As Predicted!!!

So as predicted I didn't get any cardmaking done today but on the other hand I have had one of the nicest and most relaxing days for a long, long time.
We just chilled, had some lunch and chilled a bit more although Ruby wasn't in the best of moods as she was a bit tired. Still got a few cheeky grins though.
DDIL and I sorted out a few things for the wedding and she loved the cupcake boxes so everything is going smoothly so far.
Right now I am just nipping up to change a greeting on a card for a customer and then I am back to chilling with DD watching Law and Order until bedtime.

Thanks for your visit.
Sheila-x-

Old Fashioned Santa!!!

Gorgeous Santa again.
This time he has been used along with K & Co papers for a more traditional look.
When this stamp came out we sold more of it than any stamp we had ever sold before or have sold since and I remember that at one point it was going for ridiculous amounts of money on Ebay. Now I hardly ever use him so I might give him an airing this year.

Had a busy day at the shop today and didn't manage to get any new cards made and I'm not sure if I'll get any done today as we have visitors for lunch and then I have to take up a pair of trousers for DD so that she doesn't trip over them on the pub crawl on Saturday night. I hate that job with a passion but it's got to be done.

Felt like being lazy when I got in from work tonight so opened a can of tomato soup and watched a couple of episodes of Law and Order one of which had me in tears. I'm such an old softie.......lol!!!

Well I had best get off to bed as I'll have to be up early to smarten Manic Towers up for the visitors.

Thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-

Holly!!!

Still beavering away at the boxes so I have fetched this card out of the archives to share today.
The letters were generated on the computer in a size 350 font and printed onto plain cream card.
After being cut out they were stamped with a large holly and music stamp which I think is Inkadinkado.
The holly embellishment is a stamped Sizzlet shape and the stamp used for the background is Magenta.

I am very excited to have been asked to be a DT member of a new challenge blog coming soon called Creative Sketches. There will be a mixture of sketch challenges, technique challenges and colour challenges. My first card is done for the launch and I hope that you will play along.

Back to the box factory for me. I need to try and get loads done today as the rest of the week is pretty hectic. We have a birthday in the house on Wednesday so there will be visitors in the shape of Miss Ruby and her mummy coming to see Mr Manic and wish him a happy birthday. Then they are back on Friday morning. Saturday we are collecting HRH and bringing her home for the night as it is DDIL's hen night and everyone is stopping at her house. DS is also staying Saturday night and then Sunday we have to deliver Ruby home along with all her paraphenalia. After that I shall need a lie down I think.......lol!!!

Thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-

Snuggly Sunday!!!

Sorry I missed posting yesterday.......I had a date with a papertrimmer and  over 300 sheets of card.

So I expect you can guess that I am up to my ears in cupcake boxes........lol!!! I have everything cut out and most of the bases scored ready to assemble. The finished box is looking pretty pathetic though with only ten finished boxes in it.

Being so busy with the boxes means I didn't get time to do any card making so I have had to have a ferret in my archives and see if there was anything I have not posted before.

I don't think this one has been posted.

My favourite Santa stamp.

The snowflakes are stamped onto acetate then mulberry paper has been adhered to the back with floor wax.

Here is my latest digital scrapbooking page which has been done in the midst of all the cutting and scoring to give my shoulders a rest.
This is Ruby at a few days old with her Grandad.

Right......that's my break over for now. I just came down for a cup of tea and now it's back to work.

Thanks for your visit today.
Sheila-x-

So Sad!!!

Tonight's post is dedicated to Margaret
A wonderful friend and a customer of Monks Den for many years.
Deb and I were devastated to hear today that she lost her battle with cancer on Tuesday.
I know I won't be alone in saying that my life was richer for having known her.
Love you Margaret. Rest in peace.

Little Boxes



Option 1



Option 2

Option 3

Tonight I have rushed home from work knowing that there would be a parcel of goodies for the cupcakes I am making for the wedding cake and that I had better get my finger out and design the boxes that will hold the said cupcakes on the day.
They need to be quick and easy to make which I have tackled but I am not sure which of the embellishments I like best at the moment.
The box itself needs a very slight adjustment and once I have that sorted and my mind made up about the embellishment I shall go into production........I have to make 150....ish. Wish me luck......lol!!!
I am pretty chuffed with the heart which I designed in Digital Scrapbook Artist. It looks really dimensional but is actually just a flat piece of card as the boxes will probably have to be stacked.
I am so glad that I am not starting them now. After a day of cutting stuff up at the shop for thirteen people on the class tomorrow I think I would have cried if I had to cut them all out tonight.
The cupcakes will be plain sponge with vanilla frosting which will be sprinkled with silver dust and decorated with a claret sugarpaste heart.......and yes I have to make all the hearts for that too.......I must be mad.

Anyhoo....I am off for a mooch around Blogland before I chuck myself in bed. Better have an early night and get my strength up for tomorrow.

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

Christmas Set!!!

Today I am sharing another gift bag which is basically the same as the previous one apart from the stamps used and I have also made a matching card to go with it.
Stamps are Papermania Classic Christmas.
The card is an A5 done in the Funky Fold style.

Bit of a quiet day today pottering around doing housey things mostly........and taking delivery of the things that are arriving for the catering side of the wedding. Banqueting roll and over cloths for the tables, plates, cutlery and napkins. The tower arrived for the cupcakes. Just awaiting one more parcel and we have a few other bits and bobs to get. It's creeping up with alarming speed.

Well I'm off for an early night tonight as I am just in the mood to snuggle with my book.

Bye for now and thanks for visiting

Sheila-x-

Timeless Beauty!!!

Today I thought I would have a play with some of the new features I have now that I have the full version of Digital Scrapbook Artist from Serif.
Brushes have always been a bit of a mystery to me but see those beads........that is a brush and I have been able to alter the colour to suit my layout.
The tiny white stars are also a brush. Up until now all I've used brushes for is sweeping the back yard.
The wiggly edge on the green at the bottom is a scissor tool.....need a bit steadier hand for that.......lol!!!
I am really loving playing with this fabulous toy but I will have to ration myself else I shan't be getting anything else done.
The image I have used is from Graphics Fairy
Today turned out to be quite busy at the shop so I didn't actually get anything new made.......just got stuff cut up ready for the class on Friday.
I was relieved that the fun fair didn't start up until just as I was locking the door at four 'o' clock. It's not that I don't like fun fairs as such.......it's the noise.
Could have quite cheerfully killed for a burger though. They started cooking them at about three 'o' clock and the smell was driving me demented. That's one of the best things about fairs........the smell. I resisted though.....being the good girl I am..ha ha ha!!!

DD has been asked to do a speech at the wedding and she let me read what she had written tonight. I had a lump in my throat as big a flippin' football and if there is a dry eye in the house I shall be most surprised.

Ah well time to tip my toes up I think. I was up and out early this morning and am fair whacked now.
Night night.
Thanks for your visit.
Sheila-x-

A Mixed Bag!!!

Today's stamped project is a gift bag made from an A4 manilla envelope.
The striped card is quite a stark white so it has been toned down with Distress Inks and overstamped with an Artemio image.
Pinecone image is from the same set and has been stamped in Stazon Saddle Brown and then the green was added with a Marvy Le Plume pen.
Finished off with some Frosted Lace Stickles.
Here is a very blurred side view........lol!!!

My other make today was this very simple page of Ruby in Digital Scrapbook Artist.

I think this is my most favourite style.

Back at work tomorrow for a rest......lol!!! I'm not sure how busy it will be as the annual statutes fair has taken over the streets of Ashby at the moment and apparently we have a Waltzer about two feet from our front door. Lucky for me tomorrow is the last day and the rides won't actually spark up until about 3:30pm so I will only have to listen to it for a half hour.

Need to go and do some reading of tutorials now for DSA. I am finding it so fascinating.

Thanks for dropping by.

Sheila-x-

All Sorts Of Stuff!!!

Been having some more fun with the Serif Digital Scrapbook Artist programme. It's so brilliant I've decided I will buy the full version later this week.
Today I have made a page with one of the free kits. The lettering is Cafe Rojo.......a font I have been dying to use on something for ages. Also.......as this is a rubber stamping blog.......lol!!! A couple of projects I have done the last day or so.
Paper is My Minds Eye and stamped images are Inkadinkado
The little tote holds 4x4 envelopes with slightly smaller cards.
The circles for this card were cut with the Quickutz Cookie Cutter set.
All stamping is done using Ancient Page-Chocolate. This was the only brown ink pad I had that went with the dark brown card used for layering.

Well.......I am most surprised to be saying that..........after just a small mishap the Green Tomato Chutney turned out beautifully and we have just had some for tea. I wish I had known how nice it was.........just think of all those wasted years without that on my ham sandwich......lol!!!

I've been fair busy today. Had to nip into town this morning to pick up a couple of things and then back to bake........chocolate orange cupcakes and apricot scones.......yum. Had lunch then went up and finished off my projects and the scrapbook page, designed a heart shaped label to print and cut out for the favour bags for the wedding then tidied up some stuff on the computer.

Now it's feet up time........X Factor followed by copious amounts of Law and Order......bliss!!!

Tara for now.....and thanks for visiting.

Sheila-x-

Having A Go!!!

Please don't laugh.......this is my very first attempt at digital scrapbooking. I downloaded the Serif programme for free just to have a go. I only have three kits on it at the moment and this was the most suitable for a page for Ruby. I'm going to download some more kits and have another go later.

Thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-

Blurrrgh!!!

Sorry I've no pics to post tonight. The project I started at the shop yesterday was abandoned as I wasn't well and left early. Felt a little better today but still no action in the workroom as I have been chopping and dicing the ingredients for a batch of Shooting Party Chutney........a posh name for Green Tomato Chutney.......lol!!! It smells pretty good now simmering away so hopefully it will taste nice too. I am picturing it with fresh wholemeal scones and cheese so fingers crossed.
I've never made anything in the preserves line before but we had so many tomatoes from our plants this year that didn't ripen but were such beautiful clean fruits that it was a shame to waste them.

I'm lolloping again tonight in front of the tv. We've finished season four of Law and Order SUV and starting season five. My eyes will be square by the time we've done.

Thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-

Blue Christmas!!!

Carrying on with the 'using up' theme once again.
The card background is stamped with my favourite Rubber Stampede Christmas Text stamp and blue Versamagic. I let that dry and then went over the text with the same ink pad.
The snowflake background is a piece of silver card which has been swooshed with Posh Impressions metallic inks before being embossed with one of the new Papermania folders. This was in my box of backgrounds waiting to be used up.
Snowflake is various diecuts layered and embellished with Card Candy.
Greeting is on a layered oval from a bagful done on the Cricut ages ago.

Well it's nearly teatime and I don't seem to have achieved very much today at all apart from making two cards and the usual mess which will need tidying up.......lol!!!
Work tomorrow and then four days off..........I am not even going to mention the decorating that needs finishing......I'll just see how the weekend pans out.

Another session of Law and Order dvd's tonight. Got to get it in because DD is off out tomorrow night and I won't get to see any.

Thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-

Let It Snow!!!

Using up........diecuts stash.......I have bags full of scallop and plain circles......and I used up a whole sheet of the white snowflake peeloff lines......yay!!!
The stamp is from a Papermania Duo pack from last Christmas.

I'm taking a night off tonight and watching more Law and Order SVU with DD. I'll be back at my desk tomorrow using up more stuff.

Thanks for your visit.
Sheila-x-

Productive Day!!!

I've spent a fabulous day up in my workroom today. Done lots of prep work and made quite a few simple Christmas cards to use up some stash.
For this card I have used some Basic Grey paper and cardstock letters (coloured with a permanent marker).
The snowflakes are peeloffs and I managed to finish the sheet and throw it away....yay. Needless to say.....they will not be replaced...lol!!!

DD is on the planning team for DDIL's hen night on October 2nd and today she dressed up in her outfit for the night to show me........she looks fab. I'll tell more after the event as DDIL has no idea about anything that is going on apart from the theme which is 'The Oscar's'. I have no energy to drag my sorry carcass on a pub crawl so will be babysitting my Ruby Doodle at home for the night.

Well I am running late tonight so I must go and throw myself into bed and get some shuteye. We have an all day class tomorrow with lunch for the ladies so it will be quite hectic.
Thanks for your visit.
Sheila-x-

Version 2!!!

Here is another version of the card I posted yesterday......for people who like a bit more glitz.
I have stamped in Stazon-Jet Black and Teal Blue and then used double sided adhesive sheet over the whole image and added loose irridescent glitter for the sparkle.

We have had such an amazing day with Ruby Doodle. She has been on top form and has us all in fits at some of the things she has been up to.
She ate her lunch at the table with us.....well she was fed her lunch should I say......and ate her way through a bowl of mashed carrot and cauliflower in white sauce followed by a dish of custard. She looked most disgusted that she wasn't getting any apple and blackberry pie.......lol!!!
After a quick nap she was back in her walker flirting and giggling until teatime when she demolished a slice of wholemeal toast. I don't know if my memory is bad but I really don't remember my babies eating that at seven months.
I was so enthralled watching her that I neglected to take any photos today...what a numpty......lol!!!

Well I don't know what I have done at myself but my back is giving me a bit of trouble and has been for a few days. Please, please, please don't let it be sciatica again. I used to be plagued by it after a silly accident some years ago but I have managed to keep relatively free of it for some time apart from the odd twinge. I really don't need it with the wedding preparations looming large.

I think I'll stay here on the hard chair for a bit as it's more comfortable and do a bit of bloghopping.
Thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-

Back To Black!!!

Should have blogged this last night but I was just whacked after a busy day and went to bed early.
As you can see.....I am fair taken with these Funky Fold cards and here is another one.
This time I have stamped everything using a lovely Christmas set from Artemio. I just love those baubles which are just plain solids but I have masked them and overstamped with the flourish.
Added a bit of silver Stickles o finish off but I think I may do another one and add jewels instead.

Another busy day today. It's our 34th wedding anniversary today and Mr Manic has given me some money to spend so I am off to a craft shop when he gets back from having his eyes tested. After that I have to bake as we are having our Ruby Doodle and family over tomorrow for dinner and tea. It's three weeks since I had a cuddle with my little angel and I can't wait.

We have sunshine today.....hope you all do too.
Thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-

Bling It On!!!

Just a quick post while I am taking a break for a cuppa after a busy morning.
This card.......and it's brothers and sisters were made to use up a jar of large jewels that I have had for ages.
I did a similar card last year using gold dome stickers and black gems and a template/stencil that was free on a magazine.
Got twelve made and an empty jar on my spice rack to fill with something else.

Back to the job list.
Thanks for dropping in today.
Sheila-x-

Getting To Be A Habit!!!

Although 'cute' isn't normally my thing I do have to admit to a liking for these girl images from Kanban. I don't have many stamps suitable for younger girls so these will come in very useful.
Once again I have used the Funky Fold card and the paper is by gcd Studios.
I coloured the image using watercolour pencils and added Fluffy Stuff by Woodware to her........well...fluffy bits.......lol!!! Once I had puffed that up with a heat gun I added some Stardust Stickles for a twinkly look.
Used a snowflake punch to add interest to the bottom edge and that's about it really.

Despite the wind and rain today I have been rather warm and have absolutely no energy. So I am going to throw myself on the sofa and veg out with my book tonight in the hope that I will have some energy tomorrow for the list of jobs I have planned.

Thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-

Fairy Blue!!!

I know this is 'cute' but I have fallen in love with this little fairy from a stamp set by Kanban. Just look at those stripey tights....and I love her feet......lol!!!
Sue at Stamping Sue Style pointed me in the direction of the instructions to make the Funky Fold card. The instructions were for a square card so I tried an A5 card to make it a bit different and I really quite like this size.
The stamped image is coloured using watercolour pencils so don't look too closely as it's not my favourite medium. I've used Stardust Stickles to give her a bit of twinkle.
Paper is gcd Studios.

Another busy weekend at Manic Towers.
Yesterday I sorted out all of my diecuts and made a new storage system for them rather than having them shoved in random boxes all over the place. So far it's working well and I have used quite a few scallop and plain circles to make stamped embellishments for some Christmas cards.
Today I been playing house and cooking up a storm in the kitchen. I made a curry for Mr Manic and DD which is not something I make a lot of because I don't eat it. Then I made a low fat and low sugar dessert and baked a sponge.
Next on my list was a trip out into the garden with my secateurs but lucky for me it started raining........lol!!! So I went upstairs and did a few bits up there. Just love it up there when it's raining. I find the sound of the rain battering down on the roof so relaxing.

I've got a couple of hours of peace and quiet now as DD has gone off to work and Mr Manic has gone to bed as he is on an early shift tomorrow so I'll go and see what mischief I can get up to........lol!!!

Thanks for your visit.
Sheila-x-

Black & White Trees!!!

Back to the trees today.....lol!!! They are one of my favourite things for Christmas cards.
Here I have masked and chalked the background using a paper mask for the snow and peeloffs for the snowflakes which were then removed after chalking.
The tartan card is from Kanban and the trees are from a stamp set by Artemio.
Finished off with a little Stardust Stickles.

I had quite a nice day yesterday. Went and got my glasses sorted and while we were waiting for them we had a mooch round town. Mr Manic was in a very generous mood and bought me the giant red teapot I have had my eye on for some time plus a couple of kitchen things I needed. Then we sat on the market place in the sunshine and had a cappucino. I was very sad to see how the market has shrunk. I remember it being such a busy place on a Saturday morning and now there are hardly any stalls outside and lots of empty stalls in the market hall.

Being a glutton for punishment I tried not one but two new recipes yesterday. One I cobbled together myself which was a pork and apple meatloaf and the other from a farmers cookbook for a marrow, tomato and onion layer bake with a cheese topping.
Both were very nice and hubby was chuffed because the marrow was from our own garden.

Didn't get much time upstairs as Saturday night is now X Factor night so I am up there today. This morning I have had a bit of a mucking out session and now have a nice tidy desk to work on this afternoon.

Hope you're all having a nice weekend too.
Thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-

A Bit Of A Manic Day!!!

Just a very simple card using up a pad of Papermania paper which I bought last year.
The circles are Sizzix and Quickutz.
Wreath is Cuttlebug and the border punch used is Martha Stewart.
I have made several in the same style using different combinations of papers and I am quite pleased with them.

It's been quite a busy day here at Manic Towers although not much has been achieved either in the crafting department or on the home front. Lots of dashing about running errands. Hopefully tomorrow will be a little more restful after I have been into town to drop off my glasses to have the lenses changed then picked them and my two new pairs of close work glasses up.
Mr Manic has to be up early to collect DS from home and take him to work as DDIL has gone to visit family for the weekend and is using their car. He will also have to collect him from work tomorrow night and take him home again so I don't think we''l be snuggling down to watch any films.

I'm a happy bunny today as hubby has bought me a new Epson printer. I will have to pay him back at some point but at least I can now print decent stuff off the computer.

Need a cuppa now and a snuggle with my book for half an hour.

Thanks for stopping by.
Sheila-x-

Lovely Day Today!!!

It's a bit dark now to get a decent pic of my makes today so I'll have to do them tomorrow when I get in from work.

Really enjoyed Avatar in 3D and am so glad I made the effort to go and see it. The unseen footage was great too. Saw trailers for the next Narnia film in 3D which looks worth watching and something called The Hole which will probably be a DVD buy.

Fingers are itching to do something now after 3 hours sat doing nothing so I am off upstairs when I have made Mr Manic a cuppa.

Thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-