CAN YOU SPOT MY DELIBERATE MISTAKE?

I love this set from Waltzing Mouse, but I really can't do it justice for some reason. I quite like the overall effect of this card - it's a whole new style for me, not a pearl in sight! The whole thing is a bit of a disaster movie in the making, but the main -oops!- is that I embossed around the edges of each of the card squares and then used the WRONG SIDE!! D'oh!! Oh well. I still like it. TFL x

ANOTHER DAY OFF AND A FREEBIE STAMP

No idea which craft magazine this came from, but I think it was 'Craft Stamper' or something. I printed Pink Petticoat's 'Ocean' paper onto cream card and used this as the base. And I can't tell you where I got the sentiment stamp from, either, but it may have been a See D's. This card just sort of came together by itself, sticking with the 'CAS' style. I think I'm going to send it to my mate, but for now, I'll keep walking past it and decide what to do with it when I love it. Hugs x

HEADING BACK TO MY COMFORT ZONE...

That's better... feels more like home! x

OUT OF MY COMFORT ZONE.. BY A MILE!

Surprisingly - and thanks largely to o/h offering to do the shopping! - I got a chance to play a bit more with my new Waltzing Mouse stamps. This set is called Asian Garden and I love it. But I didn't get on too well. Not the stamps' fault, but mine!
Partly because this is not my usual style of card at all. But if you don't try, you don't know, do you? And I love the 'clean and simple' style of folks like Kerry but it's not really 'me'.
I had a vision of how they should look but they've just not turned out the same I've seen the very talented Claire (of Waltzing Mouse) doing clever stuff with ink and I thought I'd have a go. I tried this ruddy tree about four times before I managed to get it somewhere near what I wanted. I don't know if this card needs any other sort of embellishment? Given its sentiment, I suppose not. What do you think?

Love the idea of this card, but again, I managed to make a lousy job of it! I have tendonitis in my thumb and the painkillers I take for my back make my hands a little unsteady, so I didn't do the best job.
But as a first attempt, what do you think? Hugs xxx

A SWEET TREAT

Got a jar of lovely St Dalfour marmalade and had a go at a 'gift' label. What do you think? TFL x

MOTHER MCCARTHY'S POWDERS

Get me!! Three cards in one day! I KNOW!! Another one made with Basic Grey's 'Capella' papers and another Vintage Label from Waltzing Mouse. Oh, and a bit of bling. Not sure why I made it or who it's for, but I'm having fun!! TFL xx PS, I have to mention my clever hubby who takes all these photos. Check out his blog (link on the right) cos he's a very talented photographer.

FOR MY BALMY FRIEND!

On a bit of a roll, I think! Made this one quite quickly and I think it's very effective and 'warm'. Used 'Capella' papers from Basic Grey - I only bought the 6x6 pad and I really wish I'd got the bigger one, cos they're fabulous. The label is another of the amazing stamps from Waltzing Mouse. TFL xx

MONOCHROME VINTAGE BIRTHDAY

This is not the first card I made today... oh no. The first card was lovely, really pretty, dead chuffed with it. Right up until I dropped an ink pad on the top of it. Why, oh why do the laws of gravity team up with the laws of Sod and make the ink pad land face down? Not fair. So after a quick spot of lunch and half-an-hour of James Bond tracking the fiendish Scaramanga, I made this.
Pink Petticoat have got some wonderful 'Vintage Rose' papers; this is made using the 'Ocean' colour scheme. The frame on the label is from one of my AMAZING new sets of stamps from Waltzing Mouse. It's for my friend's birthday.
I finally got my mini sewing machine to work, too, which is great as long as I only use white cotton cos I've no idea how to change the bobbin! xxx

YAY! TIME TO CRAFT!!

At last, a day when I've 'booked' myself as unavailable so that I can play with my new toys.. I've received my stamp sets from the amazing WaltzingMouse and my nesties to go with them...!! Just need a drop of mojo and I'm off!
Besides, there's nothing much else to do cos it's pouring down here.. So WATCH THIS SPACE!! xxx

TOLD YOU!! COUSIN'S BIRTHDAY CARD

Taken me all morning (most of which was spent fiddling around with the sewing machine!) but I think I like it. The papers are all from Pink Petticoat's new Vintage Rose collection and I love it. Hope you're all well xxx

THERE'S A CARD ON IT'S WAY....

... oh yes there is. I've finally got a couple of hours to play!! Watch this space!! xx

A LITTLE GIGGLE...

.. Still no card, I'm afraid, but I'm really hoping to get some free time this weekend to make something.. anything!! Just wanted to share a little gem from my baby girl..
Daddy was working all weekend, so I decided to take her across to our local pub, who do a really good carvery on a Sunday. I hadn't realised quite how often we go there until we walked in and the landlady said "Hi Debs, what can I get you both?". I answered that I would just have a coke. But you should have seen the look on her face when Georgia said "I'll just have my usual, please, Sandra"....

We both collapsed in giggles, and, before you all call Child Services on me, I should explain that Georgia's 'usual' is actually a glass of chilled milk with a straw!!

Out of the mouths of babes... x

GOOD NEWS.. NO, VERY GOOD NEWS!!

Hi all. I've been absent for a while, sorry. No card this time either, but I do have some very good news - well, for me anyway.
My car started making some odd noises. I had her checked out by a local garage and he said she was fine. That night, she started making some very odd noises. So the lovely people at Lexus Assist came and got her, took her away and arranged a courtesy car for me. Not happy.
Even less happy when they rang me to say that the head gasket had blown and it had caused a lot of damage to the engine. BIG money to get it fixed. And she's out of warranty - typical.
BUT, after 5 days of stressing over a possible £4,500 repair bill, the lovely man at the Lexus garage has just rung to say that they don't feel she should be like that after only four years so they're PAYING FOR IT to be fixed!! How good is that???
I've spoken to friends and colleagues who drive similar cars and they can't believe it. They've all had trouble with their cars which have been 'just out of warranty' and been told 'tough'.
I'm blown away.
I have to say that the customer service has been excellent - truly remarkable in this day and age - and I'm hugely impressed.
So I thought I'd share xxx

A SUMMER SMILE

We bought a new dress and have to show it to the world!!

LIL G'S PEN-PAL CARD

Following on from my last post, she was so chuffed to get all these beautiful cards and especially the one from Jessica, asking to be her pen-pal. Jessica wrote and told her all about herself and Georgia couldn't wait to write to back and tell her that they have SO MUCH in common (bless!). She made this:

This was her first attempt with the (MY!) watercolour pencils and I think she's done a great job. Daddy cut out the backing paper for her and she stuck it on, punched out the flowers and leaves, raided her stash for the little sparkly bits and put it all together. No, really. By herself. (Oh, apart from the blue 'aura', which I did). I don't know whether to be worried or impressed!!! Probably both, actually! What do you think? xxx

OPERATION SMILING NOG

My baby girl has been very unhappy since her best friend moved far away. They have moved for work, but the little one was very upset about leaving friends and family so her mother decided that it would be best not to stay in touch with anyone here. Make of that what you will, but it left my girlie heartbroken, especially because they didn't tell us that they didn't want to stay in touch. So I asked some of my lovely DoCrafts and other crafty friends if they would send my little noggin a card. And they were so kind - she got loads! And she now has a pen pal, too!! A proper one, with letter-writing and sending cards and stuff, not emailing!

She loves getting stuff through the post and has really perked up. So I thought I would share some of them with you:


From Suzi & Jessica and Maureen



From Alex and Maureen



From Linda and my very good friend, Vicky


This one came with my birthday card from our lovely friend, RosiePosie.

My little noggin is smiling again! She still misses her friend, of course, but she's so touched that all these lovely peeps sent her such beautiful cards.

Thank you all. Your friendship means a lot. Hugs xxxx

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

I can't be with mine today - it'll be six long years at the end of this month - and I know there are many of us in the same boat.

But I also want to wish my o/h a very Happy Father's Day ... he and Lil G have a very close relationship, just like I did with my Dad. She's a proper Daddy's Girl, too, which is lovely. We're taking him out for a slap-up lunch!

To my Dad, whevever you are, you know I love you and miss you every day. Doobie xxxxx

Hugs xxxx

WHEN IS A SHED NOT A SHED?

When it's a pub... apparently...

The picture is from the Leicester Mercury newspaper (he was also featured in Saturday's Mirror newspaper, too!) and the very dashing creature lounging on the sofa is my big brother. And he's entered his 'shed' into Cuprinol's "Readers' Sheds" competition (I know.. !). It's a great shed, if I'm honest - I've stayed in it! And I think now he's had it extended, you can probably see it from space!! Just thought I'd share xxx (oh, if you get a mo and you wouldn't mind, please click HERE and vote for it!)xx

IMAGES@LN8

Just a quick post to let you know that I have at last managed to persuade hubby to show the world how great he is at photography. He's done some amazing pics of Lil G, as well as loads of fabulous flowers, etc. He now has his own blog! He can be found at http://ln8images.blogspot.com/, so please take a peek if you get a minute xx

MY BABY BROWNIE

Just thought I'd share this with you. She was a Rainbow for two years and then got her pot of gold. She made her promise on Friday and is now working towards her Artist badge, amongst many others!! Proud of you, pretty baby xxxxx