January Blues

Morning everyone,

I can't believe January is nearly over with, and, my blog is a year old!  Where did that time go?!  Happy Birthday Blog (it was actually a few days ago - but who's counting!) 
This is post number 200 and I've enjoyed sharing every single one of them with you.  I still find it hard to believe that so many of you enjoy reading my little old blog.  I love reading all the comments you leave, and I really enjoy stalking following you guys too. Thank you so much for keeping me company on my crafty journey.

As usual I'm on the last minute with my entry for the current Penny Black Saturday Challenge.
This month's theme is ......

JANUARY BLUES!

Don't worry it's not about being all sad and miserable, it's just they want us to use mainly blue tones on our creations.

As always, rules apply ...... only Penny Black images can be used, large sentiments and Stickeroos included.

Here's mine ......

Tea for two ..... all in blue!

Well, it's definitely blue!  I must say, it's not a colour I tend to use a lot, not for the whole card anyway.  I do like how this turned out though.

The background paper is from Magnolia, and is called 'Something Blue'.  The band across the centre was done using the PB 'clique' stamp (3858E) and Stormy Sky Distress Ink.
The main image is PB 'Tea Cozy' (1680J), stamped and coloured using Copic pens.  It's then been cut out and layered using Nestabilities dies (what did we do before we had these!?)
The tiny little sentiment on the tag is an extra, I thought it went with the stamp.  It's from the Stampin Up! Tea Shoppe set.

To finish everything off I added a couple of  Memory Box die cut flourishes, some paper roses and a pretty organza bow.

The main sentiment on the large tag is also a PB stamp - ..... special treasures (3629E).

Well, only one more day to go before hubby is home - I have missed him!   I hope these strong winds die down a little before Friday though, otherwise he's going to have a bit of a BuMpY flight.

Off to put the kettle on now.  A nice cup of Earl Grey I think, before I head off to the old craft room.

Thanks for popping by again.  Enjoy the rest of your day.

Cheerio for now

Linda

x

I'm doing it all again!!

Hellooooo .......
Happy Wednesday everyone, from a very wild and windy Isle of Man.

I mentioned yesterday that I'd finally got around to doing my Timmie Tag for January.  I'm so glad that we're able to do it all again this year, I really enjoyed the monthly challenges during 2012 (and to actually win twice was an added bonus!)

12 Tags of 2013

As usual I didn't have all the stuff Tim had used, but I managed.  Here's my version .....

The words are different and I didn't have the little pointing finger stamp, but I think everything else is pretty much what the Master used.   Ooh, except the stamps on the ribbon ......

I used the calendar ticket from the Odds and Ends stamp set (CMS100).  This is a really cool idea, to customise the ribbon to match your project.  The Idea-ology Crinkle Ribbon takes colour so well and as long as you remember to stamp in a permanent ink and dry it straight away, your design shouldn't bleed into the ribbon.
Full details of all the products and techniques used on the tag are on the Tim Holtz Blog.

Why not join in the fun, if you're not doing so already.

Well I'd better be off.  Sorry it's a bit short and sweet, but I have a busy afternoon ahead.  And, it's also my day to post over on the Indigo Blu DT Blog - see you over there later!

Thanks for popping by today.

Cheerio for now

Linda

x  

First Twinchie of 2013

Morning eveyone,

What a busy start to the week.  I got loads done yesterday.  Lets hope I can keep it up for the rest of the week.

I found my missing Tim Holtz dies over the weekend, as well as a few other bits and bobs I'd forgotten about (oops!).  It took me most of Saturday though, before they turned up.  I went through all my Christmas stuff, all the boxes under my table (and there's a few).  I went through all my ribbon boxes and searched through the pile of stuff that's not been used yet.  Eventually, there they were - sitting in a box full of Cuttlebug stuff!!!! No idea how they got there, but never mind at least I don't have to rush out and buy new ones.  Phew !  -  panic over.

The reason I got so much done yesterday is I'm home alone (sigh!) - well apart from Christopher that is, who I saw for all of 5 minutes yesterday. 
Stephen's gone to Dublin for the week with work so I've no distractions.  I can basically do what I like for the whole week - I might just get those wedding invites finished you never know!

I started the week off catching up with Blog Challenges.  Seeing as it's February on Friday I thought I'd better get a move on.  Nothing new there then.  

First off ..... It's Twinchie Time again - the first one of 2013.  (This challenge doesn't actually close until the 4th February)

What's a Twinchie? 
In case you don't know, it's a 2"x2" square piece of Art work, and they are so much fun to do.  Pop over to the Twinchie Blog and see what I mean.  There's a fab Design Team over there that always come up with great inspiration pieces.

Challenge #1 of the year is .........   Anything Goes

 'Time Flies' ...... I've been saying that a lot recently, what with the kid's birthdays, and it being our 25th wedding anniversary later this year, and January's almost gone.........

The background is done with Distress Inks and I've used the cogs from the Clockwork set of stamps from Indigo Blu, stamped in Versamark and then dusted with pearlescent chalks (something I came across while searching for the dies, and thought 'I've not used those in a while'). 
The words are from a Creative Studios set of stamps called Time Flies.  The clock is one of my favourite Stampendous stamps.  I've stamped it directly onto the Twinchie (obviously it's too big), so I stamped it again, cut it out and layered it over the top.  I also stamped the clock face again, coloured with DI and attached that over the top again.  I've add small highlights to the watch using a Stardust gel pen, and also edged around the twinchie with the same.

Well that's 1 Challenge down ......... 3 more to go.  I have done my Timmie Tag,  but you'll have to wait until tomorrow for that.

Thanks for popping by today.  Enjoy the rest of your Tuesday.

Cheerio for now

Linda

x

Thank Goodness it's Friday!

Evening everyone .......  I don't say that very often,

A bit of a late one from me today, it's been one of those days.  Nothing has gone according to plan - except the evening meal surprisingly enough.  Considering I wasn't giving it my full attention the roast dinner was perfect, even if I do say so myself.

This flippin' cold is still hanging around.  At least it didn't spoil my meal out last night.  What's the old saying......... Feed a cold, starve a fever, well I'm certainly giving it a go.  I would show you pictures but I can't figure out how to get them onto my blog from my new phone - me and technology, not good!!
Anyhow, we had a lovely meal.  Crab for starters (yum!) followed by surf and turf (the lobster was de-licious!), then Stephen twisted my arm and forced me to have dessert (well, not exactly forced me).  The lemon and raspberry creme brulee on the menu sounded just too nice to turn down.  We all thoroughly enjoyed the food, but I think a second trip is needed just to make sure (big smile!)

Enough about food, back to today.  As it's Friday it's my day to post on the Creative Studios DT Blog.  I eventually got something finished (on the 3rd attempt!), here's just a sneaky peek ........

........ if you want to see more, you'll have to pop over to the DT Blog
 
Speaking of Creative Studios, if you're a Sam Poole fan you'll be pleased to know that she's back on our screens tomorrow - yeah!!  Saturday 26th Jan, Create and Craft (Sky channel 671, Freeview 36, Freesat 813) at 10am and 4pm.  She's got some new stamp designs, some old favourites and lots of other goodies to add to your stash, plus loads of tips and techniques too.  I've already set my Sky box.

Disaster struck this afternoon, whilest I was making my DT project.  I went to use my Tim Holtz Rosette Dies and they were nowhere to be seen (Oh No!)  You can imagine my reaction - where could they possibly be!  Mind you, if you could see my craft room at the moment,  it's lucky I can find anything.
Once I'd calmed down and stopped looking in the same places, when I knew they weren't there, I did tidy my desk a little.  I found my favourite scissors which had disappeared a couple of days ago, and my craft knife which I broke earlier in the week, but NO Timmie dies (sigh!)  I'm not happy at all!  I had to make my own rosette!

Guess what I'm doing this weekend ......... yes that's right, I'm turning the old craft room upside down.  I will find these dies, they have to be in there somewhere.  And if I don't find them I've already warned hubby that I will be ordering some new ones.  Wish me luck!

Have a lovely weekend, whatever you're up to.  I hope the weather's kind to you.  Stay indoors and craft is what I say.

Just before I go, thank you all for your lovely comments this week, and birthday wishes for the kids. I can't believe that they're both in their 20's.  How can that be, I'm only 35 myself  (haha .... I wish!!)

Cheerio for now

Linda

x

Happy Thursday

Hi there,

It's not been a bad day so far, considering I'm suffering with a cold.  I must admit I did go back to bed for a while this morning.  Got Stephen off to work, had my echinacea, then I grabbed my laptop and spent most of the morning checking emails, reading blogs, FB and Pinterest.  Well I need to keep up with what's going on!

Oooh!  And look what my Postie brought me .......

the full set of Seasonal Distress stains - oooh!  My prize from being one of the winners with my December tag -  12 Tags of 2012.
And .......

a lovely little parcel from AFTH.  But what's inside ............?

THESE!!! .......

....... the first of my new Timmie stamps - whoo hoo!  They'll have to wait though,  I really need to get these Wedding invites finished.

I have squeezed in a couple of blog challenges this week.  Here's my Less is More entry .......

It's Week 103 and it's a THEME week, all to do with

FRIENDS

My card is very CAS (lots of white space).  I've used the Star Gazing stamp from Lavinia, added a moon using a mask and some Distress ink, and the 'Friends forever' sentiment which is from a PB clear set. Mat the whole thing onto some black cardstock and Voila! A touch of fine glitter on their wings adds a little bit of  sparkle.  Well, you can't have fairies without 'fairy' dust can you?!

It's my son's birthday today - he's 23!  Happy Birthday Chris.  (January's an expensive month for us!)
Here's his birthday card .....

(full details and a closer look can be found on the Creative Studios DT Blog)

We're off out again this evening.  We're finally going to Tanroagan - I've only been waiting ever since we came to the island (2 years in May!) to try this restaurant.  Apparently, it's one of the best places to eat on the Isle of Man.  I'll let you know.  I love seafood!.   I just hope my cold doesn't get any worse or I won't be able to taste anything, which would be a shame as there's lobster on the menu!

Enjoy the rest of your day.  Thanks for spending time with me.

Cheerio for now

Linda

x