Funny old day

Had a bit of a strange day today. I'm a bit embarrassed to say this ... especially on a week day... but I didn't get out of my jammies until after 12 pm!!!! Rocky kept banging on the kitchen door at stupid o'clock and I refused to go downstairs because I think now he realises if he does that I'll come running. He did this not so long ago and I think he senses there are foxes prowling around and wants to investigate. Well, he's not doing it on my sleep time!!

Had a few emails and phone calls to make and tidied up, vacuumed etc. I had to have a 100 word spread for Craft Focus magazine (a retailer's mag) for Friday of last week and I never got around to it. For some reason I couldn't think of anything to say about my stamps lol. Anywho, I called Emma at CF and she ended up asking me questions and before you know it, it was done and dusted :-D She's going to turn it into an amazing piece of editorial to go along with some pictures of the Nikki's and Ruby's I sent her...I also had to send her a head and shoulder shot of myself...ugh!!!

I finally got to make Sadie's Mother's Day card. I'd managed to make 2 images last night of the flowers...notice no crease marks...so used the second one today. For those of you who don't know me, Sadie was my cleaner about 23 years ago and she kind of ended up like a surrogate mom since mine was 6000 miles away. I had to retire her (she's 80 this year) about 6 or 7 years ago because she was getting arthritc and only ironing one of Pierce's shirt sleeves lol!! So now I see her once a week...we usually go out on a Thursday night to the Fort to Thornton's and have tea and an apple slice. Either that or we go to Rosso in Bothwell for a bowl of chips and we just chat away. I always make her a card and get her a flower/plant arrangement and her favourite Lindt choccies (the round ones in red paper). Here's the card....

I used one of my favourites...Bo Bunny pp

I'm much happier with this card than yesterdays although my big Sis left a comment calling me a nut head (that's better than some of the things she's called me when we were growing up!) and that the card was lovely. Thanks Trace :-D

Have you noticed anything new on my blog? Top left corner...Crafty Blogs button. I thought I'd give it a shot and I think I'm doing pretty good...when I got approved earlier today I started at 890 and when I started this post I was at 806!! I wonder if that's cuz I kept clicking on it lol...no I didn't...just kidding hee hee. The top 1, 2 and 3 blogs all have 200-300 hits every day...I think I only managed that once which was just after Stitches. If I'd been signed up I might have been number 1!

Deal or No Deal has just started and I always watch it while I'm getting dinner ready. I love that show and get really into it shouting and tearing up when they've lost the big one...I'm so sad lol.

Thanks for stopping by.

Catch ya later x

A little bit rusty

I went back to the SECC yesterday to pick Karen up...I didn't want to be late for her so I arrived a bit early...well maybe a lot early. It was only an hour but I thought I could just LOOK around since it was going to be a bit quieter at that time on the last day. I don't know who I was kidding because I didn't just look, I bought!! But it was only the SU! stuff I saw on Thursday so does that really count???

I finally got time to make a card but the more I look at this card the more I'm not sure if I like it. Ever have a card like that? It hit me last night when I got into bed that it's Mother's Day this Sunday and I would have to make Pierce's mom a card today for me to get it in the mail tomorrow so it would get to her in Dublin in time. But it feels like I haven't made a card in like...forever!!! This is my 3rd since getting back and it took me ages to work out what I was going to do. It also took me quite a few tries at colouring the stamp...huffing...and stamping to get it halfway decent. Then when I did, I cut it out with one of my long Nestabilites which was fine until I got to the embossing bit and if you look (I'm sure you can see it from space) at the top left of the image there's a crease :d By this point I was ready to roll myself through the Cuttlebug. To make myself feel better I decided it added 'character'! Maybe I can blame the Royal Mail lol.

Today Karen and I went for lunch with Elaine and Annette to D'Lish. As always the food didn't disappoint and neither did the company. I hadn't seen Elaine since the Cricuts were 'smokin' so it was good to catch up. I got Karen to the airport just after 4 for her 6 o'clock flight. I know it's not an international flight but Karen has this thing about missing a flight from an earlier experience so she likes to get there in plenty of time! As always it's sad to say goodbye but hopefully it won't be long before we get together again.

Catch ya later x

ps just looked at the picture again and that crease looks bad...real bad so might just do it again!

SECC stash

I finally managed to find the time to take pictures of my goodies from the SECC. I can't believe they've been in the bag since Thursday (shaking head with shame)! Believe me this is not much compared with what I used to buy when I first started making cards. I used to come home with bags and bags of stuff, some of which is still untouched but you never know when you're going to need it lol!

This is everything

These are the gorgeous new My Mind's Eye pp that Hayley will be carrying soon. She's just waiting for her order from Stitches.

These stamps are by Stamps by Judith which I got at Stamp Addicts. I might just make a card with them today. Annette bought a punch for my birthday which was a nightmare to line up so when I found out Craft At Home were going to be at the SECC I took it with me and they exchanged it for me for the Martha Stewart cupcake border punch.

Now you know me and altering....well when I came across Decopatch I couldn't resist having a look and chatted to Nigel who owns it...turns out he was at Stitches too!! Anywho there was an offer of 2 sheets of paper, glue, paintbrush and a £3 shape of your choice all for £10. Nigel had the name Decopatch done in letters hanging in his stand and it got me thinking that Ladybug Crafts Ink would look pretty nifty done up so I started off with an L to see how I get on. Depending on happy I am with the outcome I'll post a picture. Also on the stand was Annie from Damselfly which is in the West End of Glasgow (Great Western Road). Turns out Annie recognized me from going to S For Stamps...remember them?? and we had a little catch up. I'm defiinately going to check out her store.

This cs is from the stand Karen is working on...Cardcraft Plus. I spied it at Stitches and thought it was lovely...the picture doesn't do it justice.

And finally some Hero Arts stamps from Snazzy's. This lady is so talented...I first came across her in October at the SECC and ended up spending most of my pennies there. She said then that she wasn't doing this show but for some reason ended up doing so. I just wish I was nearer to them (I think she said they're in Swindon) as she does workshops which I'd love to take.

I'm going back to the SECC tomorrow to pick up Karen (and MAYBE order a Stampin' Up stamp set and punch) and bring her back to my place for the night. We're plotting something at the moment and if it comes off I'll tell you all about it!

Have a great weekend and thanks for stopping by.

Catch ya later x

I had a nice surprise when I got to the SECC this morning....Stamp Addicts were back! They haven't been to Glasgow in about 6 years and I think the show missed them. They've got some exclusive products one being a line of stamps I love called Stamps by Judith. You actually build a scene with the stamps which come in all sorts of themes. I didn't take any pictures of my goodies as I haven't stopped all day and tonight I was out with Sadie and I'm not long in. Hmmm...just remembered I said I wasn't going to buy anything today. Oh well...it's a woman's perogative to change her mind :-D I'll take pictures tomorrow and post them.

Thought I'd show you a card I had an order for before my weekend at Stitches. I'd almost forgotten about it until the day before I said I would do it but I couldn't get my mojo working. I remembered I had a few cards leftover from the Christmas Fayre and hunted this baby one out. You might remember it from an earlier posting. All I did was take the 'it's a girl' sentiment off and type up this one on the computer and then added the heart button with the twine and stamped and punched out 'baby' using my new Stampin' Up stamp set and punch my sister Shelly bought for me. I love this Whippersnapper image of Bella.

The SU stamp set and punch is so cute. They've change their punches and they look and operate like the EK Success border punches. I'll take pictures of them tomorrow too.

That's it for tonight .... my bed is calling me. I've had such a busy week and more so think I deserve an early night :-D

Catch ya later x

Stamps stamps and more stamps

Another order another startled delivery man lol (I do ask before I take their pictures)! Look what arrived yesterday...stamps...not just a box or two but a pallet of stamps :-D

Surprised delivery man

Here are the Ruby Fairies and sentiments

And the Nikki's

And more Nikki's

You are looking at 2560 stamps....Hmmmm...maybe I should have had a competition to guess how many there are...too late! These are the Nikki's.

Sentiments

and the Ruby Fairies.

Boy did Annette and I work hard yesterday and today. First we had to put the stamps in their piles then we had to count them (there should have been 80 of each) then re-count them and sometimes re-count them again. Finally we started packing but first we had to put the codes on each so that took a bit of time. Slowly I had a small pile of orders to take to the post office and one to deliver. Unfortunately I decided to deliver the order first so by the time I got to the PO the van had been to pick up the parcels. So apologies to everyone for my stupidity and a BIG thank you to Annette...I couldn't have done it without your help!

Today Annette arrived at 11:30 and we worked through till 3:30. We got ourselves into a good rhythm and before you know it we had 16 parcels ready to post. And yes I got to the PO in time today :-D I still have a few orders to fill but am waiting payment but the bulk have gone. Day Off Ruby has sold out and there are only a couple of Shopping Nikki left but I'm expecting another order on the 17th. I don't think I'll bore you with another post with them when they come in.

I'm going to the SECC tomorrow...Karen arrived today as she's demonstrating for Card Craft Plus. I was out today buying her supplies ie Tangy Cheese Doritos (the best!) 9 Bar (OMG!) and some skimmed milk for her tea. I'm not sure if I'll buy anything (she's says typing with a little smile) but I do have a punch I want to try and exchange and I found out the company is going to be there. I'm sure I'll find something. Craft World will be there selling Nikki and Ruby stamps and I want to check out the new Sizzix machine that takes 12 x 12 paper. I like the sound of it but it's quite pricey at £250 and also I would imagine not that easy to store. The dies will be huge as well but Della told me you can use all dies with it.

I was going to sit with Pierce tonight and watch some tv for a change but the football is on (when isn't it???) so I might tackle the ironing instead...the lesser of the two evils perhaps lol....but at least I'll be able to go out guilt free tomorrow.

Thanks for stopping by. Hope everyone gets their orders tomorrow. Drop me a line if you do.

Catch ya later x

I've just about come down to earth after yesterday's thrilling hockey game which we ... Canada...won!!! Did I tell you we won lol??? I spoke to Shelly this afternoon and she said she and her husband Richard watched the game from a little restaurant on Robson Street in Downtown Vancouver. They left straight after the game and said the atmosphere in town was incredible and that everyone was high fiving and hugging each other :-D Not only because we won the game but we set a record with the number of gold medals won by a host nation. The closing ceremonies were amazing and said it was an experience of a lifetime.

I was asked to make a card for a friend before I went to Stitches and just like me I left it to the last minute...she needs it for tomorrow (Tuesday)! I ordered this gorgeous paper while I was at Karen's from A Trip Down Memory Lane and it arrived before I got home. It's My Mind's Eye from the Mary Mary Happy Birthday collection. I think I bought 4 different pp from this collection and I love them all!

It took me a while to get into the groove since I hadn't made a card for almost 2 weeks...a lifetime in a cardmaker's world!

The card is for a 50th and of course I had to use Martini Nikki. The thing I love about Martini and a lot of the other Nikki stamps is that they're suitable for various ages. I think she'd suit someone in her 20's, 30's, 40's, 50's and even 60's as 60 is the new 50!!


A little glitter never hurt anyone so I added plenty to Nikki's top.

I got word this afternoon that my order of stamps arrives tomorrow....woo hoo!!! The only thing is I don't know what time it's coming...fingers crossed it's in the morning so I can get some of the orders in the mail. Annette's coming to help me put the coding stickers on the stamp packages then pack the orders. She really is a glutton for punishment lol.

That's it for tonight. Thanks for stopping by.

Catch ya later x

ps Did I tell you Martini Nikki was one of the most popular images at Stitches?

I just can't watch..

Are any of you watching the hockey?? Canada vs USA for the gold and silver medals?? OMG...I've been watching it through my fingers! Couldn't believe the US scored with only seconds to go :-(

Gold or silver, Canada have been smokin' in these Games. At the moment we have the most gold medals (13) and I think are tied with another country (can't remember which one) for the most gold medals in a Winter Olympics so if we win the game that takes us to 14 and have the best gold medal record!!!

I can't take any more...my heart is pounding...everyone else has gone to bed...I think I'll take the dogs out!!!

Before I do here's a sample card Karen made for me for Stitches.....

WE JUST SCORED!!!!!!!! Holy cow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 3-2!!!!

Think I just woke up the whole house...who cares....I'm so happy :-)

WE JUST GOT GOLD!!!! YAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!

Sorry about that lol...We are the Champions my friend.....

Ok, back to the card....as I was saying Karen made me this sample card for Stitches. I don't think Original Nikki has looked better :-)

This was the very first Nikki...I just love her!

Sorry...I'm going to have to go...I can't concentrate now after that game lol. My sister Shelly is at the closing ceremonies. She got 2 tickets in exchange for haircuts for a year so that tell's you how expensive they were!

Thanks for stopping by. Fingers crossed orders will start going out Tuesday or Wednesday.

Catch ya later x

ps Just heard that 14 gold medals IS a record!!! No nation has never won 14 gold medals in an Olympics :-)