Bit of a slow start.

Hello all. Guess what I woke up with on Sunday morning.

Something bit my knuckle in the middle of the night! It wasn't too bad at first but by midday I noticed a "tracker" making it's way up my arm. I went to the pharmacist and he sent me off to A&E as he couldn't prescribe antibiotics. Two and a half hours later I got home with some pills to pop and strict instructions to go straight back if it travelled any further. I had to go back at 8pm as it had gone up past my elbow and after IV antibiotics and some lovely black pen marks ( if it went beyond the marks I was to go back) they finally let me go at 11pm. As I couldn't grip anything and it looked so horrible I've had to take a few days off work already. I called in the shop to show my boss because if I had a new member of staff calling in sick with an insect bite I would think they were taking the pee. It's much better today though but still a bit ugly.

I managed to make a card last week before the attack.

Meljens had a digi stamp sale on last week and I couldn't resist nipping back for just a couple more as I love them. The circle sentiment is by TLC and the ticket is one I forgot to take note of. The papers are from the papermania summer bloom pad and the card base is 6"x6".

An emotional occasion.

Well, what a week I've had. Speedy had his third Hepatitis B injection last week as part of prep for a possible kidney transplant. He had a really bad reaction, partly because they gave him a flu injection at the same time. Sickness, trots, stomach pains, you name it he had it. On Monday he went to the doctor's and collapsed when trying to convince the receptionist that he needed to be seen.He doesn't usually go to the doctors without me hounding him, so he must have felt bad. He rang me to say he was on his way to A&E in an ambulance!! I managed to get there about an hour later ( on the train as I don't drive), and was taken to an isolation room.He looked so pale, he had his eyes closed, and for all the world he looked dead.I just stood there rooted to the spot. Then he woke up and saw me and he cried his eyes out. We both thought his kidneys were packing up. He was on a drip as he was dehydrated and there was also a paracetamol drip. He had been waiting for a doctor to see him. To cut a long story short it was the jabs that did it and blood tests showed his kidneys hadn't been made worse. It was very scary. He's OK now though, 9lb lighter but starting to eat again.

But that's not the emotional occasion that this post is about. We've been invited to an anniversary party on Saturday, which we will go to for an hour or so as it's only a short walk away. Sometimes I go to Google images/ line drawings and type in things such as fruit, cookies, toys etc and save free images for future use.This card uses one of them.

It was from a colouring page HERE.  The caption which came along just in time is from Create with TLC. The backing paper is Papermania. The little hearts were from the Papermill Shop before it closed down and the little tag is from the bowels of my stash. I used liquid pearls on the icing and decided I'll never make a confectioner, lol. Sorry about the photo, it's a bit blurred.

As a result of speedy not eating much, I've been taking advantage of not having to cook renal friendly food and made a big vat of bolognese ( tomatoes are a big no no) and have been scoffing it all week, so.....
Target weight 9st 2lb. Today, 9st 3lb. I did expect it to be worse.....................it will probably hit me tomorrow.

Dance Yourself Dizzy.

Morning everyone. Friday again so that means early start at the paper shop. It's Getting so dark in the mornings now too. I get up at 5.30 because I'm not into rushing around so early in the day. I like to get ready slowly and I have to visit the Daily Mail website every morning. Yes I know I work in a paper shop but I'm turning into my dad who had to read his paper as soon as he got up.
On to to day's card which actually uses a rubber stamp!!

Her name is Dotty and she is made by Art Impressions. I got her from Sir Stampalot a few years ago but I'm sure she's still available. I paper pieced her dress then cut her out as i wanted to put her on a " textured" background. There is so much space around her that she looks a bit lost on plain white.

I put loads of stickles on her dress and used an X Cut botanicals punch for the leaves. The papers are from my scraps but i think they are from a Papermania Christmas pad.
By the way if you have a WHS near you it might be worth popping in as I got a 12x12 scrapbook pad for  £3.50. It's a Brenda Walton and apart from 36 double sided lightweight card pages there are lots of usable die cut letters, numbers and tags etc.

Challenges.  City Crafter. Use scraps
                   Crazy Amigo. Black white and red.
                   Divas by Design. Birthdays
                   Rainbow lady's. Song  ( dance yourself dizzy ).
                   Southern Girls. Black white and one colour.

Today's weight, 9st 2lb ( target weight).

A card for my stepson.

The phrase "Christmas in July" is very appropriate for me and my family. There are so many birthdays it's like shelling out for Christmas twice a year. It's my stepson, Neil's turn next Tuesday and here's his card.

The main image and the bits of food are from a Papermania, Clare Curd clear set. The papers are from Summer Driggs but as my printer gives everything a blue cast even after loads of head cleaning the colours are not true to the originals.

Before i made this card i was looking through my digi stamps for ideas. I came across this baby one and had a light bulb moment. Our grandson Michael is also a July baby and will have his first birthday on the 19th. I think i got the image from a colouring book site but i've searched google images and can't find it. I downloaded it a couple of years ago before i needed to keep note for fellow bloggers.

Challenges,   Scrapalicious USA.  Use turquoise.
                    My time to craft,  Use food,  A La Carte

On the subject of birthdays, it's mine tomorrow. As usual, Chester races is on so town will be full of scallies. If it's not peeing down we're going to take a little trip to Nantwich on the bus. We'll have a wander around the shops and perhaps a pub lunch and we'll get a takeaway in the evening.

Today's weight 9st 2lb ( target weight).

What? No Christmas?

Monday was my day off and as it looked very slippery underfoot i decided not to venture out. I thought i'd take a tiny break from Christmas stuff before i go into mass production of the gift samples i've been showing on here. I was decidedly short of men's birthday cards and with a few birthdays on the horizon  i made two.

The papers are Papermania, they seem to last forever.  The Stamp is by Art Impressions from Sir Stampalot.  The leaves were done with an X.Cut Botanicals punch which comes in handy as i don't have many masculine embellishments.

Here is the second one which i like better for some reason. The little sentiment was printed from my computer. I like this little chap as i can think of a few more things he could be standing there saying. I've jotted them down for future use. One thing i have bought last week is an A4 day to a page diary to put my ideas for next year into. A sort of card makers year book. I will add little made up ditties, colour swatches wish lists and borrowed ideas with web/blog addies to give credit to, plus sketches and projects for each month. This will be almost as absorbing as the card making itself. It's still very slippery out so i think i'll be confined to barracks again today.  It's a hard life........................

Happy new home.

Speedy's eldest son Simon has given us the fantastic news that he's bought a house. He's been living with his ex girlfriend for about 7 years. They are still really good mates but when they decided to call it a day he wasn't earning enough money so they became housemates. Simon has since had quite a few promotions and now is the time to buy himself a few bricks.

Completion date is this weekend so as soon as we hear confirmation i'll put this card through his letterbox as i pass the house on the way to work. As you've probably guessed it needs a bit of DIY. The sandpaper effect backing paper is DCWV and i found a bit of K&CO "life's journey" ruler paper in my scraps.

The image is from the Papermania "it's a mans world" clear set. After taking the photo i chalked around him in grey as i decided he didn't look mucky enough. The sentiment is done on the computer.
I'm off today and tomorrow so it's a bit of housework, a bit of Christmas shopping and i've had a couple more stocking filler ideas to work on.     See you soon with the results.  Di.xx

One for the boys.

It's my stepsons birthday on tuesday and as usual i thought i had loads of time to make a card until i looked at the calender. So i was banished to my den this morning to make him a card.

The image is from the Papermania, "It's a mans world" clear set. The backing paper is Papermania Hampstead, as is the paper piecing on the chair.

I put the gadgets and beer on 3d foam pads and added some stickles to the beer. the brad is also papermania. The sentiment was done on the computer, so glad i learned to do this, no more wonky stamped sentiments,lol.                                                                                                                                      That's it from me today as i want to play with my beads now. Thanks for looking and enjoy the rest of the day. Di.xx

I'm still here with a new card.

Phew, it took me just as long to find shoes, bag etc as it did to find a dress,lol. I'm almost sorted now so i'm back in my den.I am drafting this post last night ( if that makes sense ) as i'm working today so all i'll have to do is add the weigh in bit (guilt ridden) before i go. Any way here's a card, and about time too.

The card base is 5"x5". the backing paper is Papermania naughty and nice christmas, not just for christmas you know,lol. The big luscious drinkie is from a Woodware clear set called , of course, "cocktails". The sentiment is from a Penny Black set. Plenty of stickles and some flat backed gems and we're done.

Nine months ago when Neil and Nina said they were getting married, the words " i'll make you some favours" came pouring out of my mouth. Well it seemed so far away, plenty of time to think about that one!!   Luckily there's only 40 for the day do. I've spent a bit of time  chopping and folding bits of old card and have decided to do some mini milk cartons,. I got some cream and gold card from the papermill shop.  I'll upload when they're finished and decorated ( another quandary).
So, here goes............Gulp............


............ The friday weigh in, lol. I don't know why i'm laughing because it's not funny! I'm still 9st 4 lb, the result of bank holiday and the presence of Speedy. If he's off we always end up in the pub, he thinks dieting is watching what you eat, drinking doesn't come into it . I intended to drink diet coke but my will power did a runner as soon as we got to the bar.Still, better behaviour next week, and i've adjusted the treadmill so i'm now going uphill .

Another christmas card.

My Elzybells sentiment stamps arrived yesterday morning. I haven't had time to play with them yet as i went to Liverpool to try and find a wedding outfit. I came back with just a box of white card from The Papermill Shop,lol. I saw a few dresses i liked but they were a bit much for the kind of low key wedding Neil and Nina are having.Then there's the ones which look great until you put them on. I'm petite and these shops seem to think we're all frumps.I did try a lovely one on but couldn't justify the £145 price tag, as i'd probably never wear it again with my modest lifestyle,lol. Still i've got 6 weeks to find something.
In the meantime here's a christmas card.

The fruits of my previous Elzybells order, i hope you're not sick of them yet. The paper is papemania (i think) and the card base is 6"x6".

The image is coloured with promarkers and i added a few white punched snowflakes. The stickles isn't blue as it looks in the photo.These stamps are unmounted so i decided that as i would soon tire of using a pritt stick, to order some E.Z. mount from Joanna Sheen, and... erm.....9 promarkers fell into my basket! I've nearly got the set now but as i was saying on Docrafts last night they seem to be lacking in ordinary non reddish browns and hopefully they might bring out some new shades. I'll get saving just in case.....
   I'm off to work now but i cheated and drafted this post last night.  Thanks for looking.  Di.xx.

Forever Christmas.

Time to make a few more Christmas cards i think before we lose whats left of the precious daylight. I can remember struggling to match colours at 3 o'clock in the afternoon last november. Even a craft lamp didn't help much so this year i'm determined to get them all done early so i only need to make gift boxes and stocking fillers later on.

The image is a forever friends half price bargain from Hobbycraft last january coloured with promarkers. The sentiment stamp was another bargain papermania clear set.The papers are Papermania and the leaves are made with an X cut botanicals punch which also embosses.

A bit of stickles for the snow and we're done.
Were going to see little Michael later on today, we decided that as he already has lots of pressies, and daddy has one big pressie in the pram that we should get mummy a voucher to buy herself some new clothes.I think after all she's been through(22 stitches and a hernia) that this was the best idea.We thought the wedding in september would have to be postponed but Nina is healing well and i'ts going ahead as planned.
 Well, that's me for today, time to wake the sleeping beauty with a cup of tea.
  thanks for visiting.  Di. xx

Another coloured card.

Here is the other card i made using a coloured base.

Another of Clare Curds male stamps,this one comes in really handy (handyman lol) for Speedy's mates.The papers are DCWV stack 6 as were yesterdays and the card base is 4"x6" again.
I didn't get round to my cyber shopping yesterday as Speedy came home early and the peace was shattered so i'll have another go now.
See you soon Di.x

Completely out of my comfort zone.

Thank you for all you birthday greetings yesterday, i had a great day and now i'm feeling very fat. I've just strutted 6 miles but i think i'd need to go and climb a mountain to get id of what i ate yesterday lol.
 I made this card on thursday to make myself  "branch out" of the safe zone i.e. white card bases. I find the white bases much easier and even struggle with cream.

Both the image and the sentiment are Clare Curd from papermania. The card base is 6"x4". I  really enjoyed making it and am pleased with how it turned out.I made another one which i'll show you tomorrow.
I'm going out later with Speedy who is in work this morning. Yes the saturday afternoon ritual has still got to be done lol. Meanwhile i've got some serious cyber shopping to do with all that birthday money. I'm not going anywhere near Hobbycraft with it as i've had everything worth buying from there and they very rarely have new stuff in.
    Thanks for visiting. Di.xx

Inspired by Julie.............yes you!!

I was having a little blog nose the other day and i came across this little card by Julie at Rainbow Days.It was nice to be reminded that we don't need to dress our cards to the nines and that sometimes less is best.Thank you Julie i loved making this card and i'll be making heaps more like it.

The little cupcakes are from the papermmania clear set i got from Hobbycraft the other day.I've got a square punch and a scalloped square one and they just about fit each other. A bit of colouring, a bit of stickles and 2 bits of ribbon and that's it, done.

I popped them up on 3d foam and finished off with a couple of score lines which weren't really necessary but i couldn't resist.
Thanks for looking.     Di.xxx

On my way home.

I'll be on my way home today but there's always a mystery stop off for a couple of hours so there's still a bit more excitement.I'm so easily pleased LOL!! The biggie is did i find any craft shops???? I hope so.

Here's another quickie card, one i needed for work to replace one i'd sold, although i never make the same design again,just another "thinking of you" card.

The stamp is Cherry Blossom by Personal Impressions and the paper is Papermania creative tones.
Thanks for visiting. Di.xx

Birthday Balloons.

I really love Penny Black stamps as you may have guessed! Apart from being nice images they always stamp really clearly.This one is from the "bubbly" clear set.

I think it's a great stamp and can be used for all ages, male and female.The paper is papermania creative tones......What makes you think i bought a pad of each colour in a sale? I bought the little flowers from Bury market when i went on a coach trip there last year.

I added a tiny amount of stickles to the hat and balloons. I'm taking this card and a few others to work where they will hopefully be sold. Speaking of work,,, i'd best get a move on or i'll be late.
                   Thanks for visiting.   Di.X

It's a mans world number two

I really love this new "man" stamp set from Clare Curd. I love all the little elements which can be cut out or used to make a backing paper,(watch this space).

I reckon it's a real bargain at £5.99 and i'll get loads of use out of it for making cards to sell as they will look as good with just "flat" colouring.I enjoyed making this card but i think i'll keep it for personal use as people won't pay for all that fiddly cutting out.

I usually feel more comfortable making square cards but this image is more suitable for a rectangular 5" x7" card. The backing paper is Papermania green capsule collection.

You can't see very well in the photo but i put all the little bits of junk food (yum) onto 3d foam pads.I drafted this post last night to give myself as much time as possible to make some "stuff" for the rest of the week.
   Thanks for visiting, see you soon.  Di. xx

Happy Retirement.

When i went to Liverpool on wednesday i bought a stamp set called it's a mans world by Clare Curd. I totally forgot about it when i got home. It was only when i got the burgundy wedding invite card out to start folding and cutting it to size (boring task) that i found it in the bag. I've got quite a few mens stamps but they're mainly old geezers so this one is great for younger men.

This chap is your typical husband beached up in the chair sleeping off the beer and the tide of emotion that is involved with watching the match,,exhausted bless him! Now we can craft in peace for a couple of hours. I must say speedy isn't a footy fan but he's beached up on the settee watching the F1 as i write this post.

I paperpieced the chair to match the backing paper which is by Clare Curd, and put the beer and remote on 3d foam pads The idle sod is coloured with promarkers. I'm going to give the card to a friend of ours who has just retired. There is another fantastic card made with this stamp at Coops Cluttered Corner if you'd like to take a peek.
 Well i'm off to get showered and dressed now,do a minimum amount of housework and a bit of colouring before Speedy eventually drags me to the pub later this afternoon. Perhaps i could sneek into Abakhan first as it's only a very short walk down the canal.
                      Thanks for looking.    Di.xx

UPDATE!!   I finished this post and went to make us another drink, my coffee had gone cold so i thought i'd just reheat it in the microwave. I put it in and switched on. I don't know how but it somehow managed to tip over. There was coffee inside the microwave, under it ,all over the worktop and on the floor. The language was choice!! And the beached up bloke on the settee? Totally oblivious even though the kitchen is right nextdoor. Don't we just love 'em!