New Year Card!!!

I got an order in for a New Year card yesterday which luckily wasn't needed urgently.
Can't remember doing one before and I had quite a few ideas mooching around before I settled on this design.
The background paper and sentiment were made on the computer and the landscape was cut on Jimminy Cricut using the Plantin cartridge which came with the Expression.....how fortunate was that.......lol!!!
I pieced some silver card behind the windows and highlighted the landscape with a white gel pen.
The firework trails have been done with a clear Stardust pen....(if that's a clear pen then I am going to eat it raw......lol!!! It looks silver to me whatever I use it on).
Fireworks are star shaped gems attached with Glossy Accents.
The picture isn't too good as the light here today is almost non existent.

Well how cold is it today? I nearly went and snuggled up with DD earlier on. She is on nightshift and really has trouble getting off to sleep when she gets in bed as she is so cold. Her Dad and I bought her an electric blanket for Christmas which we switch on for her a couple of hours before she comes in and she is sleeping like a log now.
I think I would probably spontaeously combust if we had one........I have enough trouble with my own personal micro climate going on........except on days you need it like today.....lol!!!

It's driving me nuts having hubby at home......sure you all know that feeling. He is a bit set in his ways with regards mealtimes and HAS to have breakfast, lunch and dinner at the time he likes to have them and he likes to know the day before what he is having. Me......I am a bit come day, go day and just eat when I am ready and have whatever I fancy. He's got me run ragged with cooking every day......up and down two flights of stairs. He'll go back to work looking like a stuffed turkey and I shall look like a scrawny chicken by the time I'm done.....which maybe ain't a bad thing.....lol!!!
I really had to put my foot down yesterday to get a whole day up in my workroom and the big box of cards I envisioned making while I was off amounts to the twelve I did yesterday. Oh well I wouldn't be without him......unless someone makes me a good offer of course.

Best go and put his nibs' rice on to cook then.
Bye for now
Sheila-x-

I Could Get Used To This!!!

I have to say that I am enjoying being at home and could very easily get used to it if given the chance.....lol!!!

I've spent the last couple of days pottering about tidying away some of the Christmas stuff such as........yet another poinsettia I have killed. I have one every year and every year they drop dead within days of coming into the house. They just don't like me I'm afraid.

Hubby has put me some new lighting in my workroom at last and today I have been up there making Easter cards. I managed twelve (two designs...six of each) before I got bored with the pastel colours but I am quite pleased with them.

Once they were done I did a bit of sorting out and getting rid of rubbish and I'm back off up there now to tidy up a bit ready for another cardmaking session tomorrow.

I've not touched any of my new stuff yet......still at the stroking, oohing and aaahing stage at the moment......lol!!!

So the cards........
For the top set I used some cards from a DCWV set of cards and envelopes. I cut off the fronts and used a piece layered onto a piece cut from the back to make a tag. The eggs are a Sizzix die.
The second pair were made using K & Co Mat Pads and the egg is cut on the Cricut Doodlecharms cartidge.


Right I'm off.....it's flippin' freezing in this back room.
Bye for now
Sheila-x-

Christmas Presents!!!

I hope everyone is having as wonderful a Christmas as we are here in the Manic household.
We had a fab lunch yesterday.....cooked by hubby who after 32 years of being told.....finally got the hint that I hate turkey and cooked a chicken instead.
I then spent a lovely afternoon in the kitchen preparing a buffet tea as DS and his girlfriend were coming over. We had a really great evening with them and were quite sad when they had to go home.
Today has been quiet and relaxing. I have been playing on the Expression and trying to get to grips with all it's features........still need a bit more practice methinks....lol!!!

Santa must have been well impressed by my behaviour this year as I have been spoilt rotten with crafty gifts and smellies in the form of lotions,potions and candles.
I've taken pics of some of my crafty pressies......yes these are just some of them.

I am so incredibly lucky to have people who know me so well.

Stamps from Deb, DD and Hubby.
Tim Holtz Goodies from DD.

Papers from Deb, DD and Hubby.



Ink Pads from DD

Glimmer Mists from DD

I was also lucky enough to get heaps of my favourite Yankee Candles in the most delicious scents and to feed my new found passion I got lots of Sanctuary Spa goodies. Have you smelt that stuff? Honestly it is just divine. I have to be the most 'ungirly' girl I know. Never been one for slapping on moisturisers and creams but hoooooey......... you should see me now........lol!!! Anyone know where I can get it by the tanker load?!!!

I have to say though that pressies aside the best thing about Christmas was seeing DS and his girlfriend so happy together. We don't see them much as they both have very demanding jobs with long hours and their free time is precious. I felt so emotional to see my lad all grown up and cherishing his girl.......oh gawd get me a tissue!!!

Well I am off to tidy all the card away that I have been cutting up and I might do a bit of stamping and squirting if the mood takes me. If not I have until Jan 5th to do whatever I like so there's no rush.......alien words to me........lol!!!

Bye for now

Sheila-x-

Here We Are!!!

Well it's here at last and what we haven't got now we shall be doing without.
The most important thing to me is that I will be spending tomorrow with the people I love and in my thoughts will be all the people who can't be together on Christmas Day for whatever reason.


I'd like to wish you all a very happy and peaceful Christmas.


Love and hugs
Sheila-x-

Are We Nearly There Yet?!!!

Hope everyone's Christmas preparations are going well and that you are having fun.
I have to say that I shall be glad when the shops are closed on Christmas Eve and I can't spend any more money.....lol!!!
My wonderful daughter came up to the shop today so that I could have a mad dash around Ashby picking up last minute bits and bobs and I think that I am finished now. Just have a few pressies still to wrap.
Still in housewifey mode.....I hope the wind doesn't change and I get stuck like this....lol!!!
I'm just waiting for the ham to finish baking and then I am off to bed. This Christmas stuff is exhausting isn't it?

I bought the new Cricut Expression home tonight but am guessing that I won't have much chance to play with it until Wednesday night. I've had a quick go at the shop but can't wait to explore it a bit more.

I'll say goodnight then.
Sheila-x-

Where Did The Week Go?!!!

Blimey.......last time I looked it was Monday and here we are at Saturday.
I've not made a single card all week as I have come over all 'Mrs Mop' and have been doing lots of cleaning both at the shop and at home. I must be insane as I was cleaning out kitchen drawers at half past eleven last night......as if Santa will be looking in my kitchen drawers...I ask ya!!!
Hubby has asked me to wallpaper the dining area of the kitchen.....bless him...not!!!
I've told him that my next big job is a new patio with him as the foundations.....lol!!!
So that is my job today. I am just waiting for him to come back from the butchers and then we have to nip out and get wallpaper and stuff.
I expect you are all just as busy.
Have a good weekend.
Sheila-x-

Black & White Wedding!!!

Sorry I have not blogged for a few days. It's that time of year as you all know and I seem to be keeping busy with housey stuff and not doing much cardmaking.
I'm trying to sort out everything that is Christmas and put it all in one big box so I know where to find it next year but I think it may have to be two boxes judging by what I have sorted so far....lol!!!
It's a cold and dismal day here so I have spent the morning cooking something nice and warming for our late lunch. DD is on night shift and will be outdoors for the night while we are all snuggled up so I like her to have something hot and filling before she goes out.
Today I have made Savoury Mince which used to be one of my all time favourite school dinners when I was at junior school and we shall be having it with steamed cabbage, carrots and mashed potatoes.......yum yum!!!


While that has been simmering away I have had chance to finish this card which I started yesterday. Again I have used the Artemio flower stamps.
The outline image has been stamped in black StazOn onto white vellum and the solid image has been stamped in white Brilliance onto vellum.
The white has then been outlined with a fine permanent marker pen and the middle filled with Frosted Lace Stickles.
The small flowers have been punched and embellished with some small round peeloffs before being coated with the Stickles.
Usually I would draw a circle with a pencil as a guide for the wreath shape but that didn't work on my first attempt as it showed through the flowers. My little tip for the day is to use an embossing stylus to mark out the circle. This is enough of a mark to work with but doesn't show on the finished card.
I think this stamp set is going to end up being one of my all time favourite sets for doing cards for weddings and anniversarys. I love it.

Can't wait to be at work this week...lol!!! Deb has ordered yet another new Cricut cartridge for me ( Wild Card) and also the new blade housing and blades which means I will be able to cut chipboard shapes......yay!!! She also ordered a Cricut Expression which we are going to share between us.
I am going to have such a fun break at Christmas.

Right I am off to feed the ravenous pair who are lounging about on the sofa's and singing 'Why are we waiting'.........they are so cheeky.....lol!!!

Bye for now and thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-

Beautiful Tag-The Sequel!!!

Tonight I am posting a finished card using a tag exactly the same as the one I made the other day........just in slightly different colours. I wasn't 100% happy with the black image on the previous tag so I have stamped and embossed it this time using clear EP and then brushed gold Cosmic Shimmer powder over the embossing and reheated it for a lighter look.

For the card blank I have cut a large square and rounded off the corners of the back panel then sponged it with Denim Adirondack ink.

On a seperate piece of card I have used the flower image which I inked with Lettuce and Cranberry Adirondack and then misted with water before stamping to create a soft watercolour look. I added a little more colour with pencils and low odour thinners and sponged with more Denim Adirondack.

This was then cut out and added to the card blank front and cut around again leaving a border which was edged in gold pen.
The tag is then tied onto the card with gold thread.

Not the kind of card you would make if you needed one in a hurry......lol!!!

You can imagine the mess on my desk now I am sure so I had best go and tidy up before I get started on cutting up materials to do this card in a class tomorrow.

Bye for now......and thanks for visiting.

Sheila-x-

Artemio Flowers!!!

Here is a card I made today using a set of Artemio stamps.
I have used an Olive Green StazOn ink pad to stamp the flower outlines onto a card mat and coloured with pencils and low odour thinners.....even though it doesn't show much on the finished card I like to know I did a thorough job.
I then used a solid flower stamp with Memories chalk ink onto vellum. This ink pad is new so is very juicy and the effect came out just like watercolouring which surprised me as I was expecting a flat matt finish. The ink did need to be dried with a heat gun.
Didn't have a single piece of card that either matched or co-ordinated very well with the colours of the main image so I coloured up some to match using the chalk inks in the colour of the flowers and a soft green.
Outlined the flowers with a gold gel pen which turned a beautiful coppery pink and then added Stickles around the swirly bits and some gold corners.......4 down and about 2 million to go.......lol!!!
Quite a simple card but I am rather pleased with it as I don't usually do simple very well.


I am so looking forward to the Christmas break now as I have lots of new things to play with that I have had for weeks and not even opened yet.
Yesterday I bought home the Storybook cartridge for Jimminy Cricut and if Deb orders again before Christmas I have my eye on the Wild Card cartridge too. I have a sneaky suspicion that Santa may have some crafty stuff for me as well.....wonder if Deb would give me a month off with pay......lol!!!


Kettle has boiled and I am off for a cuppa.
Thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-

Beautiful Tag!!!

Had the urge to do inky things tonight as I was getting a bit fed up with doing the Bitsa cards.
I wasn't in the mood to do any matching of papers so I have just used a mountboard tag and I will think about what I will do with it later.


The background is Adirondack inks in Lettuce, Stream and Denim applied with a sponge and blended. I then flicked water drops onto it and soaked up the excess with a tissue.
Stamped the flower image in StazOn-Olive Green and then used a water brush to remove the background ink from the flowers by brushing and blotting with tissue.
I then dried it with my heat gun and recoloured the flowers using crayons and low odour thinners. Dots were added with a white gel pen.......don't ask me why.......I just felt like it......lol!!!
The postal image was stamped in Versafine and embossed with clear powder after which I added some darker green crayon to some of the leaves.
The bird was stamped in Versamark and embossed with gold powder and I extended the branch to the side of the tag with an embossing pen and more gold powder.
The word was stamped in StazOn-Olive Green and outlined in white gel pen and I used the same pen to add an outline to part of the tag for some definition.
The images I used were all from a set of clear Stamps by Prima.


Well I haven't been warm since I left the house this morning so I am back off to my room to crank up the heating and maybe wrap a few Christmas presents.


Ta Ta for now.
Sheila-x-

'Bitsa' Card 3!!!

I've not been able to spend quite as much time cardmaking this weekend what with cleaning carpets and ferretting dust out of the corners. Still the house is all spick and span...well nearly.....and ready for Santa.
Hubby has fetched the tree and decs down which DD is going to put up for me tomorrow and once it is up we shall be in the mood to start watching our collection of Christmas films at the weekend......even though we have seen them all a thousand times before.


Another 'Bitsa' card for you today from the bits and pieces boxes.
A bit of Papermania paper and a Laura Ashley flower with oodles of glitter.
You will notice that I am using quite a bit of glitter because when I sorted out my bottles of Stickles I found that I had four.....yes four......bottles of Diamond and of Crystal too so it has to go as I want to treat myself to some Distress Stickles after Christmas.


Have you visited Tim Holtz's blog lately? He is doing a series of tags for the twelve days of Christmas. Oh man you should see those tags........they are stunning. My favourite so far is the snowman.......or is it the reindeer? I can't decide.
Anyhoo if you want a peek there is a link in my Inspirational Places which will take you straight there.


I am off to soak my poor aching body in a hot bath. This housework thing is just soooo overrated..........lol!!!
Thanks for visiting today.
Sheila-x-

Bitsa Cards!!!

After sorting out my embellishments the other week I ended up with a couple of boxes like the one above which I filled with oddments. These are either stuff I don't like any more and am going to alter or ends of packets of things which I will use.........eventually.
So the cards I will be making for the next few days have been christened Bitsa Cards as they are made of 'bitsa this and bitsa that' from my oddment boxes.

The large chipboard shapes you can see in the box are being covered with papers to tie in with other bits being used up such as the Papermania papers, Laura Ashley flowers and Making Memories flowers and brads.

I am also going to be making a huge effort to use up what I can of the peeloffs I have left before binning the rest.

These cards will go into my box and will hopefully give me a good bit of stock for the local shop when the Christmas cards come back.

Made a start on the carpets today.....yay!!! Didn't do right through because hubby decided he was going to strip the wallpaper in the kitchen. I did refrain from doing him an injury with a handy saucepan.......lol!!! I made a very dignified exit to my craft room and stayed there until he'd finished.....after which I wasn't quite so dignified once I saw the mess he had made. Luckily I don't do visitors at Christmas so it can flippin' well stay like that until I have time to do something about it.

I also......shock/horror..........have done some Christmas shopping. Usually mine is left until the week of Christmas so this is well organised for me.......lol!!!

Hubby went out and got the rooted Christmas tree for the garden which I have been wanting for...........oooooooh at least two years. He picked a real little beauty so I am chuffed to bits with that.

I am going to have a coffee and quick blog hop and then I shall be going back to my cards for a while.

Thanks for dropping by.

Sheila-x-

Under The Weather!!!

Sorry I haven't posted much this last few days but I haven't been feeling too fabulous.
It happens usually at this time of year every year unfortunately. I get run down and go down with one infection after another...the latest was an abcess in my jaw which thankfully has now just about gone.
Just taking one last night off as I feel the need to snuggle and I should be back tomorrow with some cards or projects once I have cleaned the carpets.
Thanks for stopping by.
Sheila-x-

Basic Grey With Artemio!!!

I seem to be on a bit of a roll with cards at the minute and I have been dying to use these Basic Grey papers since we had them in.

Having no A3 card I have made this side fold DL from two 4" strips cut down the length of a piece of A4. One piece has been trimmed down to 8.25" long and the other was scored at 3.5" then folded at the score. The 8.25" piece was then attached to the inside of the front flap with DST.

The flower from a set of clear stamps by Artemio has been stamped in Adirondack Pigment Ink-Snow Cap and embossed with white powder.

Nearly blinked and missed the snow at Ashby today......lol!!! It snowed for all of five minutes and they were lovely big flakes too which would have settled if it had carried on. Mind you....if I was to get snowed in somewhere I would rather it was at home than at work.

Feel the need for a soak in a nice hot bath now before I go and cut up all the stuff for tomorrow's workshop. I didn't get time to sort out a card or anything as we were so busy at the shop today so I did that after tea. I had planned to get my carpets shampooed tonight but they will have to wait until Wednesday now and I do so hate putting jobs like that off once I have psyched myself up to getting them done.

Thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-