Thank Heaven For Little Girls ..... Sketch Saturday Challenge #183

Just 4 weeks to Christmas ... I'm really not organised, prepared or even looking forward to it :| , suppose I'll have to show willing though for the grandbabies :).  Rylee wants everything in the Argos catalogue, the typical 4 year old /:) and we have got Koree one of those "Bounce & Spin Zebra's"  ... its up in the bedroom staring at me everyday, tempting me to have a go on it ... I can hear it calling me ... I think my legs are too long though to get the full effect of it :D  

Mum has become addicted to Tipples  since Dad died ... suppose its better than the Diazapam the GP prescribed for a "just in case" ... she has a box and a half in a week ... :-/ I don't know what we're gonna do when Aldi sells out of them ... I do however, have a stash of 4 boxes here for her that she doesn't know about ;)!  Maybe I should use them to wean her off  8-| ...

This week, our challenge is being sponsored by our friends at

The Craft Barn

"We are a UK based business selling a wide range of craft supplies including stamps, dies and embossing folders, punches, an extensive range of items to alter and decorate and much more for your scrapbooking and card making projects. We are committed to providing the best, most up to date craft products at great prices, coupled with first class service.

Some of the leading companies that we stock include Stamping Bella, Ranger, Tim Holtz, Crafty Individuals, Martha Stewart, Katzelkraft stamps, Nestabilities, Craftwork Cards, Copic Pens, House Mouse, Viva Décor, Eco Green crafts and Cosmic Shimmer to name but a few.

We are constantly adding new products to our range of craft supplies so be sure to add us to your browser favourites so you can pop back and see us."

The Craft Barn offer a wide range of goodies for all crafters from all things 'Cuttlebug'to grunge paper, from cottage cutz dies to cosmic shimmers, then there's your essentials like cardstock and papers and adhesives.

Not forgetting their HUGE stock of clear and rubber stamps to tantalise you!
There really is something for everyone :)

For all the latest products that have been added to the site PLEASE CLICK HERE,

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This weeks winner will win a collection of sparkly goodies!

Lovely new Frantage products from Stampendous – shabby pink embossing powder, shaved ice glittery bits, silver crushed glass glitter and bronzed mica flakes, all with a total value of over £20.00

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As always, our thanks go to The Craft Barn xx

Here's this weeks sketch...

... and my card ...

I used Mo Manning's fab image "Penelope's Party Wagon"

.... and once again on the inside in B&W ....

To make this card I used:~

CS ~ Stash

DP's ~ RAK from Terry x

Sentiment ~ Create with TLC

Butterfly & Gems ~ Stash

Tools ~ Sewing Machine, Sansodor, Pencil Crayons, Blending Stumps, Diamond Stickles, Sakura Glaze Pens

Daddy's Little Girl ....

Tomorrow I've been married to my DH for 25 years :-O!   We have a family meal arranged, but it just wont be the same, someone will be missing :( ... hopefully though he will have collected his O:) wings and will be with us in spirit.  

The card below was made for the Sketch Saturday Challenge #181, that's last weeks challenge!  

After asking the fab Mo Manning to draw me a "Father and Daughter" image. I made this card for my Dad and gave it to him at dinner time when I took Mum her meal on 26th October just 4 days before his condition worsened :( .  He looked at it and :) , closed his eyes and squeezed my hand tightly and held it for quite a few minutes.  Now, you might not think this is significant but it is ... Dad was NOT tactile at all, I don't ever remember him telling me he loved me (I know he did/does, but he would never say it) and the last time he held my hand was when I was a small child!  So this memory means the world to me! 8->

Dad took the card with him when he went!

... a close up of the image ....

and used on the inside in B&W

To make this card I used :~

CS ~ Stash

DP's ~ Shery K Designs 2011 ~ Free Paper Pack 2

Sentiment ~ Create with TLC

Flowers & Leaves ~ Stash

Tools ~ Sewing Machine, Blending Stumps, Sansodor, Pencil Crayons, Cuttlebug, Nesties

Two People, One Life ....

So, as promised yesterday here is the first of my late cards! :-< ... that's pretty much how i feel today!  

Our gorgeous friend Paula has returned home today after supporting us for the past 2 weeks.  She started off with keeping us fed and watered during our beside vigils ... making oodles of  hot ~o).  Then she progressed to helping out with the vigil and entertaining the troops!  Most of the time having us =)) inappropriately, but it helped us get through the night.  The list of what she did to help not only, Andy and I, but my Mum, sister, niece, daughters, great-niece and the grandbabies ... not to mention Dad ... is far too long to type but this woman has most definitely a :x of gold!  She has kept me sane when all i felt was @-).  When i felt like ~X( she sorted me out.  She has the knack of turning the :( to :)).  I don't know what I shall do in the morning when i wake up ... who can I text saying "i'm awake" to bring me a ~o) ?  Anyway, we shall miss her lots, but look forward to seeing her again very soon :-*

I made this card for Paula to give to one of her friends.  This card was made using Sketch Saturday sketch #180

I used a Mo Manning Digital Stamp called Married

and used it again on the inside of the card in B&W

To make this card I used :~

CS ~ Stash

DP's  ~ Pink Petticoat Gingham & Summer Driggs Giving

Sentiment ~ Create with TLC

Flowers, Pearls & other bits and bobs ~ Stash

Tools ~ Marianne Design Butterfly Die, Sewing Machine, Pencil Crayons, Blending Stumps, Sansodor, Diamond Stickles

Let The Little Children Come To Me .... Sketch Saturday Challenge #182

I blinked ;;) and it was Saturday again ... where has the past couple of weeks gone?  I know I've been busy firstly doing =(( bedside vigils for a week with Dad and then helping Mum sort the funeral, make 100 funeral programmes and the million :)] calls that have to be made, sorting finances and informing different people/places/departments.  It's been that hectic  and I've been so (:| tired that I've not had time to post the last 2 weeks cards for the SS challenges on this blog .. but I promise over the next few day I will try too.

On to this weeks challenge at Sketch Saturday and another fabulous sketch created by our JO!

This week we are sponsored once again by the very lovely Nikki from

Bunny Zoe's Crafts

Here are the latest arrivals available right now at Bunny Zoe's Crafts

*NEW November Release - Whimsy Stamps

*NEW House-Mouse Mice & Crafty Rubber Stamps

*NEW Belles 'n Whistles Christmas 2011 stamps & more! 

*NEW Kaisercraft Paper Pads - Madame Boutique & Cockadoodledoo!

*NEW Resin Flowers

*NEW cards only Magazine Issue 22 Nov/Dec

*NEW Gorjuss Stamps

*NEW Whiff of Joy November Release

*NEW Bildmalarna Mimosa Stamps

*NEW C.C. Designs November Release plus restocks!

*NEW MME Paper Pads - Everyday Fun, Happy Days & Love Me

*NEW Echo Park Paper Pad - Times & Seasons

*NEW Authentique Paper Pad - Bundle: Gathering

*NEW Basic Grey - Little Black Dress & Picadilly

*NEW Marianne D Creatables & Craftables Dies

*NEW Marianne Doe! Magazine - Winter 2011

*NEW November The Greeting Farm

*NEW 4 sweet Pickle Penguin Designs from Wild Rose Studio

*NEW Kraftin' Kimmie October Release

*NEW - S.W.A.L.K. Winter Cheer Collection

And remember... Bunny Zoe's Crafts ship worldwide, and if you live in mainland UK or Northern Ireland and your order is more than £40.00, you get FREE shipping :)

This weeks challenge winner will win a generous £10.00 shopping spree at Bunny Zoe's Crafts :)

Thanks go to Nikki for her kind sponsorship & generous prize :)

... the sketch ...

... and my card ....

... made for my gorgeous grandson's Christening (2 weeks late) using the beautiful Mo Manning digital stamp "Hanging The Star" with the star removed and replaced with a clipart dove

To make this card I used :~

CS ~ Stash

DP's ~ Shabby Princess ~ Festival

Sentiment ~ Create with TLC ~ Christening Collection

Pearls ~ Stash

Tools ~ Sansodor, Pencil Crayons, Blending Stumps, Sewing Machine.

Gone But Never Forgotten ....

After a very brave fight and a week of bedside vigil's Dad passed away on Sunday 6th November at 1:43pm.  We had just got back from having my 2 darling grandbabies Christened and had only been in the house for around 10 minutes when he started to fade away.  We were all with him when he died and stayed with him until he was collected.  Since Monday 31st October my husband, niece and sister have been doing shifts through the day and night sitting with him.  There has been lots of laughs (some inappropriate) and as many if not more tears.  

His funeral takes place next Wednesday, so I wont be around much, although I shall be popping on every now and again.

I want to thank Jo and The Saturday's for their kind words, prayers and understanding ... I love you guys!  And most importantly my DH, Paula and Suzie for their love and support and for taking time to do their bit and more! xxxx