Retirement

A good friend is taking early retirement and finished work yesterday.  She's a fanatical golfer and is Lady Captain of her club at the moment.  I've no doubt she will manage to fill her time (!) and will wonder how she ever managed to fit work into her busy schedule!  I do hope she can manage to squeeze in a coffee chat every now and again :)

Elements :

Image - found it in my lurking in my stash

BP - all from Polly Anna collection by Cupcake Cards & Crafts

Sentiment - computer generated

Corners - Lace corner punch by Fishars

Butterflies - Pop Up Butterflies punch by Martha Stewart

Four-Legged Granddaughter!

This is our daughter's dog Cassie.  She is 3 years old and my husband just adores her.  I do too put he'd love to keep her!  My daughter got Cassie while she lived in Spain so she's a well travelled dog.  Both our two-legged and four-legged granddaughters have been staying with us this weekend.  Caitlin's not too keen on getting her photo taken - she's just at that age - but here's Cassie enjoying a treat.  We gave Cassie a shower this morning and she just stood there while George held her and I scrubbed!  She then had a jolly good shake but took off like a rocket when I produced the hairdryer!

At Last

At last we are back in Spain to some warmth and dry, black roads and pavements.  I thoroughly enjoyed my time with the family when I was in UK but unfortunately the rotten weather somewhat curtailed my activities.  I never saw a blade of grass the whole time I was there but there's plenty greenery here and it's nice.  We didn't have too bad a journey yesterday until we were actually sitting on the plane and they announced the air traffic controllers in France had gone on strike, yet again, and we wouldn't be taking off for another hour and a half .... brill I thought, but we were very lucky and were only 45 minutes late in the long run.  Coming into land at Alicante was rather hairy, more like a rollercoaster as it was very windy, but I managed, just, to keep my tummy in its rightful place and was very glad when we touched down.

I have been unpacking today and getting back to normal so hopefully next week I'll get back to blogging and challenging.  I can't believe we are in the middle of January already - I thought the time only passed quickly for the elderly (no comments please!)

Only 4 More Sleeps ...

till I'm back to our home in Spain.  The weather in the UK has been atrocious all the time I've been here (since 23 Dec) and it has really spoilt my holiday as I've not been able to get out and about and see all my relatives and friends like I usually do.  Not to worry, we are just keeping our fingers crossed the transport on Thursday will work in our favour and we can get home without too many problems.

I don't have any crafting stuff in the UK so I'm really looking forward to getting back into the swing of things and taking part in challenges and blogging again.

To all my blogging friends - I wish you a happy and healthy 2010. 

Hugs xx

What a Difference a Day Makes

26.12.09

27.12.09

This is the view from our sitting room window in snowy Scotland.  I was gonna hit the sales today but I don't think we'll be venturing out, in fact I don't think we could get the car down the drive.

Going AWOL - again!

Ross (my son) & Lynne are coming on Wednesday until the following Monday so I'm not going to be around much during that time as it's been almost a year since they were last here and we've discovered some new places in that time that I'd like to take them to.  Unfortunately George isn't going to be here during their stay as he's back in the UK working.  My 'craft room' is our spare bedroom so I've been dismantling the crafting stuff and getting the bed etc sorted out hence the reason crafting etc will be on the back burner for a while! 

I have scheduled (which I hope works) my DT cards for the duration but I'll be back soon.  Take care all.  Hugs x

Lilian

It's my aunt's birthday on Saturday so I wanted to make a card for her and my dearly beloved will take it back to the UK tomorrow and post it for me.  When I was blog hopping the other day I saw this fantastic image on Liz's blog - Lace, Ribbons, Buttons & Bows.  She very kindly told me where I could buy it as I just HAD to have it!  My aunt is forever buying shoes that fit in the shop but never when she gets home so I'm sure she'll have a chuckle at this one.

Elements :

Main card - Vintage Poppy by Kanban

Image - All Dressed Up by Digital Ink Co (flower on hat and sentiment covered with Glossy Accents)

Sentiment - computer generated

Bling - Kanban

All other stuff from stash

Welcome to Wicked Designs

Thank you for following me from Tranquility to Wicked Designs. Why the change of name you ask? Well, when I worked I was an IT trainer with the police. After each course I had to do follow-up calls checking on how folk were coping. The division I worked in was called Western Division. One day I arrived at my office in HQ to find a 'joker' had stuck a picture of a witch on my door with the caption 'Wicked Witch of the West' and the rest, as they say, is history.

When I make cards the sticker I use on the back says Wicked Designs on it and my email is wicked-witch so I thought it appropriate to go back to my roots!

Once my back is a bit better than it is just now I'll be back blogging on a regular basis so keep a look-out for what the witch is up to. Hope to see you again soon. xx

I'm Almost Back!

Statue of Madrid Coat of Arms - Royal Palace - Opera House

Cant remember! - Plaza Mayor - Dome of Metropolis Hotel

Bernabeu Stadium - Fountain of Neptune - Friends & OH outside Prado Museum

We have had the most wonderful time with our friends and Madrid was extra special. What a fantastic city, so much to see and do. The architecture is WOW and there's something to take your breath away round every corner. Maureen and I enjoyed the shops but some were only for window shopping - €1640 for a Gucci handbag - yes, only for looking!

Unfortunately I'm not quite back fully. Yesterday I bent down to pat the dog and my back went. I spent a very uncomfortable night on the settee as every time I moved my back went into spasm. Thankfully it's a little better today so I'd better not stay on here too long and undo any good that's been done. Hopefully I'll be back to full strength by the weekend. Thank goodness for wonderful friends as where's OH when I need him - in the UK!

AWOL for Another Week

Hi everyone!
We have had the most fantastic week with my cousin and her husband. The weather has been almost everything - we had a mini gota fria (torrential rain and flooding) at the beginning of the week and by yesterday it was back to mid 30s. It didn't stop us doing anything ie shopping and eating out! We went to Benidorm Palace on Tuesday night to see the new show 'Crescendo' and it was spectacular. What a performance and the laser lights were something else. I'm gonna be awol this coming week too as OH is back tomorrow and bringing a couple of our friends with him. The 4 of us are off to Madrid on Monday till Thursday. We are all really looking forward to that as none of us has been there before. I'll hopefully have some piccies for you once they all go back to the UK on 13th. Hope you are all well and look forward to being back in blogland very soon. Hugs to all. x

I'm Gonna Be AWOL

Hi! I'm getting visitors tomorrow and will be AWOL over the next week, unless I do a spot of lurking! My cousin and her husband are staying with us and I know we'll have a great time even though the weather isn't forecast good. We have a very busy schedule today to I'm just taking 5 at the moment to post this.

Hope you all have a good week and I'll be back next weekend. Hugs to all xx

Ruby & Kenny

Our next door neighbours in the UK are celebrating their 30th Wedding Anniversary on Friday so this card was done in a hurry as it's to be there by Friday. Not one of my most imaginative cards but I think it fits the bill OK.

Elements :
Image, Sentiment and Bling - Kanban
Flowers - Prima
Other stuff from stash

Jenny

This was a very difficult card to make as it's for my husband's cousin whose wife died very suddenly on Monday. She was diagnosed with cancer only 2 weeks ago. I have to say a very big thank you to Stephanie as that's where I found the inspiration for this card.

Elements :
BP - Black Beetle Boutique Stripes by Doodlebug
Sentiment - May You Find Strength G2342 by Printworks
Flourish - I think it's a Woodware stamp but not sure
Butterfly - Butterflies Cut & Emboss Tag Set by Cuttlebug
Bling - Kanban
Ribbon from stash

Back To Spain

Hi everyone!
We arrived back in Spain last evening and it's hot, hot, hot. I don't know how much blogging I'm going to get around to doing in this heat but as from next week my aim is a card a day - do you remember me saying that not so long ago! I thoroughly enjoyed my time back home and am now in a quandry as to whether I'm going to move back to Scotland permanently or not. I don't want to make the wrong decision but my friends and family are drawing me back.

Anyway, in the meantime I'm in Spain and trying to keep cool. I'm unpacking the case and trying to find places for everything again.

Looking forward to catching up with all your blogs. Take care
Hugs
Anne x

Graduation Photos

BSc with Distinction Glasgow Caledonian University and with his proud Mama!

I just had to share these photos of my son at his graduation. A lovely day was had by all. George and I went through to Glasgow and met up with Ross and Lynne to have lunch as his ceremony wasn't until 3.30pm. Lunch was fantastic and the ceremony was interesting. Ross wasn't capped until about 10th from the end but it was worth waiting for. Sally Magnusson was at the ceremony too. She was given an honorary Doctor of Letters and made a really interesting and witty speech.

The Harry Potter look!!!

Holiday

Hi everyone!
My idea of doing a challenge a day till I go back to Scotland for a couple of weeks are not going to come to fruition as yesterday I packed away all my craft stuff. Friends of ours are coming with two of their granddaughters to stay in the apartment while I'm away so I thought I'd better make a start to getting the place ship shape! I've so many other things to do ie MOT the car and clean it inside and out, deliver cards to a couple of places I supply - and all in this heat. I'm going to be into a greasy blob.

I hope when I get back that my mojo will have benefited from a break too. I will still manage to blog hop while back home so keep designing all those wonderful cards.

Take care
Anne xx

Ross BSc

I'm one very proud Mama today as my 33 year old son now has a BSc with Distinction. For a boy who was only good at the subjects he liked at school, and believe me, there weren't many, he has proved himself more than capable. He has a very demanding and responsible job and has been working throughout his studies so it's been a hard slog but worthwhile in the end.

I'm going home to Scotland on 3 July and now have a graduation to attend in Glasgow on 8th, just as well I bought that new outfit!!!

I've done a very simple card for Ross as he's not one for fuss of any kind. I emailed him to ask what colour the hood of his graduation gown would be and he was very suspicious as to why I wanted to know (would I ever embarrass my children, MOI?) Poor lad, it was for nothing more than to know what colours to use on my digi image!!!

Never one to miss an opportunity, I'm going to enter this card in Our Creative Corner challenge of Stars. Beryl's just told me I can also enter it into the Numbers & Letters challenge from DewDrop Craftz. I must pay more attention!!! Head's in the clouds just now.

While I was blog hopping I came across a fabulous new digital image site and was inspired (after filling my cart!) to make these two decoupaged cards. Take note : I've even done a CHRISTMAS one :-)

Elements :
all from Fred, She Said, go on, check it out, there are some fabulous images on there.

I love having visitors and NEVER expect anything from them because if I didn't want their company, they wouldn't be asked :-) However when my girlfriends Maureen & Irene were over recently they left me a gift voucher from the flower shop in Albir. It is the most wonderful shop ever and the people who run it are fabulous. I was spoilt for choice and as luck would have it didn't rush into buying anything because ......

When my cousin and her daughter were over they bought me a vase to match the glass plates I have in the living room so when they went home I hot-footed it to the flower shop with my vase and asked them to make a silk flower arrangement in it so I was able to use my gift voucher. Wasn't I the lucky one!