Dipping my toe back in.....

didn't realise it was almost three weeks ago that I last blogged.  Things are looking up though I'm still not having many creative moments but I will share with you any that I do have :D 

My loverly bloggy friend Nancy shared  Paperwhimsy  with me recently and I got these gorgeous images from their free newsletter and blog.

 They make wonderful focal points for my artwork... love them.

 Such cute little faces and the one below has the cutest rose tint to her cheeks :D

Hope to be back soon...thanks for popping by :D
hugs
Chris xx

The antidote to feeling CR*P is to CRAFT?

Well sometimes it works :-)   Sometimes it doesn't :-( 

 But I Try :-D

Things haven't been too good for me lately so blogging and crafting have been more of a chore than a pleasure but I am trying to get back into the swing of things.

I managed to do these Torso's for the challenges over at SCD blog (did them all at once on a good day) but didn't manage to blog them in time.  Thought I'd share them anyway though so hope you like :-)  They aren't in the right order but don't think that matters much.

This one is 'Memories'

This one 'Of the Sea'

Next is 'Black and Red'

and finally 'Bling'

All created with images and backgrounds from Lisa's altered art.

Thanks so much for dropping by and I hope to be back soon.

Hugs Chris xx

Early Halloween

I loved the latest Halloween downloads from Lisa's Altered Art so much that I just HAD to have a play.  I'm not really into Halloween stuff but these were so much fun to work with.

Some fabulous backgrounds and wonderful elements to drop onto them to create art as quick as you please :D

I just love digital doings when I'm not in the mood to root through my piles of paper... tis soooo easy and messless :D
hugs
Chris xx

Summer collage and goodbye to Cute Potato

Another gorgeous image from Lisa's altered art inspired this 4"x6" piece.  Lots of lovely summery colours before we lose the sunshine and to remind me of it when the darker nights draw in.

I love butterflies but don't seem to see many around now... maybe they have all flown to warmer climates :D

Now tomorrow I have to say cheerio to Cute Potatoe... everybody say awwwww...lol  It has been a blast I hope she enjoyed herself.  She is moving on to visit Lorna where I'm sure she will have a fab fun time too.

Today she had a little bit of fun with wheels... after  she was so impressed with The Stig the other day she was excited to see my Brother-in Law's bike and my Sister (suitably disguised cos she's camera shy)  kindly offered CP a ride on it to see if she could give The Stig a run for his money...lol 

First of all she was happy to sit up front... but hey ho it was a wee bit windy and her hair was getting messed up... so she decided to climb up on the seat so that she could continue to look her best.  Well a gal has standards don't you know...lol

Now because the town where I live is famous for Timothy Hackworth who built some of the most famous locomotives of his time including the Sans Parell CP couldn't go home without checking out some of the trains at The Locomotion museum.

I almost lost her cos she was so tiny in comparison but she was having a blast climbing around... boy has that gal got some energy!!

I shall be sad to see her go ... but I'm sure she is going to have a ball.  The only thing that I wasn't quite keen on... about her visit... is the fact that I need to send a photo off with her so all the other girlies know who I am.  Still I guess she did me a favour cos being camera shy I haven't updated my profile pic for over 3 yrs.  eeeek how bad is that.  So  just in case you think a stranger has moved in... it IS me... warts and all...lol

Sorry I haven't had chance to visit any of you for a while... hope to rectify that this week.  Thanks for popping by and being so patient :D
hugs
Chris xx

Cat collage and Apple pickin' time

The old mojo seems to be returning slowly whooohooo and this these cute images from Lisa's Altered Art went a long way to helping it on it's way.  I combined two of the atc backgrounds and collaged images from other sheets to make a larger background to play with.  I love the cute colours of the candy apple girl....

and how totally gawgus is this sweet purty cat :D  I could sit and stroke his wonderful fur all day!!

Nothing much happened for Cute Potatoe  the last few days cos we've had oooodles of rain...bah!!... but today the sun shone and while CP and I were taking in the view  of a wonderful blue sky we spied something at the bottom of the garden that I hadn't noticed before.  CP obviously has much better eyesight than I and squealed with excitement at her discovery of an apple tree :D  Ooooooh can we go climbing and pick apples says she... Not on your Nelly says I ... don't you know I'm scared of heights!!  Well CP was having none of that... excuses, excuses .... all you have to do is lift me up cos I is a brave Cute Potato I am.  So off we trotted and true to her word she was fearless and before I knew it she had leapt from my arms and was off like a shot climbing that tree like a seasoned lumberjack .

She perched herself up there in the dizzy heights ...trying to get a suntan as she posed for a while and THEN....... "T I M B E R" she shouted as she shook those branches with all her might while the apples tumbled down like rain around my head until I stood in a puddle of them :D Job well done says she.... laughing hilariously at my predicament... "don't stand on them... we have to eat them". She was a good CP though once she dried the tears of laughter from her eyes and helped me collect all her well earned goodies ready for whatever mouthwatering delight I manage to make with them :D

They are only teeny weeny apples (crab apples to those of you who know what I'm talking about) but with lots of sugar I'm sure they will taste just wonderful!!

hugs Chris xx

It's play time for Cute Potatoe...

Well she had a good sleep and woke up all bright eyed and bushy tailed.  Nowhere to go today though as I have been looking after my Grandson (who for once became camera shy!!).  He loves CP so he introduced her to The Stig...lol  She was blushing like mad but loved it when he said he would teach her to play pool.... she took to it like a duck to water... what a gal :D

Now before she went to bed yesterday she made me promise to do something creative so of course by way of apology for the rough few days she had prior to arriving I had to come up with something to make her happy.  Beate provided a packet of fabric pieces in CP's luggage to make something with ....

so after much thought a 'lightbulb' moment happened and I thought what better than if she had a friend of her own for the moments when she is missing Beate and Germany.  She now has a teddy pal :D  She was soooo excited and I told her that the button on his tummy is a happiness button so all she has to do is touch it and all will be well with the world...lol   (Think I need one of those myself sometimes.. ha ha)

Well CP was just so excited that she was just jumping up and down with glee... a great big smile has been on her face ALL day.  So much so that she insisted that I take a picture of him on his own so he could have his own 5 mins of fame :-P

So meet Teddy happiness.

He even obliged me by turning round so you could see the back of his outfit!!

I think they are going to be very happy together :D

hugs

Chris xx

LOOK WHO CAME TO STAY :D

I needed a break for a number of reasons which is why I haven't been around much (not least because my mojo ran away!!)

BUT this little lady... CUTE POTATOE  :-D... who's Mammy Beate lives in Germany is travelling around the world and visiting lots of  wonderful creative ladies...this week it's my turn for her visit... whooohoooo.

She is in bed right now because she arrived last week and I wasn't at home ...so bless her little cotton socks she has spent almost a whole week at the post office depot waiting to be returned to me.
 I gave her a great big kiss to say how sorry I was and she said it was okay... she would forgive me if she could have a huge cup of tea ... then go to sleep in a soft bed with clean sheets AND if I promised to be creative while she was sleeping.  Her wish is my command... how could it not be... poor little mite must be aching all over.  Not the best start to a holiday in England but I will make it up to her :D
She has already been to visit Helga in Germany and Anni in Denmark and you can see what she got up to on her journey if you pop over HERE where Cute Potatoe has her very own blog.    
We will be back tomorrow so we can let you know what we are up to so I hope you will come back and give her a huge welcome to Bling-kin-eck blog :D
hugs
Chris xx

Travel booklet

A lickle ickle itsy teeny weeny booklet to share with you today using some gorgeous paper and an image from Crafty Individuals.  Didn't make it today cos my mojo has gone walkabout... always have a few things on standby to show you but I am oh so struggling to be arty farty right now.

 

I don't seem to have used proper ribbon for ages and it was so good to tie all this to my booklet... went a bit OTT cos it's only tiny but couldn't resist :D

Hope you are having a creative time and if you find my mojo... PLEASE send it home to me...lol

hugs

Chris xx

Dog sitting....

is what I've been doing for the last couple of days and though I wouldn't have a dog myself because I like to be spontaneous and not have to worry about getting a pet looked after... I just love this girl to bits.  She's not a year old yet and I was quite astonished when DD decided to get her but I am glad she did cos this little girl is such a cheerful little thing and soooooo funny :D

As I didn't bring any paper to DD's to play with I decided to do a digi layout (my first in a looooooong time).  I used freebies from Shabby Princess kits and changed the colours as I wanted a vintagey look.  I think I will do a few more of her as she grows to look back on.
Have a great weekend all :D
hugs
Chris xx

Alter it monthly challenge- Home Sweet Home

Okay so you thought I had disappeared off the face of the earth... didn't ya...lol   I'm still here but I have a confession to make.  I am now a Facebook Junkie (and OMG fb games.... they are giving me sleepless nights and normally I hate these sort of things.... think I am morphing ooooer).  So me lovelies if you are on facebook yourself... let me know so I can add you as my friend  (well if you wanna be my friend that is...lol)

Right down to crafty stuff cos that's what you wanna see isn't it so... and I have decided to enter this piece into Alter it Monthly challenge where the theme is Home Sweet Home (can't believe I just found this challenge blog... where've I been).  There are some fab examples over there... go check it out.

Take a walk down memory lane... that's the name of my piece... created with gorgeous papers, stamps, chipboard  and an image from Crafty Individuals once again.

See my birdie at the white picket fence listening to the sweet tune of the violin.... I think he thinks it's a lady birdie...n... maybe he's in love...lol  He's sort of got that look in his eye :D  The chipboard house was wonderful to stamp on... great smooth surface and I coloured with distress inks... AGAIN...lol

Thanks for looking.... hope to catch up with you all this week :D

hugs

Chris xx