Just Having Fun!

 

For the cards below I have used some Tracey Evans stamps. I just wanted to 'play' and used some bit of card that were on my desk. 

The bird on the left (top photo) has a piece of rice paper on his body. I just wanted to see how it looked! As I mentioned, I was just 'playing' and really didn't 'think' too much. 

For the card below I used a Clarity Crafts stamp, and I used my water colour markers to colour it. I had already written on ith before I took the photos, so half the card is not shown. The card it the size of a post card. I made two of these cards.

For the card below, I used another Tracey Evans stamp. I also have a stencil of the lights. There's a pencil mark on this card which I cannot erase. Too bad, I like it anyway! As I said, I was just 'playing', and just wanted to create without over thinking things.

I feed the wild birds each day. All kinds of birds come, but there ae some Blackbirds that are very tame that let me know when they are at the seed trays. For some  years I have fed the raisins, as they seem to like them. The photo shows Mr. Blackbird filling his beak with some of the raisins, and he flies back to his nest to feed the babies. Mrs. Blackbird also comes to eat the raisins. It's not a very good photo as I had took the shot looking upwards. The Blackbirds have always trusted me, and I can sit 2 feet away from them and they don't mind. If I am inside when they are here, and I haven't fed them, they will let me know by chirping until I feed them!

Before I go, thank you to Robyn D for the beautiful (early!) Birthday card I got a couple of weeks ago, and for the gorgeous Christmas card which arrived a few days ago! 

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

Flat Pack Adventure!

I haven't stamped anything much lately. Too much stress, too humid, and just lacking motivation and/or inspiration. We are well in to Summer, and boy it's been  hot and humid 24/7. Summer arrived early, it's not usually this humid until well after the New Year. February is (usually) or hottest most humid month. Anyway, here is a mobile shelf/drawers thing  I put together this morning. I started on it last night, then realized I had put the drawers in the wrong way. Bummer. 

So early this morning while it was cooler, I removed the drawers and turned them the right way round. I hate flat packs, but I wanted to get this done so I can store my Big Shot Switch and my Scan n' Cut machines on it. I had them both on desks, which was 'ok', but the problem was the desks weren't near any power points. This meant I had to run extension cords across the floor to the nearest power point.

This way I can just roll the desk to the nearest power point. It was a 'challenge' getting it together, my hands didn't want to hold the Allen key, so I kept dropping the Allen key, all while trying to make sure the shelf thing didn't fall apart while holding it with one hand! Quite a feat I tell ya!

There was a fair bit of, shall we say, blue language! There was 2 issues. The first one was the instructions. The description of what bit goes where was basically missing, and I had to keep looking at the picture of it on the box it came in, and hope I got it right. Which luckily I did! (Well, it hasn't fallen apart so far, lol!) The second issue was, a couple of the pre-drilled holes where the screws go, were actually on a slight angle. So putting some of the screws in was not easy. I've had that issue with other flat packs, and it really makes things challenging. I had no way of fixing the crooked holes, so I was glad I got it all together- even if it did test my patience! As you can see in the photo above, it has a platform on one side that you can use if you need extra space. I haven't put anything in the drawers yet, but was thinking I might put some cardstock in one of them. 

My art room - AKA Dining room - has 3 big big windows, so I can easily roll this cabinet to one of the windows if I need extra light. I also have a small tv here if I want to watch something!

I have lot's going on at the moment, and as I said, I really haven't done any crafting. I'm finding Christmas stressful (again) and have not sent many Christmas cards at all. I just can't do it. Andrea B I sent your card yesterday, I hope it arrives in time for Christmas!

I think I've sent 2 cards. I'm focusing on creating art/cards etc that I like, for 'me', for my  own personal enjoyment. And I hope no-one is offended by this. But as I get older I want to do things that are fun, things I enjoy. I still have a few cards to do, ones which can be hand delivered. Thoe special people in my life will still get a hand made card from me. Ok, I'/m babbling on like a fast flowing brook! My health is good at the moment, and I haven't been in hospital for 7 weeks which is great! Hopefully things have settled down now. Fingers x'd! Thanks for dropping by! Have a SUNSHINE day! Always be your authentic self, and shine bright each and every day!

 

I'm Not A Victim, I'm a Survivor.

A week ago I had gone to a local shopping mall to do some shopping. I arrived just before lunch time, so thought I would have something to eat first. I took my lunch to an area just a few feet outside the mall and sat down on one of the benches. Within a few seconds and older man came and sat on one of the benches, and said to me what a nice day it was. I agreed that it was a lovely day, and carried on eating my lunch. Then he said something disgusting to me and quickly got up and left. I threw my lunch back in my bag and took off after him. He was moving fairly quickly and when I got to the carpark close by, I lost sight of him. Then I saw a car reversing out of a carpark right in front of me. I was sure it was him, so I memorized the number plate. I had to go into a nearby store to borrow a pen and paper to write the number plate details on. The assistant was concerned as she could tell I was in shock. She asked me if I was ok.  There was no-one else in the store, so I told her what this guy had said to me. She too was disgusted and said to me that I must go to the Police station and report him. The Police station is not far from the mall, but too far to walk in the heat we had that  day. Because I was in shock I couldn't think how I was going to get there. In the end I jumped in a taxi because that way I wasn't going to have to wait for a bus. (I don't drive, so I catch  buses and/or trains.) I was stressed and my hands were shaking as I walked up to the counter at the police Station. I hoped that I would be able to speak to a female Officer, as I felt more comfortable than having to tell a male Officer what this guy had said. The officer took the details, and a copy of what  I thought was his number plate. After I had given her all the details of what he said and what he was wearing, and any other details I could remember, she said to me that I had correctly identified the owner of that car. By the time I left the Police station I caught the train home. I was exhausted and still shaken. One of the Officers called me on Sunday, two days after this incident had happened, and just went through, with me, what I had remembered. I was still pretty shaken, and talking with her gave me goosebumps. Once again, she said that I had described the guy who owns the car I reported, to a T, and that someone would be in contact with me sometime through the week.  I have just had a call from the Police and they are coming to see me this Sunday to show me some photo's to see if I can recognize the guy. Fingers crossed I correctly identify him. I am  still shaken about it, this sort of thing doesn't happen to me, it's stuff that happens to other people but not ME. Before Sunday I need to clear my art desk because my art room is in my dining room. I will need a clear space for the Police to lay the photos on. I will also need to make sure Romeo doesn't walk across my desk while the Police are here! He has a habit of walking across my desk often! He sleeps on the window ledge  thein the sun, and then walks across whatever is on my desk. (A lot of 'stuff')  I'm not sure what happens after I do a photo ID, but I will post it here. There may be a court case, we'll see. 

I (still) haven't done any crafting, 😥 mainly because I am not 100% well. I still have really low energy levels, and just feel sooo tired all the time. I see my GP next Tuesday and hope to find out if I need blood tests to check if it's low B12 levels, low Cortisol, or something else. As far as I know it's the after effects of  having Covid, complicated  by the fact that I have Addison's Disease.  Thanks for dropping by! Have a SUNSHINE day! Remember to be your authentic self, and shine bright each and every day!                                                   

I Shouldn't Have to Beg For Medication That Literally Keeps Me Alive.

Due to being unwell and in hospital with an Addison's Crisis I have not done any crating for awhile. I was in hospital for four days, and it was not pleasant at all. I was denied medication that literally keeps me alive. Without it I will die. One morning I didn't get it. I had begun to feel very weird and like I was about to pass out. (this is the first indication that I am going into a coma that I will not come out of.) I asked the nurse for the medication and was told that I had already had it. I knew I hadn't had it.  I asked another nurse and she too said I had already had it 3 hours ago. I told her his was not true. By now I was feeling very unwell, and went to the reception area in the ward I was in, and told them I had not had the medication and that I need it asap as I was about to pass out. She too said I'd already had it 3 hours ago. I was trying to tell her I had NOT been given it when she interrupted me and said they don't have it on the ward and would have to get it from the pharmacy. I told her I needed it urgently because it literally keeps me alive. I was very dizzy by now and went back to my room to lay down. If i was going to pass out it was safer for me to bed on my bed, rather than hit the solid floor in reception. My room was next to reception so I went to lay down. Within a minute a nurse came running in with my medication, 3 1/2 hours late. Once I took the medication I knew I would be ok. The nurse told me she was out of breath because she had run to bring me the medication. My reply was, 'well better that you're out of breath than me literally dying!'  It wasn't a pleasant experience at all, and I just wanted to get out of there and go home. The challenge is, the Doctors and nurses in general have not idea how crucial it is that I get my medication on time. Addisons Disease is very rare and can quickly turn fatal. I shouldn't have to beg for medication that literally keeps me alive.  Luckily I was ok and was discharged the following day. I am still struggling badly with lack of energy/low Cortisol, which is from having Covid. Yes, I have the new release form Lavinia Stamps (The Faelight Chronicles) but I haven't even used them because I have no energy. I just want to sleep and block out the World at the moment. I often sleep during the day just to re-charge my batteries. If only it was that easy! The cats, Romeo and Wookie, think it's great, they both come and join me on the bed! Yesterday I had gone into my room to sleep. When I woke up an hour later, there was Romeo sleeping on my left hand side, and Wookie on my right hand side! And both cats were snoring!

There's been other stuff going on as well, and I just haven't done any crafting lately. I want to, but I just don't have the energy. Hopefully things will get better soon, fingers crossed! My Doctor said it's the after effects of having Covid, and  how having Addison's has complicated things. 'Just have patience] he said, and 'rest when you need to.' It sounds oh-so-easy, but I am struggling with that! I am not one to sit and do nothing!

Ok, that's it for now, I need to go and rest/sleep. Thanks for dropping by! Have a SUNSHINE day! Remember to always be your authentic self, and shone bright each and every day!

I 

 

More Andy Skinner stamps and Cards And A Thank You!

For the 2 cards above, I used some white cardstock. On a piece of scrap card I put 2 pumps  of hand sanitizer, then some blue water colour ink and some pink water colour ink. I mixed them with my fingers until I was happy with the colour. I then put my stamp on top of the mix and stamped onto the white cardstock. This is the result I got. I was experimenting and am happy with how they turned out. Another idea from Andy Skinner. The hand sanitizer does have a smell, so  make sure the room is ventilated when you use it. It dries very quickly as well. 

Below is how the stamped image looks once I paint over it with the Matte White chalk paint. I keep the stamped card on a stamp platform so when I re stamp it (after paining it) the image is in the right place. Sorry if my explanation is challenging, but I am extremely tired and have very little energy. This is the after effects of Covid. I am struggling badly.

Another two new images. I added a touch of red to one of the cards, and put some clear Glossy Accents on the bubbles.

As I mentioned, I am extremely tired and struggling to do things. Just wanted to post these cards. Before I go, a big thank you to Andrea B, and Robyn D for your beautiful cards you have sent me! Such a nice surprise! Thanks for dropping by!  Have a SUNSHINE day! Remember to always be your authentic self, and shine bright each and every day!

My 1st Andy Skinner Stamp Card!

Above. So here I am clutching my parcel of Andy Skinner which just arrived this morning! They weren't due until late Wednesday, but here it is Monday, so I am not complaining! It was a very exciting moment!

Above is the VERY sturdy binder that came with the stamps. It's really solid so I will decorate it eventually.

Here are photos of the stamps I got. They measure about 4 inches by 2-3 inches, and each stamp comes with a sentiment stamp.

Above shows the stamp inside the Binder, and below is the card I made using the stamp. I also used the sentiment which says, "Let the adventure begin." The card I made may look 'ordinary,' nothing special. Here's how I created it. I stamped it on to SU Soft Suede cardstock using Versafine Clair Nocturne ink. I used my stamp positioner.  I left the stamp on the stamp positioner. (Very important to leave the stamp where it is for now.) I removed the card and using some Matt White Chalk Home Decor paint, I carefully painted over the boys shirt. I completely covered the shirt with white paint. (I forgot to take a photo...)I also painted the tummy white on the Teddy Bear. Once the paint was dry I re-inked the stamp using the same black ink as before, put the stamped card back in the stamp positioner and stamped over the shirt. This puts the details (in black) back on the shirt. The shirt has lots of tiny details on it, and I would never have been able to paint the white around it as the details are so tiny and close together. This is one of the techniques Andy Skinner uses in colouring his images. I just had to try it! It isn't perfect. If you're looking for 'perfection', leave now and find another blog 'cause this isn't it! I did a couple if things wrong, and I am ok with that. This is the first time I have ever used this technique. The main things is, I had fun! Each stamp is on a piece of plastic and has the stamped image on a piece of card. The stamps are all deeply etched red rubber. So this is what I have created so far today! There are other techniques to colour the images, and I hope I can master them all as time goes by! Of course, you can mix and match the sentiment stamps as you like. I used the one that came with this stamp. Hopefully my instructions are easy enough to follow. Check out Andy Skinner and his awesome stamps on you tube to see more of his work. I am totally hooked!

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

 

I Am NOT A Pincushion! I'm Going Home!

 I don't have anything to post here, I have a card half finished, but run out of energy and ended up having to go back to bed to sleep. I will finish the card maybe tomorrow. I had to go and have blood tests done this morning. I was supposed to go yesterday but had a sore throat and didn't feel like going out. What a waste if energy, none of the nurses could get blood because my veins are stuffed. Having been in hospital 4 times in the last month, I have bruises on bruises on bruises, on both arms. I am NOT a pin cushion, and I am SO fed up with nurses being gung ho and thinking THEY can find a vein, and failing, leaving me bruised and annoyed. It's happened SOO many time and I am fed up. While I was in hospital recently, they ended up getting and Anesthetist Technician to come and put a needle in my arm. She was brilliant! She put some anesthetic in my arm using a very fine needle, then she used the Ultra Sound to scan my arm for a viable vein, and then  put the needle in. NO pain, NO stress No bruise, and NO grumpy Sunshine! She said  to ask for an Anesthetist Technician next time they have issues. So I left the blood lab mumbling that I am NOT going back again and the hospital will have to do without my blood. They wanted to see how low my Haemoglobin levels were, as they were very low when I was in hospital. So I got home (exhausted) and my phone rang. It was the hospital saying they think my levels are ok (due to other tests they did) and that I don't need to have any more blood tests!! Best news I've had all day! I am so glad I don't need to go back for more needles. They all want to "Practice" on me, and they all 'think' THEY are the one who will get blood from my vein. I am learning to say 'no', please find someone who has experience, and please use the Ultra Sound. This 'ain't my first rodeo and I am not a pin cushion! I have nothing against nurses, I support you and know how hard you work, and you are often understaffed, but still do a great job. It's just that...I'm not a pin cushion and I've had enough.

So, I have recently discovered some new stamps, and a new (to me) Artist. His name is Andy Skinner. Have you seen his stamps? Have you seen him create with them/ And do you have any of his stamps?! I ordered some the other day and I am super excited to get them! They'll be a short while as they are coming from the UK. A local craft store her in NZ has them, but they're out of stock. They take for ever to get stock in and I want my stamps 'now'! Gosh Andy is super talented with how he colours the stamped images, and I've watched several of his videos. Let me know if you have used his stamps, and I would love to see what you created! I first saw some videos that Amanda Branston did using his stamps, and I was intrigued. You can find Amanda on FB under Amanda Jane Crafts. She was with Lavinia Stamps, but now has her own channel and does some awesome art work. 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!