Distress Santa!!!

Hey there.......long time no see.
I can't believe it's nearly a week since my last blog post but then again I suppose I can really as it's been a pretty busy week yet again here at Manic Towers.
There have been a few snatched sessions here and there for making cards but mainly at night so no hope of taking pics up in what has become known as 'The Cave'.
Anyhoo....here's one of the cards I have managed to get done.
Stamp-Tim Holtz
Paper-gcd Studio
Tree is a very old Sizzix die trimmed to give a curved bottom edge, embossed and inked over with a Brilliance Galaxy Gold ink pad.
Ribbon and button from stash.
Thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-

Get A Grip Woman!!!

I don't know why but I just don't seem to be able to get on top of the housey type jobs at the moment. Everyone seems to be in messy mode just now and as soon as I clean and tidy....they mess it up. I'm spending a lot of time with my teeth clenched and steam pouring out of my ears but trying not to lose my temper. The whole house looks like a whirlwind has passed through it.
DD and I have decided to tackle the back room next weekend as it has just become a dumping ground again.

Bad news today that the builder isn't starting the bathroom now until after Christmas.......I could cry I honestly could. He's promised that we will be the first job on the list in the new year.

Smudge keeps nibbling at his bandages until he exposes his wound and then starts nibbling at that so I have had to come up with a solution for it......I bought some childrens tights then removed one leg and cut them so that his waste disposal areas are clear, slipped one leg over his bad leg and the waist band over his belly. I had hoped that he would be able to leave his lampshade off but he managed to remove the tights so it's back on along with the tights and so far so good.

Anyway....blow the housework for now.....tomorrow is another day. For now I am going to relax and watch the last of Bones and then start on Law and Order SVU again.

Thanks for your visit.
Sheila-x-

I've Been Doodled!!!

My word Miss Doodle has kept me on my toes today. I feel like I've been done on a boil wash and then thoroughly mangled. I've just been upstairs to try and do some crafting to wind down but I think she has got me so hyper that it just didn't happen. I could do with a large glass of something alcoholic........unfortunately I don't drink......lol!!!

Smudge is coming along fabulously. His leg is looking good and he is regaining a bit of his joie de vivre which is what I have missed. Another visit to the vet tomorrow will probably have him down in the dumps for a couple of hours or so....he hates going there at any time.

I think I'll go and have a soak in a nice hot bath with something that smells good and then settle down and watch a bit more Bones. I am on season five again and there's not long to go before the release of season six........yay!!!

Bye for now.
Sheila-x-

Christmas Pud!!!

I'm not over fond of eating Christmas pudding but I do like to see them on cards.
Kraft cardstock cut with a Sizzix die and stamped with a large Kars spotted background. Another circle cut from cream pearl card and trimmed for the cream,custard or brandy butter......take your pick.
Holly is punched with a Dovecraft punch and the berry is a punched circle embossed from the back.
Papers are HOTP (free from a magazine) and I think DCWV.
Sentiment stamp is from an old Papermania set.

Me little boy is home where he belongs. Unfortunately it has fallen upon me to play nurse and be in charge of changing his dressings four times a day. My stomach is not happy with me. What with Ruby and her nappies and Smudge and his poor little leg....I'm not sure I will ever eat again......lol!!!
He is very happy to be home and has spent the day stretched out on an old duvet sleeping and rising occasionally to eat, drink and wee. The only thing that's worrying me is that he isn't barking but I'm sure that will come as he gets better.

Right.....domestic duties call. I'm off to make a tomato sauce for a lasagne so it can sit overnight. Things always taste better when they have sat I think.

Thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-

Oh Deer-2!!!

Today's card is made using a gorgeous stamp from a set by Kanban. The set consists of various sized solid and outline reindeer along with snowflakes and some sentiments. It is truly beautiful.
I've stamped onto plain white card and then added double sided adhesive to the whole piece and covered with irridescent glitter.
The tartan background is also Kanban.

I am so disappointed. I phoned the vets this morning to see how Smudge is and they said that they were happy for him to come home today. When they looked at the appointment book though they couldn't fit us in so it will be tomorrow now. They will show us how to dress his leg.
I don't think he has been eating very well as the lady I spoke to asked if we could take some of his own food in and also some carrots as he wolfed the one down that we left him yesterday.......he must be missing them as he has one every night at bedtime without fail.......a bit like a baby going to bed with a dummy.....lol!!!

Well I've had a potter about upstairs, sorted out my cardstock and tidied up a bit......in an effort to find the 'C' plate for my Cuttlebug which I have mislaid.
Now I am on domestic duties and have just put a pot of homemade soup on to cook. Just need to make some cheese topped herb scones to serve with it and then I am back off upstairs.

Thanks for your visit.
Sheila-x-

Kids Christmas!!!

I saw these cute snowmen last year made with a Top Note die which I don't have so I have used my Tim Holtz Ornamental die which works just as well.
Paper.......no idea sorry. It was out of my bit box and I couldn't find any with a manufacturer's name on.
Holly is punched from a piece of Paper Adventures Crackle vellum. The berry is made from a circle punch and I have embossed it with with a large embossing tool from the back.....same with the nose.
As cute goes........I am quite liking this little fella.

We've been allowed to visit Smudge at the vets this morning and take him for a walk around the car park. I was very shocked when I saw the state of his leg.....it's the first time I have seen it.
They've had to strip the skin off it and it's just red raw which is why they are keeping him there. They are dressing it four times a day with wet dressings to keep it moist. I was surprised that he managed to put his weight on it though when we took him out.
No mention yet of when we will have him home but I can't wait. The house is just not the same without him.

Managed to get a good start on the painting yesterday but it's not quite finished as the hall took ages with all it's fiddly bits.......and I hate the paint colour. It wasn't my original choice and it's too pale but Mr Manic will murder me if I ask for a different colour so I'm stuck with it.

Well I'm off upstairs for a bit until it's time to cook the veg and stuff for our late roast. Mr Manic won't be home until after six but we do like to sit down together for our Sunday meal.

Thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-

Oh Deer!!!

 

A few more Basic Grey scraps with stamps from Viva and Papermania.

I also used up some metal corners that I have had for years.

Snowflake corner punch is by Martha Stewart.

Having a busy day today. DD and I have an appointment with a paint brush, a paint pad and a tin of Dulux Endurance.......oh joy!!!

Yes the hall, stairs and landings will be finished over the weekend thank goodness. If you could see the area we have to tackle you would know how daunting that is.....but it's no good me sitting here waffling.....I'll go and crack on with it.

Thanks for your visit.

Sheila-x- 

Bling Bird & A Smudge Update!!!

 

Using up Basic Grey papers today paired with an Inkadinkado stamped image. The bird is blinged up with gems and glitter.

Poor Smudge is away from home for a few days. He has to stay at the vets as he has an infection in his leg. Tomorrow they will operate again to remove nasty stuff and then leave the wound open to the air to help it dry. I have cried so much today that I don't think there is a drop of liquid left in my body. I miss him.

Thanks for dropping by.

Sheila-x- 

Sparkle!!!

A scrap of paper from my bits box, flowers and letters that wanted using up and Bob is your uncle......lol!!!
I made several cards in this style and they look much better in real life than they do in the pic......the light in my room is diabolical.

That's all for tonight. After a busy day with the Doodle Bird I have a date with the sofa, a DVD and Johnny Depp to feast my eyes on.....yum!!!

Thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-

Deck The Halls!!!

Today's card is I think my favourite one so far this year.
The stamp is by Woodware but slightly altered as I removed the bow  to allow me to use ribbon instead of colouring it.
Stamped in Memento Cottage Ivy and coloured with Promarkers.
Finished off with Glossy Accents and a little Frosted Lace Stickles.
The shaped piece is cut using an On The Edge die by Tim Holtz.
Paper is Making Memories.

It's been a Doodle Day today. Yes Miss Ruby has been in da house. I've not seen a lot of her for a coupe of weeks as mummy and daddy have been on holiday and they've been doing family things....catching up with friends etc. I am amazed at how much she has changed in such a short time.
We had a fabulous day and I can't wait to see her tomorrow.

Smudge is doing fine. His tail is wagging again and he's had a couple of little barks. He does keep nibbling at his dressings however and Mr Manic had to rush him off to the vets to get his leg re-bandaged. He wasn't due for that until tomorrow really.
I'm more worried now about Mr M who is very down in the dumps. It's understandable I know but I think he either blames himself for what happened or feels he could have done more to save Smudge but he really couldn't have faced with two large vicious dogs who weren't on leads and were with an owner who obviously had no control over them.....and who, when Mr M asked for help said 'I can't'. Oh gawd I would have smacked him straight between the eyes.

Ah well I had best go and get some sleep to be up bright and early for Doodle Bird.
Thanks for your visit.
Sheila-x- 

A Quiet Day!!!

Today Mr Manic and I are quietly celebrating our 35th wedding anniversary. Our anniversary has never been quite the same since since the dreadful happenings of 9/11 and today our thoughts are with everyone.

Smudge seems much brighter today. He ate his first meal since his operation at about midnight last night and he is very gingerly hopping about on three legs.
Mr Manic has taken him to the vets to get his dressings changed this morning.

Not sure if I'll get any crafting time in today. I did start some cards yesterday which I desperately want to finish off but I have DD and The Boyfriend coming back for a late lunch after a night away.

Thanks for your visit.
Sheila-x-

A Nasty Incident!!!

I'm sorry but I'm not in the mood for cardmaking today.
This morning both hubby and the dog were attacked by two vicious dogs in the woods where they were walking.
Mr Manic has a nasty bite on his hip but Smudge has fared much worse and has sustained some very nasty injuries to his back leg and throat which the vet says will take several weeks to heal. He is home now and getting lots of cuddles.
Thanks for your visit.
Sheila-x-

Simple Stocking Card!!!

 

I'm still trolling through my boxes and using up Christmas stuff I already have as I don't intend to buy any new stuff this year apart from stamps and maybe dies.

I made these stockings last Christmas and never got around to using them.

Dies used are-:

Stocking-Sizzix

Holly Leaves-Quickutz

The sparkly strips are some self adhesive glitter paper that I have had for a couple of years but get this.......I did some in gold with red adhesive glitter paper and I've had that for about seven years....untouched.........how's that for hoarding...lol!!!

Anyhoo....got to go and be all domestic now as DD needs feeding before she goes to work then Mr Manic will be in later and he'll need feeding but he didn't want what we are having so I have to get him something else. I think I might just as well open a ruddy cafe.

Thanks for dropping by.

Sheila-x-

 

Sooooo Tired!!!

Well that was a bit of a manic weekend and I am absolutely shattered. Yesterday was a very happy day with our guests......DD's fella, DDIL plus her sister who is up from down south plus the gorgeous Ruby. For some reason the cooking of lunch went rather smoothly probably due to the fact I spent until midnight Saturday prepping the veg and stuff.
Miss Doodle was in very fine form yesterday. I haven't seen her for a week and she has changed so much in that short time. She now has a booster seat and can sit at the table with us to eat and she loved sitting with us all yesterday......plus she eats much better when she has control of the eating irons.

Today I am having a pyjama day and making cards and I have a couple of orders in that need doing for tonight, a wedding card for a reception we are going to on Saturday and an anniversary card for Mr Manic as it is our 35th on Sunday. After that I need to tidy the desk off and then get on with the Christmas cards.

Hopefully I'll be back later with a card.
Thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-

Posh, Cute And Queezy!!!

Posh-:
Kanban foiled card I have had stashed away. I've made six of these cards and now have only half a sheet left.
Sentiment is from a Papermania clear stamp set from about three years ago I think.......if not more......lol!!!
Holly leaves are Paper Cellar.

Cute-:
Another snowman from PC Crafter.
Background paper is by The Clipart Fairy.
Using up white peeloff sentiments........down to one and a half sheets now.

Queezy-:
Quick and easy using diecuts and some Kanban toppers I found on the shelf which I bought a couple of years ago. I don't usually buy toppers but I loved the images on the three sheets I did buy. Just the smaller bits to use up now.

Well fingers, eyes and toes crossed..........I have sorted out the computer and everything is looking good so far. I took the plunge and reset it to delivery condition, changed internet browser to Firefox and put back everything I lost. It's been on all day and not lost internet connection once so I am pretty chuffed.

I've had a pretty peaceful day today as DD has spent most of it down at the cottage with The Doodle Clan. They've been swimming and shopping and are watching a film tonight.
Mr Manic is home and vegging in front of the tv so once I've washed up and tidied the kitchen I am going to watch some Bones then get some sleep ready for a busy day tomorrow. The Boyfriend is coming to stay for a couple of nights so it's mucking out time and there's shopping to fetch so not much will be left in the way of time for crafting. Saturday should be good as they are going up to The Lakes for the day and I just have to prepare the evening meal and do a bit of baking.

Thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-