Tommy Cat

Despite all our best efforts, my lovely white Tommy cat was put to sleep on Wed. Here's one of my last pictures of him in our garden.

Love ya Boo, Jx

Summer Holidays

Today we welcome Helen as the latest DT member to An Oldie But A Goodie design team.
- Lovely to have you on board Helen & I hope you enjoy being in the team as much as I do.

At the end of this week, Scottish Schools break for their Summer Holidays, and this year its a 7 week break. Sadly in true Scottish school holiday tradition, the weather is rather disappointing - hopefully at some point over the next 7 weeks the sun will make an appearance though!

So with Summer Holidays in mind, Laurie as set the next Oldie But Goodie challenge with that as the theme. So it's up to you how you interpret the theme, you can use either rubber or digital stamps, just remember and tell us what "Oldie" you used on your card. In my case it was the pearls & ribbon - bought over a year ago.

... and the prize this time around is 5 digi's of your choice from Robyn's Fetish & more.

So this card ticks the Summer Holiday box for a me for a number of reasons. Firstly, the stamp used was released for sale last year while I was on summer holiday in Germany, and I posted an on line order for it from the hotel computer. As is the case so often, those must have stamps arrive and then sit about for ages before use. To my shame this is it's first use! It's also an image of a girl relaxing to her music - something which would be quite nice to do while on summer holiday, so that's the reasons behind the card.

Challenges;
The Sugar Bowl - Great Sketch
Allsorts - Any Die Will Do

Please now visit the main blog to see the other DT cards then join us in this latest challenge.

Race For Life

Each year I try to do something for charity either by walking or running or selling my cards. This year is no exception, & this time next week I'll be getting ready to take part in the Tesco Race For Life on the beach front in Aberdeen - fingers crossed that it's a bit warmer and drier than it is just now!

So, as my fundraising effort draws to a close, I thought I'd put out a final plea for any late sponsors - well if you don't ask... you don't get!

My aim this year was to raise £100, and I'm almost there, so hopefully over the next week I'll reach my target. To sponsor me, just click the Race For Life Logo at the top of the right hand column. That will take you to my just giving page and tell you how to make a donation. I've also posted a few photos - more will be posted next weekend of the run itself.

I first ran the Race For Life 10 years ago, the year my husband lost his sister Denise to breast cancer. So this year as was the case then, I'll be running in memory of her. I'd also like to re-iterate the message that is so important for us all, to check our boobs regularly and to seek medical advice sooner rather than later if we have any concerns. Breast cancer can be treated if caught early enough.

I'd also like to say a big thank you to everyone who has sponsored me so far, I know I only have one on line donation, but that's not it - loads of family & friends have been most generous and pledged something on my paper form. Thanks you guys.

Challenges;
Link Up For Pink - Breast Cancer Awareness
Papertake - Ribbon & Blooms - is one bloom enough?
Sketch & Stash - Sketch 5. The image is new - first use and the ribbon & buttons are my oldie bits!



Card Mad Fairies Digi Days - Girly - well older girlies but still pink
Crafty Catz - Pastel Colours
Dilly Beans - Dots - Polka dots on paper
MAWTT - Happy Birthday
Fab & Funky - Polka Dots
Catch The Bug - Twine, Button & Sentiment

The image is by Bugaboo.

Toot Toot

Hopefully in the next few weeks, Alan will pass his driving test, so in readiness for that day here's a card I made for him.

I used a Bugaboo image & Forever Friends Paper along with "L" table confetti I found in a local napkin shop.

Challenges;
Totally Stampalicious - Teenagers

Come & Get It Challenges - Sketch
Lady Bug Crafts Inc - Two of something - L plates, front & back. Jx

Goth Girl - What's A Goth?

I found a new challenge this week called Poisoned Peas, and their challenge theme this time around is Goth/Emo. Now I'm not entirely sure what one of them is, but when I asked the brains of the family he said lots of black & dah... use your Goth Girl stamp by Sugar Nellie, (ain't he clever!)

... so that's what I did! With basic grey paper, PB sentiment and a ribbon.

Challenges;
Made Especially For You - Lovely sketch
Poisoned Peas - Goth

My other two bits of news today are that I visited the new craft shop in Oldmeldrum called The Bee's Knees. That was fun, lots of lovely goodies a great coffee shop and an interesting demo off Erica Gunter of Snappy Crafts. I will be back there soon, (& often!)

Also, Tommy-Cat is ok. He was at the vet on Thurs after not being able to walk properly. On Fri he had an X-Ray and they decided he had tendon damage in his right ankle area. He was in a foul mood last night when we got him back home, he's an outside cat and despite clearly being under the influence of anesthetic gas he was determined to get outside. This he did under supervision in the latter part of the evening, but when the wailing started up again at 5am I let him out & he was gone! After a very worrying day, and many searches, he pitched up in the early evening, still limping, but much happier. He is now settled on the sofa after giving himself a bath.

Am I A Witch?

There's a joke in our family where my brother-in-law insists on saying I'm a witch to his daughters. Clearly they are appalled that their Dad would say such a thing and spring to my defence, but every now and again John insists that I really am a witch and I have the cats to prove it!

With that in mind, I thought this image would be just perfect to send to John for his birthday in October - hopefully he'll like it, but it will probably do nothing to dispel the myth that I am a witch!

The image is a Stella Bugaboo, papers are Basic Grey & Daisy & Dandelion.

Challenges;
Haunted House Designs - Halloween & Purple, Black Lime & Teal
Sketch Sat - A Lovely sketch

Finally, some kitty news...poor Tommy came in limping yesterday night unable to bare weight on his back right paw. He's no better this morning so it's off to the vet for him. Sadly he's kinda a wild street cat who we adopted a couple of years ago and he d believes cat carriers are evil and should be avoided at all cost!
...I'll let you know how it goes.

Happy 18th Jill

My cards today are like buses - none show up for ages, then 3 in close succession! It wasn't quite planned like this, but after my drop in production over the last few weeks, things were beginning to mount up and I felt I needed to clear the decks before we go off on holiday in July.

This card was requested last night by my son Alan who has a number of friends turning 18 this year. This one though is special as it's for Jill, a little girl he first met in playgroup. They then drifted apart as they went to different primary schools, but they then met up again in secondary and were in the same friends group. Jill is a lovely girl & I hope she likes her card - probably more than the photo I'm about to post with it!

Here they both are at playgroup, many years ago!

Jill is back left, behind the girl, (Rachel) in the red jumper!

Challenges;
Sugar Bowl - Sketch
Allsorts - Ice-cream colours - Remember Neapolitan ice-cream, do you still get it?
LBCI - Big Birthdays - 18th
Lexi's - Happy Birthday Jx

A Christmas Star

You all must know me by now & my love for Bugaboo! One of my particular Christmas favourites is this lovely reindeer. I just love his cute face and lovely stance! I've got him with baubles, with the tree, and now here with his Christmas stars!

Papers are Craft Creation and colouring by Promarker.

Challenges;
Papertake - 3,2,1 - 3 buttons, 2 papers & 1 image
Stella Says Sketch - Another lovely simple one to follow
CHCC - Christmas Animals
Holly Jolly Christmas - Inspired by a song - Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer,
ABC Christmas - "L" for Lyrics of Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer, Jx

Theodore

I had a second 1st Birthday card to make this week, this time for a little boy, so I used Bugaboo Theodore in different colours & design for this one.

Papers this time are the Papermania freebies off Creativity magazine and the colouring as always is by Promarker.

Challenges;
Cupcake Crafts - Red / White & Blue
Fetch A Sketch - their sketch
Make It Monday - Any project
The Crafty Pad - Lets Here It For The Boys

Buntings or Banners

What a great theme for the next Oldie But Goodie Challenge, it's

Buntings & Banners

and it has been set by our lovely teamie Claire, and the prize for this challenge is a fabulous $21 spend on Bugaboo Digi stamps.

Thanks also to Bugaboo who allowed each DT member a stamp of their choice for the challenge.

So I chose Bugaboo Theodore - isn't he cute! He's coloured with Promarkers & I've added glaze to the image in places. The background is embossed on my bug and the sentiment is computer generated.

Finally the challenge theme - if like me you don't have any suitable dies, why not create your own bunting by cutting a series of tiny triangles and attaching them to twine.

Remember, to enter our challenge you have to use something older than 6 months on your project and tell us what it is. You can however use any stamp you want, digi or rubber. In my case the oldie was the pink paper and the embossing folder.

So that's my take on the challenge, now take a look at the rest of the DT work on the main blog then join us on another great challenge.

Challenges;
Totally Papercraft - Doodle on it - I doodled round the edges of my bunting.
Crafty Catz - Summertime - All those warm colours & the ladybird - well you don't see them in Winter do you?
I Love Promerkers - For a little girl.
Bunny Zoe Crafts - Girls Girls Girls

Growing Up Fast

Today Alan, my eldest son gets his leavers form signed at school and says good-bye to all his teachers. It really doesn't seem like 13 years have passed since he first started primary school, but in a blink they have.

Below are photos of Alan on his first and last days of school...he's grown a bit!

This is Alan heading off to Fintry Primary in Aug 1999

...& here he is now heading home from Turriff Academy.

Bling Bling

... No, it's not the phone, it's my latest Bugaboo card!

This monochromatic card has been brightened up by some diamond gems in the flower centres & the card finished off with bakers twine.

Challenges;

Stamp n Plus - Black & White

Paper Pretties - Bling

Stamps & Fun = Creativity - Bling Bling

Just Some Lines - Black & White

Papertake - Anything Goes
Party Time Tuesday - Sparkly
One Stitch At A Time - Use A Digi
Catch The Bug - Anything goes

Chicken Soup

This is one of my new Bugaboo images which I thought would be perfect for a get well card for any type of illness. The ones I've made previously have had bugs mentioned or slings & crutches in the image, but the last get well card I was asked for was for someone who had had their appendix out, so they my images weren't suitable. See it's not my fault I needed another!

The paper used is MME and the raffia was bought in Germany last summer - will try to get more this year!

Challenges;
Tuesday Morning Sketches - Their sketch

Saturated Canary Summer Freebie

There are some really lovely Saturated Canary images out there, which I love the look of but then shy away from as I don't always think my colouring does them justice. This one however was free, so I thought there was nothing to loose by giving it a go, & I have to say, I'm dead chuffed with the result. One day I may even be bold enough to try a Kenny K image!

The link to this lovely Saturated Canary Freebie is here!

Along with the Sat Can image I have an LOTV sentiment and some Stamposuarus bunting, some embossed panels & some card candie.

Challenges;
I Love Promarkers - Use A Digi
MAWTT - Red White & Blue, Cool Brittania
Papertake - Their sketch
Party Time Tuesday - Anything goes
My Mums Craft Shop - Red White & Blue
The Secret Crafter - Anything Goes Jx

1st Stair Step Card

For some time now I've wanted to try a different multi-fold card other than a gate fold or an easel. When my son asked me for an 18th birthday card for a school friend who loved Harry Potter, I finally decided to go for it! Thanks to Debs, I had a super tutorial to follow off You Tube & after watching it a few times, the Hougie board & I got to work.

Images are fantastic Bugaboos, coloured with Promarkers, & the end result is this;

I so enjoyed making this card - after putting it off for months, and it's defo a style I'll repeat as I'm so pleased with the end result! Tricky card to photo though, but I'm sure you get the general idea.

Challenges;
Catch The Bug - June Anything Goes
Party Time Tuesday - Anything Goes
Creative Card Crew - Dimension
Diva's By Design - Anything Goes
Crafts & Me - Ribbon
Crafting For All Seasons - Many Layers
4 Crafty Chicks - Include a tree/shrub
Totally Papercraft - More than 1 fold
I Love Promarkers - Use a digi - or 4!
Phindy's Place - Pile It On
Glitter Geeks - Superheros - HP was Alan's super hero for years!
Make It Monday - Old Card but one I'm very proud of! - I'm never sure with MIM if leaving a comment on another card is what is required, or mentioning another card on your post - perhaps someone will advise. Anyway, I have left several comments, but this card by Sarah particularly caught my eye - isn't it a beauty!

Finally, Tracy, you've done it again, putting in a die cut and making me want yet another item! The fence die used above was supplied by Dies to Die For free in my last order! Hopefully when Tracy reads this, she'll tell me what it is so I can order my own one!