Hope. . . . . . .

Good morning everyone. Hope all is well with you and yours but to those I know are struggling at the moment, I want to share this card with you.

Now, I made this card for my dear friend Nesta after her Dad became ill in the Summer. Although things didn't look good (he passed away in November) I saw this stamp and bought the set as I thought it a lovely sentiment, with her in mind. 

I'm not usually given to to displays of flussiness but I just thought it was quite uplifting.

Nesta did appreciate it, bless her.

Its a different post post today as I am going in to hospital this morning for a kidney biopsy.

I did debate whether to tell you all but as I have bored shared with you all my other health adventures, I thought I should bore share this one too as you have always been lovely, supportive and encouraging.

I have been diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease but they don't know the cause (scan and blood tests were clear) hence the biopsy to see if they can establish the cause, what the extent of the damage is and if its reversible but currently, my kidney function is half of what it should be for a lass of my tender years. 

I'm beginning to think, if I were a horse, I would be in a tin with gravy by now.

Its all been a bit fraught and finding out a week before Christmas was a bit of a shock, especially when the consultant suggested some ways of helping myself, one of which was lose some weight.

Lose weight over Christmas..............eeeeek! Kick a gal when she's down why don't you!!!

Well the Thornton's Viennese Truffle diet does work as I'd lost a kilo (goodness knows how) when I went for my pre op check last Friday.

To be honest, I'm more worried about the results than the procedure, along with having to lie still afterwards for about 6 hours. I don't think I have ever lay still for 6 hours, even when I am in bed. I could fidget for England so that should be interesting, especially as I'm full of cold and laying flat sets me off coughing like a navvy on Woodbines.

Still, I know that there are lots of folk going through or have loved ones going through worse so its chin up (well, chins plural lol!!!) and hope for the best, hence my sharing this particular card today. 

I want to advise members of the Wisteria Action Relocation Team (WART) that it will not be left unguarded during my sojourn. My neighbours CCTV is on 24 hour watch and I have stepped up security patrols.

Wish me luck and hope you enjoy the card.

TTFN

Ang x

John's One Day Special. . . . . . .

Good morning everyone. Hope you are all well.

Sorry I've been missing from blogging or commenting but had a few things going on here healthwise (I will explain later in the week) and doing some samples for John's first One Day Special on Hochanda with Crafts Too. 

Some of the products will be available on my website later today and there is a link on my sidebar to the website.

Now, the new products are embossing and cutting folders so they emboss around the edge at the same time as cutting an aperture from the centre.I use a Grand Calibur and have found that a combo of the white cutting plate and raspberry plate work best on my machine.

You know I like to do something different so I decided to go with a box,

Ingredients

Cream and aqua card

Acetate

Crafts Too Mariposa embossing and cutting folder

SB Medallion die

Hobbycraft corner punches.

Cream ribbon

Aqua Spectrum Noir

I used a sheet of A4 to do the sides. I cut the sheet in half across the width and used the folder twice alongside each other on each half. I then scored down the middle of each to form the sides.

I then made a separate base to fit and a lid.......the inner piece fits the aperture, whilst the top piece over hangs slightly. 2 x depth of foam pads holds them together and holds the lid onto the box.

A basic box that could be zhushed up with other bits and bobs but something different to do with the folders.

Hope you enjoy John's shows. He is on at 6pm and 8pm today.

Don't forget to check the website later as there are some special offers on there too. Also, I am ordering some of John's box dies for some customers so if anyone would like them ordering, please e-mail me at theducksdoodahs@gmail.com. The Sandwich Box will be £19.99 and the Opera Box will be £24.99 and I'm only ordering them to order (if that makes sense). I will also be replenishing the Star Flower and Mini Tags dies too.

Hope you have a good week.

TTFN

Ang x

Ps.....I had a new camera from Mr D for Christmas so this is the first blog outing with it and my new photo tent. Hope it looks ok.

The Matching Card. . . . . . . . .

Happy New Year to everyone. Hope that this finds you all relaxed and happy after the festive break. We are all turkeyed out and if I see another chocolate I will pop!

Mr D could quite happily eat the EU chocolate mountain several times over and still isn't overweight............although he has had two visits to the dentist in two weeks to have fillings repaired after munching on a Mars Bar and a Crunchie respectively (other bars of fat and sugar are available lol!!!)

Now, here is the card sample I made for John to match the box from my previous blog post.

I know its a bit blingy but I was partially in festive mode at the time surrounded by mirror card and gems.

Ingredients

Aqua card

Silver mirror card

JND Sandwich Box dies

JND Star Flower Leaves dies

JND Gerbera die

JND MiniTags dies

JND Sentiment stamps

Izink Silver pigment ink

Bling on a roll

Teeny weeny bling

Jelly Tot gem

I cut the Gerbera die 3 times and then cut 2 of the die cuts again with the circle tag dies to graduate the layers on the flower.

I know its seriously over the top but sometimes the inner embellisher bubbles to the surface lol!!!

That's me for today folks. Got a busy couple of weeks ahead (I'll explain soon but involves the hospital rather than anything nice or exciting unfortunately) so need to get on top of a few things on the home front.

Don't forget, my 20% off sale runs to Friday on the website and we still have some spaces  left on the Ansty workshop with John on 4th February..........see the poster on the side bar for details.

Once again, Happy New Year to everyone and I hope that it will be kind to you and yours.

TTFN

Ang x

Box After Boxing Day . . . . . . .

Good morning everyone. How are we all after eating our own weight in sprouts, turkey and chocolate?

Busiest time of year for Weight Watchers, dentists and marriage guidance councillors I would guess.

We had a quiet one, which was what we wanted wearing elasticated waists so we could squeeze that last roastie in.

There is a 20% sale on my website until 5th January using the code DOODAH2 if anyone is after a crafty fix.

Now, its back to John's boxes and here is another sample that I made for the shows.

Its a normal box but the lid is made using the Sandwich Box dies. I used them to cut the large triangles, even though its a solid box lid so that I knew the dimensions would be ok when cutting out the trellis triangles.

Ingredients

White and aqua card

Silver mirror card

John Next Door Sandwich Box dies

John Next Door Mini Tags dies

John Next Door Gerbera die

John Next Door sentiment stamp

Diamante roll 

"Jelly Tot" bling 

2mm teeny weeny bling

Izink Silver Metallic pigment ink

Love this box but think its still "on tour" with John so hope it hasn't gotten too battered lol!!!

On the next post, I will show the card that I made to go in the box.

At hospital yesterday for follow up to getting the CPAP. I explained that I hadn't been able to use it as it felt like I was hanging my head out of a car window at speed and was suffocating but I had successfully been keeping off my back with my plastic air freshener lids shoved down my trollies technique (did raise an eyebrow for some obscure reason).

Apparently, the guy who gave me the machine had got it set too high, basically at level a 6ft 30 stone rugby player would need to have it. Now, I'm not the sveltest of gals but 6ft and 30 stone I ain't (don't do rugby either before anyone, Maureen, asks).

So, I still have the machine but re-set and with a nasal mask rather than a full one so now I look like Dumbo (no comments please) instead of Hannibal Lecter.

Will give it another go as I may need to re-think the air freshener lid thing as Mr D has bashed his elbow on them twice now...........don't ask.

On that note, I will wish you a happy Friday and see you soon.

TTFN

Ang x

Yuletide Felicitations 2017. . . . . . . . . .

Good morning and a very Merry Christmas to you all.

Yes, its that time of year again when, we get intimate with a turkey, ask if our husband's have kept the receipts and Mr D gently roasts his nuts by the fire (not an open fire after a trip to A&E in 2007).

I have to welcome a new follower to The Pond but sadly Blogger is not telling me who you are but thank you anyway. 

Now, in time honoured tradition, Mr D has kindly agreed to share his Christmas card with you all so that it is for all you lovely folk who have supported this little corner of Blogland too. Its 8x8 so big enough for all.

Ingredients

White card

Turquoise and silver mirror card

SW Let it Snow die

SW Snowflake Mini Striplet

Snowflake Die set (As sold on my web store but sold out twice lol!!!)

Double sided sticky sheets (now back in stock)

Turquoise glitter

Shine Dust glitter (available on the website)

Turquoise blingage

This was one of those rare cards that came out exactly as I wanted it to lol!!!

Can I take this opportunity to wish you all a wonderful Christmas and all the very best for 2018.

All I can say for the moment is, I know that I have some challenging times ahead but thank you all for your words of support, encouragement and humour that I appreciate more than you all know.

Have a great day.

TTFN

Ang x

Ps...........don't blame your dog lol!!!

MAWTT challenge 61

Good morning everyone. Hope you are well.

Sorry I've been missing for a few days but I have been busy finishing off the Christmas cards I'd fallen behind with, Mr D's birthday and another hospital appointment. Getting Mr D's birthday cake is a story for another day..............as you all know, I don't do easy and straight forward lol!!!

Welcome to Theresa who has kindly (or accidentely hahaha!!!) clicked "follow". Much appreciated.

Today its time for another challenge over at MAWTT and will be the last challenge this year by both teams.

The theme this time is.....................

Anything But a Card

So, get digging those non card projects out of your photo files and enter in the fun. This time, there are prizes on offer from the team so, come on, give it a go!!!

Now, I thought that this was the ideal opportunity to show you what I made for Mr Lockwood for his birthday this year.........and we all know how he loves his stags!

There is a set of 4 slate coasters and a slate "mat". There were 2 slate mats but just as I was heating the last inch of border on the 2nd, the bloomin thing cracked and split in half!!!

The stag stamp is from Dovecraft and the border one is from a Habico set that is on my website.

I used Versamark and Stampendous detail white embossing powder as with the slate heart I have shown here.

I will advise again, that slate is very temperamental and you have to heat it in stages. The cracking is caused by the moisture coming out of the slate and even though I was careful with the 2nd one, if there is a slight weakness already there, the heat will find it.

I will have to find something else slate to try..........maybe a roof, hahaha!!!

I gave each piece 3 coats of Cosmic Shimmer glaze to protect them but John still won't let anybody use them lol!!!

And, here is the wrapping paper..................

Plain black paper on a roll from Tesco, stamped with the same stag stamp in Black Archival.

Hope this and my fellow DT Teamies creations give you some inspiration for doing non card projects. MAWTT challenges will return in the New Year.

Hope your Christmas plans are going well. Hopefully, there will be a delivery from Amazon today, which will be the last of the pressies.............just Mr D's Christmas card to make and that's it.

Enjoy your Thursday.

TTFN

Ang x

The Purple Box. . . . . . .

Good morning folks. Hope that you are well and that you are not snowed in anywhere.

We had a good dumping of the white stuff but its all gone now bar a couple of slushy chunks.

Now, this is the purple box that seemed a popular sample I made for John's die shows. There are a few photos of this but it was made pretty much as John thought and quickly demoed.

I made the two halves of the sandwich box but only half the depth (you just cut the side panel in half lengthwise).

I then slid the two halves together and glued them together.

Then I made the slide in lid as you would a normal box but with an open bottom (oooh errr Mrs!!!) and acetate top.

The cards drop into this and then this slides into the base, as per next photo.........

I thought this would make a nice box for those who give sets of cards as gifts but John also mentioned it would make a posh box for a wedding invite.

All elements were from the Sandwich Box die set.

Thank you for your comments on the cards that were in the box. 

Jackie, I can promise you that I am taking things steady and there is no "humping" going on (don't go there folks!!!) and I am enjoying doing my bit again.

Thanks for calling me "classy" Wendy. I have been called many things but classy is a new one lol!!!

Maureen, hope that George is better. I'm sure that you mopping his fevered brow and waiting on him hand and foot will hasten his recovery, although the earache he is probably now suffering from, may take a little longer to clear up lol!!!

I did manage to meet up with Nesta on Monday and also yesterday. She is getting there, bless her.

Lunching with Mr L today and our friend Pauline (who made the lovely samples for John's shows yesterday) at a yummy Indian restaurant.

Still haven't made Mr D's birthday card with a couple of days left to go.........I have an idea, just needs to be put to card, and quickly. I may have to do a Maureen and dig out last years as I would bet good money he wouldn't remember it lol!!!

On that note, I may have a tinker now so I will say tarrah and see you soon.

TTFN

Ang x

Triple Purple. . . . . . . . . .

Good morning everyone. Hope you are not buried under several inches of snow. Its been quite bad in the Midlands and I could have done with Sherpa Tensing's assistance to get to the bird table.

Have had a few internet issues too but before the snow so it may be time to dig out the spare router.

Now, here are the 3 cards that were in the purple and gold sample box on John's shows. The box will be on the next blog post.

All were made using the dies from all the die sets and the sentiments stamp set.

Ingredients

Purple and gold mirror card

John Next Door Sandwich Box dies

John Next Door Opera Box dies

John Next Door Mini Tags dies

John Next Door Star Flowers dies

John Next Door Sentiment stamps

I'm still trying to get all of my Christmas cards done. I don't think I have been quite this last minute before.

I have started volunteering again at the first charity shop I worked at. Just a couple of hours per week, nothing strenuous and nice to see my old chums again.

Mr D's birthday is this week too...........and still have to make his birthday card.

Then there is the Christmas food shop, presents, another hospital appointment and not enough days to do it all in.

The website has kept me busy too, thank you, though Kate, I think the nearest I will get to offshore banking is using a cash point on the Isle of Wight lol!!!

Hopefully, snow allowing, I should be seeing Nesta for lunch today. she is still up and down and missing her Dad. 

That's all for today folks. Hope your festive plans are more organised than mine are.

TTFN

Ang x

MAWTT Challenge 60. . . . . . . . .and the Mystery of the Missing Photos

Good morning everyone and welcome to a new challenge over at MAWTT.

This challenge is hosted by Jackie and the theme is,

Twas the Night before Christmas 

The poem is over at MAWTT and you can feature anything from the poem on your card.

Mine features St Nick and the 8 reindeer. Hope you can pop over and enter the challenge.

Now, there is a tale (isn't there always with me lol!!!) about this post.

I had scheduled the post to go live this morning, in line with the challenge blog and had a check before heading out the door to my volunteer work (another story...............) only to find my photos of the card were missing from my blog!

I had a quick shufty through my photo files and could I find the bloomin photos, could I eck!

I had to cancel the blog post to tinker with when I got home.

Well, I'm home and the darned photos have gone AWOL from my laptop. I have checked through every file and nowt!

The card has already been posted so I couldn't re-photograph it.

Fortunately, I had uploaded one of the photos to the challenge blog so that's what you have at the top of the page.................and that's it, one solitary photo lol!!!

Card and image are Hunkydory, cut with SB Labels 20 with a splash of red mirror card and silver and red ribbon.

Hopefully, that's today's only mishap...........

TTFN

Ang

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