Golden Doodles . . . . . . . .

Good morning everyone. How's it going with you? 

I hope that Nancy's and Elaine's legs are better and also that Maureen has recovered fully from the cataract op. And Marion, my goodness you have your hands full.

Up and down with me at still but marginally more ups. Even ventured to Tesco for a bit of shopping yesterday by myself (thank goodness for Scan and Shop) and hopefully meeting John for breakfast this morning.

Its frightening to think we're nearly in December. Where has this year gone? Mind you, its felt like a long one at times.

I've been on a mission with getting Christmas cards done and during the last 4 days, I've made about 24. Before you gasp in amazement (I thing I heard some of you gasp already) most of them are using the Hunkydory sets I bought 4 years ago as I was determined I was going to use the bloomin things. I bought 2 big sets so I think I'll be using them for some years to come lol!!!

I have some birthday cards I need to get done too so good job I have a craft head on at the minute.

Now, this another card from John's previous shows with the Doodle Rose Wreath. I love black and gold together, especially the vintage gold.

Ingredients

Black card

Vintage gold card

Sue Wilson Doodle Rose Wreath dies

John Lockwood sentiment stamp

Black satin ribbon

CE black crystal sparkler

Black pearlage

Score lines using a Hougie

The middle die cut with the sentiment on is smaller than the black layer underneath as I nipped a bit extra off each side by popping it back through the GC with the die again but further in.

I shall be catching up with blog visits again in the next couple of days. Got behind again as our tablet decided to play up so we got a new one at the weekend in the Black Friday event. Saved £60 so happy days.

Thank you again for your visits and lovely comments. Its been smashing to see some new names saying "hello" too. 

Until next time, be good.

TTFN

Ang x

MAWTT November Challenge. . . . . . .

Good morning everyone. Hope all ticketys are boo?

Its time for another challenge for Team A over at MAWTT and the lovely Christine has chosen the theme of . . . . . . . . . .

Anything goes with Christmas

Now, it was probably just as well as I had only made one Christmas card and was all behind (in more ways than one lol!!!)

I hope that you can take a moment to pop over and see what we have created for inspiration and even better if you take the plunge and enter the challenge.

Ingredients

Cream and brown card

Gold mirror and vintage gold card

First Edition Gilded Winter 8x8 paper

Sue Wilson Snowflake Corner, Border and Tag die

Sue Wilson Christmas Tree Greetings

Dovecraft snowflake stamp

Versamark

Gold mica

Gold ribbons

Teeny gold bling

I cut the tree die out of brown, vintage gold and gold mirror card and stuck them together, staggered to give a depth/shadow effect.

And much as I adore First Edition papers, I just felt this one needed a bit of a bling up so that's why I added mica snowflakes.

The card measures 7x7 and is not too deep so its ok for posting.

I hope that you can visit MAWTT and join in.

Still taking things a day at a time but did manage to venture out for an early dinner with Mr D to a local hostelry yesterday.

Best be off to crack on with these Christmas cards.

TTFN

Ang x

Glitter Doodles . . . . . . . .

Good morning everyone. Hope you are all fine and well and that Storm Angus hasn't done any damage in your area.

I'm plodding along, a few rough days and not so bad days but trying to keep positive. 

A little shout out for MAWTT. Wendy is looking for a couple of new folk for our DT. We're a friendly bunch and you would only need to make one card per month for the challenge blog. If you are interested in joining our happy band, please leave a comment on here and I'll pass it on to Wendy or please get in touch with Wendy via MAWTT.

Now, I still have a couple of cards to show from John's last shows. This one is the Doodle Rose Wreath cut out 4 times, including a double sided sticky layer and polished silk glitters brushed into the flowers and leaves. . . . . yes, I did have to do each flower and leaf individually - time consuming but therapeutic lol!!! 

Ingredients

Ivory, raspberry and brunswick green Foundation card

Sue Wilson Doodle Rose Wreath die set

CE Jacobean Floral embossing folder (used the debossed side)

John Lockwood sentiment stamp

Rose Copper and Dark Emerald Polished Silk Glitters

Cottage Ivy Memento Dew Drop ink

Pink Pearlage

I've still got cards to show for the shows before last with the Mauritius dies lol!!!

A short post today but I hope that you are all enjoying your weekend and that the coming week is kind to each and everyone of you.

Be good.

TTFN

Ang x

Lilac Doodles . . . . . .

Good morning everyone. Hope everyone is well, warm and happy.

A sunny and breezy day expected so I shall hopefully have some washing out later. The last of the chillies and tomatoes have been plucked from their plants so I guess its really Autumn now.

Bizarrely, I mentioned our old friend Flash on my last visit. He has been fairly quiet of late, or I have missed any mularky but right on cue, he does something strange.

I think it must be Autumn as he appeared outside on Sunday morning sporting a rather fetching pair of burgundy tartan pyjamas (guessing it was the McFlash clan colours???). He took in a deep draught of the fresh morning air, with hands on hips, went back inside for about 5 seconds and re-emerged with what looked like a fish (mackerel sized) dangling between his finger and thumb which he then deposited in his wheely bin.

It takes allsorts eh?

Now, today I have another card from John's shows last week, using the Doodle Rose Wreath die.

Ingredients

Ivory, black, wisteria and amethyst Foundation card

Sue Wilson Doodle Rose Wreath die

CE Swirling Hearts embossing folder

John Lockwood Fern Frame Elements sentiment

Mei Flower black satin ribbon

Pearlage

I made the pattern shape by cutting a square out of the amethyst card and then cutting each corner of the square with part of the Doodle Rose Wreath. I then backed it with ivory card and cut out the extra ivory bits in the corners with the centre die from the set.

Suzzie, I hadn't got this die on my radar until John gave it to me but it is more versatile than you would first think.

I love a bit of lilac/purple action and I know that there's a few of you ladies do too.

Thank you again for your best wishes. The virus hasn't emerged as anything like a cough or sickness etc, just obviously lurked beneath and did its deed on the heart.

Marion, apparantly is very common and affects folk differently so I hope you don't suffer too much with yours. 

Jacquie, always try and keep my chin up but these days its a choice of which one (chin) lol!!!

Jan from Northampton, congratulations on the arrival of your new Granddaughter. . . . . you'll need those baby sets now lol, but I bet there's some beautiful lace that's been made for an outfit?

Anyhoo, that's me for today. I'm scheduling and my dumplings need attention . . . . . .stew, ladies, stew lol!!!

TTFN

Ang x

Doodling Again . . . . . . . . .

Good morning dear blogging chums. Hope that all is well with you and yours.

For those of you who didn't see the amendment I made to my last post, I'm sad to say, I've got the A/Fib back. Ended up back in hospital on Thursday. Blood tests and high temp have indicated a virus/infection is lurking so it may have been this that has caused the heart to revert. Just awaiting a further cardio appointment to see what happens next. 

Needless to say, it's been very disappointing and upsetting so, a difficult few days.

Now, I missed John's shows on Thursday so I'm not sure which of my samples may have been shown. I'm hoping to try and watch on catch up tomorrow as I haven't had much of a crafty head on. This is one of them. You just knew I had to squeeze Bitty Blossoms in somewhere lol!!!

Ingredients

Ivory and amethyst Foundation card

Sue Wilson Doodle Rose Wreath

SB Bitty Blossoms

John Lockwood Violet Elements sentiment

Memento Dewdrop Grape Jelly ink

Dusty Concord DI

Teeny bling

Hougie for score lines

The roses are actually seated in circular apertures rather than just on top of the card.

This uses the Doodle Rose Wreath in its simplest form but sometimes simple is ok?

Thank you again for your continuing support and kindness. I will try and keep things upbeat in future as I'm sure you don't want to spend your precious time reading doom and gloom.

I'll see if I can get Flash to put on a special performance so at least I have something a bit more entertaining to report lol!!!

Haven't got round to visiting everyone again but hope that you'll understand that my head has been elswhere. I will try and remedy that over the next few days.

Take care all.

TTFN

Ang x

I'm Back . . . . . . . . .

Good morning everyone. I'm back. Did you miss me lol?

Hope you're all ok? I'm not doing too badly. I was terrified on Friday but Mr D and the Cardiology team were lovely and managed to calm me a little. Two shocks later, heart was back in normal rhythm but I have slight burns on my chest and back (they itched like crazy for a couple of days) and I felt like I've been kicked in the chest but each day it gets better.

Just got to hope that the heart stays in normal rhythm and doesn't decide it preferred the chaotic one lol!!! The longer it can stay in normal rhythm, the more chance it has of staying that way so the next few weeks are a big test.***** see below.

Thank you for your good wishes and thoughts. They have been very much appreciated.

Now, before I got chance to show you all the samples from John's last shows, he's back on TV again with some more samples I made so I thought I'd better show one of these latest ones (Hopefully you may see them on Hochanda). Mine all feature Sue Wilson's Doodle Rose Wreath die set with the dies used in different ways on some of them. The set was a pressie from John to keep my mind on crafty things rather than anything else.

Ingredients

Cream and rich plum Foundation card

Sue Wilson Doodle Rose Wreath dies

John Lockwood sentiment

Sweet Plum Memento Dewdrop ink

Plum ribbon

Scored with a Hougie

Pearlage

Just simple layers using the rose die to create a border. Hopefully, something a little different to give another look for the die.

Met up with John yesterday for a late lunch on his way to the studio. It was nice to have a normal conversation and a laugh without health issues taking over.

Anyhoo, I'm still working my way round to everyone's blogs so I will be visiting soon, promise.

Off to schedule this now so I can watch Corrie then John.

Thanks again for bearing with me. Hopefully things will continue to improve and get back to normal eventually. 

TTFN

Ang x

***** Update ........ sadly, as this post was already scheduled, I went back into A/Fib yesterday (Thursday) and spent all day back at the hospital. Another trace of virus showing on blood tests so that may have triggered it. Finally escaped at 9.45pm as I didn't want to stay in. So back to square one but consultants secretary was on the phone to me at 8.30am this morning (Friday) to sort out more appointments.

Feel so upset as I had hoped things were on the up but there we go. 

Thank you for the positive comments already made.

Ang x

Indian Ocean. . . . . Wish I Was There

Good morning everyone. Hope everyone is ok but if not, here's hoping all will be well for you soon.

Now, I was lucky to have some of my samples shown on John's shows this week and this was one of them. These background dies are gorgeous. With this one, I just simply layered them all at different levels. Simple but hopefully effective.

Ingredients

Cream and plum Foundation card

Sue Wilson Indian Ocean Background dies

John Lockwood Fern Frames Elements stamps (sentiment)

Cream and plum ribbon 

Memento Dewdrop Sweet Plum ink

Pearlage

Hope you got to see and enjoy the shows. John is back on Hochanda again next week. Such a busy boy!

Sorry this is a short post but I am having my Cardioversion treatment today. The hospital rang a couple of days ago and offered me a cancellation or I would be on Decembers list. 

With the way I have been recently, I had to say yes, and although I need it to be done, I confess to being terrified.

So, I don't know how long I'm going to be out of blog, or any other action but hopefully I'll be back here and visiting you all soon.

Thank you so much for your kind concern and encouragement during the last few months and for all your visits and comments during the last 3 years. 

Hopefully, the Cardioversion is successful and I can get back to feeling myself again (Maureen, don't go there Lol!!!)

Keep everything crossed guys.

TTFN

Ang x

A Paddle in Mauritius . . . . . . .

Good morning lads and lasses. Hope all is well with you and yours?

I haven't had a good week and this past few couple of days have been decidedly bad. I don't think I had shaken off the virus and it has had its wicked way with me again. 

Anyhoo, regarding the post title, sadly I'm not on a beach in the Indian Ocean, I've just made a few samples to help John out for his One Day Special shows on Hochanda, starting tonight at 8pm and continuing on Wednesday at 9am,12, 4 and 7pm.

Now, the Mauritius is a very pretty die set and I had fun using it.

Ingredients

Bright white and cobalt Foundation card

Sue Wilson Mauritius die set

John Lockwood Fern Frames Elements stamps

Pearlage

I thought about how I could use the main die differently and came up with the idea of using it to go around the edge of a piece of card so it almost looks like the die cut is inside out (if that makes sense lol?) I then used the next die in to cut the indented areas around the edge (again, if that makes sense lol?)

I should have taken a photo at the prep stage but I'm happy to do that and post next time if I have confused you all lol!!!

I hope that you all get to see John's shows as I'm sure that he has some treats and techniques in store.

I have enjoyed having a reason to get in the craft room and play and take my mind off some of the rougher bits of the last few days.

I'm trying to get round to visiting everyone's blogs but please forgive me if I fall behind again at the moment.

Thank you for visiting and I'll show the rest of my samples over the coming days.

Take care all.

TTFN

Ang x