Happy New Year !!!!

Hi all, hope you all had a good Christmas & Santa was good to you. I would love to know what crafty goodies you got. I did get a couple of crafty things from Santa. I got the new A3+ 6inch glass cutting board & a set of tonic flower punch & stamp set, but my main gift was a tablet from my hubby. So I will be able to do something crafty anywhere, I know I could always take my laptop but having the tablet should be easier. Then I also got lots of other goodies, so I must of been a good girl this year.

 I haven't been doing any crafting over Christmas, I always spend this time with my family, they're growing up so fast & soon they wont want to they'll be off doing there own things. I have got a couple of things I need to get a start on, so as soon as we're back to normal & all the decorations are down & put away I will start. One of the things I want to get a start on is, well it's two actually & that is I want to make a case for my tablet & my hubby's as I brought him one for Christmas as well. I know we could buy one from the shop or off E-bay but I wanted to make them.

I would like to wish you all a very Happy New Year & Lets hope 2014 is the beat year yet. xxx

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Hi happy Monday, hope you all had a good crafty weekend. Since I last blogged I have made a few more Christmas cards, I've only made 36 in total so I might have a go at doing a few on my laptop using my Serif or my Docrafts digital.

Has we have now put up our Christmas tree my little crafting corner is out of bounds :( I know it's sad but I can still craft I made 36 inserts yesterday using my Docrafts digital, so that's now I'll be crafting till after Christmas & the tree comes down.

Here a couple of photos of my latest Christmas cards.

 

When I finished with the inserts I will try & take one of all of the & hopefully I will have done some on the laptop as well.

 

Last weekend I went to the Range at Leicester, Me & my youngest daughter had to go for a medical for the car accident we had about 6 or 7 weeks ago. We were a bit early so we nipped in to see what they had I must admit I didn't only buy crafting stuff but you can't go to the range & not get some crafting stuff lol. I didn't get much I only got some gold & silver mirri board, the new leaf die by X-cut, some ribbon & some more red & green card. Then I brought some other bits one of my daughters friend had a birthday coming up so we got her a pressie, badge & a banner to go over her locker at school. And then after we nipped in to town as my daughter wanted a new dress so go to her friends & one of my auntie's party in, so we nipped in to New Look & we both got a new dress.

 

 

Has I said we have put up our Christmas tree, so I thought I would show you photo. We haven't done the out side yet hopefully my hubby will be doing that tomorrow. So here's it is & the fire place with our stocking hanging. Hope you like. 

 

Hope you like them, I would love to see any photos of yours & any Christmas cards you have made.

 

 

 

 

 

Yay, I've made a start on my Christmas cards. I started last week & these are what I've made so far.

 

I know It's not many, but at the moment I'm struggling with my chronic fatigue so was only able to craft for about three days last week & two so far this week.

 

 

I hope your all having a good crafty week & the snow hasn't hit you yet, so far we haven't had any so I'm keeping my fingers crossed. But then again when the weather is cold outside It's nice to be all warm & cosy doing some crafts.

 

 

                                               

                                            

Hi, Hope everyone who went to the NEC had a good time. We went on Saturday & we all had a good time. I couldn't believe how many people there were, I was getting knock from pillow to post & by the time we left I was in so much pain I was struggling to walk to the car. It was well worth it there was some really nice stuff there, & I even got a couple of Christmas presents. I did miss there not being a proper Crafters Companion stand, I know they were at the pink frog stand but there wasn't much stuff, usually they have a big stand. I was going to get some 16x16 card but they didn't have any & if they did I couldn't find it, I only saw embossing folders & few other bits. Anyway here's a picture of my haul apart from the silhouette designer edition card & a £20 online store card that was only £11 so not bad going I thought & some Christmas cake topper moulds for Hannah my daughter.

  

It's been a couple weeks since I last blogged, the first week my daughters were off collage & school for a week so we spent the week together just doing mum & daughter things. It was great we didn't do much really other than being together which is the best thing to do, I just love spending time with them & I'm so glad that they still want to spend time with me. My youngest did have her top brace fitted, so she now has the top & bottom done & she's not doing to bad with them.

Then from last weekend my chronic fatigue has been playing me up, so up till Thursday I didn't do much other than sleep I hate it when it gets me like this you don't have the energy to do anything. But I needed to get a couple of birthday cards made so when I was awake I thought about what sort I wanted to do & on Thursday I started on the first. The first one I decided would be for my aunties 75th birthday, she's having a surprise party later on this month. So for this I had in mind a A5 card a trellis front, with 75 on the front & happy birthday embossed in silver. And some flowers going up one of the sides. So this is what I came up with.

Sorry the first is a bit blurred.

 

 

Anyway I cut a shape in the front of my card & cut lots of narrow strips of card & weaved the together. Then I stuck them over the shape I cut out of the front & then put a piece of white card inside to cover where I'd stuck the trellis. I embossed & cut out the numbers & cut a piece of silver mirri board & embossed the numbers on to that as well & then I mounted the card numbers on to the mirri board.

 

I stamped & embossed happy birthday in silver on to a piece of card. Them I mounted that & the numbers on to the front of the card. I made some flowers from lilac card & stuck them along with some cream ones that I had already around the bottom corner & up the side. I stuck some leafs with the flowers & with some of the strips of card I had left I wound them round my pokey tool & stuck them among the flowers & leafs. I made an envelobox from the same card I used to make the card & embossed a design in the bottom corners & the flap at the back.

 

The insert I designed on my Docrafts digital designer & wrote the verse myself.

 

The second card I wanted to be more fun, so I made a 6 x 6 inch card from blue card & used one of the gorgeous ( I think that's what there called ) toppers & backing papers. I matted & layered some silver holograph mirri & the gorgeous backing paper & some black spotted ribbon on to my 6 x 6 card. Then I matted & layered some more mirri, backing paper & paper ribbon & then mounted the topper on to that, then mounted the hole topper on to the base card. Then I stuck a black ribbon with some little beads on, on the black spotted ribbon & some black adhesive stones in the top right & bottom left corners. Again I made the insert on my Docrafts digital designer but this time I didn't write the verse I used one of there's. I made an envelope out of some blue paper & embossed a butterfly in the bottom corners & a little swirl on the back flap,

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

   

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Hi all hope your all having a good week. Well my car has gone in to be repaired, they've said it should be about 10-14 working days. I was really worried to start off with because when the man came to collect my car. After looking around it I asked do you think it will be ok & said I don't know it will all depend on what they say back at the garage. I asked why & he said he opened the boot door to look inside & now it doesn't shut, Oh dear me I said ( well words to that effect ). Anyway I've received a call from the garage & they read out what needs to be done & it quite a long list.

I haven't done much crafting this week, well with my car going in, then I had to go & collect my hire car ( well they came & picked me up took me to the office & then I drove back). They said that the car I would get would be similar in size etc. to mine I don't think so lol. I had a Renault scenic & they gave me a Vauxhall Insignia don't get me wrong it's lovely it drives great, but it is quite a bit bigger than mine. Then we had to back to the orthodontist for my youngest to get the first of her brace fitted, got to go back next week for the other to be fitted. Well yesterday was the first day I had to do any crafting so after the school runs I sat & printed off some digi stamps from some of my CD's. Then I sat with the telly on Create & craft & a cup of tea & started to colour with my promarkers I haven't really done much colouring so it took me quite a while, but I enjoyed it & I happy with how they turned out. I will take a photo & put them on so hopefully you can give some tips on where I'm going wrong or how I could get better.

How to use Envelope Punch Board by We R Memory Keepers- TUTORIAL

Hi as promised here is a photo of the cake I made for my Mum & Dads anniversary. Sorry there is only one, my daughter took some on here phone so I try & get some of hers.

( The two little roses at the bottom are just holding the heart & big pink rose in place till they dry )

Hi all it's a very wet Monday morning here, well it has hardly stopped raining all weekend. Hope you've had better weather where you are. This weekend was my Mum & Dad's 50th wedding anniversary & I was so much looking forward to going out for our family meal to celebrate. I also couldn't wait to se what they thought of the card I made for them. Pictures of which I posted on my blog the other day. the only thing that has changed is that I put a photo of them, well I punched the head of both of them & put one in each heart on the front of the box.

Well I was taking my youngest daughter Hannah to the orthodontist on Friday afternoon. I was just pulling in to the drive way after signalling & this card rammed me up the back end, I hit my head so hard on the head rest I couldn't believe it. I have never had a car accident in all the time I have been driving. Both myself & Hannah are ok just a bit shaken & will still made the appointment. Luckily enough the other driver admitted it was his fault & he was a doctor lol, so he made sure we were both ok.

Despite this we had a great weekend & my mum & dad loved the card I made the, they even put the box on display. I also made them a cake it was going to be a round one, but my was saying how much she likes the cupcake cake I have made for birthdays so instead I made them one of those. I covered the base (which would be the wrapper in a normal cupcake) in chocolate & the top in royal icing. I also made some butterflies & flowers dusted them with different coloured dusting powders & stuck them on both the top & base. I sandwiched the top & base together with vanilla butter cream & everyone has enjoyed it. I will put some photos up for you to have a look at shortly.   

Hi, as promised here are the photos of my latest projects. Sorry it's taken a few days, but I've been having some problems with my keis air on my lap top which is what I use to down load my photos off my phone. So I've had to refer back to the old way of putting my card from my phone into a card reader & then putting that in my phone. Any way less moaning here are my photos.

The first couple are of the bench cover I made for our bench outside.

 

 

 

 

This next lot are of the card I have made for one of my best friends 50th birthday later this month. I've just got to stamp Happy Birthday on the inside, & I made an envelobox for it 

 

 

 

 

 And these are of the card I have made for my Mum & Dad's 50th wedding anniversary later this month & I made a box to go with it. The photo at the end is a copy of one of theirs from one of their wedding albums, I had to ask my dad for it so my mum didn't know. I told him it was for a pitcher frame I have that has family photos in big letters on it. Well this isn't a lie I do have one & I have taken a copy of a few of their wedding photos so I am thinking of putting one of them in it on their wedding day & also one of my own.

I know I haven't posted for a long time, I could say I'm new to this blogging lark which is true, but I also think it's a cop out as well because all you other people manage to do it. I think ( No I know ) the main reason is I don't really think I do anything that other people would be interested in.

 I have done a few things since I last blogged, I have made a cushion for our bench outside & if I say so myself it's not to bad for saying it my first. I mean I have made cushions & stuffed them many years ago, but this one we brought a piece of foam that I cut to size & then made a removable cover for it. I have also haltered my youngest dress that she brought for a friends wedding, she is now 13yrs but she is very small & petite for her age so the things her friends wear are to big for her. I have also got two cards on the go, a golden anniversary for my parents & a 50th birthday for one of my best friends. I will take some photos & post them for you to have a look at please let me know what you think.

But I have also been plagued with a few health problems this year. As I said at the very beginning I have complex regional pain syndrome which I have had for, well it will be ten years this December & I also have chronic fatigue. I had this new sort of nerve block a few months ago, It was different to the others I've had over the past ten years which normally work for a while ( well I say work which is right in some way as I'm not in so much pain as I am normally). This one was one was horrible they had to put it straight into my neck & as I cannot bear anyone touching any part of my right arm, neck & shoulder & if they touch it to hard I hit the floor. I was in so much pain it was horrible & them my left ankle went, I have sprained it a couple of times but this was my Achilles tendon apparently it had popped out so I've been going for physio. And then to top it all the day after our sixth anniversary 11th Aug,  on 12th Aug I did my back in LOL I know what your all thinking I'm not safe to be let out, my kids say it all the time, but me I say if I was an animal they would have put me down by now which I know isn't very nice but it is true. And it is only just starting to get better, I can sort of sleep lying down instead of having to be propped up by pillows. Anyway end of rant you must all be bored by now.

A fantastic find

On Sunday I found this lovely little, well not so little warehouse store called Country Baskets Loughborough (that's the town it's in), the cashier said that they have them all over the country. A friend of mine had mentioned it to me ages ago, so while myself & Simon (my hubby) were out & about I mentioned it to him.

We had taken something back to the DIY store & on the way back we went to see if it was open & yes it was. You have to register & they give you a card, just one more to add to the stack we all carry with us lol. It was a crafters dream, they sell everything that anyone would ever need to do there own wedding. The flowers oh they were to die for, they had big ones, small ones, single ones, packets of flowers. Oasis in lots of different shapes & sizes, Plant pots galore. Gems, in packets, on rolls, big ones & small ones. Ribbon they had shelves units & shelves units of ribbon in every colour imaginable. They had lots & lots of knickknacks for every room inside the house & even outside the house.
I only brought a couple of things, I got two tubs of gel beads that you can use in flower arranging, but I brought them to use in glass vases that I use for my make-up brushes. I also brought a packet of cream flowers & some leaves to use in my card & scrapbook making. These are the vases before & after & then the flowers & leaves.

Finally finished

I've been meaning to write this for a couple of weeks now, but you know what its like something always happens to get in the way. Well finally finished the shelving to go in the bathroom. My hubby decided get involved after touching it while still wet. Well I rubbed it down & gave it another coat, then he decided that it needed another one (I think just for luck) But the first wasn't dry so it ran, luckily I'd brought another can of spray paint.

Well round about this time I did something to my knee, it's a lot better now but I still can't walk up or down stairs or bend it & put weight on it at the same time. So my hubby decided he would finish the shelving for me, but this time he decided to take the hole thing apart & do it bit by bit. We gave it two coats of paint & then a coat of clear lacquer.

 

  These are both the mirror & the shelving unit the first time, the mirror was ok so didn't need to be redone. The ones below are both of them after the shelves were re-sprayed & both hung in the bathroom.

I pleased with how they turned out, I think they go with the bathroom quite well.

I never know

I always think I don't do anything worth blogging about, that on one would be interested in anything I have made or done. Then when I do make something I always forget to take any photos.

We've been having our bathroom redone & I've been looking for a towel rail, well shelving unit to replace the one that we had up before. It was chrome but had gone a bit rusty in places, & I wanted one more or less the same as it served the purpose, but I couldn't find one anywhere not even the same one. So as I had spray painted an old gold framed mirror silver when we did the living room the other year I thought I would have a go at doing the same to the shelving unit.

So off to the DIY store I go & come back with some chrome spray paint, but then had to wait for weather to be right to do it. Then yesterday we started, gave it a couple of coats letting it dry in between, then brought it in to dry over night ( you know what men are like they have to investigate to see if you've done it right & my husband touched it to see if it was dry & no it wasn't lol)  before giving it an other today. Well didn't get round to doing any today as went out for a lovely meal with my parents so hoping to finish it  tomorrow & this time hopefully I'll remember to take some photos .

My first try at blogging

I'm not very good at all this blogging lark, I think it's because i don't really do anything that is really wearth writing about. But today i thought i would give it a go, so here goes. At the moment i'm helping my dad look after my mum as she has had a full knee opp about 5 weeks ago, I'm also making a bag for my Sihouette portrtrait so i can take it with me anywhere, but no i can't just make a simple bag i've made it so that the machine sits at the bottom in a fully padded compartment that at one end opens up so it just slides out & then at the top i've got a big compartmentthat that i can put all my crafting bits in i want to take with me & the cables for my machine. I can't deside weather or not to put the pocekt i made to fit inside in or not, or use it as a bag for my laptop as it fits in nicely, whitch is probably what i would use it for if i put it inside even though i did make it for the cables but a bit big for that, I could always make a smaller one for them. But at the moment i'm not doing anything to it even though all that's left to do is sew the handles on, I just don't seem to get round to it. I go down my mum & dads very morning, to start of with i was helping my mum get washed & dressed, but now she's able to that on her own even though we say we would like her to have someone with her when she as a shower just in case ( and before you think it i don't mean in the shower with her but in the room with her), but she's a very inderpendant woman (or as we say stubborn) she wants to do it all on her own. I do help her with her excersies whitch we do two- three times a day.

They should use these excersies to help tone your legs & stomach because they really do work,I know they'er ment to help strenthen her knee whitch they do, but they'er also doing wonders for other parts as well. I keep saying said i should start doing them.

So as well as helping out with my mum i've also got my own home to keep up with, so today i woke up at 5:10am & lay there clock watching till 5:30am & i thought i might as well get up. My husband works nights & is home just gone 6am as we don't live far from where he works. He is very helpful aroung the house & helps me no end, but i thought i would get up & do a bit of house work well anything that won't wake up the girls as they don't get up till 7am. So this morning i got up & tried to do the bit of ironing we had whitch i have to do with my left hand even though i'm right handed, but scince my accident i can't do it right handed but luckily we didn't have much so i did that & then tieded up the living-room, got the oldest one up at 7am the youngest isn't very well she hasn't been well for about 3 weeks now we went to the doctor's three times last week & then again yesterday & we've got a list of things they think is wrong with her. So anyway i left her in bed got myself ready made sure the oldest was up & getting ready (you know what teenagers are like lol) made breakfast for myself & my husband the oldest didn't want any. Then when she was ready took her to school left the youngest at home with my husband then went down to help my mum do her excersies as she was up & dressed waiting for me. Then i came home made some breakfast for our youngest & then sat down with my hubby before he went to bed. We had a look at a route to notts as we're ment, well the youngest & me are ment to be going to see 1D tomorrow so hoping she's feeling up to it & got the energy, I have told her that we have both got to have a good nap tomorrow in the day time so that we have both got the energy to go. We have looked at the route in sat nav & at parking near by.

Hubby went to bed, youngest was still a sleep so i got down myself & had a nap before starting again.