My Family & Other Animals

Wednesday 14 March 2012

"Temptation...."

Isn't it just the best thing in the world when you write a whole blog out and your computer decides to reset itself or something and you lose everything you have written! (the answer by the way is NO, it really isn't!!)

So, the last seven day - what do I have to tell you about. Well I will start by letting you know how I got on with out first plumbing quote. As told in last weeks blog, my mum gave us a thousand pounds and we decided we would get the bathroom done. I called on a plumbing mate, that way I knew I wouldn't be ripped off. We got the quote back and he only wants £3'995 to do the job! I almost went purple with shock, you could have stuck a fork in me and I would literally have been 'done'. The bathroom is the smallest room in the house (literally in our case) and is so small that if I turn around too quickly in the shower I could end up in the bedroom! So with the bathroom being out of the window (for a while at least!), we had to decide what we wanted to do with the money.

A holiday is out of the question because Jo and I are both so bad at the moment it would not be an enjoyable break and we would end up staying in our room more than we would be able to go out, so we may as well stay at home!

I have always wanted a cabinet building in the corner of the living room, somewhere to stand the TV and maybe have a little extra storage room too! The TV sits there looking at us with it's enormous eye and it really should have somewhere nicer to stand on instead of the tatty old table the old telly stood on (bit of a mouthful that last bit!!). I know a couple of very good joiners and one of them in particular is known as a bit of a perfectionist so I will be giving him a ring to get him round with his trusty tape measure and see what he can come up with for us. I did order a new coffee table and living room rug to go under it because the old rug is really past it's sell by date and the old coffee table has been macerated by cat claws who apparently can't tell the difference between a real scratching post and the corner of a piece of our furniture!

On to this weeks card and the theme over at I ♥ ProMarkers is 'Anything Goes' and we are very lucky to be sponsored by the crafting Goddess that is Joanna Sheen. If you have never checked her site out I can highly recommend it. She has a great range of products, most of which are very much 'on trend' and to really sweeten the deal she has FREE postage - WORLDWIDE! How amazing is that? I have used a really great Mo Manning digi stamp called 'Bite'? Don't you just love the look on her face? She looks so devious, I wouldn't trust her as far as I could throw her. I have also used one of my new Nesties (Persian Accents) and finished it off with a few flowers and a pin. I wanted to keep my colour palette neutral to really show the image off and I am really happy with the finished card, she has been framed quite well I think.

Finally, I would like to welcome a new member to the DT. Her Name is Lorraine Bailey, you can check out her blog or have a look at the I♥PM's site to see her latest creation. Her work is very fresh and clean and I am sure you will be able to glean some inspiration from her work. I think she is going to make a very welcome addition to our team, please show her some support when you go to the challenge blog. Anyhoo, if this gets lost then I don't know what I will do! So let's give it a go and I will see you again next week, until then,

take care of yourself,

Andy

xxx

Entered Into: Gingersnap Creations #142 - Border Punches

Scrapalicious USA challenge - A Cut Above

TandA Stamps Challenge #192 - No Designer Papers

Digi Doodle Shop's Best Challenge #99 - People

Sassy Studio Designs Challenge #116 - Monochromatic

GuyLou's Inimitability Challenge - Monochromatic

The Poodles Parlour Challenge - Anything Goes

So Artful Challenges - Harlequin or Black & White

That Craft Place Challenge - Anything Goes

Love To Create Challenge #7 - Anything Goes

Make It Monday Challenge - Anything Goes

33 comments:

  1. Wow, Andy! Those border punches are beautiful and I love the way the white pops off the black background. Lovely project.
    Thanks for joining us at Scrapalicious!

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  2. Hi Andy, brilliant card, I like those borders and the striking image.
    Kevin

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  3. Great card! Love the fabulous contrast you created with your punched borders! Thanks for playing the Border Punches Challenge on Gingersnap Creations! Don't forget to come back and vote for your favorite card when the challenge closes!

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  4. Fabulous Card, Andy! Love the borders! Thanks for sharing with us at Guylou's!

    I am now following you and, btw, I like the name! I would, Agatha Christie and P.D. James turned me into an Anglophile years ago!!
    Be Well,
    Chana

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  5. Beautiful card thanks for joining with us at Poodles Parlour, good luck, cheers Sue n x

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  6. Wow, great card and gorgeous border, take care, Doreen x

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  7. fab card lovely layout xx

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  8. Beautiful card!! Love that awesome image!!! Thanks for joining us at Guylou's!
    Cheers!
    Guylou

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  9. Hi Andy,
    Oh this is just Absolutely Gorgeous!!! Love the image you've used, the dps, the colour scheme is gorgeous. Love the layout and the embellishments look fabulous. Coloured perfectly. Thanks for joining us at Poodles Parlour and Good Luck. Hope to see you joining us again.
    Hugs Jacqui xxx

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  10. This card rocks! I am loving the side border! Thanks for joining us at the Poodles Parlour this week!
    Tammy

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  11. Fantastic card! Love the lace edges! Thank you for joining us at DTBST this week. HUGS

    Kim
    SSD DT

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  12. This image is perfect for monochromatic! Thank you for joining us at Guylous this week! HUGS

    Kim
    GI DT

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  13. Beautiful Card. Love the way you colored this image. Thank you so much for playing with us over at Sassy Studio Designs Dare to Be Sassy Thursday.

    Hugs,
    Kate

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  14. Hi Andy

    Sounds like you have been busy this week! Such a shame that quote came in so high for the bathroom still, I'm sure the living room will come up a treat and make you both feel better for it.

    Such a treat for me to visit your blog today. Not often you meet a male crafter.

    Your card is wonderful, your colouring is just splendid. The punched edges are a real treat and really lift the card.

    Thank you for sharing with us at Make It Monday this week.

    Michelle :o)

    Remember, to be in with a chance to win the fabulous prize from our sponsor this week just leave a comment for another entrant. Be sure to mention you saw them on MIM. The more entries you comment on the more chances you have of winning.

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  15. Your card is fab.

    Saw it on MIM

    Laine

    X

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  16. Ohhh Andy just think of all the crafting goodies you could buy with that money (rubs hands with glee) lol what a shocker with the cost of the bathroom though blimey were they going to decorate it with gold leaf or something anyway so nice a male card maker we don't get many and after seeing your work I am now a follower thanks for playing along with us at Poodles with this gorgeous creation it's fantastic
    take care
    Jacki xx

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  17. This is beautiful. I saw it on Make it Monday.

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  18. Totally loving this...great image and perfect colouring...and no designer papers! Hope to see you again soon on the Tanda teaser!
    Sue

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  19. Gorgeous card Andy. Yikes on the bathroom quote! Kim

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  20. Beautiful card, with your wonderful coloring and design. Thank you so much for playing along with us at Love to Create challenge.

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  21. Fun card. Thanks for joining us at Scrapalicious USA

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  22. WOW this is one very striking and very beautiful card, the colours just pop off the screen that image is gorgeous, thank you for joining our challenge this week at The Digi Doodles Shop
    Hugs
    Lorraine x

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  23. Stunning Andy! What a Great Image & it's colored so beautifully! Thanks for joining us at Love to Create Challenge this Week!

    Many Blessings,
    Tina

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  24. Lovely creation! Love this Mo image. Saw your creation on MIM. :-)

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  25. Sorry neither of you are good enough for a holiday Andy - I'm sure the perfect solution will come along soon.. smiles...
    Your card is brilliant - I love the bold, striking colours you have gone for and the layout is fabby too.
    Thank you for joining us at Make it Monday this week.

    Hugs Krafty Karen - DT for Make It Monday.



    Remember, to leave a comment for the other entries & be sure to mention you saw
    them on Make It Monday.xx

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  26. This is my first visit to your blog, I followed your link from Make It Monday. What a really Lovely card! Your writings put a smile on my face, you have a comical way of seeing your lot in life. I hope your TV stand turns out fine and the cats keep away from it!

    Cheers,
    Kasey ~ in Oz

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  27. Your card just exudes gorgeousness, Andy! Love everything about it! Thanks for sharing at Guylou's!
    Hugz,
    Roxann

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  28. Aw, what a darling character, so beautifully colored! Your borders create a happy backdrop for her. It's a lovely card. Thanks for sharing.

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  29. super card Andy! Thanks for joining us at 'That Craft Place' this time, hope to see you next time too, so nice of you to give us your support
    hugs
    laney

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  30. I saw your card on MIM and so glad I took a closer look. Love the details and the choice of colors are awesome. Love the border punch and the coloring is awesome on the image. I also love hearing your story.. I just became a follower.. If you would like to follow me or see my blog I am at stampinwithinkonmyfingers.blogspot.com

    I really enjoyed you blog.

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  31. Hey, Andy,

    You won a digi at my site. Please go to redoralee.blogspot.com to see your prize!

    Chana!

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  32. Love this card. So dramatic.

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Please feel free to leave a comment, I welcome constructive criticism.