17th August 1974

17th August 1974, that was the day Mick and I were married -34 years ago.

This is the card I have made to give to him on our Anniversary this Sunday.

I used an cream A4 card in a hammered finish. The backing papers are from K & Co, Vines and Dots in peach and citrus. They were cut using the edge of a Fiskars template after being carefully lined up so that the pattern matches. Dufex boards in silver featuring hearts finish the card.

Dufex never shows up well in photos and the light isn't good today so the card looks much brighter in real life.

Think Pink Challenge

The Think Pink Challenge on Bubbly Funk is well underway now, in fact i think we are on challenge 6 already.

If you've not looked at this site yet please click on the link above or the banner at the top of my page to find out what it is all about.

We've been given a theme each week to work to and just dip in and out as the fancy takes us. Entries can be made any time not just the week of the challenge so it really is great if you don't get chance one week to catch up whenever you can.

This is my contribution so far. I have not blogged them as they were done but decided to wait until I had a batch ready to send away.

As the main theme is pink I decided to use up some of my knitting yarn and make this matinee jacket in my favourite pattern. It has turned out a bit peach coloured in the photo but is a bit pinker in real life.

Cute Card Thursday

This week the theme is 'The two of us'
We need to use two of something on our card, it could be 2 people, 2 animals or 1 of each.
This week Nikki from Dewdrop Craftz has very kindly donated a gorgeous stamp. Do pop into the shop and check out the other fantastic stamps they have to offer!

I've not done one of these challenges for a little while now but just happened to have this card ready made for another challenge but as it has not been shown on my blog yet here it is.

The image is Car Couple from Paper Nation, it has been stamped in grey versafine ink and coloured using polychromos for the couple and shimmery watercolour paints for the car. It was stamped onto white card and layered onto a piece of grey textured card.

The main card is a ready embossed one from DCWV called Dragonflower.

The card was originally made for the Think Pink Challenge over on the Bubbly Funk Forum. Do check this out as it is for a really good cause and lots of us on the forum are making things for it.

Cheap stamps

Popped into Lidl today as we had a free flyer through showing rubber stamp sets for only £2.99. Actually they are not too bad for the price. The set has 86 unmounted rubber stamps - all upper case letters, numerals and symbols as well as 40 animals ranging from insects, birds, farm creatures, sea creatures, wild animals and a few dinosaurs. The set also has a small blue pigment stamp pad as well as a pair of tweezers and stamp holders with handles, which I probably won't even try to use. I have some Ez Mount so will try a few on that and see what they are like before I commit to doing them all. I'm sure Faith will love them if the quality isn't up to much but for the price I couldn't just leave them could I!

Cardiff Festival

While Sallie and Pete were here with us over the weekend we went to Cardiff and on saturday managed to see the parade going past the Castle. Sallie and I saw it last year and were amazed at the number of participants and their colourful costumes.

This year there didn't seem to be as many paople taking part but it was still well worth seeing, especially as we had the castle walls as a backdrop.

The Red Dragon radio station were doing an outside broadcast and there was an open air stage with live bands and a fun fair. We just stood around eating burgers, it really was too hot and sunny to do much else.

Usually when you walk through the shopping streets there are a few attractions to look at. This person has been there almost every time and always has a group of onlookers around him. He manages to stand totally still until someone drops a coin for him. Little girls get blown a kiss, older girls get a kiss on the hand and boys get a hand shake.

Sallie decided she would give a coin but instead of kissing her hand he held onto her shopping bag. She was desperate not to let him take it as she had just bought her holiday 'frillies' and bikini.

Anniversary cards

I've been asked by a work friend of my husband to do an Anniversary card for his wife. These are 2 ideas that I have come up with at the moment for him to look at.

This one is on cream card and has the word 'love' randomly stamped all over it in grey Versafine ink. The hearts have been stamped onto smooth cream card and cut out. Both have a seed bead embellishment stitched onto them. The plaque at the bottom is also stamped onto cream card. All the stamps are from the With Love From Me to You Unmounted Rubber Stamp Theme Plate from Elusive Images and are inked with pads from the Brilliance range.

This 2nd one is on white hammered card and uses stamps by Cuddly Buddly and the border from the stamp used for the plaque on the previous card. The images have been stamped onto cream card with grey versafine ink and coloured using shimmery watercolour paints. The sentiment is a gold peel-off.

Garden Fun

Sallie came to spend a couple of days with us at the weekend. The sun shone and everyone was very hot so Fifi's watering can was made good use of. Of course she was the first to cool off in the few inches of water that we managed to get in there.

That did nothing to help cool her down so we all decided to have a water fight. No pictures of that though as I was too busy wetting Sallie and Faith and avoiding the water being thrown at me.

Late this afternoon black clouds came rolling in and brought lots of rain and a few claps of thunder. Mick rushed inside from the lounger and we all stood by the open doors and just watched the rain come down. Faith joked about it being just like the shower so I picked her up and stood her just through the door - I expected screams and a long face but she surprised us by going in the middle of the lawn to sing and dance in the rain. She had a super time as the pictures show.

In the garden

After we came home this afternoon we blowed up the Fifi and the Flowertots 'thing' we bought for Faith a few weeks back. She saw it for the first time last night. We had to blow it up in the kitchen and open both patio doors to get it outside. It took some blowing up I can tell you, even with an electric pump and a manual pump.


Faith loves it and took her colouring things out there right away.

Grandad had to try it as well!

It's supposed to be a ball pool but we parted with all the balls we had when she was a baby so might put some water in it over the next few days.

Chepstow Castle.

We went up to visit family on Tuesday and yesterday we brought our Grandaughter Faith back to spend a few days with us.

Today we went to Chepstow and went to look round the ruins of Chepstow Castle. It really is a massive place and must have been quite something in it's time. It stands right on the banks of the river Wye overlooking England. The river was used to bring food, wine and ale into the Castle, it all being hoisted up from the boats below.

The weather was beautiful and I think Faith was worn out with walking up and down all the steps before we were. She was a bit unsure of some of the stone spiral stairscases, but it was worth the climbs to see the views.

We sat in the grounds outside the Castle and had our lunch and tried to show Faith how to make daisy chains. Grandad's idea of this was to tie the daisies together!

Anniversary card

Just couldn't wait to try my new stamps so I made this card ready for my parents' Wedding Anniversary next month.

I used a pale pink base card. The image has been stamped in versafine ink in grey and coloured using polychromos and sansodor. I cut round it in a crescent shape and layered it up onto a heart pattern dufex board. The sentiment was done on the computer. The stamp is from Cuddly Buddly and is from the hearts and daisies set.

New stamps

On friday evening I ordered 3 sets of stamps from Cuddly Buddly.

They do the cute sort of stamps that I seem to be collecting at the moment. I have a wish list with them but only ordered 3 to try them out before I commit to more.
Well this morning the postman delivered my stamps - how good is that for quick service.

I've already mounted them onto the backing provided and cut them out now I can have a play later.


I would really recommend that you check out their website as they have lots of things on there, not just stamps. You even get free downloads on some things.

Cute Card Thursday

This week the theme of the challenge is
A card for a child
Ali from Clevercuts is sponsoring the challenge this week and providing lots of
fabulous Polly and Pip stamps to give away to one lucky participant drawn at random next week. Do drop by and check out the Clevercuts shop, there are loads of fabulous stamps and other interesting bits and pieces.

I made this card yesterday for my nephew before this challenge was announced but had not shown it so here it is now.

It is a 3fold card in very pale blue. I cut a section from a paper from a Dovecraft designer pack and layered it at an angle onto a piece of blue card which had been embossed with Cuttlebug number collage folder.

The number and greeting are simple peel-offs.

Blog Candy

Claudia has amazing candy on her blog , Pretty Pressings, a Magnolia stamp and a cute folder with stamped images that she has made herself - and those of you 'in the know' will know how fabulous Claudia's designs are. So what you waiting for? Nip over there now to check it out! You have until July 19th to take part.

Think Pink

Over on the Bubbly Funk Forum we have a weekly challenge going on to make cards for a Think Pink Gift & Card Sale.

These challenges are the build up to 2 fabulous events taking place later this year.
We want to make a difference so why not join us at Bubbly Funk for a the first event in September.......the "Think Pink" Cybercrop
We are so excited to announce that our Cybercrop this year will be a fabulous charity event with proceeds going to Breast Cancer Care (Registered Charity Number 1017658)
The MASSIVE two day crop will be held on the weekend of the
20th and 21st September 2008.
Caroline will have some stunning kits on sale with a percentage of the kit price going to the charity.
The two day crop will be filled with fantastic classes, games and fun!

All we are asking is that you voluntarily donate some of the items you make for our fabulous
"Think Pink Card and Gift Sale"
to be held in West Sussex on 18th October 2008.
The sale is being run by Di O and a friend of hers, Emma whose sister has recently been diagnosed with breast cancer.
And, wait for it.......there will be between 80 and 100 guests attending this very special sale......how amazing is that!
100% of the proceeds of the sale will go to Breast Cancer Care.
This is an incredible opportunity to raise funds for an amazing and worthy charity that continues to work hard to provide the highest standards of treatment, support and care for Breast Cancer patients.
Read all about their work at www.breastcancercare.org.uk
So why not join in with us with these challenges whether you decide to donate what you make or not, either way it's going to be great fun.
Need to know anything else?
Email Di at di.thinkpink@hotmail.co.uk

More information available on the Think Pink Challenges at the Think Pink Blog
Go along to Bubbly Funk Forum, register and join in the fun.

Blog Candy

More Candy!
Jennifer over at Phoenix Crafts has some amazing blog candy Just pop over and take a look!
It consists of lots of stamped images (including the new Magnolias and Sarah Kay), some Sue Dreamer charms and DCWV ribbon.
To enter the draw please leave a comment on her post and leave a comment and link on your own blog to spread the word.The draw closes at 3pm Sunday, 13th July and the winner will be announced at 5pm that day.

Karen's Blog Candy

Karen's Blog Candy!
Karen over at Karen's Creation is offering some yummy candy including some of her own designed stamped images! She is celebrating going self employed as a designer and crafter and I wish her lots of luck. Please go and check out her blog, you have until 15th July to enter the draw for the candy. Karen's Creation

Cute card Thursday

On Cute Card Thursday we were told........

This week we have another fabulous sponsor, Maggie at Banyan Crafts.

Maggie is donating a pack of gorgeous tear shaped cards with envelopes, there are 20 cards in the pack!

To be in with a chance of winning these next week all you have to do is create a card without using patterned paper.


I have had this angel type stamp for quite some time now but have not used her before. It is from Anita's stamps but does not appear to have a name. I stamped her onto white card with Versafine ink in grey and coloured her using shimmery watercolour paints.
She is layered up onto a piece of peach cardstock which has been embossed using the D'vine Swirls folder from Cuttlebug. This has been layered onto a piece of white card leaving just a small border and finally onto a pale pink card. All layers have had the corners rounded off with a punch.

Race for Life

Our ex Daughter in Law, Emma, is doing the Race for Life somewhere in the Leicestershire area on Sunday so I made a card to wish her well.
I used a cream square card and overlaid it with a piece of lilac paper on which I printed the words 'Put Those Party Shoes Away' on the computer.
On the left I put a piece of purple cardstock which had been through the Cuttlebug with the D'vine Swirls folder.
I used gold peel-offs on a pink die cut square and mounted this with a foam pad on top of some skeleton leaves. A purple star gem completes the card.
The gem, die cut and skeleton leaves are all from Papermania.

Water everywhere!

I haven't blogged for over a week now because of feeling very ill with an allergic reaction to my daughter's kittens. These pictures, though nothing to do with crafting, I wanted to share.

They were taken yesterday morning on Mick's phone camera after a large water pipe burst under the car park at his workplace.The red and silver vehicles in the foreground had been parked next to the silver one on the left of the picture.

These 3 slid a little further as the day went on, not surprising the way the road surface has buckled and given way.These had all been squarely parked. The bikes are still standing despite having been almost covered in water!Our car is the black one on the left after the water had subsided. Security cameras show a wave of water reaching knee high up the side of it as the incident occured. Luckily it was not damaged and Mick drove home in it later.

I've been Tagged.

I've been tagged by Karen who I 'met' through the Bubbly Funk forum.
I have to answer 5 questions about myself and then tag 5 or 6 others by leaving a message on their blog to do the same about themselves.

What was I doing 10 years ago?
I was doing casual work in the creche at the local Leisure Centre. My children were all living at home and my Sister gave birth to her son.

5 Things on my to do list.
Get over this 'kitten' allergy and start to feel normal again.
Catch up on the forums i've neglected this week.
Catch up on the blogs i've neglected this week.
Get all the washing done.
Go shopping for food.

Snacks I enjoy.
Bombay mix.
Chocolate (when i'm in the mood)
Ice cream.
Liquorice.

If I were a Millionaire.
I would buy houses for my children and take a good long holiday in the sun while I thought of how to spend what was left.

Places i've lived.
Leigh ( little village in Staffs)
Checkley (another smaller village in Staffs.)
Penkhull (Stoke on Trent)
Burton on Trent.
Newhall, Stretton, Stapenhill - all parts of Burton on Trent.
Newport (Gwent)

Who i'm tagging.
Lynn, Kaz, Annie, Keren, Janice.