yes at long long last...

Good morning everyone...yes its me and yes I am able to show a card at long long last...it has taken me ages and ages to get all the programmes loaded to allow my laptop just to get by, but I keep finding out everything I have lost, little things like all the fonts I had collected...information and links and templates I have made over the years even...gutted...but I'm not going to cry over spilt milk and will just get on with things and think about all the fun I will have finding them again...so if you have any links or info you think I might need a link would be fantastic...pretty please lol...let this be a warning please please please backup all your precious things, especially photos, digis and things you cant replace don't do what I did and keep putting it off...wow isn't the weather weird atm, its really really hot and the pressure is almost touchable but the storms are incredible...I have never ever heard thunder like it and the rain is so huge its flattening all our lovely plants and knocking all the flowers off...the lightening is a spectacle to behold...I don't mind it although must admit I was sitting watching Paranormal Activity 1 late last night, all by myself as Phil was in bed (never was a night owl bless him lol) and it had just got to the creeping bit at the end and there was a massive clap of thunder, I nearly passed out lol...I never get scared at horror or scary films even watching them alone but have to admit that scared the crap out of me...right now onto my long awaited card...this is one of the ones that should have been posted last week and is using this oh so cute stamp by Wild Rose Studio...shes called Emily Vacuuming and I coloured her with my usual distress inks...the fabulous papers are from the gorgeous Glitz 6x6" Paper Pack - Colour Me Happy really happy bright colours aren't they...the tag is from the same pad too...I added a bow made from lush Organza Ribbon - Lime (25mm Wide) and finished with a selection of Buttons...everything I used today is from Bunny Zoe's Crafts...the lush sketch is from Mojo Monday and I'm also entering it for the Your Next Stamp Challenge and the Chocolate, Coffee and Cards Challenge too...I think we will be heading out today as Phil has been marshalling all weekend so I have hardly seen him at all and we need to get some things done...whatever your up to today have a brilliant one and watch out for those raindrops they are huge lol

Mina xxx

distress ink colours used

skin - antique linen, frayed burlap, tattered rose, spun sugar

hair - antique linen

outfit - peeled paint, scattered straw, pumice stone, spun sugar,

vaccum - barn door, tumbled glass

puppy - pumice stone, frayed burlap

shading - pumice stone

ok own up...

Good morning everyone hows your week going so far?...ok own up who nicked our summer?...one week its wall to wall sunshine, blue skies and the flowers are starting to bloom and this week we need the heating on, now whats that all about...someone stole our summer either that or that was it...imagine one week of summer for the whole year?, although come to think of it sounds about right for Northern Ireland lol...I'm just hoping that the weather improves for our week away, its bad enough we cant get abroad without it tiddling down for the whole week...but then that's one of the things we have no control over I will just have to do some research for indoor things to do just in case wont I...or we could just eat out loads and spend our whole time in restaurants lol...I did nothing at all yesterday, well I do dinner but that's about all really...caught up with some emails if you can count that lol, lets hope today is a bit more constructive...right now onto my card for today and its using another of the new Return to Fairy Glen release from Sugar Nellie...I love these stamps they are so fresh and pretty...which one is your favourite, each time I use one it becomes my fav lol...this is the gorgeous A Little Bit of Gossip coloured with my usual distress inks and teamed up with papers from one of my favourite paper pads atm the Kaisercraft - Remember Me 6.5"x6.5" Paper Pad...the tag is from the same pad too...lush papers aren't they...I finished with a sparkly ribbon bow and a flower from the Prima Flowers Perle Bebe - Song Bird set, the pad and flowers are from Bunny Zoe's Crafts...the fab sketch is from the Sunday Sketch and Stamp challenge and I'm also entering it for the Stamping Sensations Challenge and the Chocolate, Coffee and Cards Challenge too...I'm heading to my craft room today in the hope I can get something made I'm so behind with stuff, wish me luck...whatever your up to today I hope wherever you are its sunny for you

Mina xxx

distress ink colours used

skin - antique linen, frayed burlap, tattered rose, spun sugar

hair - frayed burlap

cardigan & flowers - victorian velvet, peeled paint

dress & shoes- scattered straw

large flower - peeled paint

ladybug - fired brick

shading - pumice stone

always follow your heart...

Good morning everyone...well we had a mega trip to garden centres yesterday...three of them would you believe, we got 10 plants, a cordyline (which is a type of tall decorative red grass) and 36 bedding plants for pots and a hanging basket...the deck is going to be awash with colour...many many photos will follow when they all bloom...I cant wait...as to the Japanese Maple that wasn't so successful...the cheapest one I could find was £39.99 and tiny, I refuse to pay that much when all the plants together didn't cost that much...we did find a stunning Eucalyptus tree though, six foot tall and a fantastic olive green with red branches for a bargain £18 but we couldn't fit it in the car with the rest of the plants...well we could have but my Dad objected to being left at the garden centre even after we bought him coffee and promised we would come back for him on Saturday lol...we got loads planted up when we got home but ran out of pots so I guess we can pick up the tree when we head back to get more pots...aaaaaahhhhhhh I have a devious side to me lol... right now onto my card for today...this is the stunning Sugar Nellie Make A Wish from the digital Home Grown Collection at Funky Kits...isn't she beautiful, I don't think I did her justice and will have to give that dress some paper piecing in a few weeks I think, it will be fun will all those layers I think don't you? I coloured her with my usual distress inks and glittered her wings and star on her wand, well I couldn't resist and you know the crafter's rule don't you...if there's wings there's glitter lol...I teamed her up with some of the amazing papers from the Kaisercraft - Elegance 6.5"x6.5" Paper Pad I bought from Bunny Zoe's Crafts...I finished with a sentiment and border from the same pad and a few punched glitter card stars...the fab sketch is from The Sweet Stop Challenge and I'm also entering it for the Chocolate, Coffee and Cards Challenge and the Brown Sugar Challenge too...I'm going to have some crafting time today, I'm determined to get ahead with things just in case the mojo demon sneaks back and steals it again...whatever your up to today I hope you manage some fun crafting time too...have a good one
Mina xxx

distress ink colours used

skin - antique linen, frayed burlap, tattered rose, spun sugar

hair - frayed burlap, antique linen

dress - scattered straw, antique linen

shoes, star and tips of wings - evergreen bough

shading - pumice stone

yellow, blue and pink????...

Good morning everyone are you all having a fab weekend...we woke up to wall to wall sunshine yesterday and yes the temperature even got to double figures...phew a heatwave lol...well I say we woke up Phil was away marshaling at a road race he was supposed to be away Friday night too but the heavens opened and he refused to pitch his tent in a field swimming in water bless him lol...there's nothing worse than soggy socks when your marshaling the next day...well I have caught up with some things but still have loads of emails to go through so if you sent me one and I haven't replied I'm not ignoring you honestly I just haven't got to it yet...I must admit though since coming back I have struggled to make anything as I think I left my mojo in Mayo...there could be a song there lol, I even gave up colouring yesterday and threw what I had done in the bin in a fit of temper...but I will have a hunt for it today, if you see a lonely little mojo wandering around please send it home its greatly missed...but I managed this card anyway using the beautiful Daffodils from Janey's Digi Designs...perfect for a spring card aren't they?...I coloured them with distress inks and used some of the stunning Prima 6x6" Paper Pad - Doodle Deux, I'm not sure if this colour combo works totally but it seemed like a good idea at the time lol...but I do love the patterns in this pad from Bunny Zoe's Crafts so much...I finished my card with a mixture of different buttons...the fab sketch is from the Chocolate, Coffee and Cards Challenge and I'm also entering it for the Simon Says Stamp Challenge and the Digi Haven Challenge too...I'm not going to craft today but we are heading for some garden centres as the sunshine has made Phil yearn to make some hanging baskets...I don't know why as I'm not a great fan of them and prefer flowers where I can see them properly...but you never know I might find some nice pots for the decking and I quite fancy a sofa for outside...you know the sort of thing, comfy, perfect for coffee and reading but waterproof...sssshhhhhhhhh dont tell Phil that's the only reason I'm going with him will you lol...whatever your up to today have fun and I hope the sun shines on you

Mina xxx

distress ink colours used

scattered straw, antique linen, pumice stone

its amazing whats on your doorstep...

 

Good morning everyone are you all having a good week?...I forgot to show what we found at the weekend...this stunning place is literally around the corner from us how amazing is that...Phil shot these stunning photos...I think we have a budding photographer in the family don't you?

there's a University very close by us and this is part of the grounds attached to it...we also found some fabulously huge holly trees with loads of berries and birds...its stunning

we went out for coffee yesterday and a little bit of shopping but I still haven't a clue what to get Phil, I would get him a new camera but I bought him one last year and he uses mine for photos he really wants to take...I'm beginning to panic now, I know exactly what I'm getting everyone except my Dad and Phil ...aaaarrrrgggghhhhhhhh help....right now onto my card for today which is for our new challenge at Crafts and Me challenge...this time is our lovely Sara's choice and she chose Ribbon or Trim...so now I don't need told twice to use ribbon do I lol...I haven't made an easel card for ages so decided I would use this stunning Sara Burrier digi called Perched at Dawn from Crafts & Me.and make one...isn't it stunning, I coloured it with distress inks and turned the bird into a Robin, I'm not sure I got the colouring right as I was trying to copy the robins on the bird table outside but they are ssssoooooo fast lol

I glittered her wings and teamed her up with these amazing papers from the Glitz Joyeaux Noel paper pad...I love the subtle shades and patterns in this pad...I bought it from Bunny Zoe's Crafts but its out of stock atm...I finished with some lush holly twill ribbon from Kars and a couple of pearls...the lush sketch is from Chocolate, Coffee & Cards challenge and I'm also entering it for the City Crafter challenge, A & T Emerald Faeries challenge and the Party Time Tuesday challenge too...I'm having a craft day today as theres loads of stuff I need to catch up on and any excuse not to think about Christmas presents for a while lol...whatever your up to today have a fantastic one

Mina xxx

distress ink colours used

skin - antique linen, frayed burlap, tattered rose

hair - antique linen

outfit - barn door, peeled paint antique linen

rob - barn door, frayed burlap, pumice stone

branch - frayed burlap

a cherub in blue...

Good morning everyone did you have a brilliant day yesterday?...well I didn't find any photo frames at the car boot sale but did buy some lush yummy homemade jam, Blackcurrant and Plum.....mmmmmmmmmmmm cant wait to try it with scones and cream...we did find a stunning vintage scrolled silver jewellery box which my Daughter just fell in love with, it was only £14 but it was a boot sale and a little bartering is called for isn't it, so I managed to get him down to an amazing £9, I would have probably got it for less but my Daughter wanted it so much she grabbed it at £9 and almost run away with it lol...a few of you admired the red teapot in the photo with the robins the other day, its actually tin and I got that at a boot sale in fact the pots with it too, they were the astounding price of 50p each (I didn't bother bartering that price lol)...we then met up with Phil who was finished work a little earlier than expected and went for lunch...I love days out with our Daughter and her other half like this, we should really do it more often but its hard fitting around everyones schedule...me I don't have a schedule and just go with the flow, plus I'm always ready for lunch out...right now onto my card for today which is using this amazing Mo's Digital Pencil image, isn't he just the most adorable little cherub, hes called Rafe and I coloured him with distress inks and paper pieced the bauble with this stunning double sided paper from the Echo Park Wintertime collection its called Flurry...to make the bauble look more 3d I distressed the edges with Pumice Stone distress inks, I think it makes it look rounder don't you think...I finished with some beautiful blue satin ribbon and a few pearls...the lush sketch is from the Chocolate, Coffee & Cards Challenge and I'm also entering it for the Charisma Cardz challenge, Crafty Catz Challenge and the Paper Crafting Journey challenge too...Phil's at work again this morning bless him, will this audit never end and although he says we should go out this afternoon I think he should relax for the afternoon hes needs a day of R & R hes been working so hard lately...whatever your up to today have a fantastic relaxing one
Mina xxx

distress ink colours used

skin - antique linen, frayed burlap, tattered rose

hair - antique linen

bauble top - stormy sky

bauble paper piecing shading - pumice stone

Tropical holidays are calling...

Good morning everyone I hope you all have something fabulous planned for this weekend...poor Phil has to go into work for a few hours so I dont think we will be up to much but Im hoping to get a visit to my local craft sorted because I need ribbon for the invitations...the lace arrived for them but not the one we chose that didnt arrive so I had to order a much cheaper back up lace, but its much nicer than I thought...the other one I ordered four weeks ago never got here, my poor neice was beside herself but we managed to fin the one that arrived and they will look just as gorgeous...oh btw we went to see a house last evening, stunning place needed decorated and a few 'us' touches but just perfect but...just a bit out of our price range maybe even with negotiating, I knew we shouldnt have went to see it, we loved the old doors and the design of it...but you never know do you...Im rapidly becoming obsessed with houses arent I lol...right now onto my card for today...how beautiful is this Hannah Lynn image from Crafts and Me...shes called Sadie's Dragon and is a dream to colour, I think my mojos back as I enjoyed making this card so much...I coloured her with distress inks and used this amazingly stunning paper from Graphic45, dosent it remind you of holidays?. Its from their Tropical Travelogue Collection and is called Garden Isle...I finished with a rich blue ribbon and a Prima flower, I didnt think it needed anything else, do you?...the fab sketch is from Creative Inspirations challenge and Im also entering it for the Cards with Attitude challenge and Chocolate, Coffee & Cards challenge...right Im off to get the war paint on in the hope Phil gets home early enough for the craft shop visit...whatever your up to today I hope you manage to fit in some crafting too
Mina xxx

distress ink colours used
skin - antique linen, frayed burlap, tattered rose
hair - black soot
dress - victorian velvet, stormy sky
headband - victorian velvet
dragon - scattered straw, shabby shutters

drip, drip, drip...

Good morning everyone I hope your all well and have a fabulous weekend planned...ok now enough is enough, whoever is in charge of the great tap in the sky we have had enough turn the sprinkler off or I will need to get a lot of wood and nails to build a crafters ark...is it ever going to stop?????...I hope its not too bad where you are and your all safe...our beautiful Daughter is off to a fancy dress party tonight but I managed to wriggle out of making her costume this time at least, I didnt want a last second dash around like for the ringmaster outfit (do you remember that)m shes going to a wild west themed party as a saloon girl and wow does she look amazing in her costume...oh how I wish I could look that good but then again she has some of her Mothers genes lol...are you up to anything exciting this weekend? oh go on tell me we have nothing planned at all and I love a little nosey lol...right now onto my card for today how gorgeous is this little cutie from Mo's Digital Pencil shes called Carolina and I think she is so beautiful and those carrots are brilliant arent they...I coloured her with distress inks and teamed her up with some gorgeous papers from the My Mind's Eye - Honey Cake 6x6 Pad, lush arent they and I finished with some fabulous green seam binding, a sentiment and a beautiful Prima flower from the Prima Flowers Charlotte - Snow, I love this set...the fab sketch is from the Sweet Sketch Wednesday challenge and Im also entering it for the Totally Papercrafts challenge and the Chocolate, Coffee & Cards challenge too...Im off to get the war paint on just in case we decide to do something exciting or unexpected, well you never know do you...whatever your up to today I hope you stay dry and warm
Mina xxx

distress ink colours used
skin - antique line, frayed burlap, tattered rose
hair - frayed burlap
dungarees and flowers in hair - victorian velvet, spun sugar
carrotts - wild honey, spiced marmalade, bundled sage, shabby shutters
shading on basket and t-shirt - pumice stone