31/01/2013

Tea for Two

Finally - the end of January is here. The last day is always a relief when you work in an Accountants.
Warning - photo heavy post!
Last Sunday we made tracks to London for one of my Christmas presents from himself.Afternoon tea at a very nice London Hotel..

On the train we went past the Olympic village - I managed a couple of photos as we sped past..
When we arrived I was in awe of the amazing flower displays and the general warmth and splendour it all.


We had finger sandwiches -followed by scones with cream and jam then little pastries after wards,accompanied by a huge choice of teas. I stuck to English Breakfast..





I even took a photo in the 'ladies' in me posh dress and coat!

Thank you Mr H - it was lovely.





29/01/2013

Cards for this week

Wow - where has the last week gone? I had a lovely trip out for afternoon tea on Sunday at a very nice hotel in London.It was my Christmas present -will share photos very soon..
Here's my cards for this week. I had a bit of a 'birdie' week!
This was using the Language of flowers kit
Topper is Daisies & Forget  me not 901116. The background is using glittery card from the Language of Flowers kit.
this one is using papers from the 'In the garden 12 x 12 paper pad for the background and the birds are from In the garden toppers 901254/55
here's another birdie one - everything is from the In the garden 12 x 12 paper pad.I punched the little birdie circles out and the little flowers are inked green. 
thanks for popping by as always.



22/01/2013

This weeks Kanban makes

These weeks fly past don't they? We still have loads of snow here,but it's stopped falling at last. Here are my cards for this week
The first one is stamped using a Rose rubber stamp from the Language of Flowers collection. I coloured it in with Pro Markers and used Distress Inks. The background card is Red Roses in Bloom - 901201.The side toppers are 901603/04
The second one is using the Lavender Rose 2 collection. Dusty Pink Roses Topper-901387,and sentiment 900750
and lastly, using Birthday Balloons Chocolate PCT9942 Toppers


21/01/2013

Exciting news !


Good Monday morning to you all- I hope you're all managing to cope with all the snowy weather.
Today - I'm thrilled and happy to say that I've been asked to join the Design Team over at A Trip Down Memory Lane. I've done a few guest spots for their monthly gallery and did a make and take at a recent retreat for them. To say I'm excited is a bit of an understatement really!
Anyway -  I recently bought some of the Graphic 45 'A Place in Time ' papers and 12
x 12 Easel book from them intending to do a page a month -and have just done January's - so here it is
Have a great Monday everyone.

19/01/2013

A Slanket Story

So - after buying a purple slanket and having the mickey taken out of it, I could never use it because,yes ....one of the boys or himself had taken it and was snuggled up  in it.
So I went and bought a leopard print brown one - thinking it was too girly - nope they nicked that one too - boys,husbands,dogs, I was always too late when I sat down -I wouldn't mind, but they all laughed when I bought the first one...
Sooo...I got so fed up with it I thought 'RIGHT' - I'll buy a PINK spotted one - THAT 'LL 
stop them .... It arrived Friday....football was on TV this afternoon.....



15/01/2013

This week's makes

I grunged it up a bit on one of my Kanban makes this week- and used colours that I wouldn't normally use too - and a bit of glimmer mist.It's funny how I always seem to fall back into my 'messy' zone! (Himself would agree with that looking at my craft room at the moment)...
I used backing card from the new Language of flowers kit -  Red Roses in Bloom - 901607 - and a lady stamp from their Jasper stamp set 9039
Then i made an envelope for  a gift voucher using the Cool Britannia Hearts Topper 900168 and Polka Navy background card 900182 - I thought it looked a bit Cath Kidston-ey
A simple Lavender Rose card for this one using 'Spots' background card and Watercolour Roses topper - 900756 
and then a layout - a bit special for me as this was one of the last things Dad and I did together - the garden party at Buckingham Palace - using the new Language of Flowers 12 x 12 pad and 'Handpicked by you toppers -901607/08 and Lavender Rose Lilac Hydrangea topper - 900747 and some flowers stamped from my own stash from Language of flowers pad..
That's it for this week - hope you like .

13/01/2013

Didn't we have a lovely day ....

the  day we went to  Bangor...Karen's crop - we also had a lovely day yesterday at Ann's ...
I spent  most of the time last week making a couple of cards for my weekly show and tell for Kanban. We had a lovely day doing our own thing, it was so nice to see Deb back in the scrapping fold , she scrapped up a storm and put me to shame!
We had a choice of Vanilla or Marmalade cupcakes that Karen had made...

We did have a 'bit of a moment' when there was a cry and lots of 'red stuff' all over poor Janice's table and in her stash - we thought she'd had an accident with a craft knife but it was one of her ink pads she had just bought that had unfortunately leaked badly everywhere... luckily Karen and Eileen came to the rescue....
Then yesterday we all met up again at Ann's crop ... 
I actually had a day scrapping and it was lovely.
Here's my version of one of Ann's layouts..Ann had done two lovely layouts and there was also some very scrummy Butternut Squash soup for lunch...
it was really nice too to be able to catch up with  a blog friend who I'd met before but Deb hadn't - the lovely Sandi was there too 

 Deb Karen and I had lots to talk about apart from scrappy stuff and dinners as we are all just a tad excited about a visit from some other very lovely blog friends from the other side of the Atlantic very soon that we needed to discuss ...
As always- thanks for popping by.



07/01/2013

Kanban time

We've had a bit of a rest over the Christmas and New Year period but we're back with a bang now..here are my Design team makes for this week..
First up -a bit of 'me ' stuff - using the Bella Italiano Venetian Script and Gondola stamp. Kanban have a new retail division now called Crafted By You - which is being uploaded constantly now with all the new products. I'm loving that they are now doing some 12 x 12 paper pads, they are so handy for scrapbooking and also backgrounds for cards and great for punching too.
I've coloured and glittered the water on here but it doesn't show up very well
This one is using another Kanban stamp which you can find here  Moulin Divas Belle Femme  -and the Oxford Collection paper pad 

This one is using the Vintage Tapestry paper pad for background paper and the Vintage Painted Roses topper - 901011
On to some butterflies ... lovely toppers - nice subtle colours - given a bit of the bling treatment but again it doesn't show up too well - using Mocha Damask background card 901029 and Chocolate Butterflies topper - 901006
                                         last but not least - one for the men
Background papers - In The Garden Paper Pad. Hole in one Topper and sentiment  - 900826 
Hope you like this week's makes - am having a nightmare with text on here it's driving me mad- sorry if it looks a bit weird! I'm not good with all this word stuff!

01/01/2013

Who loves you ?

Weird name  for a title I know but that was what flew into my head for this post as it's all about a fab afternoon and evening spent on Sunday going to see a show.
One of my Christmas presents was two tickets to see 'Jersey Boys' in London.
We've seen it before about five years ago but I love the Four Seasons music and have often said I'd like to go again.
So off we went to the west end and the buzz up in London was lovely - happy buzzy. It was very busy up there.I thought you might like to see a few pics of our trip...
There was a little stroll from the station - we went past L'escargot a very nice looking place - on closer inspection (himself looking at menu) we saw it was Marco Pierre White's and looked very nice..

Then we walked through Soho Square - I have no idea what this little building is all about but there was a statue of Charles 2nd in front of it - I think it's called the gardner's house for some reason and they have concerts there in the summer.

then it was round the corner to the theatre



The show was fab - but no photos were allowed of the stage and performance.
After the show we came out and strolled along - it really made me smile as we walked round the corner - all the lovely shows that are on 




We were right in the middle of it all - now I fancy seeing another one! 
We walked past China Town

The lights were nice too 

 and then we arrived at our eating venue - a place called Gauchos...
It was lovely- although himself said it was too dark and he couldn't see the menus!...

It was a bit dark in there but i liked it! Managed to get a photo of a chandelier and one of  yours truly- my eye was playing up for a couple of days before and was really sore that day.It turned out I had an infection and needed drops but it's feeling much better now.


We had a really nice meal - a couple of people had recommended it to us and we were not disappointed.
All in all a lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon - thank you Mr H - I really enjoyed it.