Sale?? What Sale???

OMG friends...LCI is having a sale and it's a BIGGIE!!! Starting early doors Sunday January 1st 2012 (2012 people!!!) and for the whole month of January  (yup...I know...I'm off my heed {that's Scottish for head in case you didn't know heehee}) ALL cling stamps will be 1/2 price!!!!!!!! So you know that wish list you've got? Wish no more because at 1/2 price it's like getting 2 for the price of 1!!! How's that for logic lol. The discount should all magic itself at the checkout but from past experience there have been a few blips so if there are do not fear, I will be on the case and get it sorted :-D

To my utter disgust I haven't had much time to craft over the holidays but I do have a card I made for my friend Pat who hadn't been well and I haven't posted. Of course I used Cat Flu Magnum and this is what I came up with...

I really like the colours in this but boy does my colouring suck lol. It wasn't until I was editing the pictures that I saw how often I'd gone outside the lines! Must try harder lol.

Of course I had to glitter up Magnum's ice pack and I don't know if you can tell but I used glittered flock on the kleenex box

Hee hee...good ol' Lily strikes again!

You can see the glittered flock a bit better in this picture

I hope this cheered Pat up :-D

It is New Years Eve and I've got a gajillion things to do so I'm offski. I hope you have the best night tonight when the bell's are ringing. Keep safe and I'll see you next year!

Catch ya later xx

BFF's birthday card...finally!!!

Oh my...I'm late...for a very important date but hey...what do you expect when your birthday is so close to Christmas!!! Hee hee...just as well BFF is understanding and most probably too busy with wedding stationery to worry too much. It's always fun to receive a card AFTER as it's like an extended birthday...right?? Hope you're backing me up here lol.

I finished BFF's card the other day and got it in the yesterday so fingers crossed it will arrived today I'm really happy with the way it turned out. I've used a few more dies I received for my birthday and a new MME 6 x 6 paper pad Paris & Co. The colours are very muted which I don't usually go for but for some reason I was drawn to them. You can make up your mind and let me know what you think...

I've used Original Nikki...I think she's my favourite Nikki but shhhh...don't tell the others! and coloured her in with my Copics and paper pieced her dress adding a bit of shading. I did a bit of surfing the other day ... first time in ages ... and came across the layout on the MFT blog.

This Whimsy Stamps ticket die and stamp were part of my birthday. I'd been lusting after it for ages but it was out of stock forever. I was so happy when I found it :-D

Another birthday die...this one is Die-namics large rolled rose. Believe me when I say it's large ... took me by surprise when I first saw it lol. I was rushing so it's not as perfect as I would have liked...you can even see a glob of glue gun glue I didn't remove before I took the pictures ...I hope I removed it before I mailed it lol. The centre of the flower is a SU! brad that I found at the back of my drawer.

 



You can see how big it is...look how far it sticks out!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

4 Crafty Chicks - Something New (Dies)
Art Impressions - #45 Punches and Dies
Aud's Sentiments Challenge - Anything Goes
Charisma Cards - Anything GoesDutch Dare CardChallenge - Favourite Things (image)
My Mum's Craft Shop - Anything Goes
Scrapbook Sisters - #66 Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes

I'd like to say hi and wecome to my most recent follower Vickysunshine...doesn't her name just make you feel happy :-D

Anywho that's it from me for today. I've got a house that looks like a bomb site and desperately needs attention. I've also got some new toys that desperately need my attention! Think I'll make myself a coffee and mull it over...yeah right...I know which one I'm gonna do lol!!!

Have a great weekend...big news coming up!!!

 

Catch ya later xx

Christmas Aftermath...

I've managed to come out of my food coma to say hello lol. Why is it that we feel we have to eat so much over the holiday season??? I hope you all had a fabulicious Christmas and you're gearing up for New Year frollics. I'm not a lover of celebrating NY...just reminds me another year has passed, I'm going to be another year older (my birfday is in 348 days just in case you might want to note it down in your new calendar tee hee..Oh and puleeeeeze don't forget MP's birfday in 198 days...she's a bit shy about sharing these

things ;-D) and more hours of lost sleep!

Was Santa good to you? I was VERY spoiled! My kids bought me a Wii Fit including a personal trainer DVD and Zumba DVD. Do you think they're trying to tell me something hmph??? Well I guess the race is on for the Wedding Of The Year in May...I DO NOT want to be a frumpy MOB so have already started the MOB diet and once someone hooks up my Wii I will be running/jumping/swearingsweating all over the place lol.

I haven't crafted much for over a week. We had friends over for dinner last night and it was John's 60th birthday at the end of November. Yeah...you guessed it, I was late! But I think I made up for it because he loved his card...I think! To be fair to me I did colour the image way back in November ... it was just everything else that was late ;-D

John's a keen golfer so what other image could I use but Magnum & Lily's Fore! As usual Lily gets one up on Magnum and steals his ball out of the hole...so much for his hole in one lol. Anywho...here it is...

I was lucky enough to receive Dies to Die For vouchers for my b'day...I hummed and hawed over what to get...there's just too much to choose from. In the end I added this oval tab die to my basket.

Now the next few pictures are for MP. I don't think she was too happy with the last modelling picture I posted of Steven ... I think she said something about too many clothes???!!!!

I've got to skeddadle now...my hubby is giving me the night off from cooking cuz I've done so well the last few nights lol.

Catch ya later x

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all my blogging friends. Thank you for your visits, comments and friendship over the past year. I wish you all a wonderful Christmas.

xx

A quick post...well sort of!

I've made, written and mailed my last Christmas card!!! Yes some are going to be late (read that as VERY lol) but it's the thought that counts right? Although I have enjoyed making Christmas cards these past few months I am so looking forward to packing away my Christmas stamps, dies, papers and punches and concentrate on cards that have no connection to winter!

On that note I have a card to share that I made ages ago and haven't posted. You might have seen this image once or 10 times recently but I do so love it lol. Magnum & Lily's Cupcake Surprise makes me smile every time I see it....this is what I came up with...

My Lovely Ladybug Tams gifted me some card blanks which I've used for this easel card. I can't remember where the pp is from but I love it because it's so bright and cheery. I didn't add too many embellishments as I thought the pp was busy enough.

I coloured Cupcake Surprise with my Copics, paper pieced the cupcake liner, added some spots to Magnum's party hat with my gel pen, GD to Lily's party hat and candle flames and GA to the cupcake icing

I still have one card to make asap but finding the time is difficult. I think I've got my shopping done and I'm going to tackle some more baking today (turtles!!). Hopefully it will be uneventful ie I won't knock myself out lol!!!

A little news on Steven. His modelling agency asked him to meet an agency from Italy who was looking for male models. As Steven's so tall (6'6" 1/4!!!) he didn't think he had a chance but went along anyway. Well apparently they liked him and want him to go to Milan for a month!!! He's not guaranteed work but will go to castings and I think it might be Milan fashion week at some point during his stay and that would be a fab job under his belt. Hubby couldn't understand why can't do it here and Steven explained he could be modelling for Gucci, Prada, Armani etc...surely that must be more exciting than Marks & Spencers and Slaters lol. I'm very excited for him but also a bit nervous about him being away on his own for a month. He's very capable and will never starve but you know what mom's are like with their kids...whatever age they are!

He's done some photoshoots over the last few days for his portfolio and here's one of the pictures..

He's got a few more clothes on that the previous ones I posted! I think he looks quite smart but maybe not as hunky as the others lol.

Ok...I've got to get on with my baking. Only 4 more shopping days till Christmas...hope you're organised!!!

Catch ya later x

Baking is dangerous...it's official!!

Hello everyone...sorry for my lack of posts but it's a busy busy time as you all know and this blogging malarky isn't quick....especially if you're like me and talk a load of rubbish lol.

I've been making Christmas cards till they're coming out of my ears and thought I'd finished but found I'm about 20 short. I was so tempted to buy some (shock horror!!!) but couldn't bring myself to do the dirty deed so last night came up with a quick ... and yes I mean quick...10 minutes max....card so will make them once I've finished here.

I was making the card in between baking. Normally I've been baking up a storm by now (and eating most of it hmph) but just haven't had the chance. I started with one of our favourites...Rocky Road. OMG...it's so calorific but yummalicious!!! I had all the ingredients sorted, melted the chocolate, combined everything and poured into pans waiting to cool then started on my shortbread. As I was measuring the flour I realised I'd forgotten the butter in the Rocky Road. I quickly got my big soup pot out of the cupboad above my oven, turned away to grab something then turned back to get the butter out of the fridge and at full speed whacked my face on the open cupboard door!!! Talk about seeing stars and almost knocking yourself out lol. I gingerly felt my face for blood and my nose for breakage but apart from a graze on my forehead and a tender nose I escaped relatively unscathed....but let that be a lesson...close cupboard doors!!! I do hope my kids appreciate my life and death efforts lol.

Once I've made the shortbread (gluten free as well for Ben's mom) I'll make Kris Kringle cookies and everyone's favourite....TURTLES!!! Thank goodness I only bake at Christmas!

I thought I'd share the 4 Christmas cards I've made...

This one took the longest because of the colouring so I only made 18! I used card blanks (don't shout at me Tams!) and Basic Grey pp I've had for years. I finally used my pretty Frosty Border die and added Siam Swarovski crystals to the center of the snowflakes.

IRL this card is gorgeous...the white is so stark against the Card Candi. This was super easy...again I used a card blank, ran some white cs through the Cuttlebug in an embossing folder, stuck the candi to the pre-cut tree with gluedots, computer generated the sentiment, layered everything up and stuck it together. I made 40 of these :-D

I borrowed the idea for this one from BFF. I stamped an Inkadinkadoo snowman in Night of Navy ink onto white cs and cut out with Nesties along with a couple of mounts. Night of Navy cs was run through the CB with the snowflake embossing folder, stamped and punched out the sentiment, added a Swarovski crystal to the hat and sentiment and finally I spritzed the shimmery whatchamacallit from SU! over the finished card only for the ink to run and the snowman end up a blobby mess hmph! I had to re-think and instead of spritzing AFTER I stamped the image I spritzed BEFORE, let it dry then stamped and it turned out perfect...so there's a top tip if you're using a water based ink :-D I made 22 of these :-D

Finally my 10 minute card! I placed the SU! Poinsettia embossing folder across the middle of a card blank and ran it through the Cuttlebug along with a shimmery red piece of cs for the band across the middle. I punched 2 x 5 petal flowers (SU!) in the same red cs, curved the petals under, stuck them together with GA and added Swarovski pearls to the centre with GA. I remembered I had some gorgeous PTI Christmas sentiments so stamp one on white cs and cut out and embossed with a Nestie. I wrapped white SU! ribbon around the embossed red then stuck everything together and there you have it...a card in 10 minutes or less! I wish I had of thought of this one FIRST lol. I'll make about 20 of these :-D

I am a little bit perturbed (dontcha just love it when a word pops into your head that you NEVER use lol) cuz my birfday present hasn't been claimed and I only JUST realised! The same thing happened with my blogaversary prezzie so I'm thinking you don't like prezzies??? I don't know ANYONE who doesn't like prezzies so what I've done is consult with Mr Random Org again and he's chosen:

#10 WENDY

Please, please PLEASE contact me to claim my birfday present otherwise I'm gonna just hafta keep it for myself!!

Okey dokey...I must get on. It was BFF's birthday yesterday and I need to make her card eek!!! Lucky she's VERY understanding and TBH she can't get mad cuz I just received my b'day card from her on Saturday hee hee.

I hope you have a great week. Hopefully it won't be too stressful with Christmas only SIX days away!!

Catch ya later x

PS...Michelle from Make It Monday has chosen Sadie's birthday card as her favourite from last week's Linky Party!!! Woo hoo, thanks Michelle :-D

TLT - Sue's Challenge - BINGO!

Welcome to the last challenge of 2011. The Ladybugs have worked really hard this year and I thought I'd put the whip away and give them a bit of extra time to get ready for Christmas :-D Are you organised? I'm not and I don't think I ever will be lol! The challenge will be running until 12 pm January 2nd 2012 and restarting 9am January 3rd of the same year (rofl..that made me laugh!) so you have plenty of time to enter :-D I'd like to thank all of you for your support throughout our first year and look forward to another year of fun together!

Thank you to everyone who entered last weeks challenge. I have had a crazy week and haven't managed to comment yet but I will...promise! Please check the Challenge Blog to see if you're the winner or a Top 3 from last week

The fabulicous Sue has the honors of choosing the final challenge which is Bingo! For those of you who've never played along with a bingo challenge (like myself) it's easy peasy...choose a line horizontal, vertical, corner to corner and for the very brave (or those who have their tree up, cards made and posted, gifts bought and wrapped and the turkey on order!) a full house! I know two Ladybugs are uber organised have gone for the full house...megamazing!!!

Below is the grid for you to choose from...

I've gone for the top horizontal line...felt, ribbon and embossing. It's Sadie's 81st birthday today and when I was going through my stamps I came across Beach Babe. I know it's not exactly beach weather (it's blowing a gale right now) but it reminded me of a little holiday I went on with Sadie a couple of years ago. I was her companion on a mini cruise and we docked in Italy (for the life of me I can't remember the name of the village and it was my favourite) and spent a couple of hours on the beach. Sadie had gone shopping before we left for the cruise and one of her purchases was a tankini!!! I told her if she wore it to the beach I was staying on the boat lol. Well you can guess she wore it and I didn't stay on the boat. Here's a picture of Sadie in her tankini....

She thought she looked great and who was I to disagree lol. Anywho here is my card...can you see the likeness? (totally coincidental!)...

I think I'm going to call this lady Sadie from now on lol. I stamped her out in Momento Ink and coloured her with my Copics. After cutting Sadie out I EMBOSSED a white piece of cs and stitched it to a yellow mount then stuck Sadie to it with foam pads. I punched two ends of yellow cs with border punches, stitched a piece of pp to it and added RIBBON to the top and bottom. I stuck Sadie to the pp with foam pads, added glitter to her hat and beach bag, spots to her towel and swimsuit with my gel pen and finally added a FELT Loopy Flower. I added the sentiment that comes with the stamp set but because Sadie is registered blind (she has peripheral vision in one eye and is totally blind in the other) I made the sentiment larger on the computer so she'd be able to see it. I know she'll get a real kick out of it when she sees it lol.

You're probably thinking...'that ain't ribbon but it came on a roll and it says 'Ribbon Trim' so that's good enough for me lol

I hope Sadie will like her card and it reminds her of the great time we had on holiday together :-D

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Basic Grey - Anything Goes

Catered Crop - Birthday

Corrosive Challenge - Anything BUT Christmas

Scrappy Frogs - Stitching

Make it Monday - Anything Goes

There's still time to grab the SOTM for 1/2 price for those last minute Christmas cards or a stocking stuffer for a crafty friend/daughter/sister/mother. OR you can be mega-organised and start on next years cards lolololol.

I had a fabulicious birthday on Friday and I want to thank everyone who left a comment, emailed, texted me birthday wishes. Suzy Q and Lynn took me out for coffee and cake (carrot!) in the morning and hubby, the kids and their respective girlfriends/fiance and I went for dinner. The one thing I do stipulate on my birthday is that I don't cook!!! It was brilliant being all together...not an easy task when they all want to do their own thing. It gave me an insight into what's to come with family get togethers and the icing on the cake will be grandkidlets...no pressure lol! I was spoiled rotten with flowers, wellies, creams, lotions and potions. Copics, gift certificates, coffee, a beautiful bracelet, ribbon, ebellishments and the most gorgeous handcrafted cards. See...I told you I was spoiled!

I did promise I would choose the winner of my birthday present to you so drum roll please.....

Congratulations Jane!! Contact me at ladybugcraftsink@aol.com with your address and I'll get your present off to you asap. If you don't claim your present by Monday December 19th Mr Generator will pick another name.

I think that's it from me. I hope you have a fabulicous week...check out the Ladybugs gorgeous makes for inspiration and don't be shy...leave them some Ladybug Love!

Thanks for stopping by

Catch ya later x

Happy Birfday to me To YOU!!

To celebrate my birfday on Friday I thought I would give one of you a present! All you have to do to receive the present is leave a comment on this post (which will be staying at the top) and on Monday December 12th I'll get Mr Random Org to pick a recipient...simple as that :-D

 Now a present really should be a surprise so I'm not going to show you what it is but just to give you a teaser, this is what you'll receive in the mail....

It's small but perfectly formed and I'll mail the present anywhere in the world...within reason lol

So come on...help me celebrate!!

Catch ya later x

**Scroll down for most recent post**

Did you know.....

IT'S MY BIRFDAY????!!! Happy birfday to me lol. December 9th, 1963 little ole me was born.... I can't believe I'm 38 already! What?? What do you mean I forgot to carry the 10?? 48??? I'm 48??? How the heck did that happen lol?? Ok...I guess I'm 48 but not until 13:55 UK time (I was born 5:55am BC time...and before you say it, no that's not BEFORE CHRIST hmph!) so I still have a few more hours.

I thought since it was my birfday and I was giving a present to one of my lovely blogging friends (don't forget to leave a comment on the above post for a chance to win), I might as well make myself a card too lol. I was loving the LO of yesterdays card so I just kinda did the same again but different IYKWIM! Here it is...let me know what you think....

I just HAD to use Cupcake Surprise Magnum & Lily digi since I was making it for everyone else lol. Making my own birfday card ensured I would get a Loopy Flower on it....isn't it just lurverly {sigh}.

Boy that Fluffy Stuff just takes over sometimes lol

 I'd like to congratulate my Lovely Ladybug Pam who after numerous tears, tantrums and attempts ...FINALLY managed to snafoo her very own Loopy Flower Die yaaaayyyy!!!!

Just in case you didn't know lol

So there you have it...my birfday card to myself :-D

Believe it or not it's not just MY birfday today...it's also my lovely friend Val's birfday...AND her not-so-identical-twin-but-born-on the-same-day-same-year and the love of my life when I was growing up...Donny Osmond's birfday...happy happy birfday!!!

Apart from Val's and Donny's and my birfday it's another special day. It was 27 years ago at 8:30am that mine and Nicole's (she was 3 weeks old) plane landed at Prestwick airport starting a new life here in Scotland (hubby arrived 2 weeks before). I never thought we'd be here for so long. I imagined it would be 3 or 4 years then we'd move back to Canada. Just think...if we had I might not have started cardmaking, started a business or had my own blog...and you wouldn't have had to hear about my birfday for the last week or so lol. I guess everything does happen for a reason :-D

Ok...enough of that sentimental stuff...I'll fill you in on how my day goes over the weekend. Don't forget if you'd like a birfday present from me leave a comment on the post above (2nd reminder!) :-D

Hope you all have the most fabulicious day!

Catch ya later x