The missing member of our family ....... Tears of joy

It's Friday already, how the heck did it come round so fast.  I'm feeling a little under the weather today. I had planned to take the dog for a nice walk on the beach at 7.30 this morning, but I just couldn't get the enthusiasm up and running in time.  I think it's stayed in bed, I have searched for it but it's hiding well in the folds of the duvet and not coming out for anything, lol.

Over the last week I have been clearing the garden and managed to fill the car up and make the trip to the dump 3 times, and I'm still not finished.  It's only a small garden so I have no idea why it was so much.  And, I'm still not finished!  I ran out of steam halfway through the holly tree, which is I have to admit looking a little odd only half done.  Oh well it will just have to stay that way till I get me some more energy and time.  Anyone know a good shop where you can get it? lmao.

On Wednesday I met my 20 year old niece Laura for the first time.  It's been an emotional month or so for our family I can tell you. I won't bore you with the details, but we always knew she was out there somewhere and a short while ago Laura with her mothers help and blessing contacted my brother.  We are all pleased as punch and over the moon.  She is a lovely, beautiful young lady and I'm looking forward to Laura coming to stay for a few days in the near future.  Can't say I'm looking forward to be called Auntie Deanne, It makes me feel old and it's only my Mum and Aunties that ever call me Deanne so I'm going to have to work on that one.

Right lets get my head back to work and craft, not so easy at the moment with so many things rushing round and round in my head, lol.  The challenge on the Polka Doodles blog this week was set by Claire and is to make a decorative item for the home.  I chose to make a Christmas banner with the new cd Paper Boutique Vol 2.  Sorry about the pics, but it's not exactly the easiest thing to photograph.

The sample cards below are all made from the new cd.  The shaped cards are all such fun and will make a real wow when you make and send them out to friends and family.

 

I made this card so it would tip backwards and forwards, just a bit of fun and it makes it slightly different.

I used the blank templates over the backing papers for the holly wreath.

 

And another use of the blank templates using Cosmic Shimmer spritzed card this time, then I stamped round the edge using a snowflake stamp from the Christmas Doodles stamp plate.

Have a good weekend everyone.  Enjoy the sun if you get it.

Been MIA again. Oops

Hello all, sorry to say I have been awol again! I've been super busy but is that really an excuse. Hmm, well it is for me.  I don't know how you all manage it on a daily basis, someone please tell me your secret, lol.

Before I go further here is my Polka Doodles DT card for last week, which was to make a card/project for Fathers day or just male themed.  There's 2 days left for this challenge if you want to entre.  The challenge this week was set by Brenda and it's make something for a boy. So have a poodle over to the blog and see what the talented team have made.

Sunday sees the launch of the new Polka Doodles cd, Paper Boutique Creative Christmas. So get that remote away from the OH and tune into Create and Craft at 2.00pm.  I've had great fun working with this cd and it offers you something a little different to make some fabulous projects for Xmas that will really wow all your friends and rellies.

 And for some more superscrummymusthavestash take a look at the very talented and lovely Dyan Reaveley's new Altered Originals, all available from Art From The Heart.  If you are a fan of Altered art then these are a must have, seriously once you have them in your sticky mitts you won't know how you managed without them.  But wait just one minute, these fab downloads and gorgeous bright spay inks can be used for so much more, they can be used for all your crafting projects, be it cardmaking, scrapbooking or interior items.  The skies the limit, just let your imagination take you on a new colourful journey and see where you end up.

Dyan, I hope you don't mind me pinching the pics from your blog, but I really wanted to show everyone the gorgeous colours.  And thank you so much for posting the pics of the BM cards and your lovely comments.

And a BIG thank you to Becky of Dots and Spots for her blog post on the 23rd June.  I made a set of cards for Making Cards Magazine using the wonderful decorative adhesive tape she designed.  They are featured in the July issue of MC and Becky said some lovely things about me (blush blush), so thank you muchly Becky it's much appreciated.

Again I have 'borrowed' the pics from Becky's blog, I hope you don't mind hun (notice how I've gone from pinch to borrow, sounds so much better don't you think?).

Ta ta for now. I will be back next time with pics of all the cards I've made with the new Polka Doodles CD.

Can't think what to say!

It's late, I'm knackered, and I can't think of a flippin thing to say! I may come back later and add some more but for now, you'll have to make do with a few pics.

To start with, here is this weeks Polka Doodle challenge set by the lovely Nettie.  I found this one hard not having any children, I had to dig deep trying to think back to my childhood!  The theme to this weeks challenge was to make a project with the theme of nursery rhyme. Here is my attempt.

And here are the cards from Making Cards magazine this months. The first 2 sets are made using WS Designs templates, the last set is stitched on material the mounted onto card then fixed to the card.

Till next time, keep well.

Airport rip-off

Well it's been another busy week and weekend.  I had to go to Southampton airport on Saturday morning to pick Colin up. His flight was delayed by 2 hours in total, luckily I found out just before I was due to leave.  My journey was longer than his so I almost missed his call.  What a rip-off airports are, WH Smiths were charging £1.65 for a small bottle of Pepsi.  How can they justify it?  They really should charge the same as they do in the rest of their shops.  And the parking, just don't get me started, £3.60 for 35 mins, I'll say no more or I'll be ranting for next 3 hours.

I have another trip to Kettering next week, I'm considering getting a tent as a cheaper alternative to hotel bills.  It will be worth it though, It's training for a new product that I think is very exciting, so I'm looking forward to it.

Better late than never, isn't that what they say?  With that in mind here is my DT card from last Friday for Polka Doodles.  The challenge was to make a modern/retro anniversary card.  So if you fancy a go bob along to the blog and check out the other DT ladies challenge cards for some inspiration.

 Just a quickie today I'm afraid, hopefully I'll have more for you next time.

Mr Tom-flippin-tom

Just how many things can a person do all at the same time?  I found myself pondering that one while lounging in my hotel room on Monday night.  Talking of which I had a fab day on Tuesday, they certainly did pack the products in for the training, although most were only spoken about or we would have still been there at midnight.  Sheena really did make it a fun day though and I came home with all sorts of goodies to play with, oops sorry that should have been practice and prepare with, lol.

I have two gripes about the journey up.  Firstly it took me three and a half hours to get there, I had wanted to stop off at Bicester for a spot of shopping, but by the time I got there it would have meant continuing on in the rush hour, so no thank you to that.  Secondly I must have come across every obnoxious and bloody minded lorry drivers on the roads that day, the amount of near misses I saw had me fearing for my life I can tell you.  And OK so it's actually 3 gripes, Why did Mr Tomtom keep insisting on trying to send me to London first?  You'd have thought he would have given up by the time I got to Newbury, but no I was nearly at Oxford before he finally guessed which route I was taking, just as well really because once I hit Oxford I didn't have a scoobies where I was going.   Then when I got to Kettereing Mr Tomtom failed again and sent me to a layby on the ringroad and told me I had reached my destination, now call me fickle but I didn't much fancy sleeping in the big old tree there, just a bit drafty, noisy and uncomfy, and the privacy issues well just don't go there.

Late but not forgotten, here is my Polka Doodles DT card for last Friday.  Fliss set the challenge to make a Birthday card/project including texture and dimension, and in her Mother favourite colours of blue and peach/orange.  All papers are from All Around and Everywhere CD

And here are a few more cards and other pics to get you yawning, lol.  The first 2 were stamped with Design House Stamps.

 

 

The following ones used WS Designs templates and papers from CraftWork Cards

 

And the last few are using Design House Papers

Ha ha, Just thought I throw this one in to confuse you all.  That's me sat on the back looking all prim and proper.  I would like to point out this was back in the eighties when I was working as a groom.  Don't my babies look beautiful, shiny and clean?  It never lasted long I can tell you.

 

A few pics from a recent walk on the beach.

 

This lovely tree is down an ally we walk through, it was laded with flowers.

 

And these were taken in the garden after the walk.

Well planned that last photo, what a lovely shot of my weeds and dustbin.  I really should learn to engage my brain first, lmao.

Polka Doodles DT Call

So, if you're up for the challenge but want to have lots of fun then apply now and explain in 25 words why you would like to be on the team by Sunday 23rd May...we look forward to hearing from you!!

I've woken up to a beautiful day again today, I hope it's the same for you wherever you are.  I have also woken up feeling very old and achy.  Balancing on the bath like a contortionist painting the bathroom yesterday was not the best idea in the world, lmao. Still two more coats to do as well, what fun!

I'm off to Kettering the week after next for a full but fun packed training day with Sheena from Creative Expressions.  I'm really looking forward to it, although I am already familiar with all the products and tools we will be using.  However you are never too old to learn something new or pick up new ideas, and it is going to be fun day.

This weeks Polka Doodles challenge was to create texture and dimension onto our projects.  It is also the blogs birthday and Nikky has created a fabby male themed download bundle and is giving away some great prizes for the challenge, so click on the link above and hop on over there and  take a looksy.  The rest of the Design Team have as always made some fabulous projects for you to get inspiration from.

This is my effort this week.  I used papers from the free download and I dug around my stash and found my old ribbler.  I also used a couple of cuttlebug folders, highlighted all the texture with distress inks and then layered the pieces on top of each other with foam pads.

Here are the cards I made for Making Cards using the talented Dyan's Blond Moments products. You can find all the Blond Moments range and so much more over at Art From the heart , but be warned, once you're there you may not escape without putting your bank balance in jeopardy.

This is a card I did for our friends mum.  As it is a special birthday they wanted a special card so I couldn't say no now could I.  The colours have gone a little haywire between the camera and lappy but you can get the drift so to speak.

A couple of cards I did last year for Making Cards, excellent for Fathers day or just male birthdays.

And another set, I used My Minds Eye Bella Bella Bellezo papers and stamps by Hero Arts.  They can be found at A Card 4 U

Have a good week all.