Scrapbook Tuesday - More from the Wedding Album...

Hello Peeps

Before I start on my post I want to apoligise for not being around in the blogging world much lately, but I have had my email account hacked twice in 24 hours.  I have now had to go through the arduous task of changing my email account and getting everything changed so I have not had much chance to blog! Why the provider could not actually do anything about the "suspicious activity in Indonesia" like stop it, I don't know! Grrr!

So on to today's late post.  I thought I would share some more of my Wedding Album layouts with you, only this time they are 12 x 12"!

This is yours truly, my Mum and big Sister in my Mum's bedroom getting ready.  Definately a giggling time was had by all!

Outside the house waiting for the car to arrive.  Just after this moment, everyone left and it was just my Dad and I left at the house.  The car was very late and we did wonder if we were going to get the church at all let alone on time.  We did manage it and fortunately we were the only wedding that day so there wasn't a mad rush for us to get out of the church.  Can you believe this was the very end of September?  It was warm and perfect blue skies.  Not like last September that is for sure!

I shall be taking these over to the Playground as there are lots of Snippets included in these.  So Rachel, you get to have a giggle again!

Thanks for calling by.  Hopefully I have finished dicking about with computers and accounts for now and so I can call round to see you all soon.

Hugs

Hettie

Rudolph Day - April

Hello Friends

Gosh it is coming towards the end of another month...where has April gone?  As it has past the 25th of the month it is time for Rudolph Day with my Buddy and fellow Playground Mate...Sandra.  

So without further ado here are my two cards which I have made.....

Now I have taken the photo I notice that the ribbon looks slightly wonky, so I have now remedied that!

Both cards have been made using my texture paste and metal stencils which I have had for some time.  The Tree stencil I had some time ago and I used to use an embossing tool to make the pattern.  Good grief!  The Santa stencil I have had for a while without ever using it!  Tut Tut!  I have used Snippets on these cards so shall be taking them to the Playground.  

I thought I would share a photo that I took off our Dobby the other morning, just as I was leaving the house for work!  Do you think he was tired?  Or hungover?

Well, I hope you have a great week.  I am looking forward to a nice long weekend next week.  This weekend has flown by and it has been a Great Weekend for me.  I undertook a quilting workshop on Saturday but not much else until a rush three cards tonight!  I will share them later int he week!

TTFN

Hettie

Friday Funny

If you have raised kids (or been one), and gone through the pet syndrome, including toilet flush burials for dead goldfish, the story below will have you laughing out LOUD! 

Overview: I had to take my son's lizard to the vet. 

Here's what happened: 

Just after dinner one night, my son came up to tell me there was "something wrong" with one of the two lizards he holds prisoner in his room. 

"He's just lying there looking sick," he told me. "I'm serious, Dad. 

Can you help?" 

I put my best lizard-healer expression on my face and followed him into his bedroom. One of the little lizards was indeed lying on his back, looking stressed. I immediately knew what to do. 

"Honey," I called, "come look at the lizard!" 

"Oh, my gosh!" my wife exclaimed. "She's having babies." 

"What?" my son demanded. "But their names are Bert and Ernie, Mom!" 

I was equally outraged."Hey, how can that be? I thought we said we didn't want them to reproduce," I said accusingly to my wife. 

"Well, what do you want me to do, post a sign in their cage?" she inquired. (I think she actually said this sarcastically!) 

"No, but you were supposed to get two boys!" 

"Yeah, Bert and Ernie!" my son agreed. 

"Well, it's just a little hard to tell on some guys, you know," she informed me. (Again with the sarcasm!) 

By now the rest of the family had gathered to see what was going on. I shrugged, deciding to make the best of it. 

"Kids, this is going to be a wondrous experience," I announced. "We're about to witness the miracle of birth." 

"Oh, gross!" they shrieked. 

We peered at the patient. After much struggling, what looked like a tiny foot would appear briefly, vanishing a scant second later. 

"We don't appear to be making much progress," I noted. 

"It's breech," my wife whispered, horrified. 

"Do something, Dad!" my son urged. 

"Okay, okay." Squeamishly, I reached in and grabbed the foot when it next appeared, giving it a gentle tug. It disappeared. I tried several more times with the same results. 

"Should I call 911?" my eldest daughter wanted to know. 

"Maybe they could talk us through the trauma." (You see a pattern here with the females in my house?) "Let's get Ernie to the vet," I said grimly. We drove to the vet with my son holding the cage in his lap. 

"Breathe, Ernie, breathe," he urged. 

The vet took Ernie back to the examining room and peered at the little animal through a magnifying glass. 

"What do you think, Doc, a C-section?" I suggested scientifically. 

"Oh, very interesting," he murmured. "Mr. And Mrs. Cameron, may I speak to you privately for a moment?" 

I gulped, nodding for my son to step outside. 

"Is Ernie going to be okay?" my wife asked. 

"Oh, perfectly," the vet assured us. "This lizard is not in labour. In fact, that isn't EVER going to happen. . Ernie is a boy. You see, Ernie is a young male. And occasionally, as they come into maturity, like most male species, they um . . Um . . . Masturbate. Just the way he did, lying on his back." He blushed, glancing at my wife. 

We were silent, absorbing this. 

"So, Ernie's just, just .. .. . Excited," my wife offered. 

"Exactly," the vet replied, relieved that we understood. 

More silence. Then my vicious, cruel wife started to giggle. And giggle. And then even laugh loudly. 

Tears were now running down her face. "It's just .... That ....I'm picturing you pulling on its .. .. . Its. . Teeny little . . " 

She gasped for more air to bellow in laughter once more. 

"That's enough," I warned. We thanked the vet and hurriedly bundled the lizard and our son back into the car. He was glad everything was going to be okay. 

"I know Ernie's really thankful for what you did, Dad," he told me. 

"Oh, you have NO idea," my wife agreed, collapsing with laughter. 

Two lizards: $140. One cage: $50..Trip to the vet: $30. 

Memory of your husband pulling on a lizard's winkie: Priceless! 

Moral of the story: Pay attention in biology class. Lizards lay eggs!

Time for a Canvas....

Hello Friends

I think April has to be one of my family and friends' busiest month for birthdays, which means I have alot of cards and/or pressies to make.  There are alot of "Special" Peeps' birthdays too including Mr Hettie,  two of my bestest friends and my former Boss!! 

So today I thought I would share one of my above mentioned friend's present.  I know it has been received and so it is quite safe to reveal. 

As most of you know, I have recently been converted to Sheena Douglass style of Paint Fusion painting, having never been able to paint previously.  I know what I want to paint, but I cannot seem to do it.  Well, I decided it was time to put what I have learnt thus far to the test by making a canvas!  Scary, let me tell you! (You might want to get a cuppa here as this is a bit picture heavy!)

So here is the first canvas I have made......

I chose to do bramble and the flowers (it being Spring allegedly!).  The colours above are not quite accurate and the two pictures below are more of a likeness but I could not seem to get it right on the puter without losing something else.

The canvas is around 12x12" to give you an idea of size.  Painted using the crackle technique with a dark blue underneath and a Cornflower white over the top (made by the paint company that has a large dog featuring in its advertising!).  

The stamping was done using a mixture of Tim Holtz and Sheena Douglass stamps using Archival Cobalt and Chipped Sapphire DI.

The glittered ivy leaves were actually a Christmas decoration I had bought knowing I would use them for crafting at some point!  The Roses are cut using my latest Spellbinders dies I bought at Ally Pally and I inked the centres with Mustard Seed DI.  The bird cage was cut using chipboard and TH die, painted and inked, then run through the brick wall embossing folder and finished off with Treasure Gold wax. Some brads in the holes at the base and then bashed with my bashing hammer!  Then I found some chain to suspend the birdcage from.

Forgive me but I have forgotten the make of the flourish stamp.  It was one I had when I subscribed to Craft Stamper all those years ago and I use it A LOT!

On the flourishes I used clear schparkly embossing powder.

On the painted leaves you can see I used some more Treasure Gold but green this time.  This pot I bought in Nottingham at the Quilting AGM.  I love it when different crafts come together.  The flower paints are all Pebeo paints.

Lickle birdie which was flipped, inked with Gathered Twigs and made a little darker with Walnut Stain DI, clear embossed, and I used enamel paint for the eye and then placed on a swirl with two small leaves.

I was delighted to receive several emails yesterday from the recipient who seemed to like it!

I shall pop it down to the Playground now as there are a few small Snippets in there.  I wonder who will take charge as to where it will be hung in the Treehouse!!

Sorry this post is a little picture heavy and thanks for reading thus far.

Have a great end of week!

Hugs

Hettie

Happy Birthday my Friend....

Hello Friends

Today is a Very Special Friend's Birthday and whilst I was playing with my new texture paste to make Mr Hettie's card I got out another (unused) steel stencil (not quite as old this time) which I had bought from Homespun Hearts, who are usually at the Quilt Shows.  The lady keeps chook stuff back for me as she knows I will not be able to resist them and this was one such stencil.

I used the same technique as the bee card and then sprinkled glitters before letting them dry.  I was sooooo excited when I made these I nearly got carried away and showed Mr Hettie his design!!  Oops

Once the paste and glitter had dried, I cut the piece of card with my Spellbinders die and some glitter card with the scalloped die (at a push as it is soooo thick!  I edged the teal piece with my bronze pen.  The blue spotty background piece is a Snippet of Boofle paper and stamped with my favourite Hero Arts stamp.  A Stampin Up tag and a banner from my new Tim Holtz die and some ribbon and it was complete.

I now know it is safe to post this on here as the Birthday Girl has opened her card.  I can now take it to the Playground.  Happy Birthday my Dear Friend.  Have a GREAT day! 

Hugs

Hettie

Mr Hettie's Birthday Card and some new Goodies

Hello Peeps

Well, where did that weekend go?  Sunday evening with three weeks' ironing done and nearly time to go to bed ready for work in the morning!

Now when I came home from Ally Pally, I did not take a photo of my buys and a few peeps have been asking me what I bought.  So I thought I would show my buys as I use things. Don't feint, but I put everything away in their new homes, like a good girl.  I even sorted my stamps out into alphabetical order on my twirly thing!!  I know....don't feint now!

So, this photo shows four things I bought at Ally Pally.  The stencil, the scraper and the texture paste and they are all sitting on my shiny new glass mat - a super large glass mat  Brilliant purchase and a bargain too!  A bit of a bind getting it home on the train but worth it! As for the stencil...who could resist a tree of butterflies?!!

Now on the following Sunday morning I decided to try the paste using a brass stencil that was still in its packet and was purchased at least 12 years ago, way before we ever had bees!  I picked up a Snippet of dark Bazzill card that was hanging around on my desk and set to it.

So here is what I made using the stencil and paste.  Now I know I need to buy some more fine glitters!  The yellow background was made from a piece out of the Snippets box stamping it with cobalt Archival ink using a Penny Black stamp which I bought on that famous auction site!

Here you can see the lovely schparkle of the glitter.  The white paste is pearlescent so has a sheen also.  Woo hoo!  Another string to my bow!!

Right then, off to the Snippets Playground for a hot chocolate, cwtch and bedtime story from Miss Di!

Hugs

Hettie

Friday Funny

Kyla - put your drink down and don't be in a public place!!

OLD people have problems that you haven't even considered yet! 

       

An 85-year-old man was requested by his Doctor for a sperm count as part of his physical  exam.  

The doctor gave the man a jar and said, 'Take this jar home and bring back a semen sample   tomorrow.'   

The next day the 85-year-old man reappeared at the doctor's office and gave him the jar,    which was as clean and empty as on the previous day.   

The doctor asked what happened and the man explained, 'Well, doc, it's like this -- first I tried with my right hand, but nothing.  Then I tried with my left hand, but still nothing.   

'Then I asked my wife for help.  She tried with her right hand, then with her left, still nothing.  She tried with her mouth, first with the teeth in, then with her teeth out, still nothing.   

'We even called up Arleen, the lady next door and she tried too, first with both hands, then an armpit, and she even tried squeezin' it between her knees, but still nothing.'  

The doctor was shocked!

'You asked your neighbor?'     

     

The old man replied, 'Yep, none of us could get the jar open.'

Don't Think I Shall Stop!

Hello Peeps

Loving this SD painting still.  Here is a card I made for Lizzie in work.  Her birthday was last month, but this card is still on her desk!

I shall just whisk it off her desk and take it to the Playground to brighten the Treehouse up!  Lots of Snippety bits in this card.

Thanks for popping in, and especially thanks to my latest Followers Sarah, Sandee and A Work of Heart for following me!  Always nice to have new followers.

TTFN

Hettie

Scrapbook Tuesday, Playground Outing to Ally Pally - Scrapportunity Knocks

Hello Peeps

As some of you may be aware, some of us scallywags from the Playground had a get together at the Big Stamp and Scrapbook Show in London on Saturday.  So instead of my more usual scrapbook layout today, I thought I would share some photographs with you of mine and Fergus' day out to London.....

Fergus trying to catch up on some sleep.  It was very very early (6 am train).

I had these in my bag for my friends that I was meeting, for us all to put our WOYWW badges on to.  I tried to match them to each recipient!

I managed to catch a glimpse of the blue sky that had followed me from Wales, whilst I was waiting.  It was tipping it down with wet stuff when  we came out.

Some more of the lovely court.  You should have seen the queues just minutes before.

Fergus getting some big ideas!

It took three goes to get a good photo as someone was being a little mischievous and it wasn't me!

See what I mean!

Tee Hee! See Teacher is in between us all.  What you cannot see is the invisible reins she had us all in an attempt to keep us under control!

And proof, that Sandra DOES buy ribbon!!  Had to be quick to get this photo for you, I can tell you!  Question is, when will Sandra actually use it?

Well, I hope you like my happy memories of a wonderful day.  I also bumped into Delores and had a hug which was very nice.  

I think I will have a Scrapbook layout coming up very soon.  Thanks to you buddies for making it a great day in London.  Unfortunately/fortunately, I have put all my goodies away in their new homes before I took a photo so I cannot show you my stash, but I will let you know what I bought as and when I use it!

TTFN

Hettie

Didn't We Have a Lovely Time.....

.....The Day We Went to Chatsworth?

Hello Peeps

Some of you may be aware that I have had a very busy social life the last two weekends, with last week in Nottingham for the Quilter's Guild AGM and this weekend with some Playground members at the BSSBS in London.  Just like buses, things come round in a group and then nowt for months so I tried to make the most of both whilst they were here.  

Today I thought I would share some of the (many) photos I took of the weekend including the visit to Chatsworth House.  I have fallen head over heels for this place.  If you ever get chance to go there you must.  It is wonderful and a Quilter's paradise as you can see quilts in your mind's mind for ever!!  Haa Haa!  More about that later!

Pull up a chair as I guide you round....(you may want to get a cuppa or something stronger as this is a photo heavy post!)

Robin Hood and Maid Marion welcoming us to the Convention!  (He was actually a little late...he had a problem parking his car horse!)

Fergus listening intently to the opening ceremy.

The Clock Tower at Chatsworth (also the cafe and loos!).

My shadow!  It has been a while since I last saw this!

See what I mean about quilts everywhere!

Glad I am not catering for this lot!

A Hare for LLJ - cheeky thing asked me to pop it in my handbag!  It is about 7 or 8 ft high and probably weighs a ton!

This waterfall is fed by gravity!  Genius!

Again this is not powered by electrickery!

Had it been a little warmer I would have liked to have gone for a walk up here as it looks so peaceful.  Next time!

Altogether this was one beautiful house to visit and one that is on my list to go back to.  One of the few places where you are told you CAN take photographs!  What a great scrapportunity!

I am entering this post into Annie's Friday Smiles as these will give me smiles for a while to come yet.

Thanks for calling by.  See you on a Swing soon!

Hugs

Hettie

Friday Funny

The missus bought a Paperback,
down Shepton Mallet way,
I had a look inside her bag;
... T'was "fifty shades of grey".

Well I just left her to it,
And at ten I went to bed.
An hour later she appeared;
The sight filled me with dread...

In her left she held a rope;
And in her right a whip!
She threw them down upon the floor,
And then began to strip.

Well fifty years or so ago;
I might have had a peek;
But Mabel hasn't weathered well;
She's eighty four next week!!

Watching Mabel bump and grind;
Could not have been much grimmer.
And things then went from bad to worse;
She toppled off her Zimmer!

She struggled back upon her feet;
A couple minutes later;
She put her teeth back in and said
I am a dominator !!

Now if you knew our Mabel,
You'd see just why I spluttered,
I'd spent two months in traction
For the last complaint I'd uttered.

She stood there nude and naked
Bent forward just a bit
I went to hold her, sensual like
and stood on her left t*t!

Mabel screamed, her teeth shot out;
My god what had I done!?
She moaned and groaned then shouted out:
"Step on the other one"!!

Well readers, I can't tell no more;
About what occurred that day.
Suffice to say my jet black hair,
Turned fifty shades of grey.

WOYWW 201 - Kind Of....

Hello Friends

I am late, I am late, for a very important date!!  Yes it is Wednesday so WOYWW and time for us to reveal our desks via the lovely Miss Julia!  Well kind of.  You see I am in the middle of something for a friend of mine and I don't want to risk her seeing it so I thought I would share something which has been on my desk until very recently and which could be on YOUR desks at The Crop II....

To give you an idea of scale....

And a close up.....

I am offering to have a little Lace Workshop at The Crop II on 1st June.  I will have a lace cushion with some lace on that ANYONE can have a go on (yes even you Jan!). However, I am willing to do a workshop for three peeps who would like to make this bookmark (I cannot do any more as I do not have enough cushions).  I will start the bookmark so that the hard part (starting off) is done, which will give you the chance to get it finished in time. I am not sure of the colours yet but there will be a choice!

If you would like to give Lace a go, relatively cheaply (£3 donation to Air Ambulance please) leave me a comment and if there are more than three I shall either see if I can "borrow" pillows or do a lucky dip!  Everyone can have a little go at Lace but we will be limited to the bookmark.

Thanks for calling by, now off to Blogland via Julia's desk to see other works of art in progress!

TTFN

Hettie

Scrapbook Tuesday - Wedding Album...Miniature Style

Hello Friends

Is it me or is time going at a fast rate of knots lately?  It does not seem a week since my last Scrapbook Tuesday here in Blogland!

So what am I sharing with you today?  Well.  I am a typical Gemini in that I have several (lots) of projects on the go at any one time!  And one of those projects is a certain Mr and Mrs Hettie's Wedding Albums.  Yes there is an "s" on the end of Album.  You see I am doing two as I was lucky enough to be given my proof albums and we were given lots of photos by guests at our wedding.  Remember those days when we used to print from films?  None of this take photos and leave them on the camera/computer where no-body sees them ever again!

So today I thought I would share with you the mini album for those photos that are not really big enough for 12x12" layouts but are ideal for miniature layouts.  These are all 4x4" layouts......

Yes, this is the cover.  Not decorated yet but with this photo in.  Love this photo as we are not posing but just having a gentle stroll down the Church path.

This is Mr Hettie and a much younger Mrs Hettie with Angharad, our niece.

Mum, my Sister and I preparing for the Day in Mum's bedroom (mine had most of its furniture removed and had Mum's knitting machines in by now!).

Dad and I looking a little relieved that the car finally turned up!  For a while we thought that three of us were going to jump in the photographer's two-seater car as my car was so late!  Now THAT would have been funny!

One of my last photos, with my Dad, as a Singleton!!

The album was bought as a kit and some of the papers were included though I cannot recall what make they are.  There have also now been included Snippets of other papers and oodles of techniques, inkiness and bits 'n bobs, so I shall take this to the Playground for the others to have a giggle!! 

Thanks for calling by.  I shall give you another instalment of this album on another day so do please call back!

TTFN

Hettie

PS If any of you know where I can get 4x4" albums, please let me know.  Fergus' album is getting full and I need another for him!  I don't mind what colour or format.  If you have one for sale I would appreciate it.  Email me using the link above please.