DIY Birthday Banners!

I am such a bad blogger, it's been a LOOOONG time since I posted last. As usual, life just gets in the way and all my inspiration flies out the window.

Well, I am full of optimism that I can change. My health has really taken a bit of a nose dive at the moment but doctors say there is nothing wrong with me. After 2 appointments Rheumatology have discharged me and I am now being referred to a Pain Management Clinic. I have given up on the prescribes painkillers as all they did was make me groggy and I think I'd rather try to cope with the pain rather than feel like a zombie constantly. 

Enough of that! 

Well, I had a rather ermm....large birthday last week and I am preparing for a party booked for next month. Despite my pain, my stupid brain keeps coming up with all these mad ideas and yesterday I put one of them into action. Not content with buying ready made banners, I thought it would be good to make my own!!!!!!! Should I just print out, or stamp.....you know something quick and easy?

Oh no, I had this mad idea to Zentangle each letter individually! 

Whose mad idea was that again? Oh yes, that would be ME!

One and a half lettres later......

Very time consuming but fun. 

Happy Birthday Jack.

Yesterday we took Jack on a surprise visit to a local Go Kart track for his first real experience of karting.

He was really nervous at first.

and there was an awful lot of waiting around

but he soon got the hang of it.

Today he was up about 6.30 all excited...I cannot believe he is 9 today, he has grown up so quickly.

Happy Birthday Jack!!!

ps. I have Racing George all printed and cut out just waiting to be scrapped!!!!

I've gone all girlie!!

Here are my two latest cards. One off my list for a 19 year old girl...the other for my stock box. These used to be some of my favorite die cuts and I haven't used them for ages!"!

The spotty dotty paper..which I love, is by Paper Salon.

A ribbon topped recipe for Amelia!

Well I eventually managed to finish Amelia's birthday card just before leaving for the school run this afternoon..left my glossy accents drying as I shut the door!! Thank you to the Daring Card Makers for such great inspiration.

If you've already done your "Wrap it in Ribbon for Christmas" card and you're ready for a new challenge how about trying our Little Extra for this week. We're still playing with those wonderful Ribbon Oasis ribbons but this time we've got a Ribbony Recipe for you to play with.
The ingredients you need to use on your cards are:
4 brads/eyelets
3 circles
2 rectangles
and lashings of ribbon!
What sort of card you make is up to you this time - as long as you've got all those ingredients on there the choice is yours.

Here's how I made use of the "ingredients!"

4 Brads- x3 off-centred for flower centres, x1 to hold those scrummy ribbons!!

3 circles- cheated with these. I started off as just circles then I had the idea of using them as oversized centres of flowers!

2 rectangles-the backing papers and card

Lashings of ribbon!!Broke my heart using this lot, but at least I get to keep it in a way! Ribbon bunched with a brad in the corner, the stems and leaves of the flowers, used as a divider between the 2 rectangles, a little dash of ribbon on the greeting and lastly the little cat's collar!!!

Been a busy bee today.

On top of all the mud and mayhem I have actually manged to do some crafting. Finished off another 3 toppers with the stamped sentiment, a wedding card, and another two toppers. The last toppers are for Challenge 7, Something to wear, on Just Bex. Had fun playing with these.

Well, while I had that stamp out I thought I'd make a few more toppers. Got this one done and 4 more all cut, inked and ready to assemble tomorrow. Kiddies are tucked up in bed and it's time for me to to curl up on the sofa with Chris and my knitting....how romantic!!!

I have managed to make the next card on my to do list today. I took inspiration from another Just Bex challenge "Simply Stamping" where you had to include a stamped sentiment! I am really not a stamper and rumaged around to try to find something suitable. Eventually I found this Whispers stamp that, if I remember rightly, I bought as used from a forum member..and have never, ever got around to trying!!! Shame on me. I quite like it to be honest, must try to improve my stamping though!!

Used up some more scraps and cut and layered a flower from "Spicy-Paprika" by Three bugs in a rug.

Clutter, clutter and more clutter!

Spent a good part of the day trying to clear the old garage ready for it to be pulled down!! Done another trip to the tip and accumulated several black sacks of junk but not made much headway YET! Still got loads to do but running out of enthusiasm now. We need to run down the huge chest freezer, find somewhere for my tumble dryer...lol we told ourselves we wouldn't need it over the summer anyway, but the way it has been raining over the last few days...hmmmm...not so sure!

I have come up with an idea that I am quite excited about, sad little person that I am. In the garage we have a few kitchen cupboards that we salvaged from my mum and dad a few years ago. At the moment they store an overflow of kitchen, bathroom cleaner, washing up liquid, dishwasher tablets..etc. These are not going to be needed once the extension is done...so I have earmarked them as MINE!!!! Think of all those crafty goodies I can fill them with once I have my craft room!!!

Made a few more toppers this week too!