COMMENT PROBLEMS

Just a quick post to let you know about a few changes I have had to make with regards to comments on my posts.

Several unscrupulous folk out there in the big wide world think it's funny to link with a blog through comments to either advertise their own 'dodgy' blog or to try and sell equally 'dodgy' or completely 'rude' goods. I have had several of these comments over the months but more recently.

Most are from 'anonymous' people which in itself just shows the type of folk they are. Having now had more than enough of this, as it has not only affected me but others who want to leave comments and are afraid to because of these links attaching to their blogs too,  I have had no alternative but to re-introduce word verification. I hate having to scroll down a list of comments to see whether mine has posted or whether I have to include a load of gobbly gook letters and numbers, so I appreciate the nuisance of verification. However, if it makes my blog more secure then so be it. I will monitor the problem and if necessary try something else but at the moment this is where I stand.

I have a lovely friend who comments as anonymous, so this will affect her and that hurts. However, all that is needed is a username, which can be anything, so it's that easy.

Sorry once again folk for this hiccup. Please bear with me and I hope you haven't had the same problem.

MY SEASIDE SWAPS

Just take a look a these beauties.

I am so lucky to have received these ATCs from Heather's August swap 'Seaside'. Aren't they just the best.

Left to right the creators are:

She
Gez
Mel

Thank you ladies 'cos I am really chuffed to bits with these.

Also, thank you Heather for the little 'extra'. Love the colours.

SUNSHINE and HARD WORK

This glorious weather has meant a catch up on the outside jobs. Most of my container trees have suffered this year and were so pot-bound too, that they were only destined for the tip! So for the last 4 days I have been hacking trees, fighting root-bound plants, moving great big heavy pots around and re-potting where needed. All that in between going out for new plants and re-painting my greenhouse. Phew!!

Anyway, I managed to make a couple of ATCs the first of which I am going to enter in the Totally Papercrafts Challenge #32 which is - Charming.

I used Victorian velvet and broken china distress inks for the background, spritzed with a perfect pearl concoction and over stamped with Tim's flourish stamp, again in Victorian velvet. The words are one of the Artistic Stamper stamps. I used a Sizzix die to cut flowers from material, net and Tim's vintage shabby paper stack. The little centre is a tiny piece of baby wipe coloured with a big and juicy ink pad and twisted into a mini rose. The ribbon is plain white but coloured by pulling it over the broken china DI. The little bird charm satisfies this challenge and finishes off the card.

I'll be back later with photos of the others and my fabulous seaside swaps from Heather.

LOTHIAN CRAFTS CANDY GIVEAWAY

Whilst woyww blog hopping, I came across this blog candy giveaway from Lothian Crafts.

Have a look in my right side bar too.

They are celebrating their 4th birthday with a fabulous giveaway of:

4 packets of Promarkers  and

4 Magnolia rubber stamps.

This amazing giveaway runs 'til 1st October, so click on the link above or the one in the sidebar and follow the instructions for a chance to win - or better still don't 'cos I want to win it. LOL!!!

WOYWW 1/9

Another woyww and what a lovely day too. Must be one of the only sunny Wednesdays this year!! Pop over to Julia's for a peep at all those amazing desks out there, I am going to.

I've made a few backgrounds for ATCs but only managed to complete 3 of them and apart from the Copic club last Sunday, that has been virtually all my crafting this week. So. I decided to show you something different - if it works. Here goes, fingers crossed.

Well, that took an age but I've just previewed my little video and it's uploaded.
Sorry about the upside down bit at the start. I tried to show you my 44 drawer wall cabinet but got the camera angle all mixed up. Anyway you get the idea. The last bit you see is 'that pesky parrot' of Heather's.

Enjoy your trip around all the craft desks today. See you next week.