Purple Pleaser. . . . . . . . .

Good morning lovely blogging chums. Hope this finds you well.

Another busy few days at The Pond. Lunch with Mr L, another friend and Wooster (as I call Wendy - Spanish Crafter) on Monday. Had a fabulous Indian meal and the company was equally as fab!!!

Then website orders, stock deliveries, shopping, washing and a cemetery visit. Good job I'm feeling quite well at the moment. Back at the doctors today to get blood test results to check iron, B12, Vit D, Thyroid and kidneys. Fingers crossed everything is settling now.

Now, its back to one another one of John's show samples. This is an 8x8 card, so quite a biggy.

Ingredients

White and dark purple card

John Next Door Butterfly Corners stamp (available on my website)

SB Adorning Squares die

SW Ara Mini Gemini die

Hobbycraft corner punch

Memento Dew Drop inks

Teeny bling

To get the white filigree layer, I simply cut the Ara die out of the card in a square pattern and the outside edge for it too. Creates quite a pretty layer.

I did my dib dabbing with the point of the Dew Drops again to get the shading on the flowers and leaves. I have no idea why that white band has appeared on the bottom of the photo. I think it may have been when I added the blog strip. Me and technology.......who would have thought I managed to build a website lol!!! And thank you all for keeping me busy with it.

Hopefully, I should be going to Stoneleigh craft show on Saturday, after GP qualifying naturally lol!!! Its the Malaysian GP so I can't miss that, especially as it won't be held there from next year.

Enjoy whatever you are doing at the weekend and be good.

TTFN

Ang x

Still A Few Places Left. . . . . . . . Come Join The Fun

Good evening everyone. Sorry its a late one but been a busy gal. Just a little heads up that there are still a few spaces left for the next Ansty workshop so come and join in the crafting fun and enjoy some good food and company too.

Don't worry about commenting on this folks, its just a pointer.

Back on Friday with a card.

See you then.

TTFN

Ang x

Snow At The Doodahs. . . . . . . . . . . .

Good evening everyone. Hope you are all ok.

I know its unusual for me to post in the evening but I thought, why wait until tomorrow.

Its not often at the moment that I have had time to play as the website has been keeping me busy along wit the hospital appointments and tests..........more on that later.

Now, I got all unnecessary when I managed to get hold of some craft snow, like John has been using lately. 

Mine is not from the same wholesaler but it is the same type (so may be the same manufacturer) and I managed to get it cheaper, which means that I can pass on those savings to my lovely customers.

Also, I had one of those "I wonder if............" moments and decided to try stamping onto it. You have to rub the "snow" onto your sticky sheet well, like you would with glitter to get it flat. I would recommend using the waxy carrier sheet that you peel off the double sided sticky sheet to rub over it as its a nice smooth item to use, rather than your fingers.

Well, slap my thigh and call me Betsy, it bloomin well worked!!!

Ingredients

White and blue card

Silver mirror card

John Next Door Snowflake Circle embossing folder (available on my website)

John Next Door Winter Trees stamp set snowflakes (available on my website)

Snowflake die - part of a set of 4 (available on my website)

Fine Craft Snow (available on my website)

CE Double Sided Adhesive sheet

Memento Dew Drop Bahama Blue and Danube Blue inks

Teeny silver bling

I love the texture of this stuff (you can really see it in the photos) and the fact that you can still stamp on it.

I can't honestly comment on whether you can stamp on the exact one John has been using as I have not personally used that particular one.

What I would recommend is that you spread a sheet of kitchen roll over it when you have stamped and press over the stamped area to take off the excess ink. It is polyester so the ink will take a little while longer to dry otherwise.

I have a feeling, I will be using this product a lot on my Christmas cards this year.

Now, onto my current round of hospital pokings and proddings. My cardiologist referred me to a respiratory consultant to run tests on my breathing, pulse and oxygen levels during sleep. He doesn't  think I have sleep apnoea but wanted to check these other areas.

This is what I had to wear overnight...............

There was a strap across my chest, a strap across my stomach, a wrist monitor, finger pulse monitor, and some tubing that went around my ears and 2 things up my nose, all connected to another monitor clipped to my nightwear (Good job I wear something to bed or goodness knows what I would have had to attach the clips to..............).

Well, Mr D looked at me with a tight lipped smile and a tear in his eye..........I could tell, at that moment, he was remembering the reason why he married me and was stifling his emotions................

Will be fascinated to find out the results as I didn't get a wink of sleep in all that paraphernalia. Velcro sticks to some very unnatural places, I can tell you!!!

All this necessitates 4 hospital appointments. One to see the consultant, one to collect the equipment and be trained on how to use it, one to return the equipment and another to get the results...........and they wonder why waiting lists are so bloomin long!!!

Well that's me for today.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend. I'm off to play in the snow again.

TTFN

Ang x

Triple Snowflakes. . . . . . . .

Good morning Campers, Hi De Hi !!! Hope you are all well.

The website is keeping me busy and I've had 2 hospital appointments this week already so apologies if I have slipped with my blog visits again, I will try and catch up over the next couple of days.

Welcome to Lorraine, and thank you for clicking "follow".

Now, I finally managed to get a play with John's new Snowflake Circle embossing folder.........its been frustrating being surrounded by all of these super crafty goodies but not having the time to play.

I have done a little "How I did this" pictorial after the ingredients. Sorry if its the Granny sucking eggs scenario.

Ingredients

White, aqua, silver and blue mirror card

John Next Door Snowflake Circle embossing folder

Crafts Too Snowflake die

Smallest die from a set available on my website

Presscut Circle die

CE Polished Silk Glitter 

Silver gem

Teeny blue bling

Double sided adhesive sheet

These three items are currently available on my website.....click on the link on the sidebar to have a look.

I wanted to cut out the circle before embossing as I didn't want to then flatten the embossing by putting it through the GC...............how to get the circle in the right spot???

I placed some low tack tape onto the die on the non cutting side and placed this on the embossing folder over the centre circle, tape side up.

I then popped by card blank on top and pressed down to pick up the die.

This sites the die in the precise spot to cut out the circle.

I was going to use the silver snowflake I cut out in the aperture but the waste looked very interesting so I placed it behind the aperture, and held it with low tack tape from the front. I then stuck double sided adhesive to a sheet of card, cut to the size of my card and stuck this to the back of the aperture, on top of the silver piece. This held the silver piece in place.

I then cut another snowflake from aqua card and stuck it in the aperture. I then filled the gaps with the polished silk glitter.

Small snowflake and silver gem added to the top and job done!!!

There's another card for the Christmas box, although its still looking pretty meagre lol!!!

Thanks for stopping by and glad to hear that folks have been satisfied with their deliveries so far.

Some new stock will be added in the next couple of days.

See you soon.

TTFN

Ang x

Roses For Rosie. . . . . . . .And Orchids For Me

Good morning everyone. Hope you are fit and well and keeping warm now that the temperature has dropped.

The thicker duvet has made an appearance but I'm still resisting putting the heating on.

Welcome to Maxine who has clicked "follow". Thank you very much.

Its been a busy old week at The Pond. Thank you everyone again for visiting the website and hope you are enjoying playing with your goodies.

There had been a couple of problems for folk trying to order using iPads (something technical to do with their settings) but that should be resolved now.

Now, today's card was made for our next door neighbours daughter a few weeks ago. This wasn't the nice neighbours who moved up the road but the other side. The little girl is a sweetie though.

Rosie had run up to me in the street and declared "Its my birthday tomorrow" all excited as she was having a bouncy castle so I thought, bless her, I'll make her a card.

Ingredients

White and pink card

First Edition Floral Pavilion 8x8 paper pad

Presscut Circle dies

Memory Box Alphabet dies

CE Stitched Bunting Numbers stamp

Pink satin ribbon

Crystal Jelly Tot (Well, that's what they look like to me lol!!! Can you still get them?)

Pearlage

I like cutting the letters into the topper. Glad to say that Rosie loved it. The bouncy castle was also a success and thankfully did not resemble the one on Phoenix Nights (If you have ever seen it, you'll know what I mean lol!!!)

I am also sharing some pictures of a beautiful gift that I received from Barbara D a couple of months ago (Barbara did also send some of the famous pate too with John but as it had alcohol in it, I couldn't have it, much to John's glee),

I have asked Barbara's permission to show it and it is amazing.

They are handmade miniature paper orchids (I took the lid off the display box to photograph them).

They are so incredibly tiny and delicate and Barbara must have great eyesight and a steady hand.

To give a sense of scale, here they are pictured next to my finger and I have small hands!!!

Thank you again Barbara. They proudly sit on display on the desk in my craft room.

Its live F1 GP from Singapore today so I am a happy girl (and even happier that Hamilton is starting from 5th).

Whatever you are doing today, have a good one!!!

TTFN

Ang x

MAWTT Challenge 54. . . . . . . . . .

Good morning all you lovely folk. How are you?

More busy days here at The Pond with a hospital appointment and afternoon tea with Nesta. We had bought this as part of Nesta's birthday present but as her Dad has been very unwell, this is the first opportunity we have had to go out.

A lovely day out and a lovely tea.

Glad to here that many of you received your Pond Packages straightaway. Bravo Royal Mail for a change lol!!!

Now today, we have my DT card for MAWTT and the theme for this challenge is. . . . . .

A sentiment as the focal point - no images allowed.

This theme has been chosen by the lovely Christine (Nursey Harrop) who has been known to like a quote or sentiment or two.

Ingredients
White and purple card
SB 2012 Holiday Tree
Kaisercraft Holiday Love stamp (available on my website)
Sequins and teeny gems
Memento Dew Drop Grape Jelly ink

I love this stamp as the sentiment is so true.

Hope you can pop over to MAWTT to see what the rest of the girls have come up with to inspire you and it would be great if you can enter the challenge.

Have a great day and see you soon.

TTFN
Ang x

Butterfly Corners and Workshop With John News. . . . . . . . .

Good morning everybody. Hope you are all well.

Its been a busy couple of days here at The Pond with the first orders coming through to the website and all the packing.

You can probably imagine how popular I was with the fella who came and stood behind me as I plonked my bagful of parcels on the desk......... with one cashier on duty lol!!!

Thank you to everyone who has popped by the website and thank you to Sandra K and Jean for joining my merry band of followers.

Now, today's card is one of the favourites I made for John's samples. I know its simple but it appealed to me.

Ingredients

Cream and purple card

John Next Door Butterfly Corners stamps (available on my website)

SW Twinkle Edger die

SB Classic Diamond dies

Memento Dew Drop inks in Sweet Plum, Grape Jelly and Lulu Lilac

Teeny bling

I liked this edger die as, although its part of the festive range, it doesn't scream (or even shout slightly) of Christmas.

I have workshop news. 

Following the success of the Ansty workshop last week, John and I have decided to run another one at the end of next month as I know some people couldn't make last weeks'.

Here are the details. . . . . . . 

Spaces tend to get booked very quickly so if you would like to come, please contact me on the email address shown on the poster.

I shall be back on Thursday with my DT card for MAWTT so hopefully see you then.

Be good.

TTFN

Ang x

Special Scottish Friends. . . . . . . . .

Good morning one and all. Hope you're all ok.

Thank you so much for all your wonderful good wishes and for those of you who have kindly become customers at theducksdoodahs.com....... Your orders are in packages ready to go in the post Monday morning, one with a signed photo as requested lol!!! 

Lynda, I do accept PayPal on the website.

Yvonne, you don't get rid of me that easily. I shall still be blogging my creations and ramblings, even though it may be from a sun lounger in Penang in 6 months time when I have made a million hahaha!!! 

Our Mr Lockwood is on Hochanda today at 8am and 12pm and will be featuring his fabulous new embossing folders and some beautiful dies. All of the embossing folders are available on my website and also most of the dies John will be showcasing. They will be as bundles on the show, I believe, but I am selling them all individually.

Now, today I am showing a card that was given to some very special friends. I had made it as a sample for John's last shows with someone in mind. Maybe you can guess it was for a Scottish chum with tartan embossed tartan paper and the thistle stamp lol!!!

Ingredients

Cream, green and black card

Tartan paper from First Edition A Christmas Story 8 x 8 pad

SB Art DecoTags dies

John Next Door Butterfly Frames stamp

Presscut Rectangle dies

The lovely Kate (Cuilliesocks) came down to Coventry with equally lovely hubby Alistair for a few days and it was fantastic to see her again. I gave this card to them as a thank you for coming to see us. I did have to add an "s" to Friend as I wouldn't miss out Alistair.

I was really touched (well, most of you knew that eh?....... thought I'd say it before Maureen lol!!!) that they came all that way to see us.

Monday was a catch up and a meal out at a local pub after their 9.5 hour train journey (yes, that was 9.5 hours bless em)

We met up with Nursey Harrop and John for lunch on Tuesday after Kate and Alistair visited our local Art Gallery and Museum and the old cathedral. A lovely time was had by all (and lovely food too).

That's Mr D's arm in shot next to Kate but he was muttering about having his photo taken and pulled a face, so I have cropped him out. As I was taking the photo (on my phone so sorry about quality) I'm not on it either but I have a feeling Kate will be showing snaps on her blog so that's my Duck Protection Programme compromised lol!!!

We went to The Range in the afternoon as Kate does not have one near to her and then back to The Pond for a light buffet tea and blether, as Kate would put it.

Wednesday was a visit to Stratford-Upon-Avon and Hatton Country World followed by a cuppa at Chateau Canard and another lovely meal out.

Thursday was a breakfast meet up and then on to the station for Kate and Alistair to go home. It was a busy few days that did take it out of me but we had such a wonderful time, it was worth it.

Good food and the company of good friends. . . . . . fantastic!!!

Well, that's me for now. Hope you enjoy John's shows and remember your friendly neighbourhood Duck has stock lol!!!

TTFN

Ang x

The Ducks Doodahs Goes Large. . . . . . . . . 2pm Today

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

Sorry that I have been absent from Blogland but the workshop, website and having fun with a visiting Kate and Alistair (Cuilliesocks and Milk Tray Man) have taken my time for the past week.,,,,, more on that on another blog post.

I am exhausted but its been wonderful.

Welcome to Tex and Sandra who have kindly pressed "follow". I did meet the lovely Sandra at last weeks workshop.

Now, today is the day that The Ducks Doodahs  (www.theducksdoodahs.com) goes live finally. I'm either brave or daft and I know that there is a fine line between the two lol!!!

Here are a few of the goodies on offer. . . . . . . 

Yes, those are John's new embossing folders. He will be featuring them on his Hochanda show on Sunday.

The virtual ribbon cutting will take place at 2pm UK time today. Hope you can pop along and take a look. I'm starting small and building up.

Hopefully all will go smoothly with it, as some of the elements have to be live to test them, like the payment gateway. Please bear with me if it does blow up lol!!!

Have a great weekend folks and thank you for your encouraging comments.

TTFN

Ang x