TPC #82 Not a Card

Hello everyone, I hope you're all well. 

I'm feeling a tad emotional today and would really appreciate some happy healing thoughts for my little dog Dylan - he's back in hospital!!!! 

As many of you know he's had lots of problems this year, including two major operations resulting in the loss of both eyes.  I came home from work earlier in the week to find him basically in a state of collapse!!!  He couldn't walk or weight bear and kept falling to one side, unable to get back up!!!!

I spoke to the vet yesterday and he's comfortable with some improvement but his exact words were, "he's not out of the woods yet".  They're wanting to do an MRI on him to try and find out whats wrong!!  I haven't been able to get through to them so far today!!  I've had a rather emotional conversation with Pete as neither of us want him to have to put him through even more surgery and are also waiting to hear from the insurance company to ensure they'll cover this episode!!

We did get the pupster Harley due to the age and failing health of both Murphy and Dylan but this certainly isn't getting any easier!!

*******************************

On a happier note we have a fabulous new challenge for you this week over at Totally Papercrafts.

Thank you to everyone who joined in last week ....this week it is the turn of the lovely Sarah  to host. 

 

 Our challenge this time is for you to create......

ANYTHING BUT A CARD

Which opens up a WHOLE new range of possibilities which we can't wait to see!!!  I'm feeling quite excited about this one and it'll really cheer me up seeing what you can come up with!!!!

I've used a fabulous stamp by Raindrop Echo Designs and available exclusively from Whimsy Stamps.  Called "Holiday Wish List", it is available HERE.

Isn't it just FABULOUS!!!  I've done one each for Emily and Ethan and I intend to scrapbook them next year!!  I think it will be so wonderful to look back in years to come and read what was on their lists!!!!

My teamies have again come up trumps with this one and you can check out their makes HERE.

We have fantastic sponsors this week are ..

£10 voucher to spend in store (p+p not included).

and

The winner will receive 5 digital images of their choice, which will be tough as Di's has so many adorable images.

I really hope you can join us this week, thanks for stopping by.  Have a lovely weekend.

 

Mel X

NEW CRAFT SPACE and a new challenge

Hiya everyone.  Am late this morning.  Been just putting some finishing touches to

 my new craft space and got completely carried away lol.

We have a fresh challenge for you over at Totally Papercrafts today......

GIRLY GIRLS

Thats right, there has to be a girl on your creation this week.  Oooh I can just 

hear your creative juices going into overdrive - maybe its an opportunity to use a new image or a favourite neglected old stamp!  Can't wait to see what you come up with.

I've used two rather adorable images from Karen's Doodles.  Initially my intention was to enter this into their doubling up challenge last week - but then I decided to upgrade my craft space so I blew out on that one lol.

 

Aren't they just adorable!!  My 10year old daughter Emily is just starting to get a bit stroppy at times so I reckon her hormones are just starting to kick in.  It's making me long for the days when she was a toddler rofl!!!  These images just remind me of her time at day nursery and bring back so many memories!!

Since recovering with my HRT, my craft space has been driving me more nuts with each passing day as its been soooo hard to work in the dining room with no real designated space!  Desperate to get back to blogging properly I took the plunge last Saturday and had a trip to Ikea in Leeds, West Yorkshire. 

I have new shelving, cupboards and desk in a corner of the dining room now which means I won't have to clear everything away at Christmas time EVER again - whooo hoooooo!!!

 

and a side view......

I have a filing cabinet with 12x12 drawers - perfect for my 12x12 scrapbook papers and it just fits beautifully under the desk - like it was meant to be rofl.!!  Pete was on his way home last Saturday when I bought everything.  He walked into the house to be greeting by loads of boxes, stuff everywhere and me up to me eyeballs in instruction papers, nails and screws "What the chuffing 'eck you doing"  or something to that effect was the first thing he said to me rofl.  He was a little star though and finished helping me put it together as I was nearly done.

I love it - sometimes I just go and sit in there and I always pop in just before I go to bed and just before I go to work - sad or what pmsl.  I don't think its sunk in yet that its mine - keep thinking I'm dreaming rofl.  There's even room for the pupsters crate under the desk when he comes home in August!!!!!

I'll post more pics over the next few months as the room itself is finished.  The walls opposite my desk and out of view are still awaiting wallpaper and Pete is plastering up the chimney breast as I type and a wood burning stove is planned...  I might NEVER leave once its all done rofl.

Thanks for stopping by!!

Take care

Mel X

Three Cards and Four Challenges

Hi everyone.  OMG, can't believe its been almost a week since my last post!  Been quite busy this week yet don't seem to have accomplished much lol!  Today I've kicked back and made some cards to brighten the day.  We've had rain, icy sleet and snow today - it's blummin freezing!!  Like everyone else I know, I can't wait for spring to arrive!  It was also nice to get in some practice with my new copics and promarkers - I'd love to know your thoughts cos I think my shadings terrible - not keen on the monster itself, think I need to buy more copics to get closer colour matches (but not til Harrogate show lol!!)

  This first card is for Ethan's friend who will be seven next week and its for

Cupcake Craft Challenge - Friends

The Pink Elephant Challenge - Sketch

 RECIPE

Stamp - Victoria Case

Papers - Basic Grey (marrakech) from Secret Crafter

Cardstock - Stash

Charm - Hobbyhouse

Sentiment - Craftwork Cards

Brad - stash

----------------------------------------------------------------------

 This next card is for my mum's best friend and is based soley on the Daring Cardmakers Challenge.  Their challenge this week is "Here Comes the Sun" and so want to see lots of red, orange or yellow OR lots of circles or rays - anything really that says sunshine to you!!  Well I think I got a bit carried away in my eagerness to see some sun - the only thing missing is the rays!!

 As I was reading their blog today I could hear the song "Mr Tambourine Man" on the radio, this just reminds me of long summer days and picnics for some reason!  With that in mind, I just HAD to make this little number - then had to reach for me shades LOL!  I can't find the pad for this one now, I think its another one from Basic Grey.

RECIPE

Image - Charmed Download

Flowers - Prima

Ribbon - Stash

Brads - Stash (I think papermania)

Butterfly - Papermania

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My last card today is for the lovely ladies at Totally Papercrafts who have a sketch for us this week.  I have added a charm on a chain  and I LOVE it!!  Which is probably a good job cos I bought a fair few a couple of weeks ago and have spent some evenings this week putting  them together lol!  I haven't put the top flowers in exactly the same place as I didn't want anything to get in the way of the chain so I hope thats ok!  Oh, and I had a bit of a lapse with the trimmer and cut the panels a bit too short - hence I ended up staggering them to avoid losing them behind the image duh!!   This card is for my favourite aunt and uncle "The Chris's" who celebrate their wedding anniversary next week.

I'm fairly pleased with my shading here but, as they say, practice makes perfect!

RECIPE

Image - Lily of the Valley

Papers - Basic Grey (Bittersweet)

Cardstock

Stash

Charm - Hobbyhouse

Flowers - Prima and Hobbyhouse

I've some more cards to post tomorrow including a nice bright card for Mr Chris' birthday!!

Thanks for stopping by my crazy little haven here in cyberspace.  I hope you like what you see.  Take care and happy crafting.

Mel X

FRIENDS

Good evening everyone, hope you're having a lovely weekend.  My SIL Jo has started a new challenge blog with six of her blogging buddies. Emma is also on the team and both have been very supportive since I started my blog in October last year and often pop in and leave encouraging comments!  Their new challenge blog is Totally Papercrafts and their first ever challenge is set, the theme being;

F R I E N D S

They are also kicking off with a blog hop - this is the first one I've joined in on! I really wanted to show my support to them in their first (rather fab) challenge!  and used it as inspiration for a book swap on a certain forum.  I have not been blogging long and have already made some cherished crafty friends, so this will actually be a gift for someone else in the swap!

I have used papers so hope this still counts!!  I used purple mulberry paper from stash to actually cover the book and used this as a backdrop for some basic grey Wisteria papers.  I used two Charmed downloads and inside the circle saw a perfect opportunity to use some two tone papers from my stash too!  I coloured the images with copics and sakura pens.  I applied Glamour Dust to the pixies wings and the large flower.  I applied Glossy Accents to some more fragile areas to ensure it all remains intact and can withstand wear and tear!

Here, you can see how the two tone paper has developed a third LOL!  Not keen on the dark green now  Seemed like a good idea at the time but now wish I'd kept to the lighter shade! I love using quotes and poems as some of you may know and I simply could NOT let this opportunity pass me by LOL!!  The sentiment reads:

"Friends...they cherish one another's hopes, 

they are kind to one another's dreams" 

Thankyou so much for stopping by.  Why not pop over to Totally Papercrafts if you have time and take a look.  Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Take care

Mel X