Christmas Present!!!

While I was sorting out some stuff I came across a couple of these Christmas present toppers I made some time ago so thought I would use them up. The body of the present is made from a piece of card wrapped in gold printed organza fabric. I don't normally use satin ribbon on cards as I find it a bit too heavy......plus I am not good at tying neat bows with it.
The embellishments are......Holly.......Crafts For Christmas and Gold Poinsettia.......Crafty Bits.
Just matted onto gold pearl card and then onto a cream card blank.

Does anybody else have those days that are just a mess from start to finish or is it just me?
Had my day planned out....which included the unexpected DG session....but nothing went right from the time I got up. Hubby decided he wanted whole shallots in the casserole and we didn't have any in. Obviously it being Sunday the supermarket doesn't open until 10am so I couldn't get anything done until he got back. Well he was gone for bloomin' ages. I was getting so ticked off. Then he saunters in and says 'Ooh I just fancied a wander round the car boot sale at the race course'. I could have throttled him.......mmm might just leave that until after Christmas.......lol!!!

Anyway I eventually got to spend a bit of time in my workroom and made the grand total of........no cards. I got sidetracked by some stuff that wanted putting away and one thing led to another. Then it was time for X Factor and I just didn't get going again after that.

Was sad to see Lloyd go as I loved his performances this weekend........especially A Million Love Songs. I'd have been happier if Danyl had gone but hey ho at least Joe is still there bless him. Would love to see Joe and Stacey in the final.

I've gone quite chilly sitting here so I think I'll have a hot drink and then get to bed.
Thanks for stopping by.
Sheila-x-

Nesties In The Epic!!!

Managed to have a play with my new baby.......the Quickutz Epic.
I used a couple of Nesties and they cut beautifully on the cutting platform with no shims or anything......brilliant.
As well as having a go with my new toy I was trying to use up the last of my pink and brown kit I bought from Craftwork Cards. These cards are so tiny at 3 1/2 x 3 1/2. I don't usually make such small cards but these are to go into little totes so they are perfect and I love them.
ETA......Sorry I forgot to say that the cupcakes are a Sizzlet diecut.

Hubby has at last put in a new light fitting on the landing just outside my craft room.....no more going downstairs in the pitch black hoping I don't break my neck.
I have had to settle for one that is OK rather than having what I would have liked as it is a wall light and there is no room to have anything that sticks out too far. At least it's better than what was there before.

For the first time in what feels like a hundred years.....I am going to be on my own, on a Saturday night. DD will be off to work at 7:30 and hubby is off out to somebodies birthday or retirement do.....not sure which. Oooooh I get to watch X Factor in peace. Usually spend most of it telling hubby and the dog to shut up as because he isn't fond of watching it he starts a play fight with the dog who gruffs and grumbles very loudly.

Hoping to get a full day up in my room tomorrow as I have done the DG duties for the last two days......uh oh.....that's just been knocked on the head as hubby has just informed me that he would like the Winter Pork Casserole for dinner tomorrow instead of a roast. OK......I'll try for Monday then........lol!!!

Right I'd better go and mash the potatoes for the fish pie we are having tonight.
Thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-

Play Time!!!

Hi there.
Sorry there was no blog post last night. I bought my new baby home with me, went upstairs to play and then spent two hours trying to clear up to give me room to play. So all I have done is run one embossing folder through it.....lol!!!
Anyhoo.....I have a couple of jobs to get done housewise and then I am off upstairs. I will play today if it kills me.
Catch you later
Sheila-x-

Santa Goes A-Wassailing!!!

Yet another card to add to the Christmas pile.
The gorgeous Santa is an Inkadinkado stamp and is stamped in Cranberry Adirondack then edged in Pesto.
Background paper is Basic Grey Wassail......hence the stupid post title......lol!!!
The sentiment ticket was a free download from Miss Cutie Pie. There are others on the sheet and they are really lovely.

Had a very busy day at the shop today and the Epics arrived just before closing. I didn't get chance to unpack it never mind play so hopefully Deb and I will be able have a look at it tomorrow and I'll let you know what it's like.

Saw the first house with it's Christmas decs up yesterday. A tad early for me......I shan't put mine up until at least.........ooooh tomorrow........only joking......lol!!!
No mine will be up the first week of December after I have mucked out this pig sty of a house. Once again I have left it too late to change the colour scheme......which I have been going to do for the last five years.....lol!!!
Christmas day this year was going to be odd as there would have been no DS and DD is at work all over Christmas on nights but now DS and DDIL are coming for the whole day so it will be great and I am really looking forward to it.

Well that's me done for tonight and I am off for a snooze.

Thanks for dropping by
Sheila-x-

Bauble For You.....Two!!!

Another bauble card. Same layout as yesterday's but this time I have used a bauble cut on the Cricut and foil patterned card instead of ribbon.
Yesterday's card was an A5 size and this one is 5x7.

For customers at Monks Den who have been awaiting restocking of Collall Photo Glue..........it's now back in stock and we have boat loads. Plus we have restocked on some Cuttlebug folders and dies and have some new ones in.
We are also very excited as the Quickutz Epic should be arriving tomorrow. My name is on one as DD is buying me one for Christmas.

Well I am off up to my workroom as I have card orders and some tidying to do.

Thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-

Bauble For You!!!

Still chugging out the Christmas cards and I shan't half be glad when I'm done. Should really be finished by now but I had a bad patch where I got a bit behind with them. Another week should be enough on them I reckon.
Anyhoo......this one is the Cuttlebug Cut and Emboss bauble. At first I didn't like the embossed panel on it and was cutting plain baubles and dressing them up myself but I like it more now.
The ribbon is very precious stash which I bought two or three years ago and have been saving for just the right project......lol!!! Wish I had bought more at the time because I really love it.

Yesterday I heard the very sad news that a friend had passed away after fighting the return of breast cancer.
Maureen you will be so sadly missed.
Might I ask if you could mention in your prayers tonight Maureen's daughter Emma who has lost both of her parents within a couple of months. I am heartbroken for her.

Thank you.

Appreciate you dropping by tonight.
Sheila-x-

Pop Up Card!!!

Had some fun making this Pop Up Card.
You can get instructions for this from Splitcoast Stampers. I made mine a little wider than the instructions as I wanted to fit these two pop outs onto the front.
The snowman is Inkadinkado and the tree is handcut and embossed with a Quickutz folder. The baubles are peeloff dots as I didn't have enough of the clear gems I wanted to use.

Had an enquiry about the greeting used on yesterday's card. It's a peeloff believe it or not. I just love the font and wish I could find the same thing in a stamp.

Got my DG hat on again today and have made another of our favourite winter warmer meals. Tonight we are having Hash Jackets. I don't normally like jacket potatoes but I will eat them if the potato is scooped out and mixed with something.

To make Hash Jackets you will need-:

1 large baking potato per person, scrubbed and pricked with a fork.
2 medium onions, peeled and diced.
Butter.
Creamed Horseradish Sauce.
English Mustard.
Tin of Corned Beef, diced.
Salt and ground black pepper.

Bake the potatoes on a fairly high heat so that the skins are crispy when cooked.

Melt butter in a frying pan and saute the onions until soft.
Add one teaspoon of mustard and one teaspoon of horseradish sauce to the onions and mix thoroughly.
When potatoes are cooked cut them in half, scoop out the potato into a mixing bowl (save the skins as you will need them later) and mash them down a little.
Add the onion mixture and mix thoroughly then gently fold in the Corned Beef.
Season to taste and then divide the mixture between the potato skins and return to a hot oven to brown.

I serve this with salad and crusty bread.

Right best go and feed them.......they're acting like I've been starving them for a week...lol!!!

Thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-

Back to Normal......ish!!!

This is another of the cards I was making with my Blue Awning papers last weekend. I love it when the paper does pretty much all of the work for you.....lol!!!

Sorry about my short post the other day when I was feeling somewhat less than happy........actually I was like a bag of ferrets. If I had stayed on any longer I would probably have had a bit of a rant and then regretted it the next day. I am still fairly p'd off about a couple of things but am calming down gradually.

I have a couple of new things which I need to take pics of tomorrow. Missed the light today as I was fiddling about with something called an Endless Card.....I could have called it something else.......lol!!! Anyway it ended up in the bin and I shall have another go when I am a bit less stressed.

DD has gone out for the night so I am cooking hubby a nice supper for when he comes in and I think I will take a break tonight and watch a film with him then have a good night's sleep.

Thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-

Just A Quickie!!!

Just a quick post tonight.
For several reasons I am in a foul temper and not very nice to know.

This is a different version of a card I did a few weeks ago.

Thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-

Happy New Year!!!

I've never really bothered making new year cards but this year I loved this stamp in a Papermania set and wanted to use it.
The image is just stamped in plain black onto some gorgeous cream card, matted onto some pearlised gold card and then a black embossed panel.
I've just noticed that the photo is a bit blurred....sorry.

Had a lovely afternoon today. DD finished work this morning after an horrendous week and said that after she had had a couple of hours sleep that we would go out. So we have been to Bridgemere Garden Centre, had our scone and pot of tea, a mooch around the Christmas displays and then a visit to Hobbycraft where I picked up a couple of bits I needed. We have had a good laugh and are both much better for our afternoon trip.
Now I need to go and catch up on some work.

Thanks for your visit.
Sheila-x-

Busy Gal!!!

Sorry I have been a bad blogger for the last couple of days but I have had my head down and been getting on with some cards ready to go to the local shop. Sometimes in the rush of getting Christmas stuff done I do neglect my every day cards and that is what I have been catching up on.
This weekend I thought I would tackle my stash of K & Co paper and made some cards using my most favourite ever collection....Blue Awning.
This is an 8x8 card.
Scallop and circle are Nestabilities.
The plaque for the sentiment and the buttons in the centres of the flowers are Blue Awning embellishments.
I managed to make twenty cards and still have a pile of papers left so I shall have to have another session with it at some point.

Was completely underwhelmed by X Factor last night....apart from a quiet drool over Brian May.......had to be quiet as hubby was watching too.......lol!!!
I thought the only two who did passable peformances were Lloyd and Joe but God forgive me I did rather enjoy Jedward's version of Under Pressure......OK I will go and shoot myself now after that confession.......lol!!!
Haven't a clue who will go tonight so will just have to wait and see.

Got a date with a roll of double sided tape now so best go and get on.
Thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-

No Christmas.......Again!!!

Another couple of cards done with the stamps from the Papermania Chatsworth range. Both really simple as these and the two I posted yesterday are just quick samples to display in the shop.

Paper on the top card is All Around The Block.

Lovely weather today.......lol!!!

It's the start of my weekend and I have just spent a lovely couple of hours up in my room all nice and cosy with the rain battering on the roof.........bliss!!!

Tomorrow I shall be spending the morning being a Domestic Goddess. Hubby is craving a homemade Steak and Kidney pie........gawd I hope he's not pregnant....lol!!!So I am going to cook the meat and let it stand overnight before I make the pie on Saturday. It always tastes so much nicer the next day.

Then it will be the usual tidying up after a week of us all being on different shifts. After that I am freeeeeeeeee......yay and I shall be spending the rest of the weekend crafting and watching X Factor.

Right now I am going to lollop about for a while doing whatever takes me fancy.

Thanks for dropping by.

Sheila-x-

No Christmas Today!!!

Moving house is on the cards today and I have used some new stamps from Papermania to make these two cards.

For the top card I have created a background onto Bazzill cardstock using Versamark as a watermark ink.

The Sizzix circle has been masked and chalked to give the illusion of a floor and papered wall and then the images were stamped in Olive Green StazOn. The front part of the chair and the lampshade have been stamped again and cut out then attached with foam pads.

Finished it off with a touch of gold Stickles and some ribbon.

The second card has been masked to create a carpet with chalk and then overstamped with one of the small floral stamps in the set and Timber Brown StazOn.

I think the paper is S.E.I but not sure as I just grabbed it and used it. That was brushed over with a little brown chalk.

Oval is Sizzix and the sentiment is on the stamp set.

There are two more cards which I will post tomorrow and one of them....much to my shame and embarrassment is pink......lol!!!

The posh pan has been out again tonight. I cooked sausages in it and wow were they gorgeous or what? I've never been a fan of sausages with pink stripes in them where they won't lie properly under the grill. These were beautifully and evenly brown. So that is dead impressed number 2.

Everyone must be getting into Christmas mode now as it's been very busy at the shop again today. We have nearly sold out of the Forever Friends Christmas decoupage packs and the last Papermania tree stamp went this morning..........shame........I had my eye on that one......lol!!!

Well that's me done for tonight. I was a bit naughty and didn't have my early night last night. I went to bed at 3am and was up again at 5.30am so I am feeling just a tad weary now. Going to make myself a cuppa and read a couple of pages of my book before I turn in........honestly.......lol!!!

Thanks for dropping by

Sheila-x-

All Work.................!!!

............and no play makes Manicstamper a dull blogger.......lol!!!
I have made cards at work today but couldn't bring them home to photograph as there was stuff still drying on them and I didn't want to risk spoiling them. I'll bring them home tomorrow............and guess what..........not a Christmas card to be seen.
Since coming home I have managed to rack up six new year cards but they need something just to finish them off. So I have been busy........just got nothing to show for it at the moment.

Hubby has bought me a new kitchen gadget.......he is soooooo romantic....not.....lol!!!
Anyway he has bought me an Actifry so that he can have chips again........ooh he does make me laugh!!!
We tried it last night and I was quite impressed so can't wait to try other things in it now.........plus it looks dead posh sitting on the counter top......lol!!!

Had a busy day at the shop today besides making cards. For some reason stamps have been a big seller today with quite a few ladies buying them who have never stamped before. Does my heart good to welcome newbies into the fold. I love to see the excitement when someone is trying something they haven't done before.......I am a soft old bat.

I'm a bit shattered tonight so I am going to have a lovely cuppa while I surf the net for a while and then an earlier than usual night as I have to be out early in the morning.

Thanks for your visit.
Sheila-x-

Peeled Paint Santa!!!

I've put tonight's card on my other blog HERE

Been having a bit of me time yesterday and today as when I got home from work last night I felt like I had been kicked in the face by a very large donkey. I have the hugest cold sore........well actually due to it's size it could well be another head growing.......ha ha ha!!! Gawd it doesn't half hurt. I thought I had grown out of them as I haven't had one for absolutely ages.......guess I was wrong.
Didn't get up to my workroom until after X Factor but I still made five cards before I went to bed.

Talking of X Factor.........I think the judges must be listening to something totally different to what we are listening to. They thought Jamie was fantastic while hubby, DD and I thought it wasn't the best song choice. On the other hand they didn't rate Lloyd and we loved his performance last night.
I used to love the film Ghostbusters but I'll never be able to watch it again after seeing that ridiculous performance by Jedward.....dreadful.
Anyway not long to wait for the results show and we may be lucky and get rid of them tonight.

ETA..........that result was just WRONG!!!

Thanks for dropping by
Sheila-x-

Not A Snowflake In Sight!!!

Needed a quick break from Christmas so I put together this card using a set of stamps by Inkadinkado and some Costco paper.
The back panel has been matted before embossing with the Cuttlebug music folder and then I ran some silver card through my Dymo machine to print the words birthday and boy.
The brads were patterned so I sanded them and then stamped using StazOn.
Today I am back to the Christmas cards.........bah humbug!!!

Sorry I didn't blog last night but I was feeling pretty grotty all day yesterday and by the time I had got home from work and tidied up my pit of a room.....all I was fit for was bed. Still don't feel fabulous today but hey ho I'll just keep trolling on. DD was going to take me out this afternoon and treat me to a scone and tea at our favourite garden centre but when it came to I just couldn't summon up the energy to get ready and go so we are saving that for Sunday.

I'm at the shop tomorrow and then I have a couple of days off so I need to make heaps more Christmas cards and some everyday cards........oh no......that means heaps of packing too....yuck!!!

Well I had best go and wash the pots before hubby gets home and then I shall treat myself to a soak in the bath for half an hour. After that I have a few cards I want to finish off......no rest for the wicked eh........lol!!!

Thanks for your visit today.
Sheila-x-

Swirly Snow Ornament Card!!!

This is the card I made on Tuesday before my mojo took a hike.
Stamps are Inkadinkado and I think they are Gemstone Elements. The set has a good assortment of stamps anyway and is very useful for backgrounds. It's not particularly a Christmas set but I think it works OK.
The background swirl is stamped onto gloss card and embossed with white EP. I then watered down some Denim Adirondack ink and swooshed it over with a large paintbrush. I did the same with the stamped elements on the ornament. Layered it up with a punched snowflake and added thread and ribbon. Easy peasy........lol!!!

Tonight I finished one of the cards I started last night and then spent the rest of the night packing up the Christmas stock to go down to the shop tomorrow. I'll still need to make a few more so will get my head down at the weekend and do that.
Still had no mojo when I was at the shop today..........I know........a shop full of stuff and no bloomin' mojo!!! Mind you I did feel a bit under the weather with a niggly headache and my shoulder hurt for some reason. Feel fine now.

Can't wait for DS and DDIL to come home at the weekend. I'm hoping they will either come for a meal when they get back on Saturday or they may come for Sunday lunch.

For now....I am off to snuggle on the sofa for half an hour before bed time.
Ta-ra for now......and thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-

Nearly The Last One!!!

Sorreeeeee!!!..........it's the poinsettia again.
I promise there is only one more to go after this one..........lol!!!
The card is so not how it started out. I was aiming to make a square card and right at the last minute I ruined it by smudging the stamped greeting. So I had to chop it down and remount it onto another card blank. Have to say I like this one more than the original.
The poinsettia is stamped again onto gold and green Curious Metallics vellum and then mounted onto circles cut out with Quickutz nesting dies.
The gold patterned vellum has been layered onto cream card and then gold.
I think the ribbon was from Monks Den Crafts but I am not 100% sure as I have had for ages.

Hasn't it been cold today? I love it!!!
Got home from work and changed into my snuggly clothes and......absolute bliss.......my Cooler slippers which I haven't had on since last winter. Crocs just do not have the same 'walking on air' feeling that my Cooler's have.

Managed to make a pathetic one card while I was at work today. It would have been two but the second one I did was so disgusting I ripped it up and chucked it in the bin........lol!!! After that me mojo deserted me so I just gave up and tidied everything away. I have managed a couple since I got home which need finishing off tomorrow so thank goodness my mojo only went on a day trip.

All snuggled up by the heater now so I think I'll see if there's anything I can watch on either of the iplayers as I'm not quite ready to sleep yet.

Thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-

Jolly Holly!!!

Found this patterned vellum while I was ferreting about so I thought I'd use it up.
Holly leaves are handcut and the swirl border is a Sizzlet Extended die.

Blogging early tonight as DD is finished work now for a week and I am back tomorrow so we are having a nice tea and watching a film for a couple of hours. It's a welcome break as I have been cutting card blanks all day and did over 500. I hadn't realised I had got so low on them. Just need to stock up on envelopes now.

Right best go and check on tea before it burns.

Thanks for your visit.
Sheila-x-

Whoooooooooo!!!

The girl known as DDIL.........................she say YES!!!
My baby boy is engaged to be married and an expectant father...........oh my gawd where did the time go?
We are so happy.

Thanks for dropping by and sharing in this happy happy day.
Sheila-x-