Hello

Hello everyone,  I am back with a little update.
I have been a little unwell and then was extremely busy for reasons too numerous to go into.
Not sure if I will be posting much, as Mr Mojo has taken a holiday :-(

My one bit of good news ( I think it's meant to be good news) is that my youngest finished her diploma course and was heading to 3rd and Honours years at Strathclyde Business School studying Business Law and Marketing.  She had also applied to Heriot Watt in Edinburgh to go into 2nd year to do Business Law and Economics.  She only found out on Monday last week that she got in and she's off in about 3 weeks :-(.
It's all happened so fast, and we haven't got long to get organised, she's moving stores to Princes Street and taking up a room in the halls.
I'm really going to miss her as she's my wee buddy, I'm just hoping she enjoys it and that she has a fab time.

I hope you are all well and creating wonderful pieces of art.

A tag

Hello on this wonderful Saturday.

I hope you are all well and enjoying some time is this lovely weather. It has been gorgeous here, so nice it feels like being away. I have enjoyed sitting on the deck with a good book (currently the new Dan Brown) and a nice chilled glass of something (usually water,  but occasionally wine)
I made this tag just for a wee play and quite liked how it turned out.

I painted the grey tag with a coat of white acrylic paint then put the Tim Holtz swirl mask over it (and across the other 2 for playing with) and dabbed on some Tumbled Glass,  Chipped Sapphire and Broken China Distress Inks.  I then stamped the Tim Holtz sentiment with Chipped Sapphire and heat embossed it. I made the flowers with some circles cut from a page of K & Co Sea Glass paper that was full of blue fishes (never liked it and never thought I'd use it!)

I used a Marianne die for the butterfly and coloured it with DI and then added a little holographic embossing powder to the wings for sparkle.  A couple of pearls and some ribbon and it was done.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend and happy crafting. 

Dad

Hello everyone, 

I hope you are all well and happy with your weather.
Here is Glasgow it's been remarkably warm (for us), not always sunny but warm. It's been great. Ellie has had a fab time in the sun at the park (many, many times at the park!!!) I have added a page on the blog for adding pics of Ellie as otherwise the blog will be of her. I will let you know when I add more, if you are interested.
I have been trying to craft for a time each day but it has been difficult, as the weather has been so nice.
I made my dad's birthday card for later this month. Poor dad his birthday is so close to Father's day - he doesn't get spoiled as often as he would like. ;-)
I used an LOTV stamp and some papers from my scraps box and a couple of twine tied buttons. I like it a lot and hope he does.
This is my entry to ABC Challenge which is Masculine cards this week.
My goal this week is to make his Father's Day card
Off to the museum and the park with Ellie tomorrow so I hope you have a lovely day and I will be back later in the week.

Happy WOYWW 208

Sorry I have been out of the loop recently. I promise to try to be a better blogger and get back to it.
Lots going on, all too boring to detail here, but not much of it crafty related.
I have a new unit that a friend was no longer needing. It's one of the Ikea Expedit ones. It's been in my wish list for ages ;-)
Therefore my desk pic is of my unit. It will no doubt be rearranged a couple of times till I am happy with it.
Happy anniversary WOYWW'ers.
If you are not sure what WOYWW is go see Julia and join in the birthday party.

Cat among the tulips!

Hope this post finds you all well and happy, if not I hope you are better soon.
Not much happening here, Stevie came home Thursday with a stomach bug and passed it to me by Saturday and Emma caught it Sunday. Not a good weekend. :-(
I managed to get this card made before getting ill.
I used a Penny Black stamp Tulip Jungle coloured with Copics and Promarkers with a little Glamour Dust. The card is Bazzill (no idea of colour name) run through the Cuttlebug with a freebie embossing folder, and the lilac paper has been in my stash for about 4 or 5 years.  I added some Liquid Pearls too.
Hope you like it and thanks for looking.

TGIF

Well that's another week over, hasn't it gone fast. It'll be autumn before we know it. :-(
I so hope we have a summer this year.

In preparation for us getting more than one sunny day per week, I have sparkled up Ellie's converse ready for her summer dresses.
I used gems from Hobbycrafts and Gemstone Glue.
I think they are sooo cute. I will change the laces to satin ribbon to match the dresses. 

Have a good weekend,  I hope the weather is good for you whatever you're doing.

Playtime

Good morning everyone.
I hope you are all well and feeling good.
Weather here is dull and damp :-(

I had a play as planned with my Mica powders, pastes and glitters. Some things were successful,  some not.

The pink tag is one I love. I coloured with Distress Inks (Spun Sugar, Victorian Velvet and Worn Lipstick) then stamped the Inkyliscious sentiment on using black Archival Ink.  I then added sparkle with Mica Powders brushed liberally all over. It's a shame I can't catch the sparkle in a photo.
I used a Papermania butterfly punch, coloured it with DIs and Mica and made the flower and coloured the same way.
I really like it and have given it to Emma as she is starting her exam season for a good luck charm. She loved it.

I also tried paper blocking on another tag, but no Stabilo pencil so looks a bit scrappy.  I then mixed some paste with a peachy acrylic paint and roughly scraped over it with some peaks for texture.  I then added some Mica and stamped again. The stamping just didn't work at all. Should I stamp first? Probably.

After that, I then used a Crafters Workshop mask and acetate. I applied the supplied adhesive and then glittered the mask. I turned the glittered piece to smooth side out and will attach to an A6 card and the sentiment will be stamped soon.

So all in all I liked 2 out of the 3 things and will play some more. (Ria, will be watching for your step by step of your canvases!)

Thanks for looking and I hope you like them.

WOYWW 204

Hello everyone, hope you are all well and having a lovely week so far.
I have fracture clinic with mum this morning, then we may take a wee wander round her favourite shops if she feels up to it.
We went to the Art Galleries with Ellie as it was a beautiful day here yesterday, 14 degrees C and no wind. (Positively tropical!) It was her first time out except for hospital visits so she may be goosed today ;-)
Not much on the desk as no crafty time BUT plans for this afternoon to play with my Sparkle paste,  other paste I found at the back of a drawer and my Mica Powders.
Will update next week with progress.
Photos are of Mum and Ellie saying cheese at the baby elephant and my supplies for my play afternoon. 
Short and sweet today. Please come to Julia's Stamping Ground for the rest of the nosy crafters desks.

Happy Sunday

Hello everyone.
Hope today finds you happy and well. All ok at ours, Stevie's holiday almost over,  so will have the house back when he goes back to London for a few days. Is it wrong to want him away for a few days (bear in mind he's worked away 2-4 days a week for 11 years) ?
I have lots of my tv shows to watch on Sky+ !!
Mum is doing grand though starting to get restless as she's a real one for going out and about. Will take her out on Tuesday or Wednesday.
Dad is being himself which means he's causing trouble!  LOL
Anyway enough waffle from me, you're here for the crafting not the gassing!
I made this card using LOTV It's My Party. We've all seen this tantrum haven't we. It's such a cute image. I love it. 
I used Bo Bunny Sophie papers, Craftwork Cards blank, Scallop Circle Nestie and Persian Accents die cut in half and arranged behind the scallop circle. 
I coloured her using Promarkers and Copics as always. 

That's all from me,  as no babysitting tomorrow we're in the pub! Woo hoo.

Happy Sunday

A quick post from me.

Dad is grand, Mum is back to her usual self! Determined not to be helped, Ellie's very like her. Both want to do everything by themselves and when they decide to go, they are out the door in a flash!

I made this card using Papermania Vintage notes papers, Spellbinders Labels 20 and Lili of the Valley Dainty Dancing.

Hope today finds you well and enjoying nice weather.

WOYWW 202

Hello everyone, all present and correct for the weekly snoopathon that is What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday. 
Here is my desk from last night. I've not cleared up! No time.
We have had an eventful week so far.
Sone of you may know my Dad's been a bit poorly with chest infections etc. He had a bronchoscopy last month and the results are back- the blockage is scar tissue from the infections and is to be left. Nothing sinister in the sample taken. HOORAY. You can imagine the relief all round.
An hour after he is taken home and news relayed to Mum, she goes to her friend's house, falls over and breaks her right wrist!
If it's not one it's the other!
Cue comedy time as I try to get her ready for bed!!!! She's got a lump like an egg above her eye, skint knee too.
Mind you Ellie will have great fun today with her wee doctor case and a real patient!
Not much crafting from me this week as I'll be on double housework duty, I will do my best to get round anyone who visits me and as many others as possible.
I made a wall hanging earlier this week inspired by Lisa. I loved what she made and this is my 'homage'. Hope you like it Lisa! (*blush*)
Hope the sun shines where you are and happy crafting.

Wall hanging

Hello all, hope your Sunday is a good one with proper spring in the air.
I have spent the afternoon catching up with some housework after Ellie stayed last night. Then since the footie was on I made this. I was inspired by this lovely hanging by Lisa here,  I love Lisa's work and any viewers of Sheena Douglass shows will know her work well as she is on her design team. Pop over and see her, she's awfully friendly.

I used a chipboard heart purchased at the SECC this March from the Every Crafts a Pound stand.
I coloured it first using some Artiste white acrylic paint to blank out the grey, just rubbed over with my finger.
I then added some Distress Inks in various shades. I think I used Mustard Seed, Wild Honey,  Dried Marigold and Spiced Marmalade. 
I used an old Swirl Template from ages ago with Wild Honey to form the swirl, then stamped the sentiment and Dandelions with Archival Ink in Black.  I double stamped the dandelions to try for some depth. I then over stamped with some Vesamark and gold embossing powder.
The stamps were Make a Wish and Scatter Seeds by Inkylicious. 
I also went round the outside of the heart with Versamark and gold embossing powder.
I always find my Distress Inks go 'muddy', is it just me? Or am I doing something wrong?  I use a separate bit of Cut'n'Dry for each colour? 
Hope you like it and thanks for looking.
Hope next week stays fine for us all.

I have hospital tomorrow for Dad's results so fingers crossed! 

Hello

Here is a card I made for my brother's birthday this week. I used an Inkadinkadoo stamp and papers from Dovecraft I think.
Sorry I have been away from the blog for a while, been busy around the house (spring cleaning urrrgghh)
Will try my best to keep up blogging but for next two weeks hubby is off work and I'll have to deal with him being here and keep him amused!!
My daughter has also started a new job and I am trying to get into a routine with babysitting Ellie and keeping up my other responsibilities. 
Hope you have a good weekend and will 'see' you all soon.

Ellie and the pizza

All the females in the family went to see Mamma Mia when Ellie was 11 months old.  We all went for lunch first and she showed how good her appetite was.
She had a bit from everyone's plate, risotto, spag bol, carbona etc. She was obviously still hungry and decided to sneak her mummy's bit off pizza off her plate and since it was heavy, she put her face to the pizza!
She was so sneaky getting it we could hardly move for laughing. 
I used a Punch around the page set from Martha Stewart and K and Co Berry Sweet patterned paper. 
Thanks for looking and I hope you have a good day today.

Rudolph Day

Hello everyone,

I'm still trying to catch up with WOYWW and the blogs I follow. So I am terribly sorry if I am late responding to any of your fab posts.

I have managed to get a couple of cards made for Rudolph Day (late again)

I used a Craftwork Cards Goody Bag from ages ago and coloured the images with Promarkers and Copics. 

Hope you like them and thanks for looking. 

Happy Easter and hope you have a great time this Bank Holiday. 

I wish to enter these to the following challenges:-

http://craftyhazelnutschristmaschallenge2.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/chnc-challenge-extra-for-march.html?m=1

http://stampingforpleasure.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/rudolph-day-march-2013.html?m=1

WOYWW 199

Hello all,

Did you miss me?

I couldn't join in the last couple of weeks as life was getting in the way of crafting. (Pesky life!!!)

This is my desk Tuesday night, I managed to get 2 cards made (I am babysitting this week Mon - Wed all day) I decided to forgo the housework for a bit of relaxing crafting.

The cards are Billie Bear by Ladybugcrafts Ink.  They are Valentine Billie and Billie is Three (flower). There was a new release yesterday at LCI and they are all cute as a button,  please go and have a look. They are all on the challenge site here. (You might even see a familiar name - yes ME!! I was kindly asked to be a Guest Designer by Kerry)

I used papers by My Minds Eye , Lime Twist and coloured the images with the usual Copics and Promarkers.

Hope you like them and thanks for looking, sorry Julia, a bit longwinded today. Please come to The Stamping Ground for a look at the crafting spaces of the world.

http://stampingforpleasure.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/rudolph-day-march-2013.html?m=1 http://craftyhazelnutschristmaschallenge2.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/chnc-challenge-extra-for-march.html?m=1

Billie Bear Guest DT

Very excited here, you can probably hear me squealing from where you are.

I was asked to be a Guest Design Team member for Ladybugcrafts Ink! I know right!

Now you all know how much I love the images that Kerry comes up with. This time she has 16 cute Billie Bear images, including the already released Valentine Billie. They are just gorgeous. they are available here for £1.75 per image from 9am today.
Here is my card for the release using the ever so cute Hot Water Bottle Billie.

I made the image quite large to fit an A5 card and coloured Billie with Promarkers and Copics.  I used spring papers by MME, in the vain hope of bringing nicer weather. ;-)

Please also come over to the Ladybugcrafts Ink Challenge blog to join in the fun. This week it's Anything Goes. The team will also be showing off what they have done with Billie too.

I'm off for a look see.

Happy birthday

Hello all, hope you are all well and warm.  We had snow overnight but it's all gone, still blooming freezing though! 
A wee card for my box today.  It's for a male birthday,  a cheeky one. ;-)
The image is by Ladybugcrafts Ink, one of the Jack images. I coloured the image with Copics and Promarkers.  I also put some Glosy Accents on his tongue. 
The papers were freebie We R Memory Keepers from a magazine, I've forgotten which one.
The sentiment is from ages ago, think they are Daisy and Dandelion.
As you can see from the side banner  Ladybugcrafts Ink have a new digi release on Tuesday 26th. Please come to the site and have a look. The images are very cute. 

Thanks for all your comments, really appreciate each and every one of them. They helped a lot. Will be reading them again in April for next round of hospital appointments. 
Stay warm,

Alison

Just like Arnie - I'm back !!

Hello everyone,
Thanks for your good wishes. I just couldn't fix my mind to crafting at all. Still not sure if one hundred percent yet - Dad waiting for further results, Mum getting more Lucentis eye injections (even the thought of that makes me squirm,  I don't know how she does it, today is her 7th! )
I'm a wee bit stressed and missing hubby more just now than usual. Not sure why, as he's worked away 3/4 days a week for 11 years now. Should be used to it by now,  ha ha.
Anyway, you're here for the crafting not the moaning! (But thanks for listening :-D )
Here is the result of a wee play with some SECC goodies.
I used brown card from my stash as was the Kraft card. I cut a frame using my new Labels 20 Nestabilities as well as the main sentiment piece. I also used my Persian

Taking some time out.

Sorry all, normal service will be resumed shortly.  After all my running around, have done too much and now ill. Should be back in a week or so.
Will try and catch up with all I've missed as soon as I can.

To make up for not showing any cards, here is a pic of Ellie when she was going to be Super Ellie!!

SECC goodies

I went to the SECC Hobbycrafts show in Friday afternoon. It was very quiet, which for me was good, but not for the sellers that were there.
I got Persian Accents and Motifs,  Labels 20 and Fancy Tags Three from Oyster Stamps.
I also picked up Corner Bow from Memory Box (can't remember what stall it was), in addition I got 5 stamps from LOTV.  They were Dainty Dancing, Grunge Letter, Patchwork Present,  It's My Party and Present Trio.
I also got three Inkyliscious stamps, Always Remember,  Make a Wish and Scatter Seeds.
From every crafts a pound I got grey chipboard hearts, tags, and a large banner. 
I went back on Sunday (using free return) as I still had some money left and bought the kindness set of Just Right stamps for Labels 20 and Marvellous Squares from Spellbinders. 
Haven't photographed them as I forgot!
However, I had a play and made this wee card. 

Hope you had a good weekend.
Not much other crafting done as been too busy with life - it's a pest when all you want to do is have a play and you don't get a minute!

WOYWW 196

Hello everyone,
I hope today finds you well and happy as can be.
I have a very messy (for me) desk to share today.
The card is an experiment in WOW or white on white.
I have been seeing them about and always fancied trying it but was scared of the blank space!!
I used pearl paper and slightly textured white card.
I embossed one piece of each for contrast and did the same with the flourish die.
I put onto a card blank formed into a twisted easel.
The sentiment is from LOTV.
Plans for this week - going to try making an Easter/spring wreath.
Progress report next week.

Why am I shaming my filth publicly - it's all Julia at  The Stamping Ground's fault -feel free to come visit and join in the fun.
I am now going to tidy up and clean my desk before starting my wrsath. 

More freebie card making.

Hello everyone, 
I hope you are all well and having a lovely day today. I am scheduling this post as have a busy day again today. 
Got hospital this afternoon with my Dad, he's to go to see a General Medicine professor, although we are all in the dark as to why. Dad doesn't know (or isn't telling) so I've to go and I'm under strict instructions to go in with him to find out what's going on. So stand by for me (at 46) and my Dad (at 83) having a row in the middle of the hospital !!!
We'll be rowing again Friday when he's got another appointment LOL

Anyway, to the cards. I made these over the last couple of days using various freebies from magazines. I seemed to have a productive weekend - some footie or other blooming sport was on so I disappeared upstairs each afternoon to play my own game!

Happy Easter

Happy Saturday to you all.

Another lovely day here. Got a washing out this morning. Great, love the smell of washing dried outside.

I was inspired by all the spring and Easter cards I've seen recently and so made this for Ellie today.

I used DCWV Spring papers from the TSV years (and I mean years) ago.
I also used a freebie image and sentiment from ???? No idea where. I tend to actually use it for baby cards.

Thanks for all your good wishes for yesterday. We all had a lovely day (yes, it was my birthday) much fun and hilarity ensued. Ellie had a ball singing happy birthday all day long!

Have a lovely rest of the weekend.

Happy birthday

Hello everyone, 
I hope you are all well, things not bad this end. I am posting this tonight as busy day ahead tomorrow. 

There's a family birthday lunch so all out for a good feed! Then a nice afternoon at home followed by birthday dinner and cake for the ones who can't get off work.
Here is the card that was waiting to be made on Wednesday - I quite like it.

Will be another one of the Mother's day cards to be made.
I used a free paper pad from Cardmaking and Papercraft I think from ages ago.
The stamp is Milly - Just for you by LOTV as is the sentiment.
I coloured the image with Copics and Promarkers and blinged it up with a Quickie Glue pen and Glamour Dust on the butterfly, the spots on her top and the buttons.
Hope you like it and thanks for looking.

Thank you all for your visits to my little site and I really enjoy reading your comments.
Have a lovely day today and if I'm not back later have a lovely weekend.

WOYWW

Hello everyone,
Thanks for all your visits last week. I had a lovely journey around the crafty desks of the world. It's all the fault of Julia over at The Stamping Ground.  Four years ago she started showing her desk to some blogging friends and now hundreds of messy crafters display their desks to the world.
I finished the wreath I started last week.  There's a picture at the bottom. Though, after canvassing opinion, I will be adding a bit of glitter to it.
As for my desk, you lot are a bad influence on me, I am ashamed to admit to not tidying my desk after a session!!!! Still should be better next week I hope.
Photo, this week from another side, of my omnipresent tea mug and pot. I can't function without it (though it's decaf tea) the file trays contain papers and tear outs from magazines that I wish to attempt sometime. It's a never decreasing pile.
The other photo is of my plans for a card that I want to enter into this weeks LOTV challenge if I get it done!