Its Christmas Again . . . . . . .

Good morning everyone. Hope the Sun is shining on you all.

Hopefully, I've got a line of washing bobbing about . . . . . it's the simple pleasures in life eh?

Now, talking of simple, it doesn't get any more simple than this card, especially for batch making.

It started when I cut the Holly Flourish out for this card here and then I thought, "what would happen if I cut them end to end to use up that scrap of vintage gold card?"

Ingredients

Cream card

Vintage gold and gold mirror card

Cheery Lynn Holly Flourish die

Dovecrafts sentiment

Pearlage

Scoring on my Hougie

The vintage gold layer is stuck directly to the gold mirror card and then this was foam padded to the card, making it another postage friendly card.

 I must report a funny sighting this week courtesy of The Flash household. This time, it was Mrs Flash who caught my attention.

I had popped out to my car about 10 in the morning to get something out of the boot, bumped into another neighbour and started to chat. 

About 30 seconds later, Mrs Flash drove past, parked outside their house and then got out of the car carrying a shopping bag and went into her house.

Nothing unusual in that I hear you cry, except . . . . . . . . . she was only wearing her pyjamas!!! Not only that, but she is a little on the large side with an ample chest and was not wearing a bra.

Well, as my dear late Dad would say, it was like watching 2 puppies fight under a blanket.

I can honestly say, I don't ever recall a shopping emergency that would necessitate me to leave my house in my pyjamas, let alone unsupported.

There again, another neighbour took her kids to school last week wearing a tiger print onesie, with the hood up, which had pointed ears.

Perhaps I just live in an odd neighbourhood??? (Still want to move next door Elaine? Lol!!!)

Before I pootle off, her is a snap of the socks Kate knitted and sent to me. Aren't they fabulous?

They are so toastie warm and I've had to repair the heel on one of them as I wore them so much in the Winter. Thanks again Kate.

That's me for today. Have had a good few days, even getting out for a meal on Monday with some friends over from Spain and trying not to worry about next Friday. Blood test today so hopefully the black pudding has done its thing.

Take care all.

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!!!

MAWTT March 2017 Challenge. . . . . . . .

Good morning everyone. How are you all today?

It was very remiss of me not to welcome Jan back from her trip to New Zealand. Must be a wrench having to leave the family but hope you had a lovely time.

Now, today its time for another challenge at MAWTT and Terri has chosen the theme for this one, which is . . . . . . . . . . .

Rainbow or rainbow colours

So, that should give you lots of scope so it would be lovely if you popped over to the challenge and had a go. 

Ingredients

White card

Coloured card 

Crafters Companion Textures Elements Rain embossing folder

SB Classic Ovals small and large (to cut the layers of the rainbow)

Memory Box Alphabet dies

Quite CAS for me but a cheery little number, I thought.

I have lost 5 kg since I started the water tablets last Friday so just shows how much fluid I was holding onto. Still some swelling lurking so goodness knows how much extra I'll lose by the time its gone. 

Mind you, I've worn out a path on the stair carpet with all the extra trips up and down the stairs lol!!!

Back at the clinic today for them to check my progress and also a check up in anticipation of another Cardioversion in the next few weeks.

For those off to the SECC in the next couple of days, including my buddy Kate (cuilliesocks), have a fab time and go and say "hello" to Mr Lockwood who will be on Art of Craft's stand on Saturday and Sunday.

Thanks for visiting and don't forget to pop over to MAWTT to see what the other girls have come up with.

TTFN

Ang x

P.S . . . . . I managed to take a trip to B&M yesterday in search of lightbulbs (that's as exciting as it gets at the minute lol!!!) and they had these gorgeous pads in. Now I know I really don't need another pad but at £2.99 for a 12x12, 24 double sided sheets of 250gsm with lovely patterns . . . . . resistance was futile. I got mine in blue for £2.50 as the front cover was torn but they do a pink pad and a beige pad too.

Still Christmas . . . . . .

Good morning Friends, Romans, Crafters. Hope you are all well.

Now, I did warn you I had a "few" Christmas cards to show and I think there is probably still another dozen to go lol!!!

This was another flattie for posting. I like the fact there is still a lot of detail to the card without adding depth.

Ingredients

White and red card

Vintage gold card

Gold mirror card

Sue Wilson Holly Octagonal Frame dies

Sheena Douglass Holly embossing folder

CS Berry Red PVA Pearls 

White pearlage

Apologies to those who are not wanting to see anything Christmassy in February (or into March for that matter lol!!!)

My clinic appointment got moved to Thursday from Friday. One of the Arrhythmia nurses rang me on Wednesday and asked if I wanted to go in a day early as they knew I had been struggling, so I did.

I had puffed up during the past week like the Stay Puft Marshmallow Boy (for any 80's chicks like me who loved Ghostbusters) so they have put me on water tablets. My goodness, within 2 hours of taking them, I had gone to the loo 8 times!!! Its times like this, you wish you had downstairs facilities.

Mr D joked that it would keep me fit going up and down stairs (not great when you're prone to breathlessness) or I could use a bucket!!! I then said thank goodness I hadn't been put on laxatives!!!

Heat rate tablets have been upped too as pulse rate still high and they think that's what has caused fluid retention and breathlessness and another 3 pot blood test. Never a dull moment with me eh??? Back again next week so they can check my progress.

Anyhoo, enough of my toilet issues but on that note, I need to go again so . . . . . . 

TTFN

Ang x

Christmas Card No 344. . . . . . . .

Good morning everyone. Here's hoping you are all ok?

Still struggling a bit here but a clinic on Friday so hope for some answers/action then.

Now, Just when you thought it was safe, I am back on the Christmas cards again. This is similar to another one I have shown but this is smaller, flatter and more postal friendly as it was winging its way to California.

Ingredients

White card

Vintage gold card

Gold mirror card

First Edition Gilded Winter paper

Sue Wilson Christmas Tree Greetings die

Sue Wilson Snowflake Corner, Border and Tag die (Border only)

Ribbon

Teeny bling

York's Butterfly's Paddle Prize is on its way to Wendy. There was more than the Spellbinders die but I forgot to photograph the whole kit and caboodle. Still, will be a surprise for Wendy when she opens it.

Thank you again to everyone else for joining in.

Time to get something warm, wet and decaff so that's me for today.

Be good all.

TTFN

Ang x

Be My Valentine . . . . . . .

Good morning blogging chums. Hope you are all well.

Sorry for the gap in posting and visiting your blogs but not having a great few days. Sadly, these days, Mr D is not the only thing that makes my heart flutter lol! 

Now, I thought I'd better show Mr D's Valentine card before continuing with my Christmas run.

Ingredients

White, red and black card

Sissix Heart dies

Hobbycraft heart punch

Memory Box Alphabet dies

CE Swirling Hearts embossing folder

White pearls

It is 7.5" x 7.5". I usually do this size for an 8 x 8 envelope as sometimes making the card 8 x 8 is a bit of a squeeze if there's a few layers.

Mr D was very happy, especially with the accompanying pile of chocolate lol!!! I got several bags of Roulette Doritos (my favourite snack) as I've already got flowers on the go.

Talking of Mr D, he has performed his pulling duty again and has pulled a name out of the bowl for the 400th blog post Paddle Prize. And the name he pulled out was . . . . . . .drumroll . . . . . . 

Yorks Butterfly !!!!!!!!!!

Congratulations Wendy and thank you for your visits and comments. Now, as part of the prize, I will be sending a Spellbinders die and you can choose which one you would like from these two

Please email me, via John at lockers@live.co.uk with your full name and your address so that I can send you your prize. Please also advise which of the above dies you would like as part of the prize. There will be some other treats too.

Thank you to everyone else for your visits, comments and support and apologies that I can't afford to send you all prizes. For now, just blame Mr D for not pulling your name out lol!!!

Keep warm and well.

TTFN

Ang x

Mr D's Christmas Card. . . . . . . . .

Good morning one and all. Hope the start of a new week sees you and yours well.

Welcome to Helen, who has kindly hit the "Follow" button. Thank you and hope you will visit often.

I have spent the last few days playing referee in the back garden as Misty and Monty (our names for the Mistle Thrushes) have been terrorising the other birds that visit. I knew they could be territorial but they are being a nuisance. Poor Mr and Mrs B, the Robins and Sparrows are having to watch their backs and for breakfast, I have been standing guard whilst they are eating as Misty and Monty won't swoop whilst I'm there.

As its freezing cold and I'm not feeling at my best, I could do without it but I'm not tolerating any feathered thuggish behaviour, especially when there is plenty to go around. The only ones that don't bat an eye are the Goldfinches and the Tits but they tend to feed from the feeders rather than land on the bird table.

Now, back to the card. I realised, as I was in the throws of doing Mr D's Valentine card, I hadn't actually shown you his Christmas card, so here it is for your perusal.

Ingredients

Cream and red card

Gold mirror card

Memory Box Alphabet dies

Sue Wilson 2015 Angel set, stars only

Crafters Companion Christmas Jumper embossing folder

Bebunni Snowflakes embossing folder

Mei Flower gold bling

Dovecrafts teeny red bling

To get the arched shape to the letters, I cut out a circle and placed the letters round it, if that makes sense?

I was another biggy at 10x8 but I liked how it turned out and so did Mr D.

Jenny, I wish I was ahead with this year's Christmas cards but the ones on the last post and the forthcoming ones for the next few posts, were all from Christmas 2016.

Mrs A, hope you saw the link for the mealworms.

Jackie, us ducks get everywhere, lol!!!

I will post the winner of the Paddle Prize for my 400th post later in the week, so watch this space.

Hope this week is kind to you all.

TTFN

Ang x

Quick and Easy Christmas. . . . . . . .

Good morning guys and gals. Hope you are keeping warm and well in this new cold snap. 

The birds have been regular visitors to the table for munchies and we have been getting through 2 fat balls each week (Maureen . . . . .No!!!).

Myself and Nesta like to put out mealworms but they were getting quite expensive so I found a pet shop on eBay that did 5kg for a bargain price with free delivery, so we decided to order and split them. It seemed like a good idea at the time, not having much idea how much room they would take up. . . . . . .I knew all those empty Roses, Heroes and Celebration tubs I'd kept over the years would eventually have a use lol!!!

I like to make sure that they have a nice little buffet, fat balls, nuts, mealworms, grapes, blueberries and seeds. . . . . . . come to think of it, they're probably better fed than we are lol!!!

The reward has been a beautiful pair of plump Mistle Thrushes joining the regular diners. I'm hoping to get a photo but they always turn up, when my camera is in another room.

Anyhoo, there's me twittering on (sorry, couldn't resist) when I should be saying welcome to Maggie and thank you for following. Also, Karen, on my last post with the poinsettias, I inked through the die with Versamark and brushed with gold mica to get the veins on the bracts.

Now, warning . . . . . . photo heavy Christmas post. I thought that I would show you some of what I affectionately call my "lick and stick" cards that were ultra quick batch makes for less near and dear friends and acquaintances.

I decided to get stuck into the pile of abandoned Hunkydory kits and mixed and matched with other bits and pieces in my stash.

Can't believe how quick these were to make so I shall be using them again later in the year.

Perhaps not as exciting as the whistles and bells of fancy die cuts, but still a useful addition to the Christmas shelf, especially for the likes of me, who is not as disciplined as some of you guys who do Christmas all year round.

Hope you don't mind seeing something simpler than usual. Normal die cut service will resume on the next post lol!!!

Still up and down with me at the moment. Having interrupted sleep is what's wearing me down at the moment as lack of sleep can make the condition worse, yet its the condition that's causing the lack of sleep . . . . . .definition of vicious circle or what lol!!! Maureen, I've been diagnosed but its getting the treatment right that's proving difficult.

Oh well, onwards and upwards (said the gynaecologist to the actress).

Don't forget, you have until Saturday to comment on my 400th post here, to be in the draw for a paddle prize.

Have a great day and be good.

TTFN

Ang x

Golden Poinsettias. . . . . . . .

Good morning everyone. Hope everyone is doing ok?

I'm still struggling at times. Friday was a shocker of a day but fortunately I got a good night sleep and managed to get to the theatre on Saturday with Nesta. We had already changed the tickets from 25th Jan as I wasn't well and I didn't want us to miss out as it was part of Nesta's Christmas pressie from us.

On the upside, I have managed to lose some weight by cutting down my carbs. Mind you, I've decided that I'm not overweight, I am actually under tall. If I can just stretch 6 inches, I'd be my ideal weight .......... how hard can it be???

A warm welcome to Princessnettie and thank you to Marion for pressing the followers button. Lovely to see some old chums and new names commenting too. All appreciated and all welcome.

Now, we're back to Christmas again I'm afraid (I did warn you that I had the EEC Christmas card mountain and a poinsettia fettish) which I made for my dear friend Kate (Cuilliesocks) so I hope she won't mind me showing it.

Ingredients

Cream card

Vintage gold card

Gold mirror card

SB Layered Poinsettias

SB Labels Twenty

Cheery Lynn Holly Flourish

CE Frosty Swirls embossing folder

Versamark

Gold mica

Memento Dew drop Peanut Brittle ink

Pearls coloured gold with my trusty Krylon

Kate likes Autumn shades, which is why I decided to go golden.

Thank you for your lovely comments on my rosy ring (Maureen, don't go there!!!) and on my 400th posting. Don't forget to comment (and follow) on the previous post here to be in the draw for a celebratory Paddle Prize.

I've extended the deadline until Saturday 11th February so there's still time.

Jan, hope you are still having a wonderful time in the land of The Long White cloud as I'm sure you'll be back in the land of The All Encompassing Grey Cloud all too soon.

Hope this week treats you all kindly.

TTFN

Ang x

MAWTT February Challenge & 400th Blog Post. . . . . .

Good morning everyone. How's things with you all, good I hope. Welcome to Veronica who has kindly clicked on the "follow" button. So glad to have you visit.

Well, here it is, post number 400, which I know isn't mahoosive compared to those who post everyday but I have loved doing it and have met and get chat to some amazing people who I now call friends. See further along about my Paddle Prize to celebrate. 

Today is also Team A's February challenge over at MAWTT and team boss, our Wendywoo has picked the theme which is . . . . . . . . . . . . wait for it . . . . . . . . . . 

Ring o' Roses

Well, I thought about what route to go down with this . . . . . . . . a card decorated with sneezes or Bitty Blossoms. I don't think you'd have got great odds at the bookies on which one I would choose lol!!!

Now, Wendy is being quite generous with the scope of this as she is happy to see a ring of any flowers, although roses would be preferred so get yourselves over to the challenge and lets see your beautiful floral rings (hope that doesn't sound rude lol!!!)

Ingredients

White card

Lime pearlised card (Lime Tree Crafts)

First Edition Floral Pavilion paper

SB Bitty Blossoms (any excuse with me)

X Cut circle dies

Sue Wilson Lotus Striplet (the centre die used round the edge of the card)

CE Stitched Bunting Numbers stamps

Alys Inky Fingers "Happy Birthday" stamps

Victorian Velvet and Spun Sugar DI 

Dovecraft teeny bling

CE pearls

This card is 7.5 x 7.5 and was actually commissioned by my good friend Davey for a lady we used to work with whom he is very good friends with.

Apparently, the dear lady said this was the best birthday card she had ever had, bless her.

Anyhow, hope you can pop over to MAWTT and see what the other gals have come up with for your inspiration.

As I have mentioned previously, to celebrate my 400th posting, I will be giving away a little Paddle Prize. To be in the draw, you just need to be a follower and comment on this post by midday on Wednesday 8th February 2017. Mr D will then pull a name out of a hat (or similar receptacle) and the winner will be announced on the next blog post.

Thank you all for your continued support of this little corner of blog land. Some of you have been visiting since near the start, almost 4 years ago and are still coming so it can't be all bad lol!!!

Have a great day all

TTFN

Ang x