Today Is.......Duvet Day!!!

Had a very busy day yesterday with two ladies in for an all day class and the shop very busy too.
We had a lot of fun in the class especially as teacher (meaning me) made an upside down card.......although we did decide that it looked just as good upside down.....until I went and put my chandelier upside down too........lol!!!
There was a lot of trouble with bows that wouldn't do as they were told which caused quite a bit of laughter but in the end we got all four cards done and the ladies went home happy.
Today DD and I have planned a Duvet Day as we are both tired. So once hubby has gone to work later on we prepare our tea of chicken and salad and veg on the sofa watching films for the afternoon.
Hopefully the postie will be bringing me some goodies today. I've ordered a couple of goody bags from Craftwork Cards as I have fallen in love with their chocolate range and I also need some stuff for girly cards.
Right I had best go and make something seeing as how I am going to be a lazy bones this afternoon.
Bye for now
Sheila-x-

Sunday!!!

Spent today catching up on orders and finishing cards off for the local shop.

For the background paper on this anniversary card I have used my new Pink Petticoat Little Swirls download. I have printed the silver onto Ice Diamond paper and it looks gorgeous.....doesn't show too well in the pic though.

The card is for a couple who like gardening so I have used a Spellbinders die for the flowerpot and a Quickutz die for the tools.

Flowers are punched from vellum and have peeloff dots for centres.

I hope they like this one. I had three choices of theme and liked this one best.


Had to make a little time for myself to get inky and just make a card for no other reason than I wanted to. It's posted HERE


Thanks for dropping by today.

Sheila-x-

It's Very Tiring......!!!

...........being the boss.......lol!!!
I have been busy trying to get the projects put together for the May workshop programme but being at the shop mostly by myself means I am up and down stairs all day and things take longer than they would normally.
Next week DD is coming with me all week and she will be a big help as she will stay down in the shop and I can crack on in the workshop.


I've spoken to Deb a couple of times this week. She is in quite a lot of pain but trooper that she is.......she is very upbeat and more cheerful than I would probably be in the same situation.
I'll pop in and visit her one day next week on my way home from the shop.


I am off back up to my room now as I was daft enough to fall asleep after tea and now am wide awake.
Thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-

Back To The Bitsa's!!!

Here's a couple of the cards I finished off this evening.
I'm back to using up some bits at the moment for cards for the local shop....before I start on newer purchases.
The card is a 5 3/4 inch square card with an inch cut off the open side and turned tent fold. The mounted square is 3 3/4.
The papers are MM which I seem to have had forever so they have to go and I have also used up a few flowers from my humungous stash along with some peeloffs that wanted using up.......they are going down slowly.....lol!!!
Flower centres are Card Candy from Craftwork Cards and the foliage is a McGill punch........which I think I may have broken......sob!!!


I'm off for a soak in some Sanctuary now to finish off my lovely relaxing day......but then I have to go back upstairs to cut up the stuff for tomorrow's workshop....no rest for the wicked.


Bye for now and thanks for your visit.
Sheila-x-

Update On Deb!!!

An update on Deb for all customers and friends who have been enquiring.
Deb had her operation on Monday at 1:30pm and everything went very well.
I spoke to her yesterday and she sounded great. She was hoping to be going home today but it will be tomorrow afternoon now.
I imagine it will be a few weeks before she is able to return to the shop to work but she may visit on odd days so I will post here when she is expected so that anyone who wants to see her can come and visit.


Debs' mum Janet is very kindly doing a day at the shop today so that I can have a day off and I don't know when I enjoyed a day more.
I was up early this morning and with hubby at work and DD in bed I have got so much done. Four loads of laundry and a fifth about to go in, dinner is simmering on the stove and the kitchen is tidy.........it's bliss.
It is so rare for me to have a day in the house and be able to get on with my jobs without working around bodies lounging about on the sofa or getting under my feet.
Despite moaning about housework and cooking etc I do really love it and I miss the days when I used to be at home and have all my chores done by lunchtime and would spend the afternoon either gardening or sewing.....my two other passions which are on the back burner at the moment.


Once hubby gets home and takes Smudgie out with him I shall be off upstairs to finish off some cards I started last night and I'll post those later.
Meanwhile I am enjoying a browse around the web in between laundry loads and stirring the dinner.
Bestest day I have had for ages.......lol!!!

Catch you later
Sheila-x-

Bling It On!!!

Here is a card I made today while taking time out from work type stuff.
The image is from Cora at Paper Flowers who collects and scans all sorts of wonderful images and offers them at her other blog Clearly Vintage as a weekly Saturday Image Bonus.
Cora always asks for people to let her see any projects produced with her images and this is the first I have done, although I have been collecting the images for some time.
A huge thank you Cora for all the beautiful things you share.....your own work as well as the images.

For the card I have printed the image onto a linen effect cardstock and then extended the design to one side where I have hand drawn the lettering, cut around it and glittered it using Quickie Glue and very fine glitter.
The card blank is covered with paper from the Basic Grey Urban Couture range.
The the picture area of the image has been rounded out and attached with silicone glue while the letter area has been glued flat with PVA. You can see this better if you click on the image for a larger view.
Chipboard circles have been covered with the same paper and decorated with a gem and I used a pattern from a Christmas card I made to do the gem lines at the bottom.
Hope you like it.

I don't know how much I will be blogging over the next few weeks as I am going to be out of the house more days now until Deb is recovered from her operation. I will be having Wednesday off every week but that may be spent doing prep for workshops if I don't get time to do it at the shop. I will post as and when I can but apologies in advance if I don't manage every day.

It's been a bit warm for me today so I am off for a nice cool bath in a minute when I have done my sandwiches for work.
Thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-

Up To My Eyes........!!!

..........in paper, card and embellishments with lots of cutting and sticking going on. Have a pile of cards started but not finished but they will be finished off tomorrow.
I don't know how I got such a pile done as hubby bless him seems to think that I love to spend my weekends finding new ways to delight his tummy and I have spent most of the day braising meat, then going back upstairs while it cooked, coming down and adding further ingredients, back upstairs etc, etc. There is a lot to be said for salad.....or egg and chips.......lol!!!
Very nearly took the scissors to my Laundry Line papers today......just stopped myself in time.........phew it was a close shave.
Should get a good day in tomorrow as DD will be in bed all day and lunch will be late so I shall be upstairs from first thing.
Bye for now
Sheila-x-

Another Year Older!!!

Not sure I like this birthday lark very much........lol!!!
I like the day.........just not the fact that I am a bigger number than I was the day before.
Had a bit of a mixed day. Very busy at the shop and as hubby was cooking my birthday tea I did want to get off on time but spent fifteen minutes sat on the car park blocked in by a lorry emptying somebody's septic tank.......how bloody typical......I was somewhat less than amused I can tell you.



Anyhoo......I had some fab pressies. Money to spend on future crafty goodies and loads of crafty stuff including a 9,000 piece Cosmo Cricket kit from Deb, one of every assortment of Craftwork Cards Candy Dots, ink pads, Glimmer Mists, stamps, Fiskars Swivel Finger Knife and a book from DD, a Santuary foot care kit from Smudge the dog, Sanctuary goodies from Debs mum and then my mate Judith (Gert) came for her class and bought me the most amazing basket stuffed to the gills with Sanctuary gorgeousness. I am not kidding when I say that I will not need to buy any more myself until Christmas at least. She also got me ready for the heat of the summer with some giant cooler sprays........lol..........she is just the best buddy ever.
I've spent some of the money I had from hubby already on a 12x12 My Minds Eye Laundry Line stack, a 12x12 scalloped card stack, Nestabilities and a border punch. The rest I am saving for another crafty spend later.
DS is taking me out for a meal at the end of the month as he is on nights at the moment.


No new cards to show today I'm afraid as I spent the evening of my birthday vegging out on the sofa watching rubbish on tv and eating chocolate cake.....yum yum!!!
There will be plenty to come over the next couple of weeks though as I am just starting to design all the projects for the May classes at Monks Den.
Deb goes into hospital on Monday for her operation so I would like to wish her all the best and a speedy recovery..........just want to warn her as well that if she tries to do too much when she comes out...........I will be nicking her crutches......lol!!!


Right best get off to bed.....I am really crackered today.
Thanks for dropping by
Sheila-x-

The Winner Is...........!!!

Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:453
Timestamp: 2009-04-15 15:58:42 UTC

and number 453 is..........

mitch 1066

If you can e mail me your details I will get your candy out to you.

If I don't hear anything by the weekend I will draw another winner.

Thanks everyone for entering.

Sheila

-x-

Shabby Baby Girls!!!

As promised......here are the Shabby Baby Girl cards.

Paper is K & Co and the stamped sentiment is from the Baby Girl clear stamp set by Scrappy Cat.

I should have mentioned yesterday that the papers and stamped sentiment were from the same companies.

Just a few minutes left now until the Blog Candy draw closes. The winner will be announced tomorrow when I return from work so about 5pm or shortly after.

Thank you to everyone who has entered.

Bye for now

Sheila-x-

Shabby Baby Boys!!!

Found a fabulous pattern HERE in the download section for these cute little animals.

They had been made into shaped cards but I have made single layer ones and added them to the front of an A5 card.

Stitching is hand pierced and drawn but the buttons are sewn on with thread.

Tomorrow I will post the Shabby Baby Girls versions which are almost finished.

This is a lot more work than I would normally put into baby cards but I have really enjoyed doing them just for a change.

It's been a glorious day here in Staffordshire but I haven't been out at all. Overslept this morning and have felt as slow as a slug all day so I've just been up in my room finishing off the boy cards and starting on the girls.

Back to work tomorrow so I shall have to go and tidy up, sort out my stuff I need to take and some clothes to wear. After that it will be inserts and bagging for the cards that need to go down to the village shop tomorrow.

Getting very laid back about the decorating now.......lol!!! I ain't gonna worry as long as it gets done this side of Christmas.

Ta ta for now

Sheila-x-

Shabby Heart!!!

Happy Easter to all my visitors today.

Still running with the 'shabby' style........today's card is an anniversary card made with hand cut layered hearts. The top heart has been Cuttled to give it some texture.
Lots of edging with a brown dye ink pad and I added hydrangea blooms with pearl centres.
This afternoon I will be making blummin' baby cards as I have run short but that will be after the lunch hubby is cooking as we speak. Roast beef and all the trimmings....he is such an angel.

Decorating is NOT going to plan as I had forgotten that DD would be in bed due to being on nights and yesterday she was up so late that it just wasn't worth starting. She finishes her stint tomorrow morning so she won't be in bed as long and maybe I will get something done.

Had a bit of a shock yesterday.........you remember I said I was going to get hubby out in the garden? Well I didn't even have to ask. He was out the front rooting up a dead tree stump which we applied a killer to about two years ago. It has taken this long for it to die off but now it's out. He also tidied up one side of the borders. Mmmm best treat him good for a while now.

Oooooh being called for lunch so best go and do it justice.....lol!!!
Hope you are all having a fab weekend.
Sheila-x-

Shabby Roses!!!

Another busy day in the Manic household.....when is it ever not.......lol!!! So just to wind down a bit I have sat for a couple of hours and put this card together.
It was totally inspired by the flowered paper from my stash which needs using up.
The large bracket shape is half of a square one I cut on the Cricut Expression. It took a bit of working out to get it exactly the right size as the shape it cuts is a frame and this is the centre. I was quite sensible and did the cutting on scrap card to make myself a template to draw around rather than wasting paper trying to get it right.
The cartridge was Wild Card and the shape is a liner for a gift box........the last but one key on the pad and I cut at 9 1/2 inches for this A5 card and then cut the template in half.
Paper is K & Co and Paper Adventures.
For the shading I used an All Night Media Coffee ink pad and the stitching around the circle is hand pierced and drawn with a fineliner pen.
Greeting is a strip of card which I cut fine enough to go through my Dymo.
Leaves are hand cut from Bazzill Bling and then inked.

My lovely DD has given me a huge treat today.......a bottle of Sanctuary Foam Bath. I ran out ages ago and haven't really been able to afford the luxury so I will probably be in the bath until 2am.........lol!!! I shall look like a prune but smell divine.

Only four days left to get your name down for the Blog Candy so go HERE to be in with a chance of getting the goodies.

Thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-

It's PINK!!!

Oh gawd and then some eh?...........lol!!!
It's a second card for a workshop.....the first one will be a stamped card which can sometimes take a while so I usually do a quicker card to make sure the ladies have two cards finished to take home.

LMAO today........it was pretty quiet all day and at ten to four I thought I would get cashed up and start closing down........and in came some customers.....so I was late leaving.....lol!!! Now that IS what you call Sod's Law. I never mind staying though cos our customers are all fab.

Typical Bank Holiday weather I see. Hope it picks up a bit so hubby can get out and take the dog from under my feet while I am decorating. He likes to help does Smudge but dog hair in my wallpaper paste......no thanks. I might set hubby on in the garden and then he can help Dad out there. And if we do get some sun I might suggest a BBQ....oh yum.......I lurrrve BBQ.

Right...I am off. Might have a browse around the web for ten minutes before I go and tidy the pit up. I've been making card blanks ready for my cardmaking sessions in the evenings over the next few days so I need to get all that stuff put away and make some room for working.

Have a fab weekend.....whatever you are doing.
Bye for now
Sheila-x-

Don't forget to add your name to the 'Be In It To Win It' Blog Candy Draw.
You have until Midnight GMT on Tuesday 14th April and I will draw the winner on Wednesday 15th April.

Beaded Face!!!

Still playing with the Triple Embossing. This card was for a lady's workshop on Monday........she has fallen in love with this Hampton Art face stamp so I promised we would use it.
I have stamped the face onto mountboard and then extended the bottom edge, finishing it off with a curve.
Colouring is done with chalks and the Accent Beads have been attached using the heated UTEE as a glue then more added over the top to hold them in place.

Well yesterday's class was an absolute riot. We had a fabulous time. Lesley and Jo are such lovely ladies. They both sent me the nicest messages when they got home. I don't know why I was so nervous.
Looking forward to the next time girls.

It's been very quiet at the shop today but it has been such a beautiful day outside that I expect everyone was out in their gardens. If I had been at home I think I would have been out in mine getting some tidying done.

After tomorrow I have four days off with Monday being Bank Holiday.....three guesses what I will be doing. Yes decorating.......it's still there waiting to be done and there was me hoping it would either go away or that I'd get some nocturnal visits from the elves. Ha....no such luck.

Anyhoo I am off for a bath and a read then I might have an early night for a change.
Bye for now
Sheila-x

Loving The Fireworks!!!

Another outing for the Fireworks stamp from Penny Black. It doesn't ever seem to get put away at the moment......I love it.
This time I have used my trusty Adirondacks in Denim and Eggplant for the background and overstamped in Denim using a text stamp from Eccentric Edwardian by Elusive Images.
For a sketchy look to the text I have just touched the stamp to the card lightly and then pulled it straight off.
One again I have used the Metal Magic EP from Debbi Moore for the centre panel but this time I have sanded it after stamping the image which gives it a fab brushed aliminium look and leaves the area below the level of the image still quite shiny......mmm I see more possibilities for that little trick.
The black outline around the panel is eigth inch pieces of card......yes I know I'm barking.....no need to tell me......lol!!! They have been attached using tiny dots of PVA adhesive.
.........and there you go....no nasty shiny card to spoil the picture......lol!!!

I am so excited (and nervous) about the classes tomorrow. I am going to be meeting two ladies who I only know through the blogging world. As they come from some distance away they will be staying for the whole day and doing two classes. I will be teaching the afternoon class........if I don't pass out with nerves first...lol!!!
Can't wait to meet you........Lesley and Jo and I hope you enjoy your day.

Best get off and get some beauty sleep........oops...they are coming tomorrow....I should have started that three months ago......ha ha ha!!!

Night Night
Thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-

Glimmery Glitz!!!

Today I have been having a play with Glimmer Mists and Metal Magic Embossing Powder.

I pulled out a background I made some time ago with alcohol inks on horrible silver mirror card that has lines of colour in it.

I masked off an area with Post It notes and patted the exposed area with a Versamark ink pad then removed the mask and added Silver Metal Magic. After heating, it was allowed to cool, the mask was replaced and more VM added.

Three layers of ink and EP were applied then I stamped the image into the last warm layer.

This was left to go completely cold before being sprayed with Deep Plum Glimmer Mist. I let it pool in the debossed areas and removed the spray from other areas with a tissue which I worked into a point and used to soak up the excess spray and then left to dry before matting onto silver card.

The bottom band is also alcohol ink on silver card mounted onto plain silver that has been punched with a Fiskar's border punch.

The light in my room seems to pick up the mirror effect of the background card but in real life it isn't quite so obvious but next time I will do this using white gloss card for the alcohol inks.

Stamp is Fireworks by Penny Black

Text stamp on background unknown.

Well as usual the weekend is nearly over and I haven't done half the things I wanted to do.

I'll have even less time in a couple of weeks as Deb is going into hospital for an operation and I will be doing six days a week at the shop until she is fit enough to come back.

Anyway I am off to tidy up my mess before I start making another one and I shall be up there until bed time I expect now that there is nothing on tv to watch of a Sunday night.

Thanks for dropping by.

Sheila-x-

BLOG CANDY POST IS HERE

Orders Everywhere!!!

It's been a heck of a busy day. I've been catching up with orders and things I'm short of down at the village store, cooking, cleaning, dog walking and laundry. I am only just at 11:30pm about to put on my.......I am off for the weekend and can relax......hat and go upstairs to do something messy. Mind you....even that is work really as it will be something for a class on Monday...lol!!!
Although I have made some cards today they are not really blog cards. One is rather personal for the lady who ordered it and the others were just quickies to fill up the stand and a sympathy card to send to the son of a friend who passed away on Monday.
I will be decorating again tomorrow but won't be able to start first thing as DD will be in off a night shift and so she'll be in bed but only until mid morning she says as she is off tomorrow night.
Right I am off to create something.
Thanks for your visit.

..........and just in case you are visiting and don't know.........there is blog candy to be had here.......so scroll down and leave a comment to be in with a chance to win.

Bye for now
Sheila-x-

A Card At Last!!!

Stayed up all night on Tuesday night to get this card just right as I needed it for a workshop later today and wanted to get all the templates cut while I was at work yesterday............which didn't happen as I was too busy with customers and deliveries........but there you go......customers are much more important.

I have used a set of clear stamps by Prima along with gorgeous Chocolate Mocha Core'dinations cardstock. The cardstock has been sanded before being stamped with various images.

The shutters have been cut after stamping which makes life so much easier as at first I was cutting them before and they kept popping open just as I went to put the stamp down.

The chandelier has been stamped onto Bazzill as have the tassels.

I think this would make a fab new home card and just by changing the stamps and card colours it could be made modern or more traditional rather than vintage.

I shall do a couple more myself in other styles to see how they turn out.

Anyway.......busy day as I said. We now have the Daisy and Dandelion stamps back in stock and we finally got our Debbi Moore embossing powders both regular and Metal Magic so I am looking forward to playing with those hopefully over the weekend......although I do still have decorating to finish.

Need to go and catch up on some sleep now.

Thanks for your visit.

Sheila-x-