MORE craft time!!!

I sat down last night, as promised and watercoloured some of the wonderful images that were sent in that fabby parcel of goodies...and I had so much fun. I had forgotten how realaxing painting can be. I must treat myself to a few new fine brushes, mine are looking rather sorry for themselves- I think the children must have been at them! Anyway, after using all that pink yesterday, I obvoiusly got stuck in a bit of a rut as the theme continued!!!

This one I embellished with some fine pink glitter, the flower is the Quickutz daisy, embossed with a CB folder, and topped by one of Lisa's (The Craft Fairies) gingham blooms.

This one I struggled with, the stamp was so much bigger than what I have worked with so I kept it really basic, but I loved colouring this one in. I used a silver gel pen to edge the sign, colour in the little ear-rings and of course make the tiara sparkly!! Please escuse the quality of painting- it has been a long while since my threadbare brushes have been used.

My last card was inspired by Jack, who was rummaging around my stamp collection (not that much to rummage around but still!) to make his nan a birthday card. As I was "guiding" him with suggestions, we discovered a stamp I got 2nd hand ages ago and never used. So I stamped one image for Jack to colour and one for me...I love her, I think she is so pretty!!! I am stamping a few more images of her in a minute so I can watercolour them tonight!!!! I used glossy accents on her little nose and the flowers on her hat and pinnafore.

Long time - no craft!

Goodness it seems like ages since I have done any crafting but thinking back it was last Sunday. So much has been crammed into this last wek but I still feel I have nothing to show for it. Thursday was really tough, I had so many appointments I travelled to the school and back 5 times- by the evening I couldn't even out weight on my poorly heel. Friday I went off to work and had to leave early as Amelia was poorly, but when I got home I bandaged my foot up and hunted for my crocs which were somewhere at the back of the wardrobe- thank goodness today my heel feels a little better.


I decided to treat myself to some crafty time today- been quite self indulgent actually as all I have made is one little card, but it was very theraputic! I have made my first ever challenge from My Time to Craft! http://www.mytimetocraftchallenge.blogspot.com/

Challenge 5: Tickled Pink

"Hi everyone! Thank you for taking part in last week's challenge, looks like you had a lot of fun with it. This week's challenge is - Ticked Pink! So add plenty of pink to your projects! Remember make anything you want using our theme, an ATC, Card, Tag, Skinny, Scrapbook page, Fatbook Page (4x4).We will have some new designers next week - so pop by to see their work! "



and boy oh boy...is my card pink!!!

Race for Life

After my MILs recent scare of her breast cancer recurring and some more recent bad news, I did a foolish thing today and joined up to the "Race for Life!" I say foolish as I am in agony at the moment with what I beieve to be a heel spur, I have had the pain on and off for a few years now, but never this bad. But hey ho it's only 5k, I can dose myself up with painkillers and hobble around!

So in addition to my hectic life I am somehow going to fit a training program in...did it in 2006 in exactly 40 mins, would love to beat that but will just aim to get around for now!

PLEASE, PLEASE, if you are reading this and can spare even a pound or two, please donate. So many lives are being hit by cancer and I just feel compelled to help in any way I can. My Just Giving webpage is at the top of the blog! Thank you.

( I did consider taking Amelia around with me for the first kilometer...but then I decided that WOULD have been too foolish!!!

Anniversary card order!

Chris came home from work on Friday with a personalised card order - the lady had included loads of personalised info in the form of a sketch. I have tried to make it "look right" this afternoon, but just couldn't. It looked far too cluttered for a standard A5 card...so I have made it into a concertina card!! I do hope the lady isn't offended by me not using her sketch!!!

I have blanked out the personalised details but here is the finished card in very poor lighting...why haven't I used those Daisy D papers before?

21 again....literally!!!

Well 21+21 makes....an ol' lady!!!!LOL. If I seem to be talking a load of old waffle...and when do I not talk waffle.....it is my 42nd Birthday today. I was woken by Amelia at 6.30- this morning, saying "Presents now Mummy, presents NOW!!!" How could I refuse- so at that unearthly time of the morning all 4 of us sat on the bed with my cards and pressies...it's been ages since I had a cup of tea in bed!!!

I have had some absolutely wonderful handcrafted cards...thank you!!!! Like a fool I have proudly stuck them all to my patio doors before taking piccies, but I will do that tomorrow.

Chris manged to get away from work earlier so at least we have a bit more time together, but even so we have an excuse to treat ourselves ...all weekend!!

Back to Basics!

Been rushed off my feet with school stuff and today I am SUPPOSED to be studying. BUT I couldn't resist tying up another loose end (there are so many in my life!) by just "quickly" finsihing the half made card sitting on my desk! That's my excuse and I am sticking to it!!

Here is the challenge from Crafts by Caroyln!

BACK 2 BASICS and I want you to create something with ONLY inks and or markers NOT an embossing Powder or heat gun in sight Patterned Paper and other embellishments are fine.

This is my first attempt at stamping using my Marvy Markers, yes...those ones that have been sitting in my stash for years feeling very unused and unloved!! Not sure about the colour combination I have used, but fun all the same!

Perfect timing!!

I am on a real low at the moment. I am thoroughly exhausted and just cannot shift this flu- getting up with Amelia every night just isn't helping either. As well as travelling to dialysis 3 times a week my mum had to go back up to the hospital yesterday for a check up. It seems as well as needing yet another operation to try to get her home dialysis working they want her to go through tests and get her on the waiting list for a kidney transplant.

The children are driving me mad....I know many families have to deal with sibling rivalry but it's getting to a point now that they are argueing over who feeds the cat or who turns the light out..I feel they are fighting for my attention...but it is always Amelia who seems to get it. They are just worlds apart I have a disabled 6 year old, who in some respects is more like a 3-4 yr old...and an 8 year old with the reading age of 13 and numeracy skills of the average Y6 student!! I am pulling my hair out trying to juggle everyones needs......and as for my NVQ, I haven't looked at it in weeks!!!

If you are still with me, you may have gathered that I am rather stressed........but there is always something, or SOMEONE to paint on the silver lining isn't there!!!!!

My guardian angel wishes to to kept un-named, but you know who you are!!!

Mr Postie arrived today with a jiffy bag.....I have been "chatting" to this un-named crafter on Crafts by Carolyn, after I had asked for opinions on slide mount dies. This lovely crafter offered to cut me some-for which in itself I was extremely grateful. She then went on to say she would stamp a few images for me, knowing that I have found my new passion of stamping. BUT when I opened up the jiffy bag this afternoon- I was in absolute floods of tears. I cannot thank you enough, I really can't.

Here is what I found;

As well as the slide mounts and the stamped images there were some nestabilities shapes for me to try out, some beautiful blooms and die cut flowers andthe most amazing ribbons!!

As I said, I simply cannot thank you enough for the wonderful kindness , the beautiful stash but most of all, for painting the clouds with a silver lining!!

Nearly time up!!!

Well not done that great actually. I finished off hoovering upstairs first..then I;


1. had my cuppa while trying to....

2. clean the kitchen. Got a bit carried away with the time trying to move cupboards around and change the position of the tumble dryer......

3. Then I had lunch

4.....played with buttons and flowers for the DCM midweek dare and wasn't happy so I put them away

5.......and started my MN Easter swap!!!


.....and before you know it, it's time to collect kiddies again!!


Here's a tiny little taster of what I have done so far...not much!!

Todays goals are......

in this order:

1. have a cuppa
2. clean kitchen
3. have lunch
4. make the latest mid-week dare
5. make a start on the MN Easter swap!

Ready, steady, GO.....lets, see how ,much I can get done before I collect kiddies!!!

Now I am going green!

Using one of my new Crafty Individuals stamps (a bargain at only £2.65) I made up this mens card tonight- sorry- awful pic!!

Still blue!!!

Not a great day, I am feeling absolutley shattered. Been awake with Amelia several times last night, as we are full of flu. I have been dosing her up and having to put the steroid cream back on her poor little face as it is so sore!!!



Me- I feel like I have been run over by a steam roller and my head is pounding but with the children being off last week- I have got so much to do. Tried to get some housework done this morning, but all I managed was to flick a duster around - even then I had to keep stopping inbetween with coughing fits!!! As a good will gesture, I did get the hoover out too, but never got as far as plugging it in!

Sat down with a lemsip this afternoon and made these!!!!




I SO LOVE my new stamps. I have still got a few more I haven't even tried yet. Might try to play later but I have promise myself a very long soak in the bath and an early night- just in case I am up with Amelia again!

Don't feel BLUE!!!

I have had such self indulgence this morning- making something-just for the sake of it rather than needing to send it to someone else!!! I have combined a few things into one concertina card to express my thanks to the forum & cyber friends that help and inspire me, kick me up the backside when I am on need of it and cheer me up when I am low!!!

The card is inspired by:

The Mumsnet Art & Craft Challenge!Our first challenge in this brand new crafters blog is a colour challenge. Inspired by the blue storm front I observed over Sainsbury's last week the colour for the challenge is blue, any blue you so desire, dark blue, light blue, teal just as long as there is some element of blue in your crafting.
the medium is anything you wish, beads, paint, cards, fabric, papier machet, etc
due date: Monday the 18th of Feb (in two weeks time) if you finish your challenge before the due date please feel free to post your pictures here at anytime.
Happy Crafting Ladies - meridian.
I know I am late-but what's new there!

Crafts Beautiful "Download" Challenge!The challenge is to create *any kind of crafty project* using one of the FREE downloads from this site. It can be papers, a knitting pattern, motifs or even a combination of a few different ones. We will be uploading several new downloads over the course of this week so keep your eyes peeled for those too. Simply click on the ‘Downloads’ tab at the top of the page to view the full selection.

Just Bex-Challenge 12-A card with a difference!
so now we want you so make a card any size BUT NOT 'normal!' You must make a card with a difference ie not a straight forward landscape or portrait fold ,
maybe a card with more than 1 fold or a wallet style - anything goes just DIFFERENT.

Crafts by Caroyln- for all the help support and encouragement they have given me recently with my stamping queations!!


With all that for inspiration- what more could I ask for. This is what I ended up with!!

More notebooks!

Just finished making these initialled notebooks for Nbg. I also made 2 of these for her earlier on today- hope you like them!!