Scrapping with the Squirrels

I wonder if I can remember how!

2010-02-03T13:57:00.004Z

Well when you have picked yourself up off the floor at the shock of an update, I'm sure you will be asking yourself what I'm wondering if I can remember how to do.

The answer comes in several forms........firstly can I even remember how to blog, its been so very very long since I did.

The reason..... well again several really, Jays dad who we all loved totally died and left a huge gap that can't be filled and his mum has been quite poorly for a long time now but hopefully will soon be living independantly again albeit in a new bungalow and not the family home. Sadie their dog also died and Jays mum now has a new jack russell puppy called Hattie (so its not all doom and gloom).

Next reason ..... my beautiful Ffi, it has been a long long haul but we finally have diagnosis for her problems.... We had the dyspraxia diagnosis and then unhappy at the way things were going we took her out of area and she was given the diagnosis of Aspergers Syndrome......this led to a total turmoil of mixed feelings mainly anger that she had gone through almost seven years of being pushed from pillow to post here and the new specialist out of county knew within an hour of meeting Ffi, how the hell can that be. Anyhow the diagnosis wasn't the end but the beginning of new battles trying to get help for Ffi. That said I wouldn't change Ffi for the world but I often wish I could change the world for her :) We are currently awaiting results from tests to see if Ffi also has ADD this is the one thing I always thought Ffi had so it will be interesting to see the result although the forms we filled seemed to be very ADHD oriented questions and she isn't hyperactive so we will just have to wait and see how things turn out. Ffi will move to secondary school in September so this could make a real difference for her.

How to craft, yes I certainly seem to have forgotten how to do that......its so long since I did anything that I'm sure my mojo has gone on a round the world and then back the opposite way cruise. But I have made the decision to use it or lose it and I really don't want to lose it (I love my stamps far too much) so it looks like I'm back :)

My photography also has suffered so I have decided to do a picture a day kind of thing....just sheer randomness and I am not sure how I will upload yet.... probably not everyday and maybe even a new blog just for that.. I hope to start this very soon :)

And finally.....(if you got this far and are still awake then well done :) ) I am hoping there will be a little less of me as the posts go on..... I decided I needed to lose some weight.... EEK. I have a headstart on this one as I actually decided that 3 weeks ago and so far I have lost 6 and a half pounds...... still a way to go with this ongoing project then. lol

I feel the need for a picture and obviously I'm not blogging well as it has stuck it at the top and I can't remember how to move it. The picture is my beautiful Ffi with Dolly our friends dog. Ffi loves Dolly (I can't for the life of me remember what breed Dolly is but she is Italian and she is huge and lives in a paddock with Bentley the horse during the daytimes). The picture was taken about eight months ago so Ffi has grown a little since then. Well thats it then and for those of you not totally bored of my ramblings..... I'll be back!

A little premature but necessary

2008-10-25T19:53:00.002+01:00

Well it might still be two months away but when you are nine every day matters.......yes its chistmas.....scary how quickly its approaching - well scary if you are me ut as I mentioned very very exciting if you are small and santa struck. So fed up with the how many days is it now question I thought I would pop by the blog and put up my decorations....aaahhh well at least I will be able to give Ffion an instant answer now and it is a very pretty tree

Shock Horror......a post

2008-10-11T15:17:00.002+01:00

Well I'm back and I don't need to tell anyone how long it is since my last post. So much has happened I finally signed up to Stampin Up. I knew I would crack eventually as I have loved their products for so long. I was successful on getting onto my course and a month in its going great, Justine took some of her GCSE's two years early and did so well we really are proud of her, Ffion now has a kind of diagnosis although not much has changed for her and I have learnt to be careful what I wish for....... yes for ages I kept asking Rhiannon when she was going to move in with Ben so I could have her room for a craft room....well Ben asked Rhiannon to move in with him and on the 1st of June she moved out......still at least she knows I was joking because over 4 months later I still haven't touched her room.

The picture is the sky here a short time ago.....the photo doesn't do it justice and it certainly had me running for my camera.

Giving it up for Lent

2008-03-04T14:10:00.009Z

Ffion gave up gummy sweets for Lent - the Haribo type ones she likes so much.

Justine gave up chocolate - we all tried not to laugh too much - those of you who don't know Justine will need to understand that Justine without chocolate is pretty unimaginable.

I was pretty impressed with both of them and decided I would try and give up something myself... Buying rubber stamps I decided.....Jay smirked a bit....I don't know why.

So it will be 4 weeks tomorrow since Ffion had any gummies. Justine has managed without chocolate of any form (she is saving up all the chocolate she is given in a box and has quite a collection) All credit to them I am most impressed.

So what about me then?? How am I doing?? Well lets just not go there.....the pictures should explain that I have failed astoundingly..... Now thats why Jay was smirking .

I really was trying.........apparently Jay says I am always very trying.

Oh and whilst I'm confessing ......they haven't all arrived yet. LOL

Did I get old or did I just get lazy???? & FREECYCLE and the Rolls Royce

2008-03-03T09:34:00.005Z

In true words of the Eagles classic!!! I think the second ......I won't admit to being old.

I took radical decisions re: my blog this morning and removed myself from crafty blogs......I had decided this was why I wasn't blogging as I don't seem to get time to photograph and upload what I do everyday.... so now I'll feel less pressured, life will be sweet and I can rant to my hearts desire:)

I freecycle.....I love the idea of being able to pass something still useful onto someone who can make use of it without the hassle of selling it. I do think there are people out there who use freecycle for personal gain though and so am reasonably choosy who I freecycle too.
I get alerts from the local group of offers and wanted requests and I pick these up with my e.mails in the morning. There are lots of genuine people around and I for one like to help someone if I can, the words of my grandma still ring in my head long after she died "If you can't do anyone any good then don't do them any harm". Where is this going I hear you ask? Well this morning I picked up my e.mails whilst Ffi was having her breakfast and proceeded to go down the list deleting all the spam and rubbish and speed reading the rest. In amidst the usual old tv's and video tapes I saw this.
Freecycle.......Offered "1987 Rolls Royce, 6 months tax 6 months test, genuine requests only" I read this several times just to make me certain that mornings with Ffi hadn't finally pushed me over the edge.
It left me wondering as whilst this, if genuine is an amazing offer, a good many of the people on freecycle seem to come from 3 large local council estates - how would they possibly be able to afford the running costs of a Rolls Royce....I know that We couldn't. The insurance alone would probably cost as much as the purchase of a small family car. I would love a drive of it but that would be it for me it's hard enough trying to find a space big enough for our car in car parks let alone a car that size. It certainly woke me up anyhow and I half hope its a genuine offer as I like to restore my faith in human generosity from time to time but I can't get this image of lots of people around here this morning trying to put together e.mails of why they genuinely NEED a Rolls Royce so I guess I'm going to have a smile on my face all day:)

Who Stole January???

2008-02-08T10:05:00.000Z

Well January came and January went.....I don't know where it went in fact I think I am still there in it somewhere...at least some of my thoughts are.
I haven't blogged for ages but I had my reasons and I think I have now come to terms with things enough to say.
Rhiannon's operation has not worked. No other way to put it really, what should have been the second to last op for her hasn't taken. I think it was really hard to take in because it is the first one in the 15 years since her accident that hasn't. Not sure what happens now but she sees her plastic surgeon again in March.
Having said that January was also the 15th anniversary of Rhiannons accident and I am normaly not worth knowing around that time but this year I think I did really well all things considered.

Craft wise well I haven't done much at all which is probably down to the fact that I haven't been on uks very much. I think I need to be part of a team again to give me a bit of a push. I will be very careful if I do decide to take the plunge though. I have gone back to cross stitch also which I think I will always love the most.

Finally

2008-01-11T15:44:00.000Z

Well it has taken me a while.....well quite a long while really but here they are (well one but they were both the same) the hanging decorations I made for our lounge at christmas.
We have great difficulty finding anything significant as our lounge ceiling is 13ft 6in high so I decided I would have a go myself.
They are based on a wreath ring and a hanging basket chain. The white fir is from a bundle bought at a garden centre for £6.99 (there was enough to do both and enough left for another one). I then just used cheap baubles/ribbon and bead chain so the finished result came in at way less than £10.00 each.
I had so many comments on them too which was nice. I may have to do some more traditional coloured ones this year so that I can alternate them.

AND THE WINNER IS!

2008-01-07T20:08:00.000Z

The winner of the airbrush kit for the LIVES cards is........................

CraftyLiz

Liz if you could let me have your contact details I will arrange getting your new toy to you ASAP.

A big thankyou from Jay to everyone who sent him cards.......down to me now to keep the charity card racks full then.

A RUBBISH CARD.

2008-01-07T19:57:00.000Z

Literally.....This is a card I made for my friend. Why a dustbin? well I have a strange sense of humour and a while ago she posted on a thread on uks that she wasn't bothered what was on the front of a christmas card... "it could be a dustbin with holly coming out of it" for all she cared - it was what was inside that counted. Enter the afore said strange humour... I stayed off the thread and had a template made of a dustbin and the picture oppisite is the result. Much nicer IRL if I say so myself......which I do (someone has too...LOL) the holly berries are red diamante and its all very sparkly.

Whilst I was making it Jay came in and looked across and commented "that looks like a dustbin babe"......I replied that it was meant too.....he shook his head, smiled at me and announced he would shut up then.

Justines comment was to look at it and say "thats rubbish" ......so predictable huh.

I'm Back....and Watch this Space

2007-12-28T23:14:00.000Z

Yep after over a week away I'm definately back. I have done loads craft wise......not just scrapping but have loads of photos. I will try and get time to upload some tomorrow.

Rhiannon's grafts are looking fairly good - sight infection but positive.
Ffi has had a few probs over christmas but now has further specialist appointment and has been referred to the physio.

Christmas for us was good as I hope it was for all of you ........Hope is for a good new year for all:)

As said before the draw for the Air gunset will take place on new years eve (Ffi will do the draw) so watch this space for the announcement of the winner. Jay is very very grateful of all the cards donated to LIVES. The prize will be sent as soon as is physically possible after the draw:)

F.I.N.E.

2007-12-18T22:34:00.000Z

Freaked out
Insecure
Neurotic
Emotional

Yep I've always claimed to be fine.
In recent weeks other peoples internet problems have caused me considerable problems but I have remained fine.
I was told to get a life........what another one?.....hhmphh if its anything like this on why would I want two?
Today I have been branded a childish whinger (well actually winger).....oh well they're leaving someone else alone. So
Tomorrow I will put the (now taken) pictures of my hanging christmas decs up for you all to see but tonight a couple of thoughts:

Growing old is mandatory. Growing up is optional.

For last year's words. Belong to last years language. And next year's words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning.

Today I started to look forward to christmas......even if radio 1 insanely tried to censor The Pogues and Kirsty McColl. Sorry but christmas isn't christmas till I've heard that record....come on its 20 years isn't it a bit late now anyway:)
I don't need an advent swap or uks, I don't need to be censored. If "they" think the smackblog was down to me then let them, so flipping be it but it has nothing to do with me I don't do anonymous. ......suppose I should say "am I bovvered" ------answer NO NO NO.

A big thankyou to everyone who has taken the time to PM me through uks or e.mail me. Its so so nice to know that there are so many of you I can call friends.

Thou shall not stress

2007-12-17T21:25:00.000Z

Is that one of the commandments well it should be......I definately won't be doing again as I don't want to deal with the consequences again. Chest pains, migraine and threats of hospital via ambulance.......yep thats enough to make me want the quiet life I have had over the weekend. Have been busy crafting though......more christmas cards seeing as how I am running out of time. This one is made from some of the bits of my Sarahs Card kit that I had left..... not much remaining now it also has K&Co glitter baubles and some ribbon scraps tied into bows.

I have finished my ceiling decs and will photograph them tomorrow. I have also finished a special but unusual card I had to make which I will upload soon because the recipitent reads my blog so I had best let it arrive first.

oh go on then.

2007-12-12T13:43:00.001Z

Okay then I'm bored already....I really did spend too much time on UKS.......

This is a mini star book/card. Everything I used came from my Sarahs Cards kit with the exception of the sentiment, sticky ribbon, vellum and the chipboard shapes. The papers in this kit were absolutely lovely.

NO CRAFT TODAY

2007-12-12T12:02:00.000Z

Hurt or betrayed I couldn't decide which and so I am saying both. Why well most of you who know me also know that I spend far too much time on UKS.

I recently decided to join just my team advent swap this year and not the main one due to the fact that Rhiannon was due her surgery on 1st December and would have follow ups throughout and Ffion had specialist appointments too. So joining the team swap would be best as if anything did go wrong at least it would be with a friend as opposed to someone I didn't know....right.

So I packaged up my parcel and sent it RD on the last day of November and apologised for being last minute. My teamie replied that she had been busy at work and would not actually get to post until the 2nd......fair enough. So for almost 2 weeks I have waited in, cursed RM, worried myself stupid that something has happened to Hazel or her kids.

I really must be so stupid.....last night I get told by a very reliable source that I am not the only person who didn't get their swap but also the person she was supposed to post to in the main swap got the same tale and is still waiting and she has just been given negative feedback for it.
OMG how bad do I feel now.

Well the answer is hurt really hurt and betrayed and also sad......its not all about what I should have had and haven't but about the fact that I have been wasting my time worrying about what might or might not have happened to a friend - I know she is okay and I'm a nice person so why am I not worth a stamp to be told. I really have enough on my plate at the moment without worrying over someone who quite obviously wouldn't spare me the same sentiment. Its made me decide to leave UKS as I need to be away from this for now at least. If a complete stranger had not sent to me well I could have accepted that but I can't get my head around this.

Anyhow I will be around for a few days tying up loose ends with swaps and things and think everyone who needs to contact me knows how.......If I missed anyone Fi (Scrappybunny) has the means to do so.

And yes I know there are loads of really nice people on UKS and I have always tried to help anyone I can if I have been able to. Heck I am closer to some people on there than I am to my relatives.

Well done if you managed to make it to the end. LOL

As for getting over this yep I will but I don't need friends like that.
If I do receive a parcel date 2nd December of cours I will make a full apology but I won't be holding my breath.

loving it!

2007-12-11T13:15:00.000Z

My kit from Sarahs Cards that is, I loved the last one and am loving this one too. The paper, card and the Bazzil all came from the kit and I just added the sentiment, small brads, embroidery thread and of course Chestnut Roan colorbox chalk ink. The scallaped circle was made using a giant Marvy punch. The card was for my friends birthday.

More Magnolias

2007-12-10T19:58:00.000Z

I'm starting to like the Magnolias now.......suprising how effective they can look with not much else. This one is just another piece of papermania paper (stolen from Ffi...ssshhh) and some narrow sparkly ribbon and pink gems from my ribbon kit. I think this may end up as a birthday card for Justine as its her birthday just before christmas. It looks so much nicer in real life.

Still no christmassy feelings.....still no advent parcel......or the other parcel I am waiting for.....damn RM. Its Ffi's play tomorrow night and hopefully I will start to get into christmas after that.......or maybe after Thursday morning when all my flipping coursework has to be handed in and on that score I suppose I had best go do a bit more.

BAH HUMBUG

2007-12-08T15:55:00.000Z

Its beginning to look a lot like christmas ...... well according to Ffi and half of Lincoln. We just went to Sainsburys and had to queue 6 deep at the checkouts and to make it worse they were all open. So why do I feel like the least christmassy person around? I don't know as normally I love christmas but I can't seem to get into it this year. Thought I would after Rhiannon's op but no. I have been ill for over a week and have not got my advent swap yet. So instead of the christmas card picture you were getting here are some ATC cards I made for the recent spooky and gothic atc swap that has just completed on uks. They are alcohol inks for the background, Magnolia spiders web stamped in black Staz On. Narrow satin ribbon, metallic red brads and a tibetan silver cross charm.

More Magnolia.

2007-12-07T12:49:00.000Z

Well here is another Magnolia I made.....extremely simple just papermania paper and the stamped image but I was feeling poorly when I made it and the photo is so rubbish. It does look much better in real life honest:)

Rhiannon was back at the hospital yesterday.....yep another trip to sunny Leicester. Her grafts are doing really well so if it keeps up she doesn't have to go back this side of christmas......that is a present enough on its own.

one step forward two steps back

2007-12-05T11:04:00.000Z

Well thats what it flipping feels like......I wanted to get last week and the surgery and specialists out of the way and crack on with christmas right.....wrong, I thought I was getting better but the whole flu thing has left me with a horrendous ear infection so my head feels like someone is kicking it, my ear feels like its sloshing round with something and then intemittently having something sharp poked into it and just for. added good measure my balance is completely out of sync. Beginning to wonder when something nice might happen for a change.

Craft wise I have been trying to make some hanging decorations for the lounge. As our ceilings are 13' 6" high shop bought ones don't quite cut it so I have had the wire cutters out and am creating my own. This has been slightly held up by the fact that I didn't read the label on the ribbon I bought properly and my 9m is actually 9ft so Justine had to go back and pick me some more up on her way hame from school yesterday. I will continue them this afternoon if I can.

Also I made my first card using a Magnolia stamp yesterday so this is it. Magnolia stamp, papermania paper, ribbon from my ribbon kit and Imaginisce rub ons....oh and ink everything I do has ink somewhere.

And breathe

2007-12-02T21:05:00.000Z

Thats definately what it feels like today. Rhiannon had a comfortable night and looks so much better today. She has suprisingly little pain but then she has always been a bit like that. She just came to me to cut her dressings as they were irritating her so we have done a quick adjustment. Its been a do very little day....Jay spent a good part of it outdoors after being cooped up in a hospital yesterday thats understandably where he wanted to be.

A quick nip into the city centre to get a few bits for me and then we all watched Elf and now I am sitting with a glass of wine and watching the Long Way Down with Jay.

The only crafting was I started to make some hanging christmas decorations for our lounge as buying them is a bit of a no no as the ceilings are 13ft 6 inches high. So large is needed:)

So these layouts are two of my all time faves my three gorgous girls in mums angels which uses very little except bazill and some chipboard coaster words and up up and over which is my baby Ffi and uses Safraslass papers and a big bloom and I apologise but I can't make it any bigger.

I am so not technical but I intend to get some advice from a friend (no names so you can't hide) on how to do a slideshow on cd album.......well I have been asked constantly for a year now.

OH MY

2007-12-01T20:44:00.000Z

Rhiannons home and she looks terrible bless her.....Jay says it was touch and go as to whether they kept her or not but luckily because of Jay being medically inclined they entrusted her to him. She has gone off to bed and hopefully she will get a comfortable night. The only neg thing for this op is a chance of it needing re-doing which we weren't really expecting so fingers crossed now that everything works. Back to Leicester on Friday.

Good News and a card

2007-12-01T19:16:00.000Z

We just heard and they are coming home...it was touch and go for a while as Rhiannon felt quite ill for a while but she is and always has been a stubborn little madam and we just got the call to say they are coming home. Justine and Ffion are very very happy although I'm sure the sisterly bickering will resume before very long.

So a card stamped hot air balloons.....2 different stamps and also a cloud stamp, vivid ink pads and brilliance ink and a small blue brad.

She's out

2007-12-01T14:57:00.000Z

Rhiannon is out of surgery and back in the land of the living and all went well as far as I can tell. So I am very relieved.......If she gets to 7.00p.m with no problems then she can come home and she will be adament that she is coming home.....Just hope now that they give us enough drugs to get us through the weekend.

Thanks for all the good wishes.

update

2007-12-01T11:38:00.000Z

Just heard from Jay and Rhiannon has just gone down to theatre.....they are estimating that she will be there for 2hours.

The Waiting Game

2007-12-01T10:35:00.001Z

Thats what we are playing at the moment and its not much fun....Jay is with Rhiannon down in Leicester but they are still waiting for her to go down for her surgery.....been waiting since 8.00a.m. I think the waiting is worse but then shortly I suppose waiting whilst the surgery takes place will be worse.....you really would think I would be used to this by now.....but I never have every time is just as bad. I will update later when I have news but for now please just think of my lovely girl and fingers crossed there will be some news soon.

Lola's Card

2007-11-30T19:35:00.000Z

A card for Lola....not much to list really its made from four panels tied with ribbons, the letters are hand cut as is the no. The papers are unbranded ones but very pretty and the brads are queen and co.

I am full of cold/flu so can't go near Rhiannon as her operation is scheduled for tomorrow morning and if she has her way then this time tomorrow evening she should be home. Needless to say I will not be in the best frame of mind tomorrow. I do have to say though I had a lovely lovely suprise from my friend on uks this morning a stamp that I wanted and didn't think I would be able to get because it had been exclusive to a cardmaking kit it so cheered me up. I managed to get my advent swap posted to my uks teamie so hopefully she will get it in the morning and my cj too so the pressure is off for the next week or so and I can concentrate on Rhiannon.

Blue

2007-11-29T10:29:00.001Z

This week is starting to get to me and I can't wait for it to be over. I have a really sore throat too so I need to stay away from Rhiannon. So here is a blue card just to reflect my current mood. This one is made from all sorts of bits and pieces that I had lying around and even a couple of bits stolen from Ffion. Sshhh.

Card for a friend

2007-11-28T09:49:00.000Z

The first actual card I have made that is actually specific for a person. Using my kit again with an added gem and lots of glamour dust.

Sarah Says

2007-11-27T18:22:00.000Z

Well my fabby second card kit arrived this afternoon, I opened it for a quick look and it yelled at me from the box.....so much so that I had to make this card straight away. The kit is from Sarahs Cards. I loved last months which was my first subscription and I love this months.
I'm only just starting to make cards but am so enjoying it.
Rhiannon's pre op is tomorrow....Leicester oh such joy....then its wrap her in cotton wool and try and keep her bug free so that her operation can take place on Saturday.

One day down and five to go.

2007-11-26T19:37:00.000Z

Not much to say tonight except I spent an hour waiting to see Ffions new specialist today and then another two hours actually in with her and I really don't really feel like anything is further on than it was. There is talk of medication now but then that has been mentioned before and they now want Ffi to have a physio appointment ....at least that will be something new.
My friends said I sounded down yesterday and I was trying so hard not to worry over all this.I am just so fed up now as I feel like we have been in a rut forever. Well tomorrow will be here and then Wednesday Rhiannon goes to Leicester for her pre op.
So the picture is spooky/gothic themed ATC...I decided to join an atc swap on uks and these are two special ones that I made for Justine to go with the four I will get back from the swap. They are glossy card with alcohol inks for the background and then the spiders webs (Magnolia stamp) stamped with staz on. Narrow satin ribbon, brads and tibethan silver cross charms.

A Teenage Card

2007-11-24T17:58:00.000Z

As what card? A teenage card what's one of those? Well in our house everything I make gets comments from 4 different age groups first theres Ffi (8).....bless her everything mummy makes gets a hugely enthusiastic "thats great mummy" Than Justine (13) with definate ideas on everything and very different ideas......not that different is a bad thing. Rhiannon (19) varies with her comments from "yeah like it" to "nice...an old persons card" But the one opposite got a hugely enthusiastic "thats the best card you have made this christmas" which was not really the reaction I had expected at all as I thought that it was quite plain...although not quite as plain as it looks in the photograph.....IRL it is sparkly and 3d. Last but not least is DH Jay (slightly older than the total age of the children) He always likes what I make (well with the exception of the mess I seem to leave all over the dining room) and will happily advise on the final placement of strategic embellies on layouts and card. I somehow can't help but feel he likes the collection of motorbikes and kitebuggies in our yard or indeed the enormous collection of kites that go with them....oh and even the PDA far more .

Time for another card

2007-11-23T11:57:00.000Z

Well at least I used a different kit this time.Most of the elements on this card of from a ribbon kit that I have been subscribing too for a while now and very nice it is too.

Have to admit I am quite enjoying the cardmaking although I think it would have been easier if I had done things the other way around and gone from cardmaking to scrapbooking instead of doing the scrapping first......hindsight huh!

Guess What??

2007-11-22T18:46:00.000Z

Yep thets right another card from my fab kit.

Not done a lot today as Ffi was home sick....usual problems but she is always very clingy when it happens and needs to be hugged frequently and I need to be constantly where she can see me.

My package from tha Calendar Swap Fiasco arrived this evening so I will sort that later.

I have had a template designed and I am so so pleased with it but unfortunately it is for a very special card and its for someone who reads my blog so you'll have to wait to hear about it.

Well Ffi is going to be home again tomorrow so guess who won't be able to move far again.

two cards in two days

2007-11-21T13:09:00.000Z

I know blimey what has got ino me? Well actually a kit....the same kit as used for yesterdays card and a very nice kit it was too the paper and the snowflake stamp were from it at least.

The nightmare calendar swap on uks seems to be coming to an end FINALLY there are still a few of us to ge our pages back but it has been a really awful experience for all concerned with the exception of the host of course who doesn't give a damn and never did or she would have actually done wha everyone actually wanted her too.

Our team has a challenge to set shortly which involves a certain groups song titles.......unforunately for me they aren't a group I particularly like and I didn't even know one of their songs...had to google it this morning and have been for a walk round my extended garden taking pictures some of which I hope to use in the challenge page.

Cards

2007-11-20T10:03:00.000Z

I have been a little AWOL but it has been a very busy AWOL I am making cards or trying too make cards. Here is the first one and I have to say tha I am quite enjoying it. This one was made with some of the contents of a card kit I subscribed too recently. There are more to follow.
The LIVES cards are arriving and I will update here soon with who I have received from as I realise that some people are not from uks.
Next week the fun starts for me Ffi's specialist appointments and Rhiannons surgery....I just knew they were going to happen in the same week....so it will be Lincoln, Leicester, York and finally Leicester again....oh joy can't wait.

Remember

2007-11-11T14:44:00.000Z

Something I feel very deeply about. I hope you can all spare a though for those who have given their lives over the years and also he loved ones they left behind.

The layout is from this day wo years ago when Justine was chosen to lay the wreath at the memorial service on behalf of her cadet group.

The cardstock is prism metallic and prism red, the small poppies were from a pack tha I bought locally. The main poppy is the one Justine wore on the day and the photos are edged with red paper raffia. The small red vellum envelope was cut with a sizzix die and includes a small card with journalling that lets Justine know how proud I felt of her that day. The letters are also sizzix.

Smile it might never happen....yeah right!!!

2007-11-09T20:10:00.000Z

Halloween is safely out of the way the fireworks are finished and before lovely christmas I have to endure the nightmare that will be November. November is not my favorite month under normal circumstances and the first dreaded date is now only just over a week away. This year to follow that, Ffi's specialist appointment is following quite closely and today.....the icing on the cake.... Rhiannon's operation dates came through and yep the same flipping week .....So I will probably be in my own little world for approximately the next month by which time it will be the run up to christmas with its own ensuing chaos.....I may not be around much and when I am will probably be even more dippy than usual....you have been warned so kid gloves please.LOL

On the craft front the witch was finished in time for halloween (well with the exception of her fingers and her cauldren) which in my defence were knitted but just not sewn up . I have made gothic ATC cards for a swap on UKS and also made 2LE ones for Justine who will also be getting the ones I receive in the swap. I will do pictures of them and upload them tomorrow I promise. I have a card to make tomorrow and a cj entry to do (bit out of sync as one went missing in the strike) The ATC in the picture is one I made for a ruby wedding. Marbelled papers, an Anna Griffin heart charm, fibres and yep peel offs......do I care NO ...I liked it and they liked it and thats all that matters.

The cards for LIVES have started to arrive and they are great. Serving two purposes as well as raising money for a very worthy cause they are inspiring me for when I have to make them all by myself. So a really huge thankyou to everyone who is supporting me on this.

Other things this week.........well the car has been a pain in the ass.....no va va voom in this Renault....it appears to be something to do with the bit that heats up the plugs prior to starting that you get on diesels. My calendar swap on UKS has gone totally pear shaped and we are desperately trying to get our work back...shall not be holding my breath though. Oh and my postal service is still sparse to say the least....letters and small packages (jiffy bags) no problem......parcels well thats another story.....did I tell you I hate November?

Turmoil again

2007-10-29T21:56:00.000Z

Well I haven't been around much but there is good reason.

I have decided today that I must thrive on pressure and turmoil. Found out today that Rhiannon's next opereration is likely to be imminent.....Sounds like the decision could be taken tomorrow or Wednesday and the op will almost certainly be in November or December....yep before christmas and we hadn't expected that. November starts on Thursday. The hospital have said they will phone the details through as it is likely to be sooner rather than later. Just have to hope now that it doesn't clash with Ffi's specialist appointment which is also in November and we have been waiting a year for.

Also happening here.....Today I got the results from the Morrisby phsychometric test I had the week before last...will tell more later. Jay passed his latest course with flying colours which is fab and also his motorbike passed its MOT today in much the same fashion.

Under Pressure

2007-10-26T11:18:00.000+01:00

I am so far behind with everything at the moment it is quite unbelievable. It seems like only yesterday that the girls went back to school after summer and here they are a week into their October halfterm. I don't seem to have done anything crafty for days.....well with the exception of frantically trying to knit a witch for Ffion. I haven't knitted in ages and by my own admissions I am no expert and quite slow. The witch has the odd mistake but then thats part of me isn't it? just adds to the charm of it doesn't it? Well it will have to as I told Ffi yesterday that I wasn't sure that she would have her witch for halloween.....she looked at me and smiled (the one that has a habit of getting her what she wants) and said "I know you can do it mummy" So guess what I'll be doing this weekend. Just as well Jay is on a course all weekend, Justine is on night hikes and Rhiannon is lifeguarding so it will be just Ffi and I and several balls of wool for most of the next few days.

My Red Arrows Birthday

2007-10-18T17:48:00.000+01:00

Well its here.....my birthday and a strange kind of birthday it has been. I have had a fabulous fly past and display courtesy of the fabby Red Arrows.....beautiful clear skys over Lincoln and they were up for ages......thanks guys for your excellent choice of day. Then I spent twenty minutes or so sat on the kerb with my legs in the road.....I was perfectly sober (and still am at the moment ....not for long though I hope). Just about to start craft club and there was an RTA outside school. I had to run....something I don't do often anymore. So eventful yes and I will sure be participating in a glass or three of whith this evening.

Re the cards or LIVES raffle the first package of cards turned up today and someones not playing ball. LOL There was no info in the package so please tell me who you are so that I can both thankyou and do your raffle tickets. Oh and yes I checked the little boy who was knocked over out, calmed him down and rang Jays Lives phone.....he was in the area and able to come to the rescue. I have not even had time to tell him about the cards that arrived yet but I know he will be bowled over by such generosity from someone he has never met.

The Prize

2007-10-16T15:46:00.001+01:00

So here it is the prize for the L.I.V.E.S. card donations. Obviously this is it in the box. I did try and remove it but started to tear the box and thought better of it. The contents are:

Model 250 spray gun with attached 3/4oz (22cc) jar

250 ml air propellant (This will not be included if the prize needs to be posted for safety reasons but is readily available)

Propellant regulator

5ft (1.58m) vinyl air hose

spare 1oz Jar

Instruction leaflets

Tis a great little tool and I hope whoever it ends up living with enjoys it.

L.I.V.E.S.

2007-10-14T21:45:00.000+01:00

Those of you who know me will know that Jay is a Lone Responder for L.I.V.E.S. (Lincolnshire Integrated Voluntary Emergency Services). A really worthwhile charity that provide a valuable service in Lincolnshire.

Well I was offered some space to sell my cards recently.....I decided that I would do it but only as a charity fundraisin thing and obviously as L.I.V.E.S. is a personal thing for us I would like to do this for them. In true marketing fashion I should now say that roughly £6 can buy a bottle of oxygen that can help save someones life. Jay alone has responded to over 150 calls already this year.

The only thing is I am not really a big cardmaker and so this is where I need some help. I need to fill a card stand initially (I will mamage to top it up afterwards) and that is where I am hoping the cardmaking/scrapping community will help me out.

So heres what I am asking. I have bought a fabby (if I say so myself and I do. Airbrush Spray Gun Set which works of a compressed air propellant and is excellent or crafts (will spray enamels, artists colours,laquers)

You can stencil, spray your own background papers and much more. Have I sold it to you yet??

Well what I am asking is that you make a card to be sald in aid of L.I.V.E.S. and for each card sent a raffle ticket will be raised and on 31st December a ticket will be drawn and I will send the owner of the winning ticket this excellent tool. (I have to say that if the Airbrush needs posting then the propellant will not be included as I cannot post a gas cannister for obvious reasons but these are readily available). I will post a picture of the prize soon.

The subject of the card is your choice as I will need a really wide range to get it started so it can be Christmas, birthday, get well, thankyou, anniversary, sympathy.......well as I said anything really. If you would like to help a great cause and enter my airbrush draw you can contact me via jemm@tinyworld.co.uk for the send details.

My Beautiful Girl

2007-10-11T23:24:00.001+01:00

No other words for it I love Ffi more than I can ever say and today she is feeling sore which makes her feel different and upset yet still she is smily happy Ffi. That is enough to make me adament that she is going to get a diagnosis this time I am absolutely determined.

I am seeing the Uni peeps tomorrow so might have more news after that.

I am not going to let another birthday pass without some kind of direction in my life.

Do I sound determined?......well I am but I may need a push or two from a few friends:)

A big plan on my blog tomorrow....Hope you can help.

still here

2007-10-10T21:40:00.000+01:00

Well I am still here even if I am a lot quieter than usual. I have been trying to have a sort out of my craft stuff.....quite a feat in itself. I really don't know how I accumulated this much....in fact I think that someone has been bringing in extra in the night and leaving it.....maybe a case of having stash fairies.....do you think??

I am no closer to deciding what I want to do. I am off to speak to the Uni on Friday, I have a psychometric test on Wednesday (hhhmmm wonder what I will find out about me) and the ever looming birthday is on Thursday.

Ffi's specialist appointment will soon be here.... a new one so fingers crossed we might find out what is wrong.....it has been over 4 years and still we really know nothing. I so hope that we get to the bottom of things this time both for Ffi and for us. The picture is Ffi posing by the main lake in the park that is home.

Unlucky 16

2007-10-04T09:57:00.000+01:00

Yep stressy bunny would probably be the best description of me at the moment. I dare not start making my stress flowers as I think we would have to move out to make room for them all.

I have been doing a lot of thinking and thinking can be dangerous.

I am in a rut that I need to get out of.....okay I know that but how? (shove anyone) and which way to go when I get out of it? ....well I am still trying to fathom that one out. I have ideas that seem good one day and then kind of "what the hell are you thinking of" the day after.

I need to kind of sort things in my head before that date in November. It will be Seven years since Ffi and I were attacked and today it feels like yesterday.......It's strange sometimes I think I am over it but in the case of that and of Rhiannons accident (almost 14 years ago) I don't think I ever will be its just a case of locking it away somewhere until it manages to force its way back out. I suppose I have to accept that I will always dread November 16th and January 16th. I guess 16 is not my lucky number.

So if you have the answer....could I have it on a postcard please.

If you couldn't guess there is not much crafting going on here......well I have started to knot a witch for Ffion.

AWOL

2007-10-01T20:06:00.000+01:00

So I've been AWOL. Not having a fantastic time of things at the moment and I have not made anything in days but thanks to Patsy who put up a challenge on her blog today I have actually made a card. Its in the picture.....yes I am still trying to cut it as a cardmaker. It was quite funny really because Jay came home and said it was nice and asked "who's ill" ........his face was a picture when I told him "no one". Having said that Justine had to go one better a short time later she asked the same question and got the same replies and followed it up with "oh well its very pretty - lets hope someones ill soon then". LOL.....Lets not.

OUCH

2007-09-27T20:18:00.000+01:00

Nothing from me today....I'm sorry but spent this afternnon at Ffi's harvest festival which made me cry....will tell more later. Then at teatime I got hit on the head by two heavy obects....an accident but I don't feel good and so I am going to bed.

meet the neighbours

2007-09-26T20:47:00.000+01:00

Time you all met my neighbour I think. They like the odd peanut and adore banana chips......they are never rowdy and don't mind how much noise the girls make in fact they are quite the best neighbours I have ever had.

I suppose you can tell from the random post that I have not done anything crafty today.....well with the exception of stamping a few images with a nice Magenta stamp that I bought a little while ago, buying some Halloween ribbons oh and taking delivery of some yummy Stampin Up stamps.

MMMmmm Stampin Up I can't wait for them to start to sell over here...even thinking of signing up ...I really do love their stamps

Weird weather still its been sunny and rainy (with rainbows) and flipping well cold at times. The leaves are dropping like there's no tomorrow - you notice that kind of thing when you live somewhere like this. School are stopping swimming now because of the cold and they don't normally stop until half termish. Ffi is most disappointed.

Hartsholme Park right next to Tornado Alley

2007-09-24T21:26:00.001+01:00

Yikes what is happening to our weather. The picture shows Ffion stood in the driveway in the recent floods. The rainfall was constant and heavy and parts of Lincoln suffered very badly. Last night we had a Tornado....it didn't actually hit the park but touched down just outside and the damage was horrendous. It uprooted massive trees (I expect about 100ft high) and snapped trunks of others clean off .....not branches but trunks about 2ft in diameter. When we left for school this morning the clean up had begun there were a team of treefellers (I suppose about 15 or so of them) with shredders, trucks and chainsaws clearing up and when we came home at about 4.00p.m. they were still clearing up and still had a lot to do. Makes you wonder what will happen next -Ffi is personally hoping for at least 6ft of snow this winter :lol:

And now the news that you are waiting for .......Yeay I got my cybercrop mystery kit so I will be stalking the postie from tomorrow.

Joy

2007-09-23T21:19:00.000+01:00

Yes oh joy, tomorrow morning sees the release of the UKS CC mystery kit.....I love the mystery kits. I guess it has soething to do with liking being handed a box of stash and having to make something from the contents and very little else.

I am not very good at being told what to do as in following classes I much prefer to ake something of my own. Some of y personal favorite layouts have been made using the CC mystery kits like the one in the picture which was from the Alice in Wonderland CC.

The kits are limited and there is always a grapple to get one ....they never last very long. I had plans for tomorrow morning but they have all been done away with, so that I can sit at my lap top watching, waiting and anticipating the release of my must have kit . I'll let you know how it goes tomorrow.

UKS Cybercrops make me go all weak willed.

2007-09-21T19:43:00.001+01:00

I love the cybercrops on UKS and last night the latest one was announced. I duly registered only to be told that I was a Jiggly Jelly....oh well at least I'm not a clown or a pudding:lol: "No kits this time" Iannounced as I have serious amounts of stash. In hindsight as I went to bed I had decided that was a little rash and that maybe I would just get the mystery kit after all I always enjoy the mystery challenge. Well the first thing that happened when I turned on the lap top this morning was the announcement of the Banana Frog cc kit.....ooohhh Pink Martini papers and rub ons and Banana Frog stamps. Was I strong, did I resist.....did I heck..click,click,click...oh its so easy isn't it. In my defence I love these papers to bits.....yep I already own the ones in the kit so now I can do the class and still have some to stroke.

The picture has nothing at all to do with any of this it is a layout of our home (my cottage in the woods. I used a kit from Scrapagogo and not much else with the exception of my MM Tagmaker which I love to bits.

No time to play.

2007-09-19T21:25:00.000+01:00

Well seeing as how I still have a headache and also a poorly Ffi I didn't do any crafting at all.

I have new Penny Black stamps Just waiting to be played with and tomorrow should get my first Magnolia Stamps and I have no time to play.

So todays photo is a picture that I really love .....Lincoln Cathedral by night. I keep promising a few more Lincoln pictures so whilst Ffi is off school is a good time to sort a few out.

I want never gets!

2007-09-18T19:00:00.000+01:00

I know what they say but I so want a windmill.....Jay won't get me one (he says it has something to do with them being 100ft high and planted well into the ground). I know some people hate them but I love them, they fascinate me and I could watch them for hours. This one is at Whisby Nature Park which is just up the road from us and a lovely place to visit.

I am still plagued with the cluster headaches and doing very little and to top it all poor Ffi was sent home from school ill today. So no crafting here ......consoled myself in buying some new stamps.....decided to try some Magnolia designs ones.......not the ones that everyone is going for (well apart from one). So in a couple of days I should be able to see what all the fuss is about:)

Something for me

2007-09-17T20:39:00.000+01:00

Well most of what I make seems to be for someone else but I decided it was time to make something for me and here it is. A mini book of Jay and our girls. The papers are scrapbook walls and it is put together with my Bind it All. Most of the ribbons were from whats left of the September Ben Madigan ribbons. I am definately changing as I actually chose to use browns and I am really pleased with the results.

Was that the weekend.

2007-09-16T19:01:00.000+01:00

No really was that it......gone in a flash. Yesterday was mainly spent at Ella's party so a bit of a journey for us. The picture is Ella's card ......I'm still trying. I handcut the chipboard letters and covered them with DCWV paper, the other paper is just some that I had that has no brand but is very prettn none the less. The card and the paper are both inked with cats eye pigment pads and the flower and button was from a pack that I bought ages ago and I think is craft creations. The happy bithday is my handwritten scrawl.

Something about Men in Uniform
Today Jay and I have been to sunny Mablethorpe for the Mablethorpe Marathon......No don't worry we weren't running it .....if we were I certainly would not be back by now. Jay was part of the Lives Team that provided the medical cover for it. We were not actually in Mablethorpe but out in the sticks at about the 21 mile mark. It was a nice day and very pleasant. We were well prepared and must have looked a slightly strange sight when I took the second photo just after the last runners came through the marshalls had just moved on and it looked like a paramedics picnic for a few minutes before we moved on.

A year ago

2007-09-14T21:59:00.000+01:00

A year ago we had one hell of a shock. A shock we are still coming to terms with. Especially Laura......my thoughts are always with you especially now. I couldn't do this yesterday and the card I made for you is still here. So no scrapping from me today. The picture is a layout that my friend Chris did shortly after Lisa died which said it all and still does. I don't know where the year has gone but its had its ups and downs for all of us but I do know that no matter what happens Lisa you will always be only a thought away.

A pressie for Ffion

2007-09-13T18:40:00.000+01:00

Well heres what I made with my fabby Ben Madigans Jaynes Addiction kit. Tis a sign foor Ffion's door and once again it look so much better in real life. I'm not sure if its a new camera I need or photography lessons or even both. The colours are much more vibrant than in this picture. Anyhow for those of you who may be remotely interested the base of the plaque is chipboard and is painted with Blonde Moments lustre paint. The letters are handcut chipboard too then inked with brilliance inks. A couple of layers of utee and then the second f and the o were stamped with HOTP stamps using a matching cats eye pigment ink. The ribbons are as previously mentioned my namesake ribbons and the photograph is of Ffion. I am really pleased with the finished item and it even raised a complement from Rhiannon who remarked that she would like one for her door......that would have to be a very big doorhanger so I think we may have to go for a nameplate.

Its not about me

2007-09-12T21:18:00.000+01:00

Well as the title suggests its not about me at all today.....I don't feel good but all the same made something I was pleased with but didn't get chance to photograph so will do that tomorrow. So these stunning and beautiful cards were made during our school craft club...the children age between 7 and 10 and so I think you will agree they have done a fab job........shame I can't say the same about the photographs....twas the cameras fauly of course.....but I assure you that i won't be able to blame the camera for much longer.....a new one I hope is imminent.

I don't normally ask but if you could spare a moment to comment on the cards I will print them off and take them to let the kids see them at the next craft club:) I am sure that they would enjoy seeing them.

artquest the pitfalls

2007-09-11T20:05:00.000+01:00

Heck I love my artquest watercolours so much but today I realised they have a fault. I bought some fab new Penny Black christmas stamps and when I went to paint the stamped images.....they looked bad....because there are no real solid colours. All of the sets I have are sparkly with lovely metallic and pearlescent lustres and sheens to the finished images but I wanted to paint the cats and dogs and pearly and metallic just doesn't look right so no finished images as I need to find something else to colour them with. So away went my lovely new stamps and out came some much loved rubber stamp tapestry ones and I made a christmas card......and gues what????.......Its another brown one....those ribbons are slowly being used......then they have to be because LSH's ribbon kit for October is ....yep brown.....oh well I have been asked to make more of the mini photo albums and Ben Madigans will be yummy halloween colours and I have plans for those already....roll on October....eek I'm wishing my life away for ribbons. LOL.

Brown Again

2007-09-10T19:47:00.000+01:00

Yep twice in a week....brown, what is the world coming too. I made several cards today and they all had brown ribbon somewhere on them including the one in the picture of a stamped teddy watercoloured with Marvy pens and a stamped happy birthday greeting. I really like stamping so much. Someone asked a question on UKS today ......"name your top 3 stamps"......so after about 15 mind changes in five minutes I gave up....I have so many stamps that I don't even think I could choose my top 3 manufacturers let alone stamps....I could probably do my top 3 most used stamps at the present time and this little bear would certainly be in there he is so cute......who made him ....I really can't remember offhand but I have had him for a long time and I think he was part of a set which consisted of him, a greeting and a pawprint.

Dining Room Disaster

2007-09-09T20:34:00.000+01:00

Yep disaster struck our very own dining room tonight.....Jay and I were sat having our meal when part of STASH MOUNTAIN collapsed all over the floor....oops I got a very "I knew that would happen" look from Jay......I didn't laugh....I was really restrained but it was really hard. So how did this disaster occur.....well we have a spare dining chair at the side of the door and for several months now stash that has been used and done with and a couple of albums that I bought and didn't get taken away and varying other paper related items have gradually been put onto said chair and today it obviously all became too unstable resulting in the paper avalanche at teatime. Ever the optimist I see this as a very good thing as whilst I was picking it up I found a pot of utee that I knew I had somewhere.....a stamp that I need to make some atcs for my friend because he liked the ones I had done and several packets of sticky ribbon which Justine and Ffion can use on their CJ's. Not so bad after all then but I bet you don't need 3 guesses as to what I will be doing when I have dropped Ffi at school in the morning.

On the scrap front a very productive day as I have almost made my 24 pages for my calendar swap and 2 sets of covers....I can't really put pictures up as they are for a swap so todays picture is the first thing I ever altered....an a....it was a very last minute thing as I joined the altered monogram swap at the last minute.....I chose an a because I thought it would be a very useful letter. It is handcut from chipboard, Inked background is cats eye chalk Bisque (I love that pad)

stamped using more cats eye pads and Cardio Tapestry Stamps and mod podged....So glad I did this swap as it really gave me a taste for altering which I now love.

Where does the time go

2007-09-08T20:39:00.000+01:00

Eek I don't know but I wish it wouldn't go so flipping fast. It seems like only yesterday that I plucked up the courage to join my first ever CJ (Circle Journal) ......Well it wasn't yesterday, last week or even last month......It was a whole year ago ......it has been to lots of different places including over the Irish Sea and now it home and full of lots of peoples lovely work. It is fabby to see other scrappers work in real life. Things look so much better irl than in photographs...well the photographs I take anyway.. My CJ for example is so much prettier sat here in front of me.....so sparkly it makes you want to pick it up and touch it...not like in the photo where it is just another journal......I think it might be time for a new camera.....I only have a compact point and shoot....oh okay who am I trying to fool ....I have decided to take the plunge and buy a new camera and am now trying to justify my decision.

Fame at Last

2007-09-07T19:47:00.001+01:00

Well Nelson has his Column, JFK has his airport and now me I have my own ribbons named after me. Well you have to start somewhere and I am after all still alive (only just according to my UKS teamies the Pink Fluffy Fairies:lol:. Very pretty ribbons they are too. How do you get a set of ribbons named after you I hear you cry. Well I was challenged to use my latest Ben Madigan ribbon kit.....easy I hear you say......no it wasn't they were brown and I DON'T DO BROWN. Anyhow I made the mini photo album a few posts down and low and behold Jaynes Addiction....you can see them in the picture.......so much better than brown don't you think and whats more .......I get the very first ones.....no problems using these I think.

Baubles for stig

2007-09-06T17:41:00.000+01:00

Baubles especially for stig.....can't remember the make of the stamp but I love it. The baubles are painted with art quest watercolours(two different sets) onto black card. This picture does them no justice as these paints are absolutely stunning irl.

Today is rubbish....Ffi went back to school and I missed her like mad.....even my new stash that arrived this morning couldn't cheer me up......and it was Penny Black stamps and Rusty Pickle Adams Family paper so if that couldn't do it then nothing can. Everything was dreadfully quiet and my mind was in another place almost seven years ago (those of you who know me well enough irl will know where it was and that I am not a total nutcase) ...... In a nutshell I'm sad and my mind is working overtime.....its going to take a few days before I get used to not having Ffi where I can see her me thinks.

A pumpkin

2007-09-05T11:05:00.000+01:00

A pumpkin for the very demanding woman over the sea.....yes you:lol:

Brown - what a challenge

2007-09-05T10:36:00.000+01:00

Well here it is a mini altered photograph album using the latest Ben Madigan Kit.....I don't do brown so this was always going to be a challenge. But its done and uploaded for the mad woman of Belfast so I think I win:lol: I get a ribbon kit named after me.....Jemms Jasmine something or other....I am sure it will be beautiful and not brown and when I get mine (which will be the very first one I am sure:)) I might even upload you all a picture on here so that you can see how beautiful and unbrown it is. Oh and in stigs case probably go and buy one for yourself:lol:

Oh my what a day

2007-09-03T20:05:00.000+01:00

The photo is an atc card that I made for a ruby wedding ......this however has nothing at all to do with today (which in my opinion was hideous and should have been cancelled before it was even allowed to begin. LOL).

I was really looking forward to today as my first ever completed cj was due home. Linda posted to me on Friday and as we don't get post on a Saturday I was eagerly anticipating its impending arrival today.....I'm still waiting as RM (Rubbish Mail as they are now known) didn't bother to show today. Theresas CJ which I posted on Saturday morning however has arrived safe and sound...Think I need to go and kick a post box...won't do any good but I'll feel a whole lot better.

Feeling rather fed up I just made a special journey into the city to pick up my holiday pics (250 plus) and got home, sat down with a drink for a nice pleasant hour or so of reminisce............Trouble is they are not my holiday photos at all....the name on the envelope is mine but the pictures are of a very lovely wedding....Eek whats the poor bride going to do when she opens up her wedding pics to find an assortment of landscapes, ffion covered in ice cream and various scrapping projects.......DH reckons that she will be far more distraught than I am but I am really not happy....mainly because I deleted one of the cards to use again.

IS IT TOMORROW YET??

Slice of Cake?

2007-09-02T21:54:00.000+01:00

Well the cross-stitch thing got me thinking and one of the other things I used to love to dabble in was sugarcraft. i haven't done anything cake wise for ages either and seriously think I need too. So I have just bought two lovely cupcake stands a regular size one and a mini one and I can't wait to fill them......the girls say that they can't wait to empty them. The cake in the picture was done for Ffion's birthday and her name and the butterflies and stars are all very sparkly in fact the whole cake was sparkly as it had a final sprinkling of edible glitter.

Happy Easter

2007-09-01T19:41:00.000+01:00

Well I did tell you things might get a little mad around here. I like to be a little different so whilst most crafters I know are starting to think about christmas......I thought I would be one bunny hop ahead and make an easter card. I love the stamp to bits...it is Magenta and is actually joined but I cut the individual squares out. They are painte with art quest watercolours....I love those too. The ink is my chestnut roan chalk cats eye pad...again much loved and I think thats about it except for oh thats it ....HAPPY EASTER. LOL

Best Stressed

2007-08-31T19:51:00.001+01:00

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

2007-08-30T20:02:00.001+01:00

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

2007-08-29T20:53:00.001+01:00

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

2007-08-28T19:47:00.000+01:00

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

2007-08-27T12:12:00.000+01:00

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

2007-08-26T10:07:00.001+01:00

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!!

2007-08-25T17:15:00.000+01:00

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?

2007-08-24T19:42:00.001+01:00

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??

2007-08-14T21:45:00.000+01:00

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:)

2007-08-13T11:16:00.000+01:00

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.

2007-08-11T22:11:00.000+01:00

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

2007-08-11T19:15:00.002+01:00

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

2007-08-11T19:15:00.001+01:00

2007-08-10T21:15:00.000+01:00

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.

2007-08-08T20:49:00.000+01:00

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

2007-08-07T19:42:00.000+01:00

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.

2007-08-06T21:57:00.000+01:00

A layout that I did for the current uks team challenge which I was nominated to set. The challenge was to:

A...use 3 items that you have loads of but never use on a layout...my three were Wide ribbon, flat stickers and rub-ons.

B...Use a currently fashionable scrapping item that you just don't get...mine was chipboard

C...Do something that you often see on other peoples layouts but would never normally do...mine was mismatched titles.

The layout shows the extreme weather we had in late June and July 2007. It is a double layout and the photos are the wrong way round.....I am still not accomplished enough as a blogger to be able to put them in the right order. LOL so the top one is actually page 2.

The second part of the challenge has also been set so watch this space.

2007-08-05T19:42:00.000+01:00

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.

2007-08-04T19:46:00.000+01:00

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

2007-08-04T09:18:00.000+01:00

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

2007-08-03T11:11:00.000+01:00

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

2007-08-02T10:07:00.000+01:00

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

2007-08-01T19:48:00.000+01:00

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:

2007-07-31T20:34:00.000+01:00

More astonishment as I managed to upload a header to my blog. The little guy in the picture is one of the locals of the country park that I am lucky enough to call home. The photo above is one taken just outside our house....In theory our garden. I am just grateful that I live in such a beautiful place, oh and also that I don't have to cut the lawns.

I had fabulous news today as a friend from UKS who is going through a traumatic time (unfortunately I went through much the same 13 and a half years ago) got the news she had been praying for and I am elated for her and her family.

They have a very long haul ahead of them (it is still not over for us) and I hope that I can at least help a little.

Scrapped today too and produced a layout that I am particularly happy with....no photos yet though. Tomorrow I may be a little less popular than I am today as I have set a challenge for my team mates on UKS .....well they did ask.

2007-07-30T20:54:00.000+01:00

Well I'm astounding myself......I managed to get a photo on here. So now its up here I had best explain it. It is a sock monkey that I made (after a challenge from Justine's teacher) He is made from a pair of Rockford Redheel Socks "the sock America wears to work"......well not these ones obviously as they are now in the form of a monkey:lol:

So Here It Is

2007-07-30T17:04:00.000+01:00

So here it is - a blog at last - Something I never thought I would do. Nope not me, not in a million years - seriously I don't do technical at all. However something kept telling me its time you had a blog and so I have taken the plunge and created what may possibly be destined to become the blog equivelant of counting sheep. So watch, look, laugh as I fumble my way through the mystery that is BLOG.

Watch this space.