Leaving

no, it's not me that's leaving... but the 2 heli admin girls who work under Graham have been made redundant and are moving to new jobs so he asked me on Wednesday if I'd make a couple of leaving cards for them - nothing like a bit of notice, seeing as he went offshore on Thursday morning.
So because I was pushed for time I kept it very very simple and concentrated on the images. He also wanted large 8x8 cards so that all their colleagues can sign the cards, and I'm not a fan of making great big cards, too much white space to fill!
We spent hours looking for a suitable "leaving" image, or something that would tie in with their job, but I couldn't find anything suitable. So I treated myself to a couple of Kenny K Downloads, Madison Attitude and Miss Thang - another one accidentally landed in my basket because it reminded me of Willow with her iPod, but more of that another day.

 white cardstock from The Papeterie embossed with Swiss Dots cuttlebug folder. brown core'dinations card, Kars bling, Madison Attitude image coloured with promarkers

white cardstock from The Papeterie embossed with Polka Dots cuttlebug folder. brown core'dinations card, Kars bling, Miss Thang image coloured with promarkers


I'd like to enter them into
ABC challenge - T is for Trouble
I ♥ ProMarkers  - no designer papers


If you haven't already entered my candy then you have just 10 more days to enter - and in case you hadn't noticed I have some extra goodies to add to the pot if I get 100 entrants. I have some brand new Me To You tatty teddy goodies from Do-Crafts, so remember to spread the word.


Anyway, am off for a shower and an early night I think...

Wow

Well, I was going to share a couple of cards with you today, but quite honestly I don't think any of you would be interested, and I'm certainly not because I have spent the whole day so far sniffling at the Royal Wedding.

And it's been so amazing to share this amazing event with friends across the globe thanks to Facebook, Twitter and Blogger.
I wish William and Kate a long, healthy and happy life together

Me and My (phone) Camera

For those of you who don't already follow Krista Smith's blog, Krista does something on a Wednesday where she shares pics of things that appeal to her, and this week she has used pictures that she has taken herself. Now I know I'm a day late and today she'll be posting her Awkward and Awsome post - you need to check that out too!! but I thought I'd share some pics I uploaded from my phone last night that I like...

It's probably best if you just don't ask about that one ?!?!?!?

The sunset a week ago

 cherry trees on the way over Anderson Drive in Aberdeen

 Stonehaven Bay

The fabulous Art Deco outdoor olympic sized heated seawater swimming pool at Stonehaven
 will be back tomorrow with some crafty stuff to show you - but it's far too nice a day to be inside today :)

Round-Up time again

Hi folks, it's hump day (middle of the week, in case you were thinking anything mucky) and I thought I'd have a wee round-up of what's going on - just my way of keeping you up-to-date, so here goes...


First up is a reminder of the promarker classes I have coming up at Simply Create in Alford... on Saturday the 14th May I'll be teaching the basic colouring techniques using Sugar Nellie's Simply Sassy stamps - you need to take your basic tool-kit with you eg your favourite 
double-sided tape, adhesive, scissors etc and if you have any promarkers you can take these along too, don't worry if you don't have any, you can use mine.
Then on the 18th June I'll be showing you what else you can do with promarkers, they're not just for colouring stamped images you know! Lots of exciting techniques.
Sneaky peeks coming soon. - And don't forget to check out all my other upcoming classes and demos here. These classes usually fill up quickly, so if you want to come along then please don't leave it to the last minute.


My good friend Anne has launched her much-sought-after sewing kits at long last and they are available to buy now.
Anne designs the most stunning decorative and practical things, including the Cutie Patootie wee bag, the Totally Handy Tote and the gorgeous Shabby Raggy Chic Cushion

So pop on over to Anne's blog and have a nosey - if you're interested in any of her kits just leave her a comment. (thanks to Kath for the pic)


The lovely Elaine is celebrating her 1st blogaversary with some yummy party bags, so pop on over and say hello for your chance to win - and let me tell you, Elaine is fantastically talented with Distress Inks, you really need to check out her beautiful creations


This is the last week for you to enter The Papeterie's Spring into Summer card designer challenge - all you have to do is make a card using something sold at The Papeterie. The competition ends at noon on Saturday and you can enter as many times as you like - the top prize is £100 of craft goodies.
Charlotte has started a brand new blog for the The Papeterie and I for one can't wait to see what news she'll be posting.

Puddles of Love

Before I get on to my card for today I just wanted to let you know that there are only 4 places left for the Girls Just Want to Have Fun crafty day on the 28th May, so if you're still making up your mind please don't hang around, contact Kath to secure your place asap.


Back again with another of the new Gorjuss Girls - this one, I think is my favourite from this release so of course it had to have the purple treatment. I seem to have a bit of thing at the moment for White on white with splashes of colour - dunno if that's a good thing or not.
Kath - if you're reading this, please take a deep breath and brace yourself... there are naked buttons in this post!!

 Image: Simply Gorjuss - Puddles of Love, coloured with promarkers
all white card from The Papeterie, paisley and swiss dots cuttlebug folders, core'dinations colour card, buttons and bling from stash
MS border punch

I'd like to enter her into...
Make it Colourful - Black hair
Stamptacular Sunday - Pile it On
Allsorts - April Showers
Cute Card Thursday - no text


Look out tomorrow - I'll be posting some special candy :)


edited to add:
promarker colours..
skin: burnt orange, coral, sunkissed pink and blush
hair: black, midnight blue, powder blue and Ice Grey 4
blues: bluebell and china blue
purples: aubergine, plum and mulberry

Spring into Summer - Papeterie Card Competition

Thought I'd share my entry into The Papeterie's "Spring into Summer" card competition with you - if you've no idea what I'm talking about then here are the competition details...
The challenge will run until the 30th April(noon) with winners being announced at 4pm.
1st Prize: £100 of crafty goodies
2nd Prize: £30 of crafty goodies
3rd Prize: £10 of crafty goodies
All you need to do is design a card made with products currently sold at The Papeterie with a Spring/Summer theme. Take them in to be displayed in store and we will also feature them on our website. Good Luck and have fun.

 Image: Simply Gorjuss - Little Red, coloured with promarkers and added Glamour Dust. Hero Arts - Poinsettia Circle CG103 stamped with Memento - Cantaloupe. Hero Arts - Find Joy CL497 greeting
Papeterie white cardstock, core'dinations colour cardstock
Cuttlebug and Crafts Too embossing folders
Papermania capsule collection paper flowers
circle and scallop circle nestabilities

I'd also like to enter her into
Simon Says Stamp - Emboss It
Totally Gorjuss - Bling It On
ABC Challenge - S for Sparkle
Passion for Promarkers - White on White
A Spoonful of Sugar - Let's Celebrate

Topsy Turvy

Well I just don't know whether I'm coming or going.... I consider myself to be a reasonably intelligent woman but I had a serious senior moment today, get yourself comfy and I'll explain...
It's been a wee while since I joined in with the weekly challenge on the Sugar Nellie Facebook group, and this week the challenge is spots and dots. Well seeing as I treated myself to set 6 of the Simply Sassy's I thought I'd have a go. So I coloured my image, matted it onto some cardstock, then did all the matting and layering on the card base - went to pick up the image to stick on my card, BUT WAIT... it's disappeared?!?!?
It took me 2 days of looking to realise that the image was inded right in front of me - it was just face down so the coloured cardstock was facing up. Honestly - I had to have a serious chat with myself!!
And the worst of it is, after all that carry-on I've decided I don't even like it. I thought it was because I've just used coloured cardstock and no patterned papers, then I thought that I don't like how I've coloured the image, but I'm just not sure what it is - i just don't like it.
If anyone has any suggestions on how to improve it then I'm willing to hear them, because otherwise it's going to land in the bin.

Image: Witches Cauldron from Sugar Nellie, coloured with promarkers.
core'dination cardstock embossed with Swiss Dots and Clockworks cuttlebug embossing folders
MS Spiders Web deep edge punch, ribbon and charm from stash


In complete contrast to my lack of brains the other day, I was out with some of the other mums from school at the local pub quiz last night and we won!! Absolutely chuffed to bits.
Willow lost her first baby tooth on Tuesday, it's been wobbly for months so at last the tooth fairy has been and Willow can't wait to go shopping with the money she got.
We've been missing out on all the good weather this week - the down side of living right on the coast, we get fog sometimes when the weather is fine and sometimes it just doesn't burn off. But today we were extra lucky and it's been beautiful all day. Graham managed to cut the grass for the first time this year and I thought he was going to have a stroke trying to push the mower through it. We have a marathon job still to do, getting rid of all the weeds and because my hip has deteriorated so much lately I'm not going to manage very much :(
Anyway, here are some summery pics from today.... Scott being studious (had to take a pic cos it doesn't happen very often)

 The pond and far end of the garden

 Happy smiley Princess Pot Belly Pepsi

 Happy Smiley mucky face Faith

 Willow's winning lol - those white socks landed in the bin!

 Here comes the coo's tail...

 Scott trying to smile?!?

so am off to watch funny friday on Sky 1, and hope we get some more bonny weather over the weekend

Just A Quickie

Just a quickie as I'm going out to the pub quiz soon, but thought I'd just give you a heads up on a couple of things...


Firstly - there are a small number of places left for our "Girls just want to have fun" craft day - scroll down for all the info and if you have any questions please feel free to ask. 
To answer some questions...
1. If you email Kath to reserve your place, she will email you a booking form which includes all the details of how and when to pay.
2. Once the places are full Kath will still take names for a cancellation list 
3. No you can't book your place with or pay The Papeterie, this crafty day is being organised by Kath, Anne and myself so please contact Kath for all bookings and payment.
4. No you don't need to take anything with you - we will provide all materials and tools (if you prefer to take your own scissors though, you can)


Secondly, to celebrate the bank holiday weekend, Letraset are giving 25% discount on all orders over £25 - all you have to do is click here to get to the Letraset shop and use this code at checkout SPNG0411.
Valid until midnight on Monday 25th April. 
Great excuse to get yourself one or more of the new blender sets, or if you're buying single promarkers or aquamarkers remember they have multi-buy offers too. I've got my order just about ready :)


And I just want to share this wee video of Faith that Graham took the other day...

Purple & Green

Have been trying to get time to enter The Sugar Bowl challenge for the last fortnight, I really couldn't pass up a challenge that included using Purple could I?


I've used the fab sketch from Maria Therese and also the optional theme of Purple & Green.

Image is the beautiful Faith digi from Sugar Nellie (no prizes for guessing why I bought this one), coloured with promarkers.
papers are all Stampin' Up, MS Doily Lace punch, Tim Holtz mini rosette die, Craftwork Cards greeting.


I'd like to enter her into 
The Sugar Bowl - sketch plus purple & green
I ♥ Promarkers - anything goes
Digital Tuesday - pretty punches
Stamp with Fun - birthday


Have you booked your place on our Girls just want to have fun crafty day on the 28th May? There are still a few places left, so don't hang around. You'll find all the details on the post below.

Are you ready?

Are you ready for my exciting news? are you? 
Kath, Anne and I have put our heads together and organised something very special, coming soon - you'll find all the details here...

There are 30 places available, so if you want to come along I'd advise booking as soon as possible. 


We've been so excited about this and it's been so hard keeping it under wraps until now.

Silver Darlings

I'm finally allowed to post pics of this card - have been sworn to secrecy for the last couple of weeks. One of my regular customers asked me to make a 25th anniversary card for her friends. The only stipulation she had was that she wanted me to include a pic of them on their wedding day and a recent pic . Well I'm not in the habit of making cards with photographs, but this is what I came up with. I thought the best way to show off the 2 photos would be to do a double easel card - and this one took ages to figure out, because I had to carefully measure everything for the edge and corner punches.

The papers are all Wild Rose Studios - Wedding Bells, MS Cherish PATP punches, papermania ribbon bows, silver mirri card, and I printed the years and greeting on the pc.


I have some fantastically exciting news to tell you, but I can't tell you until I get clearance from the high heidyins! Hopefully tomorrow they will remove my gag and I can spill the beans, so watch this space... 


and lastly for today - check this face out, believe it or not, Willow is actually 6, not 16!!