We Had a Wash Out

If you read my blog yesterday you will know that I was taking Mam out for lunch, we had the most awful weather so we decided to keep pretty close to home.

We went to our local garden centre for dinner and had beef bourguignon with spring green cabbage, new potatoes, carrots and broccoli, it was gorgeous and a much healthier option to the Friday fish and chips.

From there we went on to two more garden centres Mam is an avid gardener and being wheelchair bound just doesn’t stop her, she loves watching the fruits of her labour grow.

At the third one we visited (a family run) Horns garden centre, they have an enormous pond and it is so picturesque and they have swans and ducks and geese apart from the superb fish in there.

The swans have had cygnets they are so cute, we didn’t get too close partly because we didn’t want to disturb them but mainly in case they decided to chase us because of protecting their babies.

I did get a couple of zoomed shots far enough away from them.

They also have a black swan but the poor thing has lost its mate, and the two white ones keep chasing it away.

I also managed to get a duck picture, I think this was a sign of what was to come.

Can you see the puddle that is beside it? well believe me when I say we had some torrential rain fall whilst we were inside, the heavens just opened. On the drive home we mainly aquaplaned in the car, talk about puddle jumping.

All in all it was a lovely day and I dropped mam back off home but didn’t stay as I knew she was itching to get to play with her new dies.

Hydrangea–Digital Stamp

Not sure why but a Hydrangea image immediately make me think about Cards for Mothers. So my todays card is very fitting as it is my own mams Birthday, her request was Craft Dies so we have lots of Memory Box dies for her so she’s in for a treat.

My image is Hydrangea from Just Inklined digital Stamps.

Coloured up with Flexmarkers as I love the way these blend together t form soft shading

Papers are K&Co which I have had forever but they were perfect for this card.

I’m taking Mam out for lunch today so we will have a girlie day and a good old chat.

Colouring Hair–Tutorial

I had loads of demo’s ready for the Letraset show on Create and Craft but the time slipped by and some of them I didn’t have time to show you, so I thought I would video this one on colouring hair.

The image is Boobi Love which was a free image from Saturated Canary for a short while.

Firstly the finished image.

Tutorial Video

Going Gothic

Well my light fitting broke so I went on the search for a new ceiling light, the one I had was lovely, 5 lights and little glass shades around each light.

I couldn't find anything similar so this is what I got, 8 lights to the back room is like Blackpool illuminations. I quite like it though.

The Family

I meant to share the summertime pictures with you earlier but the blog has been so busy I just couldn’t squeeze them in, this is what Jack loves best, playing with the water in the garden watering the flowers and indeed mostly drowning them ha ha.

I love the concentration on his face. The middle top photo is so funny, he looks like he couldn’t stop a pig in a poke.

The next one is from today with his older brother Kyle, he is staying with them for a week and jack adores him.

A pub lunch and a play area for the children they had a fabulous time.

Memorial and Kite

I had a really sad day Monday, very weepy, since no longer working with dates I forget all kinds of things, I often don’t even know what date it is, I know a round about date but I always have to check the exact date when asked now.

I knew that Friday was the day I was demoing for Letraset at Create and Craft and I ploughed myself into getting lots of prep done for that date.

Today a song came on the radio (Rod Stewart Sailing) and it stopped me dead in my tracks, I suddenly heard myself saying “oh my God, what date is it?” This song was released shortly after loosing my brother Russell he was lost at sea when he was in the Merchant Navy, a young lad of 17 years old with the world at his feet. I franticly looked at a calendar and realised that I was one day late for his memorial, I’m devastated, I never miss it or forget, I hadn’t even rang my Mam, well the tears started falling and just wouldn’t stop. How on earth could I forget, I think of him every single day, why did nothing trigger my memory.

Of course I rang my Mam and couldn’t apologise enough, and of course she was fine about it but I still feel utterly ashamed at myself.

………………..

My card today is with and image called Kite by Mo’s Digital Pencil 

Coloured with Promakers

Just Inklined to Hop–Embossing

Its that time again for the Just Inklined Blog hop and this month Karen is the host and has chosen Embossing as the theme.

You should have landed on my blog from Joyce if not hop back so you don’t miss her creation.

I know all of the girls have been working hard on their projects so remember to leave them all a comment for a chance to win a spot prize.

I used Daisy Patch for my image this month and you can find it here

I embossed the background with a sizzix leaf folder and also embossed the spellbinders frame

Next up is Tammy and I know she has been working away at something fabulous to show you all.

Don't forget to leave comments for a chance of a spot prize.

Udderly In Love

As soon as I saw this one I new I had to have it, there just something about it that makes me smile.

What's more she’s udderly in love, you can tell by the glazed over eyes.

Moo by Mo’s Digital Pencil 

Coloured with Promarkers and Copics

Isn’t she a beauty? and just look at the length of those eyelashes

A Little True Story

I wanted to share something that really worried me while I was away for the Create and Craft shows.
We stayed overnight at our usual hotel and in the morning went down for our breakfast, every time we have used this hotel we notice an elderly lady, very well dressed and probably around in her late 70's to early 80's.
We have often commented wondering why she is always there when we are, does she simply enjoy staying there? Does she visit her family or friends on a regular basis so stays at the same place?

So being the nosey person I am I asked one of the staff why I see her each time I stay there. " excuse me, is the elderly lady residential here? Each time we stay she is here and I am curious to why that is".
The reply came and I was flabbergasted, "sort of" she said. "she has been with us for over a year now"
I commented saying "wow that must be costing he a fortune" now this is the crunch line. She added " actually she hasn't paid in over a year" she went on to explain that this poor lady first went there because her home was in a state of needing repairs done, her landlord continued taking rent from her even though it was in a state that she was unable to live in it, he continued to take money from her until she had no more left as she was also footing the bill for staying at the hotel.
So now this lady's case is going through the courts, such a shame.
I watched her at the breakfast table intrigued that her life seamed to be in a carrier bag, she delved into the bag and produced a Tupperware box and filled it with bits and pieces from the breakfast, she had her little jars with some sorts of herbs which where sprinkled onto her cereal, she had honey and a jar of Canderel sweetener, medications, something in a jar that was mixed with hot water and poured over the top of her cereal.

I just wanted to giver her a hug, at this lovely ladies time in life she should be able to be enjoying the comfort of her own home, a morning cuppa sitting in the garden listening to the birds, having the comfort of a sofa to sit on and not a hard chair in a hotel room.

Come on people, look after our elderly, we will also become elderly and who will be there to care.

I know I have ranted on but really I could cry.

Jak x

Sent from my iPad

Queens Diamond Jubilee With Promarker Limited Edition (Summer)

I’m celebrating over at Create and Craft with Letraset at 11 am and 6 pm today I want to show you as much as possible so be sure to join me there

Sky 671 | Freeview 36 | Freesat 813 or watch live from your computer here http://www.createandcraft.tv/ShowGridView.aspx

………..

Here is a card I made to celebrate the occasion with the Promarker Limited Edition Summer set.

I am giving away a set of these Pens read on for how to enter for them.

If you would like to make this card I am giving away the Artwork over on my post on the Letraset Blog HERE 

Of course you could colour it in the red, white and blue but I decided to colour mine in the colours we often see Her Majesties outfits.

I have a full set of the Limited Edition Summer Promakers to give away, All you have to so is leave me a comment, if you would like a second chance of winning  go over to me post on the Letraset Blog and leave another comment there.

A Touch of Hollywood

I simply love Monochromatic tones it adds a bit of drama to an image.

This one is Hollywood by Saturated Canary Coloured with one of the  Promarker Colour Blend set 3 pens by Letraset this set was Violet if you hadn't already guessed.

The only other colours I used were some skin tones and Black..

 

I’ll try to show some Monochromatic colouring on Create and Craft on Friday.

I also have some Letraset Fun here tomorrow  so remember to come back so you don’t miss out.

I’m Leaving

I’ve said I was going to do this so many times, I would collect all of my belongings and set off for pastures new but something would always stop me, however this time it is official, I’m going and there nothing to keep me from it. Suitcase is packed and I’m walking out with my head held high.

 

I hope I didn’t have you worried, this is Thursdays Child from Mo’s Digital Pencil and apparently she has far to go.

I got this one coloured up with Promarkers and I have it packed ready for Fridays shows on Create and Craft.

Beautiful Scenery

I thought some of you may appreciate these ones, done in a totally different medium for me at the moment but totally and equally enjoyable, I often use different mediums together when I’m colouring and there is no fast rule to what you use, whether you like markers, pencil, distress watercolour of pastels but you can be sure that if you enjoy the colouring you’ll end up with something you like.

I used the AquaMarkers  from Letraset for both of the cards below.

I love how quickly this one coloured up, the image is Bridge Scene from Just Inklined 

Next Up is Man at Work again it’s from Just Inklined

I think the Letraset show will be full of colouring technique so I really hope you will be able join me.

Create and Craft on Friday 11 am and 6pm Sky 671 | Freeview 36 | Freesat 813 or watch live from your computer here http://www.createandcraft.tv/ShowGridView.aspx 

Hopeful

A little lady of the lamp here, this is Hopeful from Wee Stamps and such a pretty thing she is.

Coloured with Promakers and Prisma pencils, a Cheery Lynn Flourish die and a Martha Stewert Butterfly Punch from Dies to Die For a pretty cotton ribbon from Ribbon Carousel, paper is Bo Bunny and a Prima Blossom to finish.

Baby Cakes–Saturated Canary

I managed to squeeze in a card today, it’s been such a scorching day, Jack came with his mam and we spent most of the afternoon in the garden playing in the sandpit and then Jack watering the flowers, he just loves being in the fresh air, later his Dad came and of course my hubby started with the water fights, they never grow up do they?

So onto my card, Baby Cakes by Saturated Canary Digis  she’s a little sweetheart.

The wording was done with my new Cheery Lynn alphabet dies bought from Dies to Die For and the ribbon from Ribbon Carousel and the gorgeous gems from Mei Flower (love these companies)

Sneak Peek

I may be a tad flaky with my posts this week as I’m prepping for a fabulous Letraset show on Create and Craft next Friday 1st June at 11am and 6pm, I want to show the products to their full potential and I have had an enjoyable learning curve in the process.

Here is a sneak preview of some of the things I have been playing with.

AquaMarkers, Promarkers, Flexmarkers and Cartridge paper pads too.

That's Better!

The things we go through to try to get a bit of sparkle back.

I had a lot of natural blonde (wink) coming into my hair and thought it was time to enhance the hairdo.

Thats better.

Kiko

Dinner time! I remember my eldest daughter lining her dollies and teddies in a row to feed them, she was always a Mum even as a toddler. Sometimes fed other times bandaged. Where did the years go.

Kiko with Carrot from Mo’s digital Pencil, all ready to feed her cuddly rabbit.

Coloured with Promarkers and glittered here and there, you can just about see the glitter on her petticoat. I kept her in fresh summery colours. She’s like a little bit of sunshine.

Hairdressers today, I’m in need of a little bit of colour myself.

Dream Team Blog Hop Winner

I totally forgot to do this so a big sorry from me for keeping you all waiting, I was supposed to draw a winner last night.

The winner from comments left on my blog from the dream team Blog Hop will receive a Voucher to spend in store from Mo’s Digital Pencil 

The winner is

Sue said...

Hi Jak
aww totally adorable card, awesome colour work as always, beautiful embelies & papers, sue,x

Congratulations Sue