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Saturday 30 June 2012

Sketch Saturday - Week #5

Well today is my last week with Sketch Saturday...trust me to get a 5 week month lol. It's been a lot of fun and has stretched my sketch abilities enormously but I do I think I will try them more often :-D Thank you Jen for asking me to sponsor and to all the DT for the fabulicious makes using LCI images in the first week.

Of the 5 sketches I think I struggled the most with today's. Thursday night I really didn't like my card but after a good nights sleep and a bit of rearranging it's started to warm on me :-D I'm sure all you seasoned Sketcher's won't find it a problem at all!


My SIL in Ireland got a new 8 week old Cavalier King Charles black and tan puppy last week and as soon as Ruby and Rocky heard the news they commissioned me to make a card for the new addition though I really don't fancy a weeks supply of dog biscuits as payment lol!!

When my SIL told me her name I ROFL....are you ready for it....Grace Kelly!!! Isn't that fabulous...apparently it came from the Sex in the City movie where one of the girls called their dog Elizabeth Taylor :-D

Of course I had to use Buttercup In The Doghouse but I removed Buttercup's name and printed Grace Kelly instead... I surprise myself sometimes when one of my ideas actually work lol. Let me know what you think....


As always I colored the image with my Copics and added clouds with a PTI cloud diecut and chalk ink. I had used a plain pink panel and I think that's what was bugging me so I ran another piece of pink cs through my Cuttlebug with a tree bark embossing folder (I'd already stitched the plain pink panel to the card doh) and stuck on top and it definitely made it a bit more interesting.



Translation - Welcome to the family ;-D



And here's the inside

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Charisma Cardz Challenges - Anything Goes
DYSU Challenge Blog - Blue Skies & Clouds
Southern Girls Challenge - Baby (puppy??!!)
Chocolate, Coffee & Cards - Anything Goes

Don't forget my news from Thursday...a new release and a Blog Hop!!! Grab the badge and spread the news and make sure you stop by tomorrow for even more exciting news!!


Hope you have a fabulicious weekend

Catch ya later x

Friday 29 June 2012

Christmas in July new release!

OMG...Santa's looking a tad bit pink but with good reason...there's a new release and a blog hop alooming (not sure if that's a word but I LOVE it lol)!!! 


We have been busy here at LCI Central and it's all for YOU so make sure you come by on Tuesday for the new Christmas digi release...it's fabulicious!

Catch ya later xx

Wednesday 27 June 2012

Nifty at Fifty

I wanted this to post at 5:37 pm today but there isn't that option so it's going to be 7 minutes early. Why? Cuz at exactly 5:37pm (9:37am Canadian time) my big sis is 50!!!! I can hardly believe it as she doesn't look 45 let alone 50...that's Tracey on the left (BLS=big little sister) yours truly in the middle (like you didn't know that lol) and Shelly (DLS=darling little sister)


This is the card I made her and believe it or not I made it AND got it in to mail ON TIME. Not sure if she's received it yet but she should have unless the plane got diverted on the way lol. 


I wasn't all that about the card by the time I'd finished it...I'm sure she's not going to like the Nifty at Fifty sentiment lol...but seeing it again here I'm actually thinking it's not bad after all. I used the FABULICIOUS  Martini Nikki, colored her in with my Copics and cut her out. I stamped my SU! calendar stamp and using my computer added the month (I did have a set of month stamps but think I sold them in my SU! sale doh!) and stamped 27 for the date. Just in case her eyesight has deteriorated since turning the big FIVE OH (boy I'm gonna be in the kaka for that one lol) I added a Cuttlebug die cut arrow pointing at the 27. It looked a bit boring so added pink nailheads for a bit of bling (bought these for the LCI store years ago and thought I threw them out by mistake but found them in the garage whilst looking for something else so will be adding them to the store asap!)







I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Bearly Mine - Anything Goes
Party Time Tuesdays - Anything Goes
Crafts and Me - Birthdays
Scrapbook Sisters - Anything Goes
Bunny Zoe's Crafts - Girls Girls Girls
Make It Monday - Anything Goes
Love To Create - Anything Goes

So there you have it...Nifty at Fifty! 

Happy Birthday Trace...hope you have the most fabulicious of days!

Thanks for stopping by

Catch ya later x

Saturday 23 June 2012

Sketch Saturday - Week #4

Boy the weeks are just flying by...we've had the longest day of the year and now we're heading to winter lol. Well it sure feels like it at the moment. I can't remember the last time I had my heating on in June hmph!

It's week 4 of my sponsorship of Sketch Saturday. I had made the first 3 cards way back in Feb/Mar so I've had it pretty easy and it's just as well because I've only JUST got my act together and felt like making cards. Although I knew in the back of my mind I still had to make today's card, thankfully Jen gave me a little nudge on Wednesday and I got it made AND emailed to her that night :-D

Here's this week's sketch...


And here's my card...


I decided to give The Teenager's a break and use Slobbing Nikki. My dream is to have a day just like hers...cozied up on the couch in my pj's with a coffee and either a good book or a movie...and how could I forget the chocolate... Lindor red truffle balls thank you very much lol.

I have so much 12 x 12 pp it's ridiculous...especially when I still buy the odd piece or a 6 x 6 pad. I had a search through my stash and found a stack of Blonde Moments pp...do you remember them?? I used to love all things Blonde Moments from their stamps to their pp and gorgeous embossing powders and stamp pads. Diane (the owner) was so creative and I loved watching her whip up a card in minutes when she had a stand at the SECC. I'm definitely going to use more of her pp now I know where it is lol.




I made this card for a friend who I might be seeing today for a quick coffee. I was getting bored of just writing...hope you have the best birthday ever so did a google search (what did we do before Google???!!) and settled on 'Birthdays are good for you. Statistics show that people who have the most live the longest' lolololol....perfect!

Thanks for stopping by today...hope you have a great weekend :-D

Catch ya later x

Tuesday 19 June 2012

TLT - Laurie's Challenge - Double Trouble!

Happy Tuesday everyone!!! If I'm sounding a bit cheery it's cuz I am. A few reasons 1) I feel like I'm almost back to my old self :-D 2) I made it into my craft room for the first time in weeks at the weekend AND I made 3 cards woot woot 3) My 'puter ain't broke AND I managed to get my new toy working and I LOVE it!!!! 4) I've got something up my sleeve I DESPERATE to tell you ;-D 4) Ryan and his girlfriend arrived home this morning from their 2 week holiday in Mexico though it feels like months since I've seen him.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to enter Tam's Big Birthday Challenge. Although I didn't get to comment I did have a quick look and you're all amazing! It was also great to see a few more entries using LCI images. Remember you have 2 chances to win a £10 voucher to spend in the store...win the over all challenge OR win using an LCI image! Maybe you've won one of those vouchers so head on over to the Challenge Blog and check. If it is you, email me at lcichallengeblog@aol.com to claim your prize :-D

So we're onto our fabulicious Ladybug Laurie's challenge...Double Trouble! To ease myself in gently I went for the obvious Double Trouble...twins!!! A great friend of my DLS had identical twin boys in March...3 months early!!! I'm happy to say they are home and thriving and absolutely gorgeous :-D And yes, you don't need to tell me...I'm late lol. 

Here's my card...I'm especially happy with it because I was able to use my new toy to flip my image which for some reason couldn't figure out with Word. Let me know what you think....


I used Sleeping Baby Baby and like I said I 'flipped' him so he's facing the opposite way. This is such a fun tool to use on the computer and great when an image doesn't quite fit the space you want him to. Something that is a bit more difficult when stamping. I especially love their little bums in the air lol.

I used some Lasting Impressions pp I've had for yonks, Baby Blue Twill Stripe ribbon and as always colored the images with my Copics. A little bit of Glamour Dust on the blanket adds a bit of sparkle :-D



I, of course was predictable with my Double Trouble choice but the rest of the Ladybugs were definitely thinking outside the box. You will LOVE what they have got for you...lots of inspiration!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Make it Monday - Anything Goes
OLLCB - Baby Baby
Paper Playtime - Anything Goes With Sentiment
The Cutie Pie Challenge - Real or Faux Stitching
2 Sisters - Plaid or Stripe

Hope you have a GREAT Tuesday!

Catch ya later x


Sunday 17 June 2012

Happy Father's Day


Happy Father's Day to dads all over the world, especially mine :-D

I kind of cheated this FD....by the time I got back into the swing of making cards after recovering from the W (feel like I've bored you to tears with the wedding...oops!) I was way behind and my FD cards didn't even make the planning stage :-( I remembered the card I made for my dad last year didn't even make it into the mailbox so rummaged around and voila...found it! I also remembered I had turned it into a 'Enjoy Your Retirement' card for a challenge but lucky for me I only used light tac tape to hold the retirement sentiment down so when I gave it a slight tug low and behold there was my Happy Father's Day sentiment lolololol. I'm just so resourceful or some might say jammy ;-D

If it looks familiar it is cuz I DID post it last FD but just to refresh your memory here it is again....


I used 'I'm not asleep, I'm resting my eyes' Wrinkley...isn't he fab! If you haven't got him why the heck not??? You could use him for umpteen of those hard to make male cards.




I think he enjoyed his second 15 minutes lol.

I've had a bit of a computer 'mare today. My pal Gayle has this fabby gizmo for her computer and said my life wouldn't be the same without it. Well those weren't here EXACT words but I'm sure that's what she meant ;-D It's a Wacom Bamboo tablet thingamajig and it's supposed 'simplify' things for me such as coloring in with Photoshop, editing graphics from my illustrators (which was the main reason for the purchase), add notes to pictures etc. Welllllll...it's not gone according to plan and my laptop has had an allergic reaction to it and although I'm using my laptop just now it is not a happy camper. The USB wasn't registering and the warning notice kept flashing...even when the USB wasn't plugged in! I uninstalled my drivers as Mr PC World Call Center suggested but that didn't seem to work. I restarted my laptop 3 times and in one last desperate attempt tried to restart it again. I went off to my craft room when all of a sudden screeching sirens went off in the kitchen (where said laptop was) which then set Rocky off on a barking fit. I turned off the laptop but it was still screeching....called PC World directly and was told to take the battery out...phew...new more screeching. I thought all would be ok but for some reason I can't Microsoft Word to come up, a Norton crash notice flashes every time I try to open a page and it's just not responding they way it normally does. I'm going to have to take it to the laptop hospital and hope they'll be able to fix it and pray the bill won't put me in the poop as I don't have an extended warranty anymore :-(

Happy Father's day dad...hope you're having a better day than me!

Catch ya later x

Saturday 16 June 2012

Sketch Saturday Week #3

Week 3 of Sketch Saturday already? Surely not! 'Fraid so...time waits for no man or challenge lol. 

Here's this week's challenge...



This week I've used First Car Josh and guess what??? He's passed his driving test!


I colored Josh with my Copics, made a road and added some clouds using a PTI cloud die as a stencil. I printed L plates on the computer and cut them with one of my smallest square Nesties. 







 I finally found my way into my craft room yesterday after a month and managed to start 2 cards. I was a bit rusty and my coloring isn't all that but it felt good to be crafting again :-D I'm well behind and have a list of cards a mile long but I'll keep plugging away this weekend.

Thanks for stopping by...hope you have a great weekend

Catch ya later x

Wednesday 13 June 2012

Nicole & Ben the movie!

I met up with 3 friends today who were at the wedding. Janice made a little movie of the pictures she took on her iphone (other brands are available lol). Because she made it on a Mac I couldn't download it on to my PC so a computer whiz friend  of hers converted it to an MP3 somethingorother but in doing so the quality isn't as good. It's still fabulous to watch as there are pictures I hadn't seen. She's set it to their song Delilah and of course I had a tear in my eye lol....

Enjoy!



xx



Tuesday 12 June 2012

Almost back to normal...whatever that is!

I think I'm almost caught up on sleep and I hope that maybe I can start making a card today...that is IF I can find my workroom as it's been so long since I've been in it. I just hope my mojo hasn't left me completely :-S

I have a Beer Belly Man card I made months ago when Gayle signed him off into my care...I told you I had him ages. I'm as excited about him as much now as I was then. Here's what I did...


BBM makes me laugh every time I look at him...there are so many possibilities and occasions he can be used for. This card is coming in handy as it's my BIL's birthday in a couple of weeks and he does love his beer :-D 



I paper pieced his shirt with some fab floral pp...for legal reasons I 
I'd like to state that my BIL does NOT wear shirts with flowers on them lol.


All beer needs a bit of bling!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Craft Your Passion - Anything Goes
Desmet Designs Challenge - For the Men and Boys
Lexi's Creations - Birthday
Make It Monday - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp and Show - Anything Goes
The Pink Elephant - Masculine
There's Magic In The Air - One For The Boys

I met up with the photographer yesterday to get all 1500 pictures he took at the wedding and download them on my laptop and today Nicole and I are meeting him to look at albums. I think it's going to be really difficult to choose and can see us still sorting through them at Christmas lol!

I have to apologise for my lack of blogging and commenting...even the Ladybugs haven't seen much of me these days but I'm seeing light at the end of the tunnel :-D

Thanks for stopping by

Catch ya later x

Saturday 9 June 2012

Sketch Saturday Week #2


It's my second week as sponsor for Sketch Saturday...did you see the gorgeous WOA the DT created last week? If you haven't already, check them out here...they're fabulicious :-D

As I said last week I don't often follow sketches so wasn't sure if there were any 'rules' such as copying the sketch exactly, can a sentiment be added if there wasn't one so I emailed Jen and she put me right :-D

Here/s this week's sketch....


And here's my card...



I used Tomboy Jess, colored her with my Copics and added 2mm AB Swarovski Crystals to her jean jacket for a bit of bling.



What do you think of her pink tips lol???


I cut out the flowers from gorgeous Rosebay Pink felt and added Silver Flower Nailheads to the center



Well that's my offering..I hope you'll join in the challenge this week :-D

Thanks for stopping by.

Catch ya later x

Wednesday 6 June 2012

Happy Birthday Tams & Wedding Lowdown so grab a coffee!!

Surprise!!!! Ok I guess it's not really a surprise cuz I let the cat out of the bag yesterday but I was soooo excited lol. I just want to wish Tam's the happiest 30th birthday...I vaguely remember mine almost 20 years ago eek! Unfortunately I fell at the last hurdle making her card but now my house is oh so quiet I will get to it toot sweet!

Yesterday was a funny old day for me...I made my 6th trip to the airport in 7 days (one day I had to be at Glasgow airport at 7 am then Prestwick airport at 9:50am!) as one by one (sometimes 2 by 2) left to go back to Canada. The last to leave was my DLS and her fab hubby and we had a good bubble. After almost 29 years living in Scotland you'd think I'd get used to saying goodbye but I always feel abandoned and empty when they walk through to security. They all went home to each other and yes I've got hubby and my kids and my new son in law but having other family close would be nice too.

Speaking of my new son in law...OMG we had the best day. It started with the run up with my mom, dad and sister arriving the Saturday before and running around getting fluffed and buffed and nails done in time for the ferry on the Wednesday. I'm not a fan of driving long distances but I must say with SIL as my sat nav I really enjoyed the trip. It took 1 3/4 hours to drive to Cairnryan, 2 hours on the ferry (they make the most amazing macaroni cheese and fish and chips) and 2 hours to the in laws. We had a few more days of running around before moving into the hotel on the Friday (I can't tell you how much we were all looking to that lol). Hubby, the boys and their girlfriends flew over Friday afternoon and hubby was dropped off at the church in time for the rehearsal. The priest is Nicole's Godfather though he was an insurance salesman until at 50 went into the seminary in Waterford for 5 years then settled into his first parish in Atlanta Georgia and has been there ever since. We always said we'd love Frank to officiate Nic's wedding so it was very special he was able to. 

After rehearsal we returned to the hotel only to find hubby couldn't find his suit for the wedding!!!! OMG can you imagine it...walking down the aisle in a tracksuit lol!!! The guest had been arriving all day and congregated in the hotel pub (amazing fun) but I was clocking up the miles trying to find the suit (along with hubby and hotel reception) checking in at the pub to say hi to new comers and down my first French Martini (note to self...sip slowly in future lol) ;-D Suit was finally located in Steven's room and I could enjoy the rest of the night meeting some of Nic and Ben's for the first time and Ben's extended family. I have to say all their friends are the most wonderful of people and I loved every one of them. 

I got up bright and early Saturday morning leaving hubby to get some breakfast and then head to hair and makeup :-D I would love to get pampered like that on a daily basis lol. Everything was set up in Nic's room which was adjoined to the Bridesmaids...hair in one room, makeup in the other. We had such a laugh and were oohing and ahhing as each of us was preened to within an inch of our lives. I headed back to the room to change (I loved my outfit...not typical MOB but very me) to find hubby writing his speech on the balcony!!! I know he was extremely nervous about his speech and said it was going to be the shortest on record (it wasn't lol). I forgot something in Nic's room so headed back, went in one room, walked through the bit that joins the rooms to the next  and stopped dead in my tracks. There was Nic standing in her dress ... I stood there just staring (it was like something out of a movie) then I could feel the prickle of tears and the tremble of the lower lip and I dove into the bathroom swiftly followed by one of the bridesmaids offering hugs and kleenex lol. Damage control done I managed to hug her without breaking down then headed to reception.

The guests met in the reception and buses took them to the church. Ben's mom and I were driven by his brother and we took our seats. We didn't have to wait long for hubby and Nic to arrive and to the strains of Pachelbel, the two ring bearers (5 and 14 months) lead the procession followed by the bridesmaids, maid of honor and finally the bride. It was easy to see that hubby was trying really hard to hold it together but Nic was as cool as a cucumber and you could see she was loving every minute of her day.

The service was beautiful and everyone loved it. Outside the sun was shining and you could tell it was going to be the best day ever. After the pictures were taken the buses took the guests back to the hotel where there was canapes and drinks in the Secret Garden and more photographs before heading to the reception for the dinner, speeches and dancing! Breaking with tradition we had the speeches first so hubby, Ben and the best man could enjoy their meal without nerves. I must say hubby's speech was fantastic...there was a lot of laughter and emotion and I don't think there was a dry eye in the room when he finished. Ben's was equally fantastic and the Best Man Andrew did Ben proud though he was extremely emotional throughout and had to stop and compose himself a number of times. He brought up a few things Ben had obviously forgotten and his parents learned the truth about a few of his escapades lol. The three speeches were brilliant and bring a smile when I think about them :-D

The meal was gorgeous and the wedding cake....what can I say about the wedding cake? I'd been dreaming about eating it since I started my MOB diet (I lost almost a stone [14 lbs] but a few have found their way back lol) back in January and I can tell you it didn't disappoint lol. 

The first dance was to Delilah by the Plain White T's but Nic and Ben's good friends Chris and Penny dueted and it was fabulous. From that moment on I rarely left the dance floor. The band were fantastic and had the guests in a frenzy at times. Suzy Q and I invented a new dance step which we put to practice most of the night. We'd stand side by side and step, step, step to the right and flick our foot and head to the direction we went then headed back the other way. We thought we were amazing but I'm sure we looked ridiculous lol. Chris sang 500 Miles by the Proclaimers and EVERYONE joined in...what can I say except after all the stress and strain of planning it was easily the best day of our lives. 

Everyone made such an effort to make Nic & Ben's day what it was from the hotel staff (especially Ciara and Lisa) to all our friends and family. I was a bit concerned when they decided to have the wedding in Ireland but that went out the window when I saw how much everyone enjoyed themselves.

There's so much more that I could share with you but I think you'd lose the will to live lol so if you have any questions feel free to email me.

Thank you to everyone that emailed their good wishes, sent cards and gifts...we were all overwhelmed by your thoughtfulness and once the dust settles Nic and Ben will put pen to paper and thank all of you. 

Now you're probably wondering where the heck the pictures are?! I sat last night and made a separate page (tab at the top) of photos from friends and family and a few from the official photographer and I'll add more as the come in. You can see them all here...enjoy!

Catch ya later x

Tuesday 5 June 2012

TLT - Tam's Challenge - Big Birthday


I know I know...I said I'd be back with pictures of the wedding but if you had seen what I've been up to this past week you would be crying with exhaustion but I'll tell you more about that later...PROMISE!

Today's TLT challenge is brought to you by our one and only Tam's which is Big Birthday's. I'll let you in on a little secret...she's going to celebrate a BIG birthday tomorrow but shhh don't tell anyone ;-D

All the Ladybugs are using a new image today...just a taster of what's to come. He's called Beer Belly Man and he's been illustrated by a good friend of mine Gayle Cook aka Mrs Teddy Bo! I received an email from Gayle about 18 months ago ( it turned out we only live 10 minutes from each other) and we became firm friends. I just wish I had an ounce of her illustrating talent...she makes it looks so easy.

You'll be able to purchase Beer Belly Man from today for £1.50...I can see him being used for umpteen occasions for those tricky male cards we all seem to drag our heels with.


I decided on 50 for my big birthday (scarily enough mine isn't far off hmph!) I sized BBM quite small, cut him out and used foam pads to stick him to the card




I think he's definitely enjoyed a beer or two lol



I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Lexi's Creations - For the men/boys in our lives
Make It Monday - Anything Goes

All the winners from the Things With Wings challenge have been posted on the Challenge Blog so make sure you check to see if you're one of them. There's a prize of £10 to spend in the LCI store for the overall challenge winner AND £10 to the winner using an LCI image and of course there's the Top 3.

Ok that's it from me for today...going to sort through the wedding pictures for my next post!!

Thanks for stopping by

Catch ya later x

Saturday 2 June 2012

June Sponsor for Sketch Saturday Challenge

Hey!!! Have you missed me??? Well I've missed you...feels like I've been away for-evah! I've still got a house full but after they're all gone (or tomorrow lol) I'll tell you all about the wedding...it was AMAZING!!!



Way back at the beginning of February Jen from The Tiny Blue Butterfly (if you haven't already, go and check out Jen's blog...it's fabulicious!) asked me if I would like to be the June sponsor for Sketch Saturday Challenge and I jumped at the chance. It's very rare that I follow a sketch but I had great fun following them. 

Here's today's sketch


And here's my card...


I've used Coat of Paint Jess from The Teenagers for the first time...




I hope you'll join in Sketch Saturday :-D

Thanks for stopping by

Catch ya later x