"Ho, Ho, Ho It's Magic..."

 

And so another Sunday rolls around. I cannot speak for anyone else (obviously!) but I really, really hate Sundays!

I suppose it goes back to my childhood and apart from being the most boring day of the week, the relentless routine of Sundays wore me down; get up, hang around waiting for dinner (THE only highlight of my day!), watch the Sunday afternoon western on BBC1 with half-asleep parents who didn't care if I was there or not, have tea and then the weekly bath (whether it was needed or not eh!) with the Top 30 and Tony Blackburn followed by "The Onedin Line" ''That's Life' and bed. This happened week in and week out throughout my childhood. It even happened when I left school and got my first job!!

So years later, I find myself in a similar rut. Today will be spent colouring some absolutely amazing new Kenny K images though, as I have secured myself a slot as Guest Designer for the Krafty Krew Challenge blog which starts a new two week challenge next Sunday, so keep your eyes peeled. Kenny's latest images are of three new Steampunk ladies and he has really excelled himself this time.

Jo and I are a pair of home-birds really, so not going out doesn't really bother either of us, so for me Sunday is just a psychological hump I can't get over!

The weather does make things a tad more pleasant though. I love the sunshine. I had the honour of living in Gibraltar for three glorious years and that turned me into a sun-lover. I have loved watching the Channel 5 show about 'Life on the Rock' but it has made me feel really home-sick for a place I left in 1994, how does that work? Seeing it in all it's glory has shown me just how little the place has really changed in nearly twenty years, so going back wouldn't be too much of a disappointment.

They say 'you should never go back' but I love going down Memory Lane. I visit home (Redcar) every few years and while it never really makes me want to go back to live there, I still love the place to bits, it has also changed very little and I left there in 1981.

Anyhoo, enough rambling for one morning. This new card has a beautiful Nellie Snellen image which I have had for an eternity. I bought a stack of her stamps over a year ago and this is only the second one I have posted! I do have another card lined up so keep an eye out for that in the very near future though.

It is on an 8x8 card and I have used quite a few layers to make the image pop. I have used a SB nestie with a faux nestie beneath it and sandwiched between these and the blue layer of scrap card from my scrap-box is a sheet of Basic Grey paper but I can't remember which collection, sorry! Flowers are from Wild Orchid and the leaves are a Marianne die. Finally, I glittered up a few places to make them a little bling-y (word of the week) and I have used a sentiment from Creative Expressions but I usually use a little Claire sentiment which I can't live without these days, they are so versatile and they stamp up beautifully, even on textured card. Jo had a problem with one of their stamp sets this week and I can attest to how good their Customer Service is, they were brilliant in their communications and promises. A superb British company we can all be proud of.

I coloured the image with ProMarkers this time, I thought I would give the Copics a break.

So that's me again. Hope to be back again soon,

take care gentle reader,

Hugs 'n Stuff.

Andy

xx

Entered Into: 613 Avenue Create Challenge #29 - Anything Goes
Challenges 4 Everybody #25 - Anything Goes
Crafting When We Can Challenge #49 - Floral
Fashionable Stamping Challenge #52 - Flora and Fauna
Penny Black and More Challenge - Dies and Punches
That Craft Place Challenge - It's A Girl Thing
Colour Me Creative Challenge #73 - Anything Goes

"Love Is Like A Butterfly, As Soft And Gentle As A Sigh..."

 

You may be forgiven for thinking, when you look at this beautifully drawn image (from the incredibly talented artists at Make It Crafty in Australia) and the very Summery colour palette, that I am in a very happy place at the moment. Well that could not be further from the truth!

I have been deeply saddened by the recent loss of not only the great James Gandolfini but of Bernie Nolan and today I hear that Cory Monteith (Finn from Glee) has been found dead in a hotel room in Canada.

The death of Jim Gandolfini hit me quite hard as he is only a couple of years older than me and I was a massive fan of his work. The Soprano's was up there amongst the greatest TV shows ever made and it wouldn't have been half as good without Jim, he gave the show gravitas and he made Tony Soprano a really deeply layered character.

The death of Bernie Nolan was particularly sad because she seemed so bright and full of life, she had an amazing voice and as a young man who was just beginning to pay attention to the female of the species, I had a particular soft spot for both Bernie and the two A's that made up half of Abba. She will be sadly missed in this house.

As for Cory Monteith, 31 is no age at all. Jo and I are massive Gleek's and I cannot imagine the show without poor, dorky Finn Hudson. He was at the start of his career and had so much still to give, I don't think that I will ever enjoy Glee the same again (plus, finding out he was 31 was the biggest shock of all, just how old are those 'kids'!!!).

So forgive me for bringing you down but I know that you, gentle reader, will understand. This blog has been a massive help to me over the last couple of years, whenever I am down or just need to vent then I know I can turn to you, my wonderful anonymous friend.

 

Welcome to my latest follower Mandy of Crafty Cats Designs, nice to have you along for the ride!

 

Back to the card and I have used quite a few ingredients; as well as Melody (the young lady) there is the Marianne designs die behind the young girl, butterfly themed Washi tape, some large, white half-pearls, a harlequin design A4 Embossalicious folder from Crafters Companion, some Basic Grey paper, a Nestability butterfly die and finally, I used a Little Claire stamp for the rosette.

Hope you like it and I will try to be a bit more regular with my posts as I have let a few things slip lately, so keep on enjoying this glorious weather and

Hugs 'n Stuff all round,

love,

Andy

xx

Entered Into: A Little Bit Crafty Challenge - "Die-Ing For It"!!

Country View Crafts Challenge #5 - It's A Summer Sizzler

Crafter's Companion July Challenge - Dies and Die-Cuts

Emma's Cards Challenge #18 - Lace and Pearls

Fairies Challenge Blog Challenge #9 - Flowers/Summer

House of Gilli Challenge #53 - Bright Colours/Anything Goes

Oozak Challenge #18 - Anything Goes

The Crafter's Café Challenge #19 - Anything Goes

The Crafting Café July Challenge - Summer's Here

613 Avenue Create Challenge #28 - Anything Goes

Joanna Sheen Challenge - Citrus Colours

"Is It A Dream>?...."

.

 

I don't know what your dreams are like, but the only one's that really seem to have any impact on me are the hyper-realistic one's, the sort that, when you wake up it can take a few minutes to fully convince yourself you are in fact awake. Unfortunately for me, those amazingly realistic slices of the sub-conscious mind are, in my case, the most banal, run of the mill (more boring than a boring thing on St. Boringness Day!!!) dreams that really stick with me when I wake up!

Except for today that is.

Like most mornings, I tend to wake up with Jo sat beside me either watching the previous day's episode of TV quiz "The Chase" on Catch-up or she is waiting for Channel Four to broadcast the lastest episode of  'Everybody Loves Raymond' (I do, Jo doesn't!) for the two hundredth time.

But not today gentle reader, oh no.

Today I awoke to find that the marriage I thought to be more solid than the actual rock that that  particular metaphor was first written about, was seemingly as solid as a breath of fresh air!

I found a rather sorry looking piece of scrap paper pinned to her pillow with the word "Sorry" written on it in big black marker pen. I wouldn't have normally been overly alarmed about it except this particular note came with her wedding ring attached!!

In a mild panic I began called her name but there was no reply, so after a small pause in which to gather my thoughts (I got up on auto-pilot and fed the cats), I then sat down with a hot cup of tea (isn't that what you give people in shock??) and began to try and piece together exactly what had caused this most sudden of departures.

Recently she had been talking wistfully about 'the good old days' and I wondered if she was hankering for the past. Things have been really hard for her since her hip went and she was sacked from work.
When we first met each other, we were both working at a holiday camp as part of their entertainment troupe. Jo used to call the bingo and she sang and danced. I was just what they used to call 'an all-rounder' (a Bruce Forsythe type if you like - aIthough personally speaking, I can not stand the whizzened old husk of a man!) i.e. I used to fill in when anyone called in sick!
After doing this for a couple of years, we ended up giving our own double act a try (a bit like vaudeville). We used to dress up as two Chinese laundry workers and we did a song and dance routine to a ditty from the film 'Thoroughly Modern Millie', it had to be seen to be believed...

...and then I woke up!! Now didn't I tell you it would be vivid, didn't I?

So, on to today's card and the influence of watching Superman has clearly rubbed off. I have used a Kenny K image (not called Superman but you get the idea!) and some of my old Sizzix alpha's which I always go back to time and time again. The birds in the background are from a mask, used on a sheet of Basic Grey (I think the collection is called What's Up). I finished it off with the Little Claire rosette and the Memory Box hearts.
Hope you like it,
I will return soon,
Hugs 'n Stuff
Andy
xxxx
Entered Into: Bearly Mine Challenges #93 - Anything Goes
Crafty Sentiments Designs Challenge - Red, White & Blue
Inky Chicks Challenge #7 - Anything Goes
Our Daily Bread Designs Challenge #160 - Patriotic or Red, White and Blue
Paper Minutes Challenge #276 - Die Cuts
Papertake Weekly Challenge - Anything Goes
Craft Your Passion Challenge #169 - Red, White & Blue
Love To Scrap! Challenge #9 - Anything Goes!

"Well I Hope You'll Come And See Me In The Movies..."

Good evening gentle reader, I thought it was time to report back to you about the comings and goings of the last week.

Jo and I have been getting under each others feet lately and struggling to find something to talk about even. At the moment I am on sick leave from work so we are together twenty four seven and while we love each other deeply, sometimes you just need to get out, don't you?

We used to go to the cinema almost weekly before Jo's hip went but since then we have hardly been at all, there is the walk from the Car Park to contend with (the one we always use is currently closed until further notice and there is nothing near by!), the screens all have stairs/steps which she can't manage and even if she went up one level, then there is nowhere for her to put her walking frame!

I love the cinema so much and have missed going to the point of it being almost painful. After giving the dilemma some thought, I came up with the idea of giving The Kinema In The Woods a try. This particular cinema (which is in Woodhall Spa for non-Lincolnshire residents!) was founded in 1922 and still has showings of silent films accompanied by a pianist!

Going there was one of the greatest days of my life (I kid you not!). It is up there with getting married to Jo! There is a ramshackle Car Park in front of a beautifully maintained building (the cinema) and before you even get to the car park you have to travel down a tree lined back road which looks like it belongs in a horror movie! It only has two screens but I found that reassuringly charming but all of that is nothing compared to what is on the inside. As soon as you walk in, you notice the subdued lighting instead of the harsh daylight bulbs modern cinema's use. The smell of the place reminded me of my childhood, I still don't know what that smell is but I think it's a combination of really old seats (the MOST comfortable seat I have sat in for nearly thirty four years), the sweetie counter and happy memories!

Inside the screening room (not too many seats but enough for a decent crowd) there are old fashioned art deco style wall lights and the walls have been painted in the trompe l'oiel style with someone sat in a box seat and bunting everywhere. There is a Grand piano under the screen (complete with candelabra!) and the seats (while incredibly comfortable) are rather narrow for the wider rump.

We saw the new Superman movie 'Man of Steel' which I must report as A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. We saw it in it's proper format (i.e. they don't have a 3D screen) and the action and story are just brilliant. Henry Cavill is superb as Superman and in keeping with the tradition of using relatively unknowns he more than surpassed expectations.

So that's my week rounded up - a visit to the cinema - but what a visit it turned out to be, good enough to make my entire week seem busy (and one of those days was spent asleep).

My card is a piccie of Rihanna (taken from my Mimic Creations CR-Rom, available here) and I have tried to make it look like she is on stage. I used my Grand circle die to cut the card out and the ornate Grand circle for the backing paper (I think it's called Rouge de Garance!). The final piece was the umbrella die from Memory Box.

Hope you like it and I will be back again soon,

take care,

hugs 'n stuff,

Andy

xxx

"Happy Birthday To Me, Happy Birthday To Me..."

http://www.inklingsandyarns.com/2013/06/inky-linky-18/

 

Is it that time of year again? Well yes it is, the most dreaded day of my year anyway, I absolutely hate my Birthday and this one was no different really, I am now in my last year of my 40's but if that's not cruel enough I am also reminded that this is the start of my 50th year alive! So I now get a whole year of looking forward to the most dreaded of any so far. I guess I just hate getting older, especially when life is such a challenge already, I am beginning to really dread the future.

Having said all that, I have had a lovely day spent at home with my lovely wife and son and I have had two awesome pressies. Jo bought me the latest Magnolia magazine and 12 stamps from the latest Magnolia collection (I wonder how she knew I would like those!!) and Liam bought me a spanking new Blu-Ray player, not just any Blu-Ray though, this one's a Smart Blu-Ray player.

Why is it Smart I hear you say and all I can tell you in reply is that I am not really sure but I do know it is way better than my old one so I'm a very contented boy today (apart from the whole birthday debacle that is!!).

So as I got new Tilda stamps for my Birthday here is my latest creation and as you can see, I have made a gift/card, unfortunately I didn't have any plain white candles at home but at least you can see these ones eh! I have used Basic Grey patterned paper (using my favourite colour combination of yellow and green, such lovely cheery colours that at the moment are cheerier than the actual weather!!) on an 8x8 card with Memory Box dies (tree and adornment at the top of the card), a Magnolia die (fence) and a Cheery Lynne (grass). Flowers from my stash and the sentiment stamp is a Little Claire.

Hope you enjoy and sorry for taking so long to post again!!

Take Care,

Hugs 'n Stuff,

Andy

xx
Entered Into: Crafting With Dragonflies Challenge #4 - Make a Box
Diva's By Design Challenge - Happy Birthday
Fab 'n Funky Challenges #175 - Happy Birthday
Inklings and Yarns 'Inky Linky' Challenge #18 - Anything Goes
Lady Anne's Challenges #9 - Anything Goes
Midweek Magnolias Challenge #65 - Favourite Colours
Bearly Mine Challenges #90 - Anything Goes
Deep Ocean Challenge #53 - For A Girl

"Don't Know Much About..."

 

 

Much really!

So, things I have learned (learnt?) this week;

My mojo has truly left the building, if anyone sees it then please call my home number.

Our eldest cat is an Evil Genius, so much so that she could be planning to take over Poland as we speak and we would be the last to know.

It's Summer, no Autumn, no Summer, no Winter, no it's Summer again!

Les Dawson hasn't been dead for the last twenty years, he's been hiding away in an ITV closet, just waiting for the chance to revive his career (and to wear the finest suit of blue Pixels money can buy!).

There's no Business like Show Business!

and no matter how hard I might try, I am incapable of being tidy, it's just not in my DNA.

Let me expand on the cat story for you. For the last FOUR and a half years Jo and I have had to live in a house divided.

When we got out two beautiful sisters (Jasmine and Willow), we didn't introduce them to our eldest cat, Georgia, properly and it has been pure hate from Georgie ever since. So much so in fact, that if given the chance to get into the same room as them she goes into full-on schizo mode and only stops when either Jo or I get between them.

To try and minimise the attacks we have had to put Georgia's feeding bowl in the bedroom and the kids (as we call them) get fed in the kitchen. In our Bungalow, the door to the living room has to not only be closed ALL the time, it has to blocked off at night by a tall DIY tool box with a stack of magazines on it (without the mags she can move the tool box by throwing her full body weight at it) and the laundry basket.

So that's the background to my tale. In recent months, Georgia has been turning up in the living room by running round to our next door neighbours garden and then coming into the house via  the kids flap. Fortunately this has so far only happened while the kids have both been out of the house and garden too, so she's been on a mission and it was to poor Jasmine's dismay she put her patience into good use and as soon as she was let out a couple of days ago, she literally shot round to the back of the house and got in through the rear flap, only to go mental on Jazzy. The sound they make is just too horrible for words when they fight, they scream at the top of their voice and listening to my baby  being so scared really got to me.

We have tried to contact Jackson Galaxy (of crappy TV's 'My Cat From Hell' - look out for it on Animal Planet) but have so far had no luck at all, so I guess we just have to carry on eh!

 

On to this week's card and I hope you like this lovely Nellie Snellen image. It is the first time I have coloured her and her little companion and I really loved doing it too, I used my ProMarkers to do it and the papers are a mix of Basic Grey and Papermania. Flowers are from W.O.C. and the sentiment is from Little Claire. I hope you really like it,

Have a great week and I will see you again soon,

take care.

Hugs 'n Stuff,

Andy

xx

"Wow Wow Wow Wow..."

 

What can I say about Bonnie then! What an unmitigated disaster she turned out to be. Her performance was okay and I still say the song was alright (not brilliant, but then would she have been able to pull of anything other than a power ballad?) but how could she ever have hoped to make every country in Europe like us in just three minutes!! Years of hate against us have now turned the contest into a farce, I really don't know why we keep contributing towards it.

I think the only way the contest could ever be judged 'fairly' again would be to have all the songs sung in English and each country should have a pool of voters who only hear the song, they never get to see the performance or hear commentaries and to keep the secrecy up; the song should only be performed live for the first time on the night of the contest. Other than that, I can't see how we could ever hope to make the contest fair again.

 

Jo and I went to a Sincerely Yours craft fayre at the Lincolnshire Showground yesterday. I managed to charge my way through my usual amount of money and for the first time I can remember, Jo spent a small fortune too. She rarely spends a lot of money on herself so it was really nice to watch her spoiling herself, she really deserves it as far as I'm concerned: she spends day after day at home, rarely venturing outside and all because of how much pain going out causes her. She has to look after me every day (which would try the patience of a saint!!) and she is in constant, agonising pain all the time, she could really do with a break from it all but unless the Doctor manages to find some funding for her to go Private then I don't see a change on the horizon!

On to a lighter note now and I hope you like my latest creation. I gave myself a personal challenge and had a go at a White on White (WoW) card. Materials used are: an Embossing folder, some Spellbinders dies, a large 8x8 card with scallops, a white dazzler, white ribbon, half pearls and a sentiment stamp. I think this is probably the first time I have ever made a card without an image on it, so I hope you can appreciate just how much of a challenge this really was!! The white band behind the circular sentiment was the bit left over after cutting the sides out. I really liked the shape and thought it would be such a waste to just throw it in the bin.

So that's me then! Hope you like the card and I will definitely be back a lot sooner next time -

Pinky Promise.

Take Care,

Hugs 'n Stuff

Andy

xxx
Entered Into: Fitztown Challenge Blog #01 - Anything Goes
Craft-Dee Bowz Challenge - Anything Goes with Handmade Bows
Kaboodle Doodles Challenge #173 - Anything Goes
Lexi's Creations Challenge #91 - Focus On The Sentiment
WhoopsiDaisy Challenge - White on White
613 Avenue Cards Challenge #21 - Anything Goes
Challenges 4 Everybody Challenge #21 - Anything Goes

http://creativeinspirationspaint.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/inspired-by-anything-goes.htmlChallenge - Anything Goes