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The long awaited day has finally arrived! The new catalogue launched today and it was worth the wait. Fabulous new stamp sets, punches, beautiful designer papers and the latest 'in colours' are just gorgeous. My order is in and I can't wait. I'm not long back from an eventful but enjoyable holiday so haven't got to play in a while. So, roll on my delivery, let play commence!

Two Step Bird Punch

What a great little punch this is. Like all SU punches it handles cardstock with ease and gives a great result. I have an electronic cutting machine but don't use it as often as I should considering the money spent on the machine itself and the cartridges! I prefer convenience and I get it with SU punches.

Baja Breeze is the cardstock ink and seam binding ribbon.

This wasn't what they imagined!

  My brother and sister-in law arrived in Santander excited, relaxed and looking forward to their journey of around 700miles. As they won't get access to their new home just yet they are staying with another brother and sister-in-law meantime. 

Having stopped at a garage en route my brother went inside leaving my sister-in-law in the car. A man knocked on the window telling her to come, insisting there was something dangerous at the back of the car he wanted to show her. She got out, went to the rear with him where he proceeded to show her the "danger". Simultaneously a car appeared, he jumped in and it sped off.   I'm sure you can imagine what happened. Her handbag containing their passports, euros, bank cards, diary, her prescription medicine, spare car keys, their new address, everything gone.  An accomplice had taken her bag from inside the car while she was distracted.  The police were called but they say these guys are professionals and unlikely to be caught.  My brother phoned me immediately to stop their cards for them and I must say both Nationwide and RBS were fantastic.

What a terrible start to their life in Spain. I'm happy to say that they are both positive people and are refusing to let this spoil their plans. They are physically unhurt and everything is replaceable. This morning the latest I received from them is that they stopped overnight in a hotel being mentally exhausted and have now reached our brothers house. They are ok and doing their utmost to chill.

I'm quite sure that if this hasn't reached the UK it won't be too long before it does. So, please let everyone you know be aware of this scam.

Life's Journey

This morning I made a final visit to my brother and sister-in-laws before they begin a new chapter in their lives. They are heading for Spain where they will take up residence in their new place early September. Despite my best efforts a few tears were shed. I am both happy and excited for them but it will be strange them not being around.

The Spanish Script and Compass were printed from the internet. The stamps and fibres non SU.

Stampin' Up products used were :-

Bashful Blue and Early Espresso Cardstock
Early Espresso Ink
Circle Punch and Curly Label
Crystal Effects
Various Markers to colour images.

I hope they do live the dream!

So Many Thanks

I needed a thank you card for a friend and this is the result.  As usual these days much to do and little time.  The main image is the So Many Thanks and the background the great Confetti set.  Love it, it's so useful and can be incorporated in many types of card.  It's a set of six containing  tiny leaves, hearts, flowers, dots, the letters used here and a pattern reminiscent of Jessie Tait and the fifties.  In my mind a great value set and as I said, useful. Check it out.

Agnes and Elizabeth (aka Zaza).

Met these two lovely ladies tonight. Hope you'll forgive me for publishing your photo on the 'web'.  How incredibly small our world is.  Couldn't believe the coincidences!

Can 't believe it's been so long since I posted.  A family illness has been foremost in our thoughts and actions and will continue to do so.  I have however, made a few cards when the occasions arose and coming from a large family the occasions arose pretty often.  On top of all that it was one of my daughters 'milestone' birthdays.  I don't know if she would want it broadcast but let's just say that life begins at this age.  Having made a scrapbook for her elder sister I wasn't going to get away with not making one for her!  Another set of problems you wouldn't believe.  Most of my early photographs were on 35mm.  Slides to be precise.  Anyone remember that far back? A great idea at the time to have our projector and screen for slideshows.  However pretty expensive to have professionally scanned and put onto a disc which was what I did for her sister.  Shortly after, in anticipation for this one, I bought a scanner which enabled me to scan negatives and slides.  Plugged in, after a few minutes smoke came billowing from it so binned pretty damn quick.  Bought another, brilliant and easier piece of kit,  printer played up.  New printer required. Long story short, got the scrapbook done eventually and as expected a few tears shed.  In all the rush it didn't cross my mind to photograph any pages. So until I 'borrow' it back a couple of cards will follow shortly. Meanwhile, a card using the Make a Monster stamp set.  Thought about giving this set to my grandson who is quite creative but enjoyed it so much myself decided against it.  He can always join in when he visits can't he?

Will I ever get the hang of this?

Have had a problem with posting and I was so sure that I had finally cracked it.  Wasn't able to sign into my dashboard.  Some cookie had prevented my husband signing out thereby denying me access.  After much deliberation I contacted my long suffering brother who is the only one I know with the 'know how'.
Turns out the cure was something my equally long suffering husband had suggested days before. C'est la vie....

Getting there.....

I am at last (I think) getting the hang of this would you believe! Inserting my text and images appears to be fine and I have decided not to let the whole concept of computing and blogging etc get to me but rather to embrace it.  There are lots of fabulous blogs out there and I aspire to at least make mine interesting enough for repeat visits. So for any previous visitor a big thank you for returning.
Smiles.

Now, back to the daily grind.  The weather has taken a turn for the better and my garden is crying out for some attention.  Not much has been done lately.  Here in the West Coast of Scotland it has rained every day for about three weeks so lots of growth which unfortunately includes lots of weeds.  The insects are busy too and enjoying the respite from the bad weather.....

Life Happens.....

Beautiful Wings Embosslits

This is one of those quick and easy cards.  The new Stampin' Up! embossing folders for the Big Shot make it so easy. I especially love the Embosslits Beautiful Wings. Such a time saver when we can emboss and die cut in one.  Great for those in a hurry for a card days which we all have now and again. I think I need a ribbon on this but don't have one that works right now.  Need to shop.....

Cherry Blossom......

Don't you just love the Cherry blossom and the pink carpet left behind?  I wanted to make one of the mini milk cartons which are so popular just now.  They make great little gift/treat boxes.  Anway, my inspiration for the cherry theme came from  seeing an avenue of those glorious trees.  What better than the cherry paper from the Springtime Vintage DSP pack!  Another of my favourite items  from Stampin' Up! is the Two-Step Bird punch.  I used the branch and cut off a couple of leaves to replicate the stems of the cherries which were cut using the small circle punch.  I added some bling and attached to a tag using the oval and scalloped oval punches.

I'm quite pleased with the result.  Hope you like it too.  I think there could be a few of these little cartons in the pipeline.

Vintage Vogue...........

The Vintage Vogue stamp set I think is going to be a favourite with me. It's so versatile and I love the springlike colour of the Certainly Celery inkpad coupled with the Whisper White cardstock.

Ooops!.  Forgot to list what was used on previous card.  Early Espresso cardstock and ribbon, Elegant Soiree DSP, the fabulous Build a Blossom stamp set and co-ordinating Punch, Baja Breeze inkpad and the Scallop Border Punch. Easy Peasy when everything mixes and matches so effortlessly.

I will get better at blogging, I will get better at blogging, I will get better at blogging, I will.....

Thank you Evelyn.....

Its appropriate that my first post should be a card made for my upline Evelyn. I really appreciated the time you spent going over everything with me. Thanks.

I'm looking forward to getting started.  Just hope I can get the hang of this blogging.