Are We There Yet?

It's been a few days now since I posted a card - I haven't needed the distraction now that Merlot is back home!  He's doing really well, much brighter but obviously not allowed outside till his stitches are removed. He's also being really good and not going for his stitches when his buster collar is off, which means we are able to take it off most of the day when we can keep an eye on him.

So here he is - obviously it will take a bit of getting used to him only having one eye, but I love him just the same and am so pleased he's making a full recovery.

& now a card!

Made for a friend who recently passed his Trailer Test so he is now eligible to tow a caravan.  And what better image to mark the occasion than this little digi from Little Claire - perfect!

So, my card uses Basic Grey papers and LOTV tags, ribbon & my trusty glossy accents!  I kinda made a cloudy sky, but it hasn't photographed that well with the flash...I also think more practice may be needed at this!

Challenges;
SSW2 - Another delightful sketch to work with

Kraftyhands - Tagtastic - sentiment tags - hope that's enough?

Hey Pumpkin!

I guess you guys can see why I chose hedgehogs as my challenge theme over at MAWTT - as I said, there are just so many hedgies out there, I wanted to dig them all out!  This is my penultimate hedgehog, for the time being...but I still have more that I could use!

Today it's a Halloween card, again with a PB and this time the glossy accents were out as was a fab seasonal ribbon.

Challenges;
Come & Get It - Halloween
One Stitch At A Time - Orange
The Corrosive Challenge - Halloween Colours
Sketch Saturday - Sketch 330
PBSC- Halloween
Papertake - Anything Goes

Merlot
Today is a big day for my little cat, as this posts, I'll be heading back from the vet without him as he goes into surgery to have his eye removed and hopefully his jaw set today.  It's 3 weeks since his injury and he's a mush happier catty again, just hope I'm doing the right thing putting him through all this.  6 weeks to recover is a long spell inside. Jx

3pm Update
Merlot is now through surgery and is recovering well.  They removed his left eye and a left upper tooth.  His mouth now shuts and the vet thinks he will now be a lot more comfortable as both the eye and the jaw would have given him pain.  He comes home tomorrow to be nursed better...can't wait!

The Pitter Patter of Tiny Feet

... or more appropriately the pitter patter of the rain on the Velux window this morning - it's pouring!

Anyway, I'm working later, and I got loads of my gardening jobs done last week so if it decides to rain all day, so be it!

Onto my card, obviously with a hedgie and this time with embossed little feet cause it's a baby card using another fab PB stamp. The flower is made using a new Memory Box die set and the ribbon I bought in Berlin in the summer.

Challenges;
SSW2 - Great sketch - 29

Dragonfly Dreams - Mainly Pink
Fussy & Fancy - Lots of Pink
Just Add Ink - Just Add Baby
613 Avenue Create - Anything Goes

Christmas Hedgehog

Morning all...it's a tad windy here! How is it with you?

Sorry there wasn't a hedgehog yesterday - was busy with other things, but I am hoping to share a few more makes with you this week before my hedgies hibernate for the year!

Today is another of Sam's images, coupled with old Dovecraft paper from Susan - I have such kind crafty friends - thanks girls!

Challenges;
Art Impressions - Holiday Sparkle
PB@Allsorts - Get Ahead for Christmas
Weekly Christmas Card Challenge - Layer it Up
CHCC - P- Patterned Papers
Holly Jolly Christmas - Anything Goes
Christmas Stampin All Year Long - Snowflakes - On papers
Sketchtanten - Sketch

Never Fear...A Hedgehog Is Near!

Near, but not ready to appear!

Expect more hedgehogs next week, but for now a little lady...

I love these Art Impression images, got a few now and this is the first time I've used this lovely lady.  Great sentiments with these stamps too - had to modify it slightly today, but it's much the same as the original.

Challenges;
Papertake - Using the given sketch
Sweet Stampin - Autumn - Colours...shades of brown
Passion for Promarkers - Make it Feminine
Crafty Catz - All Sentimental
Allsorts - Autumn - Colours of

Bored of Hedgehogs Yet?

When I started this little hedgehog run, I didn't quite realise how many I had!  Last weekend I coloured up a heap and this week you have been shown one daily!

Today it's back to Penny Black, this time in Shades of Autumn for this little male baseball fella.  Sam, I think this is one of yours?

Anyway I think he's another cutie to add to my ever growing collection!

Challenges;
OLLCB - Use a bow
Sweet Stampin - Just for Men
We Do DooBadoo - Something masculine
Sentimental Sunday - Use kraft
Sketch n Stash - Sketch 44 - Challenge 148 using old image and papers - so old I don't know who's!

Merlot
Last night he got his second opinion so the Aberdeen vet suggests dentistry to fix Merlot's jaw, (he says its fractured.) Then 6 weeks post op with a frame to set his jaw in the correct position with assisted feeding but hopefully not tube.

Sadly however he said Merlot was now completely blind in his left eye and sight will never return :(
The difficult decision is whether on not to remove said eye? Jx

Hedgehogs

Today it's my turn to host the challenge over at Moving Along With The Times and I've chosen the theme of

"Hedgehogs"

Hope you all approve? I just thought there were so many lovely hedgehogs out there that they deserved to be grouped together in a challenge all of there own.  It also gives you scope to go Birthday or Christmas, or what ever you fancy.  So this should make it easy to join in... you'd think so!

My dilemma then became which to use!  Given a narrow theme, the decision is clear cut, give me choice and I stick!  In the end I made more than one card, and that's why my blog has been full of hedgehogs this week - and there's still more to come!

Today however, I've played it safe and gone PB.  Not the most seasonal of stamps I know but I bought it this year intending to use it over the Summer - I've only just got to it now.

I then decided not to use DP's, just card, embossing, punches and dies, the end result being;

Challenges;
Crafting When We Can - No Design Papers
7 Kids College Fund - Anything goes with ribbon or lace
Crafters Cafe - Punches & die cuts - Ms Border punch & sun die
Crafting by Designs - Anything Goes
Crafting With Dragonflies - Anything Goes
Creative Moments - 3 Layers
Hobbybook Design Challenge - Include an Animal
Sisterhood of Crafters - Lots of Layers

The Sky's The Limit!

Another card today - I'm on a roll!

And today I used a fabulous stamp from Little Claire, which I spied last week and oops - bought!

It's just so cute, and perfect for my nieces who love their trampoline!

Maybe for them, I'd do the card in more girly colours, but for now I wanted to use that blue/brown combo again as I loved it the other day! Papers are LOTV.

Challenges;
Cards4Guyz - No balls allowed! (Little guyz!) Jx

What Next???

So, you all know about Merlot, no real change with him at the moment, will speak to the specialist vet later today, but in the mean time...

I need to replace the windscreen in my car!  What a fright I got yesterday as a lorry passed and hurled something towards me, don't know what it was just heard the whack then saw the damage!  Good job it hit the corner otherwise my whole windscreen would have shattered!

So to put me in a better frame of mind, what better than a spot of card making.  This time using a Willow Sketchie Image from a couple of years back.  Such a cutie don't you think?

Challenges;
Sketch Saturday - Loved this weeks sketch!
Papertake - Oh How Cute
Passion for Promarkers - Autumn Colours
Fitztown - Tag & Digital Element - digi stamp
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
Cutie Pies - 3 of something...3 hedgehogs & 3 squares

Winner at Passion for Promarkers! Yipee!! Jx

Christmas is a Coming!

Think I read on Facebook the other night that Christmas was only 12 weeks away - it's probably less now so I must get a wriggle on with those cards!

This one uses a PB Hedgie from a few years back along with LOTV papers.  And talking of hedgies... guess what?  The mammoth task of cutting back our hedge is over for another year.  Colin was home last weekend and made a start on the side, and during the week I finished off the rest.  Hubs did the last bit as it was too high for me even with the platform, and surprisingly he said he had " the toughest thickest bit to do!"  goes without saying doesn't it!

Challenges;
PBSC - Blue/Brown & White
Winter Wonderland - Layer It Up
Christmas @ Sweet Stampin - Christmas Critters
CHCC - Make it Colourful
SSW2 - Sketch & Coffee Twist - (Latte coloured, mmm!)

Ryder Cup

With the Ryder Cup coming to a close this weekend, I thought a golf themed card would be appropriate,

It's made following the lovely sketch by Sketch n Stash, using old Basic Grey papers, an old PB stamp and a newer La La Land die.

Challenges;
Sketch n Stash - Sketch 147
Sweet Stampin - Just For Men
Brown Sugar - Anything Goes

My Guy!

It's been a few days since I last updated you on Merlot's progress.  Some of these have been good days, others not so.  But we made the desision yesterday to start letting him outside again as he was just so low being stuck in, and it has certainly had the desired effect, my guy is much happier now, the spring to his step has returned and so to has his purr!

On the down side though, the Aberdeen vet thinks he has a jaw fracture and wants to repair that which may involve taping his mouth shut for two weeks and him being tube fed, and the final blow was when they said they'd just remove his eye while they were at it!  ME THINKS NOT!

All of the above may eventually come to pass, but I do think Merlot has improved loads without surgical intervention and I'd like to see how far his recovery will reach before making drastic decisions...watch this space! Jx

Update on Merlot

Well my little fella was back at the vet again today for another x-ray to try and work out why his jaw is out of line.  Nothing conclusive was found but his plates are to be sent away for a specialist opinion.  They do however think he has nerve damage around his eye area and this means his eye isn't opening fully.  On a brighter note, his eye is changing daily.  Still no sight, but it now moves and we have a feeling he senses movement on the left side now.  It's going to be a long haul for pusskins, but I am more positive again and I'm just so relieved he's still with us. Will post another pic of him tomorrow once he's fully woken from his anaesthetic - he's still a bit groggy just now, Jx

Weight Watchers!

Quick post tonight, had to make this card for a friend, and have taken so long to do so!  Partly due to the stamp coming from the USA and partly cause I'm so busy just now... thought I was supposed to have more time once the boys moved out!

Challenges;
Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2 - Super sketch

As for Merlot, he's still not great, he's back at the vet tomorrow so I'll update this post tomorrow night, Jx

Merlot

No card today, but instead a progress report on Merlot - yup that gorgeous kitten I showed you the other week beside the mouse.

Unfortunately he was badly injured on Wednesday and had to be rushed to the vet.  Still don't know if he was hit by a vehicle or attacked by an animal, but his injuries were extensive - to horrid to share.

Anyway he was in the vets till Fri and as he was managing to eat they let him home.  He has to go back this coming week to be assessed.

He has nasty facial injuries, a horrendous eye and a squint jaw.  He now goes about dribbling and with his tongue out so goodness knows what's wrong.  Hopefully as the swelling goes down some of the above will correct, just have to wait and see.  Our main concern however is his left eye, it is considerably calmer, but unfortunately he hasn't seen through it since the accident and it's not looking as it should.  Fingers crossed my little kitten makes a full recovery.  Rest is a great healer and he's getting plenty of that along with much love.
Jx

A Little Bit of Gossip...

Sorry, I don't actually have any gossip today, just telling you the name of the gorgeous Sugar Nellie stamp I'm using today for Pami's challenge over at Moving Along With The Times.

She has chosen

Fairies

as our theme this week, & I was going to use a lovely LOTV fairy for the job, but then in an indulgent splurge, (you know the ones!) I bought new stamps from the Sugar Nellie Fairy Glen Collection.  I have admired these cuties from a far for some time now, and after my first pay from my new job I thought I deserved a treat!

So here is my card, made using Basic Grey papers from a long time ago and Promarker colouring.  Finally the card is finished with punched flowers and fern and LOTV tags. Ooh and a few splashes of glossy accents!

Challenges;
Papertake - Punch it Out
Passion for Promarkers - Make it Digital - SN digi
Sweet Stamps - Anything goes
TTCRD - Anything Goes
Make it Monday with Kraft Outlet - Tag You're it
Glitter n Sparkle - Use a Punch
Simon Says Stamp - Tag It
Stamping Sensations - Things with wings

The rest of the DT have made some super cards this week, why not hop back to the main page and leave them a comment, Jx

Birnam Wood

Hands up those who studied Macbeth at school, remember Birnam Wood? Duncan told his men to chop down boughs from Birnam Wood and to disguise themselves behind the branches and in the shadows as they advanced on Dunsinane Hill to commence battle with Macbeth!

Literature Lesson over, now for the card!

Tree themed, hence the above reference to Birnam Wood.  And the reason for trees being topical at the moment is the annual hedge trim.  I say trim cause that's usually all I manage, but Colin decided to help this year, which meant chain saws and power tools in action.  The result...about a foot off the top of the trees - and a load of tree cuttings to dispose of!  He did a grand job, pity he left with only one side done though!

So this is his card to send him on his way & to wish him all the best at RGU.  Missing him loads as you can imagine, Jx

Challenges;
Artistic Inspirations - Anything Goes
Crafty Bloggers Network - Anything Goes
Crafty Boots - Anything Goes
Dream Valley - No Stamps

Chums

It's so lovely to be back crafting, I've really missed it over the Summer and hope to get caught up on cards over the coming weeks.  We have loads of family Birthdays in October, so I best make a start on them, so today's offering is a boy birthday card made using the OLL CD Say It With Words.

Challenges;
Ooh LaLa 65 - Birthday Boys
Jelly Park - All about pets
Crafting at the Weekend - Anything Goes
Crafty Catz - CAS

Finally I must share this photo with you, Merlot & the catch of the day... I hasten to add, the mouse was not harmed in any way and is now back in the field!

I'm Back!

After a somewhat extended crafting break I think I'm back and card making again.

The household has shrunk significantly, Colin moved out on Saturday, Alan the week before so now it's just me, hubby & cats!

So before I get onto my card, here are a few photo's of Colin in his new flat...

His room is tiny and is just one in a flat of 8 boys.

This is the front door to the flat.

And this is the outside of the building - sadly they are on the top floor!

I did hope to get a few more photos, but tears got in the way - mine obviously not Colin's!  He however is delighted to be a student, loves his flat and is getting on well with his flat mates.  Hopefully this will continue to be the case once Freshers Week is over and the real work begins.

Now, my card, made for a wedding this weekend using lovely Wild Rose Studio papers and a gorgeous Stamping Bella image.

Challenges;
Sketch Saturday - 327 by Debra
316 Avenue Create - Anything Goes
Hobbycutz - Gold or Silver
Brown Sugar - Celebrations - Wedding

Mad Hatters

Well that's Alan away back to start 3rd year at Uni, Colin leaves this coming weekend and then the house will be empty.  It's been kinda busy as you can imagine getting things ready for them leaving home hence the lack of cards, but after next weekend, I should be able to return to making more cards and doing more comments.

In the mean time, I'd like to share a CAS card I made from the the Ooh La La "Say it With Words" CD, This time I chose the image A Great Hat along with the co-ordinating papers.

Challenges;
Ooh La La - CAS
Hobbybook Designer - Girly
Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes
Stampavie & More  - CAS
Wonderful Wednesday - Anything Goes
Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes

Golden Wedding Box Card

I'm a bit ahead of myself here, but hopefully by the time this posts I'll be in full swing with Christmas card production.

In the mean time however I want to tell you about the latest challenge over at Moving Along With The Times - chosen by Debs, it's...

A shaped card - no squares or rectangles allowed!

Now this challenge has had me stumped in the past - I'm a square kinda a girl - till I discovered box cards!

Quite a difficult one to photo - but I hope you get the general idea.  The couple are LOTV, the bells PB and the papers Wild Rose Studio.

And if any of you haven't made one of these before, instructions can be found here.

And like last time, the card was too big for an envelope, so I had to make a box too - don't like doing boxes, but Bev's tutorial here does make matters a lot simpler.

Challenges;
Storyteller - Wedding
Crafting at the weekend - Anything goes
Crafty Calendar - Anything goes
A Creative Romance - A touch of kraft
Brown Sugar - Anything Goes
Fab n Funky - Bingo - Flowers, Pearls & Ribbon on the box
Paper Shelter - Stars or hearts - I chose hearts
Simon says Stamp - No digi - PB & LOTV

Birthday Blooms

It's been another long gap between makes for me, but I was asked to make this one for someones 50th at the weekend - the thing is, I was actually asked to make this one a few months ago, so I bought new images, planned it all then thought I'd plenty time, which I did back then!

Anyway, the image is a digi from From the Heart stamps - don't have too many of these, but I do love them. This one is called, Mixed Boquet, available here.

Papers are Doodlebug & Papermania, and the layers are set on kraft.  The sentiment used is based on the one issued with the image but I re-typed it to personalise it.

Sorry about the pic colours and angle of my easel card - I took the shots at night and meant to take more, but the card is now gone and I forgot to re-photograph it first!

Challenges;
From the Heart - 077 - sketch or flowers

Sketch Saturday - Old sketch - No 228

Papertake - Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes

Prunes Anyone?

It's been ages since my last blog post - ages since I've made a card too, but I had to rustle this one up as it's my Mum's birthday this weekend.  Now this image and sentiment are from Bugaboo, maybe not suitable for everyone, but I know my Mum will see the funny side...I hope!

Papers this time are Bo Bunny Pin Cushion and colouring by Promarkers.

Challenges;
Digi Sketch Challenge - Sketch or Summer Fun
Catch The Bug - Colour Challenge
Bunny Zoe - Summer colours
Allsorts - Bright sunshine colours - orange

Sorry there hasn't been much blog action here for a bit, we are just back from a week in Berlin and aside from that I've just been enjoying having the boys home all Summer, in a couple of weeks they'll be gone! Jx

Vintage

I really don't know where this summer has gone - the weeks have just flown past and the sun is long gone - blown away by nasty hurricane Bertha!  Not long now till the boys head off for Uni either so my incredibly busy summer home will all to soon be calm again.

Before all that however, we have a new challenge over at Moving Along With The Times as Hazel has set us the challenge of

Vintage - again

Really don't like vintage and struggle with this style - but hopefully you guys won't and will give us some lovely projects to feast our eyes on.

As for my card - well I do like it, I'm just not sure if it can be classed as vintage.  It doesn't use bright colours and the girl looks old fashioned so that classes as vintage... right?

Everything used, except the card stock was generated from the Ooh La La CD "Say it with Words."  I'm new to this type of crafting, but it's nice to have a change and I did enjoy working from the CD again.  I also discovered that it's well worth putting quality paper into the printer when running off design papers, funnily enough they come out so much nicer!

Challenges;
Simply Create Too - Vintage/Old Fashioned
Wags n Whiskers - Birthdays
Crafty Sentiments - Anything Goes
The Stamping Chef - Anything Goes
Creative Moments - Anything Goes  Jx

Cone-gratulations

I'm so happy! I've had major computer problems these past few days, huge red internet warning messages and no access to my blog from the PC.  Colin however has just fixed it - a little battery problem which feeds the clock.  Something I never even knew existed.  Anyway, battery changed, clock working and internet back! Yip-ee!

Now onto today's card wich actually is for a Colin, who passed all his SQA exams yesterday and has now secured a place at Robert Gordon's University. We are all so happy for him, well done Colin, all that hard work paid off.

Now, as some of you may know, Colin's summer job is at Mackie's Ice-Cream and so, when I saw this image, I knew it would be perfect for him.

So his CAS card uses a House Mouse image, kraft and Promarkers for colour.  The personalised sentiment was computer generated, love the cone-gratulations! (That was Craig's idea!)

Challenges;
House Mouse - relax and enjoy life - hopefully he will now he has his results, and enough ice-cream to feed a small nation!
Crafty Sentiments - Add a sentiment - made to link with the image!
Fan-tastic Tuesday - Anything Goes
Papertake - Anything Goes
Top Tip Tuesday - Something sweet - ice-cream
Craft Your Passion - Sweet Treats...ice-cream
Penny Black & More - Anything Goes
Allsorts - Favourite things - House Mouse & Ice-cream & CAS...& passing exams!
Gruffies & Guests - For the boys - my son!

Baby in Blue

No cards then 2 cards on consecutive days! What am I like?

Yup, another request, so it had to be made quickly - this time for a new baby.

Challenges;
PBSC- Buttons & Bows
Sketch Saturday - Sketch

Sorry You're Leaving

Card making has all but ground to a hault for me this summer, been busy gardening and then this past week I've been helping my neighbour prepare for the local agricultural show which is on this weekend.

The DST was however brought into action today as I was asked to make a nurse leaving card.  I found a super new image from Papernest Dolls for the job and teamed her up with Basic Grey paper.  A simple card, focusing mainly on the image, and a touch of accents added to the stethoscope.

Challenges;
Papernest Dolls - Anything goes
Sketch Saturday -320- maybe not close enough to the sketch tho?
Crafty Sentiments - Anything goes
Fantastic Tuesday - Anything goes