Doctors Update

I am so pleased that I finally got around to going back to the Doctors, I won't bore you with all the details but the outcome was good, I'm getting a referral to have a MRI scan, I'm also getting a referral to see about getting some sticks, something to help on bad days or if I will be on my feet for a long time.

I got wrong for leaving it so long it was over 3 years since I went to the doctors about my back and had a bone density scan, I never went back because they said it was normal ware and tear, I took that it meant what was happening was normal and that I must just be soft when it actually meant that the bone density scan was normal. Silly really.

 

So until I get all of the appointments through I will plod on and keep taking the pain killers.

 

 

A Card with a Twist

I simply adore Dickensian images and this one just ticks all the boxes for me.

More by Mo’s Digital Pencil, Mo Manning does a ragged range of digital stamps and they are all fabulous, this one is based on Oliver.

I used the 1.5" Natural Burlap Teal/White Stripe Edge Wired Ribbon from Ribbon Carousel as it had just the right look for the image.

I told you it had a Twist (Oliver Twist)

I off to the Proms at Castle Howard today, I’ve packed a rain mac and a fleece blanket and my wellington boots and some heat patches for my back, I’ll try to get some pictures. I will update you on Sunday about my Doctors appointment.

Prim Poppy and Tessatina Border–Memory Box Dies Card

I wanted to do a simple card with some dies that I have been itching to use, Prim Poppy and Tessatina Border dies by Memory Box.

I was just testing them out but I’m thrilled with the card, Clean and Simple although took a little while to work out what to do with them.

I cut the Prim Poppy twice and layered the heads of the poppy with some foam padsthen glued them onto the red card and took my black fineliner by letraset and drew on the stamens.

The Tessatina border was cut twice and joined together to look like a trestle and carefully glued in place onto the white base card.

I used an EK success border punch on spare white card then tied a beautiful 1” White Grosgrain Ribbon from Ribbon Carousel around it then glued it in place.

Finished off with a couple of matching stick pearls and some flat backed pearls in the corners of the red card.

Dream Team Blog Hop of the Month

Its that time of the month when the Mo’s Dream Team come together and do a special project to give you a little inspiration and hopefully some Oooo’s and Awes along the way.

This Months theme for the Blog Hop is Summer Tones and Pops is our host and that is where the blog hop begins.

 

I couldn’t resist using Kai in the Sand from Mo’s Digital Pencil  for my image this month as our two girls simply loved the seaside when they were little and this is such an adorable image.

Coloured with Copic markers and Prisma pencils and the gorgeous ribbon is 5/8 two toned Grosgrain from Ribbon Carousel 

That's me done and you now need to hop on over to the fabulous Gretha who will no doubt have something breath-taking to show you.

The blog Hop running order

Pops, Your Here, Gretha, Kerttu, Jane, Julie, Debby.Y, Heidy, Alice, Debbie,Mina

Please remember to leave comments as there is a couple spot prize gift vouchers to be chosen from comments left on the Blog Hop.

Slimming Results - Visual Changes

Today is the first time I have seen a visible result in my opting for healthier foods.
I have been doing this for quite a while now, just making better choices in picking my foods and Chris has been doing this with me. I see a big change in Chris, the man is wasting away, if he turns sideways you can hardly see him.

I know my meds make loosing weight a little harder for me but I have now lost well over 1 stone so yes I'm feeling rather proud. As I spend most of my days in stretchy leggings and tunic tops and long floating cardigans to hide my butt, it is difficult to see any changes, well at least that was until today, my top kept wrinkling on my chest and when I took off my cardigan I looked quite lost in my top (Big Grin) this could mean a whole new wardrobe shhhhhh!

so my surprised look is a happy surprised one indeed.

Pool Party

I had a day off from my blog yesterday partly because of my tired and grouchy post and partly because I had a play with some new goodies due to be released in September. Shhhhhh don’t tell anyone I told you.

So back on track again today with some summer fun.  This one is Pool Party by Mo’s Digital Pencil 

Swimming was my passion when I was young, always on the school team and I was swimmer of the year and even had the opportunity to swim for the County.

I kept the card pretty simple and coloured it with Copic markers and used the Grosgrain ribbon from Ribbon Carousel as my embellishments

Promarker Limited Edition Winner

Gosh so many entries, but we do have a winner.

Thanks you to everyone who entered those that didn’t win, I can assure you they are a worthy buy as the colours are simply gorgeous and they all work so well together.

The Winner is…….

27. LesleyW

Please contact me with your details and I will drop them in the post for you, please add Promarker Limited Edition as your email subject.

Promarker Blog Candy

Well as the Olympics came to a closure I thought it would be good to end the blog candy for Letraset Limited Edition ProMarker Autumn.

They consist of the most gorgeous colours too, so some lucky person is in for a real treat.

It will be something to enjoy now that the Olympics is finished although i think we should all get behind the Paralympics too. I only hope it gets the coverage it deserves.

I’ll be back later today with the winner of the markers so stay tuned.

Christmas Cross

I have so many religious friends and at Christmas Time I always want to send a meaningful card to them, there is so many cutesy images but try to find a religious one that is not nativity can be a chore.

This is another from Just Inklined  Clear Inky Stamps

Christmas Cross available here

I kept it clean and simple, stamped with memento ink and coloured with Copic Markers.

Crinkle ribbon from Ribbon Carousel 

Tired and Grouchy

As many of you have asked how I’m getting on with my back pain I thought a little update was in order. It ranges from unbearable to manageable but either way it’s not good, I have got an appointment but not until next Friday, I could have had an earlier appointment but wanted a certain doctor who knows the history of what is going on.

I have however occurred some other complications which I won’t go into at the moment as chances are it will set me off feeling sorry for myself and I just can’t go there.

Chris does most of the stuff around the house and often tells me to sit down and even making dinner has sits between, not sure what I’d of done without him, he’s a keeper.

I have at least something to look forward to as we are off to the Proms in the park next Saturday so I will go with back rubs and heat patches in hand.

Oh yes I nearly forgot, I had my hair done yesterday and I’m now brown, blonde and copper.

Thanks for keeping me going and the concern you show, I love you all. Mwoa big smooches.

Loving Christmas–Sheena Douglass

As you may know, Sheena Douglass is a friend of mine, she’s as mad as a cabin cat with a North East humour very much on lines with my own, she is also a talented artist and what is so nice about her is that she works so darned hard at it.

Sheena has just released her new Christmas Stamps and I was very privileged to get to play with them.

This one is Loving Christmas, and she’s gorgeous.

 

Coloured with Copic Markers and prisma pencils and a touch of glitter here and there and teamed up with Graphic45 paper. Ribbon from Ribbon Carousel 

I added glossy accents to the heart Christmas ornament to make it pop.

Promarkers Limited Edition 6 Set- Autumn–Blog Candy

 

I have a tutorial starting over on the Letraset Blog  today at 09:30 featuring the new Autumn Limited Edition Promarkers.

I have to say that they are the most gorgeous of colours.

Here is a preview of what I have in the tutorial.

and the card I made

and the colours in the set.

If you would like to win a set of these please leave me a comment on the tutorial I did over on the Letraset Blog HERE It won’t be on there until 09:30

then come back here and add your name to the Inlinkz link

 

No Peeking!

Ah Ah ah! I wish i had a pound for every time I've said that. More still for every time I’ve had it said to me, as a child I was terrible I'd shake it, sniff it, feel it, try to see through the wrapping, have a guess on the size of it of all the things I’d like and as an adult I'm not much better.

Santa Kai by Mo’s Digital Pencil 

Coloured and glittered, papers from my stash memory box, Marianne, Cheery Lynn and Whimsey dies.

Silk ribbon (my favourite0 from Ribbon Carousel.

Garden Robin

I just couldn’t resist making this card to show you the new Inky Stamps from Just Inklined This one is the Garden Robin and it’s simply gorgeous.

I used various papers from my stash and a Martha Stewart Punch down the side of the stamped image.

The image is colouring with Copic markers and I added deco Paste for the snow (just love that stuff)

The stamps are available from La Pashe by clicking here and if you order them now we are giving you a 25% discount, how cool is that?

News and Thank You’s

Firstly the thank you’s, I have made an appointment with the doctor for my back again, it has been a long time since i talked to the doctor about it as like many I learned to cope with it. You sort of just learn how to do things differently to manage the pain but I know I need to get it seen to and have the appointment for the 17th of this month to see where to go from here.

You are just like a family to me and always manage to lift my spirits, so many kind words and inspirations in comments and emails so thank you.

Now my News: we at Just inklined are releasing our first lot of Clear stamps which are A6 sized and to celebrate we are offering you the chance to get 25% off the retail price.

just click here or the image to be took to the order page over at La Pashe  these will not be sold online as a digi stamp.

Aren't they fabulous?

Just Inklined to Hop - 2 Papers 3 Buttons

Here we are again with our Monthly Blog Hop for Just Inklined,

 I’m the host this month and I have chosen 2 papers and 3 buttons as the theme.

The blog hop starts here with me then the order is as follows Joyce, Tammy, Karen, Jane, Lori and last but not least is Marcea 

So be beady eyed and make sure all the other girls have at least 2 papers and 3 buttons, no less.

This month I picked the Farmhouse Lane for my image

I love how easy the image was to colour, I used Promarkers from Letraset and used Sandstone Cinnamon, Leaf Green and Holly Green, I also used some warm greys 3 & 4.

Next up on the hop is Joyce so hop over there too, remember to leave comments on all of the blogs as we have spot prizes.

Silly O’Clock

So here I am struggling to go back to bed at 3:40 in the morning, I have battled with my back pain over the last week, in fact ever since I did the demo at Imag-e-nation.

Over the last 3 to 4 years I’ve learned to cope with back pain, finding ways to cope with it learning new ways of picking up from bottom shelves learning to use things like benches to take the strain from my back when ever I bend.

Learning to ask for a chair or stool to perch my bum onto when doing demo’s as pride plays a big part in it. I awake in the morning stiff and grouchy, pushing the pain just to walk to the bathroom, taking an hour to pull myself together just from the psoriatic arthritis and fibromyalgia , getting the ligaments stretched out enough to start the day, so then to the back pain, if I spend too long in bed I suffer, if I spend too little in bed I suffer, so I’m walking a thin line.

I don’t want sympathy, I want solutions, I had a serious chat with myself wondering if a stick would help for walking, not sure I’m ready to go down that route just yet but not sure how long it will be before I have to give in on a bad day.

I get sick of hearing myself moaning and grumbling about pain, it gets you down. I started to take action in healthy eating and have been quite pleased with some weight loss and thought it may help but so far nothing in the pain direction, I’m trying gentle exercise although some morning I just cant do it.

I had wanted to be back in bed most of Sunday and gave in to a deep heat rub around lunch time but I knew by 10pm last night that I was destined to an early night. So hence sitting here typing this at a silly O’ Clock in the morning. I awoke at 02:45 and knew that a cup of tea was needed.

Back to the Doctors I think is the way forward.

Emergency Call Outs, Thunder and Lightning

Well what an afternoon, we had gone shopping in brilliant sunshine and came out to this at 3pm.

I happened to say to Chris if those clouds touch we are in for one heck of a storm.

I looked over the water to this.

The little black dot you can see on the right is a sailing boat.

We got home just as the thunder and lightening started, the heavens opened and it poured, we sat in the car not wanting to brave the rain to take in the shopping but it just kept falling, flashes of lightening from all around us and the thunder cracking just after it.

We sat around 20 minutes then Chris’s alerter for the fire brigade went off, he has just got back and there were two houses struck by the lightening and then another call out to a house that was flooded.

Thankfully it has now calmed down.

Pride and Joy

Another fun character by Dr Digi’s, this one is called Pride and Joy.

Chris (husband) said the sheep should have a worried expression and the farmer should have a glint in his eye but that is him just being naughty ha ha!

I thought this would make a wonderful card for the man in your life with the twist on the words “Love Ewe” Coloured with Promarkers and FlexMarkers by Letraset and teamed with Stampin Up designer papers and Fantastic Ribbons ribbon and buttons.