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Tuesday 27 August 2013

Midway Reminder #4

Back for the final reminder of our Photo Inspiration Challenge...you'll notice I didn't follow the rules lol!


I never had a chance to make another card for the challenge but thought I'd show you a belated one I made....I think I kinda love it :-D





I know the recipient  will appreciate the verse I found lol



Right...back to the beach ;-D

Catch ya later x

Saturday 24 August 2013

Happy Birthday Ryan

 Ryan is 26 today...that makes me feel REALLY old lol. I made him this card but don't think he'll get it on time :-S



This is an EXCLUSIVE...something I'm working on. Even the Bugs haven't seen this and when they do....boy I'm gonna be in BIG trouble!!!

I coloured Skinny Guy's football strip in the colour the team Ryan is playing for,  LA Blues...Jan added Ryan's number 90 to his shorts and the LA Blues badge to his shirt. These won't be on the image when it finally gets released so this is a one of a kind ... hope he appreciates my efforts lol.


I took this picture of Coen the day before Sadie and I left for Kos (can't really report anything at this time as this post is scheduled lol) ... he's just scrumptious!!!



If I can I'll add some pictures of our holiday but if not it will have to wait till I get back.

Thanks for stopping by 

Catch ya later x

Tuesday 20 August 2013

Midway reminder #3

Well I've been busy...chasing my tail as always. My SIL's mom passed away last Sunday and the funeral was on Friday. Hubby, Nicole, Coen and I drove to Harrogate for the funeral leaving the house at 7:30 am and hubby and I arrived back home at 10:30 pm!! Ben and Nic were driving down to Manchester anyway to meet the newest member of the family....Ben's sister's new baby boy Freddie....so he picked them up on the way and had a big family reunion. That's 3 grandson's (and two wedding's for Ben's parents in less than 2 years...a hat trick!!!

I made this card yesterday for my SIL's b'day on Saturday....



I've used a new digi called Pile of Presents. I've printed it on a larger piece of card stock...I'm really liking this style of card so be prepared to see a lot more of them :-D I cut out the flag sentiment tag using a Die-namics die then ran the tag through the printer on a piece of copy paper to add the sentiment. I tied a piece of Baker's Twine around the top and stitched it to the card front. A bit of glitter and stitching around the edge and card was done!




We didn't see Coen for 3 days and when we did yesterday I couldn't get over the change in him... I'm sure he grew 2" and he was holding his head up with little wobble. 

Are you ready for your Coen fix? Here you go....


No wonder his head didn't bobble...he's no neck lololol!!!


He is getting really active...his arms and legs were going like crazy :-D


I don't know how we got away with this picture. Nic isn't too happy when Rocky and Ruby go near Coen...she says they drool all over him. I do too but don't get into trouble rofl. Anywho, Rocky was busy chewing on a tennis ball and Ruby took her place beside Coen and edged her way closer until she was able to reach out and 'pat' him! 

Sadie has booked us another holiday...we're off to Kos on Thursday. I'm looking forward to it and I'm not. I never did get to sit out when we had the fantastic weather last month so it will be nice to sit and do nothing but soak up the sun and read a book. On the other hand I don't want to miss out on Coen...look how much he changed in the few days we didn't see him. He'll be walking by the time we get back from Kos ;-D

I've got a lot to do before I go...my list is endless...so I'm going to love you and leave you. Not sure if I'll have another reminder for next week but I'll do my best. If not it's going to be a card I've already made.

Thanks for stopping by...have a great Tuesday!

Catch ya later x

Wednesday 14 August 2013

Week 2 Colour Inspiration Reminder and an empty nest!

 I know I'm late, sorry!!! I never got my card finished until yesterday then I got an unexpected visit from Coen and ended up babysitting for a couple of hours so Nic could get some shopping done in peace. I figured I'd have a cuddle then put him down for a nap so I could get this posted...WRONG lol!!! 

Anywho, I'm here now with my first Colour Inspiration Challenge reminder.



I wanted to use an image that I haven't used for a while and decided on The Wrinkley's digi Grow Old Together. This is such a cute image :-D I treated myself to a new toy...the Sizzix Embossing Diffuser after seeing a card Jeannie from The Spotted Chick's blog. The diffuser prevents an area from being embossed so you can add an image or sentiment. They are really easy to use but I found the standard sized embossing folders were too small. Luckily I had bought a couple a few months ago...see, I KNEW I'd NEED them lol. As I used a digi, I printed the image first then embossed/diffused it whereas if you were using a stamp you would emboss/diffuse then stamp.


I paper pieced the chair


The SU! button matched the pp perfectly. I printed the sentiment then trimmed the end and stuck it under the button using a glue dot



I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Whoopsi Daisy Challenge - Stitching Real or Faux
Make It Monday - Anything Goes
Barely Mine Challenges - Anything Goes
Top Tip Tuesday - Embossing

Coen is 12 weeks old today! His personality is developing and he's so laid back he's horizontal lol! Here are a couple of pictures I took on Monday while we were babysitting. 


I should have warned you how cute this one is lol. One of these days he's going to say...Quick, hide...here comes Grandma with her camera again lol


LOLOLOLOL...the bottle looks as big as Coen! 

After 28 1/2 years I finally have an empty house for more than 2 weeks! Steven went back to Dubai on Sunday and Ryan is now playing football for the LA Blues in the States. He's signed until the end of September when their season ends and hopefully will be offered a contract with them or another team in the over there. He is loving LA (who wouldn't?!) and I can see myself flying all over the world to see my boys :-D

I thought I would be traumatized by having no kids in the house but in all honesty I'm enjoying it...well maybe until the novelty wears off lol. After Steven left (I waited 24 hours lol) I cleaned the now spare bedrooms and bathrooms and have put a rope up at the top of the stairs blocking off that side of the house so they stay tidy lol. Now THAT is a novelty!!! 

Right...I've got to get ready for Coen coming. I'm babysitting while Nic goes to Boot Camp...the joys of being a grandma :-D

Thanks for stopping by

Catch ya later x

Tuesday 6 August 2013

Colour Inspiration Challenge

Way hey Peeps!!! How are things with you? Hope you're all enjoying the summer weather. After 2 1/2 weeks of glorious weather here in Scotland we're back to wind, rain, sun, more rain...and that's all in the morning lol. I should be used to it hmph!

Holy doodle....we had a record breaking (well for LCI anyway!) amount of entries for Sue's Birthday challenge and we apologize for any entries that didn't receive a comment from a Ladybug. We do try to comment on every one but the summer is extra difficult with holidays booked and kids to amuse. To see if you were one of the winners check out the Challenge Blog.

We have another cracker of a challenge for you running for the month of August... colour/photo inspiration. 

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I think a few Ladybugs let out a groan or two when Lisa posted the picture on the DT blog and I did admit to putting off making my card...I even did the ironing instead of creating lol. Once I got going though, it wasn't so bad and I actually love the end result. Have a look and let me know what you thunk....


I didn't have any pp that had enough of the colours in the photo so decided to use cs instead. I cut 1" strips and mounted them on a piece of white cs before stitching around the edges. I printed out Billie's Cupcake twice before colouring it with my Copics. Notice anything about the image?? I've removed the 10 from the image. You can now purchase all the Billie Through The Ages without the number. Anywho, back to my card. After colouring just the cupcake I cut it out, 2D'd it on the main cupcake using foam pads before adding Fluffy Stuff (and a hint of glitter) to the frosting and Glossy Accents to the heart


I wanted something different for the sentiment and after rummaging through my stash came across Lasting Impressions Senti-metals I've had for YEARS. I glued it to a piece of white cs and cut the end to look like a tag, punched a hole with my thingamajig (pink handled thingy) and tied it to the card with Baker's Twine. Cute huh?


I made a matching panel for the inside :-D


I had a great weekend...Sunday was fabtastic! I met one of my Lovely Ladybugs for the first time. Susan and her friend Jane were going to the Edinburgh Tattoo and she contacted me to see if I could meet them. Although Susan and I had talked a few times on the phone you really don't know what you're going to get when you meet in the flesh lol ;-) I needn't have worried...Susan and Jane were absolutely lovely and needless to say we talked non-stop!!


Here's the two of us


and the three of us (I love this one)...not sure who the lady in the back is and I'm not PS savvy enough to remove her. If anyone knows how and it's not too complicated can you let me know :-D I turned the picture into a postcard using the PS app on my phone...I think it's pretty cool.

Tuesday's post wouldn't be the same without a picture of Coen. I never know when I'm going to get a good one so I just keep my finger on the trigger lol. I was so happy with this one...Coen was pretty happy too!


Don't you just LOVE it!!! He's starting to smile a lot more now, tries to 'talk' and recognizes his name. This is such a fun stage and we're all enjoying him so much...he's 11 weeks tomorrow :-D

Have a great week

Catch ya later x

ps Cropadile....that's the thingamajig I couldn't remember lol!!!!

Thursday 1 August 2013

Knitting Billie

Don't choke on your coffee...yes another post from me this week lol. It's been a long time since I've posted more than one card in a week but I've got a little stash of cards I've made over the last few months and I thought it was rude not to share ;-D 

When Nicole was born she was given a crocheted blanket as a gift. For some reason she called it a Mogi  we don't know where the word came from ... I don't think she does either lol. It's about 24" x 18" and it was the perfect size for her to carry around for comfort. When she told us she was expecting I wanted to give her a 'mogi' for her baby but I haven't knit for over 20 years. I remembered former Ladybug Catherine took up knitting last summer and after seeing her creations couldn't believe she just started. They were absolutely stunning and well made...you'd think she'd been at it for years!

Earlier this year I contacted Catherine and commissioned her to make a mogi. I looked at patterns online and told Catherine the colour I wanted and away she went. I was absolutely thrilled with the result and Nicole loved it when I gave it to her. 

Here is Nicole with her mogi and Coen with his...



She's not using exactly as it was intended lol


Isn't it beautiful!

I made a card to thank Catherine and this is what I came up with...


Wasn't it fortunate I had Knitting Billie! I also have this fabtastic SU! embossing folder that looks like knitting and I think they look great together. Kraft cs was an almost perfect match to the colour Catherine used to knit the blanket. 



I love these SU! corduroy buttons. I'm lucky to have a sister who used to be a demonstrator and when she had a clear out I got TWO packs of these :-D 


I just love the 'mogi' and think Catherine did an amazing job and I'm pleased with the way the card turned out.

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Crafts and Me Challenges - Anything Goes
Crafting by Design - Anything Goes
Delicious Doodles - Anything Goes
SweetPea Stampers - Embossing (wet or dry)

I'm getting my hair cut this morning...it's long overdue. I'm thinking maybe 2-3 inches but might chicken out at the last minute lol.

Have a great day :-D

Catch ya later x

ps Can anyone tell me how we got to August so fast!!!!