Counting Chickens and a card for my Dad-in-law

Hello crafty peeps and welcome to my crafty nook! I hope you have all had a splendid weekend. I'm a bit late posting this because my 'lovely' cat decided to stick his claw into the palm of my hand last week and it's been too painful to craft until yesterday :(. Before I get on with the card I just had to share this with you... Last week I got a letter from my gas supplier e.on to say sorry for the fact they've been overcharging me for nearly 4 years through my card meter and that they would be sending me a cheque in a few days to cover what they've overcharged me in the past, what they are planning on overcharging me in the next two months (you think they'd get their fingers out and sort it ASAP wouldn't you??) and interest on it all. So I got pretty excited thinking that as they'd sent a separate letter in advance of the refund it was going to be a substantial amount because when they got in trouble last time and sent me a compensation payment it just arrived and that was for £37! The next few days were spent daydreaming about what I could buy with this windfall; craft stuff (obviously!), maybe replace my falling to bits camera with a better one - a new bed frame perhaps? (Ours is being held together at Chris's side with string and elephant tape!) On Saturday there was a white envelope in the post (strangely no e.on logo on it though) and excitedly I opened it and glanced at the cheque attached to the bottom of the letter. Now brace yourself..............................................................................

.......£3.92. I shook the envelope out in case a zero had fallen out inside but no such luck! Lol Chris and I howled with laughter, all those pipe dreams for less than 4 quid!!! I'm in two minds to keep it and frame it to remind me not to count my chickens in future, I suppose you could say that e.on sent me a REALITY CHECK!!!! lol

Anyway enough with that nonsense, time to share a card with you. It's my father-in-law's birthday on Saturday (Valentine's Day) and I bought some Crafter's Companion S.W.A.L.k stamps sets from Every Craft's A Pound about 6 months ago. One of the sets I bought was a 'paw'fect pal set called "Prickly" and although the sentiment is a Grandpa one I loved the main image and it reminds me of my dad-in-law so I had to use it.

Close up of "Prickly" Topper

ProMarkers Used

Hair - Ice Grey 1 and blender

Skin - Blush and Dusky Pink

Shirt - Ice Grey 1

Boots - Pear Green and Lime Green

Jeans - Denim Blue, China Blue and blender

Tank Top - Pastel Beige

Gloves - Lime Green

Hedgehogs - Sandstone, Caramel, Terracotta, Cocoa and Henna

Grass - Grass

Tongue and Ears - Salmon Pink

Flower - Lime green, Lime Zest and Red

Birthday Card for Dad

Close up of Topper

Sentiment from Clearly Besotted Stamps mini banners stamps and die

The sky was coloured in using Dovecraft 'Brights' chalks and the sentiment was stamped onto Kraft card using my usual ink. The square brads are Making Memories and the baker's twine wound between them is from Dovecraft. The paper is what I had left over from making Les's birthday card on my last post. I added some Dovecraft 3D effect clear pearls onto the boots and the hedgehogs' noses to make them shine.

I hope you like my latest card - they'll be another Challenge on the Passion for ProMarkers blog tomorrow so once I've made a card I'll post it here on this blog.

Until next time - keep crafting!

Love and crafty hugs,

Sarah xxx