Death of a snowman

Well....did you love yesterday's TLT or what? Didn't my girls do well...all of them are so mega talented and after the initial flapping over the challenge, they came up with the goods! Congratulations to all the winners from the previous week and I hope you won't be shy and try out the Colour Wheel challenge. It's not as bad as you might think lol.

I took Rocky and Ruby to the top of the street on Sunday where the tennis courts are. Some kids had make a gorgeous snowman...they're really taken their time and rounded the body perfectly. Before I knew it Rocky had raced over and in true Boxer style boxed it to death! By the time he finished this was all that was left...

That was a snowman...honest lol

This is what my back yard looked like this morning. Only minutes earlier it was snowing heavily...

This is out of the small window at my front door only seconds after I took the picture above. Now it's blizzard like again! So we're snowed in again but Nicole, Ryan Steven and I are going to get the train into Clarkston and have some lunch at Eat. I have to go to the PO as I didn't get out yesterday and since Eat is next door it would be rude not to lol.

I made this card last week for Suzy Q. She took really unwell  but everything is fine...so fine she's moving furniture around and as of this morning her dining room is now her craft room! I'm not too pleased because I had to wait 18 months before I got a craft room and she's only been making cards 5 minutes ....HMPH!!

I thought Teddy Robyn was a perfect choice. There's something quite comforting about a teddy bear :-D

After I coloured it with my Copics I added GA to the ears tummy and feet of the bear and tipped some fun flock over it. The feet and ears look fab but I missed a couple of spots on the tummy so added more GA and FF but it looked a mess. I had to wait for it to dry before repeating the process...the tummy still doesn't look quite right but I didn't want to start all over again.

I coloured the feet and tummy in different shades of browns and thought the FF would look the same colour on both but I like how they kept their own shades of brown.

Look Mary J...I've done the inside!! I had the whole card assembled and was feeling quite chuffed with myself when I noticed there was some smudged ink from the little chick stamp I had used ages ago on the reverse side of the front!!! There's was NO WAY I was going to rip it apart and start again so Suzy Q has an original lol.

FYI the 15% discount has ended but a new special offer started today until the end of the month...buy one stamp get one half price! If you buy two you get 2 half price and so on. This offer applies to the stamps only. Every little bit helps at this time of year so why not treat yourself or a friend? They would make great stocking stuffers :-D

I also added the CD tins to the website. I've only 10 left as a couple sold shortly after I put them on the site. I will be getting more in next year so if you can't wait get them while they last!

That's my lot for today. Thanks for stopping by. Hope you have a great day and stay safe in the snow.

Catch ya later x

TLT - GD Caz's Challenge - Colour Wheel

My oh my...it's TLT already! These weeks are flying in...can't believe we're on our 5th challenge :-D

Today is our Guest Designer Caz's challenge but it's also Caz's last week with us. We've really enjoyed having Caz with us and she has put up with us amazingly well lol. Her work has been flabulous and we are delighted she agreed to be our November GD. Thank you Caz and we wish you all the best with your crafting  :-D

Ok, on to the challenge..the Colour Wheel. The idea is to pick your favourite colour/the one you go to the most and then look at the colour opposite...that's the colour you have to work with. If it's your second favourite colour you're lucky...if it's your worst too bad lol. Now I can tell you there were a lot of moans and groans from the team ... I'm not sure many of us got a colour we like...me included.

My favourite colour is purple so I had to work with yellow...blech!!! I could feel panic rise but I had a look through my pp and found a small piece of Imaginesce that I loved...and yes it was predominately yellow!!! This is what I came up with....

I enjoyed making the calendar and notepad tin so much for the crop I wanted to use another tin. I hummed and hawed over what I wanted to put in the tin...one minute it was chocolates (the flattest I could find lol) the next it was jewellery. I finally decided on a set of note cards.

I managed to make a set of 4 notecards which fit comfortably but I'm sure I could get away with 6

I wanted to use an image that hasn't seen ink in a while and finally decided on Day Off Ruby. You can just about see the pale yellow glitter on her wings.

I coloured her robe but wasn't too happy with it then remembered I had some yellow flock. It's hard to see but it's a flabulous texture :0D

 I'm going to get more stick from Tams and probably reported for GBH for all the bruises she gets from falling over after seeing my cards and projects covered in flowers as I'm not a great lover of them BUT I can make an exception for these made with my Die-namics die from MFT. I LOVE them :-D

Ta dah! This is what the inside looks like...

I 'd like to enter this into the following challenges:

For Fun Challenges - Anything Goes

Inktegrit Design Team Challenge - Anything Goes

Paper Cutz Challenge Blog - Anything Goes

Papertake Weekly Challenge - Cut it Out

Woodware USA Clear Stamp Challenge - Anything Goes

So....what do you thunk? I'm really happy with the way it turned out :-D

You just gotta check out the rest of the DT's efforts...one word...magnifilicious!!!

Sadly it's the last week of Pami, the winner of the Guest Designer spot in Challenge 3. Her enthusiasm for the past two weeks has been infectious and she has slotted in to the mad house with ease. Make sure you check out her amazing work and leave her some Ladybug Love to show your appreciation.

The winners are posted on the Challenge Blog...could it be you? Well...don't hang around...check it out!!!! Congratulations to all the winners.

If you want to take advantage of saving 15% off purchases in the LCI store you've only until 11:55 pm tonight...just put in the code CB2010 and the discount will be applied on checkout :-D

Finally December brings a new special offer. Do you want to know what it is? Nah...I'm not telling...just kidding lol. For the month of December if you buy one stamp at full price you get a 2nd half price (cheaper stamp is 1/2 price)!!! If you buy two stamps at full price you get 2 half price and so on and so on. How's that for you? It's all set up at the store so from 9am December 1 until 11:55pm December 31 you can take advantage of this great offer.

That's it folks...hope you enjoy looking at the DT's challenges. Don't forget to leave some Ladybug Love...we love to know what you think of our efforts.

Thanks for stopping by..have a great TLT.

Catch ya later x

Crop pictures

I spoke too early on Friday night when I was doing my scheduled post for Saturday. I said we hadn't any snow but it probably wasn't far away. In fact by the time I'd clicked 'post' and got the dogs outside the snow started! It wasn't too bad while we were out but once we got in it was like a snow storm. I really wasn't sure if the crop was going to go ahead so when I woke up at 7 and looked outside I knew there would be some traffic probems. I text everyone and in the end we all made it. Elaine even managed to stop and pick up the apple and cinnamon scones while I went in the other direction to pick up Suzy Q. That's true crafters for you lol.

Alison, our official photographer, snapped away and these are the results in no particular order ...

Annette with tea, Chris, Sheena' back, part of Julie, Lynn's side and Elaine's profile!

Chris, Julie & newbie Suzy Q (look how tidy everything is!)

Lynn doing her thang with crystals

LOL...she did it!!!

Me taking a picture of Alison

Elaine moi and Sheena

There's always one! We were making the rolled flowers and Julie (on left) held the unrolled pieces to look like Madonna (if you know what I mean) but was too shy for a picture. Ummm...not me lol. Not the most flattering picture...hair definitely shoulda been washed lol.

The group concentrating hard

Annette sucking a soor plum?

Me actually getting work done!

Lynn, Elaine & Sheena

It was great fun as usual. I think Suzy Q coped incredibly well and had severe face ache after only 5 minutes in Lynn's company (she is hilarious!) Speaking of Lynn...Happy Birthday girlfriend!!!!! Everyone seemed to like the project...especially Lynn :-D The next crop won't be until at least February as I've got quite a heavy workload until then. I'll share it all with you in the coming weeks :-D

I do have a bit of exciting news that I can share with you right now though.... I am sponsoring the Sweet Stampin Challenge Blog December 4th!! The lovely Carrie got in touch with me a while back asking if I'd like to sponsor one of the challenges and I said of course! Make sure you you check out their blogs. There's some amazingly talented ladies with flabulous cards.

You've only till tomorrow midnight to take advantage of the 15% discount at Ladybug Crafts Ink store so don't be disappointed. Insert the code CB2010 and the discount will show at the checkout.

We've had some stunnalicious entries for this weeks challenge. Make sure you check in tomorrow to see if you're a winner of a stamp of your choice or top 3.

I think that's it for now. Don't forget it's TLT tomorrow and I can promise you some gorgeous cards for inspiration :-D

Thanks for stopping by...be careful in the snow!

Catch ya later xx

It's Crop Time!

Thank goodness for scheduled posting lol!

This is what we're making at the crop today. Didn't want the girls to see what they're doing so waited till today to show you :-D

I saw this on Andrea Walford's blog and fell in love with it. I don't even know how I came across Andrea but so glad I did.

I ordered the pad and calendars from Andrea back in September and the tins from a company in Canada not long after. Thinking I was saving on postage I had them shipped to my sister Shelly and she sent them to me. After all that I think the tins worked out at £10 each and the notepads and calendars about about the same lol!!! But what does £ matter when it's something you really love right?

I hope the girls will like this and enjoy making it. I could kick myself because I only ordered 10 of the notepads and calendars and when I tried to order more she was sold out and not getting any more in. I can't find them anywhere else as she's designed the calendar to fit the tin. Maybe that's something I can do some day :-D.

Ok..I gotta go. Hope you have a great weekend...be careful in that snow! For some reason it hasn't hit us here in Glasgow but I'm sure it's just around the corner.

Catch ya later x

A Post...finally!!

Wednesday and Thursday passed by in a blur...not sure really what happened to them but obviously I was far too busy to blog! I don't like missing a day if I can help it but sometimes it can't be helped. Yesterday is a bit more clear than the day before. Ruby had her appointment with the surgeon. I had it in my head her appointment was at 11am so we set off at 10. I really wanted to stop at Stirling services to get a Costa coffee flat white but didn't want to be late so carried on. We arrived just before 11 and made ourselves known only to be told 'Ruby's appointment isn't until 11:30'! (it didn't even cross my mind to look at my calendar!) I know it was only 30 minutes but all I thought about was that coffee lol. Of course those were the first words out of my mouth and without hesitating the lovely receptionist offered to make me one! How nice was that! I probably should have declined but as I was the only one waiting and the phones were quiet I accepted...milk and half a sugar please :-D

Luke was really pleased with Ruby and didn't seem overly concerned when I told him my worries ie her spasms and occasionally dragging her back leg when in the harness. The good news is we have to use the harness for only another 10 days and we can go for 2 x 10 minutes walks a day!!! Woo hoo...I can tell you we're both extremely happy with that last bit of news :-D Our first walk yesterday afternoon was more like she was taking ME for a walk lol. She was tearing up the street like a maddie and I had to run to keep up with her. She was none too pleased when her 10 minutes were up!

Rocky hasn't been himself lately. Because I have to keep Ruby from jumping around with him he goes to doggy daycare during the week. I think he's a bit depressed and is quite mopey. Normally he's flying around like the Tazmanian Devil so I'm feeling a bit sad for him. I'm going to pick him up a bit early today and take him to CB on the way home. Hopefully that will cheer him up a bit :-D

I do have a card to share with you today. It's not the kind I like to make...in fact I don't think any of us like to make but it had to be done. A mutual friend of Suzy Q and I lost her husband a few weeks ago and I had been avoiding making her a card....not because I didn't want to but I never feel I do a sympathy card justice. Then there's the thought of what sentiment to put on it...'with sympathy' just doesn't feel enough.

When I saw Michele's post I new I couldn't put it off any longer so this is what I came up with...

My sister Tracey gave me this SU! set Happy Harmony a couple of years ago because I LOVE this 'flower'. I call it a puff ball...I know it's a dandelion weed really. When I was younger I used to love picking them and blowing the 'puff' and watching them floating in the air. Of course the neighbors weren't too happy when they ended up with more weeds in their yard  than usual!

I probably made more work for myself but I stamped  the image on kraft cs using SU! markers then typed the sentiment on the computer and ran the stamped image through the printer. I was kind of guessing the position and was surprised when I got it right first time...don't you love it when that happens :-D I sewed and distressed the cs and added the twine and button though not quite sure about the button.

I added a bit of yellowy glitter the middle of the puffs and that was the card finished. I really like the sentiment. I saw it on a PTI set but didn't have it so had to make do with the computer. I think the sentiment lends it to so many different  occassions and I will be using it very soon in another card which I'll share with you later.

I've an exciting day tomorrow. It's crop day!!! It will be the last one until February so I have made an extra special make and take for the girls. I'm sooooo excited about it and I know the girls will love it (at least I hope they do!). Suzy Q is making her debut...not sure if she knows what she's letting herself in for as we can get quite loud but it's all fun and I know she'll enjoy herself.

We've had some flabulous entries for this weeks challenge but we'd like MORE lol. You've got 9am Monday to get your entries in. Another reminder that the discount code CB 2010 expires on Tuesday. If you want to take advantage of a 15% discount you can do that here!

 That's it for me today. I've a lot to catch up on and get everything ready to put in the car for tomorrow. Wouldn't it be awful if I forgot the M & T!!!!  Hope you have a great weekend whatever you do :-D

Catch ya later x

It's TLT - Michele's Challenge - Sketch

Hello and happy Tuesday...TLT to be exact! Yes it's that time again :-D Thank you to everyone who has entered our challenge from last week. You have all done an amazing job and it was so hard to pick the winner and the top 3. Make sure you check out if it's you on the Challenge Blog.

The winner of last weeks challenge was Pami. Her prize was a stamp of her choice and a 2 week Guest Designer post and today is her first week. Make sure you head over to her blog and see her beautiful cards and projects. I can promise you won't be disappointed!

This week it's our lovely Michele's turn and she chose the sketch below (not sure why it's blurry?).

I really enjoyed doing this sketch as the last couple sent me into a right tizzy! Once I chose Dancing Nikki for my image I was off lol.

I LOVE colouring in Dancing Nikki (this would be a fantastic image for a prom card!)...her dress is gorgeous and floaty. I chose to use Swarovski crystals for the borders. You can't really tell the colour but they're Khaki and of course look so much better IRL :-D

 I decided to hold back on the glitter (yes this is me holding back lol)...I was so tempted to glitter up her whole dress but just sparkled the top and a little bit at the bottom.

I {heart} this flower! I saw one on Meahni's blog a few weeks back and my heart skipped a beat...I knew I had to make them too. It's a Die-namics die from MFT and so much fun to make. The first couple are a bit fiddly but once you get the hang of it they're easy. You can just about see the sparkle I sprayed on it.

Make sure you visit the other Ladybugs blogs to see their interpretation of the sketch...they're all flabulous!! Sue has got something extra special :-D

You've got exactly one week left to take advantage of the 15% discount using the code CB2010 in the Ladybug Crafts Ink online store. They would make a great stocking stuffer and don't forget there's free postage WORLD WIDE for orders over £20!!

That's it for today. I hope you enjoy the Lovely Ladybugs cards and will leave some Ladybug Love :-D

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

Catch ya later x

Nothing crafty but look at this...

The days are passing in a blur...it's Saturday again...5 weeks till you know what and I haven't done a thing for it! I don't even want to think about it for now but it's hard when IT'S everywhere and has been since July! Boy do I sound Bah Humbug lol!!!

I haven't got anything crafty to show you today as such. I have a sample but I've got to keep it under wraps for now but all will be revealed soon!

Instead I've got some goodies to show you that Postman Steve brought me this morning. I was so excited when the doorbell rang as it could only mean one thing...whatever PS had for me wouldn't fit through my mail slot which could only mean one thing...my SU! goodies had arrived!!!!

Take a look at this gorgeousness...

Ok...I need a bit of oxygen now lol...how delicious does this look! I ALMOST forgot what I had ordered... New designer pp, Cherry Cobbler cs and ink pad. Stamps, a punch AND new RIBBON!!!

This is the lush new ribbon...stitched poly in Blushing Bride and Pear Pizazz. The two smaller rolls you can barely see are the new colours of  1/8" taffeta in very vanilla and one of my favourite SU! colours....Old Olive!!! The other colours in the stitched poly are gorgeous and they're next on my list :-D

I saw a technique on a blog last night that I'm itching to try so I'm going to do that just now before I head out with a delivery. Have a lot to cram in before Strictly and X Factor. If (W)Vagner doesn't go tonight I'm not going to be a happy camper...he does my head in as does Louis' smugness.  Matt or Rebecca to win woot woot!!!! Though I do have a marmite situation with Cher.

Anywho thanks for stopping by today. Hope you have a great weekend :-D

Catch ya later x