Pink Bottle Card

A little while ago I bought myself a necklace which is a little 'bottle'. I love it so much and the more I looked at it I realised I could make something similar. All it is made out of is different shaped beads and other bead findings. Before my back went on me I decided to make some of these little bottles and incorporate onto a card.

Well, while it's hard to do anything, let alone craft, I have managed to put this idea into practice.

Here is my little bottle.... incorporated onto a card. The die I have used on this card is called LARGE LANTERN CREATABLES DIE by Marianne.

Thank you to all have sent me your good wishes and prayed for me. Please continue to do so. I'm still in terrible pain but I am trying so hard not to let it get the better of me. I'M DOWN, BUT NOT OUT!

Down but NOT out!

If it's not one thing, it's another. This year has not bee kind to me but I am sure ALL things happen for a reason. Well my friends, I am in so much pain at present. I have a bulging disc in my lower spine that is resting on the sciatic nerves. I did this six years ago and was on my back for five months. I will NOT let it do that to me again. Surely all the weight I have lost has to be a help...

I am going to TRY and keep crafting if my pain levels permit but I'm not promising. To all who supported me by writing to the person who had put my work on her site... it paid off and she has finally removed it. THANK YOU. Us crafters around the world need to band together and support each other when things like this happen. On our own it's hard to do anything but support from so many makes us like an army.

I will continue to keep you updated on how I am. I am currently working on a few little ideas using beads.. Just like my pins I showed you all some time ago. My plan is to incorporate these beading ideas onto my cards.. I wont tell you just now what I am up to but as soon as I get something done I'll be sure to show it to you.

Thanks again for your support. Please keep me in your prayers. hugs... Angie

Just a word of the Duchess, our Fergie. She is doing so well and continues to put a smile on my face. She's not too sure about my walking frame except that it's like a step up to Mummy's shoulders. She loves to jump up on my shoulder and will do it when I least expect it. Not too good at present but try telling her that. Perhaps her ideas are better than we think... I'll post some up to date photos of the girl soon. Meiowwwww from Fergie!

My Copyright has been abused!

Hello dear followers,

I promised in my last post that I would start sharing more of my work with you but unfortunately that will have to wait for just a little while until I can organise a "copyright" watermark to put on each piece of my work. I have never worried about this before but in recent days it has come to my attention that someone has taken so much of my work (from here, my blog) and put them on her website. She did this without my permission and when I asked her to remove them she said she would in a few weeks time. Not Acceptable! The date she said she'd remove them has passed and still she has my work there. She ignores my emails and the emails from many of my craft friends. I don't know what else to do to make her respect my requests.
Had this person asked me for permission to display my work I would have given it but she didn't. Not only has she used my work but it still has my own personal naming on it.. that is for example, on a card for my grandson, it is called FOR ADAM... and she still has that.  The same with all the other pieces of my work.. TWELVE of them in all!
I've been advised that one way to show her what she is doing is wrong is for as many people, from all over the world, to write to her and tell her she is breaching copyright and to remove my work. If you would like to write to this woman, please email me and I will send you the link to her site. Email me on angieandtshina@gmail.com Perhaps if I took the advice of the Duchess I might get further with this Fergie says "scratch her eyes out" but that would involve me flying to another country.
I'm organising a watermark and will show you work real soon. I PROMISE.    Ooooh one more thing.  I have just added a 'gadget' to my blog whereby you can 'FOLLOW MY BLOG' ... I do hope I've done it correctly, if someone could let me now I'd be grateful.  I will post something.. anything in a day or so just to see if this works for you.
Thanks for your support. Angie

Hello everyone

To all my blog followers I want to extend my apologies for not posting on my blog for such a long time. So much has been going on in my life that has kept me away from craft and doing things I love, like tending to my blog.


As you will remember, after I lost my Miss Tshina I got another little girl, Izzy. That did work out and Izzy went back to her former owner. Then the IMPERIAL DUCHESS came into my life. She is the light of my life and the most darling little girl anyone could have. She is such an amazing cat and I am just so blessed to have her in my life.
The Duchess, who is known as "FERGIE" is a Blue Oriental. She is a little over 2 years old and is as smart as they come.
I wanted to introduce her to the world which is only right as she is my "right hand girl"

I promise to post more regularly on my blog. I am back working on the second PENNY FLOWERS and making cards when I can.
One of the main issues that has kept me away from my craft has been this terrible CARPEL TUNNEL I have developed in my right hand. I wont be seeing the specialist until early December so it's a case of doing what I can, when I can. For those of you who have been following my journey of weight loss... I have finally reached my goal weight of 80kg. and now weigh 78kg!! That's a 52kg loss. My Journey has been bumpy but a good and successful one for sure. Thank you to all of you who continue to support and follow me.

A card for a friend

My goodness it's been such a long time since I posted.  So much has been happening this year and sometimes it becomes quite overwhelming.  I have developed a terrible case of Carpel Tunnel in my right hand (I am right handed) so much so I am finding it so hard to do my crafting.  I am however working on the second PENNY FLOWERS but it's a slow process.  Even though it's hard for me to work on it, it is coming along and when done I'm sure everyone will be quite surprised by some 'surprise' features I am adding to it. I wont be seeing the specialist about my hand until early October which is so frustrating.
With all my weight loss, which is now just about 50kg I've lost, I've become so interested in fashion and all that goes with it.  I've also learned about shapewear which I always thought was uncomfortable and old fashioned..  that was until I was introduced to BELLA BODIES.  Oh ladies.. it's the most fantastic shapewear about and I just love it.  I call the garments I have my BELLA BEAUTIES.
I've made a card for the owner of this company to thank her for all she has done for us women.  So ladies.. here is my BELLA BODIES card... it's for a lovely lady with a lovely heart.  In fact, a real angel.

This is an Easel card... I love doing these type of cards because it makes putting them on display so easy.

Another one on Easter Monday

Acting on the suggestion from a friend to make a hanging basket.... I DID!

I was given a set of Spellbinders Elegant Posts and at first couldn't come up with any ideas for using them... I just went BLANK. I think, in my grief, I was in a bit of slump and wasn't feeling very creative at all... then in the early hours of Easter Sunday I made the card I posted last.. from there I was given the suggestion to make a hanging basket...  so how??  I cut a bird cage (made from a Marianne's Creatable die) in half... turned it upside down... cut off another bit of it to form a scalloped trim and here are the results.
The sparkly flowers on this card and the last are another of Marianne's Creatable dies... 
The roses are little Autumn Roses I made a few years ago and had them stored away...

I'm going to start a Tutorial Blog... that is as soon as I work out how to do the videos :)  I'll let you all know when I'm likely to have it ready.  This is a new venture but one I've wanted to do for a long time...  if anyone has any suggestions or help they can give me... PLEASE email me.. I would be most grateful.  hugs.. Angie

My Easter Sunday card.

Last night I lay awake, not able to sleep because I was missing my Tshina.. the tears came and I knew I wasn't going to be able to sleep for a while...
I haven't done much craft since that horrible day, the 2nd April so it was time not to let my grieving stop me from doing what I love.
Here is the card I got up and made...

I hope you all are having a wonderful and blessed Easter. My love to you all.... Angie

For my friend, Roula.

A card made for my friend, Roula.
Sometimes when teaching my flowers, I can TELL how something is done but I always find people learn so much better when SHOWN how to do it.
This card was made to show my friend how to put my BLUE JUDY's into a layout.

Cards made for Paperific 2011

Hi Everyone...
I made these cards to show while I was demonstrating on the FatCats stand at Paperific Craft Show in Melbouren, April 2011.  They were made to show my Ultimate Rose.
I should have shown you these much sooner but this show was the same weekend that I lost my Tshina and I'm afraid I just haven't had my heart in my craft work of late but I'm getting back into it now.

Thank you all for the lovely comments you always make about my cards... they are very much appreciated.

Goodbye Miss Tshina

It is with a broken and heavy heart that I have said goodbye to my darling Tshina.

Thursday evening I had a feeling she wasn’t herself and then on Friday night I noticed her breathing was laboured and I just knew things were not right. Yesterday I knew I should wait no longer and took her to the emergency Vet. They didn’t make us wait and took us straight into Triage. Within minutes the nurse came and took her vitals and then the doctor was there immediately and checking her over. Before she would speak to us as to what was going on she took her and put her in some sort of oxygen tent.

She said she'd have to runs some tests to see exactly what the problem was... but it was likely it was her heart. They x-rayed her heart and then brought us into to explain what was wrong with her. Tshina’s little heart had a big mass at the top of it and other problems. The vet said that even with the treatment that would be necessary the inevitable would happen and would cause her so much stress. The heart murmur that we knew Tshina had only made the whole situation worse.

While it was the hardest decision I’ve had to make I just knew I couldn’t let my darling girl suffer. I held her while they did what they had to and she went to sleep so peacefully.

I know I don’t have to tell you how much I shall miss her. She was my baby and I loved her so much. Everywhere I look I expect to see her. What a beautiful little girl she was.

I want to thank each and everyone of you who have loved and taken an interest in Miss Tshina. I know there are so many of you too who will mourn her loss.

Goodbye darling Tshina… Mummy will miss you so very much.

My Tshina was born on the 8th February 2005.  She was bred by Merle Frame at Tomelima Siamese and Oriental Cattery http://tomelima.com/   Many thanks to Merle for allowing Tshina to become my girl in March 2006.  We had five wonderful years together.

60th Wedding Anniversary card

It's been too long since I've posted on my blog.   Here is a card I made for a friend to give her parents for their 60th Wedding Anniversary.  It's hard creating such a card when you don't know what colours the recipients like, what flowers or even a theme... So here are my efforts. 

This card is an Easel Card..  I got the idea from a friend who sent me one of these cards for my birthday earlier this year.  I really do enjoy making these.

I like to keep my boxes simple.  The whole purpose of putting cards in a box is to protect them and it also makes it easier for the recipient to put the card away and not worry if something is placed on top. If I were to put a flower or the like on the box, then I would need to make a box to store the box.. not a good idea.

Can I take this opportunity to thank all of you who make such lovely comments on my blog.  I appreciate it more than you would know.  I have kept all your emails and I promise to respond to you as soon as time permits, which I hope will be soon.  You're all so wonderful.

Rest in Peace Mummy

I lost my dear mummy on the 10th January this year... she died while I was holding her I miss her so much.
I designed this new flower in memory of her and have called it The Sweetheart Flower... but I refer to it as "Mummy's Flower" I don't think anything prepares you for losing your mother... I'm still coming to grips with her passing and just wish I could have her back for even one day would be good... there are always things you wish you said or done... Goodbye Mummy.. I love you!
 

Mummy 1932-2011