WOYWW 806

 Nothing much to show you today.  Remember the little houses I showed you last week, well I was hoping to show you some little dinosaurs this week but this is as far as I got because these shingles are driving me crazy with the pain.  Still got the blisters but the redness between the patches isn't as bad now but it doesn't seem to matter as far as how much I hurt.  Sorry this is not a pity party.

The APN who I have seen at the surgery was telling me her grandson is mad about dinos and so I decided to make him a few to stick onto a background card or whatever he wants to do with them.  Maybe gran would like to keep some and make a Birthday Card for the little man, anyway, that is what they are for and this is as much as I have done this last week.  To be honest I think they were stamped and cut out Thursday onwards.

See you next week and at Sarah's shortly.  Hugs!

Jeudi Journal - Better

Today the quote is"Everything is better when you decide you don't care" and to fit in with Wendy's theme (On, In or By the Sea) at Art Journal Journey I have a scene set in an aquarium at the seaside not far from where Eloise lives.  It is a huge aquarium and has lots of attractions including the longest coral reef in the UK and an aquarium tunnel with the ocean above and around you.  Below is a photograph from such an aquarium.

"Eloise was feeling upset.  She had fallen out with her bestie and now her bestie had told a whole load of lies about her to some of the other girls that they went around with.  Eloise found herself shunned by some of the girls and had spent some sleepless nights crying into her pillow.  She didn't want her mum to find out as mum would probably say something to the girls when she saw them so she had had a miserable few nights and lonely days.

It would happen when it was the school half term, the days seemed longer, but on the other hand if she had been at school they could have made her life a complete misery.  To poor Eloise there seemed no escape from this misery she felt she was going through.  Then one night she had a dream and her fairy godmother told her that the only way to get out of the doldrums was to show you don't care.

So next day saw Eloise dressing in her favourite polka dot dress that went perfectly with her new magenta boots she had saved up for.  Part of the 'cure' was to dress up, kind of 'power dress for girls'.  She told mum she was out for the day, dashing through the door when mum asked who she was going with, she didn't want to tell a lie not even a white one to her mum.

A visit to the seaside and a walk along the promenade always left one feeling good and so the first thing she did was walk down the prom.  The breeze was light and in no time at all she felt better than she had all week.  As she walked on she remembered that there was a huge aquarium not far away and so she quickened her steps and made her way there.

It was a little expensive to go in but Eloise thought it well worth the money and she hadn't been down town with the girls in ages so her spending money had accumulated nicely. Once in she was transported to another world.  She walked under the huge tunnel, marvelling at how she felt she was walking on the bottom of the ocean.  The huge walls were just glass, it must be very strong thought Eloise, to hold all that water.  She stood there and watched the hundreds of fish swimming about quite happily.

"It must be wonderful to be a fish" she thought, "swimming around for miles and miles without a care in the world, meeting lots of different fish and exploring the coral reefs.  Darting here and there in the holes made by the rocks and things."  It was then she realised that what her fairy godmother had said to her in her dream last night was happening.  

"Everything is better when you decide you don't care" she said to the little seahorse that was passing by, "and I don't care anymore.  There are a lot more fish in the sea than Leanne and she is not going to make me miss any more sleep."  And with that Eloise carried on enjoying the aquarium but this time with a spring in her step.  It had been worth every penny visiting the seaside that day."

Sorry I got a bit carried away with the story this week but it was good to take my mind off the shingles pain which is still dreadful.  Just remember to get the vaccine when you are eligible, believe me it will be worth it.  Luckily the background was already done in my square journal so I just had to add the figures.  Wish you could see and touch the background, no idea how I did it but it is lovely and textural.

WOYWW 805

 Nothing much to show you today.  I've become obsessed with the two houses I bought from Lavinia the other week, before shingles.  Can't get interested in anything at the moment but now and then I try to do something to take my mind off the pain.  When I get going I really enjoy colouring them in with my Zig pens.

I've had these pens years and only just really started using them, did a bit of colouring with them on my Dylusion Journal pages but not much, now I love them.  If I am well enough to go to the Leigh show in a couple of weeks I might buy the two smaller houses so I can get some different perspective in my cards when I come to use them.  I just need to put some snow on the roof tops with something white and puffy and get some backgrounds done.  (They are on my tray which has a bean bag type bottom and I've stuck a craft mat on top hence the blue tape bits.)

Hope you are all well and happy, see you over at Sarah's craft shed shortly where we can all join in and have a good old nosey.

Jeudi Journal - Make Believe

 The last post for Alison's theme at Art Journal Journey is "Land of make believe - next right" and wouldn't we all like to go there at some time.  In fact, having had a real humdinger of an argument with a doctor's receptionist yesterday about the medication for my shingles (see yesterday's post re shingles) I could go there right now - or maybe send that receptionist to get lost there.  I did wonder if I was being "soft" but I went on the internet and listened to someone who had had it - click on Jo here to listen.  There are three people talking of their experiences and now I don't feel I am being "soft".  Anyway, I urge anyone who is eligible to go and get the vaccine, please please listen to me and go for it.

Sorry this theme is coming to an end Alison as I have been able to use my autumnal colours for it and so enjoyed using them.  Just wish I had had the time and energy to do more.  Thank you for a great month.

"Millie, Billy and Tilly are triplets.  Poor Mrs Brown wondered what was happening when she found out she was having not one but three children all at once.  Anyway she managed, luckily Mr Brown was a big help and had been 'hands on' with the children when they were younger.  They are all 14 now and at that awkward age where they don't fit in with the older kids and are much too old and sophisticated to bother with the younger ones.

It was October half term and the three of them had been invited to a party at a friend of Millies.  Millie and Tilly had set off ahead of Billy, as per usual he was messing about and late for everything, and they were enjoying walking through the autumn leaves which had fallen from the trees.

"Isn't it fun kicking the leaves as you walk" said Millie.

"I love listening to the rustle when they are so crisp and dry" answered Tilly.

Despite being identical the girls did not wear the same clothes, they liked to be individual as far as that was concerned, unless, of course, they wanted to play a prank on someone and dress the same causing endless confusion as to who was who.  There wasn't anything they could do about the way they looked, nature had made sure of that, and both girls had the same unruly hair.

"Where is Billy?" questioned Millie, "I do hope he is not going to be late and have us hanging around for him."

"I am worried as to what he is going to be wearing, I told him he had to dress smart for you and your friends."

"Oh, so did I, and so did mum" said Millie, "He's going to be fed up of us women before long, bet he'll be glad when dad gets home from grandma's and he isn't surrounded by all of us women." she laughed.

The two girls scuffed about a bit in the leaves and looked up at the trees to see if there were any acorns or conkers about to fall.  Just then they heard a whistling and around the corner came Billy, looking fairly smart in a bow tie - but what was that he had on his head?

"What the heck are you wearing" the girls chorused.  

"Take that off immediately, it isn't a horror show or a fancy dress party and you are not going with that on your head." shouted Tilly, the eldest of the triplets by a couple of minutes.  "Where on earth did you get it anyway, it's hideous and you look stupid.  I hope you didn't walk all the way from home wearing it.  The party is this way - Land of Make Believe next right."

Billy shrugged his shoulders, took off the skull mask and gave one of his cheeky smiles.  "Well you two, are we going to this party or not?" he asked.

Both girls rolled their eyes, what was it like to be a triplet and one of the three be a boy.  Oh for another sister!"

My page began with several colours of acrylic paint "sloshed on" and smooched all over.  I then went over it with Oxide Candied Apple Ink, added some leaves at the top in Versafine Clair Nocturne and  stamped and cut out some more leaves colouring these in with my Inktense pencils and fussy cutting.  All leaves are by Lavinia, figures as usual by Dylusions.

WOYWW 804

Another week which again flew by, in more ways than one at ours.  We had the witches visiting in the form of finishing off the cards I started last week.  Perhaps now those who thought I was trying to do a blend will see what I was trying to achieve.  Just a glow in a forest.  In total now I have made four of these cards, gave one to my friend a while ago and sent the two new ones off at weekend.  Here is the old one which I kept and the two new ones with a slight variation - can you spot it?

Sorry it is small but I cannot get it to show any larger on account of it being a long photo.  Maybe if you click on it you will see them larger.

To help you here is my original one done a few weeks ago

and a new one with a difference

Obvious isn't it I much prefer the change I made, hope the original crafter who did this card does not mind (Leesa MagicalMaker) and I have now got the bug for Halloween and am working on another card - similar but different colours, or maybe a journal page - cannot make my mind up.  

I did hope to go and join in the fun and festivities at Lavinia HQ in Ruthin but something got in the way, and not a good thing either.  I had even bought myself a new headband and this time a pair of silk fingerless lace gloves.  Mind you some of the costumes that turned up were absolutely fabulous and I may have felt silly and somewhat under dressed.

So I sat at home feeling miffed and sickly with a 'mahoosive' band of blisters around my midriff. Yes, I have got shingles!  I feel so rotten.  The pain, which came immediately the blisters arrived, feels like someone has given me a big punch in my side. It is so painful when I move - and then yesterday morning I woke feeling as if my side was on fire.  Still feel as if I have been punched.  I don't wish this on my worse enemy.  And the horse pills they gave me on Friday make me feel nauseous.  How I swallow them I will never know, they are HUGE.  

The best is DH is ever so good looking after me although really I am not ill and can go out as long as I avoid pregnant women and babies.  Checked with my Podiatrist and she is happy to treat me tomorrow - not so my Chiropractor who has to work on the area where the blisters are so can't blame her.  Touching them is how they can spread.  So please please please can I urge you to go for the vaccine against this.  I never thought shingles was so bad, just some spots!  Please go if you can.  (Keep forgetting you have to be over 70 to have this vaccine - hope I didn't offend some folks)

Not going to Ruthin did not stop the spending and I got an order in on Thursday when the festivities began.  Just ordered what I wanted from the new collection and a few bits I wanted previously.  Having watched the demonstrations there are a couple of stamps I wish I had bought so guess they will be obtained at the Leigh Show on the 11th.

Not much is there?

Forgot to show you these that I got the other week - wanted a die from Sizzix but they are so expensive and I thought these might do instead - they will!!!  Cost me £7 for them all (photo shows die with cut out below it

Six in total as opposed to two of the Sizzix ones

That's it for this week folks, now to link in with Sarah at her Craft Shed and then begin having a good nose to see what other crafters are up to.  See you there.

Jeudi Journal - Fail

 The quote this week is "I do not fail, I succeed in finding what doesn't work" 

"It was early autumn and Tilly and her bestie, Anna, were invited to the wedding of the year.  it wasn't really anything that would hit the glossy magazines or TV news but it was a wedding where all their school friends would be attending and so the two girls wanted to look their best.  It was five years since they had all been together and there was a certain girl code where you wanted to look good and show that the last five years had not been arduous ones.  

Betsy Jane had always been the "looker" in the class and she had gone on to a successful modelling career so no doubt she would look fabulous.  Alison had always been the brainy one and secured herself a career in law so could afford to buy an expensive outfit.  Same went for Pamela who was PA to a film director and to Freda a flight attendant, but not just any flight attendant, she was sought after for first class only.

"Oh dear" said Tilly, "I am afraid I am going to be a bit frumpy at the side of all those glamorous girls at this wedding."

Poor Tilly loved chocolate.  And cake, and biscuits - and a tub of ice cream never stood a chance when she was watching a rom com on the TV.  The result was an extra pound or two found its way to her tummy and her hips.  Her bestie, Anna, was always telling her that one day she would regret the diet she had, not to mention the fact that she vary rarely took any exercise, preferring to sit and watch TV or curl up with a good book.

"You'll be fine" said Anna, "look we have eight weeks to get you into shape and with a bit of luck we can get an outfit at the boutique down the road the week before the wedding.  When you have lost some weight."

"Oh you know me and diets" cried Tilly.

"Yes, you fail at them all" replied Anna.

"I do not fail, I succeed in finding what doesn't work"  said Tilly, looking somewhat dejected at her best friend's comment.  

"How come they worked for me when I lost that weight?  And all the others at the slimming club who lost pounds in the first few weeks.  Bet if you really set your mind to it you will lose at least a stone, if not two before the wedding.  But you have to try.  Have to be honest.  When you sneak in a biscuit or a bar of chocolate it's not others you are letting down, its you, yourself.  Be honest."

"I told you, I do not fail, I succeed in finding what doesn't work and those diets don't work for me.  I did try and found out that the 'banana diet' doesn't work, 'vegan diet' doesn't work, the 'mediterranean diet' doesn't work, all those 'substitute meal' diets don't work, the 'soup diet' doesn't work and as for 'calorie counting' in whatever guise you put it - it just doesn't work for me."

"Look" said Anna, "come along to the slimming club with me and give it a chance for a month.  I'll move in with you, if you will have me, for the whole month and we can do it together.  Diet buddies.  If it doesn't work, fine, but I honestly think it will.  Will you give it a chance?"

Wonder what Tilly decided.  Did she go to the slimming club with Anna, did Anna move in with Tilly for a short while?  And the biggie - did Tilly lose any weight?

This is my entry for Art Journal Journey where Alison has chosen Autumn Colours and Inspiration as the theme.  I began by using Mustard Seed and Carved Pumpkin (it's almost Halloween) Oxide Inks for the background.  Stamped a selection of autumn leaves with Nocturne (2nd generation) and then filling the leaves in using crayons.  Figures are coloured with Promarkers in autumnal colours also.

WOYWW 803

 I really do not know where this last week has gone - it's gone faster than other weeks and I had no idea it was Tuesday when I woke up yesterday.  Consequently I had nothing really to show you on here, especially after last week when I seemed to have lots.

I've been busy making ribbon bows.  I tried a couple of You Tube sessions and then remembered the fork one which I found the best but then I also remembered my old way of making two loops and tying them together - voila

I'm quite chuffed with them

although they did give me cramp in my fingers several times.  Didn't think I had chubby fingers but i needed them to be more slender.  The witchy, tin has my butterflies in, the bee tin - bees - and the other one has small numbers - all ready for putting on cards or in my journal.

I was working on some backgrounds for two Halloween cards.  I'd forgotten how difficult they were to get all the colours into such a small space and yet have a nice yellow centre.  I made two of these cards earlier on but now need to send two to people who celebrate Halloween.  So for all you WOYWW'ers out there - this is my desk (the small table I work on mostly

I'm struggling to get all the colours on the card but I did it twice before so don't understand what my problem is.  That's Wilted Violet on the desk - the other colours are behind me on the worktop

Guess this morning I will be trying to get them to look right so I can begin the fun of stamping images but first these want blending much better - hope I haven't to start all over again.

I did make two birthday cards that had to be off this past week but i have searched myk computer and I must not have taken scans of them but I did scan a bookmark I made for a swap (Ancient or Modern) - but forgot the card that I made and sent to the other person!!

Ah well, off to Sarahs Craft Shed