LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW!!!!

The theme over at inchy challenge blog today is snow - well some of the UK has had snow lately - but we haven't yet down here in the South - flipping cold though.

Whilst rummaging through my stamp boxes - I found an old Christmas stamp I haven't used this year yet. Its called For The Memories and is made by Stamps Happen, I think. The eagle eyed among you will note my inchy from the challenge - I've used the spotlight punching technique and included the inchy.

The words on the image say:

Make the moments matter - for the memories you give,

will be with them forever, for as long as they may live

STAMPIN UP LOVELY AS A TREE

The inspiration for this card came from Ellie's blog. I did mine with Silver embossing powder and added the sentiment and the stars from the Wondrous Gifts set. (This is one of the sets you can choose free if you book a workshop in December and reach your targets.) The trees are from Lovely As A Tree.

I love the way this card has turned out - I think I'll be doing some more on a similar theme. Doesn't it give it a lovely wintery feel?

UPDATE ON TARA

Just to let you all have an update on Tara, my dog. She had her operation on Monday and I'm so relieved to say it was a success. She didn't need to lose her leg and the surgeon thinks he's got all of the fatty lump away. Thank goodness we went for a second opinion. We should get her back home with us tomorrow and I can't wait - the house has been so quiet and empty without her.

Thank you all for your good wishes - I'll post a picture of her when she's feeling more like herself! LOL!

Now - on to some crafts. I'm at a Craft Fair on Saturday with my Stampin Up goodies and have been busy trying to get some cards and boxes and gift ideas together. I'll post them on my SU site later.

In the meantime - here's another example of that Rubber Stampede Santa Collage stamp - with SU papers.

SANTA COLLAGE

I'd seen this stamp whilst blog hopping and was lucky enough to get hold of it - I didn't realise how rare it was and how popular. Its made by Rubber Stampede and is known as Santa Collage.

I've used SU's papers and ribbons and some of the new SU Felt flowers. The word stamp is from Imaginisce stamps - I reallly love the word Believe on Christmas cards.

Hope you like it!

SALLY'S ONE A DAY GIVEAWAY

SALLY, CREATOR OF BOOTIFUL STAMPZ - IS BEING VERY GENEROUS THIS MONTH - SHE'S GIVING AWAY A STAMP A DAY IN NOVEMBER - ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS VISIT HER BLOG AND ADVERTISE HER GIVEAWAY ON YOUR BLOG. YOU'LL FIND THE DETAILS HERE

GREAT ORMOND STREET

Kate on her blog here is asking for help from card makers to send a card to a child in Great Ormond Street Hospital so that they can send it to their helpers or family members. If you could spare a card you'll find all the details on Kate's blog.

BLOG CANDY

Julie has some great SU blog candy up for grabs! You'll find it here

THURSDAY'S THOUGHTS

I found a great new site - if you like Christmas cards that is - you'll find it here. There was a great example of a pocket card with bookmark. Here's mine:



I've used Holiday Treasures from the latest SU catalogue. The stamps are old SU stamps - from the Etruscan set.

Update for Tara

Her lump has been confirmed, as much as they can, as a fatty lump and she is going to have surgery on it on Monday 17th November. As I'm singing in an opera next week I couldn't face her going in for the op until the singing was over. Thank you for all your good wishes.

SOMETHING TO KEEP YOU WARM

More Christmas cards and ideas on my SU blog here

TARA UP-DATE

Thank you for your messages.

We took Tara to the specialist yesterday and he did a biopsy. His initial findings, he tentatively said, were that he things the lump is a fatty tumour and not a malignant one. We will get the test results back on Tuesday.

If it is a fatty lump - we can operate and he thinks the operation should be successful although it may be interfering with a lot of blood vessels in the leg.

If it does prove to be malignant, then there is nothing we can do and we have to make some decisions.

He seemed hopeful though so we're sticking to that at the moment.

She's fine in herself, although a bit sore and swollen after yesterday, but she thanks you all for your good vibes.

xx

CARD HOLDER - A GREAT CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEA

Over on my SU blog - I've put up an idea for a great Christmas Gift. Its actually a girl friend's birthday tomorrow so I've filled this with cards for her - I hope she likes it. All the details are on my SU blog.

BLOG CANDY ALERT!!!!

Juliet is giving away some fabulous blog candy - but while you're there check out her lovely blog too!


Thank you to all of you who have left me messages about Tara - its much appreciated. We are seeing the specialist on Thursday and I will report back then. xx

I'M HEARTBROKEN

DH and I took our dog, Tara, to the vet's yesterday as she has had a lump on her leg for some months - I've been to the vets about it twice and they just kept saying it was a fatty lump. As it had got so much bigger we went back and we were in total shock when the vet said there was nothing could be done because of where and how big the lump was and we should prepare ourselves for Tara not being with us much longer. He mentioned weeks, maybe months. She's only 8 - she'll be 9 on Christmas Day.

We are all devastated - we have had such a difficult year with one thing and another and this is just yet another blow.

We're not taking it lying down though and have asked to see a specialist.

Daring Cardmakers

I think I must not have been seeing straight this morning as I've done the challenge for Daring Cardmakers and just realised it was last week's challenge. Never mind - I still had fun doing it.

I used some of SU's Holiday Treasures paper - the flower is from Laura Ashley and I used Fresco Flakes

SIMPLY SKINNIES - FAVOURITE DRINK

Carole has set us a great challenge this week at Simply Skinnies - your favourite drink.

This is an old Stampabilities stamp I found amongst my stash. I used Tim Holtz Distress Ink in antique Linen first to distress the paper, then stamped the image with Versamark and SU Chocolate Chip. I then used SU's clear embossing powder to emboss. The beauty of this powder is you can then emboss any colour ink you have and don't need other coloured embossing powders.

I then coloured in the image using a water brush and SU's Old Olive and Ruby Red inks. Voila!

BLOG CANDY ALERT!!!!

Rachel is giving away some fabulous blog candy. Pop over to her blog and good luck!

There are also some fabulous Stampin Up goodies on offer over at Stampin Mindy's blog

ARTY GIRLZ BLUE AND ORANGE CHALLENGE

This week's challenge over at Arty Girlz is blue and orange. I've used my SU Tart and Tangy set for these cards. We could almost imagine its summer!

BLOG CANDY ALERT!!!!

I'm sure a lot of bloggers know the very talented Julie, the force behind Inspirational blog and co-forcee (is that a word? LOL!) behind Arty Girlz.

Well Julie has joined our happy band of Stampin Up Demonstrators and, as a celebration, she's offering some fab blog candy. You can visit Julie's blog here


I've had a face lift - what do you think? You can get your own by clicking on the button on the top left of my page

DIANE'S BLOG CANDY CHALLENGE

Diane has a great Challenge running until 25th October with a fabulous prize to win. Here's her challenge:

So, the challenge is that I'd like to see YOU make a card like the one in the other post. A maximum of two stamps, one colour of ink, one colour of embossing powder (can be the same or a tonal one). No pre-printed background papers!

I've used Stampin Up - True Friend - (Again!)

Stampin Up Old Olive Paper/

Stampin Up Old Olive Ink

Stampin Up Old Olive Embossing powder

I was so tempted to add a bit of ribbon! LOL!

MORE BLOG CANDY:

You'll find more blog candy offers at Tracey's fun blog

INCHY BY INCH - CHRISTMAS INCHY SWAP

INCHY BY INCH CHALLENGE BLOG IS HOLDING ITS FIRST INCHY SWAP. IF YOU'D LIKE TO JOIN IN - POP OVER TO THE BLOG HERE AND SIGN UP.

THIS WEEK'S INCHIES ARE LEAVES - HERE'S MINE:

BOO II

I'm still in a Halloween mood - saw some of these spiders on my internet travels and thought I'd have a go. They're simple to make with the SU scallop punch.

My little spider is hiding a mint sweet so he's not all bad - honest Jo!

BOO!

I love Halloween! I know its not done as much over here as in the States and I really enjoyed experiencing it when we lived there - but its a special time for me anyway and I still enjoy it. And I love making Halloween Cards. I found a new challenge blog today on my travels Card-a-Licious and they were asking for Halloween Cards as their first challenge so here's one I made earlier! You'll find their blog here

Stampin Up Tart and Tangy

I try and keep my Stampin Up crafts separate from this blog but I just wanted to show you these great little cards. I'd seen them somewhere on the internet and was so hoping that this set Tart and Tangy would be in the new UK catalogue and it was. Would you believe my DH had lolly sticks in his garage - so I made three of them last night.

Great fun cards - don't you think? They'd be good for a kids birthday invite too. All details on my Stampin Up blog here

SMALL WORLD OF INCHIES/TWINCHIES

The theme over at Small World of Inchies is time:

Here's mine

Skinny Challenge/Inchy Challenge/TMTA

I didn't get a chance to join in with Carole's skinny challenge last week but wanted to make sure I got one entered this week - the theme is The Moon so I couldn't let that pass. I've used Cherry Pie and Stampin' Up! Stamps. You'll find the Skinny Challenge Blog here

On my Inchy Challenge blog this week the theme is SUN - its such a contrast to last week when it was pouring with rain and this week we had summer! So I thought we'd celebrate. I might have spoken too soon as its not looking so good this morning ! LOL

Here's my inchy:

You'll find the challenge blog here

Over at Think Monday Think ATC the theme is Ophelia. Its ages since I joined in with some challenges and I liked the idea of this one. Just a hint of Ophelia on my ATC - you'll find the blog here

All Stamps Cherry Pie Stamps.

RAIN RAIN EVERYWHERE

Its pouring down here in Hampshire today and my dog, Tara, is looking woefully at me as she wants to go out. Hubby and I are going to brave our water proofs and if we just happen to pass the village pub and pop in to shelter from the rain who can blame us! LOL! We've just joined the pub skittles team and had our first match last Thursday. I was so nervous as I've never played before and a lot of the teams seemed to be taking it quite serious - I'm pleased to report that I didn't disgrace myself and in our team of 6 I came third and hubby came first so not too bad.

I'm early with the inchybyinch challenge this week and as its pouring down - I thought I'd chose RAIN or WATER for this week's theme. If you've never tried inchies come and join us - they can be quite addicitive little things - you'll find the challenge blog here

Here's mine:

CHRISTMAS IS COMING!!!

I hate to panic you but I've already seen Christmas goodies in the shops!

I have a SU event to go to tomorrow at my local WI so have been thinking of Christmas and thought I'd do a few Christmas boxes - they'd look lovely on the tree filled with sweets or nice items of jewellery! Don't you agree!!

THERE'S A NEW CHALLENGE BLOG ON THE BLOCK

For all you Skinny enthusiasts - there's a new challenge blog on the block - you'll find it here - its run by my good cyber friend Carole The first challenge this week is DREAMS. I hope you'll all join in.

Look at this fabulous 4x4 I received from my good friend Rosie - you all know Rosie's fab blog - she sent it just to cheer me up. Thanks Rosie - I'll treasure it!

NOT CRAFTING.....BUT COOKING....CLOSE!!!!

I'm not back in crafting mode yet - I need to be before the weekend though, but I am in cooking mode.

I've just made some yummy pumpkin soup for a friend who is coming for lunch today - looks great put back in its own holder doesn't it! Definitely autumn then! I love making home-made soups - they are so tasty and quick to do. I made this one by:

Sweating down an onion in some butter and garlic until soft

Add the mashed up pulp and inside of the pumpkin, discarding the seeds I added some paprika and some chilli, but you could add nutmeg for a different flavour

leave it to soften for about 10 minutes

Add about 1 pint of good chicken stock - leave to cook for another 20 minutes or so until all the pumpkin is soft - blend and put back in the pumpkin. I've added a swirl of cream and some extra paprika! TaDa!!!!