Saturated Canary card for my mum!

Last minute.com strikes again! Tomorrow is my darling mum's 70th Birthday so today I braved the depths of  my craft room junk room, cleared about a foot square space on my work desk and set to work.

This is what I ended up with! I wanted something a bit different from the 6x6 inch square cards that I normally do. The image I had already printed needed a larger background too. I exaggerated the mis-mash shape by making the Happy Birthday sentiment strip a little wider than the card base too.

I had seen some lovely "porcelain look" flowers on some blogs recently but most seem to have been created using UTEE. Seeing as I didn't have any, I attacked my flowers with some Glossy Accents. I took a bit of a risk really, being so short of time and not having a clue how they would turn out. Not quite as 3D as I had pictured, but quite fun to do!

 A bit of glitter works wonders. Also shown here is the script embossed backing I used to strengthen the top part of the card. I really would have preferred a more subtle effect here by inking the back of the embossing folder but the script writing would have then been back to front. (I did try this but thought it looked funny.LOL) 

Lace and twine add texture.

 Apologies for the lighting!

I have made this with a few challenges for inspiration-thank you. I need all the help I can get at the moment.

Saturated Canary Challenges - Read all about it.

ABC Challenge - Just as You Like it.

Cute card Thursday - Anything Goes.

Basic Grey Challenges - Spring is in the air.  ( I used BG Baby Girl, Isabelle, I think it is?) 

Totally Gorjuss - For mum. ( hope this is ok as it's her birthday card, not for Mother's Day!)

Got some exciting crafting ahead, watch this space!

xXx

Life's as hectic as ever!

Monday-work
Tuesday- a stuck at home, snow day! Chris couldn't get to work, Jack's school closed, Amelia's bus not running.
Wednesday- after a very sleepless night with Amelia feeling poorly, we cuddled up on the sofa watching films. A nice day but not really productive.
Thursday- a very early start as Chris left for work at 5am. Full day at pre-school, hairdressers, Young Carer's for Jack, Parent's Evening with Amelia! SHATTERED!

Looking forward to tomorrow- A DAY OFF to perhaps manage a little bit of housework creativity!

x X x

Busy doing nothing....

......well achieving nothing, that's for sure.

Work is work, as hectic as ever and then some more. At home we have at last got back to being a two car family after a whooping bill of £2100 to keep Chris's car on the road. I am trying to get myself motivated into de-cluttering, organising and dare I say "Spring" cleaning, but although the thoughts are there, that's really as far as it has got.

Life is as busy as ever, it was my Birthday last Thursday but rather than spend a few relaxing days with my darling hubby, I was rather preoccupied with goings on at work, tag days and Amelia dressing up for World Book day. I had left everything to the last minute as usual but I thought she looked fab in her thrown together Oliver Twist costume! 

She came home with all her costume still intact. I asked her if she had had gruel for lunch and she looked at me as if I were mad! "NO mummy! I had fish and chips!" she replied.

Yesterday we all went to watch Gillingham play football, well Amelia came home from school on Friday with four complimentary tickets so it was rude not to use them. Chris and Jack loved it and although Amelia did too, we really should have taken a blanket to wrap he up in as half way through the match the temperatures really dropped and she struggle to stay focused. Still, we live an learn, it was a fab experience all round.

Had a lovely Mother's Day, cooked brekkie this morning and a lovely 3 course meal this evening washed down with a nice glass of red wine. 

THANK YOU CHRIS, JACK & AMELIA. 

I love you all very much.

xXx

Last minute Valentine!!!

I have had a day off of work, all my key children's records are up to date, so I ventured in the unknown, of what I used to call a craft room. I wanted to make Chris a Valentines Day Card but I am not at all happy with the result.  STILL at least I have actually made a card. Things can only get better!

Got to rush, Amelia is home and I need to get her ready for swimming.

This card meets the challenges over at;

ABC Challenges

Cards for Men

Crafts by Caroyln -Romance challenge.

and Basic Grey Challenges

Tags for the teachers!

Last minute.com strikes again!!! I went back to work today, without much of a voice, but wanted to see out the last day of term and the Xmas Party for the children. After work i got started on a bunch of tags for the teachers and helpers. Another job crossed off of my very long list.

 A simple design, stamped and then coloured with Copic, embellished with a touch of Glossy Accents and some fine glitters.


CraftyHazelnuts Christmas Challenge- Anything goes

Recipe for salt dough Christmas Decorations

Full of cold, can hardly talk, pounding head, rotten cough. Spent the day dosing myself up with Lemsip and stinking of Olbas Oil. A bit of craft therapy to relax and I have had such fun. Still go to personalise the backs of these then string them.

I followed a basic salt dough recipe

1 cup plain flour

1 cup salt

1/2 cup water

extra flour for rolling

rolling pin

assorted cutters

baking tray

foil

Pre-heat the oven to 100 oC

Mix together the flour, salt into a bowl. 

Add the water and form mix until a soft ball is formed. 

Roll out on a lightly dusted surface and cut shapes as required. 

Consider the thickness of the shapes, I did a mixture of some chunkier ones as well as some which were thinner. I will update with more information but I will say, I did break off the point of a star being too enthusiastic with decorating it! Try not to overwork as I found it got a bit tacky and difficult to work with.

If you are making decorations to hang, don't forget to make the holes!!! A drinking straw is great for the job!

Place your shapes onto a prepared baking tray, I lined mine with grease proof paper and covered with foil. Heat for 2-3 hours.

To decorate.

I used a basic children's ready made paint but needed several coats. Once dry, I inked up a few of my favourite stamps and lightly stamped over the shapes. I used Memento inks which did smudge slightly so I would probably go for Staz-on next time. Embellish with Liquid Pearl, Perfect Pearls, Glitter, Metallic rub-ons......the choice is yours. 

I found it quite effective to varnish then sprinkle glitter lightly over the shapes.

I am stringing these as in my previous post, with natural twine, a little lace and some gingham ribbon.

First completed salt dough decoration!

Well, I have had limited success with the salt dough decorations! I took a couple,painted them....several times, then attacked them with inks, glitter, metallic rub ons.....etc. I decided to try out some Glossy Accents but I was either too impatient and rushed in too quickly, or the Glossy Accents had some funny reaction to the paint- it all clouded over on one side of the decoration so I scrapped that one! The little star didn't look tooooo bad, so I just went with the flow.

I now have loads of little shapes all over my work desk, all painted and ready for attack with my inks...oooo....might try some perfect pearls too! 

Attempt at Salt Dough Christmas Decorations!

Yep, as if I haven't got enough to do...I had this mad idea to attempt to make some Xmas decs using salt dough. I did try some a few years back, but as usual, I left everything to the last minute, tried a microwave recipe to save time....and mucked the lot up completely!

Fingers crossed, I will be a little bit more successful this time. We all helped make the dough and cut them out last night and they don't look too bad. A few wonky, lumpy, bumpy ones, but hopefully that will add to their "homemade charm!" LOL

After being awoken by Amelia at 2am this morning, then spending the rest of the night coughing, I was in no real fit state to work today so I thought I'd paint a few little decs as I sip my Lemsip.

I have so many ideas at the moment, perhaps I need to start thinking of NEXT Christmas already, instead of leaving everything to the limit! He ho ho ho!

Anyways, here's a taster of what I am doing in their naked state!

Reindeer Flight!

I have had this die for some time now but I can't think of actually using it before! I had only ever got as far as  making up some distressed card using inks and glimmer sprays, then stamping and inking a few little reindeers......which have sat in a box for well over a year! UNTIL THIS AFTERNOON!

Simple card, attacked with my sewing machine and finished with some metallic sheen.

Woolly hugs on their way.......at last.

It's been an awful, awful day. So much to do on my "day off!" Was awoken by Amelia just before 4am and didn't really get back to sleep. I have an absolutely pounding headache, I argued with Jack and shouted at Amelia when she tried to smuggle in toys just as her school bus arrived. It's nearly 11.30 am and I have achieved hardly anything! First things first, I need to take some painkillers before I topple over.

One tiny little thing I can cross off my list is the posting out of my Woolly Hugs squares! I will hang my head in shame to say I started these way, way back in March, possibly even February, I am absolutely disgusted with myself considering how quickly I actually knit. I probably spent a day or so actually making these, the rest of the time was spent forgotten and stuffed in a cupboard while my chaotic life took over. Even when they re-emerged, it took me ages to dig out a large needle and sew in the ends!

STILL< they are done, dusted and in transit to a new home, where they will be lovingly assembled with like-minded little squares to provide love, hugs, remembrance and warmth to those in need.

Colours are awful, sorry....I was not going to wait any longer for a bright and sunny day day to take photographs! LOL

It's Snow joke.

I have had a "day off" today so I ventured into my little craft room to make a start on my Christmas cards.

Unfortunately I spent more time moving stuff around, putting things back in their right place, stuffing bundles of "Ebay clothes" into the big cupboard in an attempt to not feel quite so claustrophobic. It didn't really help with my creativity I am afraid.

I tried to come up with a simple card, quick and easy to make, that I could make up in bulk rather than send out shop bought cards this year......judging on how it turned out, I think I'll be going card shopping at the weekend. Not a happy bunny!

I made up a backing paper using a music stamp, distress, inked and sewed around. Layered on a snowflake, wrapped in ribbon and twine. Added a few little details and whoopie, 1 more card in my Xmas box!

This card was made using a charm to meet the requirements on the current challenge over at 

Crafts by Carolyn. come over and join the fun!

Tag, you're it!

Hi everyone, long time no bloggy! It's been a funny old time in the Dingle household, Amelia has been in hospital for an operation and it has taken almost two weeks to get her back to school, me back to work and ANY sort of routine back into place.

Still, I have ventured into my little craft room and thought I'd ease myself back into crafting with something really simple and easy to pick up and put down. I had the tags and hearts already cut so all I had to do was play with a few inks, attack the hearts with an embossing folder and finish with some metallic rub-ons.

Not sure what I am going to do with these YET but I may try some different colourways today and even make a matching card!

xXx

Hectic Half Term Holidays!

Half term has been a bit of a mixture of emotions. We had a lovely meal out for Amelia's 11th Birthday, ate far too much I am afraid but what else are birthdays for?

Yesterday the postman delivered a proposed, amended statement for us to look over ready for transition to Secondary School in September next year. I am afraid the thought of the whole statementing procedure has opened up some very bitter wounds. It's not like we have had any choice in what school she can attend, well not unless we fight to get her out of Medway and into Kent somewhere. 

We also received the letter from the hospital giving us the date for Amelia's operation, not exactly a good news day but hey ho. 

We finished off our Saturday with a visit to the local fireworks display. It is something we haven't done for years and years because Amelia just couldn't tolerate it all. It was still quite a draining process rather than a fun evening out with the family but we did it, despite the fact that I had to stand holding Amelia's ears with her wrapped up in scarves hats and hoods to muffle the noise! 

We got home and finished the evening off with a nice hot curry and a glass or two of wine. 

Cheers!

x X x