the results are in

Phil and I went for a healthy walk first this morning and then got on with the weighing and measuring. For the first time my hip really hurt and I had to limp round. Ironic after two weeks of fast walking every that the first day I don't have to - I can't! Ah, I love the signs of getting old.

Not that we were having a competition BUT Phil won the weight loss and I won the inch loss. I don't set that much store by weight anyway as I can fluctuate by a good few pounds depending on the time of the month. I lost 4 1/2 lbs and 10 inches overall from my bust, waist, hips and thighs. I am WELL chuffed with that. Sadly, I still have some little belly rolls so can't be too complacent. I don't look as chubby as I am as I dress carefully and I have thin bottoms of my arms and ankles which is the most anyone sees. But trust me, the flab is there.

So I will feel more confident on holiday - the reason for doing this. And I do want to keep up the healthy lifestyle. My sugar craving really shocked me and now it is gone I don't want it back. I also need to keep off the crisps if I can and exercise more. That is probably the key for me! I think making meals from scratch probably helps as well. Alcohol WILL be going back on the menu though... can you get low calorie cider? (my sophisticated drink of choice!)

Phil lost 4 inches overall - I was surprised it wasn't more as he looks so much trimmer. But lost a fab 6lbs. Having a diet buddy is the way to go.

OK I promise, no more boring diet talk. ON with this weeks Daring card.
Sue set the theme this week

It’s a Wrap

No, not the kind stuffed with Chicken & Cesar Salad or the woolly kind you put around your shoulders to keep you warm, mind you, the way our summer is going I think we could all do with one of those!

I would like you to give your card a coat made of acetate, vellum or anything for that matter.
As long as it ‘wraps’ around the outside of your card, anything goes!

I needed to make a card for a 90 year old and thought I would try my hand at elegant, which if you have looked at this blog before, you will know is not my natural style. I found some vellum I bought ages ago and scalloped the edge with a corner rounder, then stamped it using versamark and a Banana Frog swirl stamp. I then swooshed it with Blonde Moments pearl pigments powder. The numbers were cut on the robo and given the versamark/powder treatment.
For the inside I ran the card through a Swirl cuttlebug folder and added a strip of paper to hide the join. After it was all put together I decided to do the versamark/powder thing agin. This looks much better when the card is fully closed than when it is open!
some swirly sheer ribbon finished the card off.

I also want to show you another layout - in complete contrast to the card!
We had a fab day at this country park on holiday last year. But were quite stunned by the art on the beautiful manor house. I really don't think I could do it... So I went wild on the papers too - it is doodled to an inch of its life, helped by the Frances Meyer papers - Sharpie just glides over it so beautifully. The papers came in a kit with the chipboard flowers . All I added was the Robo cut lettering. Very bright, very busy but loads of fun to do!