MAWTT March 2017 Challenge. . . . . . . .

Good morning everyone. How are you all today?

It was very remiss of me not to welcome Jan back from her trip to New Zealand. Must be a wrench having to leave the family but hope you had a lovely time.

Now, today its time for another challenge at MAWTT and Terri has chosen the theme for this one, which is . . . . . . . . . . .

Rainbow or rainbow colours

So, that should give you lots of scope so it would be lovely if you popped over to the challenge and had a go. 

Ingredients

White card

Coloured card 

Crafters Companion Textures Elements Rain embossing folder

SB Classic Ovals small and large (to cut the layers of the rainbow)

Memory Box Alphabet dies

Quite CAS for me but a cheery little number, I thought.

I have lost 5 kg since I started the water tablets last Friday so just shows how much fluid I was holding onto. Still some swelling lurking so goodness knows how much extra I'll lose by the time its gone. 

Mind you, I've worn out a path on the stair carpet with all the extra trips up and down the stairs lol!!!

Back at the clinic today for them to check my progress and also a check up in anticipation of another Cardioversion in the next few weeks.

For those off to the SECC in the next couple of days, including my buddy Kate (cuilliesocks), have a fab time and go and say "hello" to Mr Lockwood who will be on Art of Craft's stand on Saturday and Sunday.

Thanks for visiting and don't forget to pop over to MAWTT to see what the other girls have come up with.

TTFN

Ang x

P.S . . . . . I managed to take a trip to B&M yesterday in search of lightbulbs (that's as exciting as it gets at the minute lol!!!) and they had these gorgeous pads in. Now I know I really don't need another pad but at £2.99 for a 12x12, 24 double sided sheets of 250gsm with lovely patterns . . . . . resistance was futile. I got mine in blue for £2.50 as the front cover was torn but they do a pink pad and a beige pad too.

Be My Valentine . . . . . . .

Good morning blogging chums. Hope you are all well.

Sorry for the gap in posting and visiting your blogs but not having a great few days. Sadly, these days, Mr D is not the only thing that makes my heart flutter lol! 

Now, I thought I'd better show Mr D's Valentine card before continuing with my Christmas run.

Ingredients

White, red and black card

Sissix Heart dies

Hobbycraft heart punch

Memory Box Alphabet dies

CE Swirling Hearts embossing folder

White pearls

It is 7.5" x 7.5". I usually do this size for an 8 x 8 envelope as sometimes making the card 8 x 8 is a bit of a squeeze if there's a few layers.

Mr D was very happy, especially with the accompanying pile of chocolate lol!!! I got several bags of Roulette Doritos (my favourite snack) as I've already got flowers on the go.

Talking of Mr D, he has performed his pulling duty again and has pulled a name out of the bowl for the 400th blog post Paddle Prize. And the name he pulled out was . . . . . . .drumroll . . . . . . 

Yorks Butterfly !!!!!!!!!!

Congratulations Wendy and thank you for your visits and comments. Now, as part of the prize, I will be sending a Spellbinders die and you can choose which one you would like from these two

Please email me, via John at lockers@live.co.uk with your full name and your address so that I can send you your prize. Please also advise which of the above dies you would like as part of the prize. There will be some other treats too.

Thank you to everyone else for your visits, comments and support and apologies that I can't afford to send you all prizes. For now, just blame Mr D for not pulling your name out lol!!!

Keep warm and well.

TTFN

Ang x

Mr D's Christmas Card. . . . . . . . .

Good morning one and all. Hope the start of a new week sees you and yours well.

Welcome to Helen, who has kindly hit the "Follow" button. Thank you and hope you will visit often.

I have spent the last few days playing referee in the back garden as Misty and Monty (our names for the Mistle Thrushes) have been terrorising the other birds that visit. I knew they could be territorial but they are being a nuisance. Poor Mr and Mrs B, the Robins and Sparrows are having to watch their backs and for breakfast, I have been standing guard whilst they are eating as Misty and Monty won't swoop whilst I'm there.

As its freezing cold and I'm not feeling at my best, I could do without it but I'm not tolerating any feathered thuggish behaviour, especially when there is plenty to go around. The only ones that don't bat an eye are the Goldfinches and the Tits but they tend to feed from the feeders rather than land on the bird table.

Now, back to the card. I realised, as I was in the throws of doing Mr D's Valentine card, I hadn't actually shown you his Christmas card, so here it is for your perusal.

Ingredients

Cream and red card

Gold mirror card

Memory Box Alphabet dies

Sue Wilson 2015 Angel set, stars only

Crafters Companion Christmas Jumper embossing folder

Bebunni Snowflakes embossing folder

Mei Flower gold bling

Dovecrafts teeny red bling

To get the arched shape to the letters, I cut out a circle and placed the letters round it, if that makes sense?

I was another biggy at 10x8 but I liked how it turned out and so did Mr D.

Jenny, I wish I was ahead with this year's Christmas cards but the ones on the last post and the forthcoming ones for the next few posts, were all from Christmas 2016.

Mrs A, hope you saw the link for the mealworms.

Jackie, us ducks get everywhere, lol!!!

I will post the winner of the Paddle Prize for my 400th post later in the week, so watch this space.

Hope this week is kind to you all.

TTFN

Ang x

Happy Diwali Nesta . . . . . . .

Good morning everyone. Hope you are all well.

I'm still up and down but did manage to get out to a local Thai for lunch with some friends on Friday. There are between 10 and 12 of us that meet up about 3 times each year but they had held off whilst I haven't been well so, although I had seen some of them separately, we hadn't all been together since the beginning of the year. 

It was lovely to catch up and the Pak Tod and Pla Rad Prik (Maureen, don't go there lol!!!) were extremely tasty.

Just as well, as I was at the dentist straight afterwards as a bit of one of my back teeth had snapped off on Thursday afternoon (I was only chewing on a prawn).

Now, as I've been showing samples I made for John, I'm late showing Nesta's Diwali card so I thought I'd better get it shown before I start on showing the Christmas makes.

There was a bit of re-cycling involved as the beautiful purple card was actually the front of an 8x8 invitation to a special birthday party for Nesta a couple of years ago and I did the usual crafters thing of "keeping it as it may come in handy" . . . . . . . Don't any of you try and deny it, you know you all do it lol!!!

The surprise with this, is that it lights up . . . . . . well, it is for the festival of lights lol!

Ingredients

White card

Gold mirror card

Vintage gold card

Purple card

Re-cycled invitation

Sue Wilson Ara Mini Gemini

SB 2013 Snowflake Pendant

SB Delightful Circles

Memory Box Alphabet dies

DCWV lights and deep foam

Hobbycraft corner punch

Gold Krylon pen

As you can see the foam is deep to accommodate the battery pack, which obviously had to be placed somewhere easily accessible, so I popped it under the top corner. 

Nesta was thrilled with it and has shown it round her family, I think more for the novelty value of it lighting up lol!!!

Well, most of the Christmas food shop was done with Mr D on a day when I was feeling good so its just the fresh stuff left to get nearer the day. The most labour intensive thing always seems to be the trifle (Mr D's favourite).

Its Mr D's birthday next weekend so I'm hoping to being up to making his cake. I've got something in mind so I hope I get to do it.

Only a few Christmas cards to do now too so on the home stretch.

That's me for today. Hope that you have all had a great weekend and that you have a super week ahead.

TTFN

Ang x

Davey's Birthday Card. . . . . . . .

Good morning everyone. Hope all is well with you and yours?

Typing this on Sunday evening with beautiful sunshine streaming through the windows. The day started off sunny so I had washing out bobbing in the breeze then had to make a dash outside as it slung it down for 10 minutes, then sunshine again so everything got re-hung out again . . . . .Grrrrrrrr. Mind you, a month ago, I wouldn't have been able to "dash" anywhere so every cloud (literally lol!!!) and all that.

Now, as promised , here is Davey's birthday card that I made from the Ducks. Yes, it did take some composing but as it was a special birthday, one has to push the boat lol!!!

He was in Oz for his birthday and I have to correct a statement I made about him, on an earlier blog post, about him mounting Ulhuru. Apparently, its not the done thing to do as its sacred to the Aborigines, so he didn't.

He did, however mount The Three Sisters. . . . . . . .make of that what you will lol!!!

He is currently on yet another holiday to Romania and Bulgaria. . . . . . . .I did say he was the Alan Whicker of the Midlands.

Ingredients

White and various shades of blue card (8x8 size card)

Presscut Square dies

Memory Box Alphabet dies

CE Linen embossing folder (still waiting for details on that Sandy)

Darice Chevron embossing folder

John Lockwood sentiment stamps

Mei Flower ribbons

Peacock Feathers DI

Teeny pearlage and bling

I know its perhaps a little OTT but I wanted it to be big and bold. Its very dimensional so maybe not one for posting below a large letter rate.

You could do it in pinks (or lilac Christine lol!!!) to feminise it too.

Well, better scoot as have tea to heat up and then giving Mr D a haircut after. . . . . . . and he never tips!!!

Thank you as always for your kind comments and I hope this week is a kind one to you all.

See you Thursday for a new MAWTT challenge.

TTFN

Ang x

Ps . . . . .Anticoagulant clinic went well and the nurse was helpful with the couple of issues I'd had. Karen, I'm on one of the newer drugs rather than Warfarin so thankfully don't need to have my INR checked as they're not affected by diet. Still waiting for the Cardioversion appointment.

60th Birthday. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Good morning one and all. What a lovely couple of days sunshine we have had so I hope you have managed to enjoy it where you are.

I've had a mixed week this week but have learned to take the rough with the smooth.

Great TV week with John on Hochanda and the return of Bake Off. Even Mr D has become a GBBO fan as usually my baking hat appears and he gets to chomp on a few cakes. Not sure he'll have as many this year but I'll try my best.

Now, today's card I made for my older brother in law last month. Another no frills fella card under my belt lol!!!

Ingredients

White card

Blue card (various shades)

SB Fancy Postage Stamp dies

Memory Box Alphabet dies

That Special Touch Celtic border mask (for the embossed strip across the middle)

John Lockwood Monday's Child stamp 

Memento Dewdrop Danube Blue ink 

Simple and straightforward but brother in law is not an OTT kinda guy. Also, I kept it relatively flat as it was being posted.

Sooo excited that the F1 is back after the Summer break. . . . . as is Jackie D, so welcome back. A live GP from Belgium tomorrow and qualifying today so guess what I'll be doing lol? (and probably Jackie D and Wendy).

I think Mojo may be returning from its Summer break too. Had a postcard saying it had been a lazy so and so and had decided to come home after a couple of months of drunken debauchery so hopefully it makes a swift return to my craft room lol!!!

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend and thank you, as always for your visits and kind comments.

TTFN

Ang x

Update

Well, it seems that a bit of persistence has paid off. Got a call at 8.30am Wednesday from the Cardio consultant's secretary, explaining she had received my email and my "just in case" snail mail letter. She had spoken to the consultant who had asked her to put me in one of his hot spot clinics so I'm seeing him next week. . . . . .  .hallelujah!!!

Such a relief as this week I've had a couple of bad nights, with next to no sleep, which don't make for a great following day either.

Some positive news for a change though so thank you for encouraging my belligerence lol!!!

First The Pressie, Now The Card. . . . . . . . . . .

Good morning chaps and chapesses. Hope that all is well with you and yours. I have had a couple of decent days where I have felt halfway normal (don't think I would ever hit 100% normal lol!!!). I've decided to do any health updates as a "ps" thingy at the end of my posts so you can skip reading it if need be . . . . . .I say that lightheartedly as it bores me to be experiencing it at times!!!

Welcome to Carol who has kindly pressed "follow". Very kind of you and much appreciated as are all of you that leave such lovely and encouraging comments.

Hazel, thank you for stopping by in your busy fundraising push. Hope the funds are building up. 

Margaret, hope the family health issues improve soon to spare you so much worry.

Maureen, hope you had a good break but not great to have your op postponed.

Glad you all liked the wrapping paper. Its something that I will definitely do again as its a lovely way to personalise a gift quite cheaply. I think someone thought it was tissue paper but it was actually normal blue roll wrapping paper.

Now today, you get to see the card that went with the gift. When the mojo is still sipping mojitos somewhere exotic, I thought "go simple" for a baby card.

Ingredients

Cream and sky blue card

SB Filigree Delight

Memory Box Typewriter Alphabet dies

SB Fancy Tags One Framed (for sentiment)

Tatty Teddy & sentiment stamp from a set I got from The Range bargain bin

Memento Dewdrop ink pads in Grey Flannel and Bahama Blue

Teeny bling

Blue thread

Pearlage

It was the only TT stamp that was suitable in the set but I did wonder about the open arms that's why I decided to do the sentiment like he was holding a banner. . . . . . . . it kinda works, I think lol!!!

Well, hope you're enjoying this fine sliver of weather before the rain kicks in again. Did anyone see this meteor shower thingy? (that's a technical term).

I was tempted to lie on the lawn gazing skyward in the early hours but with not getting much in the way of exercise since April, I've put on a bit of weight and would probably have rocked myself to sleep trying to get back up again!!!

On that note, enjoy your day.

TTFN

Ang x

Update. . . . . .

My, now retiring in 2 weeks, GPs  advice for accelerating my cardio appointment? . . . . . . . ."phone the consultants secretary and threaten to go to the local newspaper" I nearly had to visit the hospital again for my damaged jaw as it hit the table.

I said that I would prefer that he contacted the consultant through the normal channels as I didn't think his suggestion appropriate but I think he is in "I'm retiring and I don't give a #@$%" mode so I shall try and sort it out myself.

I seemed to be under the wrong impression as I always thought . . . . . . . you're ill, you see a doctor and they try everything to make you well again. . . . . . . . .maybe not!!!

I've found out the email for the consultant so I'm going to email him directly and hope for the best. 

Plan B is to apply to medical school, train to be a doctor and treat myself. . . . . . .it may be quicker!!!

One For The Fellas and Sunday Afternoon Fun . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Good morning everyone. Hope you are all tickedy boo. Glad to hear Maria and Nancy's legs are on the mend. I have noticed from my blog stats that I have had lots of page views from Russia lately so I'd like to say Здравствуйте российских посетителей.

I hope that Bing has translated that properly and I haven't insulted anyone lol!!!

I've not been feeling not too bad in the scheme of things but had a little blip the last couple of days and have been trying to sleep it off.

Anyhoo, I had a wonderful time on Sunday meeting Darnell and her other blogging chums over in Birmingham and Nesta came along too to keep an eye on me. Such a lovely and kind group of gals and Darnell is an absolute hoot. If any of you are familiar with her blog, she is twice as funny in real life. We all had a delicious lunch at the Handmade Burger Company (I can recommend the Peanut Butter and Bacon Burger and Sweet Potato Fries) and spent 4 hours laughing and putting the World to rights. Some photos to follow at the end of this post.

Welcome to Shaz whose blog is here and is one of the lovely gals I met on Sunday (she's the lady with the pink hair on the snap below)

Now, today's card is one I made for a male friend of ours. What is the worst kind of card to have to make when your mojo has slipped off backpacking somewhere exotic for an unspecified length of time? A male one. . . . . . . . well, for me it is as even mojo-less, I can usually think up something remotely floral for the ladies. However, I quite like the understated CAS look of this.

Ingredients

White, navy, sky blue and turquoise card

Darice Chevron embossing folder (pattern extended)

Memory Box Typewriter Alphabet dies (Upper and lower case)

Frosty Sky PVA Pearls

I cut the "Happy" out of the topper and the "Birthday" is the cut out letters stuck onto it. Just thought it looked a bit different.

Now, I had a little gift for Darnell so I made a a box for it and also a 6x6 card to say "Hi". Like a numpty, I forgot to photograph them and when I picked up my camera just before leaving to rectify that, the battery zonked out! So, I snapped then quickly with my phone camera on my way out of the door but the picture quality is naff, I'm afraid.

Same with the photos at the burger place, so I've kept the size smaller as they are quite blurred when enlarged..............quite strange as they look fine on my phone lol!!!

From left to right........Donna (Room in a Cupboard), Shaz (Silverwolf Cards), Marian (Friend of Anne), Anne (Copper Beech Crafts), Darnell (DJKardkreations) and Marg (Silvercrafter)

Darnell has some non blurry snaps on her blog.

Well, that's me for now as I'm typing this to schedule before Mr Lockwood graces our screens. I missed his shows and also a live F1 GP on tv on Sunday. . . . . . . the sacrifices one has to make for blog friends eh, lol!!!

Be good.

TTFN

Ang x