Do you ever?

Do you ever get those time when you're laying all snuggly and warm in your bed and all of a sudden you get that 'ping' in your head?  You know the one that says 'wake up' no sleep for you yet?  Then while you're laying there thinking I can beat this pinger and I will go to sleep.... well here I am.... awake.  Then I got to thinking as I listened to he rain lashing against the windows and could hear the trees creaking and bending in some really really strong winds (again) about my beautiful beautiful babies.  Nothing new there I think of them all the time... breaks my heart.  I can see them in my mind just as clear as if they were next to me right now.  I close my eyes and I can feel the softness of their feathers against my skin, the smell of them sweet and musky and slightly flowery from my lovely Polly and stronger from my funny little Tinker.  Then quite pongy when they were wet and wanted to rub themselves dry in my hair.  I can see Polly asleep on her back in her little snuggle hut, little squeaks while she had little caiquey dreams, who knows what her dreams were.  Tinker on his bed perch head tucked back under his wing on one leg ready to sleep, one eye open as if to say 'leave me alone now' and I did.  Do you ever look at your pets and wonder what they dream of?  I mean do they dream in the way we do?  I'm fairly sure that if they do dream my babies would not have been dreaming of the nightmare they were to endure.

See we went on holiday and took them to a holiday home,  (who we'd used previously who I thought was my friend) a carer if you will which turned out to be the start of theirs and out nightmares.  See whilst they were there they were allowed to escape... and that's where the bad stuff for us all began,  We cut short our holiday when we found out - on the internet I might add - and came to look.

We searched high and low and low and high.  Chased every little lead we had... and nothing.  Somewhere out there are my beautiful babies.  Except now as the wind blows and the rain lashes down I think they're looking down on us from Rainbow Bridge.  And I miss them.  I miss them so so much it hurts.  Physically it hurts me, us we all miss them.  And its a pain a big black pain in my heart.  See now I wonder about those dreams they had - did they dream of feeling the wind under their wings?  Flying without having to turn round at the bottom of the hall?  See if they did I reckon that dream to them would be a nightmare.  They'd have been outside all alone, scared in that big world that they didn't know anything about.  Because I don't think they stayed together either.  My beautiful babies out in the world bad enough but out there on their own, even worse.

So I'm going to indulge myself and share their pictures, after all thats all I have left to share.  Their images and memories though will stay in my heart forever.  The other thing that will stay with me forever is the guilt.. yes I took them to the holiday home, I chose her, and she told me she'd look after 

them.

Only thing is now there's no one looking after them.

And that makes me feel like the worst pet owner in the world ever.  I failed them, totally and absolutely.

So to my beautiful babies Tinker and Polly I'm so sorry for what I did, I hope wherever you are your dreams are happy ones and I did try and find you, I'll never stop looking.

Eeek be quick!

Well my last market of the year is over - yeehar!  I'm sick to the back teeth of mince pies, I mean what do people do with them all?  They're up there with devil food for me, I mean they nasty currants, raisins and stuff in... they do smell nice when they're cooked though.  Bt eat one?  Never!

So seeing as the last market is over and done with that means I can (finally) start thinking about some preparations of my own.  Hey who needs to be early?

So I made a few quick cards - minimal stamping and some die cutting.  Idea came from my buddy Pops.  Over at Totally Gorjuss the theme is quick cards so....

The snowflake paper is donkeys years old,  I also die cut a circle out of white card and tore it to make the snow, die cut a variety of Doo-Hickey trees, sprinkled with Frantage glued and stamped a sentiment.  And that was that!  Super quick and not like my usual efforts.

I've entered them in the following challenges;

Crafty Calendar - cold and frosty

Allsorts - brown with blue

A Creative Romance - Sparkle at Christmas

Alphabet Challenge - W for Winter

Stampin' for the Weekend - Anything Goes

Penny Black

Well howdy there folks c'est moi! Time for another challenge over at Through the Purple Haze Challenges. This week our sponsor is penny Black and the theme is Christmas because apparently its soon....

 The winner will get these babies all for themselves!

Aren't they fabulous?  Heart stamps are useful all year  and slapstick stamps are great!  So.....

Well I had a dig round my meagre stamp selection and found this old favourite.  For a change I used my promarkers.

I think the papers are Papermania or maybe Docrafts... A bit hard to tell as the cover is missing from the pad!  A little twine, an embossed snowflake and a couple of swishes of glitter glue and voila!

This week we've teamed up with the Penny Black DT and they're showcasing on TTPH too.

I've entered into the following challenges;

Avenue 613 - Anything goes

Cheery Lynn Designs - anything goes

Glitter and Sparkle - green and red colours

Allsorts - Snowflakes

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Christmas

Pop over and check my teamies makes and the luscious samples from the Penny Black girls too!

Its all pink and purples!

Well howdy there reader - ;)  I hope yo've all got hatches battened down... the weather says its going to snow!  And remember folks ME NO LIKEY! We're back from a week in the sun which was lovely... trouble is I think its made it feel twice a bloody cold!

So its a new challenge over at Through The Purple Haze this week we want to see lots of pinks and purples on your creations.  The sponsor is Sassy Studios - digis for the winner!

I've used this little cutie

So seeing as the brief was to use lots of pinks.... well I went for it!  Get that pink hair, I managed to sneak in a spot of purple too, that teeny bikini!

I used some different pinks for her hair - you know how you have the 'go to' shades?  Well this time I opted for RV13, RV23 RV21 and RV00 and I kind of like the way it turned out.

I'm entereing her into the following challenges

Challenges 4 everybody - Anything goes

Kenny K's Krafty Krew - Anything goes

One stitch at a time - Anything goes

Di's digi designs - girly

A new challenge at TTPH

Howdy!  Wow its flipping cold!  After all the wet and windy lately some cold is the icing on the cake!  Well we've got a new challenge over at Through the Purple Haze this week its a team challenge - so both teams make and you get to vote on who's creation you like best....

I was given this beauty to use - isn't she gorgeous?  I'd LOVE hair like that!  Instead of a card I used her in this notebook.  I though as there was so much detail in her that it required minimal frippery.  Coloured of course with Copics.

She's been entered into the following challenges;

All Crafts challenge - anything but a card

Craft it Up - anything goes

Crafty Blogger Network - Christmas

Created with love challenges - Christmas reds

A Crafty sentiment cutie

Howdy there folks - its a new challenge over at Through the Purple Haze Where has the time gone to in between?  Heck it'll soon be the C word time.... though that's ages away surely?....

So I got this little cutie from Crafty Sentiments - isn't she lovely?  She was coloured with Copics (what else lol) and out came a new die or two and new papers!  Well paper in the singular actually.  One of the new Lili of the Valley Nitwit pads.  Love the blue and kraft.

I die cut a Whimsy snowflake and a LOTV sentiment and she was done!

Our nice easy theme this week is 'For the Girls' -  you're all aware I only do easy.

Our lovely sponsor this week is Crafty Sentiments and the winner will get 3 free digis of their choice, it would be hard to choose 3... I want loads!

Popover to the blog and check out my teamies makes - they're fabulous!

Anything goes...

Hi there peeps, I've just made a very interesting discovery whilst building my ark... Yes its raining that heavy!  Oh and yesterday we had thunder and lightening!  I mean I thought that happened when it had been hot and sunny? It plainly has not been hot and sunny... So anyway I was creosoting the hull of my ark when I noticed something weird about my fingers... webbed!!!  And me toes too.... yes that's how much it's raining.

So to take my mind off it (a bit anyway) its a new challenge over at Through the Purple Haze the theme this week is 'anything goes' with a Halloween option.  The sponsor is Digital Delights one lucky winner gets themselves such digi goodness.

Now I decided to go Halloween... only because ages ago I bought myself a Martha Stewart bat punch... which I've used once.  Now I've used it 4 times!

I used some fabulously spooky MME papers called 'Blackbird' some of them do have black birds on... just not the ones I used.  I hand wrote the sentiment - my writing is awful!

Please go check out my teamies makes - they're spook-tacular!

I've entered this into the following challenges;

Catered crop - orange is the new black

Challenges 4 Everybody - Anything goes

Eclectic Ellapu - Halloween

Second today - get me!

Well its a new challenge over at Through the Purple Haze Challenges  Its a special one this week too - there are two challenges!  One is sponsored by Indigo Blu and to enter that part of the challenge to win some Indigo Blu rubber you must use Indiglo Blu products on your creation.  The second one is a mystery package (the last winner was really really pleased with it)  The theme for both is 'Anything goes'

So here's my creation.  I used this beautiful poppy stamp.

As always coloured with my trusty Copics, though I did hit a bit of a dilemma... My favourite pale red has run out!  Reinker ordered!

So the paper used is some Basic Grey 'Boxer'.  The background lattice is a Spellbinder - love it but its a bit of a pain to stick!  The butterfly and tiny dragon flies have been covered with Frantage white embossing powder.

I've entered this in the following challenges;

Penny Black and more - Anything goes

Pile it on Challenge - favourite colour as main colour

Sentimental sundays - include a sentiment

Inky Impressions

Well first let me apologise to the rest of the Inkettes....  Yes that's right the rest!  Because now I'm an Inkette nyself - fab huh?

I thought this was scheduled... but obvs it wasn't...

So better late than never eh?

The theme over at Inky Impressions Challenges is 'blue as the main colour' - a nice easy theme huh?  And those of you who know me thats a theme close to my heart!

So I used this lovely stamp called Deputy Christopher  Isn't he adorable?

So I had a rummage through my meagre stash of papers....I thought these fitted perfectly!  I couldn't use any flowers on a card with a cowboy... so I dug out my favouritist Martha Stewart border punch and a star die as trim.  I thought Kraft card went perfectly.  After I laid it out I thought it looked a bit bare so another dive into the embellishment box and out came the string and a button!

He's been entered into the following challenges;

Avenue 613 - Anything goes

Challenges 4 everybody - Anything goes

Dream Valley Challenges - buttons

Pop over to the Inky Impressions blog and check out what the other Inkettes have done/

Get Sassy!

Well me again!  I know its shocking isn't it?

Well its another new challenge over at Through the Purple Haze  This week our challenge is to use a song/book/film as your theme.  Yipes I thought.... then as I was looking at our sponsor images which is the fabulous Sassy Studios I suddenly saw the perfect image!

Now can you guess which book I choose as my theme?  I'll give you a clue.... its being made into a film.... not quite sure how they'll do that without it being very very adult!

Its a sketch!

Howdy there reader, unless there's more than one of you... so add an S!

Its a sketch this week over at Through the Purple Haze  This week there are 2 sponsors Penny Black and Stitchy Bear - fab huh?

The sketch is super cute and gives yo enough layers to make up easily.

I've gone with a vintage Penny Black image coloured with Copics.  I can't tell you the name of the papers.... The cover came off the pad... but they may be Docrafts... or something else!

Pop over and see what the rest of the girls have made.

new challenge

Hi there folks, assuming of course there is more than one reader.... Well its that time agin which means a new challenge over at Through the Purple Haze Challenges  This week we're sponsored by Delicious   Doodles.  The lucky winner will get 4 images of their choice.  Good huh?

The DT were given images to use and this is what I made

She's been coloured with Copics.  The papers are from a Tim Holtz pad.... I can't remember which one though as I dove into my bits box, a Doohicky swirl (best die ever), Quickutz stars and a little sentiment.  This card is already on its way to a friend.

I've entered this into the following challenges;

613 Avenue Create - anything goes

Lacy Sunshine - use a digi

Check out the challenge blog and see what the other girls have made, I'm sure my card will appear soon.  I was late putting it in, been ill all week and working like a maniac didn't help lol

Bingo!

Yo there peeps it that time again!  Yes another fabulous challenge over at Through the Purple Haze  and this week its a special one as both teams are playing!  And as we're both playing there are two sponsors!  Team A - Lacy Sunshine and Team B - Crafts and Me  so its a face off between the teams - fun huh? And just for even more fun there's BINGO!  So good huh?  As always its like any Bingo a line horizontally or vertically.

Now for some reason my Mac didn't want to copy the Bingo doc.... so I'll just write it for you..

                                                 Ribbon    Flowers   3 papers

                                                

                                                 Bling       digi image  Dies

                                                 Pearls      Sentiment  Stamp

Well to be honest when I saw this I almost went for a full house.... but reined myself in and went for a line down the middle.

I had one of those fabulous images from Lacy Sunshine.  This is Coco the fairy with her ornament.  Coloured with Copics as per usual.

I've entered her into the following challenges;

Addicted to Stamps - use a stamp

Challenges 4 everybody - anything goes

Christmas card Challenges - non traditional sentiment

Great Impressions - square card

So come over to Through the Purple Haze and check out all the teamies!

Its another challenge at Through the Purple Haze

Wow that's gone quickly!

Yup time for another challenge over at Through the Purple Haze  This week the challenge is to use tickets or tags on your card.  The fabulous sponsor is Crafty Sentiments

So here's what I made.  Now this cute Christmas pixie is from Some Odd Girl and I coloured her with my Promarkers for a change.... hmmmm I'm not convinced lol

I've added some of those super cute Christmas tags from Lili of the Valley.

So pop along to Through the Purple Haze and check what my teamies have made and remember you got to be in it to win it!

Newest challenge at through the purple haze

Hi there folks another week of summery weather!  I love it myself but I think its so funny to hear people complaining.... mind you the same ones who complain that its too cold/wet/dry/windy/snowy.... etc etc etc

So its time for another challenge over at Through the Purple Haze  This week its a nice summery challenge of 'anything with flowers'  Now you know me I love a few flowers!  This week we have an added twist of a surprise prize.... trust me its a corker!  You will not be disappointed.

So here's my card for this week.  I inked up one of my favourite Lili of the Valley mice stamps.  I LURVE these.  Not only are they super cute they colour up in two tics!  Well OK it might be 10 tics.... but its super quick.

So it was a bit of cutting and sticking, papers are Basic Grey... I think!  I've a pile of papers which from various pads that fell to pieces.... Flowers and tah dah!

So pop over the the challenge and get your entry in, the teamies have some awesome cards to share.

New challenge at Through the Purple Haze

Well good morning!

 I know two posts so close together!

Today sees the first challenge go live at Through the Purple Haze and as I said above little ol' moi is on the DT!

So this week is a double challenge week.  One of the challenges being sponsored by Indigo Blu - who incidentally make the most luscious red rubbah stamps!  And you can do so many things with rubbah!  To enter this challenge you must use Indigo Blu images.

There's also a tandem challenge sponsored by the fabulous Joanna Sheen!  That is Anything Goes!  That's where my little creation comes in.  Now I decided on something simple... yes folks I'm still a natural blonde ;)

So for me no stamping at all!  Mine is a touch of embossing and die cutting.  This was literally a five minute card - I hate it when some say that and 25 minutes later you're still cutting....

So it was emboss a background with a Cuttlebug heart folder, mat and layer, die cut two heart - I used Doo Hickey hearts and repeat the first step and add some bakers twine, a couple of black pearls and it was done!

So pop over to the and check out the awesome make from the Teamies.

Boo!

Well its little old me!

Thought I'd best shift my butt and get back to this forgotten corner of Blogland.

Well there's been a lot going on since I was here last.  The most awful and devastating news is that my beloved babies aren't with us any more.  yes that's right.  The 'person' 'looking after' (hah yes!) allowed them to escape whilst we were on holiday.  Well that was the ned of the holiday and we've been frantically searching ever since.  There's been sightings but they aren't here.

To say we're heartbroken is an understatement, add family aggro.... and well I'll shut up before you all nod/run off!

However a spot of good news, I've been invited to play with the girls at Through The Purple Haze team!

Oh no..... and stuff..

Well BRRR!!!  I think that sums things up.... more of that though later...

So there's a new challenge, well OK it was new yesterday but I'm here today and well its new to me telling you about here, over at Totally Gorjuss  This week the easy theme (remember I set them so they're always easy) is 'Something borrowed'.  See I said it was easy.  So we want you to sue something borrowed on your creations.  You borrow and idea, a stamp... see easy!

This is my card.  I used this super Mo Manning image 'Paul typing' its was the Big L's birthday.... what image do you use for a young man??  Mo's are perfect for them!  So he was coloured up with Copics and some LOTV new papers.  Everything was going smoothly.... then I decided I needed to add 'something'  So I did the buttons - my borrowed item from my sewing box.... hmm it still needed something but what?  Then out of the corner of my eye I spotted my Viva Decor pen.  Perfect I thought a few dots and it will just add enough.  I mean flowers aren't really right on male cards are they?  So I began.... nothing came out of the nib!  So I squeezed a bit harder..... nothing..... a bit harder... and bugger me it all came out!  Darn top came off ~ stamps foot ~  So with half a bottle of the wretched stuff all over we were back to square one!

Eventually this is what I got - note the dots - I held my breath while doing them!

So here's the arty shot, naturally no flowers ;-))  The heart is a Magnolia die.  It has a hole in the top point.  I really wish it didn't if I'm honest.  I managed to cover it up with one of my dots.

Remember my 'BRRRR' comment at the beginning?  Well here's why!  We've had a stack more of the white stuff - about 8 inches of it!   Those branches hung down are one of my conifers - Mr Blackbirds favourite nesting spot :-((  I'll see if I can somehow tie them back together when the snows gone.  Its bitterly cold too - feels like -10!  Thanks very much wind chill factor I love you too!

There is a table under there - the orange thing is a beaker of bird food - we've almost got birds queueing up for food!

And finally to finish a little soggy Polly picture!

Hey back in circulation

Boo! Only little old me!  I feel a bit like I'm stuck in a revolving door!  One minute I'm here and then I'm not!  Been busy a usual and then another chest infection found me :-((  Its a bugger I'm coughing so hard its a good job I'm not a Tena lady!  Still eventually the AB's should kick in, I just wish they were instant!

So no cardage pics today.  I thought a couple of chickie pics would be in order.  So every morning Little Polly is put back in a nice clean cage with paper neatly put in the bottom.  Polly decided she can arrange it better!  And immediately sets about altering it to her exacting specifications.

Then of course ones feathers must be in perfect condition at all times.  So a spot of preening is the order of the day.  Every feather must be checked.

While Polly likes arranging her paper Tinker still has a big fascination with tubes....  I mean you just have to stick your head in them.... don't you?

Now no cards as I said but here's a cake!

It was a friends birthday and I made her a cake.

 

There isn't really a dimple in the top!  Just my usual photography skills (or lack of them).   I have to say the cake was delicious and most importantly she really liked it too.

I've had a good day out today - a trip to the GNPE at Harrogate.  I met up with some blogging and DT buddies - the fabulous Hazel and Christine.  I have to say though that Hazel is a thoroughly bad influence on me..... I mean I came back with loads of stuff I didn't know I needed!

Till next time!

For Mum at TG

Well howdy there folks - have you got nasty soggy weather too?  Though saying that it was sleeting last time I looked.  And that's one step away from snow!  And you know how much I like snow, I was rather hoping we'd seen the back of the white stuff.  Heck I'm waiting for some nice hot sun!  Warm would be a start.

So we've another challenge started at Totally Gorjuss.  This week we want something for your Mum.  After all tomorrow is Mothers Day - so come on spoil your Mums!

Now mine is no longer with us, so I made some little boxes which can be used to place a little gift in.

One in cream and one in pink.  they're very easy to do, the fold is basically a pizza box but smaller.

Now while I was in Tenerife - oh the sun!  (Oh and someone I know was there the week after us and said the weather was pants)  Janis and I went to a show - singing and dancing very good, food pants.  Sat on our table was this lady.... As I said the weather was very good, nice and hot, we couldn't work out why this lady was wearing woolly gloves - indoors!

Now in Tenerife there are lots and lots of cats! These are just everywhere :( Now I'm partial to a kitty cat and so naturally I had to feed them. We'd been out one night and I didn't like my meal.   So I very carefully cut all the meat up and fed it to the cats!  They certainly liked it!

 

Look at that beauty on the left!  And as for the little torti on the right as well.... I could have brought both of them home with me!  Lots of these cats are just dumped by their owners.

So of you ever go to Tenerife keep a friendly eye out for these poor kitties, give them some food and a drink.  they'll appreciate it!

As I'm listening to the rain lashing against the window I thought I'd show you a little picture of nice blue skies.... and yes it was hot!

Till next time peeps.

Its me and anything goes with pink!

Well howdy doody peeps!

Have you been enjoying a spot of balmy weather the last few days?  Its been lovely!  Nice sun, blue skies and a tiny bit of warmth!  Another 15 degrees and it'll be perfect!

Well the new challenge is on at Totally Gorjuss this week its really easy, like always, its anything goes....with pink!  Well we all know that pink goes with anything!  This week the sponsor is J and C Creations  One lucky person will get £10 for online treats.

So I made this - now I'm not sure but I think the image is by Robyns Fetish.... Basic Grey papers from ages ago and ta daaa!

Then I must have had a rush of blood or something because I also made a bracelet!  Not terribly difficult... but hey I made it!  And its pink!

Oh I nearly forgot the arty shot!  How could I?

So I've been off on a jaunt.   We flew over these.... which are (I think) the Atlas mountains - look at that snow!  It does look pretty and that's how I like to see snow, at a distance and through glass!

And this is where I went!

No its not landfill!  Its the beach near where I stayed in Tenerife.  I have to say that by and large the landscape in the south isn't pretty!  Black sand doesn't entice me onto the beach.... looks a bit like tarmac....

Now this beach is more what I'm used to!  But blow the scenery the weather was fantastic!  it was HOT!  A lovely weeks break in the sun with a good friend.  Yup the OM was left at home....

Now while I was there I saw this lovely necklace... I thought it went really nicely with my blue dress....

However when I took it off I had a blue neck!  I look like I'd been throttled lol  So the necklace went back.  According to the woman who sold it there was nothing wrong with the necklace....

It was me apparently I'm toxic :-0  Something I dare say some people have thought for a number of years.  Not cheap imitation stones like I suggested at all....