Such a sad day............This post will remain at the top of my blog for a while

This is Alfie, our 14 month old beardie we took in to re-home. Unfortunately we had to let him go tonight (15 December 2008). A few weeks ago he started to limp and after a few trips to the vets we discovered he had a tumour in the bone in his leg, so in effect he had bone cancer. At the very best they gave him a year but that was only with immediate surgery and chemo. So today we took the decision to let him go whilst he was still smiling rather than wait until he gets to a distressed and painful state. It would have been so painful to watch a dog so young not doing what he should be, ie running around the field with Fraz. Hand on heart, I can honestly say that he has been happy with us, well looked after and well cared for, for the last 7 weeks of his short life and he absolutely loved Fraser to bits - he made a great friend there and it's been great to see them together even if it has been short lived. xxxx

Distressed Tag

I made this tag for this weeks Lotstodo Challenge as the theme is distressed. I used my new colorbox chalk set which I picked up cheap from the Dome. Just had to ensure they all worked ok, so used them all on the background!!!! I then used broken china and walnut stain distress ink to ink up the bird image. I put rock candy crackle paste over the bird, I used it quite thick this time. Using my paper distresser I roughed up the edges then went over them with walnut stain and added fibres to finish.

Distressed Atc's

This months UKStampers theme is 'distressed'. Here are mine. I used distressed ink to create the backgrounds. Stamped the images using versamark and embossed with black soot distressed embossing powder, then added various embellishments. Using my paper distresser I distressed the edges, inked them with black soot distressed ink and mounted them onto black card.

4 x 4 Hangers

Hilda over on Lotstodo is holding a 4x4 swap on an open theme but they must have some sort of hanger, so I've been playing around with my embossing folders and my nesties again and these are what I came up with. I just used a piece of organza ribbon for the hangers. They do look much better in real life but it's hard to get a good photo with the kind of weather we've been having lately!!!

Something Different

Was having a play around with yet more Dome purchases yesterday. Was quite impressed with myself that I managed to put apetures in my cards using the nesties and they are not badly lined up either!!! Also got a plate of shimmer paint things, a bit like H2O's but another make which I can't remember. Anyway, I painted the dragonflies with these, they are very subtle colours but very glimmery. The dragonfly on the black background is done by stamping the image with versamark and then brushing mica pigment over it and brushing the excess off. Thought it turned out quite well considering!!! Will add sentiments when I decide what to use them for.

Gothic Arch - Lord Frederick Leighton

The theme on Gothic Arches this week is 'Lord Frederick Leighton'. We had to choose one of his creations, I chose 'Biondina 1879' and here she is, framed!!!! Background is brushed corduroy crackle paint swished over with black soot distressed ink.

Brave People Make Brave Things

Hilda came across this whilst blog hopping and I decided to put my name down on her list so now I have to invite 5 people to do the same on mine

So, here goes:

The first five (5) people to respond to this post will get something made by me.

This offer does have some restrictions and limitations so please read carefully:

1. I make no guarantees that you will like what I make. Whatcha get is whatcha get.

2. What I create will be just for you, with love.

3. It’ll be done this year (2009).

4. I will not give you any clue what it’s going to be. It will be something made in the real world and not something cyber. It may be weird or beautiful. Or it may be monstrous and annoying. Heck, I might bake something for you and mail it to you. Who knows? Not you, that’s for sure!

5. I reserve the right to do something strange.

6. In return, all you need to do is post this text on your blog and make 5 things for the first 5 to respond to your blog post.

7. Send your mailing address - after I contact you

Anyone fancy it??? If you do, leave me a comment and if you're one of the first 5, it will happen xxxx

Lotstodo Challenge - Inchies

For this weeks Lotstodo challenge I set the theme of inchies, then wondered what I was going to do?!#/%? Anyway I decided to stamp 6 x 1" squares of black card with swirls and versamark ink. I then embossed them using different colours and stuck them to a cube. This is the finished result. Haven't quite decided what to do with it yet!!!

Cards

Been playing with my purchases from the Dome, embossing folders, green leaf card with a gold shimmer and my new set of nesties!!!! Just made a couple of cards.

Gothic Arch Challenge - Black and Orange

This weeks Gothic Arch theme was black and orange to fit in with Halloween, although you didn't have to use a Halloween theme. So I decided to try out my new thistle stamp that I got from the Dome yesterday. Background is a mixture of distressed spiced marmalade and the orange out the primary colours of the colorbox chalk set. All the stamping was done with black soot distressed ink. I used Tim's new rock candy crackle paste over each of the thistles, I only gave them a thin coat though. If you enlarge the picture you can just about see it!!!

More Birthday Gifts

More lovely gifts - thank you

The Dome

Had a fab day yesterday at the Dome. As you can see I managed to fit a little bit of shopping in. All essentials you do understand!!!!

Door Hanger - Lotstodo Challenge

A couple of weeks ago I had a crafty evening round at Maz's. Kate also dropped in for a coffee and catch up. Maz gave us a project to do, decorate a door hanger. So, I made mine for Kate and Kate is altering hers for me. I have to say, I am a tad worried as Kate is very heavily into PINK!!!!! Anyway, that's another story!! Her craft room has been christened 'the beach hut', hence the sign for her door. Giving it to her at the Dome today, hope she likes it.

Thanks

These are some of the lovely handmade cards I received today - thanks

These are some of the lovely handmade gifts I received - thanks

These are some of the non handmade gifts but will come in very handy for eating or playing with!!!

Lotstodo Challenge - A card

This weeks Lotstodo challenge was simply to make a card. It's my niece's 15th brithday soon and she has just started to play netball in our league - yes they let them in young these days!!! The players are decoupaged.