Cupcake Craft Challenge & Sketch & Stash Challenge 40

The challenge at Cupcake Craft this week is "Cats & Dogs". This gave me the opportunity to use my Mo Manning digital image called Bismark, and to make my first christmas card. I also used the sketch at this weeks Sketch and Stash Challenge 40. The papers I used were Hot off the Press christmas papers that I've had for ages. I also had a go at using my Bow Easy. The bow hasn't come out too bad, but I think I need some more practice. I used glamour dust to decorate his hat, and stickles on his scarf, and decoupaged the ribbon on his bone not that you can see it. Wish the picture had come out a bit better but with all this rain we're having, and it was actually thundering & lightening while I was trying to take this photo.

A Spoon Full of Sugar Sending Donkey Smiles & Friday Sketchers #110

The challenge at a Spoonful of Sugar is to send Michelle Oatman get well wishes. Michelle had an accident on her farm while tending her beautiful donkeys. Unfortunately this accident has left her with the loss of her right eye. Whimsy stamps have created a donkey freebie for us to use to send our wishes. The sketch at Friday Sketchers helped me to create the card. The papers used were Craftwork Cards Blossom Paper and the sentiment is from a Stampin' Up set.

The Good Life

Who remembers "The Good Life", the BBC Sitcom about Tom and Barbara who decided to leave the rat race and become self sufficient. Well we definitely aren't Tom and Barbara, and unfortunately we have got no chance of leaving the rat race (I wish our numbers would come up on the Lottery lol), but we have decided to use up an area of our new garden, and create our own little Good Life. We are so pleased with the results. We are growing mixed salad leaves, summer cabbage, potatoes, onions, strawberries, sweetcorn (but that's not growing very well), savoy cabbages and last but not least we were given a cucumber plant and its amazing watching the cucumbers growing and getting larger and larger. The Good Life eat your heart out.

Stampin' for the Weekend - Challenge #41 - Sketch/blue & yellow combo

The challenge at Stampin' for the weekend was to use a blue & yellow combo and follow a sketch done by Sandie. I find it so much easier using sketches to create my cards. I used my fav stamp (especially with the gorgeous weather we are having), it is Stampin Up "Summer by the Sea". The papers are Daisy & Dandelion Picnic Patch papers, and the sentiment was by Craftwork Cards. The ribbon and buttons were from Papermania Capsule Collection.

Another holiday - Another week in Northumberland

We have just come back from another holiday in Northumberland (Beadnell), and yet again we had a lovely time. Weather could have been a bit better but at least we didn't have any rain, and the sun did come out once or twice, so can't complain. Had to visit the brilliant Barter Books again. Came away with 7 books (lovely), and we went on another boat trip to see the seals and puffins. That was good but poooh birds can't half stink when the sun is shining. Archie had a brilliant time and spent nearly every day in the sea again. Why do holiday's go so quick tho' :(

Once in a Blue Moon

Thats the title that John has used on his Flickr site for today so thought I'd pinch it. He actually persuaded me to go out on my bike today. I haven't used the pedal power in over 3 years (I have a long list of excuses that I always use), but today I thought why not. We headed to Delamere Forest and enjoyed a 6 mile ride. I know that Archie always loves going out with John when he goes on his bike, but I actually got a taste of how much Archie enjoys running alongside. Afterwards we went to the Pheasant Inn (tucked in a peaceful corner of rural Cheshire, the Pheasant enjoys some of the most magnificant panoramic views in the area) for a gorgeous sunday lunch and pudding for afters. Lets just say that the calories I burnt off on the ride were soon put back on.

What a Surprise!!!

Hubby had planned an early birthday surprise for me. He wouldn't tell me exactly where we were heading to only that it was in Scotland. On Friday just before we left he told me. We were driving to Glasgow Airport and flying out to the Isle of Barra in the Outer Hebrides on a 13 seater plane (he knows I'm not a very good flyer at the best of times). Well I survived the trip and actually loved all of it (apart from the plane journey). I can't believe we actually landed on a beach!! The weather was absolutely gorgeous while we were there, and we had a lovely long weekend stopping at the Isle of Barra Beach Hotel - The most westerly hotel & pub in Great Britian. We paddled with nosey seals and also got to see 2 otters climb on to some rocks they disappeared quickly tho' once they noticed that they were being watched :( We had a great time and yes Archie came too but I don't think he was very impressed being put into a crate so that we could get him on the plane. We flew back on Monday to grey skies and rain.