struggling along...

Hi everyone. I'm sorry i've not been blogging or visiting your blogs. I'm still not doing great and am feeling more wiped out than normal again, since having that big thing. Luckily the lump in my neck has gone down, but i'm still not feeling well. Not even well enough to make cards :-(

I have got one to show you though, as I made this last week sometime. 

I'm sorry it's not a very chatty update, but i'm going back on the settee under lots of blankets. I hope you are all doing well and enjoying your week. I will try to get round all your blogs soon xxxxxx

Santa Claus is coming to town.........

Hello everyone!! I know some of you are now groaning, shouting "it's September!!" at the screen, but it's only 3 months ish until Santa is on his way! Woohoo as I love Christmas. Everything about it. I can't wait to buy more folksy type decorations this year from a local farm, to go with my new decor!

Anyway, I'm in the mood big time for making Christmas cards and i've made one of my bigger 8x8" cards. I just adoreeeeeeeeee this LOTV image and will be using this little man a lot I think. I have also used some more angel hair paper that I found in my stash as well as some red sequins that I bought in the January sales from WHSmith, with using them on cards in mind.
I hope you like it! :

I found these lush papers in my stash from Blonde Moments and thought they went perfectly with the colours i'd used and the baubles on them. I loved glittering up the tinsel for proper shimmer. I've used my bug to emboss the red card to add more "bauble" shapes. I bought a ribbon maker, just a cheapy from papermania, as I just couldn't tie a bow and it sit flatter. I've still had trouble sticking this one on, and will need to cover up the sticky pad a bit more! 

I'm entering this into the following challenges:

Charisma Cardz Challenge: Inspired by a song.

Secret Crafter- inspired by a song. 

(My song, obviously being "santa claus is coming to town") 

Passion for promarkers- Theme- Beary special 

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I hope you are all having a nice Wednesday. I'm still not feeling great, but managed to have a nice little walk with Millie moo and now printing some nitwits papers out whilst singing to Take That! It reminds me of seeing them this year at Wembley with my mum. We both still get a bit choked up when we talk about it as it was just so so good and very special for us to share it together. We are going to see Josh Groban in November too, which will be very special. If you haven't heard of him he has the most beautiful voice and his song "To where you are" is very special to us as we played it at Grandad's funeral and we always think of him when we hear it. It's a beautiful song if you've not heard it and if you have lost someone dear to you, it will probably mean as much to you as well.

Thank you as always for your comments. I do love coming on and seeing messages from you lovely lot! Have a good evening. oh and one more thing..... 4 more sleeps until Downton Abbey returns!! My god I just simply adore that programme and squeal everytime I see the advert!! lol 

Sketch and stash challenge 70.

hello bloggers! I hope you are all as well as possible. I'm thinking of all you northerners who are getting the tail end of hurricane Katia. I hope not too much damage is done. It's been windy "down souf" but it's been quite a nice day. I enjoyed a bit of a blow about walking Millie as I'm feeling rotten, so it gave me a nice bit of fresh air.
I've had to give in and take the antibiotics as the pain has spread all up the side of my neck and ear and I have a horrible headache and even pain in my eye sockets, so it would be silly to not take them. 


I've been a crying mess lately. I don't know what's got into me. I cried a lot yesterday watching the memorials for 9/11. I watched the British memorial and seeing those poor families read out their family members or friends names and then placing those roses was just so emotional. So so sad, that after 10 years, it still seems so raw.
  I then cried watching a gorilla give birth to a little baby, on a programme I watched. I adore animals and seeing how natural birth was for her and how she pulled him out as she gave birth was just amazing. She kept lifting him up to look at him and it brought tears to my eyes!
  Then I cried at the X factor, which I do most weeks, as I'm a soppy cow! lol

Then today, I was talking to my sis and she was telling me about hearing a song on the radio that made her sob in the kitchen, as it was played at our grandad's funeral. I had forgotten about it, due to my memory problems, and she played me some, and bloody hell did it bring those memories back, so I cried my eyes out again!! My family are all feeling very emotional at the minute, as we lost him 10 years ago this month. It was not long after the 9/11 attacks, so I think it's all just reminding us of the pain and upset we all went through. He was the first close person we had lost, and we were all very close to him, so it's still hard after 10 years. You never quite get over losing someone you love do you!

So, i'm hoping I have no more tears today as i'm all cried out! lol. I am quite content though, so at least i'm not feeling down with it.

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Right, onto my card. I am trying to keep my mind on something other than how rough I feel, so I wanted to have a go at the new challenge over at Sketch and stash. It is an open challenge to use any of the sketches on the blog.

I chose this sketch, no. 52:

and here is what I did with it:

Close up of adorable Tilda. 

Close up of snowflake charm. 

Close up of sentiment. 

I was so excited when these gorgeous Whimsy stamps arrived this morning from the US. I expect they will be used a lot of my Christmas cards this year! 

I also found some gold angel hair, when I went through some Christmas stash i'd put away, and thought it went perfect with this card. (Tilda's socks are more glittery in real life.) I think all this card needs is some Christmassy flowers, but I haven't got any yet, so when I can afford it, I'll be ordering some from wild orchid crafts! 

I've just seen that part two of the challenges there are to use new or neglected stash and to mention which is which. Well my new are the Whimsy Stamps, and my neglected is the angel hair paper!  

I hope you all have a nice evening and thank you as always for any comments left. They are really appreciated xxx

Saturday's update.

Hello everyone!! I hope you are all having a nice weekend so far.

I'm having to rest up big time as i'm a bit poorly. I woke yesterday morning with a pain in my throat/neck and found a big, painful lump on the front of my neck. I freaked the hell out of me and I rang for a Dr's app straight away for later in the day when mum could take me.
I hadn't been feeling very well for a few days and thought I was coming down with some sort of cold bug or something.
Well, it turns out I have an infection somewhere, probably in my throat/tonsils, and my lymph nodes in my throat have swollen to try to heal it of course. I've been given anti biotics, but I hate taking them as they always upset your tummy, so she said to take them if it hasn't started to settle by monday. So until then i'm filling myself full of berries, fruit, water etc.. to get as many anti oxidants into me as possible! lol

So i'm feeling bit poo poo and have to rest more than normal. I will get back on the settee in a min and colour some more images. I did a few the other day, but one just didn't work. (the LOTV carolling girl holding the candle). I just couldn't get the shading on her dress right so it's going in the bin and I need to try again.

I did manage to make a little card a few days back with another of my new LOTV Christmas images. This one is just too adorable and I think i'll use it quite a bit this year! Hope you like it. xx

It looks more glittery/shimmery in real life, as i've used sakura glitter pens on the babygro dots and the wheels. I'm really not happy with my camera still. I'm going to have to get someone to look at it for me, as my pics never look lovely and crisp like many of yours do. 

Right i'm off back to the settee in a bit. I'm in heaven later with Strictly come dancing back on, then Red or Black, then the X factor, then either Million pound drop or Jonathan Ross, then Match of the Day! Perfick!
Enjoy your saturday's!!! xxx

the start of my Christmas cards!

Hello everyone!! I hope you are all having a good day. I'm very sleepy again today and dropped a lit match on my carpet! Luckily I blew it out very quickly and it's only just a little bit burnt, but it scares me what silly things I do when i'm having a more then normal tired day. 


I could not believe when my postie arrived today. I got my new LOTV stamps! How is that for amazingly fast delivery!! I ordered them just after midnight, yesterday morning I suppose, and got them this morning. I couldn't believe it! I can't wait to have a play with them.

I've managed to make one card today, but am too tired to do much more today.

I made this with one of my gorgeous new LOTV stamps I got last week. I just adore robins! 

Side view

Close up of the adorable image. 

Close up of sentiment. 

I'm entering this into the following challenges:

LOTV- sketch by pops. I love this sketch and it's made me layer more! 

Papertake weekly- anything goes. 

Stampin' for the weekend- Holidays (My favourite of all being Christmas!)

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I hope you all have a lovely evening. Thank you for visiting me and for lovely comments as always xxxxxxxxx

crafty buys!!

Hello everyone!! What a horrible windy and rainy day it is here today! That just means I have to stay tucked up inside and craft and rest!

I had a right little treat on sunday. My dad had given me some money for some crafty spends (which was very very surprising!) and I popped along to the glitterpot with my niece. OOOOOOO i could spend hours in there and easily hundreds of pounds at a time (if i was rich! lol). I'm so so lucky to have it so close to me. I bought some lovely bits and bobs, along with some bits for my upcoming blog candy. (I'm too excited to do it, so I doubt i'll be able to wait until December, which is when I thought I might do it). 


I just went to take some pics to show you but my camera battery is flat, so it's charging now and i'll add some pics in a while.
I also saved enough to buy a few of the adorable new LOTV stamps. I was up at midnight when the new collection went on sale, so I thought i'd get in there quick. I ordered these beauties from the newest collection:

And these from the first collection fell into my basket to! Does that happen to you?? You go on to order 3 stamps and come away with 6 in your basket??!! lol 

Aren't they just adorable!!! I really love the designs and can't wait to start on my Christmas cards! 

I've not got any cards to show you just yet, but i'll be making some today as I've been colouring images on the settee feeling too worn out to walk and in a lot of pain with my legs. I get bored if I don't do something, so colouring images is great for when i'm physically wiped out.

Talking of colouring..... at the Glitterpot, they had demonstrators there and Emily and I had a chat with a women colouring beautifully with copics. I am so torn now as I went for promarkers as I was told they were cheaper, but the copics just look beautiful. There seem to be some nicer muted colours and I also didn't know they were refillable. She also told me about the way that the numbers work and that they are based on the colour wheel, which makes matching tones is much easier for blending.
I do love my promarkers, but when going round blogs, I keep being drawn to some amazing colouring by people using copics. I don't seem to be able to get this sort of effect that people such as the amazingly talented Claudia Rosa at pretty pressings. 

She has such lovely light areas in her colouring, to really create shape, but I can't seem to get anything like that without having quite harsh lines of colour. I try to leave much lighter areas, but to blend the darker colours in, you need to go over them with the lighter colour, which then darkens the lighter colour by putting a second layer over it. Maybe I just still can't quite get to grips with markers??
I thought with the broader range of tones with the copics, I could get that effect better?? What do you all think?? advice or tips are very welcome. 

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Phew it is windy out there. I've just been out to walk Millie moo and we both got bit soggy, but it was strangely nice too. Blew the cobwebs away!
I came back with big pockets full of conkers too! lol I just love them. They are so pretty and my house always has them on the windowsills from the autumn to keep the spiders away. Whether it works, I'm not sure, but I'm willing to try anything to keep those blighters away from me. 

Aren't they such a pretty part of nature! 

Right I also promised to show some of my new lush stash! I got some lovely papers:

and some other bits and pieces. I just could not resist this adorable penny black stamp. I do love the mice! 

Here are the images i've coloured so far, so i'll put them up when i've made them into cards! 

Ok, I think I have waffled on long enough!! I wish you all a good rest of the day and thank you as always for any comments left xxxx

happy 1st September!

Hello everyone! Can you believe it's the 1st September already!! Where is the year going?? Luckily for me, in the South, it's sunny and blue skies today. 


I haven't got any cards to show made by me today, as I've had a couple of days resting and catching up with boring housework (although I felt good after i'd sorted through my kitchen cupboards and cleaned them out. I do love an anti bac wipe!! lmao) I then wore myself out and slept until midday today, so more resting today. 
My dad popped round the other day and gave me some money to get some crafty bits, so I've ordered some more lush stamps from LOTV, so can't wait to get those!! I will be desperate to buy more though in a few days, when they release the 2nd collection of Christmas stamps! lol 

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I thought i'd take this opportunity to award the "appreciated follower award" to some of my lovely followers. 

I do award all of my followers with this, as I'm still slowly building up my followers, and I appreciate each and everyone of you, who take time to post comments. It really does make blogging so much more worthwhile and always puts a smile on my face. So thank you. But as you do have to nominate particular people I have chosen the following:

Claire- from Claire's crafty corner - Who gave me this award. I was so very touched and appreciate you too, as you have been one of my earlier friends/followers and always leave such lovely comments. 

Fiona- from Lil Daffodil- You have been one of my earlier friends/followers too and always say such kind things. You seem like such a lovely, kind woman, and one who also has struggled with health, so I appreciate being your blogging friend. 

Keryn- from poppy dog- my lovely name sharer. We share not only our name but our love of jack russells. Your comments always seem so heartfelt and I love that you love doggies like I do! 

Donna- from My happy Place- One of my newer friends/followers, but you have been so friendly and kind. Not only did I win your blog candy, but you always leave such lovely comments. 

Vicky- from Vixx handmade cards- Another new friend/follower who makes me smile with her fun and caring comments. Despite being a gooner, you come across as so lovely and I appreciated your help with naming my "business". 

If you haven't already, do go and visit these blogs as they are all talented cardmakers and their blogs are lovely to read! 

As I said, I appreciate all my followers and each and every comment is so gratefully received. So thank you everyone. I hope to make more when I have some blog candy and get my blog "spread around" more! lol 

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Phew, I'm glad this thing saves itself as it goes along. I have had to do this in two parts as I came over feeling very yucky, queasy and light headed. I think i've over done it yet again with cupboard cleaning and the ME is punishing me again! I'm feeling bit rotten, so i'm off back to the settee with Millie moo moos for cuddles. 

Oh before I go i'd like to share the 3 cards my niece Emily made for the fayre. I was so impressed with the colouring and love that she is sharing my love of arts and crafts. 

Isn't her colouring lovely! She adores my promarkers and the new fine tips. 

I love the colours she chose and how she adds on lots of shimmer with my jellyroll pens. 

Right, I am off now. I hope as many of you as possible have sunshine and wish you a happy thursday x Lots of love xxx

Edited to add that LOTV's ideas to inspire blog are giving away some of the new LOTV Xmas stamps over the next 5 days, so pop over if you want to win some lush stamps! 

Today is a new day...

Hello to my lovely followers. I so appreciate your lovely comments. I may not know any of you but I feel you are friends and it's lovely to have people to share a passion with, who feel the same love of crafting. So thank you for being friends as well as followers!

I am still gutted about yesterday, but i'm not going to just give up. I'm booking again for the Christmas fayre in December, and will give it another go, so any hints or tips from those who sell at fairs is very welcome. I sold quite a few of my "reindeer food" last Christmas, so I'll be making plenty of those. I just put some porridge oats in a little bag and make a cute reindeer to stick on the bag, with a cute little poem on the back. They seem to be popular, so i'll try again with those. I'll also make some gift boxes/bags and see if they sell.
Someone suggested I put some cards into wicker baskets as people like rummaging through things and will pick them up more, rather than just wander past looking.

I've had another wonderful surprise to come back to today! I have been so lucky to win the lovely blog candy at Vixx's handmade cards!! It put a big smile on my face and I can't believe how lucky I have been winning a few blog candy's. I hardly ever win anything but my luck seems to have changed!! Thank you so much Vicky. I am over the moon with my win. I really love reading your blog and seeing your beautifully made cards, so winning is an added bonus. 


I promise I will be paying it forward and doing a blog candy of my own, but I want to make sure it's a good one, so it will take me a little while to afford enough bits and bobs to give away. I am building up bits each time I order anything, so I will get a candy offer going before Christmas. 


Thank you to those who have left messages already. I am so grateful and touched by how lovely you all are and your kind words.
Pops, I am quite shocked at how little you sell your cards for!! You are massively under selling them! Your work is beautiful and your cards are far better than mine. The amount of materials you must use on each card, by doing the insides as well, and selling with a box, means that people should pay at least £5 per card!! I do wish more people appreciated the work and time that has gone into handmade stuff. Yes you can get cheapy cards from the card factory, but they look cheap and are just so samey. I love that you tell people to go and buy them there then, when they say that to you! 


I will try and sell on etsy, as people tend to go there to find original pieces and are willing to pay for beautiful work. I just need to not look around there too much as there is so much lovely stuff I want to buy! lol. 


It's certainly getting autumnal isn't it! I've been getting chillier getting into bed recently. I do dread it getting dark at 4.30, but I love halloween, bonfire night and most of all Christmas, so I will look at the changing season as an excuse to make different cards and scrapbook pages. 


I wish you all a happy day. I'm off to have a look round your blogs now to see what gorgeous work you've all been doing. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

:-( disappointment

Hello everyone! I hope you're all having a nice bank holiday monday.

Well, the craft fair didn't go so well. :-( I was there a few hours before starting to feel really wiped out and in pain and very cold! So my mum brought me home and my lovely sis stayed on my stall to try keep selling.
More disappointing was that I hardly sold much at all :-( I sold 2 cards when I was there and my sis has sold 1. I feel so disheartened and wonder why people just don't seem to buy.
I've worked so hard for weeks for this and it just seems like it was all for nothing. A lady picked up my baby girl album and said how original and beautiful it was but when she asked how much and I said £25, she put it down and wandered off. So I then put the albums at £20 which would mean I was barely making anything from them, but people seem to think that is too expensive.
They don't think about how much the materials cost and the fact that they take me 6-8 hrs to make each one. 


To be honest the only people that ever really seem to appreciate my work are my family and you lovely people. You all have the same love as I do and see all the little details.

I might try the Xmas fayre they are organising, but maybe that'll be the same?
I was thinking of maybe trying to sell on etsy. Do any of you sell on there? I know i'm not going to get rich making things, but I would love to make enough to keep funding my crafting hobby.

Thank you all for your support and comments. It is lovely to share my love of craft with people that really "get it" if you know what I mean. 
I'm sorry for a downhearted post, but I'm feeling a bit gutted :-(

time's up!

Good evening lovely followers! Thank you all for such lovely comments again. It's always so lovely to go on your blog and find comments to read.It always means a lot to me so thank you!

Well, time's up. The local fayre is tomorrow! I can do no more! My word am I wiped out. I had to ask my sis to take my niece home today as I just feel so tired, I needed a quieter night and to sleep without being kicked or hit on the face by wriggler! lol

I am praying it goes well tomorrow and I sell some stuff. I've worked so hard for weeks and am getting run down now (sore throat and glands up) so it better be worth it! lol
I've loved it though and am finding that I'm in such a swing of crafting now and my mojo is running wild.

Here are some bits I've made: 


This is the sign I made for my stall. My new "business" is now called Butterfly wings and crafty things, a lovely suggestion from Victoria (the gooner ;-) ) . Thank you Vixx, I love the name!

I had these alpha stickers for ages, but they are just perfect for this theme. Emily suggested I weave ribbon in through the holes and I think it looks lovely! She was very proud that I did what she said. 

I wanted to make a few easel cards but ran out of energy today, so this is all I made. I adore this image! 

Inside, with the tag to write on. 

Close up of flowers. 

Close up of image. 

I am loving using the new fine tips for the promarkers. I got some free with each pen I bought from Letraset, and they are so helpful for colouring and blending in smaller areas. Emily loves them too as is very neat with them. 

Here is the distressed/shabby chicy album I mentioned:

                                          The inside pages:

Some closer detail:

I will show you Emily's cards soon, but I need to get to beddie byes, as I have to leave by 10am. This is very early for me, as I don't normally wake up until 11 ish most days. 

I wish you all a happy bank holiday Monday. Fingers crossed for me that I sell some stuff after weeks of non stop crafting! lol xxxxxxxxx