Swing High......

Image- Swing High.

Papers- Cosmo Cricket Sweet Disposition.

Morning all! 

I'm in with a post for you today using Swing High. And the absolute bonus to this cutie is that the awesome sentiment comes with her!

I really do just love this image, I always go for the ones that really make me smile and for this one, that sentiment really does say it all. Life really is too short to not enjoy every little bit that it throws at you so you really must swing as high as you can and get the most out of it! I know I do!!

We had such a gorgeous holiday last week, I really didn't fancy coming home at all!! but I was missing my gorgeous pawsy peeps a whole tonne and I was looking forward to going to my Slimming World group on Saturday morning, they are such a gorgeous bunch of peeps and I really do love my me time with them all, so it wasn't all bad coming home really!!

Today we've just had a chilling kind of day. I've done lots of cooking to make sure that the chicken I bought didn't go off in the heat before we could enjoy it. I've steamed 4 breasts and Scott shredded 2 for me for sandwiches and salads. I made a chicken Sofrito and chicken Katsu curry. Tomorrow it is minced beef cooking day so I am going to do spag bol and a fake kebab

Thank you for popping in, huge hugs Lou xx

Walk a tightrope Wryn....

Image- Walk a tightrope Wryn.

Background- Fairy Fae House and extras.

Morning all!!

I hope you've all had a wonderful week so far! I am so happy that Fab Friday is here!

I coloured this cutie up a couple of weeks ago and I have been itching to show the finished card since then!! he he!! I am building up my stash of thank you cards at the moment because Thank you is just such a forgotten card at the moment and I have so much to be thankful for recently that I am just working on a whole stash of them so I can spread a little love around.

Let's take a closer look at Walk a tightrope Wryn.....

Isn't she the sweetest? I adore her!! I so tried to get a picture of the sparkle on her but it's so hard to do that!! 

The gorgeous background is the butterfly paper from the Fairy Fae House and extras set. I merged Wryn onto it and then printed it out and had super fun colouring her up and then onto each little butterfly.

Don't forget to pop over to the Tiddly Inks challenge blog and see what my other amazing Tiddly Inker Teamies made for their Fab Friday makes, oh my...they rocked it again.

Thank you for popping in, huge hugs Lou xxxx

Country Girl Porch Tilda with Music!!!

 Stamp- Porch Tilda.

Dies- Magnolia DooHickeyClub Vol 19- Music.

Doohickey Country Leaves die.

Good Morning everyone! 

I'm in with my Swedish House Crafts DT post for you today and I wanted to share another using the Magnolia DooHickeyClub Vol 19- Music and the super sweet little Magnolia stamps Country Girl- Porch Tilda.

Let's take a closer look at her! she is just so sweet and perfect for any kind of card/ project. I decided on a wall hanging plaque and covered it with some Pion 'A day in May' papers. I sanded around the edges and the little heart-shaped hole and then it was time for some fun with my ever-growing stash of Magnolia stamps!!

I stamped Porch Tilda first and then masked her to get the placement of the bench right. A little tip to help you if you are masking like this is to draw a light pencil line with a ruler where her hands touch the 'surface' so you can work out how far up to place the bench seat part of your stamp or any other 'sitting on' background stamp. Then its just a case of fussy cutting out and colouring in! I always fussy cut first so when I colour because the colours of your pens soften the cut edges.

And those little music notes in the Magnolia DooHickeyClub Vol 19- Music die set!! ooooh they look so sweet cut in black cardstock and dotted about so you can feel her tunes too!!

How super sweet is the little stereo from the Magnolia DooHickeyClub Vol 19- Music die set? Oh, my!! I just adore the little speakers! I coloured the hearts in a gentle pink colour because ...well...I just couldn't resist doing so!!! I also cut the centre part twice, inking the edges to make it stand out and then cutting an extra little 'tape' so that I could colour that in my warm grey promarkers and pop it in. I love how it turned out.

I absolutely love the way that the Magnolia stamps Country Girl Country Leaves die really lifts a little arrangement of flowers with its beautiful fronds and leaf. You only need to cut a few and you have the most gorgeous foliage ever.

And don't forget the sale!!.....

Valerie and her snowman get tree decoration treatment!!........

Image-  Valerie in winter 3 stamp set.

Morning all!!

Phewsh it's been hot!! so naturally I decided a nice wintery feeling make would cool me down some...did it work??...errrrr...nope, I still sweated my big Lou butt off but it did come out sooooo super cute!!!!! I LOVE it!!!

Here's a closer lil look at Valeria and her snowman inside the centre! they have some lovely snow and snowballs in there to shake around! 

Right! I need to scoot! we are off on our holibobs to the Lake District and Little Mo is so excited he might just explode!! I love that we all adore it there though. We really do have the most amazing time every time we go even if it rains, it's just so stunningly beautiful no matter where you go.

Thank you for popping in, huge hugs Lou xxx

Galaxy Tilda with XOXO.........

 Magnolia stamps Galaxy Tilda with XOXO.

Magnolia stamps Galaxy Moon, Star and Butterfly kit.

Magnolia stamps Lovely emoji's You are a star kit.

Morning everyone!

I'm squishing in an extra Swedish House Crafts DT post today and I am sharing the card I have made for my amazing husband for our anniversary in a couple of weeks.

He loves Star Wars so Magnolia stamps Galaxy Tilda with XOXO was just the right stamp to go for and I love XOXO in her hand. The little heart spots on him just make me feel all warm and cosy inside!!

I had a teeny bit of Lou fun ripping the layers to add a little stitched twine detail in the corner, it just livens up the base layer a little when you are doing a fairly simple layout on your card. I tied the twine into a bow today too, sometime I leave the ends floating free but today was definitely a bow day!!

Just look how sweet Magnolia stamps Galaxy Tilda with XOXO looks a little closer in!! I stamped Tilda first and then masked her off to add the little moon from the Magnolia stamps Galaxy Moon, Star and Butterfly kit behind her. I love how it came out! You can see the glossy accents I added to little XOXO a little better on this photo. 

You can also see the heat embossing I did with the super sweet little stars stamp in the Magnolia stamps Galaxy Moon, Star and Butterfly kit. I heat embossed them with silver embossing powder and then added a lovely sprinkle of frantage embossing powder too. The last thing I did was go in with my distress inks and add a little colour to Tilda's galaxy!!

Lastly, it was time for a sentiment and for me, the 'You are a star' stamp from the Magnolia stamps Lovely emoji's You are a star kit was just perfect. Scott really is amazing, he has been such a massive support and help over the last 18 months of my cancer journey and I don't know what I would do without him, so 'You are a star' was just right! 

I used the Gummiapan Old Paper dies and some Maja papers from my stash for this card too.....well...a girl has to get all her faves on a card for such a special guy right?!!

Thank you for popping in peeps, I do so love blogging. It sure beats the picture quality of Facebook so I really appreciate you all nipping in for a better look. Huge hugs Lou xxx

Flower's All Over!!

Magnolia stamps Lovely Emoji's Okay Tilda.

Magnolia stamps Bon Voyage Dragonflies DooHickey dies.

Magnolia stamps Sweet Cosy Love So Wrapped Lovely DooHickey die.

Magnolia stamps Country Girl Country Leaves die.

Roxstamps Special Congrats die.

Pion Design 6x6 Complete collection Summer Falls into Autumn papers.

Morning Peeps!!

It's Lou in for you and I'm so excited to be doing a Guest Make for the Allsorts Challenge Blog today as Swedish House Crafts is sponsoring their challenge.

This time the theme of the challenge is "Flower's All Over" and it is such a fun one to play with! I know I certainly had fun with it anyway!!

I decided to make a criss-cross card again so I could use a couple more of my 'very stroke and use, taking deep breaths only' Pion Design 6x6 Complete collection Summer Falls into Autumn papers. They are just so delicate and pretty and luckily I had enough little scraps left to paper piece my little Magnolia stamps Lovely Emoji's Okay Tilda's clothes to match the card base. I'm so pleased I did that because I love her little outfit! It's a fiddly technique of stamping and fussy cutting but such fun to do when you see her little outfit come alive.

I love how the little Magnolia stamps Sweet Cosy Love So Wrapped Lovely DooHickey die turns the lift out message part of the card into such a sweet lift out pat so easily. I nestled a little Dragonfly from the Magnolia stamps Bon Voyage Dragonflies DooHickey dies set for a little extra touch.

Once the message part of the card is pulled out you can see a few more flowers on the inside backing paper piece!! well, it as Flowers All Over so it had to be done!!

And just check out how gorgeous the Roxstamps Special Congrats die looks nestled into the flowers. I cut it twice, using the kraft coloured cardstock behind it as a 'shadow'. I love how it really makes the beautiful scripted font 'pop' when you do that layer behind with a different colour. And I know it's not daffodil season really but I so love the little Magnolia Stamps Daffodil die that I couldn't resist a couple of yellow daffs to sit with the paper sunflowers from my stash.

Now let's take a closer look at Tilda with her lovely little matching the card base clothes!! I love how she is holding her little thumb out to congratulate whoever the card ends up being for!! awww!!!

Right then, time for another cuppa after all that Lou waffling on!! Have a wonderful weekend everyone! Huge Hugs Lou xxxx

Music... Doo Hickey Club 19

Magnolia DooHickeyClub Vol 19- Music.

Neenah Desert storm A4 cardstock.

Good Morning peeps!

It's my Swedish House Crafts DT post today and I wanted to share a make using  Magnolia DooHickeyClub Vol 19- Music.

Now, I have to be honest and admit I was pretty underwhelmed when my set arrived but as soon as I started snipping the dies in the set apart for how I store them on a magnetic sheet, the idea's of what I could make with this set started to whir through my head like little cogs!!!

I have had the gorgeous Danish Opera Tilda in my stash from the shop last year. I decided to use just her and not her violin die too as there were so many gorgeous little nik nak kinda dies in the Magnolia DooHickeyClub Vol 19- Music set already. I went with a little dancing on the piano-shaped stage and getting thrown flowers scene instead!

I eagerly went about cutting the piano die with my Neenah Desert storm A4 cardstock. I coloured the little top keys with my Warm Grey promarkers. Then again in a woodgrain effect paper from my stash, trimming off the key part and then I glued a little strip of white cardstock behind the keys on the kraft piece to get the black and white keys.

I loved the little music stand. It has a couple of places on it marked when you cut it for where to layer up for some fun dimension. I went with the little 'music holder' at the top of the stand to hold a little 'sheet' of paper and the bottom part of the stand so it stood out a little more. I also had fun with a few of the little musical note die cuts placing them all floaty around the whole card so you could 'feel' the music theme.

For her little congratulatory bouquet, I die cut 3 roses and 3 stems and coloured them up with my promarkers. Then I assembled them and added a little bit of stickles to make the rose heads glisten.

I used a little bit of button thread from my stash to make a little bow.

The big swooshy musical score die is just gorgeous. I cut it in kraft cardstock and then coloured the little notes in my Warm Grey promarkers and added a little glossy accent so they stood out more from the score. I love how they came out. 

The big note die is just stunning, I think it may be my favourite die from the set because it is just so pretty and I am sure that is a little heart set in the middle there too. It's just so sweet, isn't it?!

Right, time for a cuppa. I cannot get myself into proper gear today!! My left toe had an infection again... ( well, clearly it felt left out from the right toe having one..again..last week!!!) and it is sooooooo sore I could cry!!! I think it's yucky ingrown nails from damage from chemo last year so the Dr is referring me to someone to take a look at them. So hopefully all will be good soon!!

Thank you for popping in, huge hugs Lou xx

Kalei...

Image- Kalei from Mo's Digital Pencil.

Papers- Aloha from Snap,click,supply.

Sentiment- MFT Polynesian Paradise.

Dies- Wonky Stitched rectangle stax.

Morning peeps!!

I am soooo pants at sitting on my Monday dream team make but anyone who knows me and my Moana/ Lilo and Stitch obsession will totally get why I adore this card!! there really is just something magical to me about Hawaii and their traditions and dances that just captivate a dafty Lou mind....plus...Lilo and Moana are pretty rocking chicks!!! so again.. I can't wait and you guys who follow my blog get her today!!!! 

So I just let myself pootle for a super fun colouring few minutes with Kalei from Mo's Digital Pencil (...yup....that says few minutes and it really was, I colour fast with my promarkers and then have mega fun with card bases!!!), but she is so seriously sweet to colour up. A little heads up though, she is in the Retiring Images section of Mo's shop so get her quick if you want her!!! 

Right, now I've got that urge to share my make quick I am going to go food shopping!! lol! oooh the exciting life I lead!! but first I may have to put a top on because I am currently walking round in my trousers and compression bra because it's so hot!!! oohh and a quick Boobenstien update!!! we are doing well, all dressings off and healing very nicely. My results weren't quite ready so I still don't know what they are but I'll let you all know as soon as I do. I think they will be just tickety-boo though!! here is how we looked on Wednesday, such a difference to the week before. 

Yey!! I'm getting there!! ...even if I did put 1lb on weigh in yesterday!!! right, I really must go food shopping now!!

Thank you for popping in, huge hugs Lou xxx

Tiddly Inks Challenge #215....Anything Tiddly Inks Goes!!!

Stamp- Pawfect Day clear stamp set.

Morning all!!

It's time for a new challenge over on the Tiddly Inks challenge blog and it's one of my favourite Tiddly challenges ever!! I look forward to this every time it comes around! it is, of course, 

Anything Tiddly Goes!

let your inner Tiddly flow!!

(**remember...We love to see any new creation, a card, 3D project, journal page etc 

but you must use a Tiddly Inks stamp or image **)

I just had to use the little bit of distress ink colouring practice I gave myself a couple of weeks ago for my make. I am so proud of the colouring because learning a new medium for me is no mean feat!! I love to stick with the safety net of my promarkers and a quick 10-minute colour up but this one took me 30 mins and it was just pure pleasure! I cannot even put into words how much I enjoyed this!!

I stamped the Wryn out first and then tried to line the little kitten stamp up so it looks like he is just playing with that little end of wryn's ponytail! soooo cute!!

Yesterday I saw my Little Mo off to Dorset at 6am in the morning. I swear there is actually nothing harder than waving off your little guy but I know he will have the best time and he is such a brave little guy for going. All last night and before he went this morning his nerves and anxiety were so high but as other children started arriving his magic little smile started to creep in and he was 100% fine by the time he had got on the coach with his best friend. I was so relieved and super proud. He's away now until Wednesday but I'm sure it will zoom by.

Look at that smile! I love it!

Right, time for me to go and get a cuppa and just kinda chill out with no school run to do!! Thank you for popping in, huge hugs Lou xxx

Hoping..............

Image- Hoping.

Evening everyone,

I cannot settle tonight at all. Little Mo is going to Dorset on a school trip in the morning and my Mamma Bear heart is beating so hard and fast that it's making my stomach pit too! but don't worry, I'm being that 'awesomely excited for you but wanting to snuggle you up and keep you home in silence' kinda mummy! so you are getting some Lou waffle!!

I needed a thank you card for an extremely special lady this week, my slimming world consultant, Sarah. She is such a very special lady and has looked after me losing weight so very well since the last Saturday in December 2017. I am desperately sad to see her go but utterly happy she is following her heart and doing what she needs. 

I wish she realised just how much she has helped me. Since my first operation for breast cancer last year, I have been waiting ever so patiently to have the other boobie made smaller to match. I noticed that in December that one of the Breast Cancer groups I am on had a couple of ladies who also needed a reduction and they were refused until they had lost some weight. I utterly panicked because I knew I had staked on the weight with ops, chemo and rads and just general poopy eating habits. I was so terrified that when my appointment came round for my surgeon to talk to me about reduction I would also be refused due to needing to loose weight so I got on the job, pushed my going out into the big world and joining a group anxieties to the back of my head and joined Sarah's group. Now, I may be biased, but it is seriously the best group...EVER! I seriously joined the most supportive and caring group of people I have ever met...and all at 8:30am on a Saturday morning when most people would be enjoying a lie in or grumpily looking into a full coffee cup trying to wake up!!  

A few weeks ago I achieved my mini target of 2st off by June, and do you know what? when I went for my wound review on Wednesday my BCN told me she absolutely thinks I did a fantastic thing losing my weight and it will definitely of helped me in both being allowed to have my op and my recovery from it. How magic is that?? 

I am working on getting my 3st off target got to now. I have 7lb to go and I'm happily just pootling down to it at my own Lou pace but I really have started to notice a difference in clothing and umphness recently, it does feel rather blooming brilliant! so, a very special card was needed for my last group with Sarah yesterday.

I was so absolutely excited to find Hoping in the store! she is just absolutely perfect!!!

I cannot believe she was just sitting there quietly in the store hoping away when there are so many of us that can use this super sweet image. I think I printed her out faster than I have printed anything out in a while is sheer excitement at the perfectness of her!!! lol!!!

She was coloured up. splodge on the card and Lou froo'd in no time, ready to be given on Saturday when I got to group. oooooh, I can't tell you how much I will miss Sarah as a group leader but we are super lucky that she forced...encouraged...an amazing member from our group to train up to slimming world standards to take over our Saturday morning huddle. It's such a relief to know the person who is going to take over in helping me and the rest of my amazing group to our targets...he 'Will' (he he!! see what I did there? his name is actually Will!!!) of course, be broke because we will all be target members in no time but hey...we can start a Saturday morning coffee club instead!! bwah ha ha ha ha!!!

Right, this mamma bear needs to try and rest some and get some shut eye as we need to be at school for 5:45am at the latest in the morning...not a problem for us as we are normally up and on the go by then but just watch us all be zonked out for once! wouldn't that be a funny one?!!....errrr...No!! lol! alarm is set already for 4:30am to allow smooth moving for an easily unsettled Mo and lots of mummy cuddles!! he he!!

Thanks so much for popping in, Huge hugs Lou xxx