4 Cats and an awful lot of mess

This last couple of weeks I have had to make a real mix of cards, some happy, some sad. The happy ones I don't struggle to much with but the sad cards .....

A colleague unexpectedly and tragically lost her 17 year old son  and as you can imagine is heartbroken, whilst not really of much benefit I wanted to make and send a card to let her know I was thinking of her. It took me quite a few practice runs and trying out some different styles but in the end I went with this, which I have to be honest, I am quite pleased with and will use this again.


To lighten the mood after this card I decided to have a go at some Christmas cards. I have been really inspired with some of the videos on Youtube, where a lot of the card makers post a card a day in the run up to Christmas. Sadly, I don't have the time to do that so a few mass produced ones will supplement this years shop bought ones. Maybe if I start in July next year I could make all my own cards, lets see.


This was a Simon Says Stamp tree die and I painstakingly mounted each strip on foam pads to elevate the trees from the base, finished with wooden starts strayed with Tim Holtz distress spray in silver and Tim Holtz Christmas stay.

Finally, a farewell card for another colleague who was leaving to take up a new job.


I left this to the last minute and consequently feel it is missing something however, the lovely Anna seemed pleased with it.

This weekend MP and I were honoured to attend the wedding of Miss Lauren Cope and Mr Kieran Gilhooley at St John's Church, Cumnock followed by a reception at the beautiful Sorn Castle, Ayrshire.



I have been friends with Lauren's' mum, Susan since 1985. We met in Hertfordshire, where we were both working as nannies and introduced by the other nannies who took 'newbies' under their wings. This friendship got off to a rocky start but has endured the years and we were at each others weddings and I was a frequent visitor as her 3 children (Lauren, Jenna and Marc) grew up. I also have the honour of being Jenna's Godmother or Fairy Godmother as I like to believe.

Obviously what to wear to this event took much deliberation and research, wanting to look good. As I have a fondness for vintage style clothing I searched far and wide for the perfect dress. Eventually I found this beauty from Palava clothing, a UK company who make the most beautiful dresses and knitwear, the Elsie - Navy floral feather.


Stunning and made from the most beautiful fabric. I bought a navy net petticoat to wear underneath it but in the end decided to wear as is and felt great in it. I teamed it with Miss L Fires Amber shoes in Navy


a vintage hat from Etsy



a matching navy suede clutch bag and to ward off the cold (good job as it was freezing) a mustard coloured pashmina.

But enough about me and more of the lovely bride.




The Bride and Groom


Lauren and her proud Dad, Danny


Lauren with her sister and Maid of Honour, Jenna

So wishing Mr and Mrs Gilhooley the very best for their new life together as man and wife xxxx

With time on my hands at the moment until I am fit to go back to work and that I am enjoying making cards, I decided to try and push myself a little. Yesterday I started looking via Google at card challenges and came across quite a few on different sites. I have linked to some of the ones I really liked under the challenges section.

However, this challenge from CAS(E) this Sketch Sketch #294 really appealed to me so for my first effort at a challenge I have joined in. This is my take on the sketch:


I used:
Ninah Desert Storm Cardstock
Simon Says Stamp Stitched Rectangle dies
MFT Kraft ink pad
Pretty Cute Stamps Fur Baby Stamps
Waffle Flower red ink pad
Simon Says Stamp Mini Heart Dies
Red Cardstock from my stash
Glossy accents

This is Sketch #294

As I am off work at the moment recovering from breast surgery, not able to drive very far due to the seatbelt or the fact I have been bra less for 3 weeks, I am getting bored and therefore doing a lot of shopping online.

Not sure how, think it was a Facebook group, but I came across a little UK based shop called Skull and Cross Buns that makes and sells its own stamps. I couldn't resist a look and ended up buying a planner set (not that I use a planner, I'm still using my Filofax from the 1990's) and a gorgeous personalised stamp for the back of my cards.



If you fancy a browse the shop can be found at www.skullandcrossbuns.com

I have also spent an awful lot of time searching for the perfect dress to wear at my friends' daughters wedding next weekend. Last minute I know but I had something specific in mind and that took some finding. More in the next post.

Twice a year I treat myself, well more than that really, but this is a treat from the fabulous Simon Says Stamp. Their own brand products are superb and much better than the limited choice we get in the UK. This latest treat coincided with the special 'STAMPtember'  event where stamp designers prepare limited edition sets sold via the SSS website.

This year was superb however the stamps sell out quickly so I wasn't able to get all the ones I wanted. I did manage to get these gorgeous stamps from Honey Bee stamps with the matching dies:

This versatile set of stamps are perfect to add to my growing stash and will be put to good use. Already I have used them to make these cards for upcoming birthdays.


Images coloured with Promarkers and embossed, Altenew numbers die and gold glitter paper from American Crafts.


Kraft card stock, Hero Arts Hues - White ink, Stamping Up glitter paper. Apologies for the photograph.

Two cards with one set of stamps, that's a record for me, so a worthwhile investment.

It seems most people start by making cards and then venture into scrapbooking. For me it was the other way around. I started scrapbooking when a friend suggested a day class at a local store and soon I was hooked. I started going to a regular crop where I met lots of like minded people, joined UK Scrappers and went on weekend retreats. It was through a circle journal that I met my still friend KathB and as the crops have died off, I too have not done any scrapbooking in ages, despite mounds of stash.

I have however started to use some of my supplies and added to it, making cards. I am really enjoying this, I am slow, I get it wrong quite  a lot but it is relaxing and the fruits of my labour seem well received.

Some of the cards I have made recently include:


A card for my neighbours daughter who moved into her first house. Scraps of paper from my stash, Claudine Helmouth stamps coloured with Promarkers and my Dymo label maker.




My Favourite Things Four Legged Friends again, coloured with Prismacolour pencils.

As you can see I am really liking Kraft backgrounds, they are so versatile and everything seems to go with a Kraft card. So come back soon for further creations.

Losing Oscar last year was awful for us and little Lily seems to have taken in badly. She had bonded with Oscar, well he was such a gentle soul and the two of them were frequently cuddled up together, whether Oscar wanted to or not. MP and I discussed getting another cat however as we have started to plan for our retirement we (he) decided this wasn't an option. 

I wanted to get Lily a friend so the compromise was to try fostering. This way we got another cat, Lily got a pal and we were helping out one of the local rescues to feed and house an cat till it found its furrever home. 

Rose tinted spectacles - possibly/probably.

I contacted Rossendale Responsible Animal Rescue (RRAR) where we got Lily from and as we had been home checked put us on the list to foster. The first couple we couldn't take - health issues and a male but finally we got asked to take an 8 year old female who's owner was moving abroad and advertising her on free cycle!! So on the 8th January 2018, Mavis came to stay.

For a few weeks Mavis had the run of the bedroom with a conservatory to sit and watch the birds, chickens and sheep outside and seemed to be settling in. It was time to start the introductions to my 3 so we fixed the dog gate into the door frame and started to open the door a little so she could see the hallway and the other cats tripping around. So far so good.

Sadly this was not to last. Mavis is a sprightly 8 year old and from her ears has obviously been a scrapper but I was not expecting her to leap a 4 foot dog gate in one move and attack poor Lily. 

So now if I want to let Mavis out of the bedroom for a wander I have to shut my cats upstairs (our house is upside down) and lock the cat flap which isn't ideal and stops my cats going out. If Mavis hears the cat flap go she runs into the conservatory growling and has launched herself at the glass doors when Lily has entered the porch (the other side of hallway).

Sufficed to say, Mavis really needs a home where she is the only cat.

Mavis has also been free to wander and isn't used to being shut up never mind in one room for 22 hours a day. So not surprisingly she is going stir crazy: digging up the carpet near the door and keeping me awake half the night.

Shame of it all, is that she is a real sweetie, is genuinely pleased to see you and purrs like a trooper.

Having told the Head of cats at RRAR two weeks ago that it wasn't working and that Mavis need to be the only cat in a house where she had free run even if she couldn't go out. Nothing has been forthcoming. I am having to text every couple of days and don't always get a response and am now being told they are trying to find her something.

I do appreciate it isn't easy, Mavis has specific needs however when you volunteer to foster it is a good will gesture and you expect support if it doesn't work out or if the environment isn't conducive to the cats wellbeing, not to be fobbed off and left to fend. At the end of the day it isn't my cat.

So, Mavis is still with me, shut in one room 22 hours a day, Lily is terrified of coming in the house and I am sleep deprived.

If Mavis had integrated with my cats it would have been a different story but an older cat set in her ways, it was not to be. I can see why people chose kittens when they have existing cats and the older ones get overlooked.

Should the rescue been more honest about Mavis and her needs rather than just trying to place her? 

When a foster placement is failing for whatever reason there should be support and a timely resolution for the individuals and the animals. I get that she is safe where she is but it is cruel for a cat, especially one used to freedom, to be shut up and not fair to impact on the existing cats in the house in a negative way.

Fostering is a really good thing. With so many abandoned animals rescues rely on people to foster as cattery charges are an expensive option. Fosterers pay for all food, litter etc and rescues only pay any veterinary bills so it allows them to care for more homeless animals, which is great. It can be a positive and rewarding thing to do.

So, would I foster again, sadly not.