Jan's Journal

The Peak District

2011-10-10T06:55:00.000-07:00

Here I am again to bore you with details of our week in the Peak District. The cottage there couldn't have been more different from Liverton Lodge in Yorkshire if it had tried. It looked very tiny from the outside but was deceptively spacious inside. There was a very modern kitchen (with a boiler that worked!), a dining room and large sitting room. The stairs led off from the sitting room where upstairs were two bedrooms, one with a double bed and the second with twin beds, there was also a very nice bathroom, the whole place was very tastefully decorated.

We collected the key from Ivy House Farm (the cottage was Ivy Cottage)where we were given a very warm welcome from Christine the owner. She took us to the cottage where she had laid out a welcome tray, there was also a bowl of fresh eggs from her chickens and milk in the fridge. There was even a vase of fresh flowers in the sitting room, a lovely surprise.

The garden, whilst not huge was completely secure with plenty of room for Bonnie to run around. In the field next to the cottage were chickens .... Bonnie had never seen chickens close up before and she was fascinated! She spent hours each day watching them and trying to get closer to play with them (at least we always knew where she was), and she had no trouble going outside on her own there!

The heatwave continued for the first few days but then it began to get very windy and noticably cooler, in fact the wind felt bitterly cold on the last morning as we walked Bonnie in the fields.

We knew it was time to go home though when we had a power cut at 3am and the smoke alarm kept "bleeping" keeping us awake for most of the night. The next morning there was still no electicity and so yet again no hot water and this time not even a cup of tea and some breakfast .... I never thought I would be glad of a service station for breakfast!! Still other than that we had a brilliant time.

Now of course it's back to reality and all the washing and ironing. Still I can now look forward to "Craftaway Saturday" ... not far away now!

I'm Back!

2011-10-10T06:34:00.000-07:00

I'm back ..... yes I know, you didn't even realise I had gone! Well I've been on holiday for a couple of weeks. The first week we went up to North Yorkshire where we met up with my Sister Joan, she and her partner Ron have a B&B in Whitby, we had the best time ever and even better they are coming down here to Hampshire to spend Christmas with us before going off on a cruise for a couple of weeks .... I can't wait!

The cottage we rented (well it wasn't a cottage really) was HUGE! Here's a photo of it, it had an impressive entrance hall with a sitting room on either side of the hall, both with TV's and one with a grand piano! At the end of the hall it went into a T shape, to the left was another hall a dining room and kitchen with a utility/boiler room leading off. To the right was a bathroom and shower, a cloakroom/telephone room an a walk in cupboard. Upstairs were 4 big bedrooms, two with king size beds and two with twin beds, there was also another bathroom and seperate WC, up another set of stair leading to the attic was another twin bedded room and various other rooms that were locked. The garden was also very big. All this and there were just 3 of us plus Bonnie.

The only problem was that as the house was so big Bonnie was never quite sure where we were and so she would never go out of the house on her own (I have a very neurotic dog!).

The weather was perfect, we arrived just right for the heatwave .... wonderful!!

The only probem we had was on the last day when the boiler decided to pack up and so we had no hot water at all! So after a cold wash and breakfast off we set for our second week in the Peak District.... more about that later.

Turmoil

2011-09-17T12:57:00.000-07:00

Isn't this a great photo? It's Spooky catching his ball, I'm not sure if it was Adrian or Rachel who took it but I love it!

Lewis goes to Birmingham University tomorrow, I'm sure Deb is in a state of emotional turmoil, I know I am!!!

I've just spoken to Lewis, he's amazing it doesn't seem to phaze him at all.

Total change of subject ..... we've been out today to get Bonnie a new winter wardrobe! OK a new waterproof jacket and a lead. We have been invited to my niece's wedding on 5th November and as we don't have a "baby" sitter Bonnie will have to go too. We've checked with the Hotel and they are fine about it (and she has been to church before and is very well behaved) but a girl does need a new outfit to look her best! Hence the new outfit .... a stylish light grey jacket with reflective stripe and a red plaited lead (to match her red harness (when she wears that she knows it is best behaviour and not just walkies) and who knows, I may just make her a matching corsage!

Craftaway Saturday is well underway now, I have just approved the "proof" for the advertisement in the local freebie mag. "The Herald" so we will very soon be "famous" or should that be notorious?! I'm so excited about it (the nerves may kick in later~!)

Time is flying

2011-09-13T06:57:00.000-07:00

Time at the moment seems to be flying by. It's next Sunday that Lewis goes to University, just over a week ago Adrian and Deb invited both families to a meal at a Spanish Restaurant and Tapas Bar. It was a combination of Lewis's 19th Birthday, well done in his A levels (and Rachel's GCSE taken early)and farewell. We had a great time and a lovely meal. I thought that was the last time I would see Lewis until Christmas, then Friday evening Adrian rang to ask if they could all come over Saturday afternoon .... a wonderful surprise, they stayed for tea so that was a special bonus visit, sadly I now know that I won't see Lewis again until Christmas. Still look on the bright side .... it won't be long before it is here!! (that's a bright side? ... what am I saying?!)

The posters are now going up for Craftaway Saturday and we already have our first customers booked .... all very exciting. We now have tomorrow and next Wednesday to get the final preparations done as then we are each on holiday on consecutive weeks, after which there will be one more Wednesday get together with the three of us before the Workshop!!!

Craftaway Saturday

2011-09-09T06:31:00.000-07:00

Can I have a roll of the drums please to get your attention?! ....... I can now give you the news that has been getting me so excited .... our new venture, or should that be adventure?

The two Sue's and myself are about to hold our first of what we hope will be many crafting workshops. The first is to be a full day workshop on Saturday 29th October which we have called "Craftaway Saturday". It will a chance to learn about colours, textures, try out different craft mediums, learn new techniques and generally have a play and meet other like minded people. We will provide everything needed for an enjoyable day, all materials, morning coffee and biscuits, a ploughmans lunch and afternoon tea and a cupcake ..... can't be bad eh?

This is the poster that we have produced, so if you live anywhere near Dibden Purlieu in Hampshire then do come along and join us you will be made very welcome.

Exciting times

2011-09-04T01:51:00.000-07:00

Goodness, where is the time going? Is it really 3 months since my last post?

What has been happening? Well my wonderful Grandson Lewis got his A level results through, he needed A passes in Maths and Pure Maths plus a B in any other subject to get into the university of his choice, but he did one better and got A* in both Maths and pure maths and B's in French and computing so Birmingham here he comes!

Then my beautiful Granddaughter Rachel got a B in English GCSE, which she took early as she is only 14 .... well done Rachel.

What else? .... well I entered a stitched beaded card into the local Horticultural and Craft Show and won First Prize (a very minor achievement compared to my Grandchildren but I was well chuffed), here's a photo of the card.

AND ... my two crafting friends Sue I and Sue M have something VERY exciting in the pipeline I'll tell you more about that later so watch this space as they say!

Did you watch the wedding?

2011-05-03T07:38:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone. Did you watch the Royal Wedding? Didn't Kate look fantastic? As did her Sister.

We went round to my friend Sue's for the day, she had invited us round to watch the wedding and afterwards have a BBQ. We had a brilliant day, it started at around 10.30am with bacon rolls and a cup of tea, quickly followed by nibbles and Bucks Fizz, then came the deep fried coated mushrooms, onion rings and garlic flavoured chips washed down with Pimms (we were watching honest!!). When the wedding was over we toasted the happy couple with a glass of champagne (or two) then it was out into the garden to watch the men doing their bit on the BBQ. We had lots of laughs and banter and thoroughly enjoyed he day.

The theme of the day was Red-White & Blue so to enter into the spirit of the day I made a "Royal Invitation", buttonholes for myself and Rob (fancy Kate copying me by having Lily of the Valley in her bouquet!), I made myself a fascinator and Rob wanted a set of "medals" and a red beret. I forgot to photograph the beret but here is everything else...

Introduction to Frank

2011-04-19T07:23:00.000-07:00

Look at this .... I don't post for months on end and then here I am two days running! Don't get too excited though, it is almost Easter and the family are coming over so not much time for blogging or crafting.

We have a regular visitor to our garden now, so regular in fact that we have decided he should have a name ..... Frank. And here is a photo of him, not that clear I have to admit but it was taken through glass.

Frank has now decided that he likes it here so much that he has started to bring some of his friends with him, two red legged partridge, as yet they don't have names nor do I have a photo of them ... yet!

Isn't Frank a handsome chap though? Mind you, he torments the life out of Bonnie. If no one is out in the garden he peers through the patio window which of course starts Bonnie off barking, which in turn makes Frank squark ... then Bonnie barks ... then Frank squarks ... you get the picture!

I'm back!

2011-04-18T08:43:00.000-07:00

Oh dear, is it really that long since I last posted?! So much has happened in the interim but I won't bore you with all the details, let me think what I have been up to over the last couple of months ..... My friend Sue and I went for flower arranging lessons, they were great fun, I really enjoyed those. Here are a couple of photos of my efforts. The buttonhole was our first project and the basket (one of my favourites) was done for Valentines day.

Something totally different

2010-08-11T08:43:00.000-07:00

My two crafting friends and I decided to try our hand at something totally different from our usual cards ..... altered art. I chose to alter a box (goodness knows what I will do with it now!)

The box started out as a plain brown cardboard box and it has turned into a pretty lilac blue creation. I wasn't happy with the lid though (I tried to add micro beads onto UTTE but it didn't quite work so I made a matching flower but now I'm not sure if it is too much ... what do you think?

Another 90th Birthday card

2010-08-11T08:34:00.000-07:00

This is the birthday card and box that I have made from me to the lady at our sewing club. As the other two were gold and cream I thought I would go for something totally different.

The pup is one of the Giordano studio stamps from Joanna Sheen, my Son asked me to make a card for him for his Dad (it is Rob's birthday on Sunday)and I thought this little chap was so cute! It is coloured using Promarkers.

90th Birthday

2010-07-29T08:51:00.000-07:00

I have been asked to make two cards for a lady who goes to the Village Stitchers, a stitching circle that I belong to, she will reach the wonderful age of 90 next month! The gold and cream card will be from everyone at Stitchers so had to be fairly plain inside to allow everyone room to write something. The other card I made into an apature card with the Vintage lady on the inside of the card. I also made matching boxes which were lined with gold tissue paper. All I have to do now is to make another card for me to give this lovely lady.

Elusive Images stamps

2010-07-15T07:24:00.000-07:00

Here are two cards I have made using stamps from the beautiful new Elusive Images underwater range. They are both coloured with Twinkling H2Os and the scales are touched with Crystal Stickles to give an extra shimmer. The background just behind the mermaid is given a little colour using glimmer chalks and the sea dragon has the edges sponged with Dusty Concord Distress inks.

The background paper of the mermaid card is Graphicus (from the Guild Members pack) and although it doesn't show up very well on the photo I have stamped onto it using Brilliance Platinum Planet and some of the silhouette mermaids and underwater plants, this gives a shadowy glimpse of the images.

The "frame" of the sea dragon is a shimmery paper that picks up the colour of the dragon beautifully. I have then cut out the pots, sea plant, seaweed etc and put on the outside of the frame, some flat others standing out using sticky pads, I'm really pleased with the results.

Adrian's Birthday card

2010-07-07T08:14:00.000-07:00

It's Adrian's (my Son) birthday next month and this is the card I have made. I should perhaps point out that he is a forty something not a child but as he is in a very high pressured and demanding job I thought these words were ideal and it will apeal to his sense of humour. I would like to enter it into the Passion for Promarkers Tuesday challenge but I'm not sure I can remember how to do the ... here is .. thingy!

Once upon a time ....

2010-07-05T06:43:00.000-07:00

Once Upon a Time .... that's the theme for this month's ATC swap on the Cardmaking and papercraft forum. You can make between 1 and 4 ATCs so this month I have made 5! Four for the swap and 1 for Spyder as a thank you for running it and here they are... well you can't have a Once upon a time without a Happily ever after can you?

40th Birthday card

2010-07-04T06:27:00.000-07:00

I've been asked to make a 40th birthday card for a man who loves Koi Carp so here's what I've come up with. The backgrounds are made by spraying card with glimmer mists. The underwater plants are from the new Elusive Images Underwater range of stamps (can't wait to use the mermaid ones). The Koi Carp is a Joanna Sheen stamp, it looks slightly blurred on the photo but that is because I stamped and coloured it first onto card and then onto a scrap of sheer gold organza that I found lying around my craftroom. The fabric gives the effect of movement as you look at it hence the reason it looks blurred on the photo.

That worked!

2010-06-28T08:02:00.000-07:00

Well that worked well so I will now share with you an easel card I have made for a friend of ours who teaches the guitar at night school. The image is cross stitched and I have added a couple of musical buttons. The frame is black mirror card (not sure if that will show up on the photo, the base is musical backing paper.

Rob and Alan are very into golf at the moment and they are playing at least twice a week, now I don't mind in the least (more crafting time for me) but Rob is obviously having pangs of guilt because I have been taken out for dinner twice in the last few weeks and yesterday he even offered to buy me some Promarkers (lots of them!). Needless to say I ordered them this morning!

Phew what a scorcher!

2010-06-28T07:49:00.000-07:00

Isn't this weather absolutely glorious? Long may it continue.

Alan's best mate (Alan is my Son) is emigrating to Canada next month and we have been invited to his farewell "do" so I have made him a little (slightly tongue in cheek) booklet of things he might miss when he leaves good old Blighty. It is in the shape of a concertina and I have decorated both sides using photos, stamping and downloads. The box to put it in is a sort of exploding box. I shall now attempt to show you some photos but as I have a brand new computer that although it is super fast doesn't resemble my old XP version at all so everything is taking me ages to work out where to find things and how to use them when I do eventually find them .... if you see what I mean! Anyway fingers crossed .... here goes.

Distress Inks

2010-06-12T06:43:00.000-07:00

This week our crafting trio was reduced to a crafting duo, Sue M couldn't make it but Sue I and me met up and played around with distress inks. I have just finished making my efforts into cards, here they are.

Latest cards

2010-06-09T06:51:00.000-07:00

Well after a disasterous day on Monday I managed to make a couple of cards yesterday. The rather elegant lady is from the Creative Expressions Party Ladies set which I bought on Saturday when my two crafting friends and I went to a Craft Show. The show wasn't really very good but I did manage to get a few new stamps and we had a fun morning so all was not lost.

The little boy and his Westie (well I had to have that stamp didn't I?) is a Sugar Nellie stamp by Mary Hall called Westie, I thought it would make a great Christmas card.

The rather funky looking bird is the card I have made for last week's challenge (my two crafting buddies and myself). We were playing with alcohol inks and acetate and stamping with the "petal" stamps belonging to one of the Sues'.

The colouring is done with my Promarkers and the boy's scarf and Westie's coat are alcohol inks on vellum.

Bad day!

2010-06-08T06:44:00.000-07:00

Have you ever felt really, really, really stupid??!! ... Read on ....

Yesterday was not a good day, it began at around 1.50am (yes that is AM!) when the smoke alarm outside our bedroom door went off. I lept out of bed and bent to grab my dressing gown, not the best idea when you have a bad back (I put it out last Wednesday and it WAS improving thanks to my Osteopath). Thankfully it turned out to be a false alarm, the battery was running low! (in the smoke alarm not my back)but I couldn't get back to sleep so of course I felt shattered from the moment I got up. Anyway after taking Bonnie for her walk along the beach I got home and put the breadmaker on (or tried to) I put in the ingredients, set the programme, switched on, and off it went ... for all of one rotation of the blades then nothing ... no sign of life at all. I changed the fuse (pretty impressive eh?) flipped on the switch and ..... nothing it was completely dead. I spent the next half hour searching for the receipt, eventually found it then realized the machine was two and a half years old, now I know that is not considered that old but as it is used almost every day I thought it wasn't too bad going so the next step was to get on the old internet and ordered another one.

Nothing too stupid so far ... I cleaned the oven, I did crispy roast duck for dinner on Saturday and it was delicious BUT ... well I bet Delia doesn't have to clean her own oven! and all that twisting and stretching did my back no good at all either.

Then the Plumber arrived to fit a new tap on the kitchen sink, our old one sprang a leak at the weekend, Rob took it apart thinking it would be just a washer to replace, but no, something had broken inside so he had to go out to buy a new one, hence the Plumber to fit it (you don't really think I would let Rob loose fitting a tap do you?! ... DO BE SERIOUS!!!)

Where was I? Oh yes after dinner Rob replaced the fuse AGAIN, he said to check that I hadn't used a dud one ... Mmmmm! .... NOTHING, then he turned the machine around to check that the wire leading from the machine ...... and there on the back was an on/off switch!!!!! I have had that blessed machine for two and a half years and didn't even know the switch was there Aaarrrrrrh! I still don't know why it switched itself off though but stupid or what???

Oooops!

2010-05-22T09:04:00.000-07:00

Oooops ... my computer is playing up again so only one card appeared, here is the second tipsy frog plus a really cute pup.

Tipsy Frog

2010-05-22T08:45:00.000-07:00

I just love this little chap, he makes a great man's card. I've made these two for my Son and my Nephew (typical of both!). The frog himself is coloured using just one Promarker and a blender, neat eh? I got the technique from a brilliant website I have just found called Passionate about Promarkers, they post a new technique every Friday, I have only just discovered it so I am still going through loads of past workshops and learning lots in the process.

Favourite stamp

2010-05-19T08:26:00.000-07:00

This very elegant lady has to be one on my favourite stamps, it's a Clarity Stamp. The deep pink and purple ladies were stamped three times, once onto white card then twice onto two coloured papers, I then cut out the dress from one colour and the jacket, gloves and hat from the other colour (slightly different combination in the case of the deep pink lady) then it's just a case of reverting to your childhood and dressing the "doll". The background swirly stamp is from Stampin' Up.

The lady in blue is coloured using my Promarkers, the background stamp is an Elusive Images which I love, this is just tinted with chalks.

CM&P freebies

2010-05-14T07:27:00.000-07:00

I love the Bentley Bear stamps given away free with this months Card Making and Papercraft Mag. I've made a card using one of the stamps and two cards using the free papers.

Promarkers

2010-05-11T08:17:00.000-07:00

I've been led astray by my Daughter in Law! It doesn't take much and it is usually my friend Sue who tempts me with crafting goodies but Sue is on a Baltic cruise so I thought I was safe for a couple of weeks ..... not so ... we went over to Adrian and Debs last weekend and she introduced me to Promarkers and that was it ... I'm now hooked! Here is my first attempt with my (at the moment)very limited number of pens, I'd love to know what you think of it, any hints and tips?

So much happening

2010-05-06T05:45:00.000-07:00

I can't believe that it is May already and judging by the weather we have gone back to March! What has been happening since I last posted? Well, we went to Wales for a week, had a wonderful time although it rained a lot, the cottage we rented was lovely, very isolated but with spectacular views.

We have totally gutted and refurbished our bedroom, of course nothing went according to plan but at long last it is finished and I'm really pleased with it.

I have been trying my hand at different crafting things. I made an altered art photo frame, I loved the bubbled effect of the Terra when it was heated. Then there was the needlework ... I usually only do cross stitch but we had a workshop at the sewing club that I attend where we were shown how to do needlepoint (I think), anyway I got hooked and made a little sewing case that would hold small items of needlework when on the move, a pin cushion, scissors fob, key fob and bookmark.

And last but certainly not least, last week my 17 year old Grandson passed his driving test on the first attempt, needless to say we are very proud of him and of course I had to make him a well done card.

I will now upload a few photos but of course they will be in no particular order as this machine does exactly as it pleases! Just look on it as a game of guess what the photo is.

Went to Twickenham on Saturday

2010-03-01T07:40:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone, what a beautiful start to March, today is bright and sunny, the birds are singing, what more could we ask for? ..... more of the same please!

Rob and I went to Twickenham on Saturday to watch the England v Ireland rugby match and what an exciting day it was! I have to say that I am a big rugby fan although I haven't a clue when it comes to the rules! Our Son and Daughter in law bought us the tickets for Chistmas (what a fantastic Christmas present).

We went up to Twickenham on the train, neither of us had travelled by train for goodness knows how many years but we were pleasantly surprised as to how comfortable, warm and clean they were, they were all running to time too and the staff were extremely helpful so we had a good journey. We had to change trains at Clapham Junction and that is where "rugby fever" began ... I have never seen so many huge men! I am tall but I was dwarfed by these chaps, it was all very good natured, English and Irish supporters packed together like sardines for the 15 minute journey, then everyone spilled out and all you could see was a sea of people making their way to the stadium. We had superb seats, on the second tier, behind and slightly to the right of the goal posts (I suppose they are called goal posts?)so the view of the pitch was brilliant, and we were under cover which was just as well as we had a terrific downpour part way into the game.

Unlike football matches the fans at rugby matches are not segregated so were were in amongst lots of Irish supporters and the atmosphere was electric but very good natured with not a hint of trouble.

By the end of the match (England didn't win but it was a great game) I was hoarse with so much shouting and cheering ... imagine the scene .... 18000 fans spilling out of the stadium, I had to hang onto Rob for dear life as there was no way we would have found each other again if we had got parted, but the same wonderful chamaraderie was still there as both sets of fans laughed, joked and chatted about the match together as we all inched our way towards either the town centre or the train station.

Our younger Son met us at Southampton station and drove us home, it was around 10pm when we got home, we were both exhausted after a long but wonderful and very memorable day ..... thank you so much Adrian, Deb, Lewis and Rachel for our wonderful Christmas present!

Guess what we did last week?

2010-02-17T08:20:00.000-08:00

Guess what my two crafting buddies and I did last week? ...... Christmas cards! Yep that's right, mad I know but our challenge was to make Christmas cards using just two stamps that one of the Sues had provided. I found it very difficult to get in the mood to make the actual cards, we had used the stamps during our crafting session using the resist technique then made the cards at home ready for our session yesterday. Here are my cards.

I also of course made a Valentine card for my lovely Rob, which he loved.

Latest "creations"

2010-02-14T05:53:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone

I haven't been on for a while but I haven't been slacking! Rob and I have started the low GI diet, well to be honest Rob has enrolled for the diet sessions and I am his "Buddy". The first week was quite tough trying to get my head around what we could and couldn't eat and trying to follow the GI recipes but after that it got easier and it is now going really well, in 3 weeks Rob has lost 13lb and I have lost 8lb so we are both really pleased and really motivated.

I have also been busy making my cards and trying different techniques. My friend Sue has some of the Stamps by Judith which are really cute so a couple of weeks ago we spent the afternoon playing with them, here are my two cards (isn't the Dorky bird cute?).

The following week it was playing around with Mica Gloss, I love the shimmery results you get with it. The background and the frame (cut with Nesties) on the pinky card are both glossy card brayered with Mica Gloss and the butterfly is painted with it. The turquoise and lilac card is made by brayering Mica Gloss onto a cuttlebug folder then putting it through the machine, the butterfly is again painted with it. The shimmer doesn't really show up in a photo but it looks stunning.

Collage/scraps ATCs

2010-01-29T04:14:00.000-08:00

Here are the collage ATCs that I made a couple of weeks ago, it was the challenge my two crafting buddies and I set ourselves, it followed on from our previous week's challenge which was using bits from our 'scraps' box so my ATCs are all made from scraps.

DIET UPDATE
It was Rob's first weigh in since we started on the GI diet. The first week was quite tough for me as I had to study all the recipes and do the shopping etc but the diet itself is quite easy and the recipes are all very tasty, and it was worth all the hassle because, guess what? ...... I have lost 4lb and Rob has lost a whopping
6lb!! So we are both well pleased and highly motivated to carry on.

Spectacular sunset

2010-01-27T07:04:00.000-08:00

We had the most spectacular sunset last night, here are a couple of photos taken from the back garden, plus one that (can you believe) was taken only two weeks ago. Beautiful wasn't it?

The GI has arrived!

2010-01-23T06:42:00.000-08:00

No not the American Serviceman, the GI diet! Rob really needs to lose some weight, his BMI has gone into the red and I need to lose a few pounds (or more!) myself, so when my friend Sue told me about the GI diet sessions that were going to begin at the beauty salon where she works I thought it would be ideal for Rob. He has tried dieting before but hasn't got the willpower to go it alone, here he goes up to the salon each week for the group session (very small groups so he doesn't feel intimidated), he is weighed (privately, no one else knows how much he weighs) and given support and guidance. I am his "Buddy" so I will be doing the diet with him but I won't be going to the support sessions.

The weekend is not really the ideal time to start a diet though (but since next weigh in is Thursday evening it couldn't be delayed!). We eat sensibly all week but weekends we tend to relax somewhat. Friday evening we usually open a bottle of red wine to have with our evening meal then later in the evening we will have a Gin and Tonic. Not this weekend.... I made a chicken curry (a GI recipe) so that we wouldn't miss the wine (well you can't have wine with curry can you?), but a glass of water or green tea is not the same as a G&T!! I had made some GI carrot muffins and wholemeal fruit scones during the afternoon, after our mammoth shop for "healthy" foodstuff, so we each had a muffin late evening, they were delicious so it made up a little for the missed G&T.

Homey Porridge for breakfast this morning instead of our usual hot buttered toast and homemade jam, but it was surprisingly tastey and very filling (I couldn't manage all of my portion). Rob then went off to help our Son with some work and I stayed to do some more baking, I've made Mini Breakfast Puffs (they don't look very mini!!), Cranberry Cinnamon Bran Muffins and some Apple Pie Cookies, can't wait to try them. This evening instead of steak and chips and a glass of wine we will be having Pork Medallions Dijon (the recipe sounds rather good) with new potatoes and veg .... and with it we'll be having water!!!! We had been invited over to our Son and Daughter in law for tea today but I thought it better to take a rain check.

I know it will be easier when our first weekend is over as we don't have wine etc every evening, but for now ..... sigh (makes me sound like an alki doesn't it?)

I'll let you know how we get on (that's if you're not bored to death already!).

Bonnie's not too well

2010-01-20T06:58:00.000-08:00

Bonnie is feeling a bit sorry for herself at the moment, I had to take her to the Vet (which she hates!) yesterday and again this morning.

It started Monday evening, I couldn't put my finger on it but she was very mopey and didn't seem to be walking properly. We thought she may have eaten something she shouldn't and was feeling a bit off colour. Yesterday morning Rob let her out into the garden before he went to work and said she was carrying her back leg. I got up later and prepared to take her for a walk but she wasn't interested. She was still lying on the bed at lunchtime so I carried her downstairs and put her outside, she was obviously in a lot of discomfort and wouldn't walk at all so I rang the Vet.

He checked her over and said the knee joint of her right hind leg was very loose and easily slipped in and out, he also said this wasn't unusual and was something she might always have had, he was more concerned about her back as the muscles were so tight she was hunching her back. He gave her an anti-inflammatory injection and asked me to take her back again this morning. In the meantime I had to try to keep her mobile so that her back didn't seize up (have you ever tried to keep a dog, even a small one, on the move when they are in pain and have no intention of moving??!!!).

In the end I put her lead on and took her for a short walk up and down the street, which she seemed to enjoy. When we got home I dried her feet but when I got to the back right paw she pulled it away and wouldn't let me look at it. She then began licking it and a little later Rob noticed it was bleeding but she still wouldn't let me touch it.

I took her back to the Vet this morning and he asked me to walk up and down the car park (as you do!) so that he could watch her walking. He then examined her (no not in the car park!), he was very pleased with the way her back muscles had relaxed, her knee joint was still loose but it didn't bother her when he manipulated it, he was however very surprised when I told him about the bleeding as he had examined her paw yesterday and she gave no indication that it was at all tender. Anyway, to cut a long story short (what do you mean it's too late?!) she is on a course of antibiotics to clear up any infection in her foot and I have to give him a ring in a week's time if I am still worried about her.

Cards from Scraps

2010-01-17T06:20:00.000-08:00

The first challenge of 2010 that my crafting buddies and I set ourselves was inspired by a project featured in the January edition of Craft Stamper magazine, it was literally making cards using the scraps of card and paper that we crafters always accrue .... well we can't throw anything away, it may come in handy .... and now it has! There is one card made using inch squares of scraps, then there is the tag card using various odd strips, then I had the idea of using used postage stamps and the idea then overlapped into last week's challenge (which was collage, more of that later). The background of the collage card was made by layering various pieces of cuttlebug embossed card and acetate and the leafy looking scroll thingy (that's a technical term!) is actually an Elusive Images heart stamp that at some point I had stamped, heat embossed and layered onto gold card which I cut in half .... good eh? Doesn't look at all like a heart now does it?

Easel ATC's

2010-01-17T06:17:00.000-08:00

As promised here are two easel ATC's.

Easel cards

2010-01-17T05:56:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago my two crafting friends and I decided to master the art of easel cards and now I'm hooked .... I just love them! I have even moved on to making easel ATC's! Here are a few of the cards I've made, I'll show you the ATC's later when I have take a photo of them. What do you think?

Cuttlebug and Nesties

2010-01-16T07:50:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine is considering buying a Cuttlebug and perhaps some Nestibilities so she has asked me if I can show her some of the cards I have made using either just the Cuttlebug or the Nesties with the Cuttlebug, so Dee here are just a few that I made last year, I hope they inspire you.

Still freezing cold

2010-01-11T06:36:00.000-08:00

Well it is still bitterly cold but at least we didn't get the snow that was predicted over the weekend. I spent most of the weekend organizing my ribbons. Rob made me some wooden stands that the inside of kitchen rolls fit onto and the ribbons are now stored on these. The only thing is that I have run out of both stands and kitchen roll tubes so I can't finish off, oh well on to other things.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

2010-01-08T08:12:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year everyone (if anyone is still around that is!). I'm back! I can't believe it is 6 months since I last posted.

It has been a bit of a roller coaster time. Unfortunately my lovely Mother in law died whilst we were away on holiday, that wasn't too much of a shock but what was a dreadful shock was finding out that my brother in law had gone ahead with the funeral a few days before we returned home! My lovely husband and two sons were devastated as none of us had the chance to say our goodbyes. That's one of the reasons I haven't been on here, it sort of takes the wind out of your sails.

What else has happened? One of my Sisters in law was rushed into hospital with a heart attack (she's is OK though thank goodness). My lovely little Granddaughter fell down stairs and hurt her foot but she went on to take part in a swimming competition only to find out the next day that she had broken her little toe and fractured 3 bones on the top of her foot!! I gashed my little finger on some glass and had to go to minor injuries to have it clipped and dressed, can't think what else but I think that's enough don't you?

I was quite pleased to see the back of 2009 and was looking forward to a fresh start in 2010 but what happened? ..... I went down with a tummy bug on New Year's Eve!! Still, things can only get better can't they?!

I hope you are all managing to keep warm in this dreadful weather. We hardly every get snow down here in this part of Hampshire but guess what? ..... Yep ..... we have loads of it! It is treacherous to even step foot outside the door, we live on a hill so both exits mean negotiating quite a steep hill, needless to say it never gets gritted so although most main roads are fairly clear we can't get out of our little estate without risking life and limb. Still what better excuse to stay in and do some crafting! The photo is a view of a corner of our garden taken from the bedroom window (well you don't expect me to go outside do you?!)

I promise to try to post again very soon with some photos of cards I am making.

What a nightmare!

2009-06-24T06:12:00.000-07:00

What a nightmare this last week has been. My 94 year old Mother in Law (who lives in the Midlands and we live down here in Hampshire) fell last Wednesday and fractured her femur close to the connecting hip joint and we were told she would need an operation to correct it. She was admitted to Hospital but they couldn't operate straight away as MiL had a chesty cough which they had to try and improve before she could have an anaesthetic. As the week progressed she was scheduled to go to theatre each day but each day her chest hadn't improved enough, then Monday her blood count dropped so she had to have a small transfusion. Yesterday however her blood count had improved, as had her chest so she was scheduled to have her operation yesterday afternoon. We duly rang the Hospital yesterday evening to be told that all operations yesterday had been cancelled!!

Today is another day though and she went down to theatre this morning, it is fingers crossed now that everything went well and she can begin the road to recovery.

2009-06-15T06:50:00.000-07:00

Well it's been a busy few days, Thursday wasn't too good for Bonnie, when I took her for her walk she started carrying her front paw and before we had even got half way across the first meadow she wasn't putting it down at all ... walk aborted and a visit to the Vet which Bonnie hates. The Vet couldn't find anything in or between her pads but felt a lump on the top of her paw so that area was shaved for a better look and sure enough there was a lump that began swelling almost visibly. The Vet said the lump needed to "pop" but didn't want to do it because of distressing Bonnie even more so I was given antibiotics and anti-inflamatories which I was to give her along with hot salt baths for the infected paw and if the lump hadn't popped by Saturday I was to take her back to have it lanced. To cut a long story short the lump did pop that evening and she is now well on the way to recovery.

Over the weekend we went up to my Brother's in Wantage near Oxford for my Nephew's 21st Birthday bash, we had a lovely time and the weather was lovely, really hot and sunny, which was just as well as it was held in the garden. I made a never ending card for my Nephew which he thought was fantastic, so although it took ages to make it was worth the effort.

I come from a large family but as we are now scattered all around the Country we don't manage to get together very often, however another of my Brother's arrived with his teenage daughter but she was on crutches, she is at College doing an equestrian management course and she fell of her horse and fractured her pelvis in three places!! Ouch! But she is young and very fit so she is progressing very quickly and can't wait to get back to college and her beloved horses.

2009-06-07T07:50:00.000-07:00

Well after a bright start it has turned into a very wet Sunday afternoon, but what better excuse for a crafting session?! I have a few birthdays and anniversaries coming up so I have been busy, here we have a card for my Nephew's 19th birthday next week, one for my Son's birthday and one for my Grandson's Prom next month, I have also made one for my eldest Son and Daughter in Law's wedding anniversary but I can't show you that yet as Deb reads my blog.

The Prom and 19th birthday card are made using card from my new Glittered Alphabet Stack and my Son's birthday card is made using Distress inks and Perfect Pearls and the stamps are Elusive Images.

2009-06-01T03:56:00.000-07:00

Phew what a scorcher again! Another wonderful weekend with hot sunny weather, long may it continue. Last weekend Rachel (my young Granddaughter) was taking part in a Biathlon .... in that heat! Despite the heat she did very well, we are very proud of her, she even managed to beat her own personal best in the running part but I bet she was glad when that was over and she could go in the pool for the swimming part.

This Saturday we had friends over for dinner which was very nice, even better as we were able to sit in the garden to have a pre dinner drink, that would have been unheard of with last year's weather. Sunday Rob and I went into Town to buy some things for our holiday and to get a 21st birthday present for my nephew who's party we have been invited to the weekend after next. We got our holiday things but completely forgot about the present!!!

Crafting wise I have been busy making stitched cards and have tried my hand at bead embroidery. Here are two cards I have made, a bi-plane and some beaded flowers. I have also just finished a medallion which has over 500 beads! I'll show that to you later when I have taken a photograph.

My other exciting news is that Rachel and I had our names and one of our cards featured in the June edition of Card Making and Papercraft AND I have had my letter and two cards appear in Making Cards ..... how exciting is that!!

2009-05-22T08:39:00.000-07:00

As you may know, two friends and I meet up each week for an afternoon of crafting (and coffee and natter of course!), well this week we tried a new technique to us where we used inkpads, brayering, sponging and torn pieces of paper, plus the odd rubber stamp to make up a scene. I have to admit that the two Sues' were far better than mine but I decided to make my two efforts up into cards to see if they looked any better and I am pleased to say they do! (well I think they look OK, what do you think?).

2009-05-21T06:19:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it is almost the weekend again, we had a really fun weekend last weekend, Rob collected the Grandchildren and Spooky their Springer on Saturday and Adrian and Deb (their parents) came over on Sunday and they all stayed for dinner, it gets quite riotous when we are all together ... great fun.

Rachel (my granddaughter) had a very busy afternoon on Saturday, she wanted to make a thank you card and a Father's day card so I gave her the free run of my workroom and all my stash. She's only 12 but made the most wonderful cards, here they are.

Here I am!

2009-05-13T07:29:00.000-07:00

Here I am! I have been told off for not updating my blog often enough!!! Sorry Sue and Rachel. I started off with the good intention of updating every week at least ... needless to say I have failed miserably

When I took early retirement a few years ago everyone said it wouldn't last, I would get bored and return to work within 6 months .... bored... what's bored? I just don't know where the time goes, there are never enough hours in a day to do all the things I want or need to do, in fact I have a theory that there are less hours in a day on weekends and Bank Holidays than ordinary days! So dear reader if you have any answers to the mystery of the missing hours please let me know.

Anyway what have I been up to? Gardening and card making mostly, I have lots of birthdays in May for which I have been making cards, I have also become a Great Aunt again (that sounds very old doesn't it? A bit Miss Marples) another card to make! And I have also been asked for new baby cards by one of my fellow Stitchers at the weekly Village Stitchers group that I attend.

Just so that you know that I have been busy here are a few of the above mentioned cards ...

A 94th birthday card for my Mother in Law, a proud grandparents card for my Brother and Sister in Law and 2 cards for friends birthdays, the rest I will show you later when I have taken photos of them.

Bonnie's hair cut and new toy bag

2009-04-24T07:41:00.000-07:00

Bonnie has just had a hair cut, she was looking like a white fluffy teddy bear instead of a Westie, here are the before and after photos.

We have just bought her a new bag for her toys, she hasn't quite got the hang of it yet though, she previously had a box which she could stand on the edge and tip out the toys, that doesn't work with a bag though!

Paper weaving

2009-04-10T08:03:00.000-07:00

There is a swap on the CM&P forum entitled paper weaving, I found this quite challenging especially on such a small scale as an ATC, I've only tried it once before but thought I would give it a go and here's my effort. The paler lilac paper is pearlescent which I thought would catch the light and "lift" it a bit. Then out of sparkly sticky backed paper I cut out a frame using my Cuttlebug and a Nestie, it is all finished off with two fabric flowers and lilac gems.

ATC swaps

2009-04-09T08:18:00.000-07:00

I have entered two great ATC swaps recently organised by members of the CM&P Forum. The first is called Cats & Dogs where we have to make 4 ATCs with (obviously) cats and dogs on them. The second is called Vintage Secrets where we have to make 2 ATCs in the Vintage theme but somewhere on each ATC there has to be a "secret" message. Here are the cards I have made.

2009-04-06T04:46:00.000-07:00

If I could give a heroine of the week award it would definitely go to my 12 year old Granddaughter Rachel. On Saturday her Mum Deb and big brother Lewis had gone into town and she was at home with her Dad Adrian, they were unloading the dishwasher when (Adrian is a bit vague as to what happened here) he felt a sharp pain and his leg gave way leaving him on his knees unable to get up. He decided the best thing to do was to lie flat on the kitchen floor until the pain subsided and he could roll onto his side, then onto his hands and knees and get up from there. Unfortunately this didn't happen and he was now flat on his back and unable to move. Rachel must have been very frightened but she kept calm, handed her Dad the phone so that he could ask Deb to return home, then found the phone number of NHS Direct who contacted the Paramedics. Deb and the Paramedics arrived at the house at around the same time and Adrian was given gas and air to relax the muscles in his back so that they could help him up. He has an appointment today to hopefully find out what happened and receive treatment, but well done Rachel, we are all very proud of you.

I think last week must have been a week of mishaps for the Matthews family. I was running late for a doctors appointment and as I rushed to close a window the latch caught behind my wedding ring and as I turned .... well you can imagine the rest (good job my appointment was with my GP!) luckily I took off my ring straight away as I certainly wouldn't have got it off later. Nothing was broken, just a badly bruised finger and a deep cut which the Nurse dressed for me. The next day I was explaining what had happened to my friend Sue and somehow whilst waving my hands around (cut my hands off and I'm rendered speechless!) I managed to stick my finger nail into my cheek!!!

Cuttlebug Spot Challenge 23

2009-03-24T08:49:00.000-07:00

I was in the process of making up some stitched Easter cards when I spotted this week's Cuttlebug Spot challenge which is "Celebrate Spring". Easter is a way of celebrating Spring isn't it? So I thought I would get out my "Bug" and see what I could do. I couldn't decide which I liked best so here are both of them. One is simply put through the machine using the Swiss Dots folder then happy easter stamped onto ribbon and placed along the bottom of the card. The other one I cut into an oval shape then mounted onto a slightly larger oval using gold mirri card. The background is a patterned card which I put throught the machine using the swirls folder, I then sanded the top lightly to give a slightly disressed look.

Sketch & Stash Challenge 6

2009-03-24T05:06:00.000-07:00

This is a card I have made for my friend's 60th birthday, it also fits the Sketch and Stash Challenge. The rose is a Die Cut Dufex which although I have had for some time I had completely forgotten about so when I came across it this seemed the ideal opportunity to use it. The scalloped edge background panel is a Joanna Sheen paper and the ribbon and tiny flower are from my usual stash.

Graphicus challenge

2009-03-21T07:06:00.000-07:00

This month's Graphicus challenge is the colour yellow and the theme is sing. This is the card I have made, the background stamp, honeysuckle and toadstools are all elusive images stamps. The background in the circle is made using lemon zest and yellow daisy Glimmer mist sprays, available from Graphicus and the honesuckle and toadstools are coloured using inktense pencils, also available from Graphicus. The sentiment is computer generated and reads Sing in the rain, dance in the sun, dream by the light of the moon.

2009-03-19T08:09:00.000-07:00

Well it's almost the weekend again, I think I am just about recovered after having the Grandchilren last weekend (only joking Rach). Actually we had a fantastic weekend, both children love baking and cooking so we spent Saturday making chocolate Easter biscuits, well Lewis and Rachel did, I just provided the ingredients and did the washing up! They also made some sticky choccie toffie tarts that were absolutely delicious.

After all the baking Rachel and I managed to do some cardmaking, Deb (my DiL) had two Sarah Kay stamps that she was struggling with so she challenged us to make a card each and here they are. Rachel's is the kissing couple and mine is the little girl on the bike. I can see that I'm going to have to get some of these stamps!!

Penny Black Saturday Challenge 40

2009-03-19T07:57:00.000-07:00

This week's Penny Black challenge is a sketch challenge and here is my enty.

The background has been put through my Cuttlebug then sprayed with Glimmer Mists. The image is of course Penny Black coloured in with inktense pencils. The silver strips don't show up too well but they are holographic silver and the flowers are punched from various papers.

Saturday Challenge 23

2009-03-16T08:25:00.000-07:00

This week's Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge is called "Have your cake and eat it", a cake of some sort must appear somewhere on your entry. I had my 11 year old Granddaughter Rachel (12 years old in two weeks time!) to stay for the weekend, she loves card making and asked if she could enter a challenge. This is the one she chose and here is the card she made. It is all her own work with no help from me (except the use of my craft room and anything in it). The stamp is a Penny Black coloured in with my new inktense pencils which are now top of Rachel's wish list for her birthday, the backing papers are from the Making Memories Cosmopolitan Collection.

Sketch Saturday - 41

2009-03-13T06:22:00.000-07:00

I think I have just about made it for this week's Sketch Saturday challenge. The image is a Rachelle Anne Miller Lily & Milo stamp coloured in with inktense pencils and the backing papers are from the Laura Ashley range.

Saturday Challenge 22

2009-03-11T07:55:00.000-07:00

The challenge this week on Secret Crafter Saturday challenge is masking, here's the card I have made.

I stamped the image of the lady, then masked it to stamp the cobble stones. The image is then coloured using inktense pencils, it is then layered onto torn handmade paper and finished off with satin ribbon and a matching gem.

Card for my Niece

2009-03-07T07:14:00.000-08:00

This is a card I have just made for my Niece's birthday later this month, she's a very beautiful and stylish young lady so I thought a stylish card was called for. The background paper is from the Dovecraft Kate Knight range, the scalloped oval was cut using my trusty Cuttlebug and Nesties and the decoupaged image is one I have had in my stash for longer than I care to remember.

2009-03-06T04:14:00.000-08:00

I have just finished making an ATC for a challenge that two friends and I had with each other using the Cuttlebug (look away now Sue and Sue if you don't want to see it). I am quite pleased with the results. First I sprayed the card with Glimmer Mists, let it dry then added a flower and grasses that I had pressed during the summer, I then pressed Versamark over it then triple embossed it with UTTE. The Cuttlebug part is the butterfly. I dabbed alcohol inks onto acetate and when this was dry I put it through the Cuttlebug using the Swiss dots folder, I then stamped the butterfly image onto the acetate and cut out, it is attached to the ATC with Pinflair glue so that as you touch it the butterfly moves it's wings.

Another award

2009-03-05T06:07:00.000-08:00

Where did this week go? I have been busy making more stitched Easter cards, I took what I had into my Sewing group and sold them all and I have been asked to make four more mini cards and two more A6 cards, plus I have to make some more for myself!

I have been given this lovely award by Sally and I am supposed to pass it on to 10 people but, like Sally, I can't decide who to send it to so everyone who reads this blog please accept it with love from me.

Sketch & Stash Challenge 4 and Cuttlebug Spot Challenge 19

2009-02-27T04:57:00.000-08:00

This is a card I have made for my Great Niece's first birthday, it also fits the criteria for both the Sketch and Stash challenge and the Cuttlebug Spot challenge which this week is "Buttons".

For the Sketch and Stash the new (well almost, I've only used it once before) is the Rachel Anne Miller stamp, which I have coloured with my new Inktense pencils and the rest is from my stash.

For the Cuttlebug Spot "Buttons" I have used the swirls embossing folder which I then chalked, then dabbed with a versafine pad and sprinkled with Glamour Dust. The buttons are tiny button brads.

Stitched Easter cards

2009-02-25T07:46:00.000-08:00

I've been making some stitched Easter cards and decided to reduce one of the templates in size to make an ATC for an Easter swap, this proved very successful, so much so that a lady from Village Stitchers (a sewing group I attend) asked me to make three of them as little bookmarks for her Grandchilren to use in their hymn books. I duly finished the little cards, complete with envelopes, took them into Village Stitchers on Monday and have been asked to make three more for one of the other ladies!

Penny Black Saturday Challenge 37 & Sketch Saturday 39

2009-02-21T07:15:00.000-08:00

Look at this, it's only 3.15pm and I've already made a card that fits the criteria for two challenges. Penny Black's challenge is "Get Well Soon" and Sketch Saturday has a sketch that I love so I've combined the two.

The image is Penny Black "Embraceable" but I've given him a bunch of flowers instead of hearts, I have then layered it onto bronze mirri card cut out with my Nesties with bronze satin ribbon loops and Hot Off The Press flowers, one of which I have stamped with script from a corner of the large rose stamp from the harlequin rose set by elusive images.

Look what was in the bird feeder

2009-02-21T04:07:00.000-08:00

Rob went out to feed the birds this morning and found this tiny field mouse in one of the bird feeders. He had managed to lift the lid slightly to get in but was then unable to get out again, he's now been released to go home.

The Cuttlebug Spot Challenge 18

2009-02-20T08:41:00.000-08:00

"Bring on the bling!" That's the challenge from the Cuttlebug Spot and I do like a bit of bling so here's what I've come up with. I have embossed some lovely pinky bronze mirri card with the swiss dots cuttlebug folder, the scalloped oval is blush pink pearlised card and the lacy bits are Joanna Sheen Victorian Doiley stamps stamped and embossed in white onto parchment then cut out, it's finished off with liquid pearls in white and some iridescent gems. I haven't put a greeting on as I'm not sure yet what it will be for.

Graphicus February Challenge

2009-02-19T08:24:00.000-08:00

The challenge this month is "Home" as the topic and "Brick and Teal" for the colours. For some reason I have found this a very difficult challenge and I'm still not sure that I'm totally satisfied with the card I have made so your comments will be very much appreciated.

The backing papers are both Graphicus and the heart is part of the Elusive Images Harlequin Rose plate which I love. The heart is heat embossed using bronze embossing powder, I then cut it all out (including the inside bits!) and stuck it to the same colour card that the backing paper is layered onto, I then sprayed it with gold glimmer mist and highlighted bits of it with stickles crystal. I have tried to "lift" bits of the heart to give it a slightly distessed look that I thought went with the backing papers. Unfortunately the brick colours look quite orangy in the photograph.

Sketch Saturday 38 and Saturday Challenge 19

2009-02-15T04:48:00.000-08:00

This card is for two challenges, the sketch this week on Sketch Saturday is a great one and the Saturday Challenge is "Spring has Sprung" so I thought this would fit the bill for both.

The striped paper is vellum, the plain green panel is embossed using the cuttlebug swirls embossing folder which I have highlighted with stickles. The bunnies are from the Beatrix Potter pack given away with this month's CM&P magazine, I have used stickles frosted lace for their little bob tails and liquid pearls dots around the scalloped circle.

Penny Black Saturday Challenge 36

2009-02-14T08:13:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentines Day everyone, I hope you all got something nice, Rob bought me a dozen red roses, how romantic is that!

This weeks Penny Black challenge is a sketch by Nat and here is my card. The dark purple card is actually embossed in my Cuttlebug using the Swiss Dots folder but it doesn't show up on the photo. The cute little teddy is the Penny Black "dream a dream" which I have stamped twice and decoupaged, the image is coloured using Prisma Pencils and in the centre of the tiny flowers I've used liquid pearls.

Marmalade mark two

2009-02-13T06:47:00.000-08:00

A couple of weeks ago I made my annual batch of Seville orange and Cognac marmalade (or attempted to!)... disaster struck ... I boiled it for too long and the end results were more marmalade toffee than marmalade, much to the amusement of my eldest Son!!

I thought I had blown it for this year as I couldn't find any more Seville oranges, then last Saturday Rob was in Lymington (a nearby Market Town) when he spotted some Sevilles on one of the market stalls so he bought a kilo bless him. Sunday was spent making the second batch and joy of joy it turned out perfectly, which is a good thing as my friend in Liverpool would be devastated if she didn't get her annual jar or two.

Charisma Cardz challenge 5

2009-02-07T05:13:00.000-08:00

Charisma Cardz challenge this week is "A Recipe" in which you must use 3 papers, 2 flowers and 1 ribbon. This is the card I have made, the papers and tag were given free with this months Making Cards Magazine and the flowers and ribbon are some I have had for goodness knows how long.

Sketch & Stash Challenge and Saturday Challenge

2009-02-06T04:15:00.000-08:00

This card that I have made I hope will cover two challenges. Sketch and Stash Challenge 3 which is the sketch I have based my card on. I've used my new Penny Black Rumble in the jungle stamp and the rest is from my stock, the ribbon is fur fabric to which I have attached pearl shapes.

The Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge number 17 is "At the Zoo" so I thought the cute little Penny Black Lion fit the bill there.

Sketch Saturday - 36

2009-02-02T07:45:00.000-08:00

The sketch for this week's challenge is quite fussy with lots of bits to it so I decided to stick to just cream and blue for my card. The decoupaged image and most of the other bits and bobs are from the Laura Ashley range of papers and embelishments, the panel behind the imge is cream card embossed using a cuttlebug folder then chalked with just a hint of glitter.

Winter Wonderland

2009-02-02T06:49:00.000-08:00

We very, very rarely get snow in this little corner of Hampshire so you can imagine my surprise this morning when I awoke to a thick white blanket of snow covering everything (at least the garden looks nice when it's covered with snow!). I decided not to drive down to the beach with Bonnie this morning and instead went out into the New Forest, or more aptly the heathland just down the road. It looked magical and Bonnie loved it, she was rolling around and rubbing her nose in it, thoroughly enjoying herself. By the time we got home it looked as though she had white boots on where the snow had frozen onto her legs, she tried to bite it off without success so I ran some warm water into the sink and put her in it to wash off the ice and snow. Here are a few photos.

Penny Black Saturday Challenge 34

2009-01-31T08:27:00.000-08:00

Wow look at this ... day one of the new Penny Black challenge and I've made my card!! This week's challenge is to make a "Circle Card"

I first cut out a large circular card from white cardstock which I edged with pink ink, I then cut a smaller circle from patterned parchment, then a smaller scalloped circle from co-ordinating pink patterned paper (both from this month's Making Cards Magazine) and finally the white circle which I edged with green in then stamped the Penny Black image. The balloons and gift are coloured using Sakura pens and H2o's then decoupaged onto the main image. I finished off the card with sparkling flowers and a pink organza bow.

2009-01-31T07:58:00.000-08:00

I have at last found out how to change the background of my blog, with a lot of help from my lovely daughter in law .... thanks Deb! Trouble is, I'm not sure that I like it, I may have to change it again whilst I can still remember how to!! What do you think of it?

2009-01-30T04:51:00.000-08:00

A colleague of Rob (my OH) is retiring next month and he asked me to make a card. She is mad about otters so this is what I came up with, the image and backing papers are from the Jayne Netley Mayhew collection.

2009-01-29T07:20:00.001-08:00

Ooops missed one of the awards off, here it is ..

2009-01-29T06:44:00.000-08:00

I have been tagged by Sarah The rules are:- Go to "Pictures" on your PC, select the 6th album and the 6th picture, upload it to your blog and explain what its about, then select 6 people to do the same .... here goes ... The picture was taken last year when we went to Niagara Falls.

I have also received two awards from Sarah and will pass the awards and the tag onto
Christine Tracie Frances Debbie Kerry Sally

Penny Black Saturday Challenge 33

2009-01-27T04:29:00.000-08:00

This week's challenge is called "Frame it" and this week I've made two. I made the first one, the cat with the balloons then I wasn't quite sure about it and so I made card number two, the little hedgehogs, I think they are just so cute.

Graphicus Monthly Challenge

2009-01-24T04:38:00.000-08:00

Graphicus have started running a monthly challenge, it's a two pronged challenge where there's a theme and a colour scheme, you can either combine the two or make two entries if you prefer (check out the Graphicus Blog, Glenda explains it much better than I). January's theme is Celebrate and the colour scheme is Plum and Gold.

For my entry I have stamped the background in gold and then plum using the border stamp from the new Elusive Images Harlequin Rose set, the other side of the background is very lightly sponged in gold and Versafine crimson red. The oval I made using a mixture of Wild Plum, Cranberry and Egg Plant alcohol inks which I then sprayed with Gold Glimmer mist, whilst it was still wet I pressed some bubble wrap onto the bottom half but left the top half to dry as it was. I then stamped and embossed with gold onto acetate one of the fairy images again from an Elusive Images set. The wings I sprinkled with glitter, I then stamped just the wings onto fantasy film with Stazon, cut them out and attached them to the acetate image to give some movement. When dry the fairy was attached to the oval mount with sticky fixers and silicone glue and the oval mount was attached to the base card with sticky fixers. When I took the photograph of the card the sun was shining so the oval mount has shown up as more pink than plum!

And now here is the sunset

2009-01-23T08:42:00.000-08:00

Beautiful isn't it?

Sunrise and Sunsets

2009-01-23T08:30:00.000-08:00

It looks as though we are in for a fantastic sunset tonight (make a change from all the rain of the last few evenings). This morning began with heavy rain and blustery winds, I delayed taking Bonnie for her walk until about 8.30am when it looked as though it was easing off somewhat. By the time I had struggled into my wet weather gear (looking like a cross between Nanook of the North and Mr Blobby!!)and driven down to the beach it was 8.50am and the rain had stopped although the skies were very ominous looking. We had a quick walk as I was certain the heavens were about to open again and I didn't relish the thought of getting soaking wet. Anyway by late morning the sun was out and we have had a glorious day, hence the lovely sunset. I took some photos down on the beach a couple of mornings ago when again we had quite dramatic skies, here are a couple of them.

I've received an award

2009-01-22T07:02:00.000-08:00

I've received this lovely award from Frances (CMof3), thank you Frances. Now I have to list 5 things that I am addicted to then choose 5 people to forward the award to, so here goes .... Five things I am addicted to in no particular order:-

1. Crafting
2. Blog challenges
3. My family and Bonnie my little dog
4. Shopping for crafting goodies
5. Mahjong (played on the computer)

Now I have a problem, I've lost the instructions on how to link each name with their blog (if anyone can enlighten me I would be very grateful) so all I can do is list the names .... sorry people

Caro
Card Crafty Julie
Angelswings2
Sally Bentham
Tracie

Sketch and Stash Challenge 2

2009-01-21T07:11:00.000-08:00

This is a new challenge blog where the challenges are set fortnightly. Somehow I managed to miss the first challenge deadline (how can you miss it when you have two weeks to complete a project?!), so I'm determined to enter this second one. The challenge is to use a combination of your new, unused or forgoten items together with some of your older stash.

Here's my card. The new items are the Rachelle Anne Miller stamp from The Glitter Pot (great offers on at the moment 25% and 50% off some items), and the Joanna Sheen gingham backing paper, the varigated paper which I have cut into strips and put through my cuttlebug is some that I had forgotten I had and the ribbon and fibre threads are also old stash.

Cuttlebug Challenge 14

2009-01-20T04:43:00.000-08:00

This week's Cuttebug Challenge is called the Valentine Colour Challenge, you have to make a Valentine card with NO pink or red on it ... that sent the little grey cells churning and this is what I've come up with. I've gone for a very classic gold and cream colour scheme (no pink or red in sight). I've stamped the large border from the new Harlequin Rose stamp set by Elusive Images in gold on the left hand side, the large panel is the cuttlebug scrolls embossing folder which I brayered in gold then matted onto mirri gold card. The hearts are also elusive images designs which I embossed using gold embossing powder, they are fixed to the gold mirri card square using sticky fixers, I then finished the card off with sheer ribbon which has a slight gold sheen to it

Penny Black Saturday Challenge 32

2009-01-18T05:53:00.000-08:00

The Penny Black challenge this week is "Lets Get Dotty" so I've made this fun card for a dear friend of ours who is in hospital at the moment receiving treatment for cancer, hopefully it will cheer him up a little. The green background is made using the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder which I then sanded to make the dots look white, the bottom half is just a small peice of card I had in my scrap box. The stamp is Penny Black Toadily Yours and the little flowers I crocheted.

The Cuttlebug Spot Challenge 13

2009-01-16T08:42:00.000-08:00

This week's challenge is called "Heart to Heart" and you have to have hearts on your card so I've gone for hearts of different sizes and shapes. The background paper is from Anita's Classis Christmas Red papers, I then cut out a large heart shape and embossed with the Cuttlebug Swirls folder, the red and white panels are nestabilities and the Newton Bear stamp came free with this months Quick Cards Made Easy Magazine. I punched out different hears, embossed the small red one with gold ink and the large gold one with a sentiment in red ink, it's finished off with some sparkling cord.

Penny Black Saturday Challenge 31

2009-01-10T07:18:00.000-08:00

This weeks Penny Black Saturday challenge is Pink and Brown, a combination I love so here's my effort. I cut the aperture and the "cushion" that the little hedgehog is decoupaged onto using my Nestabilities and Cuttlebug, the background papers are Making memories Cosmopolitan Collection, the bottom strip is embossed using a cuttlebug folder and the flowers are Hot of the Press and Lakeland.

What a start to 2009

2009-01-10T03:48:00.000-08:00

What a start to 2009! Last Saturday himself (Rob) decided to fix the tap in our en-suite (not that I was aware it needed fixing!)... he gashed his hand! He then decided to look at the shower that wasn't performing properly, I suggested calling a Plumber but he was convinced it was a simple job that he could undertake himself. To cut a long story short the shower was rendered completely useless with water gushing everywhere!! A Plumber had to be called to cap off the water from the now useless shower, a new shower had to be ordered and the Plumber called back to fit it a few days later, then to cap it all off he put his back out so he is now off work and in agony!! ..... MEN!!

Anyway on to more interesting topics, crafting. I had the Jayne Netley Mayhew collection CD for Christmas, there are some wonderful images on there, here are a couple of photos of my first cards of 2009 made using this CD, what do you think?

I had a wonderful surprise on Tuesday when I went round to my friend Sue's for our weekly crafting session, she had just had her Beautiful Cards Magazine delivered and three of my cards were featured in the readers gallery, they are all made using the beautiful Ophilia stamp from Graphicus, it is one of my favourite stamps.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

2008-12-29T06:59:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year everyone, I hope you all had a good Christmas and Santa bought you lots of lovely presents.

I have just been awarded this wonderful award by Sally Benson (thank you soooo much Sally)

Stitched Cards and Bookmarks

2008-12-19T07:06:00.000-08:00

Im making a lot of stitched cards and bookmarks at the moment, I just love doing them. The bookmarks I put in with Christmas cards for family and close friends, some of my Christmas cards were stitched but now that they are finished I have started on a set of Art Nouveau Roses. These are the first three cards and a few of the bookmarks. I haven't put sentiments on two of the cards as I'm not sure what occasion they will be for. I get the patterns from Stitching Cards, they have some great designs and you get to download them there and then, no waiting for the Postie to deliver them.

Bring it on!

2008-12-18T05:53:00.000-08:00

At last, I'm ready .... bring it on! Christmas that is. The freezer is bulging with mince pies, jam tarts, sausage rolls, cheesecakes, pizzas, bread sauce, cranberry sause ... you name it and it's in there. The cake is iced, the presents wrapped and the tree is up, this year I've gone for gold and silver, I've even made a little fantasy woodland scene to sit in the living room window ... let Christmas begin!

Cuttlebug Challenge

2008-12-17T06:36:00.000-08:00

The last Cuttlebug Challenge for this year proved to be more difficult than I first thought. The challenge is to make an all white card with a black sentiment. For my card I embossed the front panel with the cuttlebug bubbles folder then cut an apature using my Nestabilities, the bauble is cut and embossed using another cuttlebug die and folder, the ribbon is the last of my white Anita's that I had and the greeting is by Funstamps again using a smaller Nestabilities.

Penny Black Saturday Challenge 27

2008-12-14T05:52:00.000-08:00

I've just finished my card for this weeks PB Saturday challenge, it was so nice to make something other than Christmas cards!

Penny Black Saturday Challenge 26

2008-12-11T08:13:00.000-08:00

I haven't had time to join in any challenges of late but I thought now that I had finished making my Christmas cards I would enter the Penny Black one, the card I have made is for my Son so I thought something a bit sophisticated rather that a cutie, what do you think?

2008-12-11T07:47:00.000-08:00

Where's the time going?! Could someone slow it down a bit please? When I started this blog I intended to update it at least once a week but I've already failed miserably!! The reason I've not been here is .... Christmas ... well Christmas cards actually. I thought I would make an early start this year and began aroung August but last Saturday when I had written all the ones that needed posting I realised I was about 20 short ... AND ... I had forgotten to make one for himself. Well it is now Mission Accomplished, I've finished (I hope). These are the ones I made for my two Grandchildren, the problem is that in my rush to get them in the post I think I have forgotten to write in them!!!

2008-11-27T06:41:00.000-08:00

You may remember a couple of weeks ago that a lady from the stitching club that I attend asked me to make a card for her "young Man's" 80th birthday using the Penny Black 'Snowy Park' stamp, but she wanted the stamp made bigger!! Well here are two examples I have made to show her, one is using the stamp (I entered this for the Penny Black Saturday Challenge), the other is using a photo I had taken here in the New Forest but printed it out in sepia, I'm not sure if that one shows up well enough though.

2008-11-27T06:37:00.000-08:00

I have been given this lovely award by Sally, the sentiment behind it reads as follows:

This blog invests and believes the PROXIMITY - nearness in space, time and relationships!These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers! Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award.

I will be sending it on but it takes me ages to put the links on here so I will do that later.