A New Year...

...forget it - unless there's Chocolate.

There were a couple of images that I really liked from the latest "CADC" progressive challenge 10 selection - this was probably my favourite.
The image brings to mind a number of sayings...A balanced diet is a cookie in one hand and chocolate in the other...is probably the most obvious.
This particular image was supplied by Bugaboo Stamps. They have so many fun and quirky characters in their range.

This card is a pale blue patterned card for the card blank. A paper doily (from the 99p Store), a ribbon from a recent Papermania collection and the image coloured using Copic pens.

The challenge suggested using a theme of new beginnings - whether that be...New Year, new job, new you etc. Hope you like...................................

Betty Blue...

...with something new.

Mum's nickname whilst growing up was 'Betty Blue' because her favourite colour was...you guessed it - Blue!!!

She really loves the colour - the front of her bungalow is blue, the side fence is blue, the kitchen & extention are decorated in lemon...AND BLUE - I think you get the picture LOL

So it was a 'no brainer' to turn this...
...into this...
...which in turn became...
...this!

Mum loves her new scarf and it seems to have been a perfect match for the fleece jacket that she recently bought herself. Enjoy your scarf, Betty Blue...............................

Aren't these super...

...sooooooooooooooo pretty.
Yes I have been drooling over lots of Andy's creations over at Pinnacle Crafts because he has been playing with lots of the thin dies.

I have a few Spellbinder dies, Nesties, Go Kreate, xCut & Marianne but nowhere near the numbers that I know some of my crafting friends have. With just a few exceptions, most of my collection are fairly standard shape sets - oval, square, circle, label, tag.

Andy has been using quite a few Memory Box dies recently so I made up my mind that I would splash out at the next 'Members' weekend - and these are the 3 that I grabbed.
Frostyville border.
Madera corner.
La Rue Heart.

All three are quite delicate but I have seen them used in the flesh, so to speak, and the effect is beautiful.

Now I've noticed some comments on various forums from folk who have not been happy with the cutting of many of these thin dies and some have stated that they feel they have wasted their money - this is such a shame as there is such a wonderful variety of designs available in this format.

I had problems with my very first Spellbinder set (scalloped ovals) and despite using card shims - I would always end up with part of the die un-cut. I have a Big Shot machine and I thought the problem was that as I had used a Cuttlebug in craft classes with no problems.

It wasn't.

At the suggestion of a fellow crafter, I invested in a Multiplatform plate and I have to say that it was the best thing I could have done. My thin dies work a treat and with the help of my tan mats I can even emboss them without a problem.

Since buying my Multiplatform the only problem I have encountered was as a result of the materials I used - not the dies.

So my next course of action will be to have a play with these lovelies...............................................

Blueberries, Grapes...

...Strawberries & Cream - with a hint of Chocolate.

Sounds yummy doesn't it but before you start looking for these goodies to tuck into I have to warn you there is nothing edible in the coming photos.

I was all set to give you a peek of some new colours that had just come in at my local Yarn shop - but the batteries on the camera gave-out. So whilst I was waiting for them to charge, I got stuck in.

I have been waiting for a 'blue' to arrive. Up until now the nearest has been a blue/green mix that you have all seen recently on here.
Lovely mix of shades and there is just the hint of silver scattered through the yarn. This is my next lot of knitting to make a start upon.
The various brands of yarn that have been available locally have had some lovely mauve/grape shades and here are 3 scarves I finished about a week ago. One 'ruffle' scarf is just shades of mauve whilst the other is darker shades and has quite visible silver edging. The third scarf was a different type of yarn (much more expensive - but I wanted to give it a try). It is very blingy and knits as frills rather than ruffles - nice effect but I won't be buying any more...it wasn't much fun to knit with. These will soon be winging their way to Germany.
This is what I got stuck into last night - soft Strawberries & Cream shades with milk chocolate thrown in for good measure and just a hint of silver.

The way the temps have dropped this week I think there will be plenty of opportunites to wear all these.............................

Today we bid farewell...

...to a member of our team at work.

I have managed Marion off and on for the last 5 years and she finally decided she was going to take her retirement. She has always been a very private person so she didn't want a lot of fuss or a party.

Colleagues had a collection for her but although I contributed, I wanted to do something of my own as well.
So a card and a ruffle scarf was packaged and presented.

Marion loves walking so the scarf will be ideal with the weather we are having at the moment...she was over the moon (apparently she had been admiring my scarf).

I wish her health & happiness in her retirement...................

Have you seen...

...these lovelies?

Letraset are bringing out a limited edition of Spring Promarkers (seems to be a popular concept - Mr Holtz has just had his Autumn & Winter Distress Ink pad stacks). The pens in this set are new colours specially aimed at the spring crafting ranges.

Colours include:
•Budding Rose
•March Hare
•Daffodil Bloom
•Fresh Meadow
•April Shower
•Morning Mist

Don't they sound lovely.

Some web outlets have them on pre-order as they are not yet available but I think I'll talk nicely to my local stockist and find out when they are due to receive them.

Oh, and just in case you missed it...Mr Holtz will be showing his new pens at CHA.
37 colours (the original 36 Distress Ink shades + Picket Fence). These react with water so just like the Distress ink pads you can use these to 'water-colour'.

Ooooo, lots of new pens to save up for............................

Anyone want...

...a cold & sore throat - I'm willing to share.

Everyone seems to be jetting off to CHA or getting excited about new lines about to hit the shops/web...and whilst I know I'm not the only one having to put up with cold, wet, grotty weather - it seems much worse when you have a 'cold in da dose'.

Hurry up summer-time - warmer, brighter weather always seems so much better..........................