Lily of the Valley # 88, Flutter By Wednesday # 147

Just a quick post from me today as I am running late and this card has to be uploaded today, for one of the challenges. 

I am entering my card into two challenges:-
Lily of the Valley # 88 - Sketch By Bev (left off the sentiment as not sure yet what I will use it for)
Flutter By Wednesday # 147 - Open theme plus fairy, angel or butterfly

Sorry about the photos, looks much brighter

Cardblank - Craftwork Cards
Cardstock - Paper Mill
Patterned Paper - Kaisercraft
Image - LOTV
Coloured with Distress Inks
Woodware Punches
Martha Stewart Punch
Card Candy - Craftwork Cards - coloured to match
Gems from stash
Stickles

My washing machine is working really well at the minute, fingers crossed I don't jinx it, engineer due tomorrow morning to finish the repair.

Hope you are all enjoying this lovely weather and thanks for taking the time to visit my blog.  It is much appreciated.

Sugar Bowl # 55, Pollycraft Monday # 84, Papertake Weekly, Simon Says Stamp

Quick post today as I really need to get my hoovering and ironing done.  Shannon has a driving lesson after school and Hollie and I have Girls Brigade tonight, so posting now in case I don't get a chance later.

I am entering my card into four challenges:-

Sugar Bowl # 55 - Erika's Sketch
Pollycraft Monday # 84 - Teen Card
Papertake Weekly - Trio Tastic - 3 of something.  I used three word frames
Simon Says Stamp - Happy Birthday - Sentiment on inside

Cardblank - Craftwork Cards
Cardstock - Paper Mill
Patterned Paper - Doodlebug
Image - Simply Sassy - Sugar Nellie
Coloured with Distress Inks
Gems from stash
Word Frames, Border Strips and Hearts - Doodlebug
Sentiment - Stampendous
Martha Stewart Punch (inside)

Found these papers and thought they would be perfect for this image but just couldn't get it to work.  That is why I used the strips and frames and it looks better but still not sure.

Anyway, my washing machine saga continues.  The engineer called yesterday morning, for the assessment, only he hadn't been told that.  Said the springs that hold the drum were broken, so he replaced them.  Thought it was a bit bouncy, so replaced the suspension.  Tried to fit the drawer after clipping the casing back together but ended up replacing the casing as well.  Then he repositioned the brushes.  Told me to be careful using the washing machine as he needed two clip on brackets to hold the springs and as they had to be ordered, I won't get them until Thursday of next week.  Told him he was having a laugh.  Fixing my machine and then more or less telling me to try not to use it.  Bet he doesn't have three children with piles of washing.  Anyway he put cable ties on and said that should hold it.  He is also going to try and get me a new lid as it was the springs that damaged it.

Well I put on my first wash and everything seemed to be going ok, so thought I would nip out quickly to the supermarket for a few things.  Checked the machine before I went out only to see the prewash button was flashing.  So cancelled the program and switched it off but it didn't clear so rung the repair line again.  Back came the engineer although I had to leave him in the house as the girls needed picked up from school.  Came back just as he was finishing and he said he needed to replace the module. This is the memory board for the machine apparently.  Told him he would have been better saying it couldn't be fixed and got me a new machine.  His reply was they don't replace the machines if it can be fixed and as my machine is 6 - 7 years old you can still get parts.  At least all it is costing me is the monthly payment of £8.19 as insurance cover, as he told me the call-out fee would be about £120.00 for a machine of this age and then the parts would be charged after that.  Knew I took that cover for a reason.  Sorry to bore you but just thought I woould let you know what happened.

Thanks for popping by and visiting.  It is much appreciated.

Friday Sketchers # 145, Lily of the Valley # 87, Bunny Zoe's Crafts # 10 and Totally Gorjuss # 71

Got a chance to make a card last night and finished it off this morning. 

I am entering it into four challenges:-
Friday Sketchers # 145 - Sketch by Jacque
Lily of the Valley # 87 - Say it with Flowers
Bunny Zoe's Crafts Monthly Challenge # 10 - Happy Birthday with lots of pearls
Totally Gorjuss # 71 - Pearls and Lace

Cardblank - Craftwork Cards
Cardstock - Paper Mill
Patterned Paper - Kaisercraft
Pearls
Image - LOTV
Coloured with Distress Inks
Sentiment - LOTV
Happy Birthday Sentiment - Free with magazine
Woodware Punches
Martha Stewart Punch
Paper Cellar - Raffia Lace

I also want to show you photographs of two bracelets that Hollie and I made this weekend, using beads and safety pins.  Hollie was watching me and asked if she could help and she really enjoyed it and wore her bracelet yesterday.

My washing machine broke on Friday night.  Can't help thinking what is going to be next as so many things have broke already this year and it is only March.  Engineer is coming out tomorrow and I am hoping he will tell me that they will replace it with a new machine.  The drum has collapsed, which means the rubber around the door is twisted as well.  The drawer and kick plate at the moment flew off during the spin cycle and they won't go back on again.  The slot for the drawer has totally dismantled and the electrics also seem to be broke too.  It was quite scary, as we were having our tea and the machine started to make strange noises and everything started flying off it and items fell from the utility shelves and our poor dog was so scared.   Mum is doing my washing for me as I still had the uniforms to wash for the girls for school today.  So fingers crossed for a new machine.

Thanks for taking the time to pop by and visit.

Sketch Saturday # 145, Cute Card Thursday # 155, Flutter By Wednesday # 145 and Papertake Weekly

Another quick post from me today. 
Been a busy morning organising our tickets for our local road race, North West 200, as we get grandstand seats at the paddock for race day in May and these went on sale this morning. 
Thought I would post this before I do the school runs as Hollie then has swimming lessons from 4.30 - 5.00pm and Shannon then starts work from 6.00 - 9.00pm and needs her tea beforehand. 

I am entering my card into three challenges:-
Sketch Saturday # 145 - Sketch by Cazza
Cute Card Thursday # 155 - Birthday Card with the added challenge of it being for a three year old.  This was good for me as I had only made one card for my little niece Eva who is three on Sunday from the girls, so was able to make another from Leslie and me.
Flutter By Wednesday - Photo Inspiration - I used the colours lemon, white and blue
Papertake Weekly - Lemon Zingy

Cardblank - Craftwork Cards
Cardstock - Doodlebug
Patterned Papers - Dovecraft
Nestabilities
LOTV Calendar Stamp
Image - LOTV
Gems
Woodware Punch
Computer generated greeting
Ribbon - Makeing Memories
Martha Stewart Punch
Stickles

Thanks for popping by and for all your comments.  Enjoy your weekend.

Truly Scrumptious # 52, A Spoonfull of Sugar # 142 and Simon Says Stamp

Very wet and cold here today with the forecast for more snow. Where did spring go, was nice for a few days.

Not happy with the way this card photographed.  The layout, colours and image are fine but the colours in the image have photographed a lot lighter than they are on the card. The brown is a little lighter, but not that much, as it was my darkest brown in the distress inks that I used.  Think I may have to go and get a darker brown if there is one. 

I am entering my card into three challenges:-

Truly Scrumptous # 52 - Sketch by Mandy
A Spoonfull of Sugar # 142 - Vintage/Shabby theme (image)
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes

Cardblank - Craftwork Cards
Cardstock - Paper Mill
Patterned Paper - Die Cuts With a View
Image - Stampavie
Coloured with Distress Inks
Woodware Punch
Pearls 

Apologies again for the photograph, thanks for popping by and visiting. Any comments are much appreciated.

Friday Sketchers # 144, Craft Us Crazy # 3 and Cute Card Thursday # 154

Another quick post as I am heading out to do the school runs and then life kind of takes over until bedtime and I won't get a chance to post.

Had a good time ice-skating on Sunday although I didn't go on the ice but the girls and hubby enjoyed it and then we went over to Ikea.  Well there is not much point going up to Belfast and not stopping by.  Now that Shannon and Sophie are older they have been wanting full length mirrors in their rooms.  Got two in Ikeas sale, so two happy girls and then out for dinner on our way home. 

I made this card last night as I was waiting for Shannon coming home around midnight.  She was at The Script concert with her friends and our friends daughter was driving so we didn't have to take her up.  Worried about them on their way up and way down but they had a great night and Shannon said the concert was amazing, one of the best she has been to.

Anyway onto my card, I am entering it into three challenges:-

Friday Sketchers # 144 - Sketch
Cute Card Thursday # 154 - Signs of Spring (I know my colours are maybe more Autumn but hopefully the image and flowers and butterfly with count)
Craft Us Crazy # 3 - Nature (Again, hope the flowers and butterfly count)

Cardblank - Craftwork Cards
Cardstock - Paper Mill
Patterned Paper - Echo Park (definitely one of my favourite companies as their papers are always very versatile and colourful)
Martha Stewart Punch
Woodware Punch
Gems - Mei Flower
Butterfly - K & Co Grand Adhesions
Image - Sugar Nellie
Coloured with Distress Inks
Sentiment - Computer Generated

Thanks for popping by.  Rain has arrived this afternoon after it being nice and springlike for a few days. Enjoy the rest of your day.

Sugar Bowl # 54, Allsorts Challenge # 93

Just a short post today as we are going for a girly day out shopping to Ballymena and Sophie is also bringing her friend.  Tomorrow we are finally getting to go ice-skating which Hollie is really pleased about as she has been waiting patiently since her birthday. 

I am entering my card into two challenges:-

Sugar Bowl # 54 - Lilian's Sketch, also has the option of clean and simple
Allsorts Challenge Blog  # 93 - Card for a teenager (got this challenge from Alison - Thank You)

Quite dull here this morning so photographs are not too good.

Cardblank - Craftwork Cards
Cardstock - Paper Mill
Patterned Papers - Echo Park
Image - Simply Sassy - Sugar Nellie
Coloured with Distress Inks
Woodware Punches
Gems - MeiFlower

Have had this image for a while and never inked it up, so glad I finally did. 

Heard last night I won the challenge at Craft Us Crazy and have won four Meljen digi's.  Although I haven't got the hang of digi's yet, some of these images are gorgeous.

Thanks very much for popping by and visiting and for any comments you leave as they are very much appreciated.  Have a good weekend.

Cute Card Thursday # 153, Lily of the Valley # 85, Pollycraft Monday # 82, Flutter By Wednesday # 144 and Papertake Weekly

Concert went well last night.  Twenty Twenty the support band were very good and Shannon thoroughly enjoyed them.  She is into a lot of up and coming bands and this is one of them.  Was over the moon when she heard they were supporting The Saturdays as they are not really her thing but was going for Hollie and Sophie.  They got to meet them afterwards which was exciting for them.  As for The Saturdays, they were better than I thought as I expected to be bored.  Not into girl bands and divas. The only downside to them was Frankie was sick and didn't perform so there was only four of them.  Sophie was disappointed as this would be her favourite in the band.  However, they announced they are coming back in December, so guess who wants tickets.

Shannon and Sophie with Twenty Twenty

Hollie with Twenty Twenty.  She wanted a photograph by herself.

Anyway enough about last night and onto my card:-

I am entering my card into five challenges:-

Cute Card Thursday # 153 - A Sketch by Christine
Lily of the Valley # 85 - Circles plus LOTV image
Pollycraft Monday # 82 - Three circles on card.  Hope the scalloped circle counts
Flutter By Wednesday # 144 - Open theme plus fairy, angel, butterfly.  I choose a fairy
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes plus something old.  K & Co papers

Sometimes I think the inside looks better than the outside.  Wanted to use this sketch, had papers and image picked but it just didn't come together the way I had hoped.  The image didn't look right on white cardstock against these papers, so decided to cute the image out and back it onto purple.  Don't think the image is one for cutting out, or maybe i just haven't mastered it yet. Also had no ribbon that matched so that is why I used the Martha Stewart border punch.

Cardblank - Craftwork Cards
Cardstock - Paper Mill
Patterned Papers - K & Co
Image - LOTV
Coloured with Distress Inks
Kars Glitter Glue
Gems - these are new ones i got which are for decorating your mobile, think they will work ok and they are cheaper
Woodware Punch
Martha Stewart Border Punch
Martha Stewart Branch Punch
Nestabilities
The larger circle is cut with the circuit as my circle cutter isn't cutting again.  The cartridge belongs to my aunt and I keep meaning to give it back, lucky I didn't as none of my cartridges has circles on them or i wouldn't have been able to finish the card.

Thanks for popping by and visiting and all comments are very much appreciated.  Enjoy the rest of your day.

Friday Sketchers # 143, Stampavie and More # 130, Bunny Zoe's Crafts # 9 and Dream Valley # 1

I was hoping to have this card posted last night but unfortunately Hollie somehow broke the printer and I couldn't print out the sentiment.  She had been trying to print something out and it just started making weird noises and saying there was an error.  Hubby and I both checked it out but it just wouldn't work, so new printer bought this morning and card finished.  Could have done without the extra expenditure but these things happen.

I am entering my card into four challenges:-
Friday Sketchers # 143 - Follow Sketch
Stampavie and More # 130 - Welcome
Bunny Zoe's Crafts # 9 - Spring - Flowers - (flowers on papers and image as well as card
Dream Valley # 1 - Anything Goes

one of the pearls seem to have moved, only noticed it when checking blog entry, will try and get it photographed again and re-entered on blog

Cardblank - Craftwork Cards
Cardstock - Paper Mill
Patterned Paper - Echo Park
Image - Stampavie
Coloured with Distress Inks
Martha Stewart Double Edge Punch
Martha Stewart Branch Punch
Pearls - Mei Flower
Flowers - Melly's Christmas Candy
Sentiment - Computer generated

Katina had asked me what type of shop we have.  Never realised in my posts I hadn't mentioned this.  We have two shops and we sell guitars, drums, keyboards, etc and we also have guitar and drum lessons. 

I have also forget to let you know that my little niece is being called Lydia with her middle names being Kathryn Jane after her mum.

This is my eldest daughter Shannon with Lydia.  Shannon is besotted with her and couldn't wait for her to waken so she could get to nurse her.  We were all out for our dinner on Sunday evening as my dad's birthday is on Wednesday. 

Shannon took this photograph of me and Lydia.  I don't like getting my photograph taken but this one isn't too bad.

Shannon took this photograph on her mobile, although it is not that clear she looks so alert to be only 3 weeks today.

Sorry for the long post, thanks for popping by and visiting, all your comments are very much appreciated.  Off now to do some ironing, maybe get another card started and then tonight I am taking the girls to see The Saturdays in concert with supporting band Twenty Twenty.