Stamp With Fun ~ Challenge #22

This weeks challenge is a fab sketch by Tina46.
CS ~ Stash
DP's ~ Raspberry Road Designs Vintage Doll Papers
Image ~ RAK from Tab ... thanks honey x
Flowers ~ Stash
Peel-off ~ Stash ... i will use them all lol!
Tools ~ Sewing Machine, Nesties, Woodware Leaf Punch, Glamour Dust, Watercolour Pencil, Tombo Blender Pen

Ok so i keep promising the Wedding Invitation Revoking story ... Please ensure that all Tena ladies are securely fastened as i accept no responsibility for wet knickers! ..... My future SIL sent me an email late last weekend, informing us that if we collect Tesco clubcard vouchers we could swap these in exchange for money off vouchers redeemable at the hotel hosting the wedding. I mailed back twice ... once asking her to find out if it would be worth it cos would do my weekly shop at Tesco rather than Morrisons and secondly having found out the information telling her, for us it wouldn't be worth it cos we'd never accumulate £10 of Tesco vouchers before the next due date. I had also checked out the hotel website and suggested that perhaps she should ask for discounts on the hotel rooms for wedding guests, as these were being charged at the same rate as non-wedding guests even though she'd been told that the price of all wedding guests rooms would be held at 2007 prices! Her response was shirty to say the least ... telling us she didn't care where we stayed be it a tent, caravan or a cheap B&B down the road (which i had mentioned to her ... initially i might add she had insisted that all guests stay in the wedding hotel). I was told that i had "been invited to a wedding that should mean something to me" and to basically stop complaining and that "if people dont like it, tough" Should i have a problem i should contact her Mum "she is the host after all" ... well, to be honest i was childish and threw my toys out of the pram! I mailed back explaining that i was only trying to help and told her that her "wedding means nothing to me ... all it is, is my brother-in-laws wedding" I then added that "Quite frankly i didn't give a flying BEEP as to whether i got an invite from" her "mother" her "or the BLEEPING Queen!" PMSL ... told you i was childish ... in hindsight what i should've done is walk away from the lappy, think about it and then reply with a smart mouthed email not a potty mouthed one!!! But hindsight is such a wonderful thing and I really dont have time to worry about at silly spoilt 29 yr old when i have Beth to worry about. Anyhow, last Saturday night i had an email from her Mother which basically says ... she "was disgusted by the abusive language that was used in" my "email," and my "now low opinion of my daughters wedding." And that she was "now officially informing" me that I "will not be attending the wedding. Under no circumstances reply to this email address or my daughters email address again." LOL ... well you just have too don't ya ... i replied with a simple "Thank You" PMSL ... If i'm perfectly honest, I truly didn't want to go ... it has, over the past few months turned into some sort of farce ... firstly with the invites ... which incidently are being returned ... asking my advice about wording, making a decision, then changing it at the last minute, when i'd spent hours on the lappy sorting it all out! I have been asked about Wedding Etiquette, when i told her, she's poo..poohed everything! So why ask? She's tried to tell us what colours to wear ... told us not to discuss anything with anyone ... i wasn't allowed to discuss wedding invites with the Outlaws ... the MIL was asked to make a sample wedding cake which was taken back to her Mother for a taste testing and we were told that it was hoped she liked it cos if not they didn't know how they would be telling the MIL that she would not be making it! And the list goes on ..!

Andy and Ellie, Fae, Scott and Rylee still have their invites ... for now lol! And i have told them not to make a decision on whether they will be going or not purely based on the fact that i wont be! Both girls were furious, Ellie text SIL and was told basically that the Fae and herself "weren't even considered" when she was picking bridesmaids ... the bridal party is all her choice and that this wedding is more her wedding than BIL and that he should be happy that her parents were allowing her to marry him .... what century does she live in? Was concerned about telling the Outlaws, but they took it really well, MIL even LOL'd, FIL was a bit miffed and insisted that i should still go! Showed them all the emails and the texts and i came home polishing my halo ... which is unusual!

Anyhow thats the story, I know you sometimes read the blog Shauna ... so correct me if i'm wrong on any of this and i will be more than happy to share your response!

The Sugar Bowl ~ Challenge 18

Challenge 18 is a fab sketch from Kathy, with the added "Please Use" option of "Buttons"

CS ~ Stash

DP's ~ Free download ~ Rhonna Farrer Aug 2008 free Pea Kit

Image ~ Manga Girl

Buttons, Gems & Raffia ~ Stash

Ribbon ~ Stash ... printed with the border from the Kit
Tools ~ Sewing Machine, Whisper Strokes, White Sakura Souffle Pen

Sketch Saturday #66

This weeks challenge is sponsored by one of the regular sponsors, The Craft Barn.
Before you say anything ... i know the image is Dexter, but he's just spending the day cross dressing ... he's in touch with his feminine side lol! I wanted an image to fit in with the sentiment i found and this one fits perfect if Dexter is a little girl!

CS ~ Stash
DP's ~ Annie Paper ~ freebie download
Image ~ Motivet Dexter ~ RAK from Tab, thanks honey mwah's
Flowers, gems & brads ~ Stash
Sentiment ~ PC Generated, using a collection of fonts
Tools ~ Sewing Machine, Woodware Leaf Punch, Whisper Strokes

Beth Update: Monday morning she got up saying she was cleaning her bedroom ... Sis told her she had to sort out a job or a college course. This caused an argument ... Beth ridiculed Sis for taking her to McDonalds Sunday evening to chat ... she then kept saying "again" in response to everything Sis said she was going to do. She left house saying she was going to look for full-time job, college course or going ski-ing in Scotland!!? We took it that she did the latter as there was no sign of her last night lol! Sis text her phone and her friends phone this morning saying that she'd had enough and that her clothes would be taken to where she was. Beth told sis not to do that, that she would come and sort things out ... sis not having anymore of it ... said "Again!" and told her that it enough was enough. Beth text saying she was on her way home ... 2 hours later sis and i went down with her car half full of the contents of Beth's bedroom ... I text saying be on front in 2 minutes to collect clothes ... out she came after we'd started unloading car ... she asked me what she was supposed to do with her stuff ... i didn't respond (daren't if the truth be know lol! my mouth gets carried away as you'll find out in the wedding story lol) ... she also asked the same to Sis ... Sis replied "not my problem anymore, its yours!" ... to say she was shocked was an understatement, but i think this was what was required. For the past few weeks, she come and gone as she pleased, with no consideration for anyone. Only coming back for clean clothes, a shower, money or food. It had to end sometime. No doubt she be back sometime ... she always does, but for now, she's on her own!

Wedding update to follow shortly!

Friday Sketchers #52 & Just Magnolia Week 20

Claudia is this weeks host at Friday Sketchers and has designed this fab sketch.

Just Magnolia's Challenge is Ribbons and Bows.

CS ~ Stash

DP's ~ Freebie Download ~ Big Boy Papers

Image ~ RAK from my gorgeous buddy Tab x

Buttons, Ribbon and Raffia ~ Stash

Tools ~ Sewing Machine, Whisper Markers

Papertake Weekly ~ Angels and Faires

This weeks challenge at PTW is Angel and Faires we are being sponsored by The Angel Company, which has some adorable stamps.

• CS ~ Stash
• DP's ~ Alexa Crazy free download
• Image & Sentiment ~ The Angel Company
• Flower ~ Stash
• Gems ~ Stash
• Tools ~ Border Punch from HobbyCrap don't know who its made by cos it don't have name printed on it, Woodware leaf Punch, Dovecraft 1.5" Daisy Punch, Glamour Dust, Whisper Strokes.

Stampin' For The Weekend ~ Challenge 13

"Anything Goes Baby" I got really excited about the title for this challenge and thought ... woohoo a free challenge ... then i read on lol! ... baby cards! So - New baby, First Birthday, Christening or Naming Day - so long as it is baby themed, anything goes... Pink, Blue, Yellow, Green or multicoloured! My second thought was "Flippin' heck" ... or words to that affect pmsl! ... Then i pulled myself together and came up with this .....

... i hope this is still gonna count cos in actual fact its not for a 1st Christmas, but more for a 3rd one ... let me explain lol .... Rylee (Grandson, for those of you that don't know) is 2 yrs old (turned 2 July), hence this being his 3rd Christmas. I made this card cos my Mum saw this adorable image on another card i'd made and insisted that she have it for Rylee for Christmas ... i personally think he's too old for it ... but she's old (73!) and i felt i should humor her lol! So, if it doesn't fit the challenge just blame her!

• CS ~ Stash
• DP's ~ would you believe are a freebie download
• Image ~ Mo's Digital Pencil Too has been paper pieced
• Gems & Ribbon ~ Stash
• Sentiment ~ PC Generated
• Charm ~ yes there is one there, just hiding behind the bow ... its one of those Christmas wine glass charm things and is a snowflake.
• Tools ~ Whisper Strokes, Tombo Blender Pen, Ribbon Slot Punchy thingy.

Beth Update ~ She's not been seen or heard from since last Monday, we think we have found evidence that perhaps she has been smoking illegal substances, which would explain an awful lot if she has. She has been thrown off her college course which she would've completed in October ... total madness! She possibly still has a job at the Nursery, although they have failed to contact her and she's not been in touch with them either. It looks like everything in her life is slowly falling apart and there's not a blumin' thing we can do to stop it or about it. She's that far away from us as a family, she can't be reached. She is still in contact with Ellie via Facebook occasionally, but she gives no indication of how she is or where she is. Both of my girls, especially Ellie are finding it very hard ... they were bought up together and are very close ... whilst Chris and hubby (shall from now on be known as Fatboy) were working we had Beth and Dec, both from babies, so we have that bond with them too ... it sometimes feels like we had 4 kids not just the 2! We do the worrying with Chris, as if it was one of ours. At present we are just sitting here and waiting ... don't know what for or for how long, but thats the long and short of it!

Beth Update Edited: Yesterday morning at 3.30am my sis had a text message from Beth asking if they could sort things out and saying that she was sorry! Sis replied saying that it was never too late to sort things out, that she wasn't unreasonable but things couldn't ever go back to how they were. On Paula's advice {waves to P} they met on neutral territory where there could be no shouting and they would BOTH have to listen! Beth did come home yesterday, she had a shower, cleaned herself up a little and actually told her Mum that she was going out, where she was going and when she'd be back. She did stay out all night, but she had informed sis of this .... looks like we may be taking baby steps on the road of back to normal ... or as normal as our family gets LOL!

Talking of families ... don't ever try having a conversation with one of em via email! LOL ... causes all manner of crossed wires. I shall just say that i spat my dummy out good and proper! Updated: I have officially been informed that i shall no longer be attending my Brother-in-laws wedding. Too long a story to tell in this post but i will give you all the gory details ... please ensure you have a tena lady firmly attached when i tell this one cos i can assure you, you'll need it i PMSL, and so has everyone else ... a few words sum it all up nicely ... silly spoilt 29yr old child!

Double Dutch #25 ~ Back in Time

For this challenge you have to pick your favourite from the previous 24 challenges and make something stunning! I chose DDC#2 ~ Sketch it! I hadn't stumbles across this blog at that time and we all know how i love a good sketch!

CS ~ Stash

DP's ~ Freebie Download ~ Boys Will Be Boys

Image ~ Hanglar Stanglar

Gems and Peel-off ~ Stash

Tools ~ Whisper Strokes

Stamp With Fun ~ Challenge #21 & Sunday Sketch & Stamp Challenge #9

This week Stamp with Fun theme is "At the sea"

and the Sunday Sketch & Stamp sketch has been designed by Maggie.I was able to get my Surfin' Edwin out again ... should really use them beings as i kicked up so much fuss to get them ... its just they don't feel as special this time ... i think they're marred!
CS ~ Stash
DP's ~ Freebie Download ~ Angels Flight Beach Papers
Image ~ Magnolia
Beach Scene ~ Google find
Starfish ~ Stash
Raffia ~ Poundland
Sentiment ~ PC Generated
Gems ~ Stash
Tools ~ Sewing Machine, Nesties, Whisper Strokes

A Spoon Full of Sugar Challenge #66

This weeks challenge is a fabulous sketch from Sonja. Thanks Sonja, i really enjoyed working with this sketch!

CS ~ Papermill ... thanks P xxx

DP's ~ Basic Grey ~ Boxer

Image ~ RAK from Jill, thanks honey x

Sentiment ~ PC Generated

Buttons & Raffia ~ Stash

Tools ~ Sewing Machine, Nesties

I'm really cooking on gas at the minute ... this is the first of my November cards ... yes November already!!!! I probably still have a few left to make for October, but my VBF Vicki is on holiday until the end of the week and wont give me her list until she get home. I've asked the girls for their lists on numerous occasions, but have been given nothing so i presume they dont want anything making and Paula only sends my cards for special occasions and she doesn't have any ... although a birthday is a special occasion isn't it?! LOL!

Looking forward to my hairdressing trip today, for 2 reasons ... firstly cos its been 5 weeks since i last went and i normally go every 4 ... and gosh, can't i tell! Secondly, i shall be picking up my brand new mini hair straighteners ... especially designed for short hair ... OMG they're soooo cute .... and Diane ... they're PINK! If i'm not too excited i'll take a photo and show them ya!

Sketch Saturday #65

This weeks sketch is sponsored by Digital Delights by Louby Loo ... a magical place filled with Wendy's little digi creations from all walks of life.

CS ~ Stash

DP's ~ Freebie download ~ Fresh Choco Delice

Image ~ Digital Pencil Too ~ Jack and Ginger

Flowers ~ Hippie Chic Alpha Die

Brads ~ Stash

Sentiment ~ Freebie Wordart

Martha Stewart Doily Punch ~ courtesy of Dawny P

Tools ~ Woodware Leaf Punch, Sewing Machine, Cuttlebug, Whisper Strokes

Friday Sketchers #66

Sketch 66 is hosted by Carole from England. The sponsor for sketch 66 is Heidi from Simon Says Stamp. Heidi is going to sponsor the sketch with a Gift Certificate to shop over at her store. Unfortunately its one of those cards ... you know the ones we all hate making ... besides male cards lol! ..... The sympathy card! Especially, when its for someone that you know!

CS ~ Stash

DP's ~ Freebie download ~ Fresh Choco Delice

Image ~ Whiff of Joy ~ Melinda blowing kisses

Flowers ~ Hippie Chic Alpha Die using leather scraps and paper scraps

Gems ~ Stash

Tools ~ Sewing Machine, Nesties, Cuttlebug, Glamour Dust, Woodware Leaf Punch, Whisper Strokes.

Papertake Weekly Challenge ~ Dawny's Sketch #22

Still part of the GDT at Papertake Weekly ... woohooo! And this weeks challenge is to make a card using another of Dawny's super duper sketches!

CS ~ Stash

DP's ~ Basic Grey ~ Mortifica

Image ~ RAK from someone, had that long i've forgotten, but thanks anyway x

Gems, Button & Raffia ~ Stash

Sentiment ~ PC Generated

Tools ~ Sewing Machine, Whisper Strokes

Whiff Of Joy Challenge #44

Another fab sketch from Rach, but this time for the Whiff Of Joy Challenge blog.

CS ~ Papermill box from Paula .... mwah's P

DP's ~ Stash

Lace ~ Local Market Stall

Cream Flower ~ Stash

Leather Flowers (suede side up) ~ cut using scrap leather and Hippie Chic Alpha Die

Pearls & Gems ~ Stash

Sentiment ~ PC Generated

Tools ~ Woodware Leaf Punch, Sewing Machine, Cuttlebug, Martha Stewart Flourish Punch, Whisper Strokes

Just Magnolia Week 19 & Stampin' for the Weekend ~ Challenge 12

Just Magnolia's Challenge this week is an amazing sketch from Rach ... loved it Rach, thanks honey x ... it can be rotated and resized, as long as you follow the original sketch so your entry qualifies for the prize draw. Stampin' for the Weekend has a colour combo for there Challenge .... Pink and Grey

CS ~ Stash
DP's ~ Pink Petticoat ~ Lottie, Dottie & Jack Collection ~ Modern Princess
Image ~ RAK from Tab , thanks honey x
Flowers, pearls ~ Stash
Sentiment ~ Pink Petticoat ~ Sentiment & Tags
Tools ~ Sewing Machine, Martha Stewart Flourish Punch, Whisper Strokes, Woodware Leaf Punch

It's a sad day in our house today .... our lovely orange cat .... Peaches, had to be put to sleep this afternoon. We will miss her dearly, but we can't be too unhappy cos she was 19 years old! She had been getting very frail for a while, which was to be expected and had been sleeping a lot. This morning she seemed her usual old self before we went out. Rylee had lay on the floor talking to her like he does every morning, but when we returned she was lay on the floor in the most uncomfortable position with her eyes and mouth open. DH picked her up and straightened her out a bit and lay her on her blanket, whilst he did this there was no response from her at all. We both spoke to her and touched her ... nothing. So we decided it was time to call the vet. We took her up wrapped in her blanket in the laundry basket. He said that she was an old lady and that we couldn't really expect much else. She was hypothermic and which he claimed was the best way, she wasn't feeling anything and wouldn't be aware of anything. So we left her with him and came home to remove all her stuff before Rylee wakes up from his afternoon nap in the hope that he doesn't notice .... but we wont be holding our breathe!

The Sugar Bowl ~ Challenge 17

Challenge 17 is a fab sketch by Judy 'Please include’ – Handmade Flowers.
They would like to see us cast aside our beloved ‘Primas’ and use punches, dies or your own imagination and handicraft to create your own flowers!

CS ~ Stash

DP's ~ Freebie Download ~ All U Need

Image ~ RAK from Jill, thanks honey x
Pearls ~ Stash

Flowers ~ Monks Den Crafts

Tools ~ Martha Stewart Flourish Punch, Woodware Leaf Punch, Whisper Strokes, Sewing Machine, Carla Craft Rounded Corner Punch

Basic Grey Challenge ~ Week 1

Well here is the first challenge, technically its the 37th challenge, but as they have re – launched the blog it was decided to start the challenges with a clean slate :) ... A sketch by Tara G.

This is my first go at a Basic Grey Challenge.

• CS ~ Stash
• DP's ~ Basic Grey ~ Sultry
• Image ~ RAK from Jill, thanks honey x
• Lace ~ local market stall
• Paper Flowers ~ Stash
• Crochet Flower ~ Handmade by ME!
• Charm ~ The Works
• Brad & Ribbon ~ Stash
• Sentiment ~ Pink Petticoat Sentiment & Tags
• Tools ~ Whisper Strokes, Sewing Machine, Woodware Leaf Punch

A Spoon Full of Sugar Challenge #65

The challenge this week is Travel ~ you could use a holiday theme or a form of transport ( Bike ,car, horse,) anything goes.

Well, Ellie's friend Tilda went back off to Tenerife a fortnight ago ... supposedly to work and live ... not sure how long that will last ... perhaps another 2 weeks or so until her money runs out lol! So i made Ellie this card to give her ....

Yes, i know it shouldn't say "Bonjour" but then French never was a strong subject of mine lol! Realised my mistake too late to do anything about it lol!

• CS ~ Stash
• DP's ~ Angelflight Scraps freebie download ~ Beach Papers
• Image ~ RAK from the gorgeous Diane
• Eyelets ~ Stash
• Raffia ~ Poundland
• Sentiment ~ Pink Petticoat Sentiment and Tags
• Tools ~ eyelet setter, Whisper Strokes.

Just Magnolia Monthy Challenge, Sketch Saturday Challenge #64 & Colour Create

This month's Just Magnolia monthly challenge is based on the fab 3D tutorial that featured stamper Debby Yates of A Scrap Journey did. The challenge will run for two weeks and all you need to do to be in with a chance of winning the prize is make a card using at least one Magnolia stamp that you have applied some 3D work to. The challenge will close on Saturday 29th August at 10 pm GMT. The winner will be announced the following day.

Following the fab sketch from Sketch Saturday which is sponsored by Nikki Fairbairn who owns Bunny Zoe's Crafts...

... and using the colour scheme from Colour Create Challenge #25 ~ Blue, Sand, Silver and Black.

This is the first of my October cards .... oh yes, i'm cooking on gas at the minute ... September is complete, which hopefully means at some point i might be able to make some more Christmas cards!

• CS ~ Stash
• DP's ~ Summer Driggs ~ Fathers and Fedora's
• Images ~ VW Camper ~ Google find and Edwin from the Magnolia Summer Kit, coloured with Whisper Strokes.
• Starfish & Shells ~ Stash
• Silver Peel Offs ~ Stash
• Tools ~ Martha Stewart Flourish Punch ~ available HERE, Nesties and XCut oval cutting thingy.

Friday Sketchers #65 and Just Magnolia #18

Beatrix is the host and the designer of this sketch at Friday Sketchers .

Just Magnolia challenge this week is a theme - friendship. So anything that you would give to a friend that has a Magnolia stamp on will qualify for this fab prize of a Basic Grey Sultry collection pack from The Hobby House

CS ~ Stash
DP's ~ Freebie Download, but dont have a clue what they are called.
Image ~ Magnolia Summer Kit coloured with Whisper Strokes
Buttons & Flowers ~ Stash
Sentiment ~ another Freebie download
Tools ~ Sewing Machine, Woodware Leaf Punch
Bling ~ Glamour Dust on the Lolly.

Sorry about the poor quality of the photo, but am gonna be placing the blame for that firmly on the DH ... the place where i generally take my photos ... the breakfast bar ... appears to have another desktop and monitor on it that he's currently fiddling with, so i had to take the photo by the window and its not turned out too well.

Papertake Weekly 100th Challenge!

WooHoo ...... Papertake Weekly is celebrating its 100th challenge and i'm priviledged to be part of the Guest Design Team ... so its an extra-special challenge for me! So, i suppose you wanna know what the challenge is hey lol .... it's to choose your favourite challenge out of all of the 99 previous challenges that have been set. I started right back at 2007, i decided i wanted to do one of the very first ones ... again lol!

Have you guessed which one it is lol ...... Monday 17th December 2007 ~ "Food For Thought" ... "This weeks challenge is 'Food for Thought'. Please use something yummy on your cards! Any food will do! Chocs, sweets, cakes, dinners(?!?)lol!!"

CS ~ Stash
DP's ~ Basic Grey ~ Boxer
Image ~ RAK from the lovely Jill ... thanks honey, just loving these little beauties!
Eyelets ~ Stash
Raffia ~ Stash
Sentiment ~ PC Generated
Tools ~ Eyelet Setter, Whisper Strokes

All this talk of food is making me hungry ... along with the smell of my dinner cooking in the oven ... Tuna steak, new potatoes, brocolli and carrots ...Mmmm!