me....life....stuff....nothing....bits & pieces....
anything....bleathers & general Poppy-dog & Bella-Boo gossip!

Tuesday, 30 September 2008

Tuesday cards makes

Last night's card class was a real giggle.

The ladies also donated cards for the Troops Christmas card appeal!!!!



And two more of them have cards to pop into us.
Emma & I will deliver the cards to the coordinator in Aberdeen on Saturday.
The total was at 1023 last time I looked on Emma's blog.

This are the two cards I made in class......

I love this card, its simple but so sweet.



I have always wanted to make a waterfall card, and we had the choice between Poinsettias or Daisies for the stamp.


I had made a few Christmas cards these last few days so went for Daisy.

The Poinsettias cards had a green matting card.
I picked yellow and am not sure if it is too bright but I like the end result.

I think I put the strip a wee bit wonky but I will have another go at these cards.

We are at the end of this block of the classes but start back again at the end of the month.

give & recieve

Energy levels were a bit better today....have a few bits of crafting I need to do yet....and have a rest before I go to card class this evening.

I haven't forgotten you Nessy honest....

don't know where the time has gone.
It was on my list of things to do ....
And I have done it!!!!!! Just need to post it tomorrow !!!!


Did manage to make these two cards from the Sketch Saturday Challenge
I like the plainness of the first one

But I also like the backing papers on this....

Think I will enter the snowman one ......

But more excitingly in the post today arrives a lovely wee party bag from Sammi!!!



And a beautiful wee ATC!!!! with an image of the Maggie Stamp I sent her for her Birthday!

And she is dressed in purple!!! PERFECT!




Thanks babe xx

I also discovered when it was chucking it down with rain today that even though Labrador's love muddy puddles, jumping in rivers, swimming in seas, wrestling with hose pies and even trying to get in the shower or bath beside you......


It seems the chucking it down with rain means we don't go out side unless we are attached to a human with a lead!!!!!



*sigh*

Best go...things to do...stuff to stamp, and things to make xx

Sunday, 28 September 2008

Sloe's, stinkies and yellow feathers.....

We are coming to the end of our harvesting wild foods to preserve.

Just had sloe berries to pick, to make apple and sloe jelly and some sloe gin.
They are tiny sour plum like fruits that are themselves not something you would eat.

They are about as big as your thumb nail are the most beautiful purple almost black colour!


We have a secret place we go to every year, and it has never let us down.
There was a smaller amount of fruit on the tree's but the berries were bigger and much more juicy than the last few years.
All the rain we have had made the bracken and nettles huge round the sloe tree's.


We freeze them to get the skin to break down more easily so it seeps into the gin or jelly quicker.

Steeped in sugar and gin for months makes a beautiful liqueur.

And they make a lovely jelly with apples.

Poppy had a great time running around, she never went far away and came back when we called her, which is something she has only starting doing outside!

Even came back and sat with her lead on as folk rode past on four horses!
And she had never seen a horse before!

Before I boast about how well my beloved Poppy dog behaved......it is time to admit she found some decomposing animal and did what all manky dogs do.....ROLLED ON IT!!


MANKY Girl!!

quick rub down with baby wipes and a bath in the garden when we got home!!!



On the way to the sloes we saw a field with vintage tractors having a ploughing competition.

There were loads of beautiful machine all ploughing away. Quite something to see!



On the way home we called in to see Fiona who's dog Bailey is the litter mate of our old beloved Tilly.
He is almost 12 and a mumbly auld mannie of a dog now....the fact Poppy wanted to give him lots of poppy kisses was not something he enjoyed.....

After her busy day....and a tussle with a cats yellow feather toy....a girl just has to have a sleep!!

I know it looks like she has killed the budgie....but she hasn't!

can any one help me out here?


received this lovely Edwin wizard stamped image from Nessy in image swap.....I used him on this card you have seen before .....but I can't find him anywhere online...any one got any ideas or seen him in a shop near you? I would love to get him to keep my wee witch company!

am off to go look at more sites....and resisting the temptation to buy loads.....

have a good Sunday xxx

Saturday, 27 September 2008

change of plans.....

Today was full of plans that have been in place for a good few days.....we had changed all sorts around to make sure we were and others were free for moving a mate into her new house today.

But there was a change of plans....for a few reasons....and she didn't need us to come round.

So we thought we would potter around in the garden till we went out to another
friends for dinner....the washing was almost dry and would put that away in a few hours.

But it has rained all day......and the almost dried washing was soaked before I saw it was raining!

So Andrew pottered about in his shed.....and then made elderberry jam.


which is the most beautiful royal purple colour and tastes scrummy!

And I soaked in the bath for ages till I was wrinkly like a prune!!

thankfully no picture of this were taken!! PHEW!

Then another mate who shall remain nameless had to change all her plans as they were kindly offered to help in the above mentioned move.....but was not needed so went out for the day...
and had a wee accident and hurt herself,
so could we canceled the meal we had planned to have together.

I hope she feels better soon ! Gentle Hugs to you XXXX

We cooked extra portions last week and froze it and that was taken out to thaw,
dinner was sorted!

I went upstairs and did some crafting!

I have finished the serious pile of cards I needed to do....and that's a relief!
Just the change of address cards to do and Andrew has fixed printer so that's my next task!


This yellow card is for the papertake weekly challenge and to be donated to Children in Need.
They will all be put together to make a huge Pudsey bear.... Cool.

This is a sizzex die to cut the butterfly that I have borrowed from Emma.

I might also enter it for cute card Thursday as it is sparkle this week and I applied some fine glitter to the card...and ended up wearing a fair bit of it in my hair and on my clothes!

Also ABC Challenge is jewels ...so will pop it in for that too!

My Mate Sheena's Birthday is not till next month but I made this card with her in mind,
and it is perfect for Arty Girlz Challenge which is Autumn themes....

and now to relax and enjoy strictly come dancing .....

Friday, 26 September 2008

getting there......

WARNING CONTAINS NUDITY!!!

So I have had some serious crafting time this evening and
made some cards to get ontop with the pile I needed to make....
Some I am very pleased with....some could have done with a bit more work...

I don't normally get so behind with cards I need to do,
and also had a few extras I wasn't expecting.......the image swaps from Nessy & Natalie helped.

I haven't done any of the change off address ones...but that's a whole other story...

I did manage to make the New Home card.

The image on this card and the engagement card below are from Natalie. Thanks babe!



This one is quiet simple, and I am not sure about it....
It's a peel off with sukura pen ....

I love this one.
It started off being a pink card, but it developed into more browns
with some olive embossing down the deep brown border.


My cousin Zoe has just got engaged to the lovely farmer Alan!

Congratulations you two!

This one is for mates Fiona & Jim who have their 15th Wedding Anniversary next week.....

And its Jim's Birthday the same day.....

I actually coloured this image in but preferred it in black and white.

And as promised......here's some nudity!!!!!

It is where I get one of my fave statements from....

I can go from zero to bitch in 10 seconds flat!!!

(don't do it Emma....no comments needed about this at all!!!)


And REMEMBER!!!! Christmas cards for the troops
need to be received by Emma by Wednesday 1st October !!!

too many Cards ....not enough time

I have a fair few cards I need to make over the next wee while,
1 more engagement.
2 anniversary cards
2 thinking of you cards.
3 birthday cards

but have little time and even less inspiration or energy...
I received this beautiful wallet card with stamped images from the wonderful Nessy yesterday

The images inside have given me some inspiration....
I need to get the wallet I have started for Nessy finished and sent.

sorry for the delay my lovely xx

And just now I received this beautiful wallet card from Natalie.

How do you get the glaze on the images so neat? I think I put it on too thick.....
It is just chocka full of stamped Images .....
Thanks girls .....I am sure this will get me going!!!

This is the wallet card of images I sent Natalie




I used one of the images included from Nessy in this to make an engagement card.....


I love this wizard Edwin image,....it goes so well with witchy Tilda!!!
will need to see if I can find this stamp as I could use it in lots of things.
Not your usual kinda of engagement card......but Karen & Neale will love it.

This one is a get well card.....honest! LOL my firend had a bug so had a temperature!

And this one is Birthday card for my cousins Daughter.


I love the Butterfly ribbon down the side and the daisy's I made using layered punched pearly paper.

My friend was ment to be moving house next month, so I said I would do change of address cards as a house moving gift.....she only needed a few.....

now seems she is moving tomorrow...needs help to move...and needs 48 cards!

I have made one....now printer is playing up and I am feeling overwhelmed.....

*deep breath in* EXHALE and relax.....

Wednesday, 24 September 2008

Rowan & Rosehips.

Harvesting and preserving continues here,

Andrew made the most wonderful Rowen and Apple Jelly.


He is also made some Rose Hip and Apple jelly.
It is darker than the Rowan & Apple.
And tastes fantastic!




And will make some Rose Hip syrup which is Hugh says
is tasty over pancakes and good for colds as it is high in Vitamin C.

Planning gathering Brambles later on today or tomorrow.

Today is our 14th Wedding Anniversary and this is the card I made Andrew.




We went out for Chinese food last night and will go to dog class with Poppy Dog tonight.
Fun for the whole family !!

Talking of Poppy dog......if you get caught on the sofa,
where you are not ment to be ,
cause you are wet.........

do you................

A) jump down quickly and run away
B) Act very sorry and promise not to do it or get caught again....

or

C) ......

lie on your back and wait to have your belly tickled!!!

This is Poppy delivering my card from Andrew,





At least you don't get teeth marks on Elf post!

Tuesday, 23 September 2008

Happy Birthday Andrew.....and a gift for me!!

Today is my hubby Andrew's 41st Birthday.

This is my card for him.

We had a huge surprise Birthday for him las year,...
nearly drove me nuts keeping it a secret from him!
Had lots of family & friends and even his wee Brother from Australia !

So a quiet year this year.
I made him a cooked breakie and we will spend some nice time together as he is on leave this week and next. No plans for this....will see how it goes.


This was in the mail for me today......from my mate lovely Briony.
She makes quilts and cards that have material that she had sewed and dyed.
The are beautiful!

I love these postcards, they are pictures of her quilts and they are beautiful!

Briony generously gifted a quilt to the hospice I used to work in, it is also a beautiful piece.
YOU are very clever Mrs B!!!!

Monday, 22 September 2008

7 things about me.


Was tagged by Debs ......thanks babe!


so....7 random facts about me.....

  1. I am a qualified nurse who specialised in palliative care, but don't work as a nurse just now, might not ever do this again but who knows.... Maybe I will return to some sort of care role some day.
  2. I have a birth mark on my tongue....I also talk too much!
  3. I practice a few complementary therapies like massage, reiki, crystals & aromatherapy
  4. My three serious boyfriends were a butcher, an baker and I married the meteorologist!
  5. I used to be a vegetarian.
  6. I would love to be able to read tarot cards.
  7. I am scared of heights and large spiders.
will tag others tomorrow xx

Autumnal Equinox.



This is time of year is my Fave time.
I love Autumn.

Andrew's Birthday is tomorrow,
a few weeks ago was the anniversary of when we met 16 years ago
and we have been married 14 years on Wednesday.





Today is Autumnal Equinox.

This is the point of the year when once again day and night are equal.



'The reaping is over and the harvest is in,
Summer is finished, another cycle begins'



I love the change in season, the colours of the tree's, the harvest of the fruits.

Making Apple and Rowan jelly is some thing we do every year.


It is not sweet so perfect for using with cold meat and in gravy it is delish!!!
We went gathering Rowan's today but found hardly any.



We have enough for one batch.
Will look else where later on in the week.

I knew Rowan tree's were popular in Scotland to grow in the garden to ward off evil spirits.

But didn't know they had such a history of protection.


There was a huge batch of rosehips , must have a look for a recipe for them....



We also went nut picking..... can you see them???




yeau ....we found 6!!!

I am not sure why everything is such a poor crop this year.


Craft wise.....not done so much, have finished a scrap book page but can't show it here till it has been delivered.
And finished Andrew's Birthday and Anniversary cards.