Ribbon Patterns. . . . . . . . .

Good morning everyone. Hope all is tickety boo with you.

Sorry I have been missing for a bit. Time just seems to have run away with me recently and I feel like I have been chasing my tail (and Lily and Molly's!!!)

The vet visit went well. He is very pleased with how they are doing and they were very well behaved (for a change!!!).

He did suggest having separate toilet facilities for them as they get older but I advised that Mr D and I do not have separate toilet facilities so they would just have to get on with it.

He also asked if they have a routine so I said "they eat, they sleep, they wreck the house.............and repeat!!!" 

Anyhoo, welcome to Scrappy Scatty Jan and thank you for pressing "follow". Very kind of you to take time to come and have a look at my lil' ol' blog.

Before I forget, someone asked (think it may have been Karen) how I scratch the scratch board. There are special styluses you can use but I use a small bradawl that came in a mini screwdriver set. I have used a pokey tool but sometimes its a bit too sharp.

Now, I had got the last of my John samples to show but somehow, I have managed to chop the edge off the main photo so I will have to re-photograph it when I get it back from John.

Meantime, I had purchased the Ribbon Threader die set (it would have been rude not to as it was my suggestion lol!!!) and made this card for a friend of ours who was celebrating his 70th birthday recently.

Ingredients

White and red card

Checkerboard embossing folder

JND Ribbon Threader dies

CE Stitched Bunting Numbers stamps

Presscut Square dies

Blue and red satin ribbon

You all know that I like to be different so I decided to use the Ribbon Threader dies in a more unusual way so it wasn't just straight lines of ribbon so I snapped how I did it above and as follows......

If you measure and pencil in the lines as per the photos, it makes life easier for lining things up.

Pattern cut, then did the embossing and lastly, threaded the ribbons through.

Something different, as I say and I think its a way of using ribbon on a male card without it looking girlie.

That's me for now folks as I am trying to type this with 2 kittens chasing each other and jumping all over me.

I will try and get round to visiting your blogs again in the next couple of days.

Take care all.

TTFN

Ang x

Ps..........kitty pic. Sorry Lily is a bit bright but unless you increase the brightness, you can't see Molly's face as she is so black lol!!

Roses For Rosie. . . . . . . .And Orchids For Me

Good morning everyone. Hope you are fit and well and keeping warm now that the temperature has dropped.

The thicker duvet has made an appearance but I'm still resisting putting the heating on.

Welcome to Maxine who has clicked "follow". Thank you very much.

Its been a busy old week at The Pond. Thank you everyone again for visiting the website and hope you are enjoying playing with your goodies.

There had been a couple of problems for folk trying to order using iPads (something technical to do with their settings) but that should be resolved now.

Now, today's card was made for our next door neighbours daughter a few weeks ago. This wasn't the nice neighbours who moved up the road but the other side. The little girl is a sweetie though.

Rosie had run up to me in the street and declared "Its my birthday tomorrow" all excited as she was having a bouncy castle so I thought, bless her, I'll make her a card.

Ingredients

White and pink card

First Edition Floral Pavilion 8x8 paper pad

Presscut Circle dies

Memory Box Alphabet dies

CE Stitched Bunting Numbers stamp

Pink satin ribbon

Crystal Jelly Tot (Well, that's what they look like to me lol!!! Can you still get them?)

Pearlage

I like cutting the letters into the topper. Glad to say that Rosie loved it. The bouncy castle was also a success and thankfully did not resemble the one on Phoenix Nights (If you have ever seen it, you'll know what I mean lol!!!)

I am also sharing some pictures of a beautiful gift that I received from Barbara D a couple of months ago (Barbara did also send some of the famous pate too with John but as it had alcohol in it, I couldn't have it, much to John's glee),

I have asked Barbara's permission to show it and it is amazing.

They are handmade miniature paper orchids (I took the lid off the display box to photograph them).

They are so incredibly tiny and delicate and Barbara must have great eyesight and a steady hand.

To give a sense of scale, here they are pictured next to my finger and I have small hands!!!

Thank you again Barbara. They proudly sit on display on the desk in my craft room.

Its live F1 GP from Singapore today so I am a happy girl (and even happier that Hamilton is starting from 5th).

Whatever you are doing today, have a good one!!!

TTFN

Ang x

Flowers and Rosy Cheeks. . . . . . . .

Good morning good blogging folk. Hope you are all well?

I have to say, I have had a wonderful few days. I think the iron tablets have kicked in and I've been full of beans (where did that expression come from???) and breathing has been just about normal. The cardio consultant appears to have been correct when he said my feeling rough after the cardioversion was down to the anaemia rather than heart.

I would say I'm feeling almost normal but I know that will attract comments from various quarters lol!!!

I did see John on Thursday and he commented how I had got the colour back in my cheeks (on my face, lol!!!).

Funny story about colour in my cheeks. The tablets I take make your skin photosensitive so I'm supposed to wear factor 50 block on my exposed areas (ooooh, errrr!!!) when I go out. The first time I tried this, having never used above a factor 8 before, I put some on my face and the bloomin stuff just wouldn't rub in. Its thick and white so I ended up looking like the love child of Marcel Marceau and a geisha girl !!!

Needless to say, I had to wash it off and I've taken my chances with daylight since.

Now, today's card has been in lurking in my files for a while. Nesta asked me to make a floral card for her Auntie's 70th birthday so as I like a bit of floralage and foliage, I was happy to oblige.

Ingredients

White and pink card

SB Classic Diamond dies

SB Carnation Creations dies

HC Delicate Aster dies

Various foliage dies 

Tonic flower punch

CE Stitched Bunting Numbers Stamps

John Lockwood Sentiment stamp

Card-io butterfly stamp

Various distress inks

Bling and pearlage

I love making floral cards and apparently, Auntie was very pleased with this.

Had my mammogram results through yesterday (posted from Bristol, had to laugh in a Sid James manner at the irony lol!!!) and The Girls are ok and clear so thankfully, that's one bit (or 2 bits actually) of me that's working properly lol!!

No pictures of birdie buffet today as getting a downloading error again from camera to laptop.

I'm also trying to get a snap of Scruffy Robin. He's a sweet little thing but looks like he's stuck his beak in a socket as all his feathers stand on end.

June, if Mr F looks carefully, that is the trunk and branches of the "you know what" on the last birdie photo. How are yours. Maureen and Yorkie Wendy's smash and grab plans going? I'm guessing Maureen needs to be a bit steadier on her pins first.

Oooh, and I would never try and out do Flash. I think if I got The Girls out in public, it would devalue the property prices in the area lol!!! Mind you, with all the ECGs I've had, I think half the hospital have seen them!!!

Well, off to a craft show at the National Motorcycle Museum today and hopefully meeting up with Christine H and John (he's doing some demoing). Don't need anything but its rude not to look lol!!!

Will be back in time for GP highlights at 5.30. Hoping its as exciting as the last one and hoping I can avoid any news bulletins so I don't find out the result beforehand.

Hope you all have a lovely Sunday and that the week ahead is kind to you.

TTFN

Ang x

Ps. . . . . . .box for the above card on the next post. x

MAWTT February Challenge & 400th Blog Post. . . . . .

Good morning everyone. How's things with you all, good I hope. Welcome to Veronica who has kindly clicked on the "follow" button. So glad to have you visit.

Well, here it is, post number 400, which I know isn't mahoosive compared to those who post everyday but I have loved doing it and have met and get chat to some amazing people who I now call friends. See further along about my Paddle Prize to celebrate. 

Today is also Team A's February challenge over at MAWTT and team boss, our Wendywoo has picked the theme which is . . . . . . . . . . . . wait for it . . . . . . . . . . 

Ring o' Roses

Well, I thought about what route to go down with this . . . . . . . . a card decorated with sneezes or Bitty Blossoms. I don't think you'd have got great odds at the bookies on which one I would choose lol!!!

Now, Wendy is being quite generous with the scope of this as she is happy to see a ring of any flowers, although roses would be preferred so get yourselves over to the challenge and lets see your beautiful floral rings (hope that doesn't sound rude lol!!!)

Ingredients

White card

Lime pearlised card (Lime Tree Crafts)

First Edition Floral Pavilion paper

SB Bitty Blossoms (any excuse with me)

X Cut circle dies

Sue Wilson Lotus Striplet (the centre die used round the edge of the card)

CE Stitched Bunting Numbers stamps

Alys Inky Fingers "Happy Birthday" stamps

Victorian Velvet and Spun Sugar DI 

Dovecraft teeny bling

CE pearls

This card is 7.5 x 7.5 and was actually commissioned by my good friend Davey for a lady we used to work with whom he is very good friends with.

Apparently, the dear lady said this was the best birthday card she had ever had, bless her.

Anyhow, hope you can pop over to MAWTT and see what the other gals have come up with for your inspiration.

As I have mentioned previously, to celebrate my 400th posting, I will be giving away a little Paddle Prize. To be in the draw, you just need to be a follower and comment on this post by midday on Wednesday 8th February 2017. Mr D will then pull a name out of a hat (or similar receptacle) and the winner will be announced on the next blog post.

Thank you all for your continued support of this little corner of blog land. Some of you have been visiting since near the start, almost 4 years ago and are still coming so it can't be all bad lol!!!

Have a great day all

TTFN

Ang x

MAWTT July Challenge . . . . . . . . .

Good morning all you lovely blogging folk. Only a couple of days gap since my last offering as its time for another challenge for Team A over at MAWTT.

This month's challenge has been set by by the lovely Janice T  and is . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

No design papers

Please pop over and see what the other gals have done for your inspiration and delectation. And, why not have a go and enter the challenge as there is lots of scope with Janice's theme.

Now, my card was a commission, if you will, from my pal Davey (he who is the Phileas Fogg of Coventry). He, himself, celebrated his 70th last month (I've yet to feature his card) and he asked me if I would make a card for his lovely sister in law, who was also approaching 70. I was happy to oblige, as I was fast becoming an expert on making 70th birthday cards by that point lol!!!

The colour choice was David's but you all know I love a bit of purple action.

Ingredients

Cream card

Lilac card (Lidl)

SB Bitty Blossoms (it had to be lol!!!)

SB Butterfly Circles die

Docrafts circle dies

CE Stitched Bunting Numbers stamps

CE Jacobean Floral embossing folder (Had to have it as soon as I saw it)

Cadbury (other chocolate is available) purple ribbon (Mei Flower)

Bling butterfly from a pack that was a present from Wendywoo (Spanish Crafter)

Dusty Concord DI

Docrafts teeny bling

The card was enjoyed by it's recipient so all's good.

I hope that you can join in with us at MAWTT as it would be lovely to see some of your wonderful creations entered into the challenge.

Ended up back in hospital Tuesday night.........I'm thinking of getting a season ticket! 

I'm still keeping everything crossed for Sunday and getting to Silverstone. Much to Jenson Buttons relief, I probably won't have the energy to throw my underwear (clean, before you ask) at him lol!!!

Until next time, you all take care and smile............it makes people wonder what you've been up to lol!!!

TTFN

Ang x

Birthday Roses. . . . . . . . . . .

Good morning folks. Hope all is hanging well?

Nothing different to report on the ankle front. Just waiting for my orthotic heel cups as recommended by the podiatrist and I also have some painful exercises to perform so hopefully things will start to improve.

Now, I think I may have mentioned that I had a few 70th birthday cards to make recently (those soldiers were busy when they returned from the war lol!!!),

This is the one I made for our friend Janet. Her and her hubby now live in Spain but they came over to the UK to have a celebration with family and friends.

Ingredients

Cream card

Pink card (the roses are made from 2 slightly different shades)

SB Bitty Blossoms (what else lol?)

Sue Wilson Jacobean Floral embossing folder

CE Stitched Bunting Numbers stamps

Hobbycraft little flourish stamp

CE double sided pink ribbon

Thin white ribbon dyed with Victorian Velvet DI

CE jelly tot bling

Dovecraft teeny bling

And some beautiful diamante cupcake chain purchased from Samuel Taylors stall at the NEC (£1 for 60cm and its gorgeous and I wished I had bought loads more!!!)

I was really pleased with how this turned out. I love doing channel set flowers.

Thank you for your comments on the lilac. We are lucky that ours has 2/3 flushes of flowers during the year.

I'll try and get some more photos taken shortly.

Well, I hope you all have a brilliant weekend. I shall, of course, be watching the GP highlights (sadly not a live race on Channel 4 this week) and today is my birthday.

Not got anything planned due to the incapacity but looking forward to a nice vindaloo with all the trimmings from the very good local takeaway for tea. My pressie from Mr D comes in July when we go to Silverstone.

That's me for now.

TTFN

Ang x

Ps..........Don't forget Mr Lockwood is back on Hochanda Monday evening and during the day Tuesday with his new stamp sets. He may have some different samples, nudge nudge, wink wink!!! And Happy Birthday to Wendy for yesterday.