Totally Gorjuss 248 - Circles

Good morning everyone, I hope you all have a lovely weekend.

This week at Totally Gorjuss we'd like to see circles on your card. Another easy challenge for you. Thanks everyone who joined us last week and I hope you can all join us again this week.

As you all know I'm really into CAS cards at the moment so it won't be a surprise that this card is fairly CAS  too.

It's quite useful to have some "thank you" cards in your box so that's what I've made.

I used a topper from LOTV, pearls from the Hobby House and a sentiment from Stampin' Up! And how do you like my new stitched circles from Die-namics? I cut out 2 sizes to decide which one I wanted to use but I really liked how it looked using both of them.

Well I have a crop this afternoon. For once I'm organised!! I organised lots of cards and all the bits and pieces to make 24 Christmas cards on Thursday night! I really liked the white on white card I made two weeks ago so I'm making some more. They won't be identical as I've chosen a few different colours of card, pearls, gems and ribbon or string. I might even use different sentiments.

Catch you all later.

Totally Gorjuss 247 - Flowers.

Hi everyone, sorry about last week's post for Totally Gorjuss as there was no post on the TG blog. Net, our leader had a sick computer and had no-one else to do the post for her. She has now managed to post the next challenge and I'm late as I was waiting to see what was happening. This is the card I made for my friend's birthday. It was on Saturday so it's safe to let you see it now.

Everything is from Stampin' Up! I don't often use yellow but I thought it would cheer her up as she hasn't been very well recently.

Hope to see you over at Totally Gorjuss this week.

We've had a gorgeous day today here in Aberdeenshire. What a shame they haven't got this weather down in Glasgow for the last day and closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games. Luckily it doesn't seem to have dampened the enthusiasm of the spectators. I noticed earlier that the streets were lined for the cycle road race.

Catch you all soon.

Thanks for looking.

Totally Gorjuss 246 - Bingo.

Hi everyone, I'm here to show you my DT card for Totally Gorjuss. This week our theme is "Bingo."
     

  Pearls   -    Ribbon    -   Lace

      Buttons  -  string  -     glitter

             Dots       -  Buttons  -     texture

I've chosen to use pearls, string and texture and here's my card.

I used :-
Embossing folder and string :- Stampin' Up!
Pearls :- Hobby House.
I know it's a Christmas card but I've made so few cards recently that I thought at least this would be useful.

I'm a bit late this week. When I went to write my post last night I discovered that one of the items on my card did not fit anywhere on the grid. Not sure if it had been changed or I had written it down wrong!! Anyway I was too tired to make another card, I think it's all this lovely weather we've been having.

Totally Gorjuss 245 - Butterflies.

Morning everyone, hope you're all having a lovely weeked. I'm a bit shattered as my daughter, 2 grandchildren and 2 Labradors have been visiting us since Wednesday. Luckily I had the day off on Thursday but we've been out and about a lot and then I had to work yesterday afternoon and again this morning!

This week at Totally Gorjuss we'd like to see butterflies on your card. Now how easy is that? I love adding butterflies to my cards. I just hope my card isn't too like the card on the Penny Black die packaging! I was inspired by it by I added different flowers and it didn't have butterflies.

I used :-
Die :- Penny Black.
DP and butterflies :- Stampin' Up!
Flowers :- EK Success punch.
Pearls & gems :- Hobby House.

I hope you can join us this week. It would be nice to see you over there

Have a lovely weekend everyone and I'll catch up later after work.

Totally Gorjuss 244 - Include a Tag.

Just a quick post today as I've been working full-time all week and I'm shattered!

This week at Totally Gorjuss we'd like to see a tag on your card.

Here's my take on that.

I'd like to say thanks for looking even if no-one does!

Totally Gorjuss 243 - Bling is the Thing.

Good morning everyone. Why does Saturday come around so quickly? I've had another busy week with my knitting and crocheting. I've started another top and I found a cardigan I started in lovely pale yellow Rowan All Seasons Cotton x years ago!! I also managed to get some more squares done for my latest crochet blanket. Next week I have to work full time so I'll get some more done to relieve the boredom.

But you'll probably be wondering where my DT post is. Well if anyone's reading this that is! This week at Totally Gorjuss our theme is "Bling's the Thing."

My card is one of the one's I made for my boss and her Mum for her Aunt's/Sister's Golden Wedding Anniversary. This is the one her Mum chose.

I used :-

Sentiment :- Rubber Stampede.

Embossing Folder :- Couture Creations. (One of my favourite folders.)

Lace :- Ribbon Girl.

Pearls :- Hobby House.

Butterfly :- Stampin' Up!

Flower :- EK Success punches.

I'll catch up later.....I hope! This afternoon after work I'm going to make some lemon curd and lime curd. We're having a sales table after church tomorrow in aid of the windows fund. We've been replacing all the windows and this is for the last of them. As you can imagine they have to be specially made and are quite pricey!

Thanks for looking. Have a lovely weekend everyone.

Kat xx

Totally Gorjuss 242 - Pink and Green.

Good everyone, just a quick post from me today. I've made a really quick card for today's challenge at Totally Gorjuss. It's always handy to have a Sympathy card in your box and this is a lovely stamp for the purpose. It also works well for birthday or get well cards too.

I used :-

Image, sentiment and candy dots:- Stampin' Up!

Coloured with Stampin' Write markers.

I've got work this morning and then I'm going to get on with some knitting. I visited a fabulous wool shop in Aberdeen on Thursday and bought a couple of patterns and some wool. Well it would have been rude not to, wouldn't it? I had already been to John Lewis and bought some gorgeous Rowan wool and a knitting bag and needle roll. Lucky me these were all massively reduced in their sale.

I made another card similar to this one last night which I'll show you soon. I just heard that Catriona's mother-in-law had boken her wrist so I quickly made her a Get Well card with the same flower stamp.

Well I need to relax this afternoon as we're going to the theatre tonight. Again I hear you say! Two weeks ago we were at Dial M for Murder and this time we're going to see West Side Story. I love West Side Story. At school our PE teacher choreographed some dances for us using some of the music and we danced at the prize giving. The senior choir sang some of the songs too and I can still hear the alto line in my head!!

Thanks for looking and I'll catch up later.

Kat xx

Totally Gorjuss 241 Flower Power.

Good morning everyone. Saturday already and time for a new challenge at Totally Gorjuss. And what an easy theme we have for you this week. It's Flower Power and I know how you  all love your flowers.

I used :-

Image :- Stampin' Up!

Sentiment :-  Rubber Stampede.

Butterflies :- Stampin' Up! punch.

Pearls :- Hobby House.

This is the card I made for my boss to send to her aunt for her Golden Wedding anniversary. She loved it and so did her aunt. I'm always relieved when I make a card for someone else and they like it!

I thought I had time to write a quick post yesterday before work. But..........then I reallised that my photos were on my old laptop and I didn't have all my software installed on this one yet! My son came to visit last week for Father's day and couldn't resist playing with my new one. Which has sat in a corner for months as it has windows 8 which I found a bit of a mystery and it refused to let me use gmail. So now he's made it usable for me. So there was nothing for it but use the old laptop to add the photo. But...........last night was our WRI car treasure hunt and by the time I got home (late) my internet was playing up! So here I am early this morning writing this on my new laptop after adding the pic on my old one. Memo to self - get a memory stick today!

So I'd best go now cos I've got work as usual. Thanks for looking and I'll try to catch up later. Didn't have much time to see what my favourite bloggers were up to last week as I had a busy week....again!

Totally Gorjuss 240 - Dad

Good morning everyone and it's the weekend at last. So it must be time for another challenge at Totally Gorjuss. This week we'd like you to make a "Dad" card - surprise, surprise! I've made a card for my husband. Not that the image is like him but I don't have one of someone lying sleeping in a chair!

I used :-
Image and DP :- LOTV.
Sentiment :- Stampin' Up!
Card candy :- Craftwork Cards.

Simple card but just the sort of thing a man llikes!

Well I've got a crop this afternoon so maybe I'll get ahead with my DT cards.ter.

Thanks for looking and I'll catch up later.

Totally Gorjuss 239 - Embossing.

Hi everyone, isn't it nice to be Saturday again and have a chance to have some time to yourself. I hope. I have to work this morning as usual. I feel as if I've never been off work. My lovely freedom is just a memory!

This week at Totally Gorjusswe'd like to see some embossing on your card. We're sponsored by Which Craft UK who are offering £20 to spend on card blanks.

I've been having a spell of making Golden Wedding cards just now. This is the one I made for my lovely brother and sister-in-law who celebrated their anniversary yesterday. I'll show you the other two some other time.

I used :-

Sentiment :- Rubber Stampede.

Embossing folder :- Couture Creations.

Flowers :- EK Success punches.

Butterflies :- Stampin' Up!

Lace :- Ribbon Girl.

Pearls :- Hobby House.

Nesties.

I've been knitting a summer top in the gorgeous Debbie Bliss luxury silk print double knitting. The colours are lovely and it's a chevron pattern which suits the yarn perfectly. I never sew up things quickly, in fact I still have an Aran cardigan to sew up which I finished knitting weeks ago! But this time I'm dying to see my top finished so I think I'll sew it up this afternoon. I'll let you see it when it's finished.

Anyway thanks for looking. Catch you all later.

Totally Gorjuss Challenge 238 - Stitching.

Good morning everyone. I'm hoping for another sunny day like Thursday and Friday!

This week at Totally Gorjuss we'd like to see some stitching on your card. This can be real stitching or faux stitching like mine.

I needed to make a card for a friend's grandson who's just become a "big brother." I love this cute image. I also have a "big sister" stamp.

I used :-

Image ;- Funky Kits.

Colouring :- Promarkers.

Sentiment :- Hero Arts and Stampin' Up!

Card Candy :- Craftwork Cards.

I quite like how it's turned out, nice and simple for a wee boy.

I'm at work this morning as usual. At least back to normal now after a few weeks of freedom. And yes I'd be lying if I said I was pleased to be back at work. I've really enjoyed being at home and I never got bored! I maybe haven't managed to make many cards or do much blogging but I have done a lot of knitting and crocheting. I'm knitting a summer top just now (as well as crocheting 2 blankets) and I've remembered how much I hate using a circular needle!

We're going to the theatre tonight to see Dial M for Murder so I'm looking forward to that. We haven't been to the theatre for ages but the email offering £10 off was a nice incentive!

Catch you all later. Thanks for looking.

Kat xx

Totally Gorjuss Challenge 237 - Buttons and/or Bows.

Good morning everyone. Is it just me or does Saturday come round really quickly? What's even more scary is that on Monday it'll be 8 weeks since my operation! I went back to work yesterday as I thought a half day on Friday and Saturday would break me in and my colleague has agreed to work on Monday afternoon so I only need to do the morning. You can see from this that we don't have the Bank Holiday on Monday. On the plus side we have a local holiday the next Monday.

But enough waffle, I'm trying to get this post done while I have an Internet connection!

At Totally Gorjuss this week our challenge is Buttons and/or Bows. I've only managed one button but I've added two bows.

I used :-

Flower :- Tim Holtz Tattered Florals.

Sentiment, button and twine :- Stampin' Up!

Pearls :- Hobby House.

Embossing Folder and -Doily :- Sizzix.

Martha Stewart punch and ribbon.

I've bought my neighbour a gorgeous Orchid as well and I'll take it over after work. I thought about flowers but I think she'll probably get lots of flowers and hopefully a plant will last longer.

As usual I've been a bad blogger. I thought when I was off work I'd do lots of blogging but with this awful connection I just get fed up and switch of my laptop. If I'm being honest I think after five years I'm getting fed up blogging! Never thought I'd say that.

Thanks for looking and I'll be round to see what you're up to after work.

Kat xx

Totally Gorjuss 236 - Lace.

Good morning everyone. Hasn't it been a lovely sunny, warm week. Well I hope it has been for everyone. It's been lovely here but now it's Saturday and it's looking a bit cloudy!

Time for another challenge at Totally Gorjuss. This week we'd like to see lace on your card. I've added a piece of lace but you could use a lace die cut or doily if you like. I must apologise if you can't see my lace very well. It is there but it's a bit hidden by the image and the ribbon! I made the card for a colleague who wanted a special card for her granddaughter's first birthday. And she likes a lot of bling.

I used :-
Image :- LOTV topper.
Lace and ribbon :- Ribbon Girl.
Gems :- Hobby House.
Corner :- Whimsy.
Sentiment :- Stampin' Up!e Glamour Dust and Nesties.

As usual must apologise for being a bad blogger. I'm still off wme ork and you'd think I'd have lots of time to blog but somehow it doesn't happen! This week I've been at the nurse, the doctor and the dentist. Thankfully I don't need to see any of them again, at least not for a long time I hope! I can go back to work next week :(  Probably for the best as I'm enjoying being at home too much! I've also been baking for my WRI meeting so that was an evening out, an afternoon at our knitting and crochet group. And I nearly forgot an afternoon doing craft at Messy Church and time preparing for it. Wow when I see all that written down it does look like a busy week. Good thing I wasn't working too!!

I've got a crop this afternoon so I'd best go and try to organise something to do there. Lots to do but not much motivation. I need a 90th birthday card for my neighbour, a birthday card for my daughter and 2 new baby cards and a big brother card. Plenty to keep me occupied.

Thanks for looking and surely I can manage to do more blogging this week. If that dratted internet connection lets me.

Have a lovely weekend everyone.

Kat xx

Totally Gorjuss -235 - Don't Be Square!

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Good morning everyone.Time for another Saturday challenge at Totally Gorjuss. This week our challenge is "Don't Be Square." Easy isn't it? All you need to do is make a different style of card. If you usually make square cards, like me, why not make a different shaped card or even just a simple rectangular one.

Here's what I made. This quick and easy card is for my brother who is having a big birthday on Sunday and as you know men don't like fussy!

I used :-
Image :- Papermania.
Sentiment :- Stampin' Up!
Washi Tape :- Fantastic Ribbons.
Stamping done in Stampin' Up! Real Red to match the red layer of card.

I'm not sure if this card fits the one layer challenge at Less is More as I've added a piece of washi tape but I'll enter anyway!

I'm off out to a coffee morning today. I usually work on a Saturday morning so I miss coffee mornings although I can manage to go to soup and sweet fundraisers. This one is in aid of Christian Aid as this is the start of Christian Aid week. Must remember to take a raffle with me. I'd quite like to win it back cos it's yummy chocs!! On the other hand I've maybe eaten enough sweeties recently.

Enjoy your weekend everyone and thanks for looking. Catch up with you all later.

Kat xx

Totally Gorjuss 234 - Things with Wings.

Good morning everyone hope you are all ready to enjoy another Bank Holiday weekend. I'm quite miffed because this is the second Monday holiday I've missed because I've been off work!! Actually it's quite worrying how much I'm loving being at home all day every day! Don't tell anyone but I think I'm going to start driving next week. Then I can at least go for my papers and then after another week or so I can go back to work.

But as it's Saturday again it's time for another challenge at Totally Gorjuss. This week our challenge is "Things with Wings." That should be easy, shouldn't it? You could have fairies, angels, birds or butterflies. I've chosen to use butterflies as I love butterflies and I found lots of them in my bit box. I also found the flower in their too. Oops nearly forgot to tell you that we're sponsored by The Ribbon Girl this week. Wish I could join in - I love their products!

So here's what I made with my "bits."

I used :-
Flower :- Magnolia Doohicky dies.
Butterflies :- Stampin' Up! punch.
Sentiment :- Stampin' Up!
Pearls :- Hobby House.
Doily.

I really liked the layout from, last weeks Less is More challenge so I decided to use it for my DT card. I'm not sure when I last entered a challenge. I've hardly even been online for weeks now. Every time my internet goes off I just switch off my laptop, lazy person!

Not sure if this fits Lizy's Frugal Friday Challenge but I'll enter anyway!

Have a lovely weekend everyone and I'll catch up later.

Thanks for looking.

Kat xx

Look what I've been making........

Hi everyone. I thought I'd show you what I've been making recently instead of blogging.

This is one of my Malawi blankets.

I also made 3 fish and chip jumpers and hats and 3 other jumpers and hats. I thought some random wool would be nice for a change. Stripes would have been a nice change but it's enough of an ordeal for me to sew up knitting without having to sew up stripes neatly!!

Maybe I should have laid them out a bit better you can't see the full beauty of them when they're all folded up like this lol!!

I'm also nearly finished another blanket that I've only been working on for a week! I got a bit obsessed with it! I used 17 colours that were left over from other blankets. I decided to make it random and I was determined that no two squares would be the same. Neither random nor no two squares the same are as easy as they sound. Random is quite difficult for me, I think my brain must be too tidy and ordered! As you can see from the blanket above I usually use four colours and move the colours one place along every time. Not sure that makes sense but if you look at the blanket you'll see what I mean. I think! I'm working on the edging of my latest blanket so I should be able to show it to you soon. I've also finished and Aran cardigan but needless to say it's still waiting to be sewn up!!

Best go now and think about organising tea. It's been really nice and sunny here today and the dogs have been out in the garden most of the time. It wasn't as warm as last Monday but I did manage to have my coffee outside this morning.

Thanks for looking and I'll see you all tomorrow with my DT card for Totally Gorjuss.

Kat xx

Totally Gorjuss 233 - Cuddly.

Good morning everyone. A bit later than I meant to be but that's because it took me so long to add my card to the DT blog that I couldn't be bothered scheduling today's post! It seems as if every time I tried to do something last night my connection went off - for more than an hour at a time 2 or 3 times. I knew I should have done it in the afternoon. I never learn!

Anyway here's my card for this week's challenge at Totally Gorjuss. This week we'd like to see something cuddly on your card. Easy isn't it? I'm sure everyone has something cuddly in their stash.

I used :-
Image & DP :- LOTV topper.
Washi Tape :- Fantastic Ribbons.
Flowers :- Nellie Snellen punches.
Gems :- Hobby House.
Corner :- Whimsy.

Well I think I'll go and have my coffee now. The weather here is pretty dire so I don't think I'll be going out for my daily walk. I've tried to be good and I've been out for a walk at least once every day, weather permitting! It's been very misty here for a few days now but today there have been some very heavy showers  already and it's only just after 10am. My daughter might come later and take me out for a coffee this afternoon. ie she drives and I buy. I'll be glad when I can drive again! I went for my check up on Wednesday and the surgeon was pleased with me so I don't need to go back to the hospital again. Now all I need to do is get out on my own again. I live over a mile from the main road so I can't even nip onto a bus! Nuisance not even being able to go for the paper, still not long now.

Thanks for looking and if you've got time to comment I'd love to hear from you.

Have a lovely weekend everyone.

Kat xx

Totally Gorjuss 232 - Use die cuts.

Good morning everyone. Hope you are all well this Easter weekend. We don't normally have the holiday Monday unless it happens to fall on the first Monday in April. But of course I'm off anyway as I need to be off for a few weeks after my operation. That'll be 3 weeks on Monday and no I'm not bored being at home all day. I can always find something to do. Before my craft group last week I made myself sew up 6 jumper and hat sets that have been sitting finished for ages. I hate sewing up knitting. But I've been good I knitted another jumper and hat from some wool I had left from one set and I've got it sewn up already!! I'm also quite well on with an Aran cardigan - for me! I haven't knitted Aran for ages so I'm enjoying doing it.

Enough waffle though, I need to tell you about this week's challenge at Totally Gorjuss. This week we'd like to see die cuts on your cards. Easy isn't it? After all we all love our die cuts, don't we?

This week I've made another baby card and I've used one of my favourite dies. Isn't it sweet?

I used :-
Image and sentiment :- LOTV.
Die cut :- Memory Box.
Colouring :- Promarkers.
Pearls :- Hobby House.
DP :- Forever Friends.
Glamour Dust.

Not sure what I'm going to do today. It's our crop day but my friend isn't going as it's her Mum's birthday and she's going to visit her. Since I'm relying on her to give me a lift at the moment I guess I'll be staying at home. My younger daughter might come to visit and she might even take me for a coffee so that would be nice. I'll be really glad when I can drive again. I don't like to keep asking other people to take me places even if it's only a 7 mile round trip to the village!

Have a nice weekend everyone and thanks for looking and for any comments you kindly leave if you have a minute to spare.

Kat xx

Totally Gorjuss - 231 - Charming.

Hi everyone. Sorry I've not been around but while I'm recuperating from my operation I'm just lazing around watching stuff I've got on Sky+ and knitting and crocheting. I must show you my latest crochet blanket since I've remembered to take a photo of this one!

But it's Saturday again and time for another challenge at Totally Gorjuss. This week we'd like to see a "charming" card. Maybe you'd like to use a charming image or add a charm, it's up to you. We're sponsored by the lovely people at Crafters' Companion so I hope you can join us this week.

Here's what I made this week. Isn't that charm sweet!

I used :-
Image and sentiment :- LOTV.
Colouring :- Promarkers.
DP :- Forever Friends.
Pearls :- Hobby House.
Ribbon and charm from stash.

Thanks for looking and I'll pop back later to see what's been happening on my favourite blogs. I can't believe it's about 2 weeks since I did any catching up! I didn't really have much time to go online when I was at Catriona's and then I was in hospital from Sunday to Friday and we had no internet access. And unfortunately since I came home I've been very lazy. Not, I hasten to add because I don't feel well but just because I'm lazy! As I said I've had lots of recorded programmes to watch. I've also been conscientiously trying to go out for at least one walk every day! It feels really funny to go for a walk without the dogs but I think it'll be quite a while before I can take such big strong dogs for a walk. I think the worst bit is not being able to drive at the moment. I can't even jump on a bus because the main road is over a mile away. My friend has been very good and taken me to the nurse and other people have also said don't be stuck. But somehow I don't like to bother people. I would happily help anyone who needed help but when it comes to the bit I don't like to be a nuisance!

Catch up later. Have a lovely weekend everyone.

Kat xx

Totally Gorjuss 230 - White on White.

Good morning everyone. I'm a wee bit late this week but I've got my excuse ready! I went into hospital last Sunday afternoon to have an operation on Monday morning. I meant to schedule a post before I went in but we spent the weekend visiting my daughter and when I got home about teatime yesterday I couldn't be bothered. Lazy me!

Anyway here's my card for this weeks challenge at Totally Gorjuss. Our theme this week is "White on White" and we are sponsored by the lovely people at The Ribbon Girl.

Here's what I made. A customer at work asked if I'd make a card for her niece and her husband who are renewing their vows. I made two cards and this is was her favourite. She took the other one too as her sister couldn't find a suitable card either.

I used a favourite weddingy (of course it's a word!) image.

I used :- Image :- LOTV.
Lace :- Ribbon Girl.
Flowers :- Nellie Snellen punches.
Pearls :- Hobby House.
Embossing folder :- Swiss Dots.
Butterflies :- Stampin' Up!

I'd best go and do something relaxing now. I'm trying to catch up on all the tv programmes I recorded while I was in hospital.

Thanks for looking and I'll see you all later.

Kat xx

Totally Gorjuss 229 - Food/Drink.

Good morning everyone, as you read this I'll be visiting my daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren in Crieff for the weekend. I've been looking forward to seeing them but unfortunately we need to go home on Sunday afternoon. 

This week at Totally Gorjuss our theme is "Food/drink." As you can see on my card it looks as if they're having a party so I thought it would be a suitable image for a birthday card!

I used :-
Image :- LOTV.
Colouring :- Promarkers.
Sentiment :- Judikins.
Candy dots :- Stampin' Up!

Might be nice for a child's card, what do you think?

I've made Easter cards for Poppy and Oliver and I've just finished two little boxes to put some mini eggs in too. I got some of those yummy Lindt bunnies and a couple of tubes of mini eggs too as the little boxes won't hold much and Oliver LOVES chocolate! I know Easter is a few weeks away but I thought that this would save me having to post their presents. Catriona can keep them somewhere safe till Easter.

Sorry I've been such a bad blogger recently! The other week I was out three nights in a row and this week it's two nights. My internet connection is also playing up so if it goes off I just give up, switch off and go off and knit or crochet. This is only part of the reason but I'll explain the rest next week.

Meantime thanks for looking and I'll try to get round my favourite blogs at the weekend. I think Catriona's connection is more reliable than mine so I'll take my laptop with me.

Kat xx

Totally Gorjuss 228 - For Mum.

Can't believe it's Saturday again already. This week has just flown. As usual my internet connection has been awful and I don't have the patience to wait and see if it comes back on. If it goes off I just lose patience and switch off. But of course I'm missing checking out my favourite blogs so apologies for that. Sometimes I can use it during the day if I'm not at work. I've sneaked on here on Friday morning when I should be hoovering etc!

This week at Totally Gorjuss the theme is "For Mum." I've made a Mum card but I haven't put Happy Mother's Day on it as I don't have a Mum any more or a Mother-in-law. My reasoning is that maybe someone will ask for a birthday card for their Mum! I accidentally bought this stamp from LOTV at the SECC a few years ago. I say accidentally because I didn't notice that the balloons actually said MUM!! Observant or what?

I also used :-
Colouring :- Promarkers.
Pearls :- The Hobby House.
Corners :- Whimsy Die.
Sakura clear, glitter gel pen.

We're sponsored by Fantastic Ribbons this week. If you're anything like me you won't be able to resist popping over to their website for a look.

Well as usual I have work this morning and then a crop this afternoon. Unfortunately my younger daughter is coming out to get her hair cut in the village and she usually likes to go for coffee and cake afterwards. Why do you always get two things you want to do at the same time?

I'll try to visit some of you later if my internet connection allows. At least I'm managing to do my DT work. I'd feel really bad if I didn't visit the people who take the time to enter our challenges. Luckily I can sometimes get online on my iPad, I'm just not keen on using it to post as it seems to like putting my pics on sideways!!

Thanks for looking. Have a lovely weekend everyone.

Kat xx

Totally Gorjuss 227 - Thank You.

Hi everyone. As usual I have a very temperamental connection so I'll make this brief and hope to come back later after work.

Here's my card for this week's challenge at Totally Gorjuss.

Thanks for looking. Catch you later. I hope!

Kat xx

Totally Gorjuss 226 - Pink and Green.

Good morning everyone. Is it really Saturday again? Where does the time go? I guess if you can see this it must be Saturday right enough!

So it must be time for another challenge at Totally Gorjuss. Thanks to everyone who joined us last week and don't forget to check if you won. We're sponsored by Crafters' Companion this week so I'm sure you'll want to join us.

I've made a birthday card for my great-niece this week. She'll be 21 on the 15th so I'm in plenty of time, I just need to remember to post it! Great-niece makes me sound ancient doesn't it? I'd like to point out that my brothers are 9 and 12 years older than me and I was only about 14 when my first niece was born lol!

Hope Heather likes her card. What do you think?

I used the banner punch from Stampin' Up! to cut the banners from this gorgeous LOTV paper. The hearts are cut out and embossed with Fashionable Hearts Embosslits from SU and the butterflies were cut out with the Bitty Butterfly punch also from SU. I added a few gems from the Hobby House.

I'll try to catch up with you all this evening. I know I've been a very bad blogger recently and I can only apologise. This afternoon is our WRI group show. Their are 9 institutes in our group and it is very competitive. For once this year I was organised and not rushing to take my entries to my friend on Friday evening. I even had my cherry scones made for the teas. We were at her house on Monday to lay out our co-operative table. This consists of 6 different items and mine was a congrats card for a new arrival. I had to make it in green and lemon as the lady who was making the knitted item made a pram blanket in white, lemon and green random wool. I would have preferred pink or blue but I can see her point as she knitted it for her unborn grandchild and she doesn't know if it is a boy or a girl.

Thanks for looking and for all your kind comments. It's nice to get a bit of encouragement and not feel as if you're on your own lol!

Kat xx

Slap fingers for me!

Sorry for being such a terrible blogger this last week. Well even worse than usual. I've managed to do my DT commenting but that's all. I've hardly even switched the laptop on. I haven't had a good week healthwise and in fact I didn't even get to work last Saturday morning. First time I've ever been off work ill in nearly 18 years. I'm pretty annoyed with myself for having to have a day off but there was no way I could have worked. On the plus side I have worked every day I'm supposed to from Monday till today. I'll explain soon though. I just hope you don't all leave me!!

Kat xx

Totally Gorjuss 225 - Happy Birthday.

Good morning everyone. Another working Saturday morning for me as usual!

Time for another challenge at Totally Gorjuss. This week we'd like you to make a birthday card. Something we need quite often so I hope you can join us. We're sponsored by the lovely people at The Ribbon Girl. It was my husband's birthday the other day and this is the card I made for him. I can't believe I made such a "lazy" card.

Everything I used is from Stampin' Up!

This afternoon I'm hoping to finish my entries for our big WRI show next Saturday. For once I'm not going to  be finishing things on Friday after work before I can take them to my friend! We're going to her house on Monday evening to set out our table for the co-operative competition so I'll be able to take my entries then and save myself stress.

Thanks for looking and I'll catch up later.

Kat xx

Totally Gorjuss 224 - Use String.

Good morning everyone. Another week where I haven't achieved very much on the cardmaking front.  I did have an afternoon at the craft group but that involved knitting! I more or less lost my day off on Thursday as it was my day for Messy Church. I had to spend the morning preparing. We were painting on glass jars this month and unfortunately I'm not known for my artistic skills. I managed a rainbow and some flowers. The children enjoyed it so that's all that matters. They went off home with their jars and tealights to light at home.

This week at Totally Gorjusswe'd like you to use string on your card or project. One of the girls at work asked if I'd make a 21st birthday card for one of the young lads who works in the shop when he's not at college. I've used a stamp from one of my favourite stamps sets from Papermania. It's ideal for male cards as it has a good variety of images. Here's what I made.

I matted the image on Real Red from Stampin' Up! The image was stamped with Real Red too as was the sentiment from LOTV. I finished off with some red and white baker's twine from the Ribbon Girl.

I've got a crop after work today so I'll catch up later.

Thanks for looking and I hope you can join us. We're sponsored by the Hobby House this week. One of my absolute favourite places to buy some of my favourite embellishments, pearls and gems.

Kat xx

Totally Gorjuss 223 - Lovey Dovey.

Hi everyone, I'm a bit late with my post for Totally Gorjuss this week. I'm blaming the weather as one moment I had Internet access and the next it was gone! At least it's working now but my heating is off now, the weather has put it off a few times recently!!

Anyway this week our theme is "Lovey Dovey." ok I know Valentine's Day was yesterday but maybe you've got a card you've made already that you'd like to share with us. We're sponsored by the lovely Tracy at Dies to Die for this week. I love her shop, don't you?

Here's what I made for my husband.

I used :-
Die :- Heart Ensemble from Memory Box.
Sentiment :- Stampin' Up!
Glitter added to heart with a Sakura clear, glitter gel pen.
Ribbon from stash.

I'm off to have a look around my favourite blogs now.

Have a lovely weekend everyone and thanks for popping in to see me.

Kat xx

Totally Gorjuss 222 - Sentiment as the main focus.

Good morning everyone. I hope everyone is well and looking forward to a lovely weekend.

This week at Totally Gorjuss we would like to see a card with the sentiment as the main focus. Sounds easy..........or does it?! Again I've gone for something very simple. I think this does really mean that the focus is on the sentiment.

I got a bit carried away at the last minute and made two cards to show you this week.

I used :-
Sentiments :- Sassy Salutations from Stampin' Up!
Candy dots :- Stampin' Up!
Colouring :- Stampin' Write markers.
Washi Tape from stash.

I hope you can join us this week. We're sponsored by Crafter's Companion and it's always worth a look at their website to see what goodies they have to tempt you.

Thanks for looking and I'll see what you're up to after work.

Kat xx

For a new baby girl.

One of the girls at work asked if I'd make her a baby card to give to the bosses on the birth of their granddaughter. She said she didn't fancy any of the cards in the shop!

I'd already made mine and had one in my box but I ended up making 2 more to let her choose.

I used some favourite LOTV images that I keep going back to in spite of the fact that I have some new ones.

I used some of that lovely new lace again.

This time I added some lovely pink ribbon.

As I said both images are from LOTV with matching sentiments and coloured with Promarkers. The pearls are from the Hobby House as usual. And I added some glitter to the little mobile on the second card with a Sakura clear glitter gel pen.

CAS again but I'm quite happy with them. I expect you're wondering which one my colleague chose. Well she didn't choose one of them at all. She liked them both but ended up choosing the one I had in my box. It was pink with white ribbon and a pink pram cut out with that lovely Marianne die I used here. Not to worry though cos now I've got an extra baby girl card in my box.

Well thanks for looking. I'll be back tomorrow with my DT card for Totally Gorjuss.

Kat xx

Love!

One of our Messy Church leaders asked me to make her a Valentine card. She's actually going to give a service/talk at a local nursing home so she wanted a large card. She gave me some card which unfortunately she had already folded! I don't know about you but I can't work with card that isn't straight and this wasn't straight in any direction. Unfortunately it was such a big piece of card that it didn't fit in my guillotine or trimmer. I persevered though and got it to a more manageable size. I still wasn't comfortable with it as it is much bigger than the biggest card I've ever made. I left it with my colleague at the post office and Beatrice's husband picked it up today. She sent me a text to say she was delighted with it. Quite a surprise! But you can judge for yourselves as here it is.

I used :-

Hearts :- Nesties.

Butterflies :- vellum and punch both from Stampin' Up!

Sentiment :- Cut out with Cricut.

Pearls :- Hobby House.

DP :- LOTV.

Ribbon from stash.

She didn't want anything fancy. Suggested maybe a heart but I couldn't imagine a card this size with a heart so I tried to keep it simple but just kind of size it up from my usual type of card. Anyway if she's happy, I'm happy!

Thanks for looking and I'll see you tomorrow with some baby cards I made for a colleague to give her a choice.

Kat xx

Totally Gorjuss 221 - Sunny Colours.

Good morning everyone. I don't know about you but it's been a terrible week here weather-wise. It's been rainy, windy and really cold too. People keep talking about snow but so far so good. Fingers crossed it stays away, at least you can still get about in the rain!

Anyway my fingers are cold as I'm typing this on Friday evening so I'm going to make this short!

At Totally Gorjuss this week we'd like you to use "sunny colours." Not the sort of colours I usually use but I think it's worked out ok.

I used :-
Card :- Calypso Coral.
Image :- So Very Grateful
Stampin' Write markers.
Crochet lace trim.
All from Stampin' Up!

Well I hope you can join us this week for this nice easy challenge. We're sponsored by the Ribbon Girl this week so you can be sure of finding something nice to buy if you win.

Thanks for looking and I'll catch up with you all later.

Kat xx

Don't you just love Blogger. This was scheduled for 8.30 this morning!! Thanks Blogger.

Cosy Pram.

Hi everyone, can't believe I've managed to post more than once in the one week! I thought you might like to see another card I made to celebrate the birth of my boss's new granddaughter.

I couldn't resist this lovely baby image!

I used :-

Image and sentiment :- LOTV.

Colouring :- Promarkers.

Pearls :- Hobby House.

Very simple but I'm quite happy with it.

Well best go now and finish my hoovering before it's time to have my lunch and go to work.

I'll see you tomorrow with my DT card for Totally Gorjuss. This week it's all done and dusted and I just need to remember to schedule a post for tomorrow morning lol!

Thanks for looking.

Kat xx

Big Brother!

No not that one! I don't do so called reality shows. I can't be bothered with that kind of stuff. I don't want to offend anyone that likes that  kind of thing but it seems as if you get every idiot under the sun on these programmes! I've never seen any of them but I've heard perfectly normal people talking about watching them and it makes me despair!!

Anyway here's my "Big Brother" card which I made for my boss's grandson who has just become a big brother. So far he seems quite taken on with his wee sister.

I used :-

Image :- Funky Kits.

Sentiment :- Hero Arts and Stampin' Up!

Colouring :- Promarkers.

Washi Tape.

It's quite simple but boys don't really like anything fancy and this little lad's only 3.

Well I'm going off to a friend's house tonight to do some crafting so I'd best go off and have my tea now.

Thanks for looking.

Kat xx

Welcome to the world!

My boss's son and daughter-in-law welcomed their new baby daughter to the world on Friday. Not sure if their little boy, Logan, welcomed his little sister but I'm sure he'll soon get used to her! They are calling her Isla. Isn't that a lovely name? So far I've made one card but I have some images stamped ready to make another one plus a "big brother" card. I took some images to my crop yesterday to colour. Unfortunately I forgot to take my Promarkers. What an idiot! Luckily I had my crochet in the car so I just had to do that instead.

I made this today and I must apologise for the photo as you can see some sticky pads under the hood of the pram. Luckily it doesn't look as bad as this in real life.

Pram :- Marianne. One of my favourite dies.

Sentiment :- A Word for You from Stampin' Up!

Lace :- From my local craft shop. Only 20p/metre so I bought 3m and 3m of blue.

Pearls :- Hobby House.

Challenges for this card :-

Less is More :- Sketch.
In the Pink :- Diecuts and Punches.

It's been a funny day here. I mentioned yesterday that our minister was retiring after being here for exactly 40 years. This morning was his last service and in spite of a horrendous morning of wind and heavy rain there was a good turnout. Some people, needless to say, had never seen the inside of the church for many years. Of course they were still very welcome and I'm sure Rodger appreciated their presence.

It was quite an emotional service and at one point Rodger had to take a moment to compose himself before he could carry on. We always have tea and coffee and a biscuit in the hall after the service and when Rodger and Alison and their children, Barbara and Paul eventually managed to reach the hall - it took a while for them to speak to everyone - there was yet another cake to cut and photos to take. Alison says she will be at the Guild tomorrow night for the last time. We will really miss her there, she's a lovely lady and not at all pushy and very much just one of us.

On Friday evening on of our elders presented Rodger and Alison with a scrapbook of their time in Cruden Parish. It's a very, very big scrapbook. The lady who made it was at the crop yesterday and was still finishing it so I was lucky enough to have a good look at it. It's very impressive and I'm sure they will look at it time and time again. It was funny to see some of the people who are still with us who were very young then. It was also fascinating to see all the people who are gone now. We have been here 25 years so a lot of the photos and occasions were familiar.

Sorry to bore you all but this has been an important week for us here in the parish of Cruden in Aberdeenshire!

I suppose I'll need to do my ironing now. I'm hoping to have a bit more time now to craft as I'm officially not working on a Tuesday afternoon now unless I'm need for holiday or illness cover.

Kat xx

Totally Gorjuss 220 - Furtastic.

Oops guess who forgot to write this post! I posted my card on the DT website at the beginning of the week and meant to schedule this post as I knew I would be out on Friday evening.

Our minister is retiring after being here for exactly 40 years. He came on the 24th of January 1974 and his last service is tomorrow. We had a social evening where various people spoke about things that had happened during the last 40 years. So we had representatives from various organisations and initiatives that Rodger had been involved. We heard from Sunday School leaders, flower festival organiser, the walking group, the craft group, the Guild, the BBs and so on. Rodger himself spoke near the beginning after the choir opened proceedings. They closed with a few songs and solos from The Sound of Music. Especially funny was their take on 16 going on 17 which changed into 60 going on 70! They also had a banner with a suggestion for a name for his new home - "DUNPREACHIN!" The evening ended with tea, coffee, shortbread and a piece of his celebration cake. The congregation and other people from both villages had bought him a top of the range telescope and gave him a generous cheque. This was presented by my neighbour who is the senior elder and who was also on the committee which chose him in the first place. She also made a lovely speech. Rodger and his wife are keen birdwatchers so he was delighted with the new telescope.

Anyway enough waffle, here's the card I made for this week's challenge at Totally Gorjuss. The challenge this week is "Furtastic." Easy, all you need to do is make a card with an animal on it. Now you might think I'm getting a bit ahead of myself this week with a Christmas card in January but I couldn't resist this sweet image from LOTV. And remember we're sponsored by Lili of the Valley this week which is really good as they have some lovely new images just now.

Colouring :- Promarkers.
Pearls :- Hobby House.
Snowflake :- Marianne Creatables die.
Glamour Dust.

I spent ages trying to find what I'd used to make the snowflake as I have lots of snowflakes cut out ready to use. I was really beginning to think I'd never find where it came from lol!

Well better late than never I suppose.

Thanks for looking and I'll be round to see what everyone's been up to later.

Kat xx

Totally Gorjuss 219 - Pearls and/or Lace.

Good morning everyone. Hope you are all well. I'm feeling quite chirpy as my internet connection is up and running again. There were a few hiccups along the way but with the help of the "helpline" yesterday I got it sorted out at last. Today I posted back two, yes two, routers. The security details for the first one had somehow got messed up and the second one appeared to be faulty. I say appeared because when the third one arrived yesterday and seemed to be faulty too I had to phone the helpline again! This time the chap on the helpline realised that something that should happen automatically when you switch the router hadn't happened so he talked me through what to do and hurray the offending red light turned green. So maybe the second router wasn't faulty but no-one thought of that!

Anyway enough waffle, it's Saturday so it's time for a new challenge over at Totally Gorjuss. This week we'd like you to use pearls and/or lace. Fantastic! I love pearls and lace so it was no hardship to use both on the same card lol! You'll have to excuse the dodgy photo though!

I used :-
Image and sentiment :- Simply Sketched from Stampin! Up!
Coloured with Rose Red, Garden Green and Basic Black Stampin' Write markers.
Lace :- Ribbon Girl.
Pearls :- Hobby House.

As you can see I've gone for the CAS style again. I think it's perfect for this lovely image. I did some paper piercing round the image. I don't often do this and you can probably see I'm not very good at it.

I'm still using my dodgy old laptop but I have a lovely new laptop sitting here just begging to be used. I ordered it last Thursday directly from Dell and it arrived on Monday. The courier actually brought it to my work as I had left a note on the back door in case he came when I was out! I think I'll need time to work out what I'm doing with it as it has a completely different Windows system on it. And it looks a bit scarey!! To say the least. Took me a bit of fiddling around to find out how to switch it off.

Well I'll see you all later after work. I'd like to cut my working hours this year but Tuesday afternoon is the time I want to ditch. I'll probably have fewer holidays but at least I'll have all these lovely afternoons off!

Thanks for looking and I really appreciate your lovely comments.

Kat xx

Totally Gorjuss 218 - Manly.

Good morning everyone. This week at Totally Gorjuss we'd like you to make a "manly" card. Lots of people don't like making male themed cards so this will give you a chance to practise! We're sponsored by Crafters' Companion this week.

Here's my male card. Not sure what I think of it but it's made now lol!

I used :-

DP :- Sweater Weather from Stampin' Up!

Sentiment :- Simply Sketched and Fabulous Phrases from SU too.

Mosaic punch from SU.

Catch you all later after work.

Kat xx