More snow!

Time for Chris and me is non-existent but a while ago Chris booked a day off and we planned to do some leisurely, child-free Christmas shopping. A Dickensian Christmas Market and a nice little pub lunch was on the cards....unfortunately that day was supposed to have been yesterday! LOL, things just NEVER go to plan! Children off school, roads closed and cars buried in snow- it was never going to happen was it!

Hey ho, the Christmas tree is up, that's a first. Usually it's a rushed event the weekend before Christmas, but already we have noticed a flaw in our organisation. A "little" matter called Amelia is now driving us mad by asking "when is it Christmas?"....every 5 minutes!!!!

I now really need to find my crafty mojo and make a few Christmas cards!!!!!!

For now here are a few more of our snowy pics! Now I may not have got my romantic pub lunch but my darling hubby did make me a loveheart on the top of my car! Not a good pic as I was hanging out of the window, but the gesture was there!

Chris looking very smug after throwing a snowball at Jack's window!!

The cat looking really impressed "NOT!"

An avalanche just waiting to happen...or broken guttering!!!

Mad man with broom stick!

Snowy days!

Well, it has been threatening for a few days but yesterday it actually happened, we woke up to a snowy white landscape. We live in one of the highest parts of Kent, so when it hits us, it seems to hit us harder than other parts of Kent. We have the estuary one side of us and the North Downs the other side so I suppose we could be rather more exposed than some of the southern counties.

Anyway, after a lot of rushing around yesterday morning, I decided not to send Amelia into school. Her school is over 5miles away and up a nasty hill, so certainly not walkable with her if the worst came to the worst. Then I had the decision as to whether or not to send Jack out in an attempt to catch his bus - his new school is 3 miles away in the complete opposite direction and once again, the journey is rather hilly. Luckily, just as he was about to leave, his school announced closure so I was happy to keep them both warm and safe at home with me.

Chris on the otherhand, either goes to work, or loses a day's pay. So he went for it! He works 25 miles away and most of that is motorway. He set out and took 2 hours to get to work.
Throughout the day, it snow, and snow, and snowed some more.

The contorted hazel looked pretty.









AS the day went on, it just didn't stop and Chris left work at 2.30pm, cleared the snow off his car and set of on his 25 mile journey home at 2.45. After an absolutely awful journey home he managed to walk through the front door just before 11pm! Poor, poor Chris!


It goes without saying that no-one went anywhere today, it has been snowing again today nearly non-stop and the forcast is for plenty more to come with strong winds to make matters worse.
But despite the below freezing temperatures boys just have to be boys and just couldn't simply clear the path and driveway a bit, could they???????

Stay safe, stay warm, stay happy!

XXX

Hello strangers!!!

Hello there - I have been a very bad blogger but then again I have been a bad crafter and a bad house keeper too. To be honest, I have really not been that well and had a bit of a health scare a few months back. I am still not right but several tests later I am no further to knowing what, if anything is wrong with me. All I do know is that I am still in some pain and absolutely shattered. My doctor has put it down to a stressful life but unfortunately that's the way it is and it's not going to change.



Anyway, after months of having no energy and no crafty mojo whatsoever I had a mad moment yesterday and made not 1, not 2 but 20 cards!!!! LOL, I was cheating really as they were invites for my Uncle! Not really happy with them but at least it has, hopefully, got me back into a crafty, Christmassy mood! Ho ho ho!!!!!

My little Christmassy attempt meet the following;

Diecut Dreams -Anything goes.
Papertake Weekly - Cut it out.
ABC Challenge- I is for Ice and Snow.
Crafts by Carolyn - Time to Create- Christmas!

Right, my mojo may have gone missing but I have got a little stash of new crafty goodies to try out whilst I go in search of it! Hope to be back soon!

x X x

A Charming Dottie!

This week's challenge over at Dottie's World is to make a card or project using 2 charms and 1 brad, and of course a Charmed Download!







Completely stressed (shall we just mention the word "children!) shattered and mojo-less, I just wasn't happy with where to put TWO charms so I came up with a weird framelike creation!LOL
I enjoyed using me new pastel Christmas papers so much last week, I kept to the same colour scheme and have another Chrimbo card in my box!

Bye for now!

xXx

A Sketch for a Wedding!

I needed to make a Wedding card so when I saw the sketch over on Cardmaking and PaperCraft forum it was madness not to use it.

Here is the sketch;

and here is my adaptation of it!

It's rather stressful here, I hope to have a bit more relaxing crafty time!

Dottie's Conditional Christmas Challenge!

Hello everyone, another Sunday another challenge over at Dottie's World;

"This is the time we all make a start on our huge pile of Christmas cards - if it isn't then it should be as you surely don't want that last minute panic :-) To get you started we would like you to create a Christmas card, the condition here is that you must not use traditional Christmas colours, so I don't want to see any reds or greens, anything else is good to go. The only absolute must-have is of course one of the gorgeous Charmed downloads. "

Now this was the perfect reason to get out the new pack of Dovecraft Christmas papers, loads of yummy soft pastel colours. I hope you like my little Christmas Pixie, she is one of my all time favs!

My card was also made for;

My Time to Craft - Jewelled. I have never used these stick on gems before , they were sent to me by a very kind cyber friend and fellow crafter, a little while back. I have got them out, look at them and put them safely back away in their little box....an apt time to actually USE some! LOL

The Great Outdoors

It's my turn to set the challenge over at Dottie's World this week!

I cannot believe how quickly this year has gone, children going back to school and the thought of Autumn ahead already. Let's make the most of the weather whilst we can!

THE GREAT OUTDOORS

Please make a card, project with an outdoor theme. That's the only requiremnt apart from obviously using one or more of the fabby Charmed Downloads.

XXXX

Pop over to Dottie's and join us! xx

A 1st Birthday card!

With both the children being off on school holidays I have had very little chance to craft but I loved making this card, another wonderful image from Mo Manning. Jack started Grammar school today and I have spent most of the morning at the opticians with Amelia but hopefully once the children are all settled and in a new routine, I will shuffle around some time for my crafting again despite my return to work next week!

Sorry for the pictures, the battery on my camera needed charging so I had to use Chris's camera!

I am eagery waitng for Jack to come home now- hope he has had a good day!

XXX

A card for Jack!!

My "baby boy" was 11 yesterday and starts Grammar School on Friday! I cannot believe how quickly the time has gone!

Now I saw this image from Mo Manning aaages ago and knew straight away that I just had to use it for Jack! He is mad about electronic games, computers, gadgets etc and considering I haven't crafted for a few weeks I thoroughly enjoyed making this for him. It is always best making cards for those that are closest for you!

This card was also made for;

Stamping for the weekend - anything goes!
Bee Craft - anything goes!
Stamps R Us - Stitches!
Rosie D's - One for the Boys
Paper Cutz - Metal
Cupcake Craft - Digital

I HAVE to make a few more cards this week, so hopefully I won't leave it so long before blogging again! XX

Plastering and patios instead of papercrafts!

Well life is just hectic, but I am rather a glutton for punishment aren't I! I seem to live life going from one "priority" to another and never really managing to complete anything in it's entirity! I suppose life with children is like that for everyone but life with a disabled daughter is just that much more stressful - more to do and less time to achieve it in!

A few weeks ago it was repainting the playhouse, then it was replastering the living room and this weekend it was laying a patio! We got fed up with all the local cats using our slate patio as a huge litter tray. We laid it about 3 years ago as a temporary measure after having the house extended. Cost saving at the time but enough is enough when you cannot even allow the children to go out on the patio!


Well the sand, cement and slabs were delivered last week, the cement mixer arrived on Friday and it seems it the lovely British weather thought it would make life just that much trickier for us to work in- 3 days of now stop labouring and several torrential downpours later we are allowing ourselves a day off - especially as it is Jack's 11th Birthday today!!


First things first we had to move well over a tonne of slate to the top of the garden. Woke up on Friday morning and thought we'd forget the patio and build a swimming pool instead!

Chris,standing "on the patio!"

No where near finished but getting there!

Next job on my gardening agenda is building a little brick wall and redoing the overgrown rockery. I am leaving that to next weekend though!

A Favourite Charmed at Dottie's World!

It's Gunn's turn to set the challenge over at Dottie's World this week and she asked us to use a favourite Charmed Download. Simple you'd think but how on earth do I choose just one download! I dithered around over the Pixies as I love them so much but I couldn't chose between several of them so I put those to the back of my little mind and went for something else instead.

I made a vintage style card with this image a little while ago and enjoyed using it so much I thought I'd try it another. Now I REALLY need to get a bit of craft shopping in as some of my basics are running low; things like inks and adhesives so I tried using a few different inks I had laying around- not sure of the effect I have messily created but hopefully I am able to get away with it!

I also made this card to suit;

Basic Grey Challenge - Pearls - I used Mortifica and Liquid Pearls to supposedly match my seaside theme.

The ABC Challenge - A for August - Well you are meant to be able to paddle in the sea in August aren't you? ( I suppose you could always paddle in the torrential rain!)

Dottie gets Framed!

Over on Dottie's World this week Dottie needs to get FRAMED!!!

Details of the FRAME IT challenge along with details of £10 voucher blog candy

ARE HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I decided to put the gorgeous Market Day image (from Sugar and Spice collection) behind acetate for a "window" effect and then to frame it with snowflakes. I am not at all sure about the finsihed card and whether it actually "works but I have found it rather difficult to be inspired this week. Especially with my little helper around!LOL

All in all though I cannot complain, we have finished painting the playhouse, the living room ceiling has been plastered, PVA'd and a first coat of paint went on yesterday. Guess what's in store today then...well it's either painting or building that little brick wall...hmm, decisions!

What to do next!!!!

My poor little head is spinning, playhouse still in chaos, living room ceiling half down, Amelia due back this evening and the plasterer due in tomorrow morning.....what I time to have crafty ideas, inspiration and the motivation! LOL

At least the inside of the playhouse is painted, well the basics anyway...I fancy decorating it with silver stars or something. As you can see I used up scraps of old paint for a beach hut, summery feel. I wondered whether the concoction of blue paints we mixed together, the lilac and the lime actually worked but when we started using the large ladder (which really has nowhere else to be stored) as a storage unit for some of the toys, I am now even tempted to bring a bit more orange and yellow into the scheme.

I sorted out a few old, odd buttons and some wire and would like to start a sort of mobile/wind charm to hang from the ceiling- not quite sure how that will work out but hopefully the children will enjoy helping me.

I also had the idea of salvaging an old dartboard from the loft, it never really had a home but thought it might be a fun game with Jack, not too sure I fancy Amelia throwing sharp objects around though!! Now this is crying out to be altered, don't you agree? Another project I'd like both the children to help out with.

I have popped down to our local hardware shop today and I am attempting to make a pendant out of a washer. I am eagerly waiting for the Glossy Accents to dry and will post a pic and details as soon as I can. Not quite sure of mine at the moment but others I have seen look fabby!

Right off to move a bit of furniture around in the living room and then make up Amelia's bed so she has some where to sleep tonight.

x X x

It's very quiet here today!

I am just not used to being without Amelia being next to me constantly BUT she is staying with her Nanny & Grandad for a few days and Jack is certainly not the early bird of the family, I am letting him have a little lay in this morning.

Now to update you of the havoc in the Dingle house. On Saturday we had some bricks delivered for me (yes, ME!!!!) to build a little brick wall. I will say it's is only a little, one course of bricks onto the foundation footings that Chris has already done for a rockery border in the garden. Now the thing is, Saturday was rather wet and gloomy so I now have a pile of bricks in the middle of the garage waiting for the next opportune moment to strike.

So our plans for Saturday went slightly astray and I told myself that I would do some gloss painting instead-there's still loads that needs doing in the house but gloss painting with Amelia around is not an easy thing, well not unless you like loads of fingerprints in your paintwork. I have been feeling pretty low this last week, having both the children at home and their abilities and preferences getting further and further apart has really hit me hard and I needed aboost.

What better way of a boost than a bit of creativity, this creativity took the form of attacking the "playhouse." Now we got the playhouse 5 years ago with the intention of making it exactly that, a summerhouse that the children could play in but when we had the house extension a few years ago, the contents from the old garage got stored in there and it became more of a really messy shed. See what I mean!!! (BLUSH)

Now please don't expect to see some fabby, designer creation. I made the best out of a few weird and whacky colour combinations and used up some old, half empty pots of paint in an attempt to save money and make a bit more space too! I hope to get back out there today and finish off the painting. I have a few more crafty ideas for this little playden, our suite is being replaced soon but the two seater sofa is in reall good condition still so it's going to have a new home in the playhouse, posible covered with a patchwork throw and a match homemade rag rug on the floor...am I too optimistic...yeah, I guess it may never happen but the though was there.

It doesn't help by the fact that yesterday as I wandered through the little crafting section at Dunelm Mills, I came across a SEWING BOOK that I couldn't resist!

Now my poor sewing maching has not been used properly for years, it's dusted off for the occasion stitched card but that's about it! Hmmm, now I am in another quandary
...what do I do first!

Dottie's World goes all manly!

Well, manly with a twist - it's my turn to set the challenge over at Dottie's World this week.

Whilst looking through my stock box I noticed I am incredibly short of cards for men so I thought it would be a good idea to get a few in there rather than keep putting myself under the pressure of having to make them at the last minute - cards for men can be tricky enough as it is!

You have loads of images to choose from the Charmed Download collections so lets see what you can come up with........Now for a little twist, I want to see some ribbon on your manly cards!!

I also made this along with the challenge for;

Stamp with Fun #69 A card for a boy/man
Cute Card Thursday -Texting Crazy

Dottie at the Movies!

What a week it has been, the end of term for Amelia on Wednesday, all the end of term parties and a Fun Day at work, saying goodbye to 17 of our 4 year olds off to school in September. THEN to top it all Jack had his last day of Primary School on Friday. He is really grumpy and unsettled at the moment- not surprising really as he is one of only two boys in his school off to Grammar School in September. Hopefully a bit of time and reassurance will improve matters!

I am having awful issues with Amelia, her sleeping and eating are quite poor at the moment as she is complaining her "neck hurts." We are off to see the ENT consultant next month regarding her hearing and I am wondering if there is an issue with her tonsils and adenoids too.

I feel shattered already and have six weeks of constant attention with Amelia to cope with. Hey Ho......

Anyway onto the very little bit of crafting I have managed.

This week over on Dottie's World the challenge is Let's Go to the Movies!

NOw I only started this last night and I was so tired it was just one disaster after another and I am not at all happy with the card....not sure the sentiment works but I will follow up with some apt words inside the card and hope hubby doesn't take offence.

Loved colouring in the Dragon from Once Upon A Time Collection - I should imaging he will be used over and over again!

Right best get on now....I have had a few blogging issues to and had to change my background...not sure about this one yet but at least you can read my waffle.

x X x

Dottie's World- That Summer Feeling!

Hi everyone- it's a fabby challenge over at Dottie's World this week and a super prize up for grabs too so make sure you pop over and join in the fun!

The challenge is to make a summery project using a Charmed Download! BUT Lou would like you to make your summer item different to what you normally make!

Look HERE for details!!!!!!!

Now I was really stuck for time yesterday- had such a busy day planned and very little time to make anything so I cheated a bit- hope it's OK. The design is very similar to what I normally make but I saw a challenge on another site and it reminded my of a few cards I had made in the past and really enjoyed - so I went long with no patterned papers and lots of WHITE! I hope this is DIFFERENT enough!

I really enjoyed making this card too! Thanks for the challenge Lou!

Here are a few of the cards I had previously made like this, using lots of white and no patterned papers:

Dec 09.

Aug 08!

A little leaving book!

One of the ladies I work at the Pre-school with is retiring next week so I have been trying to gather up little pictures from all the children to put into a little book I am making up. The going is rather slow but at long last it is starting to take shape and I have loads of little piece of art all stuck into the pages now.

This afternoon, I have completed the front cover.

Sorry, the lighting isn't great!

I have been inspired by the current ABC Challenge, Papertake Weekly Challenge- In the garden and Cute card Thursday- School Out!

The wonderful images are by Mo Manning so I thought I'd also enter my Rose garden, flowery card into this week's summer theme challenge!