Best Stressed

Well I have been a little stressed to say the least and when I'm feeling like that I need nice simple craft. I have a habit of making chipboard flowers.....well other chipboard stuff too but today it was flowers. I photographed a couple for you, I love making these.....maybe a little too much really as supply is much heavier than demand. LOL......in laymans terms I could never use all that I make and usually end up inflicting them on friends and aquaintences. In hindsight I think I like anything that ends up with me being painty, inky and glittery and today I was all three.

Snail Mail

Well we have had rather a snail saga going on. Ffi was given some giant african landsnail babies (hereafter known as Swirly and Brian) by a lady on UKS who agreed to keep them until we got back from our break as we didn't want to leave them in Rhiannons care if we didn't have to.....remember the orchids. LOL. So on Tuesday they were posted out by first class snail mail. Wednesday arrived and Ffi padded our post box with a cushion and a towel as its quite a drop. The postman came but alas no Swirly and Brian.....upset Ffi curses RM. This morning we go through the same procedure of padding out the letterbox and when the dogs went mad (announcing the posties arrival) Ffi rushed to the postbox.....but there was only letters. Very upset 8 yr old issues the order "CHASE HIM MUM"......now chase is something I don't usually do but spending the day with a super sulky upset Ffi was something I would rather not have to do so I unlocked the gate and ran (for those of you who know me you didn't misread the last bit I actually ran. The postie is a rather fit looking young lad on a bike.....I'm not particularly fit, young and didn't have a bike either but luckily he stopped to talk to someone..PHEW I could stop running. Anyhow I explained the situation and he politely refused my offer of a few hours with aformentioned sulky child and told me very positively that we had several small packages but because we also had several large packages (that would be more stash then) he had put the small packages with them to save him carrying them and that they would all be coming out by parcel van. Dinnertime came and dinnertime went, Ffi huffed and Ffi puffed and Ffi cursed RM immensely. We went and sat outside and she started to make a die cut pet shop to take her mind of things. Then at 2.30 my mobile rang....twas Jay who fully aware and updated on the situation had spotted Derek the parcelman heading our way Now we had to go and sit outside the back of the house (I was not allowed to wait inside even though the dogs are very well traind to alert me to parcel deliveries). DH had spotted Derek a couple of minutes away from our house but half an hour later he hadn't turned up and we were starting to get concerned. Then he appeared through the large archway that leads to our yard.......my hero of the week.....Ffi's knight in shining armour a vision in a postal uniform.......drum roll please for DEREK THE PARCELMAN and yes he was carrying several parcels including Swirly and Brian. He posed for a photo handing the snails over had a chat about his imminent hols and waved to us and went on his way. Swirly and Brian spent the afternoon on the patio table in their postal tuppaware tub with no lid as Ffi decided that they needed lots of fresh air after being in the post so long and they finally moved into their new snail des res at teatime. The pictures show said snail abode with a very happy Ffi peering in and then swirly on top of the rock and Brian at the foot of the rock. There is definately a layout if not a mini book to be had out of this tale.

Mosaic Making

We have been mosaic making today.....getting very messy with tiling grout....Ffion loved it because if its messy then Ffion loves it.LOL We are going to make mosaic bird baths next as soon as I can drag myself off to the garden centre to buy some terracotta plant saucers to make them from. Still feel decisively miserable and gloomy. We have been shoe and trouser shopping for Justine this evening, it is so hard she is 13 and now 5ft 11" tall and has size 8 feet. She will go back into year 9 and so has two more years to go after this one.....Eek what on earth am I going to do next year as she is still growing.

Todays Moos

Sorry couldn't help the title. These pictures were taken a couple of minutes apart on the last day of our recent break. The first one was so funny the cow came right up to Ffi who wasn't sure of it at all (it was in all fairness quite huge compared to her) It stayed for several minutes just staring at her before going on its way and was closely followed by the cow train in the second picture. I just loved the expressions on Ffi's face they were priceless.

I feel totally fed up today.....even more so than yesterday.....don't know why, maybe its because its nearly back to school time......I know most mums can't wait for some peace and quiet and self time again but I hate it when Ffi goes back, I just love having her home. We went to buy her school shoes today......very last minute I know but hey we love a challenge and we were succesful.......she is an odd child and her feet have always been very different....we now have one foot that is a 13 e and the other a 13 and a half f.......you wonder why I put it off so long. LOL

Winnats Pass

Winnats Pass just outside Castleton is breathtaking anyway even just driving through. Heres a different view of it.....from the top. In all the time I have been visiting I have only ever seen it from the bottom. On the last day of the week away we decided to climb to the top. I can still hear Ffi's shrieks of "yeaayyyhhh another hill" as she proceeded to run up them. Jay and I looked at each other thinking oh another hill can we go home now. LOL. I have to admit that it was well worth it for these fabulous views though. (of course I can say that now sat in my dining room typing this but all I could think at the time was........the one place in ages we have been without Jays medical bags and boy could I do with a blast of that oxygen now)

Craft pic for today is a wedding card I made on Saturday for Rhiannon to take to a reception she was going too.....again very little notice was given.....the joys of teenage children eh.

mini album

Just for Natalie a mini album I made for Ffion using home made chipboard hearts as the base, Paints, inks, Banana frog stamps and of course my August Ben Madigan Crafts ribbon kit. I need to improve my photography because this looks so much better IRL even if I say so myself.....and I do. In fact I am meeting someone from UKS later whom I haven't met before so I might just inflict my album on her so that someone gets to see it IRL.

and the answer is!!

No I couldn't go the week without some kind of craft. I couldn't scrap obviously so I took a Margaret Sherry cross stitch kit and was determined to start and finish it whilst we were away. I only had a short time each day as we were constantly busy but I managed it with a few hours to spare and heres the picture.

Disaster has struck and the new memory card I got for the holiday is playing up with most of my photos on it......a new card reader has been ordered and hopefully Jay will be able to rescue them....so you will have to wait for the tales with accompyning photographs.

However I thought you might like the tale of last Saturday evening. It had been a pretty miserable day weatherwise and at tea time it was quite cold but bright and I decided to have a wander across to the bathrooms. I came out of the site and turned into the lane that led to the farmhouse andacross from me was an estate car with two rather fit and almost naked (with the exception of a rather small towel) cavers. Obviously I didn't know where to look. LOL. They looked across at me, smiled and said hi. So I had to look back and return the greetings didn't I.

Where are the photos.....sorry girls but even I didn't think I would need a camera going to the loos. Lesson learned it will go everywhere with me in the future.

The other picture .......the view from Camp Fisk.....Mam Tor in all its glory. Fabulous I think you will agree.

Did you miss me?

Well here I am back home after an internet free week. We ended up staying at a place called Rowter Farm situated at the top of Winnats Pass just outside Castleton. The weather was pretty awful on the whole but a great time was had by all.

I have loads to tell and loads of photos when I get sorted to get them off my camera. We arrived home late last night to find my outdoor plants desperately droopy and dry. Half expected really ......Rhiannon does the usual teen rush around on the day we are due home. I came in a little angry at her as we have this everytime ....will she ever learn - I doubt it, but when I got inside I found she had surpassed herself this time......she was left a list of instructions on our departure and on it in big letters was "LEAVE MY ORCHIDS ALONE". I love orchids and have quite a collection and had decided to remove them from there spots and place them all on the kitchen worksurfaces out of the way of any danger of scorched leaves etc: and water them before I left and take my chances rather than risk Rhiannons usual standards of plant care. Well there they were all stood where I had left them but with there pots half filled with manky stagment water. I yelled.....she assured me that she only watered them once.....I yelled again and asked her if she had used a bucket.....she huffed......I yelled a little more. Shortly afterwards I heard the news about little Rhys Jones murder and I didn't yell anymore, I'm just grateful that my girls are with me no matter what stupid things they do. There was a fun day in the park here today .....right outside our house on the lawns and of course Ffi wanted to go. There were loads of people Ffi knew ...the park rangers etc: and normally she would have been allowed to nip in and out of the yard as she pleased......no today I just couldn't let her....it is a very sad world when you are afraid to let your child play outside there own house. My heart goes out to Rhys's parents and brother, it is unimaginable what they are having to go through.

The pictures today are of one of my Orchids before Rhiannon decided to look after them.

More about the holiday tomorrow......did I manage a week without UKS or crafting??

What a day....I certainly don't want a repeat of this one in a hurry. One of my friends from UKS is moving house and has just spent a huge amount of time and effort getting the new one nice. Due to move in at the weekend she did what we all would in that situation moved some packed stuff of her sons and some boxes of craft stuff ready. Unfortunately some nasty lowlife broke into the new house stealing the majority of her sons stuff and mindlessly scattering beads, glitters, papers, stamps etc: all over the place. Words fail me that this can happen to anyone let alone someone so nice as Cal. On the positive side of the day I now have all my missing post bar one package and hopefully that will turn up tomorrow so fingers crossed for me please as it is ribbons....ribbons that I need so very much. The scrapbook page is for the second part of my team challenge. So girls...go to your stash and choose 2 sheets of patterned paper that you really love, one inkpad and some form of alpha and thats it go make me a layout.... Mine is the gorgeous imaginisce kewl stuff B'Argyling and Got2Get Flowers and a chipboard alpha from I'm not sure where and my trusty and very overworked colorbox chestnut roan chalk inkpad. So Pink Fluffy Fairies what are you waiting for its challenge time:)

Peel offs.......well theres a subject with many opinions. I know most people I meet through UKS seem to think peel off is a terrible word. Personally I don't have any although Ffion has enough to open a not so small shop. She nabbed any I had a long time ago. My own view is that peel offs have a place especially in an emergency and this card was one such emergency. I am not a card maker although I hope to become one. Anyway the recipitent of the card loved it and believe me he would have had no qualms telling me if he hadn't liked it. LOL. Its actually burgandy in colour although doesn't look it in the photo. I love the stamp and it is probably one I can use a lot bearing in mind my location. I also have a fabby stamp of Windsor Castle in my collection which I probably won't have as much need for.

Just a quick offering tonight....This was a very quick card to send to the cast of Ffions Joseph and the Technicolour Dreamcoat production. Ffion was an Ishmaelite and she did a fabby job as did all the cast it was fantastic and so the card above was made very quickly the wording and the stars are all Cricut cut, the large star is layered with a metal star brad for the centre...Card opens up to read "thats what you all are" It was very shimmery IRL and the photo doesn't really do it any justice.

I've been tagged

A Rocking Girl Blogger and a right shock is was too I can tell you as I've only has my blog just over a week ....thanks to Peechy for that. I now have to go off and find five more people to tag I believe.....oh my and do I have to put links to them in here that could take quite a while. Watch this space. LOL

Okay so I tag:

Sarah......http://yoorcrafty.blogspot.com/
Amanda......http://humbugsblog.blogspot.com/
Tracy......http://tracy-stigsdump.blogspot.com/

I've been tagged

I don't know where this year is going...the days just seem to be passing so quickly. No blog from me yesterday as we ended up shopping as planned and sheer hell it was too. My girls are so different ....Rhiannon loves shopping but my days of shopping much with her are over probably due to the fact that she doesn't know when to stop its hideous there are only so many clothes that you can look at surely (apparently not) Justine is 13 and happy to live in skinny jeans, hoodies and converse and is a nightmare to buy for as she is already 5'11" and then there is Ffi - Ffion is 8 and hates shopping with a vengance (unless it is for books) as soon as we get into a shop she has a headache, tummy ache or needs the loo. She too is very tall for her age and very skinny and finding anything to fit her is a nightmare. We spent 2hrs in Lincoln, Justine ended up with skinny jeans, t - shirts,a belt and jewellery and Ffi who just kept nodding saying yes and asking if we could go now LOL got leggings, tops, socks and a grey sparkly t-shirt with QUEEN OF THE UNIVERSE emblazoned across the front in beads, stated upon leaving the shop "well that will do me for shopping for this year".......I wish . The layout is one of my faves of my girls ....certain words describe them individually and certain words collectively.

Trees.......yep despite the UKS summer cyber crop starting today and despite the fact that I have scrapped and done one of the classes.....todays photo is of trees. These are just across the lawns looking out across the main lake in a place I rather like. It has been another lovely day here and somehow all the recent rainfall and the havoc it created seems just a distant memory. I can't believe we are almost three weeks into the summer holidays the time has passed so very quickly. Tommorow we need to venture into the city centre so I will have a grouchy little Ffi in tow....Ffi is just like her Daddy and has a major allergy to shopping.....in fact she started to whinge about it just after lunch today when she found out about the impending doom. Will she survive a morning in Lincoln City Centre....clothes shopping.....find out tomorrow. LOL

No prizes for guessing the subject of todays photo....its Lincoln Cathedral...well part of it anyway. Tis fabulous and well worth a visit should you ever come to Lincoln. It is extra special to us as Jay used to work there and both Justine and Ffion were christened there. No scrapping here today. I really must get some done before I disappear under the ever growing mountain of stash....Yes I did manage to shop today. Oh well maybe tomorrow as the UKS summer crop gets under way.....whats the betting I can't find what I need when I need it.

Starting to feel better....at flippin last. It has been hot, hot, hot today - summer at last. Too hot to do much though but I have been making a mini book. No photos yet as its not actually finished so todays picture is the controversial sculpture over the River Witham in central Lincoln. Do you love it or do you hate it ....whichever side you fall you won't be alone. This view of it is not so bad, as everything in the picture is fairly modern however taken from the other side the backdrop would be Lincolns High Bridge with its lovely listed timber clad buildings and it definately looks more out of place that way round....next time I go down that way I will take a picture from that side and you can make your own minds up.

A very quick and last minute christening card that Rhiannon asked me to make her. She asked me today she needs it tomorrow......Kids huh

Well after another night where I spent most of it awake I think that I feel slightly better today. I did very little of anything yesterday as I felt really rough so no real crafting (just the starts of a minibook) So the picture is one I went out and took again of my extended garden.....you can tell by now I really love where I live I'm sure. Especially at this time in the morning when it is very quiet and peaceful with just the sound of rustling leaves and singing birds. It will be a different story shortly when anyone in this house actually decides to get up. lol. We appear to be having a mass lie in today....maybe I kept them all awake being up and down throughout the night and this is a protest....Oh well I will enjoy it while it lasts before my silence is shattered by
the ever frequent calls of "mum".

aerobubbles

Aerobubbles ...yes aerobubbles. I altered the Red one with a May ribbon kit for Ffion and then Justine wanted one so the black one used the June ribbon kit.....the girls love them and they still open up so they are nice storage for little girly bits and pieces...I finally took photos this morning (not to good I'm afraid because I feel even more carp than yesterday) after being nagged to within an inch of my life to do so ...no names of course as madam knows who she is. lol

Wonder what I'll make with the August ribbon kit - it certainly won't be another aerobubble as I don't have one and I think they are usually around at Christmas. Never mind I am sure I'll find something to do with them.

A Carp day

A carp day....been up most of the night and am totally full of cold this morning.....so typical first bit of anywhere near decent weather we get in ages and I feel rubbish. I suppose I should be glad of small mercies and be grateful there is no school run so at least I can stay home.

Todays photo is a mini album I made with my lovely can't do without Bind it All. I'm not really a gadget girl but I knew the very first moment I saw one (being used as a tool by a teacher at a retreat) that I had to have it and spent ages in a desperate hunt tracking one down (well actually it was a little under 2 weeks but it really seemed like forever - honest it did). I answered a "what tool could you not do without" thread shortly after (on UKS) to cries of what's a BIA and everyone started wanting one....apparently I am a bad influence. Well so be it but I love it to bits and also the dreamkutz that I bought at the same time. Sometimes things are just meant to be.

a strange kind of day

Well today didn't get off to a brilliant start...sat up in bed and a lovely nose bleed followed by several more throughout the morning none since lunch though so I have put it down to the muggy weather we had today. Ffion spent much of the afternoon playing in the garden with two toads....yes you read it right two toads a washing up bowl, a sponge block and a bit of water. Well I suppose I should be grateful of her amusing herself and strangely enough the toads seemed to be quite happy about it and didn't hop off for quite some time. Ffi hopes they are going to come and play tomorrow - bless. She is having to make do with children to play with at the moment. I had a good chat with my friend from UKS who I mentioned yesterday. Made the box which will contain an accordian album shortly and got a nice stash parcel I had ordered. Still no crafty photos so the one attatched here is another view from the park in which I live. Off to set my teamies on UKS their challenges now as I know how excited they are :lol: