Wednesday 24 June 2009

What a nightmare!

What a nightmare this last week has been. My 94 year old Mother in Law (who lives in the Midlands and we live down here in Hampshire) fell last Wednesday and fractured her femur close to the connecting hip joint and we were told she would need an operation to correct it. She was admitted to Hospital but they couldn't operate straight away as MiL had a chesty cough which they had to try and improve before she could have an anaesthetic. As the week progressed she was scheduled to go to theatre each day but each day her chest hadn't improved enough, then Monday her blood count dropped so she had to have a small transfusion. Yesterday however her blood count had improved, as had her chest so she was scheduled to have her operation yesterday afternoon. We duly rang the Hospital yesterday evening to be told that all operations yesterday had been cancelled!!

Today is another day though and she went down to theatre this morning, it is fingers crossed now that everything went well and she can begin the road to recovery.

Monday 15 June 2009





Well it's been a busy few days, Thursday wasn't too good for Bonnie, when I took her for her walk she started carrying her front paw and before we had even got half way across the first meadow she wasn't putting it down at all ... walk aborted and a visit to the Vet which Bonnie hates. The Vet couldn't find anything in or between her pads but felt a lump on the top of her paw so that area was shaved for a better look and sure enough there was a lump that began swelling almost visibly. The Vet said the lump needed to "pop" but didn't want to do it because of distressing Bonnie even more so I was given antibiotics and anti-inflamatories which I was to give her along with hot salt baths for the infected paw and if the lump hadn't popped by Saturday I was to take her back to have it lanced. To cut a long story short the lump did pop that evening and she is now well on the way to recovery.

Over the weekend we went up to my Brother's in Wantage near Oxford for my Nephew's 21st Birthday bash, we had a lovely time and the weather was lovely, really hot and sunny, which was just as well as it was held in the garden. I made a never ending card for my Nephew which he thought was fantastic, so although it took ages to make it was worth the effort.

I come from a large family but as we are now scattered all around the Country we don't manage to get together very often, however another of my Brother's arrived with his teenage daughter but she was on crutches, she is at College doing an equestrian management course and she fell of her horse and fractured her pelvis in three places!! Ouch! But she is young and very fit so she is progressing very quickly and can't wait to get back to college and her beloved horses.

Sunday 7 June 2009




Well after a bright start it has turned into a very wet Sunday afternoon, but what better excuse for a crafting session?! I have a few birthdays and anniversaries coming up so I have been busy, here we have a card for my Nephew's 19th birthday next week, one for my Son's birthday and one for my Grandson's Prom next month, I have also made one for my eldest Son and Daughter in Law's wedding anniversary but I can't show you that yet as Deb reads my blog.

The Prom and 19th birthday card are made using card from my new Glittered Alphabet Stack and my Son's birthday card is made using Distress inks and Perfect Pearls and the stamps are Elusive Images.

Monday 1 June 2009



Phew what a scorcher again! Another wonderful weekend with hot sunny weather, long may it continue. Last weekend Rachel (my young Granddaughter) was taking part in a Biathlon .... in that heat! Despite the heat she did very well, we are very proud of her, she even managed to beat her own personal best in the running part but I bet she was glad when that was over and she could go in the pool for the swimming part.

This Saturday we had friends over for dinner which was very nice, even better as we were able to sit in the garden to have a pre dinner drink, that would have been unheard of with last year's weather. Sunday Rob and I went into Town to buy some things for our holiday and to get a 21st birthday present for my nephew who's party we have been invited to the weekend after next. We got our holiday things but completely forgot about the present!!!

Crafting wise I have been busy making stitched cards and have tried my hand at bead embroidery. Here are two cards I have made, a bi-plane and some beaded flowers. I have also just finished a medallion which has over 500 beads! I'll show that to you later when I have taken a photograph.

My other exciting news is that Rachel and I had our names and one of our cards featured in the June edition of Card Making and Papercraft AND I have had my letter and two cards appear in Making Cards ..... how exciting is that!!

Friday 22 May 2009




As you may know, two friends and I meet up each week for an afternoon of crafting (and coffee and natter of course!), well this week we tried a new technique to us where we used inkpads, brayering, sponging and torn pieces of paper, plus the odd rubber stamp to make up a scene. I have to admit that the two Sues' were far better than mine but I decided to make my two efforts up into cards to see if they looked any better and I am pleased to say they do! (well I think they look OK, what do you think?).

Thursday 21 May 2009



I can't believe it is almost the weekend again, we had a really fun weekend last weekend, Rob collected the Grandchildren and Spooky their Springer on Saturday and Adrian and Deb (their parents) came over on Sunday and they all stayed for dinner, it gets quite riotous when we are all together ... great fun.

Rachel (my granddaughter) had a very busy afternoon on Saturday, she wanted to make a thank you card and a Father's day card so I gave her the free run of my workroom and all my stash. She's only 12 but made the most wonderful cards, here they are.

Wednesday 13 May 2009

Here I am!





Here I am! I have been told off for not updating my blog often enough!!! Sorry Sue and Rachel. I started off with the good intention of updating every week at least ... needless to say I have failed miserably

When I took early retirement a few years ago everyone said it wouldn't last, I would get bored and return to work within 6 months .... bored... what's bored? I just don't know where the time goes, there are never enough hours in a day to do all the things I want or need to do, in fact I have a theory that there are less hours in a day on weekends and Bank Holidays than ordinary days! So dear reader if you have any answers to the mystery of the missing hours please let me know.

Anyway what have I been up to? Gardening and card making mostly, I have lots of birthdays in May for which I have been making cards, I have also become a Great Aunt again (that sounds very old doesn't it? A bit Miss Marples) another card to make! And I have also been asked for new baby cards by one of my fellow Stitchers at the weekly Village Stitchers group that I attend.

Just so that you know that I have been busy here are a few of the above mentioned cards ...

A 94th birthday card for my Mother in Law, a proud grandparents card for my Brother and Sister in Law and 2 cards for friends birthdays, the rest I will show you later when I have taken photos of them.

Friday 24 April 2009

Bonnie's hair cut and new toy bag





Bonnie has just had a hair cut, she was looking like a white fluffy teddy bear instead of a Westie, here are the before and after photos.

We have just bought her a new bag for her toys, she hasn't quite got the hang of it yet though, she previously had a box which she could stand on the edge and tip out the toys, that doesn't work with a bag though!

Friday 10 April 2009

Paper weaving


There is a swap on the CM&P forum entitled paper weaving, I found this quite challenging especially on such a small scale as an ATC, I've only tried it once before but thought I would give it a go and here's my effort. The paler lilac paper is pearlescent which I thought would catch the light and "lift" it a bit. Then out of sparkly sticky backed paper I cut out a frame using my Cuttlebug and a Nestie, it is all finished off with two fabric flowers and lilac gems.

Thursday 9 April 2009

ATC swaps




I have entered two great ATC swaps recently organised by members of the CM&P Forum. The first is called Cats & Dogs where we have to make 4 ATCs with (obviously) cats and dogs on them. The second is called Vintage Secrets where we have to make 2 ATCs in the Vintage theme but somewhere on each ATC there has to be a "secret" message. Here are the cards I have made.

Monday 6 April 2009

If I could give a heroine of the week award it would definitely go to my 12 year old Granddaughter Rachel. On Saturday her Mum Deb and big brother Lewis had gone into town and she was at home with her Dad Adrian, they were unloading the dishwasher when (Adrian is a bit vague as to what happened here) he felt a sharp pain and his leg gave way leaving him on his knees unable to get up. He decided the best thing to do was to lie flat on the kitchen floor until the pain subsided and he could roll onto his side, then onto his hands and knees and get up from there. Unfortunately this didn't happen and he was now flat on his back and unable to move. Rachel must have been very frightened but she kept calm, handed her Dad the phone so that he could ask Deb to return home, then found the phone number of NHS Direct who contacted the Paramedics. Deb and the Paramedics arrived at the house at around the same time and Adrian was given gas and air to relax the muscles in his back so that they could help him up. He has an appointment today to hopefully find out what happened and receive treatment, but well done Rachel, we are all very proud of you.

I think last week must have been a week of mishaps for the Matthews family. I was running late for a doctors appointment and as I rushed to close a window the latch caught behind my wedding ring and as I turned .... well you can imagine the rest (good job my appointment was with my GP!) luckily I took off my ring straight away as I certainly wouldn't have got it off later. Nothing was broken, just a badly bruised finger and a deep cut which the Nurse dressed for me. The next day I was explaining what had happened to my friend Sue and somehow whilst waving my hands around (cut my hands off and I'm rendered speechless!) I managed to stick my finger nail into my cheek!!!

Tuesday 24 March 2009

Cuttlebug Spot Challenge 23



I was in the process of making up some stitched Easter cards when I spotted this week's Cuttlebug Spot challenge which is "Celebrate Spring". Easter is a way of celebrating Spring isn't it? So I thought I would get out my "Bug" and see what I could do. I couldn't decide which I liked best so here are both of them. One is simply put through the machine using the Swiss Dots folder then happy easter stamped onto ribbon and placed along the bottom of the card. The other one I cut into an oval shape then mounted onto a slightly larger oval using gold mirri card. The background is a patterned card which I put throught the machine using the swirls folder, I then sanded the top lightly to give a slightly disressed look.

Sketch & Stash Challenge 6


This is a card I have made for my friend's 60th birthday, it also fits the Sketch and Stash Challenge. The rose is a Die Cut Dufex which although I have had for some time I had completely forgotten about so when I came across it this seemed the ideal opportunity to use it. The scalloped edge background panel is a Joanna Sheen paper and the ribbon and tiny flower are from my usual stash.

Saturday 21 March 2009

Graphicus challenge


This month's Graphicus challenge is the colour yellow and the theme is sing. This is the card I have made, the background stamp, honeysuckle and toadstools are all elusive images stamps. The background in the circle is made using lemon zest and yellow daisy Glimmer mist sprays, available from Graphicus and the honesuckle and toadstools are coloured using inktense pencils, also available from Graphicus. The sentiment is computer generated and reads Sing in the rain, dance in the sun, dream by the light of the moon.

Thursday 19 March 2009



Well it's almost the weekend again, I think I am just about recovered after having the Grandchilren last weekend (only joking Rach). Actually we had a fantastic weekend, both children love baking and cooking so we spent Saturday making chocolate Easter biscuits, well Lewis and Rachel did, I just provided the ingredients and did the washing up! They also made some sticky choccie toffie tarts that were absolutely delicious.

After all the baking Rachel and I managed to do some cardmaking, Deb (my DiL) had two Sarah Kay stamps that she was struggling with so she challenged us to make a card each and here they are. Rachel's is the kissing couple and mine is the little girl on the bike. I can see that I'm going to have to get some of these stamps!!

Penny Black Saturday Challenge 40


This week's Penny Black challenge is a sketch challenge and here is my enty.

The background has been put through my Cuttlebug then sprayed with Glimmer Mists. The image is of course Penny Black coloured in with inktense pencils. The silver strips don't show up too well but they are holographic silver and the flowers are punched from various papers.

Monday 16 March 2009

Saturday Challenge 23


This week's Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge is called "Have your cake and eat it", a cake of some sort must appear somewhere on your entry. I had my 11 year old Granddaughter Rachel (12 years old in two weeks time!) to stay for the weekend, she loves card making and asked if she could enter a challenge. This is the one she chose and here is the card she made. It is all her own work with no help from me (except the use of my craft room and anything in it). The stamp is a Penny Black coloured in with my new inktense pencils which are now top of Rachel's wish list for her birthday, the backing papers are from the Making Memories Cosmopolitan Collection.

Friday 13 March 2009

Sketch Saturday - 41


I think I have just about made it for this week's Sketch Saturday challenge. The image is a Rachelle Anne Miller Lily & Milo stamp coloured in with inktense pencils and the backing papers are from the Laura Ashley range.

Wednesday 11 March 2009

Saturday Challenge 22


The challenge this week on Secret Crafter Saturday challenge is masking, here's the card I have made.

I stamped the image of the lady, then masked it to stamp the cobble stones. The image is then coloured using inktense pencils, it is then layered onto torn handmade paper and finished off with satin ribbon and a matching gem.

Saturday 7 March 2009

Card for my Niece


This is a card I have just made for my Niece's birthday later this month, she's a very beautiful and stylish young lady so I thought a stylish card was called for. The background paper is from the Dovecraft Kate Knight range, the scalloped oval was cut using my trusty Cuttlebug and Nesties and the decoupaged image is one I have had in my stash for longer than I care to remember.

Friday 6 March 2009


I have just finished making an ATC for a challenge that two friends and I had with each other using the Cuttlebug (look away now Sue and Sue if you don't want to see it). I am quite pleased with the results. First I sprayed the card with Glimmer Mists, let it dry then added a flower and grasses that I had pressed during the summer, I then pressed Versamark over it then triple embossed it with UTTE. The Cuttlebug part is the butterfly. I dabbed alcohol inks onto acetate and when this was dry I put it through the Cuttlebug using the Swiss dots folder, I then stamped the butterfly image onto the acetate and cut out, it is attached to the ATC with Pinflair glue so that as you touch it the butterfly moves it's wings.

Thursday 5 March 2009

Another award


Where did this week go? I have been busy making more stitched Easter cards, I took what I had into my Sewing group and sold them all and I have been asked to make four more mini cards and two more A6 cards, plus I have to make some more for myself!

I have been given this lovely award by Sally and I am supposed to pass it on to 10 people but, like Sally, I can't decide who to send it to so everyone who reads this blog please accept it with love from me.

Friday 27 February 2009

Sketch & Stash Challenge 4 and Cuttlebug Spot Challenge 19


This is a card I have made for my Great Niece's first birthday, it also fits the criteria for both the Sketch and Stash challenge and the Cuttlebug Spot challenge which this week is "Buttons".

For the Sketch and Stash the new (well almost, I've only used it once before) is the Rachel Anne Miller stamp, which I have coloured with my new Inktense pencils and the rest is from my stash.

For the Cuttlebug Spot "Buttons" I have used the swirls embossing folder which I then chalked, then dabbed with a versafine pad and sprinkled with Glamour Dust. The buttons are tiny button brads.

Wednesday 25 February 2009

Stitched Easter cards



I've been making some stitched Easter cards and decided to reduce one of the templates in size to make an ATC for an Easter swap, this proved very successful, so much so that a lady from Village Stitchers (a sewing group I attend) asked me to make three of them as little bookmarks for her Grandchilren to use in their hymn books. I duly finished the little cards, complete with envelopes, took them into Village Stitchers on Monday and have been asked to make three more for one of the other ladies!

Saturday 21 February 2009

Penny Black Saturday Challenge 37 & Sketch Saturday 39


Look at this, it's only 3.15pm and I've already made a card that fits the criteria for two challenges. Penny Black's challenge is "Get Well Soon" and Sketch Saturday has a sketch that I love so I've combined the two.

The image is Penny Black "Embraceable" but I've given him a bunch of flowers instead of hearts, I have then layered it onto bronze mirri card cut out with my Nesties with bronze satin ribbon loops and Hot Off The Press flowers, one of which I have stamped with script from a corner of the large rose stamp from the harlequin rose set by elusive images.

Look what was in the bird feeder


Rob went out to feed the birds this morning and found this tiny field mouse in one of the bird feeders. He had managed to lift the lid slightly to get in but was then unable to get out again, he's now been released to go home.

Friday 20 February 2009

The Cuttlebug Spot Challenge 18


"Bring on the bling!" That's the challenge from the Cuttlebug Spot and I do like a bit of bling so here's what I've come up with. I have embossed some lovely pinky bronze mirri card with the swiss dots cuttlebug folder, the scalloped oval is blush pink pearlised card and the lacy bits are Joanna Sheen Victorian Doiley stamps stamped and embossed in white onto parchment then cut out, it's finished off with liquid pearls in white and some iridescent gems. I haven't put a greeting on as I'm not sure yet what it will be for.

Thursday 19 February 2009

Graphicus February Challenge


The challenge this month is "Home" as the topic and "Brick and Teal" for the colours. For some reason I have found this a very difficult challenge and I'm still not sure that I'm totally satisfied with the card I have made so your comments will be very much appreciated.

The backing papers are both Graphicus and the heart is part of the Elusive Images Harlequin Rose plate which I love. The heart is heat embossed using bronze embossing powder, I then cut it all out (including the inside bits!) and stuck it to the same colour card that the backing paper is layered onto, I then sprayed it with gold glimmer mist and highlighted bits of it with stickles crystal. I have tried to "lift" bits of the heart to give it a slightly distessed look that I thought went with the backing papers. Unfortunately the brick colours look quite orangy in the photograph.

Sunday 15 February 2009

Sketch Saturday 38 and Saturday Challenge 19


This card is for two challenges, the sketch this week on Sketch Saturday is a great one and the Saturday Challenge is "Spring has Sprung" so I thought this would fit the bill for both.

The striped paper is vellum, the plain green panel is embossed using the cuttlebug swirls embossing folder which I have highlighted with stickles. The bunnies are from the Beatrix Potter pack given away with this month's CM&P magazine, I have used stickles frosted lace for their little bob tails and liquid pearls dots around the scalloped circle.

Saturday 14 February 2009

Penny Black Saturday Challenge 36


Happy Valentines Day everyone, I hope you all got something nice, Rob bought me a dozen red roses, how romantic is that!

This weeks Penny Black challenge is a sketch by Nat and here is my card. The dark purple card is actually embossed in my Cuttlebug using the Swiss Dots folder but it doesn't show up on the photo. The cute little teddy is the Penny Black "dream a dream" which I have stamped twice and decoupaged, the image is coloured using Prisma Pencils and in the centre of the tiny flowers I've used liquid pearls.

Friday 13 February 2009

Marmalade mark two


A couple of weeks ago I made my annual batch of Seville orange and Cognac marmalade (or attempted to!)... disaster struck ... I boiled it for too long and the end results were more marmalade toffee than marmalade, much to the amusement of my eldest Son!!

I thought I had blown it for this year as I couldn't find any more Seville oranges, then last Saturday Rob was in Lymington (a nearby Market Town) when he spotted some Sevilles on one of the market stalls so he bought a kilo bless him. Sunday was spent making the second batch and joy of joy it turned out perfectly, which is a good thing as my friend in Liverpool would be devastated if she didn't get her annual jar or two.

Saturday 7 February 2009

Charisma Cardz challenge 5


Charisma Cardz challenge this week is "A Recipe" in which you must use 3 papers, 2 flowers and 1 ribbon. This is the card I have made, the papers and tag were given free with this months Making Cards Magazine and the flowers and ribbon are some I have had for goodness knows how long.