Spellbinders Merry Mayhem Stamps and Dies

These are the Spellbinders Merry Mayhem stamps and dies. I had a very quick play with them before I left for my infusion at the hospital. It was pouring with rain and quite windy. I would much rather have stayed home and tried out all of these! I may have given the impression that there were Snarky Cat stamps, I apologise for the confusion. These are dies with some rather sarcastic/funny sayings. The photo above and below are a set called "Deck The Dumpster". our can see what the dies create, and the sentiments as well.

The set below is called "Rein It In". Once again, dies and sentiments.

Below is the card I made this morning, using the "Rein It In" set above. I have to admit, it was a challenge. The medication I took before the infusion yesterday is still in my system and making me feel tired and a bit 'weird'. It should wear off by tomorrow. 

Below are the sentiment stamps that go with the "Rein It In" stamp and die set.

The set below is called "Snow Done". 

All the sets above come as one package and they are the Merry Mayhem set. The set below was a separate one called "Joy-ish Sentiments. All these stamps and dies are going to keep me busy  for awhile! Ev

The cards below were stamped quickly, as I said, just before leaving for the hospital. All I added (so far) is a bit of either silver or white glitter. I will re-post as I finish them.

I have to admit, I do love the Snarky Cat stamps with these sentiments! The always make me laugh! I wanted to tke them to my appointment yesterday so I could look at them and imagine whet I was going to create with them. However it was just as well I didn't because the medication I had to take made me feel very weird. It also made my eyesight blurry - I had taken a magazine to read but ended up putting the magazine back in my bag because everything was blurry. I also felt nauseous but thankfully that has gone. Hopefully everything will be back to normal by the morning!  I have one more stamp and die set to arrive, maybe next week and will post it here.

Thanks for dropping by! Have a SUNSHINE day! Always remember to be your authentic self and shine bright each and every day!

 

Mini Halloween Cards and a Treat!

Yay! I finally (just now) sorted out the problem of the disappearing menu! I can now post as many photos as I like, instead of one or two at a time. Ok, so above and below are 2 mini Halloween cards I made recently. I used a new Tim Holtz woodgrain embossing folders for the background. I swooshed some white ink over it to give it a distressed look. Then I used double sided sponge to stick the cat and ghost to the card.The images were 2 I had already cut out and coloured. I added a few tiny gold stars to each card and they were finished. The cards are about the size of an ATC card. I added a hand written sentiment to the ghost card as well as a mini brick. These cards are fun to create!

I created the card below using my large die set. I die card the letters and then attached the gold card behind the letters and also glued a white insert to the inside of the card. I stamped some random dots and snowflakes, and added some tiny gold stars I die cut. I wasn't sure if I liked the card when I finished it, but it's grown on me!

Above s a photo of my fave sweet treat! They have some sort of soft pink creamy stuff inside. There's only one cafe I know of where I can buy them, and it's a 20 minute bus ride from me. Anyway, they are yummy and I bought...two recently! I think they're called Cherry Tarts. Having talked about them, I now want one!

I have a hospital appointment tomorrow for an infusion for improving bone density. I've had them before and although the infusion only takes 15 minutes, I have very tiny veins and they have lots of trouble finding a suitable vein. I also have a massive fear of needles:-(  I have been prescribed something to relax me, which I take about 45 minutes before the infusion. I am stressed already and did not sleep well last night. I don't know how I will react to to this tablet and have been told the effects can last for several hours. I have to use public transport to get home so  I hope I'm ok, or the hospital will have to keep me there until the effects wear off! 

I recently purchased some new Snarky cat stamps and dies. (Spellbinders Merry Mayhem stamps and dies, and Joy-ish sentiments clear stamp set.) They are not of the Snarky Cats stamps already available, these are Christmas sentiments, somewhat naughty, sarcastic and funny! I got 2 different sets, one with dies and one with sentiments. As soon as I saw them, they jumped into my basket and the next thing I know they were with the courier and on their way to me! Luckily my local craft store stocks them! They should arrive maybe tomorrow, with some luck! You will see them here eventually! IN the mean time, check out Andrea B's blog Shippets by Andrea, she has some very funny and cute Snarky Cat's Halloween cards she made on her blog! Ok, that's it for now. Thanks for dropping by! Have a SUNSHINE day! Remember to always be your authentic self, and shine bright each and every day!

 

Some New Cards

Here is the stencil from Lavinia stamps that I used to make the little ghosts. So quick, easy and FUN! I'm quite addicted to making them now! I am doing short posts because once I post 2 photo's the little menu thing that drops down and has image icons, text, size etc on, disappears. I cannot find it again so have to (for now) do short posts. It's sooo frustrating. I HATE new 'improved' technology. And typing in my email address has been challenging, I've just (right now!) found the  @  symbol by accident! Did I mention I HATE new technology?! So thank you for your patience while I figure things out! 

Thanks for dropping by! Have a SUNSHINE day!

Always remember to be your authentic self, and shine bright each and every day!

 

Using a Stencil to Make Little Ghosts!

The stamps on the card above are from Lavinia Stamps. I created the Ghosts using one of their stencils called Replenish. I traced each ghost through the stencil on to the card. Added eyes and a mouth and they were done. I also added some clear gloss which makes the ghosts a bit shiny in the light.

This tree stamp is called Fern Leaf. t isn't finished yet. All the stamps on here are from Lavinia Stamps. There ia tiny drop of glitter on each bauble to give it a bit of a sparkle. Thanks for dropping by! Have a SUNSHINE day! Remember to always be your authentic self and shine bright each and every day!

 

A Little Crafting

I made the card above using some different sized alphabet dies. I really like the bigger size, but will use both.  Having taken the photo, I can clearly see the letters are not straight:-( Bummer! And I can't fix it so hopefully the recipient doesn't notice!

These chocolates are what my neighbours gave me recently. Yum!

I'm having issues posting the photo's, every time I add a photo, the darn menu disappears and I cannot find it. New laptop = a whole pile of STRESS! I hate new technology:-( I will leave this post as it is, and try to do another post with photo's of other stuff I've done. Thanks for dropping by! Have a SUNSHINE day! Always remember to be your authentic self, and shine bright each and every day!

 

I Was Slowly Dying.

A few weeks ago I became unwell with dysentery and bad fatigue. (Imagine dragging a wet blanket through wet cement every time you walked anywhere.) I was trying to treat it at home but was failing miserably.  I tried to get an appointment with my Doctor but was told he was fully booked for the next 12 days. I told them I had Addison's Disease and it was urgent. The answer was the same, he's fully booked. (Which was not true, he has spaces available for emergencies.) So I carried on trying to sort it out at home. I got worse and call an Ambulance. I knew I was going further and further down hill and needed medical help. The Ambulance arrived and gave me an emergency injection I needed, did a quick video call with a head Doctor in the Emergency Department at the local hospital, then they left. The injection help the fatigue, but I was still not well. Over the next week I kept trying to get a phone consultation with my Doctor but kept being told he had no spare appointments. I could only eat dry crackers and was not getting enough food. I got worse and was in bed most of the day. No energy and serious fatigue as well as constant dysentery were just taking all my energy. I felt awful and was becoming more concerned each day. After another week went by I called another Ambulance. I told the Emergency Operator I had Addisons and had serious fatigue, constant dysentery and now vomiting and had been unwell for a couple of weeks. The Ambulance arrived in a few minutes. As soon as they saw me they told me to gab my (pre-packed Hospital bag) and we got left for the Hospital. They gave me some injections and I realised they had knowledge about about treating Addison's Disease. We got to the hospital quickly as it is quite close to where I live. As we pulled in they said that my Steroid level was so low I was slowly dying. I am very aware that low Steroid levels can pt me in a coma which I was not recover from. I have known this for a very long time and am always careful to take my medications regularly. The hospital gave me a mega dose of steroids over 2 days as I slowly came right. Once I was able to eat an drink and felt better I was able to come home. They have a service called Hospital in the Home where you are under the care of a nurse and a Doctor who call you each day to check up on you, and make sure you're doing ok. It's a great (free) service and I was able to call them anytime if I had any issues. I was doing ok until I went into shock one evening. I became icy cold and couldn't stop shaking. I also felt very nauseous and confused. I called the HTH service and they were able to tell me what I needed to do and which medications I needed to take. It took almost four hours until I stopped shaking and began to feel a bit more normal. Once the nausea had completely gone, I went to bed wearing a sweatshirt over top of my pyjama's and a woolly hat as I was still feeling very cold. It was like my bones and blood were frozen. By the time I woke up the next morning I was starting to feel a bit better. My HTH nurse, Jo, called me around 11 am and we had a good chat about what had happened. My body doesn't make stress hormones, and if I get any infection it puts a lot of stress on my body, and things get weird very quickly. I had gone into shock because my body had been fighting to survive from my Steroid levels being so low. A ''simple'' cough or cold or any stress can and does put me in hospital. I carry em emergency medications with me where ever I go just in case. I also have emergency medications here at home if the Ambulance need them. It took me thee days before it hit me that I had been slowly dying. I had bad brain fog from the high dose of Steroids, and I till have some brain fog today. It takes awhile for it to wear off. While I am at home and yes I am ok, I'm feeling very tired and worn out. It will take some time for me to get back to my usual self. I'm taking things slowly and quietly for ne.

On the plus side, I have done a teeny tiny bit of crafting! My new Lavinia Stamps arrived - the Witch's Closet they're called. I don't have a lot of brain power at the moment but have enjoyed what I have created. 

If anyone out there has Addison's Disease, you will appreciate the seriousness of what I went through, and know how I feel, and how challenging it can be from day to day - or sometimes minute to minute. It was really disappointing and frustrating to not be able to get an appointment with my Doctor. Our Health system is seriously broken which is sad. I did eventually get a phone consultation with my Doctor, but it was too late by then, I had already been through the crisis and ended up in hospital and was back home again.

Ok, I know that was a long post, so thanks for dropping by! Have a SUNSHINE day! Remember to always be your authentic self and shine bright each and every day!

The ''Bat-Street Boys!''

I am struggling with health issues and am not feeling  too well. I had already had the Paramedics her Saturday, and we thought things were ok. Things went downhill Monday and I was not very good. I wanted to cheer myself up, and somehow came up with the idea for this card - it made me giggle! These are all Lavinia Stamps and card. Tracy always names her designs, and so the 'bats' are called 'Flittermice.' I hope you also get a giggle or two from my card! 

Thanks for dropping by! Have a SUNSHINE day! Remember to always be your authentic self and shine bright each and every day!

Re-Discovering 'New' Old Stuff!

The card above is from a set of dies I bought a year ago and have just 'found' them. After I got them I became unwell and was in and out of hospital a lot and never got around to using them. I stashed them away and just found them again! So they are old stuff, but also 'new'! I am not sure if the Northern Lights DSP is up the right way or not, as we don't see it here. Let me know if you think the DSP is up the right way! (or not...) I lightly brushed the die cut tress with some white ink to make it look more like the scene was kind of snowy. What is not really showing too well, is the light sprinkling of silver glitter over the card. I think it mostly collected in between the trees. 

I was in Bunnings Warehouse recently and found ''My People!'' I couldn't resist having my photo taken with them! 

The card above is made from the stamp set below. I love these cute characters! I hand drew the border because the card didn't look ''finished'' without it.               

I think I have posted this before, but if not it's a 'cat' tissue box I made. I used to make and sell them. This is the front view, and the other photo of it is a kind of side view.

This card below was another set I bought last year and have re-discovered! I am not happy how this card turned out and am still deciding on how to use the stamps in a ways I actually like.

Below is another ''lost and found'' stamp set from last year! I really like the style of writing.

I haven't been well again recently, and had the Paramedics her for a couple of hours yesterday. I'm slowly getting my health sorted and am just having some 'quiet' time crafting when I feel ok. I had an AI crisis yesterday and the Paramedics were able to give me the injection I needed. My brain is on another Planet at the moment, and I have brain fog, so I am very slow right now.    Anyway, thanks for dropping by! Have a SUNSHINE day! Always remember to be your authentic self and shine bright each and every day!

 

Those Mice!!

Starmoth (the fairy) was sick and tired of those pesky mice nibbling on her lovely Fairy Cakes she had been making for the Lavinia Stamps Fairy Fest. She set a trap and caught Strawson one of the mice.  She had a plan... now, where were those CATS...?! (No mice were harmed in this story!) These are a few of the Midnight Coven range from Lavinia Stamps. They are so much fun to create with! I injured my right wrist recently and am slowly getting back to crafting. 

Thanks for dropping by! Have a SUNSHINE day! Remember to always be your authentic self, and shine bright each and every day!

 

Update!!

 They're 'wih courier for delivery'!!!

Half Way There!

 

I only got this far with the Boo Mobile. I ended up dealing with a 4 day migraine:-( I don't get them too often, and when I do they keep me off my feet for awhile. Plus I ran out of orange card stock. I only have a few scraps left. I haven't been able to get any more locally, so I will have to do a trip to the art shop to get more. I just bought some 'spinners' because the Boo mobile spins! I ended up buying some from Temu because they were a lot cheaper. The ones here in NZ were $27 for 6. Plus $8 postage. I got a much better deal on Temu. I bought several different sizes from Temu. I recently purchased a cloud stencil which will arrive in a few days, I hope. I want to use the stencil on the Boo Mobile card as a background and hopefully make the Boo Mobile look as if it is flying the clouds! So I can't finish the card until I have the orange card stock, and cloud stencil. I have a hospital appoint tomorrow and because the hospital is not close I will no doubt be gone most of the day:-( I'm hoping for a dry (not windy) sunny day! It's been sunny for ages (cold in the morning) and gorgeous blue skies. Fingers crossed it's not raining tomorrow! I will have to catch a bus, then a train, and then another bus. It's a long boring journey:-( My (new) Lavinia stamps are due any day! I have confirmation they are waiting to be delivered! Thanks for dropping in! Have a SUNSHINE day! Remember to always be your authentic self, and shine bright each and every day! 

They're Here...!!

 

My Boo Mobile die set arrived this morning, 3 days ahead of the original ETA which was Monday 24th!! i was super excited to check them out and I wanted to play with them right away, however I needed to go to the supermarket:-(  By the time I got home I was in a lot of pain so I haven't tried the dies out yet, but will do tomorrow. The Mobile measure about 3 inches in height, and just a smidgen over 3 1/2 inches in width. I think there's 27 dies ranging from pumpkins, skulls, an eye, a pair of Bat wings a ghost and a pair of witches legs! This is just a quick note and I will be back tomorrow, fingers crossed! Thanks for dropping in! Have a SUNSHINE day! Always remember to be your authentic self, and shine bright each and every day!

The Three Sisters!

I made this some years ago, out of a pair of pantyhose. I used hot 

glue to stick the hair and eyes on. I hot glued it to a silver hair clip so I can tie my hair up. I call them The Three Sisters! I added a bit of old lace under the faces, as well as a tiny bow in each lady's hair. These were fun to make and quick and easy!

 I had an email today saying my Boo Mobile die set is on it's way, and the ETA is Monday 24th. As well as that Lavinia Stamps will be releasing a new range of Halloween stamps in 2 days on the 20th. Think Witches, tombstones and oh-so-cute scarecrows! I've seen some samples Tracey has done and I love them all! Yes, I will be ordering them! there's also some sentiments to go with the Witches and Scarecrows. So lots of crafty goodness coming = no time for boring stuff like housework! I apologise about the different size fonts. I am still figuring out my Chromebook. Every so often (too often!) I hit a button and weird things happen. I will get it right one of these days! Bear with me! 

Thanks for dropping by! Have a SUNSHINE day! Always be your authentic self, and shine bright each and every day!

A UFO Pumpkin?! UPDATED!

 

Another UPDATE!! Some exciting (for me!) news...I have managed to find the set of dies and have just ordered them! I'm super excited because I really love this set of dies, and know I will have lot's of fun playing with them! They weren't cheap because whatever the cost is in US$, I pay twice that much because of the difference in dollar value in NZ currency.

I have to give  big thank you to Spellbinders, they answered my email about purchasing that die set in super quick time. They couldn't help with finding the set, but I found them myself. When I get the dies and have made something with them, I will post it here. I hope to have the die set some time next week, fingers crossed!

 

I have just discovered this is the Spellbinders August Kit. I am not sure if it was from this year or last year.

 I love it and would really like to buy the die set! If you have one you are willing to sell, PLEASE contact me with the details! I have also contacted with Spellbinders, so fingers crossed! 

 Sorry the photo is blurry, I took it off you tube. There's a lovely lady who did a video on creating clouds, and the pic above is what was on her card. She had all the details of what she created the clouds with, but not this UFO Pumpkin. I've left her a message asking if It's a die or die cut and asked where to buy

 them from. The video is called "How to ink blend a night sky." I'm wondering if anyone knows where I can purchase this UFO Pumpkin (as I call it!) The lady who did the video is called Suzanne I think. I think its a very cute UFO!

Thank for dropping by! Have a SUNSHINE day! Remember to always be your authentic self, and shine bright each and every day!

A Little Bit of Gold!

Above is a set of foil dies from Spellbinders, which have a set of matching dies. I foiled these in red.

I was recently given a Spellbinders Glimmer Foil Machine. The gold circle was the first thing I foiled. I've had a lot of things going on recently and haven't had much time to create anything. I also had a bad fall and cut  my knee open. That was over 2 weeks ago and It's still oozing blood which means I have to clean it and re-dress it each day. It will heal, but it's going to take a few more weeks. 

This is a set of foiling dies I found on a craft site. I have only just got them and have yet to use them.  It's a miracle I actually received them...

The lady I purchased them from posted them to me over 2 weeks ago. When they didn't arrive I checked the tracking number only to read that they had (supposedly) been delivered to me 6 days ago! I checked my  mail box but they were not there. I'm keeping this short because it's a long story. I went to the NZ Post Depot and asked them. I showed them the photo of the parcel that had been sent to me by the seller. They checked the tracking number and said it had been delivered, but not to me, but to someone else. Someone had put a label on the parcel with a different address on and if had gone to them. She said to call Custom Service. I did this when I got home. Well! I tried to explain the situation and what I had been told, and how NZ Post had shown me a photo of MY parcel with a label on it addressed and delivered to a different address. I was then verbally abused by CS and told in no uncertain terms that NO-ONE at NZ Post would do that, and that I was not telling the truth!

I ended up writing a note and putting in the mail box of the person it had gone to. I left my phone number, and a addressed and briefly said what had happened. The next day I got a call from the lady, and she returned my parcel.

It was interesting because SOMEONE (NZ Post??) had cut the tracking number off the original parcel and stuck it to a different post bag, added a label withe someone else's address on, and also cut the senders name and address on and stuck it to the new post bag. "How Bizarre", to quote a famous NZ song.

I was able to remove the sticker with the 'not my address' on it. It was then I could see that the NZ Post bag was NOT the original bag the dies had been sent in.

However, I was just happy to get my parcel. I have been in touch with the seller, and she is just as confused as to what happened as I am. I have yet to use the dies. 

So I am still here, I just have a lot going on  the moment and haven't done much crafting.

On top of the NZ Post issue, I got a note from my  bank saying someone had fraudulently tried to use my bank card, so the bank had put a top on my card. So I'm now waiting on a new card. Thanks for dropping by! Have a SUNSHINE day! Remember to always be your authentic self, and shine bright each and every day!

 

More Lavinia Cards.

Oh my gosh! Today has been full of learning for me! So far I have taught myself how to use wireless transfer to get my photos from my mobile to my Chrome Book! I still have a few bits to sort out, but I am getting there! Wookie has just come inside and she thinks she is helping me! What she wants is food! She LOVES her food and I always have to hide Romeos dish of biscuits when she comes in because she will happily scoff the lot. She puts weight on easily and so she has a certain amount for food each day. 

On the first and last photo's, the white circles are done with a Lavinia sponge and I used white pan pastel for that. I really like stamping on black, and grey card stock. I think it looks dramatic. The grey card I used here is not quite dark enough for the white pan pastel to show up. Oh dear! I will have to go "shopping" for some darker grey card! 

The card with the 2 Magpies sitting in the flower pods are new stamps from a previous Lavinia release a few months back. I stamped on a piece of Scene-scapes pre - printed card stock. I really like that card stock and need to use it more, rather than have it in a drawer and admiring it! The last card who's some more of the latest LS stamps.The dress and top are 2 separate stamps, as is the Mannequin is also another stamp. I stamped the skirt and top then fussy cut them and then attached them over the Mannequin. Our weather here has been day after day of beautiful clear blue skies. But OMG the temperature really drops when the sun sets. When I got up at 7.30 this morning the temperature was 4c. It was 2.5 degrees overnight. That is COLD! I think that's around 36.5F. We don't get snow here where we live, but we do get the horrible cold temperatures. I was not impressed with that temperature this morning, and quickly turned the heat pump on! I heated the 2 heat pads for Romeo (Cats hate the cold)and they help with his pain from arthritis. He comes to bed with me at night, and has blankets over him as well as a heat pad he sleeps on. I know only too well what arthritis pain is like, and it is always worse in Winter. Having said how cold it was overnight and this morning, in all honesty this July has been very dry with hardly any rain. Very unusual as July is our wettest and coldest month. Gosh, I hope I haven't jinxed it?! They said the temperature overnight last night (2.5c) was the coldest it has been so far this Winter. I believe them!I always do a happy dance on 1st of August, knowing that I survived it, and that (slowly) warmer days are coming, lol!

Well it's just gone 5 pm and the sun has almost disappeared behind the hills. Time for me to close the curtains and doors and turn some heating on before I turn to ice! Thanks for dropping by! Have a SUNSHINE day! Remember to always be your authentic self, and shine bright each and every day!

 

 

Lavinia Stamps - Loomweaver Collection.

These first two photo's are of the latest Lavinia Stamps - the Loomweaver's collection.  I finally discovered how to downloaded images from my mobile to my Chrome book! It has taken a lot of blood sweat and TEARS of frustration! Now I need to sort out how to enlarge the text - bear with me!

This Bear - "Ashryn" is from a previous range, also Lavinia. I'm going to  this and sort things out, so I will end this  short post here! Technology is fabulous - until you end up with a completely new device!!

Thanks for dropping by! Have a SUNSHINE day!

Remember to always be your authentic self, and shine bright each and every day!

The photo above is how the stamps arrived, all in cellophane bags. Not to forget the very important Lavinia chocolate that always comes with each order! I was very exciting opening each packet, but unfortunately I wasn't too well that day, and a couple of days later ended up in hospital.