A Tale of Eyes and Cats. . . . . . . .

Good morning folks. Its me again.

Hasn't it been nippy again. The liberty bodice is well and truly back on. 

Welcome to Christi. Thank you for your kind comment and for clicking "follow". 

Also, hello to Christine (Darnell's buddy). Can you believe its 18 months since we all met up lol???

And Krafty Runner, hope Mr Krafty Runner is doing ok? Still waiting for more of my results.

I did mention on the last post that I have a new hospital department to visit.

I went for a eye test last week as I had been on my arrhythmia tablets for a year and they can cause corneal deposits.

All was going well (no glasses required) until the bloomin puffer thing. Well, my pressure was up in the right eye so they did the test 3 times with 4 blasts in my eye each time. And there was the optician telling me to relax as being tense can affect the result.

I was very polite when I explained he should try relaxing with 12 puffs of air being directed at your eyes!!!

So, I ended up with a letter for the GP to refer me to the eye dept to check for glaucoma.

I know that it seems like I am working my way around the hospital but its all unintentional.

I think its only dermatology and maternity that I won't have been to............and please don't wish maternity on me. That  would be all I need lol!!!

I think there is some sort of prize when you have had your card stamped by every department.............maybe something like a free hours parking so that's worth about a tenner!!!

Now, I digress so back to the card. Its another John sample featuring his his last release of stamps and another cutting and embossing folder. I used the flourish from the Anniversary Sentiments to create a patterned panel.

Ingredients

Cream and black card

Crafts Too Mariposa Cutting and Embossing folder

JND Anniversary Sentiments stamps

Black pearlage.

I just used the embossing part of the folder down the edge again. A quite CAS card for me.

I also mentioned last time, about a kitty story. 

Directly across the road, live 2 cats called Patch who is about 15 and Mittens who is about 2.

I happened to be in the craft room a couple of weeks ago and looked out of the window and saw Mittens laying on the inside window ledge, soaking up the Sun. Nothing wrong with this picture you would think except............it wasn't her house!!!

She was actually sprawled on her next door neighbours inside window ledge!!!

The woman who lives there had been out at least 3 hours so I'm guessing the cat had been in the house at least that length of time.

About 20 mins later, her husband rolls up in his van, starts walking up the path, notices the cat and then sprints up to the door and inside.

Mittens at this point sits up as the vertical blinds swish open but stands her ground whilst the guy is hysterically trying to shoo her.

He then comes back outside and bangs on the window shouting obscenities. Whilst this is going on, I am howling with laughter.

He then phones someone to ask how to get the cat out!!!

Meanwhile, Mittens casually saunters along the ledge and jumps down. The guy goes back in and then a chase ensues, into the kitchen, back into the living room and finally up the stairs. It was like a Benny Hill sketch and the tears were pouring down my face.

The wife then rolls up in her car, marches inside and 10 seconds later, the cat was out.

Just goes to show, a woman's work is never done lol!!!

So, just as you think the entertainment is over, he comes out to get something from his van 10 mins later and stupidly leaves the front door open and......yes, you've guessed it, Benny Hill again but this time, with Patch as well lol!!!

Sometimes the neighbours are more entertaining than TV.

Now, I've probably bored you with that, I will leave you be with the promise of another tale to tell next time as, hopefully, there will be the pitter patter of tiny feet in the Duck Nest sometime this week.........I did say I was yet to visit maternity lol!!!

Now I have left you in suspense again, I'll be back on Thursday with the next instalment from MAWTT.

TTFN

Ang x

Purple Love. . . . . . . . .

Good morning mon petit pois'. Hope you are funky and fine.

I am better now and have been trying to catch up on housework that fell by the wayside after the biopsy. Still waiting for the full results of that and also the nuclear medicine none scan.

Did mean to go to the Motorcycle Museum craft show yesterday but the weather was hideous so I decided to give it a miss and save myself for the NEC next month.

Now, today I have gone back to one of the cut and emboss folder samples I made for John. I did photograph all these samples but could not find the photos on the laptop so I think I may have deleted them when I reformatted my SD card to use in my new camera. I got them back from John and re-photographed them and this was one of my favourites using the Cubis Cutting and Embossing folder from Crafts Too.

Ingredients

Cream and purple card

Crafts Too Cubis Cutting and Embossing folder

Crafts Too Circle dies

John Next Door Anniversary Sentiments stamps

Blingage

I managed to extend the embossing on the side panel so the pattern ran top to bottom and avoiding the cutting portion. The folder gives a lovely deep emboss and there are still a couple available on my website.

A freezing and blowy day is forecast today but a cemetery visit is due so we may have to brave the elements.

Whatever you are up to today, I hope that its warm and enjoyable.

Will be back in a couple of days with tales of hilarity with a sneaky cat and a new department I get to visit at the hospital..........I jest not, lol!!!

TTFN

Ang x

Holly Holly. . . . . . . .

Good morning everyone. Hope that you are all well.

Had a fabulous day at the workshop with John on Sunday. Lovely ladies as always and a great change of venue to the Premier Inn, who really looked after us.

I didn't think that I had been overdoing things, apart from humping the odd box but I did suffer Sunday night and yesterday. Wasn't helped by being tired as Mr D was doing his snoring pig chorus impression on Saturday night. I would have normally hoofed him next door (spare room not the neighbours..........although, thinking about it..........) but all the workshop stuff was boxed and on the spare bed.

Sorry to hear about Maureen's incapacity. Will be tricky steering the bloomers with a hand injury (paper cuts can be very painful) unless Yorkie B and June are going to step into the breech......talking of which, I need to know who I am aiming the canon at. 

Karen, they do say "sharp scratch" in our neck of the woods too but I'm not quite sure why they bother saying anything. Just stick it in and get it over with (that's probably another phrase that's gotten some gals into trouble too).

Anyhoo, back to the card. Its another Christmas 2016 card that was lurking in my annals (hope I've spelt that right otherwise it could take on an entirely different meaning lol!!!).

Ingredients

White and blue card

Silver mirror card

Sue Wilson Holly Octagonal Frame

Sheena Douglass Holly embossing folder

Teeny bling

A quickish but interesting card imho. The aperture is cut out of the white card before running it through the embossing folder.

Well, as I am scheduling this on Monday evening, I shall finish my hot lemon and then away to my bed and hope I can sleep tonight without strangling someone..........what is the criteria for diminished responsibilty???

On that note, take care all, thank you for your visits and be good.

TTFN

Ang x

Snowflakey Swirls. . . . . . . .

Good morning one and all. How's it hanging today? If you've got any sense, you'll keep whatever is hanging under wraps as its a bit nippy round the trossachs.

Just as you think its safe to ditch the winceyette liberty bodice, you get icicles hanging from exposed apendages.

My pal Davey, who is a weather aficionado, has forecast another cold front next week. I tell you, my front couldn't get anymore cold if it tried.

Well, I went to hospital to have my nuclear scan.........and there was no scan!

I was injected with some radioactive molecule and then had to have blood tests at 2 hour, 30min, 30min and 1 hour intervals but no scan. Now, I may not be the brightest light bulb in the pack but the consultant did say he was referring me for a scan and described what it would show.

So, I shall be getting in touch to find out if there is another delightful visit to the hospital on the cards for an actual scan.

I've ended up with bruised and sore arms from all the needle action but I shall resist the deep urge to make a joke about small pricks.

I note that the WART commando unit have kept away under fear of being irradiated. There is a Ready Brek type glow around Chateau Canard so I think its safe until that dissipates. 

I did worry at seeing a flash of red in the sky but thankfully it was that blood moon rather than Maureen's inherited bloomers.

Now, back to the card (for those who haven't nodded off). I'm back in my Christmas 2016 folder again (Sorry Wendy A, the last card was 2016 too so I am not in the least bit organised lol!!!.........and, the remains of the Mr B drone were deposited in the neighbours litter tray and are now on their way to the tip). Jayne, please keep your friend under control even if it takes a poke with your crutches.

Ingredients

White card

Silver mirror card

CE Frosty Swirls embossing folder

SB Snowflake Pendant 2013 dies

Silver Krylon pen

Pearlage

I know its a simple card but simple can be good, as I tell Mr D on a regular basis.

I did mean to thank Suzzie Q for advising me about the article you posted, much appreciated, and thank you for all of your kind comments about my foray into Foamiran.

I have added some new products to the website (including the new Izink Metallic Pigment ink pads) and am hoping there is a delivery of Foamiran today so that can be added too.

Thank you for your visit and kind comment Welsh Dors. Hope you can drop by again soon.

That's me for now as Mr D is off today and I will try and drag him shopping as John and I have the workshop on Sunday so its a busy weekend.

Enjoy your Friday.

TTFN

Ang x

Aqua Noel. . . . . . . . .

Good morning everyone. How is everyone doing?

Its been lovely driving again and I was almost in ecstasy being able to hang the washing out yesterday........that's what passes for excitement in this household at the moment,

Sadly Jackie, whenever I mention "having a drink" its not the alcoholic variety. Since the A/Fib diagnosis, I have been off the pop as it can be a trigger and also because of the tablets I take. Now with the kidney issues too, its a definite no no...........the irony being, when you keep getting bad news, a couple of bottles of prosecco would go down very nicely lol!!!

Hence the excitement being found in the pegging out of my smalls (Maureen won't know what they are).

On that note, I would like to advise WART that their Mr B drone has been identified and neutralised............the one time I have been grateful to find a deposit from a neighbourhood cat!!!

Barbara has gone into a Wisteria Protection Programme to thwart any kidnap attempt and is now a man called Dennis living in a kibbutz in Scunthorpe...........oooops, shouldn't have said that, we'll have to move her again now.

The knitted duck has also been moved to a place of safety.

And Littlelamb, it wasn't just a card its a calendar card so I'm happy to show everyone ....Maureen is just jealous as she doesn't have one.

Now, back to today's card. I was going to show another sample from John's last shows but can I find the other photos, can I eck!!! So, on my travels amongst my photo folders, I found some Christmas cards from 2016 I don't believe I have blogged (I'm not putting money on it though). This was one of my favourites that I made.

INGREDIENTS

White and aqua card

Silver mirror card

CE Frosty Swirls embossing folder

SW Snowflake Borders and Tags die

SW Snowflake Gemini

John Lockwood Holly Tree Elements sentiment stamp

Memento Dewdrop London Fog ink (Its quite silvery)

Aqua pearlage

Its still relatively flat, even with the layers.

Well, that's me for now but for those of you coming to or thinking of coming to the workshop on Sunday (there are a few spaces left) the venue has changed as per the poster on my sidebar.

Hope this week treats you all kindly.

TTFN

Ang x

Ps.......One of my lovely pals sent me a Foamiran kit for my convalescence, which I didn't use at the time due to not being able to lift my GC (but then discovered you can hand cut the blooms - doh!!!). I didn't photograph the kit for the last blog post as sheets of foam don't really look very interesting lol!!!

Here's a couple of snaps of my first attempts at flowers with the Foamiran. Still getting used to the new camera.

Wisty Envy Again?.................

Hello everyone. Hope all is good in your part of The Pond and if not, I send good wishes.

I have been released from house arrest as someone put it lol!!! Oh, how I have missed the simple joys of driving and grocery shopping.

Had my nuclear medicine scan appointment come through for next week. I won't say what day so that I don't alert WART to my absence or when they are at risk of being irradiated.

Now, just to tease the WART members further, I am showing the beautifully amazing miniature wisteria that the incredibly talented (and patient) Barbara made for me. You may remember the fantastic mini orchids that Barbara sent me here.

Well, this lovely lady made this for me too. I've had it a while but hadn't managed to get it photographed in a decent light. I am still playing with my new camera so the depth of field could be better but I've taken a few photos so apologies for the picture heavy post.

Every part is hand made from card/paper.

Having a play with my extension tubes (That isn't anything rude Maureen lol!!!).

Even the soil and bricks are so detailed.

To give you a sense of scale, I placed a AAA battery at the side. Gives you an idea how intricate the piece is.

Now I know that will probably have driven WART into a frenzy but hopefully it won't trigger a snap ram raid.

I have also been lucky enough to receive these lovely gifts and flowers during the last 2 weeks so I thank you for your kindness and also for the lovely cards and well wishes.

I have been cheered up no end and the kindness I have been shown does restore your faith in human nature.

On that note, I shall tootle off now for a drink.

I will be back with one of my own creations next time.

TTFN

Ang x

Ps,,,,,,,,,a thank you to Littlelamb. Sorry I didn't have your email to send you a personal thank you.x

Gratitude. . . . . . . .

Good morning everyone. Hope this finds all well with you and yours.

Thank you again for your visits and comments and also for the cards, presents and beautiful flowers I have received. You are a special bunch of kind hearted folk.

I have had one set of biopsy results through so far. There is kidney damage but the consultant thinks that there is nothing urgent to try and tackle as yet, which is good but they still can't find the cause of the issue so are unable to treat it. It's likely that there will be no treatment so we'll just have to hope that the decline will be a slow one.

There are further tests being done and I have to have a nuclear medicine scan which will give them a more precise picture of how both kidneys are functioning rather than relying on a calculation from blood tests which can be 5% out either way.

Still worried but not much I can do so if I had a pecker, I would try and keep it up.

Now today's card is one I made for Mr D to send to his bosses from us both, probably a year ago as a thank you for the emergency time off he had to have whenever I ended up hospital.

Ingredients

Cream and powder blue card

CE Tartan Trellis embossing folder (embossed and debossed used on the different layers)

Lindsey Mason (for Personal Impressions) sentiment stamp

Teeny blue pearlage

I thought that simple, but hopefully classy, was the way to go.

As I am on enforced "take it easy" time, I have been organising my photos on the laptop and there are quite a few cards that I haven't blogged as yet so, as I can't lift my Grand Calibur at the moment, it's just as well.

Still bruised and getting the odd twinge but can't wait until Friday when I can drive again. My friend Davey has just returned from a break in Madrid (I think he had cold casternets for a few days) so hopefully meeting him with Nesta in the week.

I am shocked to hear that my lovely Mr B May actually be a cunningly disguised drone fashioned and deployed by WART.

I have supplied all sorts of birdie treats for his delectation over the years so it's very concerning to think he may be an imposter........mind you, I suspect that Mrs B may be even more concerned.

At least being stuck at home, I can keep an eye on things!

No action on the neighbour front from Flash but a house whose back garden backs onto the bottom of our road had its lightweight metal shed lifted in the winds and hanging over their wall.......that's what has passed for entertainment in these parts this past week.

I shall now wish you all a happy Sunday and happy week ahead.

TTFN

Ang x

MAWTT Challenge 63. . . . . . . . .

Good morning everybody. Hope you're all fine and dandy.

Thank you again for your lovely comments. Any positive vibes are always appreciated.

Its time for the latest challenge over at MAWTT and this time round, the lovely Amy is hosting and has chosen the theme.........................

                                                              CAS

Now, sorry if I confused the couple of folk that had dropped by first thing as I had featured a card that I had forgotten I had already blogged and thankfully, Bridget had spotted it. Blame the fact I had forgotten to put the pics in my "Blogged Cards" folder or stress or just general doolallyness lol!!!

Needless to say, I have now changed the card to this one, which I know I haven't shown before.I don't do a lot in the CAS line but sometimes less can be more............except with butter.

Ingredients

White and red card

Nelly Snellen holly die

Crafters Companion sentiment stamp

Variety of green inks

Clear bling coloured with red marker

Hougie board for score lines

I cut the holly as an aperture and popped some card I had shaded with different green inks underneath. Its a 6x6 card.

Hope you can all pop over to MAWTT to see what everyone else has done and why not enter a card too?

I am trying to follow the advice of a few of you who have said to keep my chin up................trouble with that is deciding which chin lol!!!

On that note, have a great Thursday.

TTFN

Ang x

Ps........ Here's a cheeky snap of Mr B I managed to get on my new camera.

Pity he was hiding in the Wisteria..........hopefully it won't set WART off lol!!!

Gold on Gold. . . . . . .

Good morning everyone. Hope you are all ok.

Thank you so much for all of your lovely supportive comments, especially those who look but don't usually comment. I would say I am touched but I fear that will draw a comment from a certain Mrs Killen lol!!!

But, I do deeply appreciate your kind words and just goes to show, it can be a mean World out there but there are still some caring and lovely folk in it.

Krafty Runner, thank you for your visit and I sincerely hope that your hubby gets some good news regarding his kidney issues. Hopefully he won't need a biopsy.

Now, I'm back to the samples I made for John's box die shows but I used the dies to make a card.

Ingredients

Cream. black and vintage gold card

Gold mirror card

John Next Door Sandwich Box dies - panel die

John Next Door sentiment

Teeny gold bling

I cut the panel out of gold mirror card as well so I could paper piece the centres of the pattern.

A  simple card but I do love the black and gold as a combination.

Well, I'm a bit battered, sore and bruised and its a pain not being able to bend lift or drive for 2 weeks.......... Oh, the things we take for granted eh? 

I thought it was an in, out, cup of tea then off you go so when they said I had to lay still for 6 hours, I thought that would drive me potty but they saved telling me about the no driving until Friday morning.

I had the joy of using a bed pan as I wasn't allowed to get up,,,,,,,,,,,,,another procedure I wouldn't want to repeat. At the mention of bedpan, Mr D shifted quicker than Usain Bolt out of the blocks!!!

Hopefully get the results this week and that fills me with more dread than the biopsy. Trying to be positive but its difficult. As I said to someone, I'm still smiling.......... but it could be wind lol!!!

I'm scheduling my next post for MAWTT now for Thursday so that its sorted in case I'm not in the mood on the day.

Thanks again for all your hugs and support.

TTFN

Ang x