I've no excuse now ......

Happy Sunday everyone!

And Hi! to Toni, my latest follower, it's nice to have you along.
I hope you're enjoying the weekend.  Sunday for me started with a nice lie in and then blogging in bed, whilst a lovely full english breakfast was made for me.   The diet is definitely on hold this weekend, it's dinner out later - nom! nom!

My one Christmas card per week may not just be wishful thinking anymore ...... look what I've come across this weekend ........ a Christmas Card Blog Challenge .......

Merry Monday

You know I love my blog challenges .... when I get the time.  So, this year I'm really making an effort to keep up with my favourite ones.  I came across this one through Greta's blog which I follow, and it looks like fun ...... so I've no excuses now, there's going to be a touch of Christmas every week - I hope! 
Here's the first one of 2014 .....

Ribbon or Twine

A CAS design ....... let's not go mad shall we.  I thought I'd make use of the Alterations Movers and Shapers die that's been sat on my workdesk for months.  I just love the mini jingle bell on there ..... sooo cute!

I cut one from glitter card and the other from silver mirri, attached them using foam pads, added my festive satin bow ......

and found the perfect sentiment in my stash, to go with them ...... 

And there you have it ...... my first Christmas card of 2014 - whoo hoo!!
I'd better get it uploaded to the challenge now, it closes later today.   Can't wait to see what tomorrow's challenge will be .....  Christmas card number 2 coming up!!

Thanks for popping by today, enjoy the rest of your Sunday.

Cheerio for now

Linda

xx

Winter Blues ......

Happy Friday,

What a busy week ......it doesn't take long to get back in the swing of things does it.   
The last bits of the festive fayre has all but gone ...... there are a few chocolates and part of a Christmas cake, so the diet's off for another week (that's a shame! ...... she says with her hand in a large bag of peanut M&Ms).

Things are pretty much back to normal in the old craft room too.  The place is a tip, the 'To Do' list is growing daily, new stash is piling up because I've no time to play with it, I'm busy with DT stuff, and Blogger is up to his usual tricks! 
Not only has my Blog background disappeared (ok, ok .... that's not blogger's fault!) but now it's taking ages to save anything, and I can't preview things.  When I do leave the page (after making my own copy of what I've just blogged), log back in again, everything is there SAVED!!!! Arghhhhhh!  It takes me long enough to blog as it is without the site playing silly beggers.

Oh yes ....... and the Christmas craft stash is still out too!  Does that mean I have to keep it out all year now?
At least I stand a chance of making my ONE Christmas card every month then .......  I did say the same thing last year and look how well that worked out in 2013!
I'll keep you posted on how I get on ..... don't hold your breath though, it may get December before I make a start ........ and I might just get fed up of stepping falling over the stash box too!

One thing I have managed to do this week is a card for one of my favourite Blog Challenges -  Less is More

To start off the year the girls have given us a Colour Challenge .......

Winter Blues

they want us to use shades of Blue

Here's mine ......

My shades of blue are Tumbled Glass, Faded Jeans and Stormy Sky Distress inks, for the background with the text randomly stamped in Faded Jeans

Then the pretty flowers have been stamped over the top using the gorgeous Cornflower Blue Archival ink from the Wendy Vecchi range.
I love this stamp set - Rose Branch Border from Stampendous.  It's been in my stash for ages and never been used (like so many other things!)

The words are also from the same stamp set and have been stamped using another of Wendy's Archival inks - Watering Can

Some satin ribbon finishes off the front, and of course the inside's been done too ....

It's now in the post on it's way to my Mother-in-law for her birthday on Monday (two jobs done in one!) Hope she likes it.

It's also my day to post on the DT Blog over at Creative Studios if you fancy taking a look - more ideas using Sam's new stamp designs.

Thanks for popping by today.  I see I have another new follower too ..... welcome Kelly it's nice to have you along.
I hope you all have a lovely weekend.  Are you doing anything nice?
Cheerio for now

Linda

xx

Back to normal ......

Happy Wednesday!

This week is flying by.  Things are getting back to normal, the daily routine is back, the house is tidy again ..... well some rooms anyway, and I am busy in the old craft room ..... where time just seems to go once I get settled in there! 

I'm busy with some brand new stamp designs from Sam Poole over at Creative Studios  They're due to launch on Create & Craft on January 18th, but if you really can't wait until then they are on the website .....
Doodle Flowers  and Doodle Butterfly  along with some new additions to the pre-cut Singles range.

Here's a sneaky peek of some of my designs that will hopefully be on the show .....

I must confess that this little ladybug from the Doodle Butterfly set is a favourite of mine, she's just sooo cute! You're going to see her turning up everywhere I think!

And ...... I also love the new Jar of Delight .....

Tune in to the shows ...... Saturday January 18th, at 11am and 4pm to see these and more fabulous products, and of course great inspiration from Sam too.

How's things were you are weatherwise?   We haven't escaped all the flooding over here, what with really strong winds and unually high tides, our little island has taken quite a battering over the last few days.  All the ferries have been cancelled ...... that means the supermarket shelves are empty.  Luckily our freezer is full, and the cupboards are still bursting from Christmas so no need to panic just yet!

Douglas prom was closed at the weekend ......

and this is just below where hubby works,  ......

pictures from 3FM Isle of Man's FB page

Things are a little calmer today thank goodness.  But I still wouldn't want to be catching a ferry!

I suppose it's time I was back in the old craft room, I've still got samples to make, and Kay has just given the IndigoBlu Belles our brief for January ........ooooh  more new stamps coming!  It's a tough job but someone's got to do it!  Speaking of IndigoBlu, I've posted on the DT Blog today ....... using one of the latest stamp sets ..... Nature II, if you fancy a look.

Thanks for popping by today ...... and welcome to my latest followers too, I noticed a couple of new faces over the festive break, it's nice to have you along.

Until next time ........

Cheerio for now

Linda

xx

Well it's started ok ......

Happy Friday, and a Happy 2014!

And hasn't she started with a bang!  My thoughts go out to those who are in the flooded areas ..... stay safe, warm and dry.

We haven't escaped over here, flood warnings are out all over the island and the unusally high tide around lunchtime today saw some streets flooded in Douglas, Ramsey and Castletown. And the ferries have been cancelled again so, it's a case of batten down the hatches and see it through.  We're going nowhere!  Check out these pictures on 3FM Isle of Man's Facebook page ....... scary!!

Things are slowly getting back to normal in the old craft room.  The door finally opened yesterday when I ventured in there.
What a mess!!  There's Christmas stuff everywhere, new stash piled high and DT stuff ready and waiting to be played with, I mean worked on!    That's my weekend sorted then.

2014 got off to a great start for me ........ I was amongst the winners in Tims' 12 Tags for December - whoo hoo!

Thank you so much to everyone that's visited my blog and commented on my tag post, I really appreciate it.  And the fun has started all over again ..... Tim's January Tag is already up there.  Can't wait to start playing along for the next 12 months.

Speaking of Tim Holtz ..... look what my lovely postie brought this morning  .....

The new JUMBO Tattered Florals and Greenery dies ....... the large flower is mahoosive!! Can't wait to play with these babies!!!
But they're going to have to wait (sigh!) the list is already full of DT stuff.  First up is my weekly post over on the Creative Studios DT Blog ...... here's a little sneaky peek for you

Brand new stamp designs from the lovely Sam Poole.  Watch Create & Craft, Saturday 18th January to see Sam demonstrate these, and more fabulous goodies.  And I'll be sharing with you more of my designs using the stamps, over the next couple of weeks.

Thanks for popping by today.  Have a great weekend ...... I'm going to make a start on taking all the Christmas decorations down this evening, I've had enough now, I need them to be away and the house clean and tidy again.  What I'm going to do with all the chocolates and sweets that are left well ........ it would be a shame to waste them now, wouldn't it.   The diet starts next week!!!

By the way, if you're wondering what has happend to my blog (where's the background etc. gone?) I'm working on it!  I wasn't best pleased when everything disappeared over Christmas.  You may have noticed a couple of different backgrounds appear then disappear over the last few days ...... I can't find one that I like!!!!  So I'm trying to get it back to the way it was ..... hopefully it will be sorted soon - I feel naked!

Cheerio for now

Linda

xx

Out with the old ...... and in with the New

 

Wishing you all

a very Happy and Healthy 2014

Love and best wishes

LindyLou

xx