WOYWW 210

Cannot believe I got so many ATC's from the 4th Birthday Swap of WOYWW - all truly scrumptious.  Wanna see the ones received this last week?  OK then:

Joy

Krisha

Maureen

Nan

Roudi

Sandy

Jill

Well, it really is just gone midnight, the above was done yesterday but I can't sleep.  This is my desk - I have stage set it for all my atc's by simply swiping everything to the left.  Just been making a little card to tell my neighbour how sad and sorry I am.  They moved in about nine years ago with two cats, Pepsi and Max (get it - Pepsi-Max), sister and brother.  Pepsi went quite ferel but Max was a lovely big ginger cat who wormed his way in once we had lost our ginger cat.

Anyway to cut a long story short every time the neighbours went away we looked after the cats.  Then we started buying food for Max as he included us on one of his "cat milk rounds".  How mad can you get? Today he had to be put to sleep.  He had stopped eating, had lost 40% of his body weight in a week and had made himself a bed in the undergrowth on the edge of our front garden.  I guess he chose where to die.  Needless to say his owner, Carol, was devastated and so was I.  I am going to miss him so much.  Keep having a weep!

Enough of that, or I will be up all night here is my desk as it is - animal stamps to the left in the drawer - inkpads piled up as I looked for the Sepia one - card in her letterbox with some chocs.

Guess I should clear away now.

On a happier note I would like to share a lovely card from Krisha and say a BIG THANK YOU for all the lovely atc's and kindness shown.What a lovely band of friends Julia has brought together.  Congratulations to her too for inclusion in Issue 4 of Featuring Magazine.  Thanks Julia for what you have achieved!

Thoughts and prayers are with those in Colorado who may be affected by the fires.

Flat Susan Moves On and a Button!

Just thought I would give an update to those of you who have been following Flat Susan and her journey through Slovenia, Liverpool and Germany via Jo's blog.  She is now wending her way to Scotland to visit with Elizabeth who is taking her on holiday - they might even search for Nessie!!
Amendment - she is with Elizabeth and has already got a post about her trip to Scotland.

If you are hosting her, or indeed if you are just following her travels, please help yourself to the button at the side which was designed by my friend Paul.  Thank you so much Paul, you are a treasure.

In total Flat Susan will visit and stay with 36 families before she returns home to me.  Yes, thirty six!  That's a lot of travelling for such a tiny person.  If you have not read Jo's account of her trip to Dolores in Ljubliana, her dropping her in a puddle in Italy, her stay in Liverpool and final destination with Jo to Germany I strongly advise you to do so - it is so funny in parts and such wonderful photographs.  The weather was a far cry from when she was handed over to Jo to begin her epic journey one wet day at Port Sunlight.

Now I have to sort out where she will go after she has been to Scotland.  She will be visiting Spain, South Africa, the USA and Australia before she begins a massive journey around the UK.  Think she will be exhausted when she gets back.

I am hoping to copy all the journeys she does into a book for the little girl in America who inspired me to do this and if you have a grandchild you might want to do the same.  You are quite welcome to.

Happy Nessie Hunting FS!

Shoes and Summer

I forgot to post a picture of the birthday card I made for one of my friends BUT first of all I must say a BIG WELCOME to my new followers.  Hope you find it worth joining up to my blog as I post pictures of my 'makes'.  Thank you so much for taking the time.

Anyway, we are having wall to wall sunshine at the moment so I am spending a lot of my time outside. We never know when it is going to break (forecast is Tuesday) so we have to grab it whilst we can.  Our patio table is out for the second time in three years and (gasp, shock, horror) the umbrella came out of its packing!!!  Oh and the chiminea has had it's first airing - cooking burgers.  Hope this week of sunshine is not the sum total of our summer - again!

The big black table at the end (seats 8 - just to give you an idea on size) is where I have been doing my painting of boxes - not a success so they will now be covered in paper.  DOH!

And now to the birthday card.  I bought this stamp from my lovely friend Mary G in America when I was over in January and this is the first time it got used.  Hope Alison liked it and hope you do too. Painted with Twinkling H2o's.

See you later!

Maps - Challenge at Artful Times

Cartography I think is the posh name for maps.  I like anything connected to travel and as it is coming around to the time of the year when lots of folks will be getting ready for their holidays I thought "Maps" an appropriate theme for the challenge.

That was a while ago when we were compiling our list of what to have throughout the year.  When it came to making a sample I sort of froze and then went looking in my box of bits (big box) for some kind of atlas I could tear up.  I came across two small books both dealing with France, and more to the point, Paris.  Well, always a sucker for a bit of "ooh la la" I began tearing and covered a manilla tag, first in distress ink (walnut stain) and then with bits of maps, underground timetables etc.

A quick look through my stamps and I chose this rather elegant lady to go alongside the tag which I had, by now, decided not to cover up with an image - a bit of red and blue cardstock and this was the result

I left room at the bottom right for a greeting for when I send it on to someone and have just the perfect situation to use it coming up so it will probably feature "Good Luck" or "Bon Voyage" shortly.

Why not pop along to Artful Times and see what other inspiration is there and what news there is following Von's departure.  I know Von has been busy over the weekend and she has a lot on at the moment but I do urge you to visit her new blog where she showcases her jewellery - click here to look.

WOYWW 209

The birthday has passed, the crop has been and gone (and I can't wait to hear and see more about it - have seen Julia's and Jan's accounts) and still ATC's are coming in - love it like this as it extends the birthday celebration.

Just one little blot on the horizon, are there any/many of you getting "anonymous" emails?  I had 17 one day last week!  Nothing offensive but obviously spam which I don't bother to publish.  Just thought I would mention it as I make sure I check my comments before publishing and thought I'd give you the warning.

Now to the exciting bit - my desk - carefully prepared to show off the exciting ATC's I have received up to date.  OK so this doesn't look like my desk but it is my temporary one stationed outside in the garden where I spent yesterday afternoon doing some crafting.  Beats indoors!  Got to make the most of this sunshine.

 here they all are - but then to some close ups

Jo (Jozart)

Anne (Redanne)

Annette  (Voodoo Vixen) with sleeve

Annie (Wipso) with verse

Jo (Twiglet) with card

Back of ATC from Julie Ann

Julie Ann - front and envelope

Shaz in Oz with verse and message 

to say items used were bought in Manchester

with me!!!

Lyn (Spyder)

Nikki with her talking tag

(wish you could see the glitter)

There, you have seen my gorgeous ATC's now so dash off via Julia to see lots more.  You might even see one of mine.

WOYWW 208 All Together Now ...

... Happy Birthday to You
    Squashed Tomatoes and Stew
    Lots of Jelly, in Your Belly
    Happy Birthday to You!

WOYWW is Four Today!  Thank you Julia for bringing so many of us together each Wednesday, for all the fun and friendship that is here today.  It's unbelievable that you gave birth four years ago to the biggest blog hop Blogland has seen.  And we are swapping ATC's too today!

I could go on but cutting the chat I will show you my desk.

Stash!  That is all it contains.  On Sunday I was working at the Lincoln Show and, as per usual, spent my earnings on goodies.  Four Spellbinders dies and a two Die-namics from Tracey - and a stamp from Ali-Crafts.

It was a great show, lots of people waiting at the barrier to come in when the clock chimed "ten" - and I missed the chance of a photo! But here you can see the crowd as it came towards me

Our stand before the show started

I was working to the side of the pink case - where the kitchen roll is - and Pam was at the other side.  That's Pam talking to Tracey at the end.  You have probably seen lots of Pam's beautiful cards in the Oyster Gallery.

Had a great time - made all the better with meeting up with Sam again.  I do miss her when she doesn't come to Harrogate and I was not sure she would be here this time - but (thankfully) she was.  Great to see you Sam!

and here is Spencer waiting for it all to begin

Sitting on a Spellbinders Die of course

As well as demonstrating the Artisan Explorer (Spellbinders' dinky new machine) I did two workshops using Pan Pastels.  Tracey asked me to do ATC's so the idea was born for my swaps for today's birthday celebrations.  I won't show you what I did this week as the ladies have not got them yet so don't want to spoil the anticipation.  Also not opened the two I have already received (thanks Jo and Anonymous) and it is too early to do it now so you will have to wait until next week when it will be an ATC filled post.

Right, time to see what others have posted - wonder if there are lots of ATC's out there?  You will have to follow this link to see - happy hunting!  Happy Birthday WOYWW!  Here's to number Five!

ps I will post a list of who is taking part in the Flat Susan Travelogue in a day or two - check if I have your name and addie.  If not please get in touch and if you want to sign up there is still plenty of time.

Challenge 30 Artful Times goes Vintage

You will need to pop along to the Artful Times to see what I have written about "Vintage".  To heck with all that the dictionary says - here is my interpretation of Vintage - in an easel card.

I used my Grand Calibur to cut out a large oval card (hinged) which I then made into an easel card with the addition of a further oval shape.  You can see I have used all three dies in the set to mat and layer the image which is taken from one of the Non Sequitur plates.  

I then used some roses (sorry purchased and not made) to decorate the card and hopefully make it a bit special for someone.  Finally I put some flat flowers on the base and an "Italia" stopper, fixed with some foam sticky bits.  Here's a closeup of the image and flowers.

Hope you like it

If you would like to join in with this challenge pop over to Artful Times where regulars will find that changes are afoot - sadly.