Up Up and Away. . . . . . . .

Good morning one and all. Hope that this finds you well.

Been busy here at The Pond again. Samples for John. taking down the Christmas paraphernalia (why doesn't the bloomin tree fit back in its box properly!!!) and the subsequent housework and its tax return time..............Yay!!!

A warm welcome to Tina. Thank you for clicking follow. That brings me to 199 followers so I shall select a nice paddle prize for when we hit the 200.

Now, today is a card going back to John's birdcage shows. This was another "when is a birdcage not a birdcage" card.

Ingredients

Black, blue, pink, red, yellow and green card

JND Birdcage dies

JND Autumn Flowers stamps

JND Festive Silhouettes stamps

Sentiment was on a set of stamps that were a gift from Nursey Harrop

I always like to be different and I just thought the round cage looked like a balloon (just the way my mind works lol!!!)

The basket is made from the other cage, chopped up. I paper pieced the balloon with the different colours.

At the weekend, I had occasion to visit Flash's house. We had a Christmas card put through our door. It was the right address but wrong name (don't know where it had been).

I opened it as I didn't recognise the surname and from what was written inside, I guessed it was them (it was something to do with cats before you think something rude lol!!!).

Soooo, over the road I toddled. As it was about 11am, I assumed everyone would be up but after enduring a doorbell that played "Jingle Bells" Mrs Flash stumbled down the stairs and opened the door in a very dishevelled state. I explained why I was there and she acknowledged that the card was, indeed, for them. 

When she reached out to take it, there was nearly an incident with her barely closing dressing gown but thankfully, she managed to grab it before everything spilled out.

Never a dull moment in our street!!!

The freezer is still full of turkey, even after turkey sandwiches, turkey salad, turkey curry, turkey rissoles and turkey trifle. As for the 3 ovens, I have 2 on the cooker and also a halogen oven. Its really handy for doing small things quickly.

Well, better get back to my "to do" list.

Enjoy the rest of your week.

TTFN

Ang x

Birthday Banner. . . . . . . .

Good morning everyone. Here's hoping you're all well and as happy as possible.

Welcome to Jennifer and Melody. Thank you for pressing "follow". Much appreciated and hope you can visit often.

Sorry I've been missing for a few days but apart from being busy with order packing and blood tests, a Windows 10 update gave me some issues with gmail and blogger, which wasn't helped with our router playing silly beggars too, disrupting our internet access.

Well, didn't he do well, Sir John? Cracking debut dies and sellouts as usual. So exciting.for him.

I always hope that my samples do his products justice as I appreciate the faith that he puts in me, when handing over his "babies" (Not the Jelly variety, its rare he shares those lol!!!)

Now, this is a card sample I made but I don't think it got shown as the concentration seemed to be on the boxes.

Ingredients

White, pink and black card

John Next Door Mini Tags Dies 

John Next Door Star Stream embossing folder

John Next Door Autumn Flowers stamps ("Birthday")

Pink funky foam

Black cord

Spun Sugar DI

Pink teeny bling

I backed each piece of funky foam with double sided sticky sheet before cutting each letter so it was easier to stick each letter to the tag rather than faff with glue.

The Star Stream embossing folder extends beautifully, without leaving a line.

Hope you enjoyed John's shows and many thanks to those of you who have shopped at theducksdoodahs.com...............there is a solitary Jelly Baby Sam left on the shelf.

Before I tootle off, I am concerned that the WPF (Wisty Popular Front) are trying to involve Santa in their shananigans (Wendy, I expected that leading astray behaviour from Mrs Killen not you) which could scar the children of the World forever, if his focus is not fully on his annual task. Do you all want that responsibility on your shoulders???.....do you want mince pies on your hands???

And as for trying to recruit Jayne, she's a fine upstanding citizen who wouldn't involve herself in such insalubrious activity (and she will have physio appointments).

Well that's me for now. An exciting afternoon ahead at the hospital for blood and other liquid tests..........I can only hope my hand is steady and my aim is good.

TTFN

Ang x

Ps......Keep any eye on mine and John's blog side bars for details of the next Ansty Workshop.

Also, John's new sentiment stamps, Star Flower and Leaves dies are currently sold out at the suppliers but I have a few sets left on my website if anyone was after them.x

melody and Jennifer

More From Next Door. . . . . . .

Good morning everyone. Hope you are all enjoying the odd snippets of sunshine we have had.

I have been busy with computer things and getting out and about with friends too.

A warm welcome to Angela, who has kindly clicked the "follow" button.....very much appreciated.

Thank you for your kind comments on my buddlejas (said the actress to the bishop.....).

I should explain that I am on The MAWTT design team so when I post about their challenges, its as a DT member, not as an entrant to the challenges. However, its very kind of you to think I would be in with a chance of winning, if I were.

Karen, I don't think its a petal pairs punch I used as I have a couple of those and they are bigger.

Now today, I'm back to the samples I made for John's first release of JND stamps.

Ingredients

Cream, purple and lilac card

John Next Door Spring Flowers stamps

John Next Door Autumn Flowers stamps

SB Carnation Creations dies

SW Trailing Ivy dies

Memento Dew drop inks (Grape Jelly, and Sweet Plum)

This is a stepped triple stamping card. I stamped the bottom of the cream layer, chopped the bottom into 2 equal strips and mounted them on to purple card.

I then layered them up with foam pads, 2 deep on the bottom strip, then stepping down to 1 deep on the next strip. . . . . . . hope that makes sense?

Methinks its another busy week ahead with bits and bobs and back at the doctors. He's now picked up a Vit B12 deficiency so I'm on that and Folic Acid now too. Thank goodness we don't have to have an MOT certificate to go out and about or I would have failure stickers on my bumpers (oooh, errrr Mrs!!!).

Hopefully see you back here in a couple of days.

Have a great week.

TTFN

Ang x

More John Next Door. . . . . . .

Good morning everybody. Hope you are well.

Thank you for your kind comments about the kidney scan. I should be relieved but knowing I've now got to have more tests etc to find out why my function has dropped, is not appealing. I don't think there are many parts of me that haven't been poked, prodded or manhandled during the last 14 months lol!!!

Welcome to Tracie. Thank you for pressing "follow" and joining our happy throng.......that's throng, not what you all first thought lol!!!

Anyhoo, I'm typing this on Saturday afternoon to schedule for Sunday and watching and listening to hailstones the size of marbles pelting the window. I could have sworn that it was August......you know, Summer ?????

I was worried for Sammy, a little sparrow that comes and sits with us on the decking or helps Mr D with the gardening, as one of them hitting him would have given him one helluva headache. I was meant to live in a warmer climate.

Now, its back to John's last show samples. . . . . . . making way for some new ones on Tuesday perhaps ????? Shushhhhh, don't tell anyone!!!

Ingredients

Cream and black card

SB Ravenna die (beautiful set)

SB Classic Oval die

John Next Door Wave Duo Mask (used to emboss)

John Next Door Spring Flowers stamps

John Next Door Autumn Flowers stamps

Black Archival ink

Black pearlage

I do love this Ravenna set. Nice large dies as I think they are a Card Creator set.

Thank you for the anniversary wishes. Mr D said to say thank you too. We had already been out with Nesta the evening before so we will probably have a meal out this week.

Thank you, also, for your views on Windows 10. Haven't got the new laptop yet. I did upgrade the RAM on my current one myself but I wouldn't bother upgrading the Windows as it is too old and trying to update Internet Explorer a couple of years ago caused it to have a hissy fit.

Jan and Jennie, hope you're  both enjoying your holidays.

Myra, I think you may be teasing about Maureen after seeing her comment. I'd guess she thinks Windows 10 is a double glazing company lol!!!

Suzzie, thankfully its only an oldish combined printer, scanner, copier that's hooked up to the golden oldie so only about £40 (around $52) if we have to replace.

Jenny, you are now officially our techno expert lol!!!

Well, that's me for today. Enjoy your Sunday and I shall be back on Tuesday. . . . . . . can't think what may be happening then lol!!!

TTFN

Ang x

Autumn Colours. . . . . . To Match the Bloomin Weather!!!

Good morning guys and gals. Hope all is well with you.

Mr D and I celebrated our wedding anniversary this week. Sadly, the only thing bubbly I could have was lemonade, boo hoo but Mr D did give me a really lovely card and the words he had written in it did make me shed a little tear (No it wasn't, "you're paying for the takeaway" lol!!!).

He is a man of few words, and the few are rarely profound but he can be lyrical when it counts , bless him.

Now, today's card is back to the last show samples I made for John for his new brand launch.

Ingredients

Cream and brown card

John Next Door Autumn Flowers stamps

Various distress inks

Memento Dew Drop Espresso Truffle and Rich Cocoa inks

Versamark

Copper embossing powder

I can guess my wee chum Kate will like this as she is a big fan of Autumn and autumnal shades.

Thank you for your response to my inverted corner box and the tutorial for it. I'm more of a picture gal when it comes to instructions.

Its been a busy week again with anniversary, helping with the Swainby Workshop bookings, my kidney scan (there are 2 and they looked normal so back to the drawing board and sadly more tests as to what is causing a problem), a blood test, a squeezed in meet up with Nesta for her birthday and I've also got to go laptop hunting. 

Mine is working fine but I have signed up for a course and the on line element requires a newer version of Windows than my ancient XP..............yes, I did say XP lol!!!

Just hope that Widows 10 works the same way and that I can figure how to get things transferred from my current lappy onto the new one.

Well, best get on. Have to get things done whilst I'm on a reasonably good run of health at the moment. Just wish the weather matched the month lol!!!

TTFN

Ang x

Day 4 & My Favourite. . . . .And a Prize

Good morning lovely blog friends. Hope you are all well.

Another warm welcome to some more new followers, Lynette, Alison, Deniseann and Gill. Thank you for taking time to visit and clicking that button.

As I am now over 150 followers, I am offering a little Paddle Prize, details of which are at the end of this post.

Now, today's creation is my favourite made with John's stamps and I have made it for my living room so, Mr Lockwood, you can keep your paws off this one lol!!!

I used the clock mechanism from one of the Pound World clocks in an 8x8 box frame.

I've gone for this colour as it matches our decor. Apologies for the white stripe at the bottom left of the photo. Its a reflection that I just couldn't get rid of.

Ingredients

White card

White 8x8 deep box frame (The Range)

Clock mechanism 

John Next Door Spring, Summer and Autumn Flowers stamps

John Next Door Quattro Drops mask

Peacock Feathers distress ink

Black Archival ink

Magazine freebie numerals die with numbers cut from black funky foam

Teal gem on centre of hands

I just made a hole in the hardboard backing to accommodate the mechanism and painted the red second hand white with Tippex (hey, whatever is to hand has a use lol!!!).

Hopefully, it will get shown on one of John's shows. I am (hopefully) going with John today. An early start but a Maccy D McMuffin is adequate compensation for getting up before the birds lol!!!

Now, here is a snap of the little Paddle Prize for my reaching over 150 followers.

To be entered into the draw for this, you just need to be a follower and leave a comment on this post before 6am (GMT) on the 25th July.

Mr D will perform his pulling duties and the winner will be announced on the next post following the 25th. Thank you all and good luck!!!

I will be giving you a break tomorrow as I shall be back on Thursday with 2 posts, one at 6am and my usual MAWTT DT post at 9am.

I have some exciting news, well for me lol!!!, on the 6am post. . . . . . lets just say, today will not be my only sample appearances on Hochanda this week but shhhhh, don't tell anybody lol!!!

On that note, I need to get to bed (scheduling this Monday night). 

Be good and thank you, as always for your encouraging comments.

TTFN

Ang x

John's Launch Day 3. . . . .A Little Pot

Good morning one and all. Hope this finds all your ticketys boo on Day 3 of John's launch. Yup, I'm like buses with 3 coming along at once lol!

Some more welcomes are in order so thank you to all new visitors and to Lynda, Albright of Diss and h.12 evans for pressing the "follow" button.

As I am now approaching 150 followers, I shall offer up another paddle prize for when we reach 150. I'll pop a picture on tomorrow's post.

Now, I know some of the ladies who have been plotting to ram raid my garden for my wisterias may have seen the title of this post and got excited thinking I was growing something else of interest but the pot is of the terracotta variety. . . . . . sorry to disappoint gals lol!!!

A plain pot, painted with satin wood paint (it was a tin I'd had knocking around from decorating a couple of years back . . . . . what can I say, I'm tight lol!!!), rim coated in gilding polish and one of John's masks stencilled around the bottom, again using the gilding polish (a tricksy procedure as its not a flat or straight object).

To finish off, one of John's stamps also decorates the rim. . . . . .tricksy again, stamping on a curved surface.

Ingredients

Small terracotta pot from B & Q (21cm dia £1.40)

Satin Wood paint (but any will do)

Cosmic Shimmer Mint gilding polish

John Next Door Quattro Stars mask

John Next Door Autumn Flowers stamp

Memento Dew Drop Teal Zeal ink pad

If you wanted to use it outside, a couple of coats of clear varnish should seal it.

Hopefully, its given you another idea of how to use the stamps and masks, other than on cards.

Well, what an exciting British GP, especially the latter stages. Brought back fond memories of the atmosphere (and hailstones!!!) from last year. Hope Jackie and Wendy got to watch it. I won't comment on the winner lol!

Wasn't a well girlie on Saturday but better yesterday. Can't complain though at one bad day in the past 2 weeks.

That's all for today folks. Hope you can join me again tomorrow for day 4.

TTFN

Ang x

P.s. . . . I just wanted to clarify, I've got John's stamps and masks only. I haven't got the media plates (though I shall probably be buying them, even though I'm not a stamper) and my stamping is all commando as I haven't got a stamping press either but all blemishes and smudges are entirely intentional lol!!!