MERRY CHRISTMAS

A very merry Christmas to you all.

May I say a big thank you to my fabulous family and friends plus all of you out there who have been so supportive this past week and for wishing me a happy birthday - which it was. You are all great and I look forward to a happy, creative 2009.

Enjoy the festivities.

Luv, Joanne xx

CAKE

Yes, I turned the big 60 last Saturday.

TIME TO SAY......

We let him go yesterday.

XMAS TREE

It's nearly Xmas!

All the cards are made and delivered. All the presents are bought and wrapped. Ahead of myself? I've had to be this year. We are going away again over Xmas and hopefully, the New Year so things have had to be planned in advance, especially as I have a birthday before Xmas too!

Anyway, even though we won't be here, we decided to put some lights outside and put the tree up inside.Yes, it really is an upsidedown tree. Feels more like Christmas now - and Toby is really well just now. He should enjoy the festivities aswell.

I've added a few pics to my Flickr if you are interested.

12 TAGS OF CHRISTMAS

Check out the Tim Holtz web site and Tim's blog for the most fantastic tutorials ever.

This is the 2nd year he has created '12 tags of Christmas' and be prepared to be amazed.
I can't wait for each day so that I can learn something new.

A FEW ATCs

I seem to have been making Xmas cards forever. Totally fed up of the sight of them, I decided to make ATCs instead.

There are always scraps left over from big kits and I pulled these 3 together from the Deco kit off QVC.

Just a bit of fun.

I GOT THE STASH!!

A fantastic parcel arrived today, my prize from Leonie's photo bid last Saturday.

It's full of goodies and very exciting. But I also received a fantastic Xmas card.

Am I lucky or what?

By the way, the kettle and toaster were already there!! lol.

ANOTHER FEW YEARS

My little treasure is 18.5yrs old today.

In our years he's 90. He seems a bit better so this new medication may be working but his back legs are still wobbly.

He sleeps a lot in the day but I managed this photo earlier.

I'VE BEEN 'TAGGED'

Well! who would have believed it, tagged by the lovely Leonie Pujol - http://leoniepujol.blogspot.com/.

I'm up for the tag so in response I have to list 7 random facts about myself and then tag a further 7 unsuspecting folk. Here goes.

1. When I was about 7yrs old, I went to see Sooty and Sweep in Blackpool. Harry Corbett asked for children to go on stage and we had to skip, with a rope, for as long as we could. I won, infact he had to stop me because I could skip for England back then.

2. I was a bit of an athlete in my younger days and was the fastest runner in both the infant and junior schools beating even the fastest boy! In my teens I joined the Blackpool and Fylde Athletic club and have run for Lancashire. I can't even run for a bus today!!

3. My dad was nearly the first Tarzan. Most people think that Johnny Wisemuller was the first Tarzon, but infact it was Buster Crab who went on to become another famous actor. My dad auditioned for the part, being a body builder, but was beaten by Buster because he was a better swimmer.

4. I had the Beatles autograph. Wish I had it now, but it was stolen.

5. I have been a pillion on a Honda CBR motorbike whilst doing 130mph. It was FANTASTIC. I used to go to sleep on the bike on the way to GP races at Donnington Park. And - I can still get into my leathers although that was 19yrs ago!

6. I can apply for my bus pass in 3 weeks. Oh dear!

7. I've just bought some lion 'poo'.

Here are my 7 nominations:

Chriss, Chrissy & Denise http://thepapergirls.blogspot.com/

DeAnna http://deannabray.blogspot.com/

paula http://www.paulapascual.com/

jo http://jocappersandon.blogspot.com/

marti http://pezadoodle.blogspot.com/

sharon http://sharon-ward.blogspot.com/

chriss http://chriss-rollins.blogspot.com/

VIDEO PROBLEMS

I understand that Toby's video may not play for you. It needs something else, trouble is, I don't know how to do that. I simply uploaded it from an SD card using the blog uploader.
If anyone can offer some 'idiot proof' step by step instructions, I would be grateful.
I even opened a You Tube subscription today and thought I had put the video on that, but I can't find it anywhere!!!
Oh well!

A BIT OF MOVIE

Not a very good video, but here is the STAR!

DON'T LIKE THAT MUM!

Well, the ghoo is awful. Another trip to the vet for more pills and a conversation later saw me coming home with some powder this time. Toby has to have 3/4 of a scoop x2 per day on his food. Hopefully this will go down better. His potassium levels are very high and as he won't eat the special renal food, this supplement is to bring those levels down.

We can only try.

P.S. A great big HAPPY 40th BIRTHDAY to my son. xxx

ROLLER COASTER

Toby has had a really eventful week, as have we.

His blood tests have come back normal - thank goodness - but he has to have a food supplement which has to be 'pumped' into his mouth twice a day ---yeh!!!

Not only does he hate me because I put squashed-up pills on his dinner-time food and force a great big pill down his throat at tea -time, but now I pump some awful ghoo into his mouth x2 a day. No wonder we don't cuddle anymore.

Despite all this, he has bucked up. We just hope this continues.

Thank you to all my lovely friends for their support this week. Thank you. xx

A COUPLE MORE

Just two more for this weeks Fancy a Challenge.

The lady is called - 'That should be Round' - and is a stamped image with a decoupaged face and a few red gems. I used part of the image to make the hinge which I went over with gunmetal stickles. The embellishment is a brad and the whole thing is simply finished with a few blobs of crystal stickles and a black ink pad run around the edge.

The other is called - 'Portcullis' - made with some wood-looking paper. The hinges are from a sheet of rub-ons over which are lengths of chain fastened with brads. Again I used a picture from one of the many tourist information leaflets I have and the key is a brad coloured black with alcohol inks.

LEST WE FORGET

LEONIE'S 'FANCY A CHALLENGE'

Welcome back Leonie. I've really missed the Fab Friday challenges so am thrilled to bits they have started again albeit in a different form.

Struggled a bit this time as its a while since I made any ATCs but I have a few in mind for this challenge and this is the first. Being the 11th of November, I made this ATC with our heros in mind. I used distress ink pads in shades of green for the background. The soldier photo is from one of the many tourist guide leaflets I collect on my travels, simple matting layering then mounted on the card with 3D foam. I printed the Lee Enfield rifle from the internet which I have used as the hinge and, even though the little flower isn't a poppy, it serves it's purpose, finished with a little black gem.

Let the ATC fun begin again!

TODAYS TRIP TO THE VET

Today's trip came with some disturbing news. Toby has lost 0.5kg in the past 3 weeks. Our vet said this was a lot.

His heart is still strong but she was now concerned that either his thyroid or his kidneys have gotten worse.

She advised he had a blood test to determine just what is going on and whether she can give him something more or whether he is now in decline through his kidney condition getting worse.

Quite a shock, even though we know he is an old lad and doing ever so well. We will get to know what will happen in a couple of days.

In the meantime, I took a couple of photos of him at the vets. Still a handsome kitten.

SPOOKY

In between the rain, 3 very 'SPOOKY' beings walked the streets of a lovely quiet neighbourhood in Yorkshire.

Did they frighten anyone?

Well!! they certainly frightened me.

Check out my Flickr for more photos - if you can bear to look!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ANOTHER LITTLE TRIP

Off tomorrow for a few days at my step daughter's.

Dadi wants to go 'trick or treeting' with his grandaughter and son-in-law - another big kid!!!

If at all possible I will blog a photo or two, but don't hold your breath. The sight may be more than anyone can stand!!!!!!!

MORE PICS

I've added some more photos to my Flickr if you are interested.

SUNNY DAY

When Toby woke up at dinner time today I thought he might like a bit of sunshine on his back, so I took

him outside onto the decking near his favourite scratching post.

His little legs were a bit too wobbly to hold him while he had a scratch, so he simply 'marked' the post instead.

We had a little cuddle in the sun before he went back to bed. He may be old but he is still gorgeous. Do you agree?

SPARKLING FORREST

Leonie's Weekly Challenge - Christmas Tree Time

A real 'quickie' tonight as I'm watching the Breast Cancer Care prog. on QVC.

Simple black card, Brilliance silver for the words, Versamark pad on the tree stamp which I then embossed with Heat it Up Snowflake Tinsel. I edged the card with the silver pad. A few blobs of Icicle Stickles and done.

OUR 'FIGHTING' LADS

I am a great admirer of a fabulous craft shop in Totnes, Devon (apart from the gorgeous part of the country it happens to be in), called Finishing Touches.

Unfortunately, their local Army Regiment is serving their term in Afghanistan at the moment which takes in time over Christmas.

There are no shops over there. How these lads are supposed to buy their Xmas cards is a mystery. Finishing Touches have come up with a solution. They are asking us crafting persons to make A6 Xmas cards and send them together with an envelope and cellophane bag to their shop and they will send them via the Army to the lads so that they can then send them to their families for Xmas. They need the cards by the third week in October.

The address is : Finishing Touches of Totnes, Units 2 & 3, The Brutus Centre, Totnes, Devon, TQ9 5RW - web site: http://www.decocraft.co.uk/ - phone 01803 862244.

I have been having a go and made 14 today. The pictures do not do them justice but I have included them because I am no crafting expert and just want you to know that if I can make cards that are suitable for others - so can you.

CUT GRASS

Leonie's Fab Friday challenge - Objects of Desire.

My most favourite time of the year is Spring. I can't wait for the aroma of the first cut of grass. Simply devine.

It brings thoughts of birds singing, buds on trees, long, sunny days (maybe!).

I tried to emulate Leonie's ATC and had a go at spritzing between the UTEE layers - it didn't work. I also tried to incorporate some scented embossing powders but they just spread everwhere. In the end I simply spritzed some card with Crafty Notions Quince and Lustre Green before writing the words. I then used Glossy Accents to stick some grass in place before using a Versamark pad and clear UTEE. I sprinkled a little bit of gold UTEE at the base of the grass and then covered the little brass scissors with more clear powder.

I had fun and made a mess!!!

STRIPEY WALLET

Leonie's Fab Friday challenge - Something Stripey.

Hard to get some imagination going this week, probably because I've been away and come home to some very hard work, ie, painting and reboarding a neighbours house! Anyway, I managed to come up with this which is mainly K & Company papers. Not all that good but hey! I tried.

STARS & STRIPES

Leonies Fab Friday challenge - Something Stripey.

I'm away at the Northern Motorhome show at Pickering, Nth Yorkshire just now and havn't brought any crafting bits with me. However, I've searched my photos and come up with this ATC which I made as one from the Pretty Piece of paper challenge. I'll make a proper challenge one when I get home next week.

P.S. Toby has been a right pain since we left home. He moaned all day yesterday whilst we were travelling and worse than that, all night aswell. I am absolutely tired out. Little darling, grrrr!!!

OFF AGAIN

I'm off in the motorhome again this weekend.

The Northern Motorhome Show at the Pickering Showground beckons. Actually, my mum and dad are going with friends so I expect they won't remember much about it after all the partying they will be doing!!!!!

Hope they remember to feed me..........

More Photos

Please check out my Flickr for some new photos.

I hope you like them.

WELL DONE

I am as pleased as punch and enormously proud to tell you that my precious son conquered Mont Blanc today.

Many congratulations for a job very well done.

FOREVER 'MESHY'

Leonies' Fab Friday challenge #19 - Fibres & Fings

I found bits of crafty stuff I forgot I had. That's the trouble with this crafty malarkey, it's so addictive, but great.

I had some Magic Mesh which I used as the base. It's sticky on one side. I wrapped red wire round a large red gem and left a long end which I 'twiggled' a bit and pressed it on to the mesh. The fibres are from a hank of knitting yarn, again simply cut and pressed on to the mesh. The word is cut from a 6" x 6" paper. Finally, the top mesh is some I bought from Trago Mills in Newton Abbott 5 years ago! when on holiday in Totnes, Devon.

The ATC is ok but I'm glad I won't be trading it as it may just fall apart!!!

Can deffinately say - I had fun with this one.

SYLVIAS SHOES

Just look at these. Aren't they just gorgeous.

Someone has spent quality time making these christening shoes. What a fantastic momento of a lovely occasion.

Well, that VERY clever person is my ATC club friend, Sylvia. Not only can she produce some gorgeous ATCs, but can do things like this. She is so talented.

Well done. xx

AMAZING

I just had to blog this.

A couple of weeks ago I played around making ATC backgrounds using Tim Holtz alcohol inks. Sometimes you can see an image or what to do with them straight away, sometimes you just file them away never to be seen again.

I had this card, which I left on a shelf in my workroom because I liked it but couldn't actually 'see' anything in it. Having just received a gorgeous stamp from the US (which incidentally is only the eyes), I desparately wanted to use it - today brought the inspiration.

I inked the stamp with a jet black archival ink and - without much attention - 'plonked' it onto the ATC.

If you agree with me - its AMAZING.

BEAUTIFUL BUTTERFLIES

Leonies Fab Friday #18 - Punch Power

This gave me the chance to sort through my punches and Sizzix dies, but I couldn't get them back in the drawer!!

I once went to an ATC-making afternoon at Cardcraft Plus in Preston where the theme that day was punches. I just couldn't get on with using them to make something meaningful. This challenge has been the same. I seem to have a mental block when it comes to design. Anyway, not one to be beaten, I gave it a go.

I used a corner punch on 2 of the corners and then 3 different sizes of 3 designs of butterflies, punching 3 each. Must be a good number this 3. Drat! I should have punched 3 corners aswell. I used glossy accents to stick the vellum butterflies to the hammered card before putting little gems on each. The rub on is one from a collection of Anna Griffin.

Can't really say I had fun with this one, but I did have fun trying to put everything away again.

P.S. Happy birthday Leonie.

ANOTHER YEAR

Some of us are unhappy at the thought of being another year older, but Toby adds 4 years to his age each year for the next 2 years.

In cat years he is 18, but in human years he is 89 today.

A little spring chicken no less.

ALCOHOL DAY

I had a good day today.

My lovely Toby has been quite settled after his steroid jab yesterday so I took advantage and went into my workroom and 'dabbled' with a few Tim Holtz alcohol inks to make some backgrounds for a couple of ATCs plus, after watching Leonie on QVC, I made one with UTEE, both, also with my new Creative Impressions stamp OASIS1107I, which is a gorgeous mystical lady stamp.

I had fun again - going to be my crafting saying.

CHAINED BLOOMS

Fab Friday #17 - Flower Chains

I used Leonie's idea of acrylic paints for the background, which has worked quite well. Also, the distress inked edges add a nice effect.

Silicone glue is a bit tricky for such small items but so long as you don't look too closely it works ok.

I didn't use any free hand words or doodles on this one. Do you think it needs something else?

PEAR DAISIES

Leonie's Fab Friday challenge #17 - Flower Chains

I tried to emulate Leonie's example this week in order to get to grips with the techniques. A couple of them have eluded me but when I have a go at my proper card, I will try them again. I think this little girl is the original Pears soap girl - if my memory is correct. Oh heck, I even remember wearing a liberty bodice with rubber buttons - just like hers!!!

COMFY

Does Toby know how to get comfy or what?!!

I've been having fun with some Art Deco papers. If you are interested have a look at my Flickr.

TRYING TO CATCH UP

Please check out my Flickr. I've added a few more pics.

IMAGINE and MYSTICAL

Leonies Fab Friday #16 - Highlights

I managed to buy 3 of the paint sprays, 2 rubber stamps and 2 stencils at the weekend so here goes.

Using the Quince paint, I sprayed the background of 2 pre-cut ATCs. For 'mystical' I used a brush to colour through part of a stencil using Amber Clay chalk inkpad then for 'imagine' I quickly put the other ATC on top of the stencil to pick up the residue giving a subtle reversed image. I then used Brilliance ink Coffee Bean to stamp the lady onto both ATCs and some cream card. I cut out her face from the cream card and 3D foamed it to the main card. A bit of green for her eyes and red for her lips finished it off. I used the same ink for the word. The bit I had left after cutting out he face made the other ATCs' hair which I stuck down round her face and then used 3D foam to lift the edges. The word is made using a Dymo.

I loved doing this so guess what I shall be up to this weekend?

DEAR LISA

Leonie's ATC Book: As soon as I knew about this book, I ordered mine from Topaz.

Book Signing: Leonie went to Topaz and had a book signing day - whoopee - got mine signed.

So Excited: How can I use it now that Leonie has signed it? I know I'll buy another, which I did.

ATC Friend: Leonie had another book signing day at Topaz, so I took my 2nd book and asked her to sign it for

my ATC club friend. Fab. but - I'm back to one book again.

ATC Kit: I know, I'll buy one of Leonie's ATC kits to make up. BUT - it's so gorgeous I can't bear to use it!!

THERE'S A HOLE IN MY BUCKET, DEAR LISA!!!!

JUST BY CHANCE

When I sent a pack of ATCs to Leonie's club some months ago little did I know that commenting on a beautiful pink spirelli ATC I received in return would lead to meeting a lovely lady plus creating what is now a firm friendship.

Not only do we email each other almost daily, but we have exchanged greetings cards, spoken on the phone, exchanged more ATCs, and better than anything, we actually met on 30 June when I went down south on holiday for 6 weeks. We both share the feeling that we have known each other all our lives. How special is that!

Without Leonie's ATC club, this friendship would never have happened.

So Leonie, from both Sylvia and me (Joanne) - THANK YOU very much.

UNDER THE WEATHER

Toby has been a bit poorly for a few days. He has had a bad tummy and hasn't wanted to eat. A trip to the vet this morning soon sorted him. He had an antibiotic injection which will last for 2 weeks and his steroid injection, which he now has to have every 3 weeks instead of 4. Not lost any weight though and he is otherwise in excellent health.

HOME TIME

With help from my mum I decided to sum up the last 6 weeks holiday.

We both agreed that the first 6 days were not for us. Remote control aircraft flying is definately not up our street and we both did our own thing during that time, Mum crafted and I slept and ate, slept and ate!

Once we arrived at Poole this camping thing improved. Sleeping, eating, drinking became a mutual enjoyment - obviously we had our own food etc! Mum and I enjoyed watching the day to day routine of the local rabbits, squirrels, magpies and a woodpecker. Both of us 'chilled out' but I managed the odd walk about despite a poorly leg.

We left there to spend one night at Musbury, Devon. Nice little site with a big pond and resident heron. Mum was excited because she had planned this stop so she could meet her Leonie Club ATC friend. I was only told about Asa and Kobe the Japanese Spits, 2 gorgeous extended friends. Well, never mind, they may not have liked me nor me them, so off to another bit of Devon.

Goodness, another canine, this time a Westie called Nicky. Not only a dog to meet here but a number of rabbits, crows and this time a fox. My mum just loves foxes. I just spent my time sleeping, eating and .....

I've had some good wishes whilst on holiday from some pals back home, Joey and Jasmine. I plan to meet their mum at Topaz on 3 August when my mum goes to the demo day.

Well all good things come to an end and we head off home tomorrow. Mum will have to do some shopping for me because I've eaten more than 162 tins of food and gone through 9 big bags of litter in the last 6 weeks. Hey ho!! I bet I break the scales at the vets now.

RAIN IS WET!!

It seems to have stopped raining today. Oh! I really should'nt have said that seeing as I have done some washing. Oh well! my fault if it starts yet again. Those of you who know Devon, especially the South Hams, will know how red the soil is. Well just now, it's red mud! Our awning ground sheet is one of those breathable ones and was grey 2 weeks ago. Now its red and green, the green being the grass which has grown through it and could really do with mowing!

I did manage a couple of hours out a week ago yesterday. I went to Finishing Touches in Totnes. Its a lovely craft store run by David Dommett, whom I have known for about 15yrs. The store has grown and grown and David has finally got his web site up and running: http://www.decocraft.co.uk/

it contains some of his stock, which I am sure will increase given time, but is worth a visit.

One more week to go before heading home. Toby has been very well and eating for England. He weighed 5kg last week but I think he must be 5.5kg by now! Greedy monkey.

No Fab Friday challenge this week as Leonie is busy with her and Nickys house move. I wish them all the best with that.

VET TIME AGAIN

Toby went to the vets in Totnes, Devon today for his 4weekly steroid injection. They had already rung our Vet in Kirkham, Preston to see which medication he required and were up to date with his health. As usual, Toby was a star. He never makes a fuss and does not flinch even though he has no idea who is looking at him. The vet he saw was wonderful with him and suggested that our vet has a look at his thyroid as it appears swollen. This was checked last year but seems to be a potential problem again. We will arrange that as soon as we get home in another 2weeks.

This picture of him was taken on a sunny day at the site we were at in Poole. I hope you like it.