Here's an important message to all my followers

STICKY NOTE

It seems google friends connect is possibly being phased out, if you are one of my followers please consider signing up to the linky friends widget. If you do then I can make sure I stay one of your followers too :).

It's free to sign up for too and you get the code to just paste in to your own blog as an HTML gadget.

Morning and welcome to the Friday Funny!!

Hi folks,

Got a bit of news yesterday ..... in an e-mailed newsletter from Joanna Sheen she says that she can no longer afford to offer FREE P&P throughout the world without a minimum order limit, which she has set at NINE POUNDS. Orders below that will have 1.50p added. Not unreasonable and I shall certainly continue to use her web site as I've always found it to be reasonably priced and great service. Anyone else know of a crafting web site that is reasonably priced, efficient and with free or reasonable P&P? Please post in your comment if you do as it's always good to know.

More ATC's for my burgeoning collection! Check 'em out below ....

Materials used:

• ATC blank
• Three black card panels }
• Three Kraft card panels } both cut from offcuts of card
• Four holes punched in to the larger Kraft panel with my crop-a-dile and four copper eyelets set
• Twine threaded through the eyelets and secured on the back before attaching the larger Kraft panel to the ATC sized black panel.
• Stampers Anonymous check image inked in Memento potters clay on to one of the smaller Kraft panels
• Prima script inked in Memento bamboo on to another of the smaller Kraft panels
• Small panel of DCWV patterned card attached diagonally after rounding the corners
• Inkadinkado sentiment inked in Ranger Archival jet black and cut round. Edged with Memento tangelo before running through my Xyron sticker maker to attach adhesive

and another here ....

Materials used:

• ATC blank
• DCWV patterned card offcut - I cut the narrow border and used that for the bottom as well as using the houndstooth check strip
• Kraft card offcut
• Stampers Anonymous star image inked in Brilliance crimson copper and stamped on to white card three times before cutting out and mounting on the houndstooth strip using glue dots
• Stampers Anonymous hand inked in Ranger Archival jet black on to the Kraft strip
• Inkadinkado sentiment inked twice (without re-inking) in Ranger Archival jet black

Woke up to mist yesterday! When the mist cleared - look what we saw!

A wild turkey caught "strutting his stuff" to impress a lady!!

And then, when we decided to hit the pool, we were joined by this chap ....

And now for the Friday Funny, brought to you this week by Lilian. Thanks Lilian. ENJOY and please don't be offended - I'm pretty sure that no donkeys were harmed in this funny!. Happy St Patricks Day for tomorrow too.

The current banking crisis explained by an Irishman


Young Paddy bought a donkey from a farmer for £100. The farmer agreed to deliver the donkey the next day.

The next day he drove up and said, 'Sorry son, but I have some bad news. The donkey's died.'

Paddy replied, 'Well then just give me my money back.'

The farmer said, 'Can't do that. I've already spent it.'

Paddy said, 'OK, then, just bring me the dead donkey.'

The farmer asked, 'What are you going to do with him?'

Paddy said, 'I'm going to raffle him off.'

The farmer said, 'You can't raffle a dead donkey!'

Paddy said, 'Sure I can. Watch me. I just won't tell anybody he's dead.'

A month later, the farmer met up with Paddy and asked, ' What happened with that dead donkey?'

Paddy said, 'I raffled him off. I sold 500 tickets at £2 each and made a profit of £898'

The farmer said, 'Didn't anyone complain?'

Paddy said, 'Just the guy who won. So I gave him his £2 back.'

Paddy now works for the Royal Bank of Scotland .



Happy FRIDAY

Happy Thursday

Hello,

Another lovely sunny day here and no plans for the day at this particular moment but ...... most of our days just sort of grow organically anyway so who knows what's going to happen. We DO need to replace a panel to the screen room - if it's not too hot and we are out to dinner with our neighbours this evening but other than that ..... the world is our lobster so to speak!

ATC fest this morning ...... made these yesterday ...

Materials used:

• ATC blank
• White card, cut to ATC size and coloured using Distress Inks: Antique Linen, Tea Dye and Fired Brick
• Stampers anonymous circles stamped in Color Box coral
• Studiog dots inked in Memento posies, multiple times
• Stampers Anonymous star inked in Color Box gold multiple times
• Studiog sentiment inked in Memento sweet plum

And another one ...

Materials used:

• ATC blank
• DCWV old world stack offcut
• Magnolia image, coloured using alcohol markers and crystal stickles
• Kraft card offcut edged with EKsuccess punch and tinted with the ink leftovers on a Tim Holtz blending tool!
• Studiog sentiment inked in Memento posies

And there's this one ....

Materials used:

• ATC blank
• White card cut to ATC size
• All images except the text and star are by Studiog, the text is Prima and the star is Stampers Anonymous
• Banner inked in Brilliance Mediterranean blue, sentiment, bird house and bird inked in Memento sweet plum.
• Text image inked in Walmart ink in yellow
• Alcohol markers used to colour banner and bird/birdhouse
• Water soluble wax crayons and a baby wipe used to colour background
• Star inked using Color Box Lime
• Crystal stickles to  highlight
• Faux crystal gems

  And finally on the ATC front - this one .....

Materials used:

• ATC blank
• Black card to cover ATC
• White card cut slightly smaller and colour washed using blue and green water soluble wax crayons and a baby wipe to blend. I added a little yellow and blended again - to create the sun
• The image was coloured using alcohol markers and water soluble wax crayons - I've had the image quite a while and can't remember who it's by - sorry
• Inkadinkado sentiment inked in Ranger Archival jet black
• Crystal stickles to highlight the flowers

Hope you like them, four more for my collection! And then I moved on to a card, using an image I seldom think to use ........ and can't remember who it's by!

Materials used:

• C6 white card and matching envelope
• Two black card panels
• Two Kraft card panels
• Offcut of a DCWV chevron patterned card, punched with four holes and eyelets set
• Twine
• White card on to which I inked the foliage of the tree image in Memento bamboo and the trunk in Versamagic ginger - this tree was made up of cling stamps from two manufactures, neither of whom I can remember!!!

I also stamped the tree on the envelope and insert - though I made my first insert landscape!!! Ooopsie, on to Plan B then! It's starting to look like I've used up a few of my odd pieces of card this time - YAY, only another pound or so (weight) to go .........

Happy Thursday

Morning - it's WOYWDW! and piccies!

And what IS on your work desk today then? Nothing much on mine since we were out all day yesterday - no crafting to report though I did spend $3 in Michael's on their $1 stamps!

Where were we? I hear you cry ....... we got up and at it good and early and hit the road by 09:00 bound for Clearwater on the west coast of Florida. We stopped off for a quick foray in to Michael's since we passed it on the way across (!?) and then joined the rest of the Spring Breakers in the throng to the beach - of course, sanity SHOULD have dictated we went before Spring Break but the painting put us behind schedule - ho hum. We found a parking space after only a very short drive round and headed to the beach bar where we were seated right away so no worries on that score either. After lunch and a refreshing iced tea we headed along the beach a ways, to get the sand between our toes and to paddle - I can't swim so there was no danger of me heading in all the way!!

Thought I'd share a few pix with you, hope you like them ...

Don'cha love Pelicans?

Approach to Clearwater, taken from the car

Enjoying our leisurely lunch at the beach bar!

The Palm Pavilion plus Spring Break-ers!

Don't know about you lot but this commute would have been a lot nicer than any of mine!

One of our tame-ish Sandhill Craners, taking bread from hubby on our drive recently!

Now, what IS on my workdesk? Nothing but chaos and mess really.

Enjoy your Wednesday - we're set for a nice day again so there's little doubt that we will! (sorry)

Happy Tuesday

Hi there,

It's me again, back with a quick post as (hopefully) we're at the beach today! We are aiming to be "outta here" good and early and to head to Clearwater (we may go via Sarasota to the mighty Sparkle 'n Sprinkle but hubby already thinks I have enough stash!) where we'll walk along the beach to work up an appetite before stopping off at the Palm Pavilion beach bar - bliss!!

Anyhoo, not much crafting to report in this post ..... other than this get well card for a pal - now I don't believe he checks my blog (well, not often anyway) so I'm hoping it won't spoil the surprise when it lands on his mat in a few days! Get well matey (can't put his name ..... just in case!)

Materials used:

• White C6 card and matching envelope
• Black card, Kraft card, DCWV scrap card panel
• String
• White card panel
• Recollections image inked in Memento grape jelly and coloured using alcohol markers and a Sakura gelly roll clear glitter pen
• Clearly Wordsworth sentiment inked in Ranger Archival jet black

Like it? Hope he will too. The insert says "Get Well Soon ...... or I'll send the boys round!" and features this monster and several others from the same set - hope he'll pay attention to the message and get well soon.

Happy Tuesday

Happy Monday afternoon

Hi there,

I'm a bit late today with my post - I blame the clocks changing and the rain yesterday - we went shopping at the Florida mall - that place is HUGE!!! Not that we bought anything but we certainly walked our little socks off and did a fair bit of people watching.

Dinner was chicken and pasta at home, washed down with a couple of beers - perfect! Nothing on the TV so hubby watched sport (drag racing!) and I adjourned to finish my Kindle book.

Nett result? No crafting so nothing to post this morning! So, I got cracking this morning but fear my mojo must have gone to the beach today instead of waiting till tomorrow! These ATC's are not overly inspiring though I quite like the first one (my fave of the bunch), the rest? Not quite so happy with them - it's not like there's anything actually WRONG with them but ...... they don't float my boat! (pun intended!) check them out and judge for yourself .....

Materials used:

• ATC blank
• Scraps of Kraft, black and DCWV card
• Sentiment and dot line by Fiskars, inked in Ranger Archival jet black
• Stampers Anonymous star image inked in Ranger Archival jet black
• Martha Stewart edging punch used on the scrap across the top (because the original piece of Kraft wasn't QUITE big enough!!!)

  

Materials used:

• ATC blank
• Black card, ATC sized
• Stampers Anonymous check image inked in Color Box silver stamped multiple times
• Stampers Anonymous star image inked in Color Box white stamped multiple times
• Recollections background oval inked in Versamagic ginger on to scrap of white card and cut out
• Recollections train set inked in Memento rhubarb stalk on to scrap of white card and cut out

Materials used:

• ATC blank
• DCWV self adhesive blue linen texture card - one piece to cover entire ATC and another piece torn in to two strips before edging with Brilliance blue and Mediterranean blue - to simulate waves!
• Recollections boat image inked twice, once in Brilliance Mediterranean blue and once in Memento rhubarb stalk and layered together
• Crystal stickles to highlight
• Yellow twinkling H2O for the sun and a blue Marvy le Plume marker to give shadow
• Blue and grey alcohol markers to give light/shade to sea and sky

  

Happy Monday

Hello and welcome to Sunday

Hello,

Just wanting to welcome new follower, Suzi, thanks for stopping by and I hope you'll find a reason to pop back again some time soon.

Last evening saw us out to dinner with our neighbours, Sally and Roger. We had no clue where to go until we met up though hubby and I had thought of the Macaroni Grill and the Santa Fe steakhouse, Sally and Roger suggested a Chinese buffet - where did we end up? Well, funny you should ask! We settled on the Chinese buffet which meant using the I4 interstate (motorway) and set off ...... a short distance from home we pass over the I4 and see that it's a parking lot down there - swiftly moving on to Plan B) we head to the Santa Fe steak house and enjoy a very pleasant meal!!! Funny how things happen, isn't it?

Clocks also went forward one hour last night so we're only four hours behind you lot in the U.K. ...... for another two weeks.

Needless to say, a slightly later start from me this morning - I don't care to lose that hour, you know!!

So, here's an ATC I made yesterday - you may be forgiven for thinking they're starting to look familiar as I am LOVING this grungy, distressed journal style - sorry. I simply LOVE those ink blot/check/star and script images! I promise that the second project is quite different - just to prove I'm not that "one trick pony"!!!

Materials used:

• ATC blank
• Kraft card, ATC sized
• Distress Inks: Frayed Burlap, Fired Brick and Black Soot
• Prima script image inked in Color Box silver
• Stampers Anonymous check image inked in Color Box white
• Inkadinkado ink blot inked in Color Box soft brown
• Inkadinkado circles image inked in Memento sweet plum
• Stampers Anonymous star inked in Ranger Archival jet black
• My Minds Eye sentiments inked in Ranger Archival jet black

Over on the Craftbubble group Craft Mad and Loving It, it is Lauren's turn to set the theme for today's challenge and she's picked CUPCAKES! Mmmmmm. Now, here's a thing, I ACTUALLY already have a cupcake image so no need to go shopping (rats!!!).

This shows the sheen of the Brilliance ink

Materials used:

• Bristol board (white) strip cut to tag length and a corner rounder and tag corner punch used
• Brilliance pink dewdrop used (DTP method) to colour tag
• Penny Black circles inked in Color Box white
• Fiskars sentiment inked in Color Box black
• Cupcake image and silver textured panel from a pack bought YEARS ago which has been just sitting in a bag waiting to get used .....
• Narrow white satin ribbon coloured with a pink and a yellow copic marker to make the tag tie
• Crop-a-dile used to punch hole and set eyelet in tag

And here's a close up

And FINALLY, my glossy accents are ALMOST dry - couldn't wait any longer. I've not been able to adhere my panel to the card yet so have had to photograph it flat - no patience!!!!

Materials used:

• C6 white card and matching envelope
• Black card panel
• Black/grey patterned paper
• White oval edged and Inkadinkado image stamped in Memento lulu lavender
• Cupcake image and sentiment (I THINK it might be a Hero Arts cling but lost the label) inked in Memento sweet plum.
• Alcohol markers to colour
• Crystal stickles to highlight the cupcake and glossy acccents on the "paper" cup.
• Yellow patterned satin ribbon
• Yellow and orange acrylic "dew drops" from the dollar store
• Yellow gemstones to embellish sentiment
• Flat backed faux pearl on the flower on the cupcake
• Sentiment matted on to a layer of white card coloured with yellow alcohol marker and then stamped using a Kaisercraft image and Memento tangelo ink

Happy Sunday - hope it's a creative one!

2nd post of the day, challenge entry, please scroll down to read my earlier post

Afternoon,

Second post from me for today .... if you've the time and inclination to check out my earlier post you can either scroll down or follow this link here - thanks, in advance. It shows an ATC and the CMLI themed challenge for this week - would hate you to miss out!

Just a quickie because it's Saturday and I can never wait too long before entering the fabulous Clean And Simple challenge each week, over on the Simply Less Is More blog run by Chrissie and Mandi. This week is no different although in addition to being Clean And Simple it also has to be a One Layer Card! TRICKY indeed sometimes ........ Luckily for me I found a script image by Prima for $1.99 recently and it came home with me otherwise I might have had to resort to the LIM Diva's crazy suggestion of using my own writing!! (YIKES -  heaven forefend!!). Anyway, here it is and I hope you like it.

Materials used:

• White C6 card and matching envelope
• Prima script inked in Studiog olive
• Stampendous agapanthus (how I love it) image inked in Brilliance pink and Memento bamboo
• Fiskars sentiment inked in Ranger Archival jet black
• Crystal stickles to highlight the agapanthus heads

Now you can go back to your Saturday - how's the weather with you? It's sticky and very VERY grey here! Hubby's out pressure washing the screen room frame, which goes mouldy in the humid heat here. Me? It's laundry day - no sure who's got the best deal really!

Morning and welcome to the weekend dear readers

Morning all - it's challenge day,

But before we crack on with the challenges, here's an ATC I made yesterday whilst it was raining outside!!

Materials used:

• ATC blank
• ATC sized piece of cream card, coloured using the following Distress Inks: Spun Sugar, Tea Dye, Frayed Burlap, Aged Mahogany, Black Soot
• Inkadinkado ink blot inked in Studiog olive and stamped several times
• Stampers Anonymous harlequin image inked in Color Box Burnt Sienna
• Stampers Anonymous check image inked in Colour Box soft brown
• TPC Studio foliage inked in Color box gold several times
• Stampers anonymous star image inked in Color Box black several times
• FancyPants Designs sentiment inked in Ranger Archival jet black

Hope you like this ATC ...... now on to the challenges.

Over on the craftbubble group, Craft Mad and Loving It, it's sketchie day today and this week it's been set by Lauren with the added theme of SAIL AWAY. Below you can see my card for the sketch and Lauren's fab sketch too.

Materials used:

• C6 white card and matching envelope
• Blue card panel with corners rounded
• Black card panel with corners rounded
• Blue card panel endged both sides with an EK success punch
• Black and blue card strips to fit punched panel
• White card panel with corners with corners rounded
• Blue card panel
• White die cut circle
• Recollections sailing boat inked in Brilliance Lavender and Crimson Gold
• Inkadinkado sentiment inked in Brilliance Lavender
• Faux blue pearls to finish

It's also time to unveil a new challenge over on the Simply Less Is More blog, a fab Clean and Simple challenge blog run by the inspirational Chrissie and Mandi. I am still unable to spare the time to comment on all of the fabulous entries (as I normally like to do) but hope to catch up soon in the meantime please take it as read that I think ALL of your cards are fab and thank you in advance if you find the time to comment on my own. This week's challenge is a One Layer Card and must feature script!! YIKES

Happy Saturday

Hello readers, welcome to the Friday Funny

Hello,

Whilst out for the day with Sally we got to talking about canvas painting and she very kindly offered to loan me her acrylic paint stash .... and may I say how generous of her this was as I staggered home with a very large bag full of paints and bits and pieces!

Needless to say I set off with gay abandon on Thursday morning and laid down a layer of gesso .... followed by a wash using purple, white and light yellow acrylic paint ....... Here's how it finished up - or IS IT, finished, that is!

I used images by Inkadinkado and Hampton Arts as well as credit cards, bottle tops and even a wine cork! I also used black, silver, white and purple acrylic paint to decorate. I randomly sponged modeling texture paste and allowed to dry before spraying with a purple mica spray. Once dry I rubbed walnut wax on to the edges of the canvas and to the peaks of my modeling paste and there you have it - like it? I'm quite pleased with the way it turned out.

And then I had a bit of a creative block and made this rather pedestrian but OK ATC - I'm still trying to use up scraps of card and came across the three pieces used to make it .... two had already been edged with an EK success punch. The image is by Great Impressions and was coloured using pro markers, copics and glitter pens - highlighting with crystal stickles

And now for the Friday Funny, this week courtesy of my ATC swap pal, Pat - so I literally got this off Pat!! Thanks, Pat! ENJOY.

It came to me as an e-mail and was entitled BELLY DANCER

BELLY DANCER ( ADULT)

Please let me know if you find this belly dancer offensive and I won't forward these types of e-mails to you....

No one knows if you take a peek so go ahead and watch the belly dancer, you owe it to yourself.

























(Open Discreetly) Scroll Down.........

You just had to look.......didn't ya! Have a Great Day!!!

 

Have a fab Friday and an even fabber (!?) weekend, see you tomorrow with some new challenges

Happy Thursday

Hi there,

Happy Thursday folks, how are you doing today?

Got a little crafting done yesterday in between heading out with my neighbour, Sally - hope you approve

Materials used:

• ATC blank
• Card cut to ATC size and coloured using Spun Sugar Distress Stain and Distress Inks: Barn Door and Aged mahogany
• Inkadinkado ink blot inked in Studiog olive
• All other images by Stampers Anonymous, for Tim Holtz in Versamagic malted mauve, ginger, Color Box burnt sienna

Sally and I headed off for a morning's shopping and a leisurely lunch ..... we hit the Orlando Premium Outlet first off and once we were done we sat in the food court and shared a $5 foot long!!!

Then we were off to Michael's at Sand Lake Road and then to the Walmart for some other bits and pieces before heading home.

Back home and I borrowed Sally's acrylic paint bits and bobs with a view to completing a canvas whilst here ....... I have some yummy stamps and some new textured and gloss medium so ....... watch this space!

Have a fab Thursday