Number 6 From John's Shows. . . . . . . . .

Good morning everyone. Hope you are all well?

Sorry I've been missing for a few days. Just a quickie from me today and apology if I haven't got round to visiting all of your blogs in the past few days but I've had another emergency stay in hospital.

A simple blood pressure check at the doctors as they are keeping an eye on things. That was ok, then the nurse decided to do an ECG as one hadn't been done for a couple of weeks.

High irregular pulse again, spoke to doctor....................his response, A & E NOW !!!!!

So, admitted to hospital again (its always when you haven't shaved your legs for a couple of days lol!!!) as heart doing loop the loops again. Thankfully they let me out yesterday. Its impossible to sleep in there, so I feel worse for wear with exhaustion and every shift change brings different doctors so you end up feeling like a parrot explaining the same thing half a dozen times lol!! Tablets adjusted so I'm hoping no more dramas.

Our bed at home never felt so good and takeaway pizza tasted like nectar.

Now, back to the samples from John's stamp shows and just a simple one today, if you don't mind.

Ingredients

Cream and navy card (Foundation card)

Presscut square dies

John Lockwood Nasturtium Everyday Sentiment stamps

Memento Dewdrop Paris Dusk ink

CE blue jelly tot dazzler

I will try and keep up with you all but hope you forgive me if I fall behind with any blogging activity, You know I will catch up when I can as I'm the queen of tail chasing, lol!

Until next time, be good.

TTFN

Ang x

Oldie For Friday. . . . . . . .

Good morning everyone. Hope all is well with you and yours.

I've had a bit of a quiet week. Didn't get lunch with Nesta Monday after all as was a bit dizzy and breathless when I went to the doctors so she bought me straight home. Have improved with that since but have now picked up a cold from goodness knows where.

Now, I know some of you were telling me off about not doing my exercises but they are just ones for my ankle and its only the ones that make me dizzy that I haven't been doing, honest guv.

I managed to walk to our local Polling Station and back up a hill last night without getting too out of breath and without my crutch, so the orthotics are working well.

Today's oldie is from a couple of years ago and I picked it to re-show because of the wonderful sentiment. Its been lovely of late, to know that I have some fantastic friends who have rallied round and also through the blog to cheer me up and keep in touch to see how I am.

So all my dear friends, thank you for your kind words and best wishes over the last few weeks. Its all very much appreciated. Thank you also for the Get Well cards.

Hope you don't mind if I show you some of the beautiful flowers I've been lucky to receive........

.......from Nesta, John and Di, Julie and Julie. These white lillies are the biggest I've ever seen, Bearing in mind, that dresser cupboard is about 3ft high lol!

And how about this beauty .....................

........my birthday present from John, who knows that I love hot chillies on everything (a cheese sandwich is not complete without chopped chilli on top lol!!!). I have about 4 left on the plant and there are some new flowers forming. I've also saved some seeds as these chillies are so delicious, mega hot but sweet too.

So, thank you all again and hope you all have a fabulous weekend.

TTFN

Ang x

Janet's Envelope. . . . . . . . More Interesting Than it Sounds!

Good morning everyone and thank you for popping by The Pond. There are a couple of bloggy buddies who are under the weather limping physically and emotionally at the moment so I send you happy thoughts and good wishes.

I am still limping a bit as I am only doing my Achilles exercises when I feel up to it as I'm still getting breathless on occasion. At least I have my scan appointment through for mid July and I'm seeing my GP today as the hospital have been in touch with them about my stay.

Well, the mojo didn't exactly reappear but thanks to some of your suggestions, I did solve the problem of what to do about the 18th and 50th birthday card dilemma.

My friend has two gorgeous little dawgies called Sparky and Corky. Now Corky is a little Shitzu, apologies if that's not spelt correctly (Maureen, stop it right now!!!) and I thought that the card I made here would be perfect with a couple of additions. So, added "Happy Birthday" and "50" and she loved it.

Daughter's favourite colour is turquoisey teal so this card here I adapted by removing the special day sentiment and adding "18".

Thank you to those folks who nudged me in the right direction and yes, I forgot to snap the altered cards lol!

Now, today I'm giving you another break from the Cards of Lockwood series lol!

I forgot to show you the envelope/box I made for our friends 70th birthday card that I showed you all here (sorry for all the links but I thought it better than adding all the extra photos)

Ingredients

Cream hammered card (PMD) - all one piece

Pink card (PMD)

SB Labels 20 

Memory Box Typewriter Alphabet dies

Hobbycraft corner punch

Mei Flower pink ribbon

It needed to be more than an envelope to survive the plane ride back to their home in Spain after Janet's party and I thought I'd be different cutting her name as an aperture rather than just sticking the letters on. . . . . . .didn't think that looked too bad.

Hopefully seeing Nesta today for brunch as I'm trying to get things back to normal and spend some time out of the house, other than hospital or doctor appointments.

Hoping to sit in my craft room too at some point as I am determined to make a card. . . . . . . .one has to keep ones hand in (as said the gynecologist to the bishop. . . . . .)

Yes, I did get my burger last week but I could only manage half of it, a bit of salad and about 8 chips! (Mr D ate my onion rings and the rest of the chips as well as his own lunch!!!) I doggy bagged the other half and heated it for my tea lol!!!

Hope this week is kind to you all and especially gentle with those of you who are not 100% at the moment.

TTFN

Ang x

The 14 Cards of Lockwood. . . . . . . . .Part 5

Good morning one and all. Hope you're not suffering too much with all of this wet weather. . . . . . Flaming June as they say.

I'm going to be trying to do something in my craft room today. I have 2 cards to make by Friday (an 50th and an 18th for mother and daughter) but my get up and go, got up and went so I need to give myself a shake rather than endure the indignity of.........I can't bear to say it............forgive me for using this sort of language............buying cards from a shop.............arrrgh, wash my mouth out!!!!!!!!

Fortunately, the presents were covered as I made some jewellery a few weeks ago. Eeeeee, the shame if I have to buy the cards!!!!!!!

Now, back to John's samples. This was one of the first that I made as I had something in mind the minute I saw the swirly leafy stamps.

Ingredients

Ivory card

Rich Plum card (both CE foundation card)

John Lockwood Nasturtium Elements stamps (flowers, leaves and swirly bits)

John Lockwood Peony Elements stamp (sentiment)

Versamark

Cosmic Shimmer Frosted Lemon mica powder

Sweet Plum Memento Dewdrop ink (also used to colour the ribbon)

CE thin white ribbon (coloured as per above)

CE jelly tot dazzler

Apologies for the above photo. There was some water reflecting outside the window and I didn't realise it had added this stripy effect to the photo until I downloaded it from the camera, by which time the samples were in John's hot little hands. At least you can pick up the sheen from the mica.

It was fun trying to get that thin ribbon to behave as I tried to make it look like it was flowing with the swirly bits. Thank heavens for glue guns!!!

On that note, I shall scoot for now. Mr D has the day off today so I shall try and persuade him to take me out for lunch as I'm going a bit stir crazy. As I'm trying to eat a bit healthier, especially as I'm not getting exercise at the minute, I have been indulging in the delights of cauliflower couscous/rice (really nice, even if you don't like cauliflower) but wouldn't mind a juicy burger lol!!!

Have a great day.

TTFN

Ang x

The 14 Cards of Lockwood. . . . . . . .Part 4

Good morning everybody. How yawl doing?

I'm still waiting for my scan but trying to remain upbeat................probably not the best turn of phrase as it was the upping of beats that got me into this predicament but you know what I mean lol! The Achilles is also doing better with the orthotics.

For those who kindly enquired after Mr D, his mouth has all but healed and he thanks you for asking after him. Its just his hearing and eyesight we need to fix but I sadly fear that they are genetic issues allied to the Y chromosome.

I do wonder if the males are identified as "Y "as that's how most of them respond when you ask them to do something........."can you please close the wardrobe door?"......"Why?"  "Can you please put that box in the bin?"........"Why?"........you catch my drift ladies lol!!! 

Now, after the MAWTT interlude (hope you have all had a peek at the challenge) I'm back to the samples I did for Mr Lockwood and this is number 4. I like trying different things with ribbon as not everyone likes big bows (our Lydia) and I thought this card could do with something less intrusive than a traditional bow.

Ingredients

Bright white card

Wisteria card

CE Swirling Hearts embossing folder

Sue Wilson Ursa Gemini die

SB Fancy Postage Stamps dies

John Lockwood Larkspur Elements stamps 

John Lockwood Nasturtium Everyday Sentiments stamps

Grey Flannel Memento Dewdrop ink

Spun Sugar DI

CS pink mica (sorry, didn't note which one) to colour the flowers on the sentiment

CS Silver PVA pearls

CE silver ribbon

CE jelly tot (my name for them, showing my age lol!!!) dazzler coloured with a pink marker

Only another 10 cards to go folks lol!!!

Well, I shall be having a lie in this morning as I will have been up late watching the Canadian GP Qualifying highlights.

Cara, dont even think about it. I dont think my blood pressure could take seeing Flash trim his hedge, ahem!

Patricia, cant always promise chirpy but certainly cheap cheap! (Showing my age again)

Maria, hope that the leg heals well and its not at an angle awkward for crafting.

Hope you all have a happy Sunday, especially my Highland Chum Kate (Cuilliesocks) as its her 21st birthday today.

TTFN

Ang x

Ps.......Tina E I don't know if you'll see this but thank you for your comment and you're more than welcome. Some blogs I used to comment on require you to sign up to Google+ to comment, which I wont as I feel Google has too much info on folk as it is. Hope your family can feel peace in time.

MAWTT June Challenge. . . . . . . Music

Good morning everyone. Hope that all is good with you and yours.

Today is time for another challenge at MAWTT and the theme for this one was chosen by Wendy and is. . . . . . . . . . . . Music!!!

It would be great if you can pop over and see what the other girlies have been up to and as always, would be fabulous to see some familiar names entering the challenge.

Now, I had been thinking it was time to start using my gorgeous First Edition papers again rather than them gather dust on the shelves and remembered these particular sheets from the Bird Song pad.

Ingredients

Cream card

Kiwi pearlised card (Lime Tree)

First Edition Bird Song 8x8 pad (the bottom/inside sheet is actually white so I inked over with Victorian Velvet DI)

SB Labels 20

SB Carnation Creations (thought you may fancy a change from Bitty Blossoms lol!!!)

Hobbycraft sentiment and flourish stamps

CE ribbon

Dovecraft teeny bling

Cream pearls

New Sprout Memento Dew Drop ink

Black Archival ink

It was an A4 sheet folded and cut into, as above.

The faux layers were created by inking around the die cuts using the die to provide an edge to ink up to, as above.

You can see the effect better, perhaps, on the above photo.

Sorry that this was a bit photo heavy but I thought I would explain how I did a couple of bits.

I think it was Jackie who asked if I used any equipment to stamp my last card. I think you were thinking of the Inkadinkadoo thingy they had on C & C sometime ago?

Nope, it was just me, the stamp, and a normal block. I did draw a circle to use as a guide to stamp around but that was it.

Thank you for your continued well wishes. I'm getting there and at least its taken my mind off my dodgy ankle lol!!! I am honestly being good and doing as I'm told. . . . . . . . .breaking the habit of a life time lol!!!

I will try and visit everyone's blogs to catch up today. Still nodding off at inopportune moments so its been frustrating.

See you all soon.

TTFN

Ang x

The 14 Cards of Lockwood. . . . . . . . Part 3

Good morning everyone. Hope you had a lovely, warm and sunny weekend.

Hello to FoxyG, Wendy's sister. Thank you to you and everyone for your kind comments. Still getting tired moments but Mr D is looking after me when he's not at work and Nesta is keeping a beady eye.

Now, we have another card from John's shows. I did a couple like this to show how versatile the stamps would be for smaller cards and for those who like to do a bit more in the stamping department, rather than just die cuts.

Ingredients

Bright white card

Amethyst card (Both CE Foundation card)

John Lockwood Nasturtium Elements stamps

Sue Wilson Rococo Striplet (with a circular portion cut out)

Cosmic Shimmer Frosty Lilac PVA pearl

Presscut Square dies

Grape Jelly Memento Dew Drop ink (First and second generation stamping)

Isn't it a pain when different light makes the same card look different colours? I bet David Bailey never has this problem lol!!!

Hope you all have a wonderful week.

TTFN

Ang x

Ps......I had no choice but to wave off Mr D to the supermarket with a list again yesterday. As I had the rudements of a roast dinner in the freezer, I rang him whilst he was shopping to ask him to get a bag of Tesco Value Yorkshire Puddings (sacrilege, I know, but I'm not well lol!). He returned with...........Aunt Bessies Roast Potatoes!!! He claims to have misheard but amazing his hearing was intact when I also reminded him to get cake for his lunchbox!!!

And I'm to avoid stress lol!!!

The 14 Cards of Lockwood. . . . . . .Part 2

Good morning everyone. Hope you are all ok.

Thank you for all of your kind and concerned comments. Hello Barbara D. Thank you for leaving your lovely and much appreciated comment. I'm feeling a bit better. Just a bit anxious about it all but hope that will settle down.

Now, this is another of the samples for John but sadly this one sat on the shelf at the back of the set so here it is in the spotlight today.

Ingredients

White card

Presscut square dies

John Lockwood Larkspur Elements stamps (Flower and sentiment)

Sue Wilson Ursa Gemini die

That Special Touch Fanciful mask 

Frosty Jade PVA Pearls

Pistachio Memento Dew Drop ink

Short and sweet I'm afraid but I will try and visit when I can. Still doing a lot of nodding off at the minute.

Hope you can all join John again tonight and tomorrow. . . . . . . no, none of my samples this time so its safe to watch lol!!!

TTFN

Ang x

The 14 Cards of Lockwood. . . . . . . Part 1

Good morning folks. Hope this finds you all very well.

As you may hopefully have seen, I made some samples for Lockers, featuring his wonderful new stamp sets as John was on holiday just prior to his Hochanda shows and I was more than happy to help.

So this is the start of The14 Cards of Lockwood. . . . . . .its a bit like The12 Days of Christmas without any laying geese or ladies dancing.

Now, this one seemed to get a lot of airtime on the shows and it was one of my favourites.

Ingredients

Cream card

Blue card (2 shades) All card is CE Foundation card but I'm not good with the colour names

CE Linen embossing folder

SB Fancy Postage Stamps dies

John Lockwood Nasturtium Everyday Elements stamps (corners and sentiment - sentiment inked without the border round it)

Cosmic Shimmer Frosty Sky PVA Pearls

Memento Dew Drop Paris Dusk ink

I hope that you all enjoyed John's shows. . . . . .wasn't his shirt amazing??? The stamps and products were fantastic to work with and I was flattered that John trusted me again to help.

I will apologise in advance that my blog posts/visits may be a bit sporadic for the forseeable as I have had a bit of a health scare. . . . . short story, ambulanced to hospital Sunday and admitted with a heart problem (Atrial Fibrillation with RVR). I'm home again now with medication but having to go for a heart scan next week.

The whole episode scared me witless and exhausted me so I will visit you and post when I feel up to it, if that's ok.

Most of this post was already prepped to go so I've only had to add a few sentances.

This past 12 months have been my unhealthiest. . . . . . .If I was a horse, I'd be at the glue or Fray Bentos factory lol!!!

Before I go, I just wanted to wish my chum Davey a Happy 70th Birthday for today (he's in Oz but may still be reading his). I will feature his cards at a later date but hopefully he has taken them with him.

So sorry in advance for any down time but very tired at the moment so please bear with me.

TTFN

Ang x