Kitty Reckoning

I have made some more ATC's for the exchange group. The theme I used for this collection was Special Kitty. As usual there are three cards in the collection and each is being entered into its own challenges. All of the cards used Papermania Digital Designer with Daisy and Dandelion and a general Papermania collection. The top two are single layer cards and other than the digital elements only had a stamped greeting added, whereas number three is layered and based around a sketch.
ATC #1

For this ATC I used a general backing paper design of green leaves and added the cat, flower and butterfly elements from the Daisy and Dandelion collection. I used orange ink to add the greeting to the top.
This card is being entered for - Ink on my fingers 321 Moon Shadows (Greeting is inked); OLS Shades of Summer (I chose number 5, with green, pink and shades of orange/yellow); aud sentiments #113 Favourite Season (summer) as well as Simon Says Monday Anything Goes.

ATC #2

For this second card I used a purple daisy background, and added a cat with a purple patch and a purple butterfly before printing onto white card. I then stamped the sentiment n purple ink. I was going to use this for the one layer simplicity shades of summer #2 (The blueberries one) but it printed more purple than blue :(.
Instead I am entering - avenue613 Challenge 85 Anything Goes; fussy and fancy #120 BINGO (I chose flowers, lavender and message);  craft-room Cats challenge; Simply Create Too #68 Monochromatic Magic and Crafty Little Fairies Cute and Cuddly.

ATC #3

The last ATC was based around the below sketch. Green raffia was added to a pink base card, along with two 3D flower stickers. A circular patterned design was chosen on the digital designer and a floral border added over the top for the first square panel. Then two pink patterned papers were layered over each other for the top rectangle and the kitty added onto this panel, before printing and die-cutting into a circle. This was attached to the card using foam pads to allow it to sit over the raffia. Three 3D flower stickers were added to the bottom of the circle design and a wooden sun to the top, after painting it with yellow and orange inks.
This is being entered into - V's sweet ideas #26 Anything Goes and Suzy Bee Anything Goes; Alphabet Challenge N is for Natural and Sketchy Colours Sketch #221.


Finally I wish to add the whole collection to: Creative Moments #49 Animals and Polkadoodle Fun in the sun.

Here also is my finished birth sampler - just to drop it off for the proud parents now :)

I entered some of my veg and fruit, as well as a few flowers, for the local produce show, and my OH did a load of baking. I came overall first for my vegetables (although I did enter a few categories) and OH came joint first for his baking. I also came second for my fruit and second overall!! Very please indeed. Unfortunately none of my jam or chutney was rated :(

Audio Book - Day of Reckoning by Terence Strong. This is a good general action story, although it is a shorter audio book at only 6 cds. The ex-wife of a man in the presidents personal guard is murdered due to uncovering mafia connections. Unfortunately this man has strong connections n the UK with the PM's personal security, which includes an ex-IRA front man. Together they work to bring down those involved in the murder. It starts towards the end of the story at a high level of tension, which is a little wierd and had me making sure that I had the correct disc, however it does work well. The suspense is kept high throughout the story and the pace is fast and furious. The main characters play well off each other and the reader was very good at the accents, if a little too 'shouty' with the english major. Overall a fun commute listen.

Hugz Tinz

Terry Pratchett and a Skiing Penguin

Hello again,
I still have not taken a photograph of my lab rat so far, but it is almost finished. Just got the back legs to do and then the organs, but the legs are really fiddly.

However I do have a Christmas card to share with you this week.

I used a deep red card blank (about A5 size) and covered 2/3rds of it with holly paper from Jennifer Ellory 'Berry Merry' paper stack, cut down to size. The cross stitch was measured and a corresponding square drawn onto the base. The square was cut out leaving a strip in the centre, which was scored above and below the square. This allows the square to move against the card, making the 3D effect. The cross stitch was a free kit by Margaret Sherry and was added to the front of the square when the card is flat. An Anita's Christmas verse was added to the rear of the square. To finish the sketch a holly wreath was cut-out from the Papermania Christmas Tidings decoupage sheet and stuck to the card base, with papermania diamantes being added below the stitching.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:
Paula Holifields - Sewing themed
Live & Love Crafts #26 - Stitching
ABC Christmas Challenge - P is for Penguin
Deep Ocean - Christmas
C4C248 - Go 3D
Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas Challenge - 189 Feathers/Birds
Completely Christmas - Anything Goes
Winter Wonderland - Anything Goes Christmas
CRAFT - 272 Christmas
Stella Says Sketch 213 - 
I also wanted to share with you my apple tree, as it is doing very well for  young tree.

and Piggy the Pigeon who stayed with us (in Rutland) for a little while whilst waiting for the courier to collect him to take him home to Darlington. Poor little guy was on his first flight and got completely disorientated, so just kept flying until he exhausted himself.

Finally, Audio Book - 'Equal Rites' by Terry Pratchett. I find it very difficult to read Terry Pratchett books but my OH often listens to them as audio books, and having heard bits and pieces of some of the books I decided to give them a go. This one was not a long audio book, but it was quite amusing. I found that although the book was overly captivating so that you did not want to stop listening, it did keep me amused through my long journey. This particular book is an early one and so provides quite a bit of background about the disc world generally. The story is about an eighth child of an eight son, who was supposed to be a son, but was actually a daughter. The wizards staff was passed on as customary and only after the wizard has passed away do they realise the child is a girl. The problem is that girls cannot be wizards and boys cannot be witches. Esq, the female wizard, sets off on an adventure to the unseen university to become the first female wizard and meets a few challenges on the way before she can even start to prove herself to the wizards, but she does have the help of her staff and Granny Weatherwax - the local witch. Overall a good audio book for long journeys.

Hugz Tinz

Butterflies and Pelagia

Hi there everybody,

I was going to do some weeding in the garden whilst the rain has taken a break. However, the wind makes it impossible to get the weeds up without making an absolute mess, so that put an end to that plan. Besides, it is a bit cold outside so I am going to cuddle up with the mice in a moment as I clean them out.

But first here is my stepper card I have made for the challenges this week.

I cut my stepper template from pale green card stock. I adapted the design slightly as my card stock was larger than the template suggested. I got the butterfly image from All Dressed Up and coloured it using Promarkers, from Set 2 (12 pen set) and from the spring and summer limited edition, 6 pen packs. This was made the focal point of the centre of the card, with a patterned yellow paper behind. I took some flower shaped lace and used yellow and orange ink pads to colour the lace, as the white was too plain against the backing paper. The quote was found online and typed into word before printing out and highlighting with Promarkers. These were then added to the lowest step on the card. Onto the second steps of the card I added some 3D flower stickers, which used the same colours as the main image, but slightly subdued. Finally for the topmost steps a grass embossing folder was used on white card and cut to fit the step. Then green ink was used to highlight the embossed area (a different shade on each side). Finally to finish the card I added a 'Fly Sticker' butterfly in bright green holographic.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:
abc-challenge Q is for Quote 'If nothing ever changed there would be no butterflies'.
Deep Ocean Challenge #83 Summer Colours
ilovepromarkers #231 Fancy Folds
delightful sketches Anything Goes
Stamping Boutique Use lace
art impressions 141 Embossing
a creative romance #28 Fun in the sun
CCM #120 Fancy Folds
All Dressed Up #19 Anything but a square
Country View Challenges Word Play


Here is also an update on my fish tank, which is just under 63 hours now:

I was going to do an update on my lab rat, but I forgot to take a picture. I will try and remember mid-week.


I took my animals to a pet show this morning, and they won all categories!!! However, this was only because nobody else actually turned up for the show :(  It was a little disappointing but lots of people enjoyed saying hi to the cockatoo, and quite a few enjoyed the snake too.

What do you think to my unusual crops? The potatoes are 'Purple Majesty' and I cannot remember what the black tomatoes are called but they are a new breed. I haven't tried the tomatoes yet as they are not quite ripe but the potatoes make very tasty mash.

This weeks audio book was 'Pelagia and the White Bulldog' by Boris Akunin. This is a very good mystery book, as it combines comedy with seriousness very well and is very good at casting suspicion and then throwing in a little twist. It would probably make a very good 'Miss Marple' like TV show as it is written in similar fashion. However, the main investigator in this story is a nun and so people act differently around her than they would around the usual old-lady investigators. A very good book to listen to in my opinion.


Hugz Tinz

N is for Neutral and Blue

I have been playing with my CD Roms tonight for my new ATC collection. The overall theme was brown, blue and neutral, animal themed cards. The brown, blue and neutral theme is for mod squad challenge, and the animal theme was for Hanna and friends. I also entered one other challenge for each card.

ATC #1

For this one I took a patterned base card, in a beige pattern (the back was blue). A piece of blue and brown swirls paper was cut to size and added to the left. The image is a scenics image from a free CD Rom, which I coloured using promarkers, as there was no brown on the CD, and attached as in the picture. To finish the ATC I added a 'Nature's Art' rub-on and a square, brown striped brad. The extra challenge for this ATC is my facebook challenge group, brad theme - Monthly themes for crafting

ATC #2

This second ATC used a double sided polka-dot paper that was free with Simply Homemade magazine on a base card. Two different patterned papers were used to make the tiles along the bottom. The main image was from the papermania 'Birdsong' DVD which I layered using the provided software. A blue ribbon and glitter flower finished the card off in line with the sketch from Sweet Sketch Wednesday

ATC #3

For this final ATC I again added a patterned paper to plain cardstock for the base, this time a brown floral paper. I printed a topper from a free CD ROM, by Adam Pescott and mounted it onto a blue patterned card. To finish two holes were punched into the card and a blue ribbon threaded through. This card is for the ooh-la-la scenic challenge.

I would finally like to enter this collection into the crafty calendar Anything Goes challenge.

Here is an update on my fishtank - now at 62 hours.

The audio book this time was N is for Noose, by Sue Grafton. This is a Kinsey Milhone private eye mystery. She is asked to look into the circumstances surrounding an unsuspicious death for a friends acquaintance, but there are a lot of loose ends to start and she is threatened and injured before she has any answers. It turns out that the dead policeman was in the middle of an investigation and what he had established put him in a difficult position - so leading to his demise. Her time in the little village is marred by rumours and suspicion, but in a twist at the end it turns out that the information the policeman had collected was all circumstantial and would not have left to a conviction, but the actions of the criminal do lead to a prosecution. I always enjoy Sue's books, but in typical Isis Audiobooks style, there is a part missing near the beginning of the story! Definitely one to read to ensure all chapters are present.

Thank you for looking,
Hugz Tinz

Clean and Simple Sketchies

Hi Guys,

I have based both of my cards around an All Dressed Up image, so that I could enter the All Dressed Up sketch challenge.


This is the card in question:

I took a square card blank and die-cut a fancy circle off centre to the top and right. Using spray adhesive I then attached a bright patterned paper to the back of this aperture. I then added some papermania Christmas ribbon to the left side and bottom of the card, following the sketch. The image was coloured using Promarkers, using Set 2 (12 pack), nudes and Tequila sunrise Ltd edition. The sentiment was added and then three bright wooden flowers finished off the design.

I am entering this card for the following challenges (alongside the ADU):

Polkadoodle 30 Clash the Colours

avenue613 #82 Use a Sentiment

craftyourpassion 224 Flower Power

ilovepromarkers #230 Use Ribbons

Anything Goes at 2cuteink and craftingbydesigns and simon says wednesday and divasbydesign

The second card used this image in a slightly different way:

I used the idea of making the image into a stencil, or aperture, for this card. I printed the image directly onto blue card stock and then carefully cut around the outline using a craft knife, preserving the image itself for a future make. Behind this aperture I attached some Honey and Hugs paper depicting the four friends in front of a rainbow and finally I cut down the far edge of the card using decorative scissors, for a CAS make.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Country View - Stencils

Simply Create Too #66 For a Child

CASology 106 Rainbow

Less is Moore 182 Anything Goes

Thank you for looking at my creations.

Hugz Tinz

Close my Eyes and Updates

Hi guys,

Here are some updates for you all. Firstly I am rushing to get the birth sampler finished now as the little guy appeared on Sunday night at 19.39, just before his mummy's birthday. So now they have a son for both their birthdays lol.

Here is a picture of my fish tank - now at 61 hours:

And here is the first Round Robin instalment. The final design for this piece will show a frog prince against a blue moon with a saying about kissing under a blue moon, so I tried to make my designs match the sentiment:

And to keep your taste buds going, here are my micro-tomatoes, first grown this year as a trial - very cute!

So onto the book review - Close my eyes by Sophie McKenzie. This definitely falls into the drama genre. This book is about a couple who lose their first child just before birth and despite having several courses of IVF have failed to conceive again 8 years later. Therefore, when a lady appears at the house claiming that her sister was a nurse at the delivery and confessed on her deathbed that the child was actually born alive, Jenniver does not know whether to believe her and grab onto the hope, or dismiss her as being a hoaxer. However, it is not something that she can let drop and when her husband becomes elusive and derisive about the claim she starts to investigate further on her own - to find the truth one way or the other. An old acquaintance of her husbands helps her with the enquiries and the quest for the truth starts to become dangerous, as Jen finds out several people have been killed to cover up the truth. It does end on a bit of a cliffhanger although the main plot is answered. I would recommend this book.

Hugz Tinz

Birthday card and Audio book review

Sorry for the boring title this week.  couldn't think of a witty one this time lol.

So here is the birthday card I created:

It uses craft chalks that I have had for ages but they tend to remain in the bottom of a drawer.I took a white square piece of card and used sparkly pearlescent chalks to create a tie-dye, sky-like background. I then used a stencil of a bunch of balloons and bright chalks to add the motifs to either side of the sky base. These gave a vintage effect to the card. I stuck this to the centre of a blue base card, leaving the top edge open so that a hotel booking, plane tickets or similar can be slipped in, as an extra surprise. I stuck an eiffel tower chipboard in between the two balloon bunches, and a 'Happy Birthday' to the bottom of the card.

I am entering this card for the following challenges:
make my monday - Vacation (Paris themed); Papertake Weekly - It's a Jolly Holiday (Parisian themed); open-minded craftng - Vacation themed
Anything Goes - Crafty Catz #241; 2cuteink #111; suzy b #39
ooh-la-la - Vintage
art impressions #140 - Big Birthdays
Hanna and friends #201 - We Celebrate
Country View - Stencil It
Paula Holifields = It's Magic (Hidden pocket)

I also thought I would share with you my progress on my knitted lab rat:

This is it's bottom completed lol. I will keep you updated on my progress  :)


Audio Book Review - President Down by Terence Strong. This book is based around an ex-army sniper who now runs a private investigator business. He is recruited by the government to look into possible terrorist subjects, with a couple of new recruits to help him out. He has a dippy secretary who always muddle things up, and is also going through a divorce which is not going well. Whilst investigating some suspects it is noticed that there is a leak from within his small team. They also come across a plot against the current president who is visiting Cambridge, UK, with his family on a personal, and very private, matter. Although I figured out quite early who the leak was likely to be there was no obvious evidence and so it keeps you doubting whether you are right or not. It is a very well written, fast-paced book and I really enjoyed it. It is more of an action/adventure book, rather than a crime and it fits the niche very well.

Hope you enjoyed looking,

Hugz Tinz