Charity Walk

Well we made it! Despite some pretty atrocious weather conditions.
As we got down to catch the ferry we watched in resignation as the clouds and rain swept in and the Isle of Cumbrae disappeared into the mist!

The first hour or so of walking was not particularly pleasant with rain and wind but we stopped for lunch at Fintry Bay (it didn't look like that yesterday!) and managed to dry out a bit.

Wet and bedraggled at Fintry Bay L-R: Dot, Alison, Louise, Lynn, Me!

Alison and I have to put our wet T-shirts back on (no jokes about wet T-shirt competitions please!)

The second leg of the walk took us round into Millport where we were welcomed by a free cup of tea/coffee and some home-baking provided by the event sponsors! and Alison who joined us in the walk through the town. We made its far as Bobby's bar where we stopped for light refreshments (ie pear cider) before making our way on the last leg of the walk back round to the ferry terminal.

We finished about 5 hours after we started but we reckon we were actually walking for about 3 1/2 hours of that which given the weather conditions wasn't too bad.

L-R: Alison, Dot, Louise, me, Lynn

Once again thank you to all of you who supported me. It really is very much appreciated! Thanks guys!

Busy Weekend

On Saturday we were up in Glasgow for a tour round the BBC studios at Pacific Quay that were officially opened just over a year and a half ago. I've "borrowed" the photos from the BBC website as we weren't allowed to take photos beyond the initial reception area.
This bit is called "the street" and is used for lots of meetings and even recording some programmes. Because of the material on the walls the sound doesn't carry as you would usually expect in a large open space. The TV studios and radio studios are underneath each level.


We got to visit where the news and weather is filmed, the Sportscene area and saw inside the radio studios and the TV studio where the set was dressed for a new CBBC show "Copycats".

Then we got to visit the lab where Kirsten got a part in a short play (she was the car driver! and the youngest by about 7 years!).

Then on Sunday it was our friends' son Andrew's first communion. Luckily the weather brightened up and we all got to sit outside in the sunshine with some Rosé!

This was the card I made - the stamp is (I think) by Penny Black. The letter stickers were in my pile of alpha stickers so no idea who they are by and the sentiment was printed out on the computer.

I coloured the image in using SU markers and the background papers are the from the gorgeous SU Wintergreen pack (now retired - grab them quick if you want some before they go out of stock - especially with the buy 3 get a 4th pack free offer that is on throughout May).

And last but not least this is the card I made for my friend's daughter who was also making her first communion on Sunday. I adore these Miss Anya stamps from the greeting farm. Coloured in using SU markers and the paper is from the tea Party designer series paper pack.

Twilight Walk around Cumbrae

What will you be doing on Saturday 23rd May?

I'll be walking round the scenic isle of Cumbrae, sun, rain or hail ( I sincerely hope its the former but with the weather recently it could be all three!!!) to raise funds for Breast Foot Forward. BFF is a Scottish charity and its mission is to contribute to making Scotland renowned for excellence in Breast Cancer diagnosis and care. It works to influence the thinking of those who can ensure that projects link up with other activities to establish and maintain a comprehensive breast cancer care environment, no matter where you live.

If you'd like to sponsor me then my just giving page can be found here or if you live in Millport (waves to Alison) you can come and cheer us on :)

Culzean Castle

Shortly before Christmas we took a trip to Culzean castle.

It was a glorious clear winter's day


With snow on Arran

warm enough to run about without a jacketAnd a little seasonal robin


And ice on the duck pond - why is breaking the ice so satisfying :)


On the way back we came home via the electric brae and the views over to Ailsa Craig were stunning.

Ready for Guising

Kenny & Kirsten ready to go guising (as we call it here in Scotland) last night.

One hippie...
(he had a flower in his hair too at one point!)


And one orphan...
(she was in character and hence not smiling!)



Luckily the weather stayed dry and they all had great fun. We were certainly well entertained with lots of jokes, songs and some brilliant costumes.

{Happy Halloween} - almost...

This year's puking pumpkin :)
Stitch

Ghost from Mario

And all three

Once again the patterns are all from the fantastic zombie pumpkins site.

One place left in ribbon share

Due to a last minute change of mind I have one place left in the ribbon share

Retired Stampin' Up! sets for sale

Wheels:

Petals £5
Flitting By £5

Hostess Sets:

In the Spotlight £18 sold
Little Hellos £18 sold

Other Sets:

Unfrogettable £18 sold pending payment
Little Pieces £11

All prices include P&P
Pls leave a comment or email me on thefineartofstampin@gmail.com

More clear stamps for sale

Since I've signed up with Stampin' Up! I've not been using my clear stamps anymore so they have got to go as I need the space.

All items are previously used and some of the stamps are quite heavily stained.

Autumn Leaves Merry Christmas by Tia Bennet £8

Autumn Leaves Swirls V2 by Rhonna Farrer £8

Fiskars Filigree Borders £5 (this set is brand new in pack)

Sassafrass Lass Blooms & Stalks £6 sold

Inkadinkadoo - wood mounted set of 10 stamps - Whimsical Holiday £10

Remember all prices include P&P - I accept paypal (please add 20p +3.4% to cover fees) or cheques

If you see anything you would like to purchase please email me at: thefineartofstampin@gmail.com

Cuttlebug Folders, Autumn Leaves Stamps for Sale

I am selling some brand new Cuttlebug items that I received for my birthday. Unfortunately there was a bit of a mix up over my wish list and I got a few item I already had.

All items include P&P in price

Cuttlebug Christmas Ornaments Folder £3.25 sold

Cuttlebug Haunted House Embossing Folder £3.25 sold pending payment

Cuttlebug Skeleton Scroll Folder £3.25

Cuttlebug cut & emboss Treetops £5.00
(includes 1 folder and 1 die) sold

The following clear acrylic stamp sets from Royal & Langnickel are previously used and have quite a lot of stainingSet of 26 Birthday stamps £4

Set of 73 ransom alphabet stamps £4

Remember all prices include P&P - I accept paypal (please add 20p +3.4% to cover fees) or cheques

If you see anything you would like to purchase please email me at: thefineartofstampin@gmail.com

Stampin' Up! Ribbon share

see here :)

New stash

My new stamps arrived this week - saw this idea to use the round tab punch to make little mini handbags on another blog a while ago. When I saw the Totally Tabs set it seemed perfect :)
More cards on my SU blog :)

Whoosh!

The summer holidays are really flying by this year - not long now until my two are back at school - they start back on 14 August this year.
Can't believe Kenneth is off to "big school" - it doesn't seem that long I was there (yes I know in reality it is a while!!! LOL) - I mean some of the teachers are the same and even the "headie" used to be my maths teacher!


This card was based on a sketch over at ILWS (OK you get that is In Love With Stamping by now :D )

And these two were both for ILWS challenges too



I have been scrapping as well - working on a 6x12 album, so hope to have pictures of that on here soon as well :)

Another couple of cards

A quick birthday card I made for my niece in June

And this one was for a colour combo challenge on In Love With Stamping
We were challenged to use the stampin' Up! colours Chocolate Chip, Creamy Caramel and Real Red together - this was my attempt - again feel free to play along and if you do please leave a link to your projects as I'd love to see them

Who me?

Wow I was so surprised when I logged on tonight to find that Lainy had nominated for this little award - that was so sweet of you - really made my evening :)
It's a special award given to weblogs that somehow catch your eye!
The rules for this award:
1. The winner can put the logo on her blog.
2. Link the person you received your award from.
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs.
4. Put links of those blogs on yours.
5. Leave a message on the blogs of the girls you've nominated

I am going to nominate the following people whose blogs I love:

Elaine
Dawn
Fiona
Roz
Diane
Elaine

{Monday}

DS & DD are off in Lanzarote at the moment so have been enjoying the peace & quiet.
DH and I have even had something like a social life as well!
We went to see Hancock (with Will Smith) at the cinema at Xscape, followed by a meal at Tony Roma's. Really enjoyed the film - would definitely recommend it.

(That was actually the second film I had been to see within a week - saw Mamma Mia with the "girls" last Saturday - what a laugh - mind you not sure what was funnier the film itself or some of the audience joining in!!!)

Then we were round at friends for a meal on Saturday evening and out again for a High Tea on Sunday!

Don't worry it won't last - the kids are back on Friday LOL

Been busy with lots of Stampin' Up! stuff recently - here are a few of my more recent projects:
All products by Stampin' Up!



All three of these cards were made using stamps from the Pick A Petal set. I set a challenge over on In Love With Stamping to use a stamp set in a different way - if you want to play along please so and be sure to leave a comment linking back to your creations :)


I also had some notebooks and post-it notes lying around that I decided to pretty-up a bit.



And this is just a random birthday card I made for no-one in particular

Its been a while...

...but I've been too busy playing this to blog (or scrap much!)

Here are a few of the LOs I made at Scrapaganza in June.
This was Karen Burniston's Architecture class that I actually finished while I was in Holland.

And the other two are from the Bazzill class.

Finally here is what happens when two eight year olds raid the dressing up box...nuff said!