One For The Fellas and Sunday Afternoon Fun . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Good morning everyone. Hope you are all tickedy boo. Glad to hear Maria and Nancy's legs are on the mend. I have noticed from my blog stats that I have had lots of page views from Russia lately so I'd like to say Здравствуйте российских посетителей.

I hope that Bing has translated that properly and I haven't insulted anyone lol!!!

I've not been feeling not too bad in the scheme of things but had a little blip the last couple of days and have been trying to sleep it off.

Anyhoo, I had a wonderful time on Sunday meeting Darnell and her other blogging chums over in Birmingham and Nesta came along too to keep an eye on me. Such a lovely and kind group of gals and Darnell is an absolute hoot. If any of you are familiar with her blog, she is twice as funny in real life. We all had a delicious lunch at the Handmade Burger Company (I can recommend the Peanut Butter and Bacon Burger and Sweet Potato Fries) and spent 4 hours laughing and putting the World to rights. Some photos to follow at the end of this post.

Welcome to Shaz whose blog is here and is one of the lovely gals I met on Sunday (she's the lady with the pink hair on the snap below)

Now, today's card is one I made for a male friend of ours. What is the worst kind of card to have to make when your mojo has slipped off backpacking somewhere exotic for an unspecified length of time? A male one. . . . . . . . well, for me it is as even mojo-less, I can usually think up something remotely floral for the ladies. However, I quite like the understated CAS look of this.

Ingredients

White, navy, sky blue and turquoise card

Darice Chevron embossing folder (pattern extended)

Memory Box Typewriter Alphabet dies (Upper and lower case)

Frosty Sky PVA Pearls

I cut the "Happy" out of the topper and the "Birthday" is the cut out letters stuck onto it. Just thought it looked a bit different.

Now, I had a little gift for Darnell so I made a a box for it and also a 6x6 card to say "Hi". Like a numpty, I forgot to photograph them and when I picked up my camera just before leaving to rectify that, the battery zonked out! So, I snapped then quickly with my phone camera on my way out of the door but the picture quality is naff, I'm afraid.

Same with the photos at the burger place, so I've kept the size smaller as they are quite blurred when enlarged..............quite strange as they look fine on my phone lol!!!

From left to right........Donna (Room in a Cupboard), Shaz (Silverwolf Cards), Marian (Friend of Anne), Anne (Copper Beech Crafts), Darnell (DJKardkreations) and Marg (Silvercrafter)

Darnell has some non blurry snaps on her blog.

Well, that's me for now as I'm typing this to schedule before Mr Lockwood graces our screens. I missed his shows and also a live F1 GP on tv on Sunday. . . . . . . the sacrifices one has to make for blog friends eh, lol!!!

Be good.

TTFN

Ang x

Number 10 From John's Shows. . . . . . . . .

Good morning everyone. Hope you're all well? How are Nancy and Maria's legs doing these days, if its not too personal a question?

Sorry its been nearly a week since I've been here. I honestly don't know where the time has gone. Other than my Echo scan last Friday, I have managed to keep myself out of hospital this week so far. . . . . hurrah!!! Just waiting on results but thank you so much for your kind concern. Christine, I can promise you, I have not been frequenting the local NHS facilities for their gastronomic delights .  . . . . . .I think I could successfully diet if I were in there any length of time lol!!!

I've split my tablet dose (I did ask the doctor if that was ok) so I take 2/3rds in the morning and the remaining 1/3rd at night and it has made such a difference to how I feel during the day so this week I have been spending a bit of time in the garden and even managed a trip to Tesco on my own. I did use the Scan and Shop but I felt so chuffed to have been able to walk round the entire store without having to stop every 5 minutes.

Anyhoo, another of the cards using John's fab stamps. A CAS card that could be used for many an occasion I should think. I suppose this could qualify as a Friday Oldie as it seems ages ago since I made this lol!!!

Ingredients

Cream and Sky Blue Foundation card

John Lockwood Nasturtium Everyday Sentiments stamps

John Lockwood Nasturtium Elements stamps

Presscut Squares dies

Memento Dew Drop Summer Sky ink

Frosty Sky PVA Pearls

Now, I do apologise Elaine (Nattyboots), I forgot to answer your question a couple of cards back about my neat scoring. I stamped the sentiment first and then scored around that just marking where I wanted the score line to finish, very lightly in pencil. Hope that makes sense? Hope you had a good break?

Well, I'm keeping everything crossed for Sunday when I shall be meeting Darnell and some of her other bloggy buddies in Birmingham. Nesta has offered to chaperone me as I think Mr D would rather sit in a room with folk scraping fingernails down a blackboard than sit listening to half a dozen women talking craft, life and the meaning of the Universe, but he was worried about me travelling alone (its a train ride) in case I have an A/Fib attack.

I shall hopefully be reporting back about an afternoon of fun and frivolity early next week. I'm really looking forward to meeting everyone.

Meantime, hope you all have a happy Friday and a wonderful weekend.

TTFN

Ang x

Number 9 From John's Shows. . . . . . . . .

Good morning lovely guys and gals. Hope everyone is fine and dandy?

I will utter that familiar phrase . .  . . . . . .I've been in hospital again. I'm getting fed up saying it so you lovely folk must be getting fed up reading it lol!!! I'm working my way around your blogs bit by bit so please bear with me.

Guess its going to be one of those things until I see the cardio specialists, which will now happen following my Echo scan yesterday.

Anyhoo, on to nicer things. As you can see, I'm still working my way through the samples I made for John's shows last month. I need to get my crafty butt into gear and spend some time in the craft room again. 

Now, this another fairly CAS (well, for me) card featuring triple stamping. Sue Wilson and John have done tutorials on this if anyone is not familiar.

Ingredients

Bright White and Amethyst Foundation card

John Lockwood Larkspur Elements stamps

Tied Together embossing folder

Presscut Squares dies

Frosty Lilac PVA Pearls

Mei Flower ribbon

Coloured CE pearl

Grape Jelly Memento Dewdrop ink

I love purple and lilac so enjoyed making this one.

Before I tootle off, I wish happy travels to Darnell whose fab blog is here and who will be flying across the Atlantic later today to meet with some of us lucky folk on her UK Tour lol!!!

Hoping to meet Darnell a week tomorrow along with some more of her bloggy chums for a bite to eat and a bit of crafty chatter.

Hope everybody has a wonderful weekend with hopefully a little sunshine to warm us us............it is July after all lol!!!

Thanks for visiting and your kind comments.

TTFN.

Ang x

Ps..........my thoughts are with the poor souls and their families who have been affected by the latest tragedy in Nice. 

Number 8 From John's shows. . . . . . . .And a Little F1

Good morning dear blog chums. Hope this finds you and yours well?

A picture heavy post today, I'm afraid as I thought I'd share some Silverstone snaps too as happily, I made it to the GP.......hurrah!!!

It was down to the wire and my goodness, it was a struggle at times but the staff at Silverstone were great and got us a buggy to ride along on from the car park to the grandstand and a bit of the way back too as I did manage a very slow walk 2/3 of the way back after the race.

I know its the tablets that are making me breathless but not much I can do until my cardiology referral is sorted.

Now, today's card is another from John's shows at the end of May (aren't his Christmas stamps terrific?) and would probably make a decent sympathy or get well card too.

Ingredients

Ivory & Rich Plum Foundation card

SB Fancy Postage Stamps die (extended)

Hougie Board for the scoring

John Lockwood Larkspur Elements stamps (florals in panel)

John Lockwood Peony Elements stamps (sentiment)

Versamark (for watermark effect down the panel)

Memento Dewdrop Sweet Plum ink

Cream Pearlage

Quite CAS but simple sometimes does it for me lol!!!

Now, I hope you don't mind a couple of indulgent F1 snaps. It rained when we got to the circuit but I was still smiling and 10 minutes before the race started, we had a hailstorm with hail the size of marrowfat peas (and no, our grandstand wasn't covered lol!!!) but I was still smiling.

The drivers go round the circuit before the race on the trailer and wave to fans. The trailer actually stopped in front of Vale where we were and Jenson and Lewis jumped off and came over to greet fans. Jenson actually threw some McLaren hats over the fence (too far for me to hurl my M&S finest at him lol!!!)

The Red Arrows put on a very fine display of aerobatics. This was about the only decent shot I got, Just before the hail started.

Had to show a photo with the cars so here's 3 of them...........and yes, the Sun did come out and stayed out for the rest of the race (my face looks like I've had week in Spain lol!!!)

Thank you so much for all of your positive thoughts and good wishes as I'm sure that in no small part, they encouraged me to just gird my loins (well, if I had loins to gird) and go for it.

I was one exhausted but happy girlie. 

Only trouble is, I want to go again. I think Mr D hoped that I would have got it out of my system now but nahhhh..................me wants more lol!!!

Anyhoo, time for bed said Zebedee (I'm scheduling).

TTFN

Ang x 

MAWTT July Challenge . . . . . . . . .

Good morning all you lovely blogging folk. Only a couple of days gap since my last offering as its time for another challenge for Team A over at MAWTT.

This month's challenge has been set by by the lovely Janice T  and is . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

No design papers

Please pop over and see what the other gals have done for your inspiration and delectation. And, why not have a go and enter the challenge as there is lots of scope with Janice's theme.

Now, my card was a commission, if you will, from my pal Davey (he who is the Phileas Fogg of Coventry). He, himself, celebrated his 70th last month (I've yet to feature his card) and he asked me if I would make a card for his lovely sister in law, who was also approaching 70. I was happy to oblige, as I was fast becoming an expert on making 70th birthday cards by that point lol!!!

The colour choice was David's but you all know I love a bit of purple action.

Ingredients

Cream card

Lilac card (Lidl)

SB Bitty Blossoms (it had to be lol!!!)

SB Butterfly Circles die

Docrafts circle dies

CE Stitched Bunting Numbers stamps

CE Jacobean Floral embossing folder (Had to have it as soon as I saw it)

Cadbury (other chocolate is available) purple ribbon (Mei Flower)

Bling butterfly from a pack that was a present from Wendywoo (Spanish Crafter)

Dusty Concord DI

Docrafts teeny bling

The card was enjoyed by it's recipient so all's good.

I hope that you can join in with us at MAWTT as it would be lovely to see some of your wonderful creations entered into the challenge.

Ended up back in hospital Tuesday night.........I'm thinking of getting a season ticket! 

I'm still keeping everything crossed for Sunday and getting to Silverstone. Much to Jenson Buttons relief, I probably won't have the energy to throw my underwear (clean, before you ask) at him lol!!!

Until next time, you all take care and smile............it makes people wonder what you've been up to lol!!!

TTFN

Ang x

Number 7 From John's Shows. . . . . . . . . .

Good morning folks. Hope that this finds you well and also those whose loved ones who have not been too well of late.

I'm taking things steady but my goodness these tablets make you feel like you've done a marathon just walking upstairs so either I need to get used to them or they need tweaking. Guess they won't tweak until I've had my scan next week.

We've had some odd weather during the past few days......four seasons in one day at times lol!!! Hopefully, it will be less wet this week as it would be nice to sit out in the sunshine for a bit.

Anyhoo, it's lovely to see some familiar names visiting again. Thank you ladies, it's smashing and cheers me up to read your kind comments.

Now, we're up to card 7 in the samples I made for John's last stamp release. I haven't been up to offering my services for his new upcoming Christmas stamps shows, sadly as it would have been lovely to have a play.

Ingredients

Cream, brown and taupe card (Foundation card)

John Lockwood Peony Elements stamps (Sentiment)

SB Fancy Postage Stamp dies

Couture Creations Swiss Dots embossing folder (used de-boss side)

Hobbycraft corner punch

CE wide stripey ribbon

Cosmic Shimmer Frosty Mink PVA pearls (Also used to do little stripes)

Memento Dew Drop Peanut Brittle ink

Maybe a design that could be used for the fellas as its not particularly girlie?

Oooh, before I forget, Wendy (Yorks Butterfly), click HERE for the link to the original post for my oldie card with the fuchsias, which lists the ingredients for that card. I also did a tutorial for making the fuchsias and for that, please click HERE.

I can't believe I'm off to Silverstone on Sunday. I've told Mr D that I'm going, even if I need to be stretchered in. I've been so looking forward to this that I would be more than upset if I couldn't go. Thank goodness we booked grandstand seats so at least I haven't got to stand.

If any of you have any spare positive vibes, please send them this way this week as I need all the help I can get to make sure I get to cheer on Jenson Baby on Sunday (I know he's got no chance of winning but I adore him lol!!!)

Well, that's me for now. I'm back to the doctors for a blood pressure check this morning and if anyone comes near me with an ECG machine this time, they will end up in A&E themselves having it surgically removed lol!!!

TTFN

Ang x