Hiss Monster Insects

Hi there,

What a lovely day we have had today. I have been doing lots of crafting, along with allotment and sorting some stuff around the house - busy busy.

Firstly - crafting. I set myself a task to make a necklace this week, as I have not made a lot of jewellery recently - mainly because it doesn't sell so sits around accumulating dust lol. So this is the necklace I made today:

It does need an extension chain to allow it to fit a variety of neck sizes snugly.

I would like to enter this necklace creation for the following group challenges:

Simon Says Wednesday Anything Goes

Glitter n Sparkle Anything Goes
crafting by designs Anything Goes

I also made a 'Monster Insects' card. The empty lower right of the card will have a sentiment, but I thought I would wait until I know what I am going to use it for. I do not have many monsters in amongst my stash, so decided that a spider would count, as many people will inform you that these are the most common monster out there, and then a couple of pretty butterflies, with a monster butterfly in the middle. (Besides, some people do not like butterflies either lol.) So here is my card creation:

I used a card blank with a de-bossed edge and inked this using Distress Ink in Moss Green and water, with the idea of looking out through a wooden doorway. The spider is a peel off, as in the centre butterfly, and the two pretty butterflies were from Creative Stamping magazine, inked with Pretty Colour ink, and heat embossed with Black Heat it up embossing powder. I was debating whether to add some blood red to the centre butterfly, but decided it may just be a little too much so have left it blank. What do you think?

I would like to enter this card for the following challenges:

Papertake Weekly Take Your Pick - Product (Distress Ink) and Technique (Embossing)

Modsquad Anything with wings

creative corner BOOO

LOC #98 Monsters

suzy bee #100 Embossing

allsorts Nature

addicted-to-stamps #110 Butterflies

the stamping boutique No designer paper
alphabet challenge Q-Quick and Simple
digi chooseday Use something new (butterfly stamp) - ok not digi but still a stamp
artistic inspirations #141 Black

I have also been down on the allotment today and worked over the path where I am hoping to have herbs next year (as it is fenced off from the rabbits). Here is a photo sequence from what it was, to it being covered ready for next year:

And on the topic of monsters - here is Lanstrums new terrarium (it hasn't encouraged her to eat though!)

I cannot even find her now without spending 10 mins routing, as she burrows right down into the substrate. For those of you wondering, she is a western hognose:

Which leads us nicely onto the Book Review (not audio this time) - Hiss and Hers by M.C. Beaton

This is an Agatha Raisin detective story, and the first one of these that I have read. After falling for the gardener Agatha organises a charity ball to try and catch his attention. When he does not turn up, after promising Agatha the first dance, Agatha goes looking for him. Unfortunately he is found buried in his compost heap, and Agatha is a suspect from the perspective of the police. However, Georges sister hires Agatha and her agency to take on the case. It becomes rather tangled once the detectives realise how much of a womaniser George was, and also difficult when a big star is added to the list of suspects.

This is a fun detective story for adults, and is for adults what the Famous Five stories are for teens. I will definitely be reading more of these books.

Thank you for taking the time to look at my blog, and I hope to see you again soon.

Hugz Tinz