Sweet Stampin' - Use your paper scraps

Saturday again, time really is flying by isn't it? That means it's time for our new challenge over at Sweet Stampin' and this week, we want you to "Use Your Paper Scraps".
I'll fill you in with the boring details of why I haven't posted or visited you all in a minute, so you can tootle off early if you prefer. I used some paper scraps (I think they were Scrapberry papers) that were left over from a workshop I did with the fabulous Hels Sheridan last weekend. I trimmed the scraps down with my guillotine to create a greater variation in sizes and then added them with walnut stain distress ink using a bit of cut n dry foam. I then stuck them onto a 6x6 card overlapping them in places. I added some more walnut stain round the edge of the card, although I was a bit heavy handed in places!
I found a reasonable sized scrap of card and stamped the LOTV sentiment in black archival ink and again added the walnut to the edges. I added this to the card with 1mm deep foam tape. I had a rummage in my bit box and found some paper flowers (I think from a Craftwork Card kit) which were roughly the right colours. To tie them in I applied a little of the walnut ink yo the edges of the petals and glued them to the card with some pearls for centres. Simples. I did think that maybe I should have stamped the sentiment in a dark brown rather than black, but hey ho!

So, why have I been absent in blogland? Life has rather got in the way. Work has been hectic and last Friday I pulled into the car park at work at lunchtime, using my pass to enter. Drove in and pressed up on my driver's electric and zilch happened. To cut a long story short, the window was stuck fully open and I couldn't get a garage to sort it that afternoon and I couldn't leave the car unsecured. Thank goodness for mobile phones! Eventually, we came up with a plan - as I needed my car over the weekend and for work. I drove the 60 miles up to my parents (50 miles of it up the M6!) with the window down, a thick cardigan and fleece on, gloves (thank goodness for grips on my gloves so I could drive in them) and two scarves wrapped round my neck and head. At least it wasn't raining! I then left my car up there and borrowed my Mum's car for the week whilst mine was repaired. I was supposed to meet Hels and Pauline (Wheeler) for dinner that night, but was shattered and so had to cancel it. Not impressed when they posted photos of their rhubarb gin drinking, I should have been there (on non-alcoholic drinks) too! 

I had a great time taking part in their workshops on Saturday and Sunday, although I'm always shattered by the end of them. Will share photos soon. I decided to have an early night on Sunday but woke up in the early hours with a dreadful cough and feeling generally grim. I phoned in sick at work and fortuitously had already booked a GP appointment for the next day for a meds review. By the time I saw my GP I was struggling to breathe, coughing was agony and I felt like death warmed up. He declared that I had an "impressive" temperature at 39.4 and prescribed antibiotics and steroid tablets. I've spent the rest of the week slowly recovering but still feel terrible, but at least I made my DT card to share today. Still got to make Mum's 80th birthday card as it was her birthday in Tuesday, but we're having a family meal on Sunday (assuming we're all well enough!). I daren't mention it, but I think my dodgy tooth is playing up again as I have a tender swelling in my neck under it - just hoping it's a lymph node from the chest infection, but not really convinced!

If you're still here, I'm very impressed and sorry for having such a long whinge! I hope you are all keeping safe, happy and well. I would say wealthy too, but let's be honest we've probably spent all our dosh on new craft stash! Have a great weekend, I hope to visit you soon x