a bit of time and some favourites...

Good morning everyone, I hope your all well...well we hit the shops yesterday and I got a huge bargain...an oven mitt lol...it was a bargain but hardly enough to get me excited I'm sorry to say, I looked at loads of sale goodies but found nothing that I really wanted so I will save my gift cards for something I really want instead of just buying something from the sale because its a bargain...my Dad is loads better thank goodness and since he started taking the re hydration solution he even looks lots better, but like most people he doesn't drink enough, I did try to tell him that tea doesn't count lol...do you have anything planned for New Years Eve then, we never do anything, in fact its usually just another night, we will maybe have a glass of wine at midnight, so go on make me jealous with all the lavish lush parties your going too...my card for today is to wish you all a very Happy New Years Eve, this gorgeous little fella is TeddyBo_84 and I coloured him with distress inks, these lush papers are from the Prima Printery 6x6 paper pad, I love this pad, the papers have an aged Victorian feel to them...the large clock is an acetate one from Kaisercraft that I bought at the last Kings Hall craft fair I went too, gorgeous isnt it...I finished with more clocks cut from the same pad and a swirly ribbon...the fab sketch is from the Crafty Ribbons challenge and I'm also entering it for the Cute Card Thursday challenge and The Ribbon Reel challenge...

have you seen the lovely Debby has a five favourite cards challenge at this time of year, she has one for Christmas Eve (which I missed) so I was determined to join in with her New Years Eve one, why don't you hop on over and enter too as you can win some candy for entering...
so here goes with my five favourite cards of 2011...boy did I find it hard, not because there is so many of them my favourites but because I make an awful lot of cards and had to go through them...I hope you like them too, the names above them are their links to the posts

Its all about the eyes

Midwinter

Welcome to the Carnival

Ive been steampunked

The Look of Love

phew that was a long one so thanks for sticking with me...have a fantastic New Years Eve everyone and I wish you and those you love the best for 2012
Mina xxx

nothing says I love you like flowers...

Good morning everyone I hope your all well and keeping warm, are you getting the wind we have, it certainly blows the cobwebs away doesn't it...my Dad is a little better and thank you all so much for your lovely wishes for him and your kind emails, I must have sounded very worried yesterday...I couldn't get him to go to the Doctors but hes taking the re hydration powders that were left on prescription for him, so at least we can stop worrying about him getting dehydrated, isn't it strange how we seem to change places the older our parents get...I seem to have turned into his Mum and spend ages nagging him so have decided my Dad knows what hes doing and just because hes getting older it doesn't mean he cant know his own body and mind, I have to respect that and he will let me know when he wants help, until then I'm just going to enjoy being with him as my Dad not as my child...soap box moment over lol...I'm gutted today, I have a favourite top its huge, long and covered with ink and has Leonardo Da Vinci's Vitruvian Man on the front (much to my Nephews amusement lol), Phil bought it years ago for me from a tiny stall in a back lane in Venice and I love it to bits, it had a small hole on the bottom of the long sleeve and I caught it on a door handle yesterday and lets just say the hole isn't small in fact its another armhole, Phil thought it was funny but I was devastated (I'm still wearing it to paint though lol)...right enough waffling Mina, my card for today is using one of the gorgeously cute Fizzy Moon stamps, I bought it from Dunelm Mill, oh and btw they are on sale as I bought one yesterday and only paid £2.99 for it, bargain eh..I coloured this one called With Love with distress inks and used a half sheet of paper from my scraps, so sorry haven't a clue where its from but its so gorgeous isn't it...I added some lush ribbons, the blue one is 16mm Berisford grosgrain Sapphire ribbon from The Pretty Little Ribbon shop, I finished with a pale blue button, the lush sketch is from the Tuesday Morning Sketches challenge and I'm also entering it for the DYSU challenge and Simon Says Stamp challenge too...I'm off out to spent some of my gift cards I got for Christmas today, oooohhhhh I love a bargain in the sales don't you...whatever your up to today have a fab one
Mina xxx

WE HAVE A WINNER...

Hi everyone its that time again...we have a winner for our lush Bunny Zoe's Crafts stamp
the Random number thingy says its no. 71
and thats......drum roll please

ADRIANA
huge congratulations Adriana, could you please email me your address and I will pass it
on to the lovely Nikki so she can get your stamp in the post
dont worry if you didnt win though as it wont be long until my next candy
Mina xxx

so much joy in one little face...

Yyyyyyooohhhoooo everyone I'm back...did you miss me?, yeah right I bet you did lol...I hope you all had the most fantastic Christmas ever, we had a very quiet one just family and lots of laughs and gift giving, my Sister and her family were down on Tuesday so I didn't get on to check my posting so oops, this should have been yesterdays but by the time I realised it was so late I just kept it for today...see what happens when your not about to check things...thank you all so much for your fantastic comments on my Nativity scene, I had so so much fun making that and gave it to my Sister for her two little un's and I'm chuffed to say they love it so much, my Dad still isn't very well at all and we are all very worried about him but will he go to the Doctors...nope, but I'm working on him and have a feeling if he doesn't go he will end up in hospital, its hard to get my head around anything else but my Dad atm but it helps to take your mind onto something else doesn't it...so my card for today is using this gorgeous little Snow Day cutie from Mo's Digital Pencil, I used this sweetie in pink but you could use it for a boy or girl I think, don't you...the lush papers are from a pack I bought from K&Co called Classic K Bailey scrap kit, it included the word and the flowers too and there's loads and loads for me to use so I'm sure you will see more of this lush kit, I finished with a chocolate brown ribbon and a scattering of pearls...I am totally lost with the challenges so I haven't a clue where this fab sketch is from but I'm entering this for the My Mums Craft Shop challenge, Joanna Sheen challenge and the Simon Says Stamp challenge too...I'm off to persuade my Dad to go to the Doctors or I'm getting him to come out, that will shift him I think, keep your fingers crossed it does for me please...have a fabulous day everyone
Mina xxx
p.s. I will be back a little later with my Bunny Zoes Crafts winner

Wishing you Peace, Joy and Happiness

Good morning everyone, thank you all so much for your lovely Christmas wishes
and I wish I could have sent everyone of you a Christmas card, I couldn't so I wanted to
make something special to show you how much I appreciate you all and to wish you all the
best Christmas ever, I hope you have a fantastic festive season with
your loved ones

all you well wishes for my lovely Dad must have worked because hes feeling
much better and he is away to Belfast with my Sister for his Christmas dinner...
I'm so sorry the pictures are so small but every time I enlarge them they go really
blurred??? (if anyone knows what I'm doing wrong let me know please)...this
is the stunning Nativity from Mo's Digital Pencil and when I decided I
would make something special to wish you all a Merry Christmas this sprung to mind
straight away (only Mo could draw those beautiful faces)...I coloured them with
distress inks and attached a triangle of card to their
backs to stand up the Angel is attached to acetate so she can float over the scene,
the stable I made from a free download of plank paper from a model making website
and I couldn't get any straw so cut this from straw coloured card...thank you
all so much for taking time to visit me today and
I will leave you to enjoy your Christmas holidays
and I wish you Peace, Joy and Happiness
Mina xxx

more jingle bells...

Good morning everyone only two more sleeps to go, btw I would love to know what you have asked for from the big red guy (or someone else close to you)...my poor Dad wasn't well yesterday so they put off his tests and scan until this morning so its back to the hospital today, but on the good side my Sister is coming down from Belfast to drive him up for Christmas as he isn't too good so at least I get to spend a few hours with her while shes here...my card for today is using this stunning image from Just Inklined called Christmas Bells which is the amazing price of £1 would you believe...I love this stamp it just screams Christmas doesn't it...I coloured it with distress inks and used this gorgeous freebie paper from Cardmaking and Papercraft magazine as my colour theme, its unusual isn't it but works really well for this stamp I think...I also teamed it up with some of my favourite red gingham ribbon and cut out some of the flowers...as this was a card for a special friend I also added a beautiful Joy charm that's enameled and has tiny gems on it...the lush sketch is from Sketch Saturday and Im also entering it for the Creative Inspirations challenge and Charisma Cardz challenge too...I still have a few bits and pieces left to do, including the wrapping which always takes me ages, too fussy about bows etc that's the problem lol...keep your fingers crossed for my Dads tests today, I so want them to be over so he can start enjoying his Christmas and I hate it when there's anything wrong with him...if you have time pop back tomorrow as I have made something special to wish you all a happy Christmas, I hope you will like it...have a brilliant day everyone
Mina xxx

Jingle bells...

Good morning everyone, well are you all prepared for the guy in the big red suit yet?...I bet I have put Jingles bells in your head now, you will be humming it all day, I did when I made this card lol...we did the dreaded supermarket shop yesterday, what with nipping between supermarkets and heaving ourselves through the crowds (I think everyone had the idea of getting it out of the way early) it took us an amazing 6 hours...yes 6 hours...now how on earth can four people eat that much food, although I do have my lovely Dad and my Sister and her family on Boxing Day too...I managed to get a bit of blog hopping done last night but I nodded off at about 8 and didn't wake up until 11, I'm looking forward to another big session of blogging tonight as I so enjoyed looking at your blogs last night, no napping tonight though...this Christmas lark is hard work isn't it I was shattered, but at least I dragged Phil around with me to show him what I normally have to do alone, although I think its faster on my own and I don't have someone putting double what I normally buy in my trolley lol...right now onto my card for today, how cute and sweet is this fabulous Christmas Bells image from the Pachela Studios collection at Cuddly Buddly, I love this cute little rabbit and cant resist him, I will have to go buy some more I think, I coloured him with distress inks...I used some more of this lush Bo Bunny Father Christmas 6x6 paper pad I bought from Charmed Cards & Crafts, I didn't think this lush paper needed anything that might cover it so I just added some rich red satin ribbon to finish...the fab sketch is from Mojo Monday and I'm also entering it for the Papertake Weekly challenge too...I'm off to spend most of today with my lovely Dad he has to have some very unpleasant tests and scans in hospital, I feel for him but at least I will be there to keep him company...keep your fingers crossed they don't find anything that shouldn't be there...whatever you up to today I hope its a quiet shopping free one
Mina xxx

a sweetie wee stamp...

Good morning everyone I hope your all safe and warm and getting there for the big day firstly huge apologies for not getting round to commenting but I have all my DT work done and all my crafting stuff ready, including something special to show you on Christmas eve, so I'm having a commenting night tonight and tomorrow night to wish you all the best for Christmas I miss my hopping when I cant get around to it, oh and I'm sorry for the shocking state of these photos it was almost dark by the time I remembered I hadn't taken them...well I spent hours looking for Christmas gifts for Phil yesterday and what did I get...exactly nothing a big fat zero, well not nothing I did buy him a CD I know he wanted...I have a few ideas though but they will take a bit more research, you all had some fantastic ideas but I bought him the biggest set of Laurel and Hardy DVDs years ago, mind he is no help at all, every time I ask him for suggestions he says I don't need anything, I have tried telling him its not what he needs I want to buy him lol...we had a nice night last night my lovely Dad came for dinner and we made toad in the hole and it was scrummy then he stayed for hours just talking and watching cookery programmes with Phil...fabulous night even though I was bored with the cookery shows lol...for those of you who don't know what toad in the hole is here's a link that will help, have a try it is so yummy...right my badly photographed card for today is using one of these gorgeous little Wee Stamps, this is a digi and is called Winter Fairy, I coloured her with distress inks and used glitter glue, well of course I did she has wings lol...the papers are just scraps so I'm not sure who they are by but have a feeling they might be Graphic45...now I made a bit of a hash of the holly, it was a bright green and is felt but I wanted it more muted so I coloured it with a copic but it just turned a really bad muddy green...I finished with some punched snowflakes...the lush sketch is from Sketch N Stash challenge and my stash is the paper, I'm also entering it into the Top Tip Tuesday challenge and Use it Tuesday challenge too...we are making a start on the dreaded food shopping today, oh no I hear you cry, I know I hate it too but I don't think my family will appreciate a tin of soup for Christmas lunch do you lol...whatever your up to today have a great one
Mina xxx

you can never have too many baubles...

Good morning everyone I hope your all well...we had a very quiet day yesterday it was nice just to have a day chillin and doing nothing at all, on the days my poor Phil is off work we usually are running around trying to cram things in before he has to go back to work, its so fab having him off for two weeks...he made me laugh today, he was scouring the TV mag and I asked him what he was looking for, wheres all the great programmes that are on in the morning at Christmas, like Laurel and Hardy and the old Flash Gordon's series...I had to tell the poor fella they haven't showed them for years and years, shows how often he is off at Christmas doesn't it...he will have to do with the rubbish that's on now I'm afraid...my card for today is using one of the amazing Adorables from Sugar Nellie, this is the stunning Sybil, I cropped her and just used her head this time...isn't she just beautiful, I coloured her with distress inks and added a little bit of sparkle to her bows...the lush papers are a freebie with a magazine would you believe, I hardly ever buy magazine but cant resist a freebie can you...I used some gold card to frame the fab sketch that's too late for the Simply Stampin challenge sketch challenge but fits their new challenge I hope, and I used some of the papers to cut out loads of the gorgeous baubles, now how could I resist cutting some of them out, when I had used them I didn't think it needed anything else...Im also entering this for the Stampin Royalty challenge too...I still don't have Phil's presents would you believe, he is the hardest person to buy for so I'm off out today to get something and I'm not coming back empty handed...if you don't hear from me send help lol...have a wonderful day everyone
Mina xxx

whats a teeny bit of green between friends...

Good morning everyone, did you see the new Bunny Zoe's Crafts candy yesterday, its two post below if you would like a chance of winning, or click on the link at the top of my sidebar...wow how fast is the holiday season whizzing by, one second its October and the next its a few days to the big day...is it just me or is time whizzing by this year...it must be the season for hand and arm injuries...first my Dads hand (which is much much better) and then we found out last night that one of Phil's Sister has broken her wrist slipping on a floor at work....ouch it sounds painful and she is just a teeny tiny wisp of a thing too so hasn't any meat to cushion her fall, unlike me who would probably bounce lol...I hope shes ok and she will just have to let her other half do all the Christmas cooking for her...my lovely Phil is on two weeks holiday so I'm expecting some lush home cooked meals, my idea of cooking when hes away is opening a tin of soup or making a sandwich, I can cook I just find it a chore and to cook just for me seems a waste of time...anyway I can get a lot in a sandwich believe me lol...right onto today's card which is one of those ones that just go to show you don't need to use Christmas papers to make a Christmas card...I used some of the Prima Madeline 6x6 paper pad and teamed it up with the stunning Whimsy stamps Touched with Love image, stunning image isn't it...I coloured it with distress inks and shock horror would you believe no glitter even on her spectacular wings...I finished with some lush lace, sating ribbon and these beautiful Prima roses, the gold tint on them is beautiful, I punched some leaves and added a couple of buttons to finish...the gorgeous sketch is from Simon Says stamp Challenge and I'm also entering it for the Allsorts challenge (its a brown and blue colour combo but I hope they will forgive the little bit of green) and the Charisma Cardz challenge...I have a project to finish today so wont be going out until its finished (you will get to see it Christmas Eve)...whatever your up to today be careful I don't want to hear of anymore injuries, two is quite enough lol
Mina xxx

a winner and a card...

yyyyooohhhhoooo everyone me again this time with a card and the winner of my paper candy...in case you haven't seen I have Bunny Zoe's Crafts candy just below, one of the lush new Sweet Crazy Love Magnolia stamps and a sentiment stamp too so pop on down to join in...we had a lovely day today we went out to town and had a lovely lunch did a little bit of unnecessary shopping (love that kind don't you) and then met up with our Daughter and other half for coffee later...we even went to M&S to try out some of their party range, they must be good as there was hardly anything left, wow what a difference today was from Friday night, the town was crammed full...carols playing and a really crisp day, so Christmassy...anyway onto my card, how stunning is this beautiful Belles and Whistles Christmas Angel Daniella, she is such a pretty little angel don't you think...I coloured her with distress inks and glittered her halo and wings I then teamed her up with more of these lush Echo Park Holly Jolly Christmas papers...fantastic colours aren't they, I finished with a huge lush two tone ribbon, bow and another of these stunning Kaisercraft Fushcia resin flowers from the pack, I'm going to buy loads more of these as they really are so beautifully detailed, everything I used (except for the ribbon) is from Bunny Zoe's Crafts...the fab sketch is from Mojo Monday and I'm also entering it for the Cute Card Thursday, Belles and Whistles challenge and Inspirations challenge too

right now its time for the winner of my paper candy...the Mr random thingy says its No.27 and that's.......drum roll please

ALI B

huge congratulations Ali could you please email with your details so I can pop your papers out to you asap...right I will leave you to enjoy your evening...keep warm and safe everyone

Mina xxx

BUNNY ZOE'S CRAFTS MONTHLY CANDY

Yes its that time again Bunny Zoe's Crafts monthly candy time and boy do we have something special for you this time, have you seen the brand new Sweet Crazy Love Magnolia collection, isn't it fantastic, I love it and am so so jealous of this candy...hhhhmmmmm are you allowed to enter your own candy do you think lol...the lovely Nikki is giving me one of these gorgeous cute Tilda Going Bananas and the Going Bananas text stamp too
ok now what do you need to do to win...just the usual things
leave your name and blog link in Mr Linky AND leave me a comment
you don't need to be a follower but I would love it if you wanted to be
use the picture above to link back to our candy (sidebar is fine)
this candy is open until the 28th December and open worldwide too
well that's it, that's all you need to do
enjoy the rest of your weekend everyone and good luck with the candy
Mina xxx
p.s. I will be back later with the name of the winner of my last candy

sssssssshhhhhhhh dont tell him...

Good morning everyone I hope you all have a brilliant weekend planned, I would love to know what your doing...go on you know you want to make everyone jealous lol...my lovely Dads hand is load's better, it turns out his hand is infected and because he walks with two crutches the pressure was making it much worse and causing it to swell really badly, I must admit though I would feel much happier if he had x-ray, do you think if I go to the hospital and tell them it will put my mind at rest they would do it...no maybe not lol...I had a fab late night shop with my darling Daughter, although the rain never stopped and it was freezing, I must admit though I was so shocked as the shops were so so quiet, there were a lot of shops with just us doing any shopping, a sign of the times I guess, I remember a few years ago you could hardly get moved on late night Christmas shopping Friday's here...so sad isn't it...we did manage a festive Starbucks coffee at least, it was nice but I find them a little sickly, I love good coffee and think to add all those flavours and sprinkle bits is a waste...right now onto my card for today, I have to swear you to secrecy though as this is my Christmas card for my Phil so ssssssshhhhh not a word, I thought he would love this Sassy Studio Designs Reindeer Games, shes a sweetie isn't she, I coloured her with distress inks and used my favourite colour combo of red and green but with a little twist of modern I think, I haven't a clue who this paper is by as the name strip was missing, but I like it, the lush ribbon is from The Pretty little ribbon shop and is called Red Large Polka Dot 15mm Ribbon, I'm entering this for the Sketch N Stash challenge, my stash is this beauty and this fab paper which I have had for ages, Papertake weekly challenge and The Cutie Pie challenge too...we are out for coffee today and you never know maybe even a little mooch too...whatever your up to today have a fantastic festive time
Mina xxx
p.s. all you Saturated Canary fans pop on over to their blog and have a look at the competition they are running, I have entered so would love a vote from one or two of you, only if you want to of course, or even vote for one of the other as there is some amazing work there...thanks

shock horror no DP's or ribbon!!!!

Good morning everyone are you all managing to stay warm in this chilly weather, I hope your all toasty warm...I'm so pleased to tell you we are now the proud owners of a brand new 94cm wafer thin HD TV and about time too I hear you cry...when the lorry pulled up with the two man team to bring the TV in I thought omg how heavy is this thing, well really guys your either very weak or getting a bit of overtime because I lifted it out of the box and put it on the stand myself and I promise it isn't heavy, now the old fatter type weighed a tonne getting it on the floor nearly ripped my shoulders out so I resorted to the dragging method, we have all used that method havent we...phew well at least its here and settled in for Christmas and I don't have to send for you all to come sort them out for me...ok now onto my card for today are you all sitting down as I don't want to get the blame for fainting spells, I didn't use any DP's or ribbon or buttons or anything actually (well I might have gone a bit overboard on the old glittery stuff mind ya)...ok pick yourselves up lol...my card is for our new challenge at Just Magnolia & hAnglar & sTanglar challenge and its our lovely Sara's turn to host this week and her choice is white plus one...so loads of white and any one colour you want to use too...I chose this fantastic Tilda I haven't used for ages, I have a feeling shes called Chilly Tilda, I coloured her with one of the new Tim Holtz limited addition colours called Evergreen bough, lush colour isn't it and it matched perfectly with the glitter board I used for my snowflakes...the only other thing I used was more glitter board in white, when I got these all together to use I thought oh oh this isn't going to work but I think it looks ok...I'm entering this for the DYSU challenge, and the Deep Ocean challenge...my poor Dad hurt his hand the other day and when I saw him yesterday it is up like a balloon and really hot so he either has a bad infection or its broken, no amount of persuading would get him to go to hospital for an xray but come hell or high water he will be going today so that's my day sorted, I'm also going late night Christmas shopping tonight with our gorgeous Daughter, don't know what for though but I'm sure I will find something lol...whatever your up to today have a brilliant one and its not too cold
Mina xxx

a double day and an aaarrrgggghhhhhhhh...

Good morning everyone its a double day today its time for our Mo's Dreamteams Monthly blog Hop and a new challenge at Colour Create challenge too and I wasn't clever enough to combine them..oops...but first my aaaarrrrggggghhhh, still no TV despite spending 3 hours on the phone chasing it up yesterday, I did manage to find out that its in a delivery warehouse about 28 miles from me, I could have walked there by now lol...anyway back to today's cards and a warm welcome to the Mo's Digital Pencil Dreamteams monthly blog hop you should have arrived here from the super talented Debbie's blog, if you didn't you can pop on over Kerttu's blog to start at the beginning (btw don't forget to leave a comment on everyone's blog as there are two $5 vouchers for Mo's digital Pencil to be won, our host this month is the fabulous Kerttu and she chose the brilliant theme of Non traditional Christmas colours, I chose the unusual combo of yellow and grey for mine, it gave me the perfect excuse to use these Authentique Blissful 6x6 paper pad papers again, I love them...I used this stunning Little Elf Pipa for my card and coloured her with distress inks and paper pieced from the same paper pad, I know this really is an unusual combo for Christmas but think it works well with this amazing elf don't you

I finished my card with some yellow and dark grey satin ribbon and a stamped sentiment...your next stop on your hopping along way is the fabulous Pops...enjoy the rest of the hop and don't forget your comments as you never know who will be a winner this time...I'm entering this for the Joanna Sheen challenge and Creative Card Crew challenge too...right now for my second card today which is for the new challenge at Colour Create challenge, this time the challenge will last a month because of the Christmas holidays, our fabulous host Sharon chose SILVER, BLUE & WHITE for her combo this time, its perfect for a real frosty feeling to cards

this little sweetie snowflake fairy is from CC Designs but I cant for the life of me remember what shes called, I coloured her with distress inks again and glittered her up too...the beautiful soft papers are from Prima Madeline paper pad, I added some silver glittered snowflakes which is very hard to see and a couple of punched snowflakes too...I finished with some lush pleated organza ribbon and a white satin ribbon too, the lush sketch is from