It's Christmas...

...okay, it's Christmas in July over at Catch the Bug

To kick off the event, they are having a blog hop and by leaving a comment at each blog along the way you could be in with the chance of winning some goodies.

Today also sees the first of the challenges "Show us your Santa" - here's mine...

This is one of the Tropical Santa digis that I won last year.

Santa has been snorkelling so I wanted the background to have a watery feel.

The base card is a 6x6 white card blank that I swiped with a selection of blue Distress ink pads - broken china, tumbled glass and peacock feathers. I "scribbled" Glossy Accents all over and scattered clear/pearl sequins in a variety of shapes and sizes to give that watery sparkle.

Santa has been coloured with Spectrum Noir pens and then Stickles was applied to the 'fur' on his hat and the water.

It might seem strange making Christmas cards on one of the hottest days so far this year but I think it helped to inspire the theme and this will be one of the cards that I send to family or friends who live in parts of the world where Christmas takes place in their Summer.

This is the first challenge for the "Catch the bug - Christmas in July", I do hope you'll pop over to take a look at what other folk have produced and you never know...you might even want to take part too.................................................................

I really am so...

...very lucky.

You must go and take a look at this...

Yes, that treasure is all mine and sitting in front of me as I type.

Annette West - Voodoo Vixen to those of you who frequent UKScrappers - is someone I came to know when we happened to be 'teamies' on the very first cybercrop that I took part in (and over the years we have been on the same team for a few other cybercrops). She is also the person I should blame for my slight **rollseyes** obsession with mini-books LOL

She also hasn't helped me to dispel the belief that some of my regular shopping haunts have that I could be a secret arsonist because the last wonderful class she did for UKS involved match boxes (I'm sure my local stores were beginning to think that it was all safe after my last bout of 'mass' match box purchasing to make advent boxes - but that's another story).

I love visiting her blog because there's always something super to see...whether it be pictures of her latest fab creations or something interesting/amusing that has happened in the country where she is currently living.

If you haven't come across Annette's blog, you really should go pay her a visit as she has loads of stuff to inspire.

I would just like to say a very BIG thank you Annette for this wonderfully thoughtful gift and also for all the encouragement you have given me over the time we have known each other.

BIG, BIG hugs coming your way....................................................................

Grab the 100 bus...

...and go for a tour of Essex (even if you don't want to).

I have been covering a colleague who has been off sick since before Christmas and up until now although this meant being responsible for additional staff this has only involved a trip once a week to the main office that my colleague was responsible for.

That all changed from 1 July as I'm now travelling between 3 offices each week.

The journey to the office I've been visiting isn't a problem because it is on the same rail line that I normally use - just in the other direction. The problem is the 3rd office I'm now visiting...

The only way to get there by public transport (yes I drive but my car is not insured for business use) is to catch the number 100 bus. Now this shouldn't be a problem because the bus passes my front door and my house is evenly located between two bus stops - the problem arises with the length of the journey. Having now visited this office 4 times in the last two weeks I can say that the shortest my journey has been was 2hours 10mins. Also, although this route boasts super new 'hibred' buses that are supposed to be air-conditioned - they have been very hot and uncomfortable during the warm weather that we have been enjoying.

So with the thought of another hot & sticky journey in front of me last Friday, I was trying to find something good in the whole thing - as a result, I took these photos on my way back to where I would be able to catch the bus home...

This waterway is The Chelmer and is actually a very pleasant route to walk (when the weather is good). Just beyond the trees on the right is a car park that backs the office.

The reflections of the clouds on the water are super and you would be forgiven for thinking that this is a lovely clear waterway - unfortunately, if you get quite close to the water it actually looks pretty murky.

The view the other way is heading back into town and the bridge you can see is a small road bridge...

...just past this bridge there are a couple of foot bridges that take you back into the town centre.
The lovely weather had obviously encouraged this chap...

...an afternoon paddling along the river...

...was certainly something he seemed to be enjoying.
As I got back into the town there was a lot of noise and it turned out to be a couple of lads having a lot of fun with a drum kit and a selection of up-turned buckets and pans...

...they had a backing track with the instrumental and vocals but they provided the drumming...

...and boy were they good...

...they also took their drumming 'beyond the page' so to speak...

...and had the crowd in fits of laughter as they drummed on walls and the floor.

I'm not sure who the topless guy is but he kept getting into the photos...

 

...I think perhaps he was a minder of some kind as the lads seemed to know him.

 

After a few moments of this light-heartedness I continued to the bus stop only to find the service delayed and what should be a bus every 15mins - wasn't. I waited 50mins and then wasn't allowed on the bus because it was already full. Luckily all the disgruntled folk waiting with me didn't have too much longer to wait but it still meant that the time from leaving the office to walking through my front door was almost 3hours (grrrrrrr).

 

It is bad enough being stuck on a bus for over 2hours each way (this week hasn't been much better) but I can do without the added grief of delays & cancellations - fingers crossed things improve.......................................................................

 



Just a few...

...questions.

Suzy over at Sea Glass & Sand found this list and asked folk to let her see what they came up with so here's mine...

1. Where is your cell/mobile phone? On the arm of the sofa
2. Your hair? Swept up in a twist
3. Your mother? Always surprising
4. Your father? Sadly passed
5. Your favourite food? Jacket potatoes
6. Your dream last night? Don't recall
7. Your favourite drink? (hot) Latte - (cold) Ginger beer
8. Your dream/goal? A peaceful life
9. What room are you in? Study
10. Your hobby? Crafting
11. Your fear? Serious ill health
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Enjoying life
13.Where were you last night? Home
14. Something that you aren’t? Content
15. Muffins? Rhubarb & Custard
16. Wish list item? A country cottage to escape to from time to time
17. Where did you grow up? England
18. Last thing you did? Made a coffee
19. What are you wearing? Red/White/Blue - mainly blue
20. Your TV? Bulky & pre-HD
21. Your pet? Don't have one
22. Friends? Supportive
23. Your life? Ticking along
24. Your mood? Okay
25. Missing someone? Yes
26. Vehicle? Estate
27. Something you’re not wearing? Socks
28. Your favourite store? Anything crafty
29. Your favourite colour? Aqua
30. When was the last time you laughed? Today
31. Last time you cried? Yesterday (10 July) upon learning of the death of a colleague
32. Your best friend? Simon
33. One place that you go to over and over? Work
34. One person who emails you regularly? Suzie (Weasel)
35. Favourite place to eat? The Courtyard

If you decide to have a go at this list, I'd love to see what you come up with..........................

EDT: For all you lovely folk who commented about the muffins...the two ladies that are responsible for these delish confections are Kelly & Kat of the "Muffin Makery Co.". If you want to know more about their gourmet muffins you can contact them at muffinmakery@virginmedia.com

Look what I got...

...aren't I lucky!

Back in June the lovely folk over at Craftwork Cards held a blog hop to help launch their new range of wreath kits and I was lucky enough to win one of the kits.

There are various colour options available and either round or heart-shaped wreaths - I had no idea what one I would receive.

I arrived home this evening and the parcel was sitting on the mat - when I opened it the kit you see above is what was inside. This is the 'Bohemian' kit and it consists of lovely muted pink/lavender/beige - it is beautiful.

I would just like to say a very BIG thank you to everyone at Craftwork Cards - I will have lots of fun playing with my new goodies.................................................................................

Fancy a bit of...

...Cherryblossom Lane (from Polkadoodles).

The lovely Enfys is having a whole five days of giveaways so hop on over to her blog to see what is going on. There are super CDs and A6 stamp sheets to be had.

Five days...two prizes a day...that's a fabulous 10 winners - WOWZA!!! - go on, go see what you have to do............................................................

Lilliana...

...in colour.

You honestly didn't think it would be long before I added colour to one of these images; did you?

I normally start with the skin and hair when I colour an image...

 ...using Spectrum Noir pens I shaded as follows:-
Hair: TN3, TN8, EB3, EB4, BG7 and the Skin:FS3, FS4, FS5, CR3. The colouring for the Eyes: EB4 with a touch of EB8.
I also tried the image against a kraft coloured background to get an idea about mounting.

Then came the hair-bow and top...

 ...these were coloured with: - Top/Bow: HB1, HB2, HB3. This time I tried it against a mauve glitter card background.

Now I was on a roll so wanted to get the image finished...

 ...Jeans: BT1, BT2, BT3, BT4, BT5 and the Shoes/Knee patch: LV1, LV2, LV3. Lavender glitter card was used as the background for this shot.

I really enjoyed colouring this image...

...now I need to think of something to use it on.......................................................................