watercolours on Arches Watercolour paper. I found a card base that had embossed at some time and thought it would look good behind the painting, finished off with tiny pearls. A very simple card, but took me ages to paint, one thing with watercolours....patience.

Thank you for all the lovely comments on my last card, and the good wishes for my friends climbing adventure, you are all so kind.

Oh my, Alistair's' switched on the rugby...Scotland and France, he's obviously feeling masochistic, how often can one watch Scotland getting a hammering????

That's me for today, take care of yourselves,

Say Cheese!

Hello Crafting Friends, I do hope all is well with you and that your day has been a good one.

I met up with my lovely friend Fiona today for a catch up and a coffee, and had a lovely couple of hours in Costa with her.  She was telling me that she is going to do a sponsored climb in the summer and the proceeds will be going to The Gurkas in Nepal. Her Dad was an officer in the Gurka regiment back in the day so there are strong links to them, and they had a rotten deal from the government after the war, many didn't get pensions after fighting for Britain, just par of the course as to the awful treatment of war veterans . Anyhoo, I'm so impressed by Fiona as she is going to climb Ben Nevis, the UK's highest mountain and.....she's never climbed a mountain in her life.  So she is in training, and Alistair will be  giving a helping hand and may even go up with her, me well, I'll be there when she comes down. She has collected loads of dosh already, and it's all official  and the Gurka people have sent her a tee shirt to wear and made her sponsor forms. Her lovely Dad died last year, and this is to commemorate his passing. He would be so proud of her.  I mentioned to her that she could get in touch with the lovely Joanna Lumely as she is very involved with the Gurka peoples, I'm sure she would be interested.

So, that was my day. But here I am with another card for Hazel's Festive Challenge,
https://www.fezziwigsfestivefrolics.com/2020/02/fezziwig-saysoh-christmas-tree.html

More cats and another Little Claire image, the trees I've free handed  with watercolours. In fact the whole of the colouring is watercoloured. loads of sparkle on the snowy parts and shimmer pen in the wee characters.  I heat embossed through a snow stencil with Wow powder for the background card
Sentiment is form a Tonic Studio set. The cats look as if they are posing for their photo.

Thank you all so much for your continued visits and lovely comments, much appreciated.

That's me for now , enjoy your evening and hope to see you soon,

Post Box/Mail Box for the CCC!

Hello Everyone, I do hope you are well and having a good weekend.....my goodness it doesn't seem that long ago it was last weekend, these weeks are whizzing by.

So are the Christmas Card Club fortnights, here we are again with our second February Challenge and this time it's our lovely Mrs. A also known a Valery who has chosen the theme and it's Post Boxes or Mail Boxes.  I managed two cards this time;

This adorable image is from a CD called Magical Christmas Moments, and it's all lovely and fluffy animals. Added lots of glitter and found some old paper that looked snowy and came across a sentiment from Docrafts, which is really old. a few wee red gems and that's it.

Another Little Claire image, coloured with Copic Markers, DI background with gel pen for snow, and glitter around the base of the pillar box. A Memory Box snowflake die......don't know when I last used that. and some papers found in my stash of papers. Sentiment is also Little Claire. I've also added a few gems.
Quite simple cards Valery, I hope you like them and I did enjoy the challenge and it also allowed me to use some older stash, so thank you.

Well, that's me for now, but just to thank you before I go for your continued visits and lovely comments. A warm Welcome to my newest Follower too, I hope you will pop in often.
Take care of yourselves and see you soon,