Panicky Pirate

I had so much fun with these images. It was totally out of my comfort zone but I kept away from the glitter and lace and...well...I love it! I do find that Rick's images are so easy to colour...there is 'cross hatching' already on the designs so you can work out where the shading goes. The main image is Panicky Pirate by Rick available at  http://www.etsy.com/shop/RickStdennis, the little girl Bad Bitsy was a freebie it was part of a double set with Buddy  (now available in Rick's etsy store just subscribe to the newsletter and you receive a brilliant freebie every month) the background by make it crafty just doubled up and the rats are a free digi ...sorry can't remember where I found it. Printed on neenah, coloured with my promarkers and made into an easel card. The scrolls using My Craft Studio. I could have been more careful with the placement of the extra rats but ho hum...must try harder. 

twas the night before christmas.....

This fantastic image is by Rick http://www.etsy.com/shop/RickStdennis there is always such a lot going on with this series, colouring them is a delight. I have only recently found the website and there are so many amazing digis my wishlist is filling up fast. This is printed onto neenah, coloured with promarkers, glittered and glossy accented.
I have the new cricut cartridge by Anna Griffin and I am loving it!!! this time I used neenah through the cricut and then coloured it with matching promarkers. I will be using my Christmas scraps to build up some images to complete my stack of Christmas cards.
I heard this evening that I am on the Rick St Dennis design team and I am totally over excited and raring to go and I've tidied up my pens and everything, oh boy this is going to be great!.
Colin and I had an appointment with the oncologist a couple of days ago...there is a mass on Colin's brain but it is benign so now we can concentrate on chemo for his lung. Huge relief that it hasn't spread! Chemo will start within the next two weeks and the waiting room is really very nice so I will have my pens and digis and settle down for however long it takes.
I would like to enter this into these challenges
Christmas with a twist   http://outlawzchallenges.ning.com

My very first clouds.....

This cute little boy picking flowers for his mum, or his nannie or just 'cos he can, is a digi from www.mosdigitalpencil.com/ I have sat him on a path, also a digi, this time from  www.makeitcrafty.com  I love being able to do this, it gives so much scope to use the digi's in different ways. I have used my promarkers on the images and blending chalks for the clouds with a template of my own making.. I set the chalks with hairspray. The digis printed on neenah, cardstock by Hunkydory, ribbon from Lidl.

I am entering this in the following challenges

http://panpasteluk.blogspot.co.uk/ challenge 32 cute and cuddly
http://promarkerchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/ week 211 sketch
http://ilovepromarkers.blogspot.co.uk/   summertime
http://outlawzchallenges.ning.com        anything goes mixed media
http://www.craftdoormagazine.com/ anything goes

Update on Colin...he was wired up at the hospital Wednesday for a exercise bike ride to see if he was fit enough for an operation to remove the mass on his lung and later he will need another biopsy to check the status of the lymph nodes in the middle of his chest. We have an appointment with another specialist next Friday to discuss the way forward. We are taking each appointment as it comes and are positive we are going to beat this.

Incognito

My lovely stepdaughter Lisa opened a facebook account for me so I could...ok...so I like playing castleville. Anyway, the trouble is that now I am known as May Brian so if you see me on facebook that's me..if you see what I mean.

Such pretty ribbon

I don't know if the photo is showing up as well as I had hoped...the colours should be brighter, there's glossy accents on the clock faces and glitter on the wings and flowersoft  in the grass with lidle ribbon!!!
The faerie is from  http://www.thepapershelter.com/ and the background is http://www.makeitcrafty.com/ all coloured with my promarkers. I have really enjoyed colouring these as they settle my mind a bit.
I am entering this into the following challenges
http://thepapershelter.blogspot.co.uk/  anything goes
http://www.digisketchchallenge.blogspot.fi/   anything goes
http://totallygorjuss.blogspot.co.uk/ anything with pearls
http://promarkerchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/  clean and simple


We had a very long hospital visit yesterday. Colin had a biopsy on his lung, the whole visit took five hours. Colin spent his recovery time listening to the gossip between the doctors and nurses and I sat with his mum watching all the coming and going and reading all the magazines and sampling the cuisine of the University hospital in Norwich. It was quite a tiring day for us all. Next Friday we have another visit to sort out treatment...I think once it all starts we are going to feel a bit better about it all.

Lidl alert!

I have just been to lidl in Attleborough and they have the most stunning ribbon. 3m of gift ribbon 2 for £3.00

the ribbon is threaded through with beads and butterflies on the brown/orange,  leaves and beads on the green, flowers and beads on the blue and hedgehogs on the red/brown. It is good quality and I wish I had bought more. Must not be greedy. 

Happy Birthday Manwai

A birthday easel for our dear son-in-law. I thought the image was perfect till I realised this chap is a bit, shall we say, casual. Manwai goes to work very smartly dressed and has black hair not brown but maybe this is him at the weekend, relaxed, playing World of Warcraft into the night! Phew.... he did like the card anyway thank goodness.
So, the recipe...
Adorable scorable cardstock for the all of the base.
Image from mo's digital pencil printed onto neenah and coloured with promarkers.
The frames, greeting and little message 'book' made using m.c.s.
Buttons from a huge button box (thank you mother-in-law)
Ribbon from stash.

I think there are a few challenges I would like to enter with this project so I'll have a look round see what's about.
http://promarkerchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/ “easel does it”
http://oldiebutagoodiechallenge.blogspot.co.uk     Best Dressed....a bit ironic (thanks Dips)

Thank you so much for all the kind messages (I even passed on the hugs) about Colin. We have a hospital visit next Friday for a biopsy to see which treatment is best for him. Today we have had the horrible news that Manwai's father has been taken into hospital suddenly with bowel cancer, no warning, no symptoms except for a bit of a stomach ache. This, in an elderly man is so worrying and really very frightening..Manwai's father passed away last night. This has frightened me.

On the beach...

This beautiful digi image is by the very talented Elizabeth Dulemba at http://dulemba.com/ (just click on the 'colour' option for a free digi) coloured with my promarkers, the summer collection really has some gorgeous colours. I printed the image onto neenah which I think allows blending easily. The background digi is by a company I have only recently found out about, Make it Crafty the link is on my sidebar. The flowers and pins are wild orchid craft and the shells are from a hidden stash of goodies...I say hidden 'cos I have only recently found them in a box in the craft room. The cardstock is Hunky Dory and the base card is Adorable Scorable.
I am entering this into the following challenges..

http://promarkerchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/    make a scene
http://chocolatecoffeecards.blogspot.co.uk/ the beach
http://creativecardcrew.blogspot.co.uk/ the great outdoors
http://panpasteluk.blogspot.co.uk/ Summertime

Simply Perfect Princess Party

Colin and I took our lovely grand daughter Jasmine to a Princess Party just a few days before Christmas. This is Jasmine giving Belle a hug. The party was just for two hours and was fantastic. For £10.00 (plus £2.00 for Granddad) the little girls had glitter put on their cheeks and pale pink nail varnish and fairy dust completed their transformation into princesses. Then they played games, watched the Beauty and the Beast film, learned how to move like a princess and danced with Belle from Beauty and the Beast and met Cinderella. It really was a special time for us and we took loads of photos and videos.  I don't think I have ever heard someone talk like Belle...all tinkly (a bit stepford wives but in a cute way) Colin said that was how a princess would speak but Princess Diana spoke to my daughter when she was little and I can honestly say...she didn't speak like that! If any of you have little ones I would recommend these parties, Jasmine is 4 in a few weeks and I think she was just the right age...as you can see from the little girls in the photo. If you are interested their website is     www.fantasticalentertainment.com
www.fantasticalentertainment.com

Forever Friends Challenge

Well..it seems as though it took forever for the family to adjust to the loss of Colin's brother and father, I'm afraid everything went on the back burner for several months but now Colin is back playing bowls and I am back blogging. I am just putting the finishing touches to my DT card for the Forever Friends challenge blog and of course to update my sidebar with all the details. Everything will be ready tomorrow (Tuesday) Thank you for your patience.

Thank you...

 This year's bumper crop of sugar snaps (I tried to type the posh french words for them but it didn't look right on the screen).  Colin is proudly showing these and the tomatoes to camera. We haven't tried growing these before but they are yummy!

Our tomatoes will be ready very soon...nothing like eating them, still warm, on the way from the greenhouse to the kitchen.
We are keeping busy at the moment to help cope with Colin's loss. Both his brother and his father died within just a couple of weeks and I do thank those who knew for your kind words. I apologise to the rest of the design team on Forever Friends challenge blog and to Chris on her blog as I haven't been able to keep up with my commitments but by the end of the week I hope to catch up with you all. Sue x

Blog posting in progress

Morning ladies, here is my first card for the Forever Friends challenge blog. Don't you just love this little bear. I will post all the links as soon as I can until then there is a link on my sidebar and I hope you will all take part. Sorry for my tardiness.

Knight DT

Mornin' from a wet and windy Norfolk. The sparrows are back swimming in the water feature, my washing is hopefully drying on the stand, I keep losing the satellite signal when we get a downpour and I am really quite cold....must be June! After some very bad news last night I have been a bit tardy in posting this card today. So sorry about that but onwards and upwards as they say (who did say that?)
Todays Knight is a digi from Christine it is certainly a very useful one to have in your collection when you get tired of the same old 'male' images. Printed onto watercolour cardstock coloured with promarkers, backing paper from m.c.s., swirl made with my cuttlebug and charm from stash.
I do hope you have better weather than we have here and manage to keep warm this week.

My Forever Friends DT news

At last I can tell....I am now a member of the design team at the Forever Friends challenge blog!!!! We were told a few days ago but had to wait until today to post it on our blogs. I am so chuffed about this and looking forward to using the cute images. I was bursting to tell this news but will post more later today.

Birds DT

I hope you are all having a good week. Today has been quite cool and a bit overcast at times...should mean a bit cooler night tonight. It was the ideal day to get out into the garden and grab some weeds but I was dashing around this morning and just didn't feel like it when I got home. So I decided to make some rockbuns, got everything out ready and found I didn't have enough flour so put it all away again. Started doing the ironing but that wasn't too inspiring so I just ironed through 'Grimm' but got fed up with it. I have only just finished making the bed that I started this morning...what on earth is going on? I don't know if I'm Arthur or Martha tonight but I'll give myself a good talking to and promise to do much better tomorrow.
This lovely Spring image is a digi by Christine printed onto watercolour paper coloured with promarkers with a free digi frame from cuddlybuddly. The branches are made with my cricut and the flowers are of course from wild orchid crafts. The cardstock is from my stash...one of those wonderful 12 x 12 pads. Christine is on a roll with these lovely images, well worth a look. I hope you have a peaceful evening and I just know tomorrow is going to be a good day...the shopping is delivered around mid-day so rockbuns for tea!  

Daisy DT

Good morning from what promises to be a very sunny Norfolk. I will have to get out in the garden really early this morning before it gets too hot as the weeds have taken advantage of my inattention and have grown larger than the surrounding flowers. Oh, and chicken news...Hennypenny and Chicken Little have disgraced themselves. They didn't just stick to digging up my bulbs...they nestled in amongst the carrots and that will never do. It turns out that their scratching has disturbed the potato mounds and spread the onions around a bit so I'm afraid our morning chats have to stop. Colin popped a note through next-door asking that the chickens don't visit us any more. I hope they didn't get into trouble. I will have to go back to talking to Mr and Mrs Blackbird.
Anyway back to this lovely digi from Christine printed onto watercolour paper, coloured with promarkers. The dragonfly was in amongst my birthday pressies from Lisa, flowers from wild orchid crafts and ribbon from stash. The Martha Stewart border/corner punch is amazing! It is my first punch from MS, Colin bought it for me from Hobbycraft...I guess his retirement isn't going to be too hard after all. I do hope you have a very nice Wednesday, I'm off to see if the carrots can be saved.

DT card Pansy

Well..the third day of Colin's retirement and we're still on speaking terms. There has been so much to finalise with our business I think it took all of Monday and part of yesterday but today I can box everything up ready for the Inland Revenue, what's the bet I have lost something? Oh yes...I forgot...today is my birthday. After Colin forgot this morning (a bit of a nudge was all that was needed) I am now being sung to on a regular basis. Although being called 'Birthday Girl' is a bit of a reach for the old imagination (I can guess what the grandchildren would say, probably something to do with a monkey in the zoo) Colin is off to bowls this morning and after a visit to the local town I think I will have a 'me' day. A spot of gardening, colouring and generally just chillin' out. I have just had to update this posting...Conversation with my ever lovin'
Colin 'I was going to take you out to lunch but it might be a bit late'
Me 'That's ok, maybe get a chinese or fish and chips tonight'
Colin'I will have to see what I feel like, meaning said chinese or fish and chips'
Me 'ARRGGGGHHH!!! Is it me??? men!
This weeks lovely image from Christine very easy to colour so I've made a couple of cards in different shades. The pansy's are printed onto watercolour paper, coloured with promarkers. Butterflies made with a Martha Stewart punch and swirls and ladybird made with my cricut. Tied tape from stash and the greeting and frame from my craft studio.
I hope you have a really nice day today, the sun is out already here in Norfolk so I hope it is good warm'ish weather for you too. I have entered this into the challenge at
The Paper Shelter Challenge 64 Birthday  http://thepapershelter.blogspot.co.

The lovely ballerina

Today was one of those days...I had a doctor's appointment..it's so rare to be able to get an appointment I could have sold it on ebay! It certainly wasn't either the doctor's fault nor the receptionist, just too many people between two few doctors. Anyway, I wanted to go to the bank and to the library whilst I was in town and what with Colin retiring today I was in a bit of a tizz. It was an early appointment so I was dashing around a bit but managed to leave home with enough time to get to the doc's. Afterwards I parked up in town and went to the bank and the library and suddenly thought (as you do...) something isn't right. I looked down, no, I wasn't wearing my slippers, I was fully dressed, I had my handbag...then it hit me! I had a shiny scrubbed face!!!ARGH!!! No Make-up!! Not since the 70's have I braved the outdoors (the garden doesn't count)  without 'a face on' Oh boy! I hadn't even checked if the hair dye was still around my face from being re-purpled at the hairdressers yesterday. Luckily I only realised on the way back to the car, and when I got home I thought it would be better if I didn't know what a state I might look. I may check the mirror later under subdued lighting. So, tomorrow is the first day of Colin's retirement and I think he is a bit worried about being home more, he went a funny colour when I suggested he dried the dishes as he passed through the kitchen and maybe he could pair the socks. I think he may be looking for a part-time job.
Anyway, back to today's card. This is one of my favourite digi's from The Paper Shelter. She is so easy to colour and I do think my shading is getting better, I know I have a long way to go yet but there has been some improvement! She has been printed onto watercolour paper coloured with promarkers...there is a link on my sidebar. Layered onto mirriboard and then onto Henbury Lane papers (I think) Swirls from my cricut and flowers from wild orchid crafts. I hope you have a very good weekend, I'm off to join in the docrafts bloghop, I hope to see you there.

I have entered this in the Paper Shelter Challenge 63 'Anything goes' http://thepapershelter.blogspot.co.uk/
 DYSU #71 - Use A Flower    http://doyoustackup.blogspot.co.uk/

My DT cards for Christine's Digital Adventure

Isn't this a great digi? It's from Christine at http://goonergirl-craftingheaven.blogspot.co.uk/  
This 'convertable' image is going to have many uses, I have already found three. This is printed onto Daler Rowney Bristol Board which is my favourite for printing digi's, coloured with promarkers, background papers and sentiments from my craft studio, flowers and ribbon from w.o.c.  There are some lovely digi's on Christine's blog that I just know you will have fun with.
It's another soggy day here so I may have Colin home which means the dreaded housework will have to be done! Just another two sleeps till he retires and we can't wait! We will be off in the caravan with my pens and digi's stashed away in a locker. Colin can go fishing and I will be cosy with all my 'stuff'.... heaven. Right...I will have to leave this and go and make Colin's sandwiches, I can smell the new bread so I might just have to have a crust...quality control...

Retirement here we come.....

 Tom and Tilly

Mo's Digital Pencil

Happy Saturday everyone...I'm staying in my craft room for a while today. Colin is listening to football downstairs, Norwich v Arsenal. I am an Arsenal supporter and guess who Colin supports? Ho hummm. I will just listen out for any cheers or boos, really, anyone would think he scored the equalising goal himself, and I am sure I am not responsible for any of the Arsenal tackles!!!
Colin is retiring next Friday the 11th so I downloaded a digi from Mo's pencil and printed it onto watercolour paper, I think this is Tom and Tilly coloured with promarkers (my hair is purple) someone said the image looked like us right down to the size of bum! I really enjoyed colouring this, I do adore her images. I backed it with papers and images  from my craft studio  printed onto matt photo paper.
I think I can hear mutterings from downstairs so I will bloghop for a while and go down when the coast is clear. Have a good weekend and keep warm.