Thank You

Good morning guys and gals. Hope that you are all well.

Well, my goodness, this post has been an absolute nightmare to create. It has obviously been a while and I had clearly forgotten what I was doing with editing, adding text, making sure that I had saved images as JPEGs instead of PDN files, having to clear cache and cookies, then change my password as I'd forgotten the last one.

I was ready to give up and play laptop frisbee!!!

Anyhoo, 2 hours later, here I am finally.

As some of the cards I will be posting were made a while ago, I will try to be as accurate with ingredients as I can. I dedicate this Thank You to you all for coming back to The Pond.

Ingredients

Lime Tree and Hobbycraft card stock (Hope you can pick up the pink mirror card)

Anna Griffin Flourish Emblem die

SB Decorative Labels 28

SB 

SB Fancy Tags 2

SW sentiment stamp

Pearlage

A wee update with me. When I last blogged properly back in June 2021, I was 6 weeks out from an op to sort out my arrhythmia. Unfortunately, it didn't work 😥 so I was back to feeling somewhere between not well and bloomin awful. 

I couple more cardioversions put me back in rhythm for short periods but 2 years ago I was offered a newish hybrid ablation and I agreed.

Unfortunately, during the tests, they discovered the AF had caused an issue with one of my valves so I would need a repair or replacement. Still waiting for that to be done, delayed for various reasons.

As I was in quite a state with the AF at that point, I had yet another cardioversion nearly 2 years ago and thank heavens, I'm still in rhythm and feeling quite well, all things considered. That won't last if they don't do the surgery soon so I may need to chase them up.

I've also had 2 lots of eye surgery last Summer and thankfully, all seems well with that.

On the upside, my foot care business has gone from strength to strength and I'm working 3 days per week and am in the fortunate position to be able to refer people to someone else as my books are pretty much full.

That's pretty much the short version (I can imagine you all thinking, "how long is the long version then?") as I can't remember if I had the gallstones last time, as they rear their ugly heads now and again.

Mr Duck and The Girls are well. Lily and Molly are 6 now. Have no idea where that time has gone.

Mr D has dropped to part time now so we get Fridays off together.................as you can imagine, he's absolutely thrilled by that 😀.

Nesta and Davey are both happy and well and Flash is still in residence across the road, although his wife has taken on that role of late................I'll save that for another post!!!

That's me for now. I need a strong cup of tea to get over today's Blogger experience.

If your comments are showing as anonymous, please add your name to your comment so that I know who has popped by.

Here's to a happy week ahead,

TTFN

Ang x

 

Thank You Kate. . . . . . .

Good morning everyone. Hope you're all fine and dandy?

I have not been too bad this week. I think losing all that fluid has helped (certainly the breathlessness) and my check at clinic confirmed I'd lost 5kg in the week. 

I've always been relieved that the hospital scales aren't speaking ones or I'm sure they'd say "One at a time please" lol!!!

This time, I wouldn't have minded a "woo hoo!!!"

Blood test showed haemoglobin a bit low so got to have another next week. Been munching on spinach and moving on to Special K and black pudding next (not together, obviously lol!) 

Maureen, I wish I'd had good thighs before this all started, never mind now, although I may get a best in show at an agricultural event lol!!!

I have had my 2nd Cardioversion appointment through so that's being done again in a couple of weeks (Sandy, I'll give a brief description of what it is at the end of this). Fingers crossed it works for longer than 5 days this time.

On Friday, a few of us had lunch at a friends house and it was lovely to be able to be up to socialising again, so a great time was had with Nesta, Davey and a couple of other good friends.

Now, before I return to the Christmas cards, I thought I would show this card that I made for a lovely friend who had knitted and sent me a divine pair of socks last year (Hope you don't mind me showing it Kate lol?).

Ingredients

White, green and dark peach card

First Edition Boho Chic paper

SB Twisted Palm die (cut a few times to use as a frame)

SB Labels 28 and Decorative Labels 28

Inkylicious sentiment

Memento Dew Drop Pistachio ink

Pink ribbon 

Pearlage

Stupidly, I haven't photographed the socks, thinking that Kate had shown them on her blog and I could just pop on a link but can I find them on Kate's blog, no!

If Kate doesn't mind, I'll snap them another time and pop them on the blog.

Well, that's me for now except to say, thank you, as always for your kind words about my cards and about my health.

Here's hoping the coming week is kind to you all.

TTFN

Ang  x

P.S Sandy, Cardioversion (well, Electrical Cardioversion) is a procedure where I will be sedated, then given an electric shock or shocks with a defibrillator to try and get my heart back into normal sinus rhythm. This is what I had done in November but the normal rhythm only lasted 5 days before reverting back to Atrial Fibrillation. 

Hope I haven't put anyone off their breakfast lol!!!

Roxy's Pressie. . . . . .

N

Good morning one and all. Hope all is well with you. 

Oh, the horror of having to scrape Shaun for the first time this winter, yesterday morning (Shaun is my car before I get reported to the NSPCC or RSPCA lol!!!) I wonder if my heat tool would work on an extension lead. . . . . . . .hmmmm?

Well, had fun at Daisy's on Saturday afternoon. I took Nesta to meet John and also a friends' young daughter, Megan (whose birthday card I made and showed you here)

John was brilliant with the ladies and as for Megan's appraisal of John?. . . . . . . "He's fantastic" and she had to then watch a recording of his last C&C show when she got home. She is 10 , bless her and has an interest in craft. I bought her some stamps at Daisy's so she can have a play with them (I had already given her an ink pad and some other bits) but after seeing John, she has been well and truly bitten by the craft bug. 

When he gave her one of the cards he made at the demo, you would think she had the crown jewels. 

Me and Mr D are thinking of paying for her to do the workshop with John, on his next trip to Daisy's, for her birthday, if she is still interested at that point (you know how their interests change all the time at that age). 

Now, last time out, I showed you Roxy's 21st birthday card and today its the pressie. It was just a little something which is why I went a bit mad on the box (which she has kept). Apologies that I forgot to photograph the box before I scrawled on the label.

There is acetate behind the Butterfly Magic panel

Ingredients

Lime Tree 300g white card

Red PMD card

Red tissue paper

SB Butterfly Magic

SB Decorative Labels 28

SB Fancy Tags 2

Red satin ribbon

Treats

I stuck some ridges of card to the bottom of the box, under the tissue paper to stop the goodies moving around.

Hope you like it.

See you all soon.

TTFN

Ang x

21st Birthday. . . . . . . .

Good morning everyone. Hope you are all well. Ita, I hope your hospital stay is not a long one chuck.

Sue, poor Donny. cold and Trossachless. What's a cat to do? lol! 

My Trossachs are still having to be heated at the moment and I think its set to get cooler. . . . . eek!

Had to get a new battery for Shaun (my car) this week as he was struggling to start. I think its the shortish journeys to and from work and as 2 of my shifts are lates, they are journeys with lights and blowers going. Didn't fancy being stranded in a dark empty car park on my own so new battery it was.

Before I forget, the sweet treat I made for the girls for the NEC is called "Thank Crunchie its Friday" in this house. The recipe is Sweet and Salty Crunchie Nut Bars and is a Nigella from her Kitchen recipe book and its here if you would like to try but they have made a typo, as you only need 4 Crunchie bars. Its very easy and very tasty. Due to the butter and golden syrup, the chocolate takes on a fudge like texture.

Now today's card I made for my mate Roxy who was a colleague but she has now moved onto pastures new. I had forgotten that I hadn't shown her card and pressie to you all (her present will be my next post)

Roxy's favourite colour is red so that had to be the main theme and yes, I did go mad with the die cuts lol!!!

Ingredients

White base card

Red PMD card

SB Decorative Labels 28

SB Elegant Labels 4

SB A2 Bracket Borders

SB Fancy Tags 2

SB Imperial M-Bossibilities

Hobbycraft corner punch

Red satin ribbon

Bling

A bit OTT? Welllllllll, you're only 21 once (although I may have been 21 several times lol!!!)

Well, thhhat's all folks. Hope you have a wonderful weekend. No work for me, hurrah!

The last F1 GP this weekend and the championship is down to the wire and I'm off to Daisy's, my local craft shop today, to heckle John (I am taking him lunch and some Thank Crunchie its Friday)

TTFN and be good!

Ang x

House of Cards October Challenge. . . . . . . .Use a die or punch

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

An official welcome to The Pond to Norah. Thank you for your lovely comments and for clicking the followers button. I know you have had a lot of sadness recently so thank you for taking time to pop by. Also, a warm welcome to Sandy who has kindly joined our happy band. Thank you also to Sheila and Jackie Trinder for your visits too. Hope you will come for a paddle again soon. The more the merrier!

I want to thank you all for the wonderful and supportive comments you left on my last post. Its heart warming to get such encouragement when you're feeling a bit down and that's why I know how lucky I am to have such fabulous blog chums. You are appreciated, every single one of you!

Now, today's creation is another of the cards I submitted as part of my CEDT application and I thought it just right to show for my DT offering for House of Cards October Challenge. This month, the theme is use a die or punch. I hope that you can all pop along and have a look at what my lovely team mates have come up with and it would be marvellous to see some of you enter. I've seen some of the gorgeous things you do with dies folks, so give it a go!

Sorry its another gold and black number (though it does look more like kraft card on this pic lol!!!) but as you will see from my last post, I swapped that card over from the original one I had planned to show. I promise it will be the last black and gold for a while lol!!!

Its a single piece of soft gold card with an offset fold and The Striplet cut from it 3 times, once at one end and twice at the other (remembering to turn the card over so that the front of the die cut is facing the front on both portions)

Also, if you were thinking that it looks longer than The Striplet, I did extend the pattern so your eyes are not deceiving you lol!!!

There is a piece of black card behind the front page and I cut The Striplet again but in a place where it would form a shadow behind the front gold cut., so essentially, there's a solid black background, a shadowed black background, then see through when the three are lined up together (you can probably see this best on the top picture)

Ingredients

Soft gold card (Lime Tree)

Black PMD card

SB Decorative Labels 28

SB Fancy Tags 2

The Striplet

CE sentiment

Papermania black bling

Black satin ribbon

CE dazzler coloured gold with my Krylon pen

Black archival ink pad

Versamark pad

Clear embossing powder

I was really pleased with how this came out and its one of Mr Duck's favourites (bless him, he did get me a beautiful bouquet to cheer me up last week, he does surprise me at times lol!!! There was also a tub of chocolates, but he ate most of them!. . . . . I would have bet on that outcome lol!!!)

As I said, hope you can join us at House of Cards. Would be great to see some familiar names.

Until next time, take care.

TTFN

Ang x

Ps. . . . Karenlotty, sorry chuck but Blogger is not letting me add extra pics to this post (I had already scheduled these ones before I said I would pop on pics of how I did John's card). I will pop them on at the same time as I do my next post, so hope that's ok. x

Happy Birthday John. . . . . . . .21 again?

Good morning everyone. Hope we're all bright eyed and bushy tailed (no offence Teallach Currie lol!!!)

Firstly, a warm welcome to Jackie Trinder and Norah. Thank you for visiting and your lovely comments. Norah, never been called a beautiful angel before (so maybe its not me you're thinking of lol!!!) but I'm halfway there being called Ang . I know you ladies from Sue's blog and hope you may pop by for a paddle in The Pond again soon. Hi again to Diane too.

Anyhoo, today is a very special day. It is John (a legend in his own lunchtime) Next Door's birthday. . . . . .hurrah! I think he looks amazing for 63. Who would think Botox could do so much, although I think he uses Cosmic Shimmer glue now hahahahaha!!!

Now, I was either brave or stupid to make a birthday card for a crafting icon but following a conversation we had around the subject I think I kinda put myself up for it lol!!! Hopefully, John will open it before reading the blog hahaha!!!

The front page and the back page are all one piece and the middle page is a separate page that has been embossed.

Ingredients

White card, A3 sheet cut down

Papermania Capsule Burleigh Blue 12 x 12 paper pack

Dark blue card(Lime Tree Crafts)

Sue Wilson's BGS

SB Decorative Labels 28

SB Labels 4

X Cut Alphabet Die

Embossalicious embossing folder

CE and Papermania sentiments

3mm Pearls

There's not many folk I would use this amount of pearls for I can tell you lol!!!

Of course, the card had to be in my friend's favourite colour and using his "catchphrase". Hopefully, its good for a guy and passes muster for Mr Crafty.

Have a wonderful birthday matey and health and happiness always. Enjoy!!!

Until next time folks. . . . . . . 

TTFN 

Ang x

Happy Anniversary Mr D. . . . . . . .last month lol!!!

Good morning one and all. As always, I hope you and yours are well. Once again, apologies if it seems I'm late to your blogs. Blogger is being pain again and I've had my reading list disappear then my entire dashboard!!! It took nearly 30 mins just upload these pics, when its usually seconds. I promise, I will catch up.

Welcome too to my latest follower. Blogger is not telling me who you are but I'm glad you have joined in the fun.

And yes, before I go any further, I hold my hands up, guilty as charged mi'lud, as John let the cat out of the bag, I confess, I did go to C&C with him last Thursday, as most of you sussed (as last Thursday I had told you I spent the day with John) and obviously why we didn't get a whole heap of crafting done lol!!

I was sworn to secrecy and although I can yapp for Britain, I'm discreet. Its for John to make his own announcements but I am very privileged to have been able to accompany him on part of his crafting journey (Gosh, that sounds a bit X Factor doesn't it so please refrain from sticking your fingers too far down your throat hahaha!!!) The boys done good, as they say.

Now, after posting Patricia and John's anniversary card, I realised that I hadn't, in fact, posted the anniversary card I made for Mr Duck last month.

To remedy that, I've popped it on today.

It had to have red (Mr D's favourite colour so what's a girl to do?)

Ingredients

White card (A3 cut down to size)

The BGS (Bevelled Glass Striplet)

SB Labels 28

SB Decorative Labels 28

SB Fancy Tags 3

Crafts Too heart embossing folder

Crafters Companion sentiment stamps

Docrafts relative and occasion stamps

Fiskars heart stamp (its one of those continuous thingys but I used it flat)

Red pigment ink

Cosmic Shimmer clear embossing powder

Black Archival ink

Red bling

Mr D was very happy with it, as I recall, so all was well with the world. 

Well, my few days off are rapidly coming to an end. I have been hard at chores (I like to give everywhere a Spring then Autumn clean) and prepping the garden for bedtime. I did take time out for lunch with Nesta yesterday and today I'm hoping to actually get some crafting done. . . . .hurrah!!! and put my feet up. . . . . . hurrah!!!

Hope you all have a happy Friday and weekend ahead. Ita, if you're reading, hope the hospital is going well this time chuck.

Be good.

TTFN

Ang x

A New Arrival. . . . . . .(and I don't mean a Duckling!!!)

Good morning Duckadees. Hope you're as happy and as healthy as possible.

Thank you for your comments on my DT cards. I was pleased with them as they looked how I wanted them to (sometimes, no matter how I plan em, they just don't look how I imagined)

Now, I wasn't going to post again until tomorrow and it was going to be another card but look what arrived yesterday afternoon. . . . . . . . . . . The Bevelled Glass Striplet !!!

Had to play when I got back from the charity shop and this is what I came up with.

It was only a quickie but I like how its turned out. I may add some beaded pins into the bow (couldn't find the bloomin things yesterday)

I have to say, I still do prefer my beloved Embroidered Striplet but I can see many possibilities for its sister.

However, I must warn you, the edge of mine is particularly sharp and actually cut my finger so please be careful when you get yours out of the packet.

Ingredients

A5 size white card for base

First Edition Isabelle 8x8 pad

Sue Wilson Bevelled Glass Striplet

SB Matting Basics B

SB Decorative labels 28

Cream satin ribbon

Bundled Sage DI

Ranger Archival Jet Black

Aly's Inky Fingers sentiment

John's pearls

Hobbycraft bling

I took the photo in the Sun to try and pick up the sparkle from this beautiful paper and I think you can just make out a twinkle or two. I have a fettish for these gorgeous pads. 

Anyhoo, hope you all have fun with your new Sue purchases. Patricia has already posted a cracking Christmas card using the other new striplet.

Jackie D, have a lovely break with your Mum and happys hols to Mrs B too.

Wendy, I will keep an eye on The Boy for you when he gets over here.

Lastly, is anyone going to Stoneleigh Park in August to the Hunkydory Craft Show? Myself and Christine (and possibly John) may be going so the more the merrier. 

Right, must scoot now.

Be good.

TTFN

Ang x 

The Wine Bottle and The Striplet. . . . . . . .

Good morning to you all. Hope all is well with you and yours and if not, hope things perk up soon.

Thank you very much for the encouraging comments on my challenge entry. In answer to questions, I do only have one Bitty Blossom set but because the Lidl paper is only 135gsm (they were selling it alongside the card last year) , I can cut 3 at a time. It still takes a while to twiddle (a technical term) and glue them but not too long to cut them.

The winner will be announced by the end of June, so here's hoping for a prize of a box of 

PMD card.

Now, I apologise for the naff photos of this offering as it was a rush job to house a bottle of vino di collapso for my supervisor at work, for her birthday. I thought I had a bottle gift bag (I usually recycle if anybody gives me one) but,alas, no, so I had to put this together in a jiffy.

Ingredients

A3 sheet of PMD purple card + extra for the lid and base

Couple of bits of white card, mounted behind the punched and cut areas

White organza ribbon

The Striplet

SB Decorative Labels 28 (for the gift tag)

Hobbycraft punch

Hougie Board

The ribbon is to enable it to be carried as the card is only around 270gsm. It is taped to the bottom (ooooh err Mrs!!!) runs up the sides, front and back, under the lid and through the top of the lid in each corner, then tied in a knot (hope that makes sense)

The lid then slides up the ribbon to reveal the contents. . . . . . . 

and slides back down again to close and is now strong enough to carry. I know its not terrifically exciting and not a John-esque creation but its a handy little number in a pinch. Jo (yes another one, I think its compulsory to have a Jo on our section) was thrilled with it (probably more so about the contents rather than the box lol!!!)

Anyhoo, time to waddle offski. At the charity shop today and doing extra hours again at work this week so not much time for much else at the moment, especially housework. I've decided to test the theory that dust doesn't actually get any worse after 5 years. Will let you know if its true in 5 years and a day hahaha!!! 

Be good all and

TTFN

Ang x