Deep Joy!!!

I have had a really good day today........just for a change......lol!!!
Deb and I worked really hard at the shop and got the prep done for all of the classes for the next fortnight.....which is no mean feat I can tell you.
Then after tea I went up to do some prep work of my own and joy of joys......I felt the urge to make a card........and it's going really well. Pick me up off the floor.....lol!!!
So if you pop back tomorrow night there should at last be something to look at instead of just waffle to read.

Comments on the Blog Candy are racking up. The last time I did candy I think I had about 40 ish comments and with two weeks still to go there are already well over 150.
So get your name down on the post if you want to win.

Thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-

Life On The Edge!!!

Felt a bit more like my old self this morning and so have made a good start on the decorating.
I have finished the ceiling on one staircase and started on one wall but after teetering on the edge of my toenails to do the ceiling my poor old legs now feel all shaky so I have packed up for the day. The rest will just have to get done as and when now as I am back at work tomorrow.
As you can see I still have no cards to post but I am off upstairs now to tidy my desk and try to get something done.

Thanks for all the comments on the Blog Candy post. You still have plenty of time if you haven't entered yet as the draw will be on April 15th.

Thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-

I Just Knew It!!!

I was supposed to be knuckling down and getting started on the decorating today but I just can't summon up the energy somehow.
Been feeling decidely 'off' for a week or so and I think I probably have a virus or something as I ache all over but most especially in my shoulders which feel like somebody has taken an axe to them. I'm going to give myself another couple of days of just pottering about and then see how I feel at the weekend.
This just about always happens to me when I take holiday.

Anyhoo.......I have just spent the day Cricuting today, cutting out loads of layers and mats. I've used up a great heap of the 300 sheet set I had from Costco and have even cut out some in Christmas colours......mad or organised.........you decide.....lol!!!
Tomorrow I shall either do more cutting or I'll make some cards and hopefully have something to post.

If you want to win some Blog Candy go to the next post down and leave a comment to be in with a chance to win the goodies pictured there.
The draw will be on April 15th.

I'm off to chuck me poor aching bod into a hot bath and then get in bed. I've had so much sleep these last few days that I shouldn't need any for the rest of the year...lol!!!

Bye for now
Thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-

Be In It To Win It!!!

THE DRAW IS NOW CLOSED

THANK YOU TO ALL WHO ENTERED

WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED AT APPROXIMATELY 5PM GMT TODAY....WED APRIL 15TH

At last I have finished sorting the blog candy out to celebrate 80,000 visitors on my counter.
So how would you like to win...............

1 set of Clare Curd Signature Range Clear Stamps-Sentiments

1 set Cuttlebug Embossing Borders

1 Pack Basic Grey Brads

1 Core'dinations 6x6 pack-Spellcaster

4 packets Accent Beads

6 Mini Stamp sets

1 pack Pastel Glittered Mini Brads

1 pack Black and White Glittered Mini Brads

9 metres assorted spot and stripe organza ribbon

All you need to do to win is leave a comment on this post.

If you are leaving an 'Anonymous' comment please at least leave a name.......be it your real name or a nickname.......for identification.

Any 'Anonymous' comments left without some form of identification will not be added to the draw.

I will make the draw using Random.org on my birthday April 15th

This draw is open to everyone.

Good Luck

Sheila-x-

Black & White Car!!!

Another card for ladies at the classes who like just a little stamping.
I have used Kanban tartan card for the background and for the shaped piece, a linen textured black card. The shape is hand drawn and cut out then attached to the tartan and pierced ready for the faux stitching.
The car is stamped in Versafine and embossed with clear powder before adding grey Tombow colouring to the open areas. It has been matted onto black and attached with foam pads over black grosgrain ribbon.

This was all I had time to get done at the shop as it got quite busy after Deb left at lunchtime.

You'll never guess what we were looking at today...............Christmas stamps.....lol!!!
We had a catalogue update come in from one of the companies we deal with. They were very nice stamps and I have to say that I would probably start work with them now if we had them........am I mad or what?!!!

Tonight I have been going through yet more boxes of assorted stuff and making it into cards ready for the local shop. I have slipped behind a bit so needed to make some quickie cards. I've used up my favourite bits out of some MM plastic covered flower and tag things and am now starting on my boxes of ready assembled diecuts. Hoping to find some baby things in there as I am desperately short of the dreaded baby cards and want to make heaps of them to get them out of the way.....lol!!!
Very in love with Jimminy Cricut at the moment so will be spending tomorrow Cricuting if there are no baby things in my boxes to fall back on.

Just waiting for hubby to come home and then I am back off to the attic to tidy up and do some inserts and packing........grump.....lol........I hate it, hate it, hate it!!!

Thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-

It's Them Men Again!!!

In classes we often have ladies who, although they like stamping, don't particularly like the involvement of messy, inky backgrounds. So for them I like to design a few cards which are quicker, easier and less messy to make.
For this card I have stamped the image onto the rough side of some Inkjet OHP Film.
Created a soft background of pale brown and duck egg blue with chalks onto some textured card before masking and edging with a darker application of the pale brown.
Centred the image onto the background and added the brads before trimming and matting it onto some dark brown card.
Paper is Making Memories.
Stamps by Elusive Images.

There is another card HERE for those who like inky things.

I think I must be a bit run down this week. I feel proper lacksadaisical and ache all over like I've been kicked by a carthorse. I soooo do not need to be coming down with anything at the minute. Too much to do to be poorly I'm afraid. Perhaps a nice hot soak will do me good.

Tara for now
Thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-

For Today's Post!!!

Go HERE........................it's another inky one.

Thanks for dropping by
Sheila-x-

Totally Crackered!!!

Nothing much to show for my day off other than a sore back and a headache.
I've been having a muck out today and have trawled lots of unwanted household stuff to the incinerator at the bottom of the garden......hence the sore back.
Getting ready for a mammoth decorating session next week which I am going to have to get done in less time than I had planned as I booked a week off from work so that I would have ten days straight but Deb's mum is off on holiday at the weekend and there is a kids party at the shop so I am doing the shop while Deb does the party and then Monday Deb has an appointment so I have to go in then. Sod's Law innit.

I woke up with the headache which I think is due to cleaning off my Cricut mats with white spirit yesterday before I resprayed them. Still I have worked through it and it seems to be on it's way out now.

Hoping to get a bit of time to make cards at the shop tomorrow and Wednesday as there is no class until Thursday morning. I still have lots of new stamp sets to work with but time at home will be a little limited for a while .

Still looking for a couple more things for the blog candy package but it's filling up nicely now. I'm hoping that some stuff we ordered at the show has either arrived or will arrive this week.

Anyhow I am off to bed.....another early night. This is so not like me.....lol!!!

Thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-

Ship Ahoy!!!

Well my early night did me a power of good and I was up bright and early this morning. To make up for being a lazybones yesterday I have worked all day doing all sorts of jobs only coming out to be fed and watered.
The card up yonder is one of a set of four I have finished off today and, except for the background which was cut on my trimmer, it is all made of diecuts.
Circles-Cricut from the George cartridge
Boat-Cricut from the New Arrival cartridge
Cloud-Cricut from the Going Places cartridge
Wave-Sizzix Extended Cuts
Photo Corners-Quickutz

Paper is by The English Paper Company.

My evening is going to be busy too......Dancing On Ice, bath while Wild At Heart is on, watch the Skate Off and then into the back room to watch Lark Rise To Candleford on IPlay.......love Sunday nights.
After that lot I can go back upstairs as I don't have to go to work tomorrow......I am working next Saturday so decided I'd have a day off instead of being paid extra. Sometimes the time is so much more precious than the money.

Right.....I am off to snuggle up with my favourite people.....and the dog.
Bye for now
Sheila-x-

Spoilt Rotten Mummy!!!

Hoooooey........have I been a lazy madam today or what?
DD didn't tell me that when we went out today that we were going to be shopping for my Mother's Day present as she will be working nights next week and won't feel like going into town.
We finally made our trip up to Crab Apple Crafts where I've not been for ages and my girl spoilt me rotten.
CAC have a wonderful selection of papers and I got me some Daisy Bucket which will have to be stored and stroked for some time before I cut into it.....lol!!! I also got a corner rounder that does quite big corners, a scalloped lace punch and a McGill branch punch......all three have been on my 'wanted' list for some time, a set of Sizzix embossing folders and an extended die that does 12" borders, two sets of stamps, some gorgeous lace edging and some red and black spotty ribbon. Then just as we were leaving I spotted some stamps on the counter and bought a fab text stamp for boys cards.....half price!!!
We also did something else we haven't done for a long time.......we had a Chicken Royale from Burger King for lunch....oooooh I did enjoy it....lol!!!
I went up to my room for a couple of hours when I got back to put away my pressies and finish off a job I started yesterday and the rest of the night I have just vegged on the sofa.........well being spoilt does tire you out somewhat......lol!!!
So no cards to show tonight but I will have tomorrow.
Off for a very early night for me.....I really do feel shattered today for some reason.
Thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-

Sweeeeeeeet!!!

Just a couple of cards I have made with the Sweet collection from DCWV. Deb gave me this as a gift on Tuesday.

I almost crafted tidily doing these as I had just a mat stack and a box of chipboard embellies on the desk along with the ribbon I had chosen. That soon altered when I got out boxes of brads and buttons looking for finishing touches.......lol!!!

Today I have my Cricut out and am cutting out mats and layers for future cards. I am really eating into my stash of card and paper at last........a job that really needs doing.
I'll be giving myself a night off later to watch a DVD with DD and then we are going a ride out in the morning.....maybe up to Crab Apple Crafts as we haven't been there for so long.

Whatever you are doing this weekend.....have a good one.
Bye for now
Sheila-x-

Post For Today Is........!!!

At Manic's Inky Antics as it is a very inky card.....lol!!!

Thanks for taking the time to visit.
Sheila-x-

Bizzy Bee!!!

So sorry that I have nothing to post tonight but I have had a mega busy day at the shop with no time to sit and create anything and I have had to bring prep home to do for tomorrow's class as there are now more ladies than I prepped for last week. That will teach me to try and be organised........lol!!!
Made a start on gathering goodies for the blog candy I am overdue on and I hope to post that either at the weekend or early next week.
Got a few more jobs to do and then I need a hot bath and my bed.
Bye for now
Sheila-x-

Quick Card!!!

I pulled out a folder of assorted papers this afternoon to see what could be used and what I could throw out and found this gold and cream Oriental paper which I have had for years. It was perfect to go with this watercolour image from the Oriental Dreams CD from Joanna Sheen so I whipped up a few of these as new home cards which make a change from the normal style I do. Took me all of ten minutes to make.

I am off to bag a space on the sofa for Dancing On Ice.
Bye for now
Sheila-x-

Wet And Windy Sunday!!!

Crikey.......it's a bit wild outside this morning. My favourite kind of day though to be snuggled up in my craft room and that is where I shall be shortly as I have orders to complete and curtains to hang.
Yes at last I have my curtains........or at least they will be curtains as soon as I have finished them.
Not being able to find the fabric I wanted at a price within my budget I have bought a huge tablecloth and cut it in half to make some very simple and not too full curtains as I don't want to lose too much light.
I don't really need curtains as the back of our house overlooks fields for miles but the thought of somebody being out there and able to see in just freaks me out.....lol!!!

Sorry there was no blog post yesterday but I had a really bad night on Friday. Unable to get to sleep I went up to my craft room to the computer and ended up falling asleep in front of it. I woke up in the most awful pain and didn't feel right all day. Everything I stamped ended up in the bin so I just sat and pinned the curtain tape onto my fabric and then hand stitched one of them while I watched a film with hubby last night.
Got a bit better night last night so hopefully I shall make something worth showing today.

Anyway.....hubby has finally returned from his Sunday morning shufty to Tesco so I am sending him out to the shed to get some curtain hooks and I am off upstairs.

Have a fab Sunday.
Sheila-x-

Roses Are Red!!!

Well maybe not when they are black and white........lol!!!
I am still loving the Harlequin Rose set and have been itching to do a black and white version of it.
The image is stamped in StazOn, shaded with chalks and ebellished with Frosted Lace Stickles.
Paper is Basic Grey.

I know it's stupid but I have a yearning to go into town tomorrow........I hate going into town on Saturday (or any day for that matter) so why on earth I want to I do not know. Maybe I will wake up in the morning in a more rational state of mind and talk myself out of it......lol!!!

I've been doing inky things today and feel really grubby so I'm off for an early bath and then I shall go and do something a bit cleaner and neater.......as I will be in my best jammies and DD will kill me if I clean my stamps on them.....lol!!!

Have a fab weekend
Sheila-x-

Rockin' Again!!!

Just a simple card tonight mostly StazOn stamping using a silver gel pen for embellishing some areas.
I really like the combination of black, grey and red.

Been a proper lazy bones tonight and have just finished watching series two of
Lark Rise on IPlay snuggled up in my fleecy blanket instead of getting any work done..........just felt like being lacksadaisical.

Off for a soak in the bath now and a read.

Bye for now
Sheila-x-

Rock Star!!!

I'm a bit later blogging tonight as I have had to be a proper mummy and cook a nice hot tea for DD who is on night shift and will be out in the cold all night. Then I had to nip upstairs and take pics of the cards I have done today and fiddle about with them on the computer.

At last I have some cards done with the Inkadinkado Rock Star stamp set which I have had in my hot little mitts since before Christmas but which we have only just had in at the shop.
I really love this set.

The red background is Co'redinations Scarlet and I masked off one area to stamp the stars then scratched the top half with my new distressing tool before spraying it with Graphite Glimmer Mist to grunge it up a bit.
The guitar is stamped onto an inky dipped and dragged background of Stream and Denim Adirondack with a final dragging of silver. This has then been sprayed with Lime Twist and Riptide Glimmer Mists........those names just make my mouth water.....lol!!!

Going to take the rest of the night off and watch the start of series two of Larkrise as we have finished series one on DVD and I really liked it even though I didn't expect to.

I keep getting told off for buying all the new stock as it comes into the shop.......lol!!!
Honestly I only have one of each thing.....one of each set of stamps, one of each Glimmer Mist etc.........he he he!!!
If I didn't buy them I wouldn't be able to do any stamping and that would make me very sad............and you don't want a sad Manic now do ya?
I can't even bear to think about a life without rubber stamps.......makes me go all shuddery.........lol!!!

Anyway I'm orf to goggle at the computer screen for a bit.
Bye for now........and thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-

Back To Black!!!

What a plank!!! I did a card last night with the Rock Star stamps but didn't photograph it as the Glossy Accents wasn't dry. Took it to work with me this morning and have forgotten to bring it back home.
So tonight I am sharing a Cuttlebugged card done on black Co'redinations from the Spellcaster pack. This one has a lime green centre and is just so yummy.
The folder is from an A6 Cut and Emboss set and this one debosses rather than embosses.
I'll post the Rock Star card tomorrow.

I have bought home an obscene amount of new stock tonight......including seven sets of stamps and seven new Glimmer Mists..........lol!!! All I need now is forty eight hour days to play with them.

I'll get off and get stamping.
Thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-

Return To Cutesville!!!

Another card done using the same stamp set as yesterday. this one has had a bit of everything chucked at it.............lol. Still pencils and LOT's with a touch of Stickles but I have added a Cuttlebugged card blank and some paper flowers, pearls and ribbon.
Going to get back to inky things tonight as I am hoping to be working with a set of rock star stamps by Inkadinkado once my 'have to' jobs have been done.

For shop customers who read my blog........we have had lots of new stuff in over the last few days. Lots of stunning new Inkadinkado stamps, more Glimmer Mists, another new set of stamps from Elusive Images and some very bargainous stuff from Docrafts. We've had to have a move round to fit it all in but it's now all out apart from the Glimmer Mists as I ran out of day before I ran out of jobs to do.

Been fed and watered so I'm off upstairs now to sort out my jobs and get inky.
Thanks for your visit.
Sheila-x-

I Don't Belieeeeeeeeve It!!!

Here's something you don't see very often..........a cute card on Manicstamper's blog....lol!!!
I mentioned the other day that I had bought some cute stamps and these are they.
A set of Penny Black clear stamps with a lovey dovey theme.
Stamped in StazOn Jet Black and mostly coloured with pencils and low odour thinners though I did use Stardust pens for the flowers as they were so tiny.
The flowers along the base of the bottom panel have been stamped using the top stamp upside down.
The balloon is finished with Glossy Accents and the heart with Stickles.
There will be another cutie tomorrow......if I put two on the same post I fear my blog will explode.
Joking aside......I did quite enjoy doing these for a change.

Sorry I haven't blogged for a couple of days but Friday I spent the afternoon in bed with a migraine and Saturday I was doing my Domestic Goddess impersonation and cleaning the bedrooms.
Hubby was cooking today so I went for a ride out with DD for an hour this morning and we ended up at Hobby Horse Crafts at Elvaston. I only wanted a sheet of purple Bazzill but DD spoilt me rotten while we there and bought me some Kelly Panacci stamps and some ribbon.........not that I need any more of either......lol!!!
Actually I didn't really do any shopping. It was DD who had the basket as I was so busy talking to my lovely mate Sal who works there..........Hi Sal........and Paula.

I'm off to blurf for a bit until Dancing On Ice starts...........oooooh I so love Sunday.
Hope you have all had a great weekend.
Thanks for stopping by.
Sheila-x-