Caramel crush

More Material Makes!

2012-01-30T08:42:00.000Z

Now as I've said before me and sewing do not see eye to eye, I just don't have the patience with it. But I have struggled on with it and with a lot of help from my die cuts and lots of glue here what I've made.

These are just glued together with the button stitched on.

And the big heart is a work in progress, still have to finish blanket stitching around the edges (badly, notice no close ups of this one, please don't zoom in you're only be disappointed believe me!!!) I want to stuff this with something, my Mum will have something to do this with somewhere I hope?

And here's the stash of Tilda fabric I bought the other day, aren't they just yummy. I've been drooling over these for weeks and finally decided to buy a few.

And lastly I went to Dunelm mill the other day and couldn't resist these paper pads!

Hope you have a good week, I'm off to get showered and dressed now and then off out to the post office to post my Ebay items off to their new owners. Let's hope they enjoy their new goodies.

What's on your workdesk Wednesday

2012-01-25T20:45:00.000Z

As you can see there's not a lot going on in my craftroom today. Only loads of mess and stuff that needs packing away. Hopefully Friday I might get 5 minutes to myself before I go and collect my Mum from her treatment.
The only other thing on my desk lately is my Cat who sleeps in the most uncomfortable of positions, bless her!

Playing with bunting part 2

2012-01-23T08:52:00.000Z

Yesterday I showed you a card I had made with me new bunting dies and today I would like to share with you my efforts of sewing (which I can tell you is not my favourite thing to do and I'm not very good at it either!) So I am pretty proud of this.

I've used the bunting dies to cut out some felt (from paper and string) and then I used some of my spellbinder dies to cut out some little flowers also from felt and fabric, I've added some buttons and ribbon and love the finished piece. I even made a flower with ribbon (2nd photo down) Now I need to buy some larger squares of felt so I can make some larger bunting and practice my sewing some more!

I also made this card for my Mum who is not well at the moment and is just about to start 7 weeks of treatment so hopefully this will cheer her up a bit whilst she's not feeling so great.

and a box to put it in

Hope you have a good week.

Playing with bunting

2012-01-22T18:28:00.002Z

Here's the card I made the other evening using my latest purchases, bunting dies from docrafts and some yummy ribbon. A Lili of the valley stamp coloured with copics, flex and promarkers. All piled together on an 8' x 8' card. I even decorated the inside and back of the card, but the picture I took is rubbish!

What's on your workdesk Wednesday?

2012-01-11T13:49:00.002Z

This is what I was playing with last night, some tags I bought at the weekend and my distress inks. I got out some stamps that haven't seen daylight in a very long time and had a little play. I think the stamps were from Graphicus which is no longer around.
I have some A4 stamp sets, all graphicus ones that I bought from Create and Craft as part of a large pick of the week ages ago and I never even cut up the rubber to use them so I think I must put them to sell on Ebay. I need to be a bit more ruthless with myself and actually sell what I don't use, then at least I can afford to buy something else with the money!!??
Anyhoo here's another couple of pictures of the above desk shot. Still getting used to my new camera and struggling to get any decent photo's at the moment, practice makes prefect......not!

Hope you have a lovely Wednesday.

My favourite five cards of 2011

2012-01-01T19:12:00.000Z

Now this is not going to be easy to choose but here goes..... and no I couldn't get it down to 5 cards either!

A saturated canary digi image with some darker colours, loved colouring this one.

Another Saturated canary digi image on an 8x8 card

A challenge winning card for the Forever friends challenge site

Yet another Saturated canary digi image on an 8x8 card

A Teddybea digi image just prefect for my knitting loving Mum

A Lili of the Valley stamp bought at my trip to the NEC in November

Teddybo and TeddyBea cute as a button on another 8x8 card

Spellbinder die and a handmade hatpin with some designer ribbon

And finally a Gorguss girl and some paper piecing.

Hope you like my selection and maybe you could choose your top 5 from these????

I have done some crafting....but only a little!

2011-12-30T17:30:00.001Z

I've started making another calendar, A3 this time so here's a few pictures of the toppers I've made to grace it. I've not had an awful lot of time to craft over Christmas as my Mum's not been very well and have been running to and fro from the hospital and also looking after my Dad as well as working and fitting in the Christmas madness somehow.
The photo's aren't the best as I've treated myself to a new camera with my Christmas money and am still trying to get used to it and it's software, why are they all so different??? Anyway the images are from Mo's Digital Pencil (top 2) and Saturated Canary (bottom 1) hope to fit in some more crafting sometime maybe tomorrow night when everyone else is out celebrating New years eve, not my favourite and I have to work on Sunday!
Well Happy New Year to you all.

Five Fav Christmas cards of 2011

2011-12-24T16:22:00.001Z

Here's my top five Christmas cards of this year. What a tricky job to pick my fav's.

Forever friends 'must have classic'

Not technically a card but could be if you wanted it to be, but had lots of fun making it and decorating it.

Loving my Tatty Ted kit that I bought from Create and Craft

A freebie Humphrey stamp and just loved colouring it

And lastly another Tatty Ted card, girly colours but super cute.

I've AWOL from my blog this last week but hopefully will be able to squeeze some in over the Christmas break. Have a wonderful day tommorrow, hope Santa brings you lots of crafting goodies.

One calendar finished 5 to go!!

2011-12-11T08:03:00.001Z

Here's the first calendar finished, only 5 more to go. I'm really pleased with this not too fussy and hopefully my friend will like it? Hope you have a lovely Sunday.

What's on your workdesk?

2011-12-07T19:49:00.001Z

Well I'm still in full swing of making toppers for my calendar orders, I'm about 1/2 of the way through the year so far so this is what is on my workdesk today.

Here's a picture of the start of the day with choosing colours to go with the Lili of the Valley stamp that I'd already coloured with promarkers and copics. I ended up using a different paper to the one which it is sat on in the pic above.

I've used lots of different spellbinder dies and the papers are basic grey, one of my favourite 6" x 6" pads.

Next is a Mo Manning digi stamp with some nice autumnal colours, this is for the October page of the calendar.

And here's the finished product on the December page, I've shown all these pictures to the friend who is purchasing the calendar and she really likes it which is great.

Making Calendars

2011-12-06T07:48:00.001Z

I did a card and jewellery party for my friend last Friday evening and managed to sell a few Christmas cards and also a 'reduced to clear' 50p box of cards which I've had for ages and will never have enough birthdays etc to send to friends and family. I've still got plenty of Christmas cards to send to my friends and family this year.
I came away with orders for 6 calendars! A couple people want coloured images and the rest want their own photos but with some pretty papers and embellishments, looks like I'm going to have a busy couple of weeks in the run up to Christmas.
So here's what I did yesterday, they are all Lili of the Valley stamps coloured with copics, flex and pro markers. Several different spellbinder dies to matt and layer and some new papers I bought last week from Dunelm mill. It only a picture of the topper as I'm waiting for the calendar blanks to arrive from Papermill direct.

I've also bought a load more stuff on ebay to make jewellery with, not quite sure what I'm going to make just yet but I'll let you have a sneaky peak when it's done. I've got all week this week to play as I'm on holiday til next Monday, really do need to do some housework though I suspose at some point??!!

Here's the haul:

Sorry the pictures a bit rubbish. Here's a couple links to the ebay shops where I found these goodies.

Well I'm taking my Mum Christmas shopping to Clarks village today, I saw a nice shirt which would be great for Dad and I want Mum's approval and I haven't a clue what size he is now cos he's lost so much weight this year since he's not been so well.

Felt and flowers

2011-11-28T19:26:00.001Z

Just a couple of pictures of my latest project.

Yes, I've been sewing well sort of??!!

2011-11-26T06:35:00.001Z

Now anyone who knows me will know that I cannot sew for toffee, never have been interested in it or been able to do it neatly ever. I think it may have something to do with a school teacher who had no patience what so ever with me when I was about 11, that's my theory anyway. My Mum can sew, so can my Daughter but me totally skipped my generation, anyhoo I spotted on a blog a week or so ago some hair slides made with felt and thought I'll give that a go. So here's what I bought to try and create with....

So there's hair slides from several different places on ebay, the little storage box has some bead caps and different jewellery findings in it bargain at £2.99 from ebay, more Ribbon tags from My Mum's craft shop at a much better price thanks to the lady who pointed me in the direction of that, some Basic Grey fabric charms (didn't know they were called that til I went searching for fat quarters and found smaller bits, everyday's a school day!) these were from 'The Fat Quarters', bit disappointed with the colours really, my own fault saw basic grey, got excited and just ordered. And lastly some felt from 'Paper and String' great service from this lady and all these places ordered Wednesday evening received yesterday, Excellent!
So here's what I made last night with a bit of help from the cat?!!

Sorry about the picture quality I took them on my phone with rubbish light! And finally here's a couple picture of my handy helper who decide to try and sleep on all my stuff as usual after a little dora the explorer into ribbon world!

Have a wicked Saturday.

Making Hat pins

2011-11-22T15:05:00.001Z

Thought I'd make a simple hat pin to go onto a card. This card is super simple with one spellbinder die inked with distress inks then stamped with a sentiment. I've added a bow made from some designer ribbon my daughter gave me for Christmas a couple of years ago and have only just had the heart to cut! I've added a key charm to the very simple pearl and glass bead hat pin.

Lots and lots of tags

2011-11-22T11:25:00.001Z

On my recent trip to the NEC with my bestest Friend Jane she fell in love with these cute little tag message stamps from Little Claire Designs, which she purchased and sent home with me to make some tags for her (She is not a crafter but I think I may be able to convert her??)

So I started making some tags last night and here are the results so far.

And this morning I was up super early so carried on with the project and used some sizzix dies and spellbinder dies to make these.

Lots more to go before I post the haul up to my Friend.

What's on your workdesk? Bit late!!

2011-11-18T08:35:00.001Z

I know I'm a bit late but I had to show you what's lurking in my craftroom this week? I've bought myself some ribbon storage solution tags which you tread the ribbon through then hang up with a book ring. I bought them from Storage 4 Crafts they weren't that cheap so if you know of anywhere else I might be able to get hold of some more at a better price please let me know? They look like this below.

So I sorted this mess, which I'd already sorted from a tangled heap of multicolour mess into all pinks together, all purples together, you get the picture.

To this where I've spent an age treading the ribbon through each tag.

To this not very tidy looking but easier to find what style of ribbon or what colour. I still need to buy something to hang them up on the wall with, maybe a pretty coat rack?

However I'm a little worried that my cat will think it's a new game as she did when I had a tangled mess on my desk and falling onto the floor, well time will tell I suppose? I've still got all the greens, blues and black and white to sort out yet going to be a busy day and bugger the housework...again!

Forever friends challenge

2011-11-14T19:12:00.001Z

This card is for the Forever Friends Challenge 'Christmas is coming' I've used a forever friends stamp coloured with copics, pro & flex markers. The backing papers are from the Me to you 12" x 12" set, I've added borders by die cutting with spellbinders edgeabilities.
This is one of the many cards which I'm going to take to sell at a party my friend is going to have to help me sell my crafting goodies.

I didn't tidy up, just crafted!!

2011-11-12T20:40:00.001Z

Even though I said I'd have a tidy up I was naughty and just played instead. I've made a card I might enter into the card maker of the year in one of the magazines so I won't post a picture of the finished card but here's a couple pictures of the making of it.

I've had loads of fun getting inky with my new distress ink colours and some masks. I will however show you a couple of the things I've made with my Lili of the Valley stamps I bought at the NEC last week.

I've used copics, flexmarkers and promarkers to colour the stamp which I then die cut out with a spellbinder die. I die cut lots of leaves with my bargain £10 spellbinder set and then inked them up with distress inks. I used another spellbinder die to make the rolled rose and inked this also. The card base is a Go Kreate large frame die another purchase from the NEC. I love the autumnal colours, just a bit different from what I would usually use.

Next is another Lili of the Valley stamp coloured with mixture of copics, flex & pro markers with some glitter pen on the wings. The calendar is from papermania one of a set of 10, so I think that you may be seeing several more of these before the new year. I've promised my Mum a calendar again this year but said it may have to be one like this rather than a full month by month one with a different image on each page.

Tapas tonight, bring on the Mojitos!

2011-11-12T15:01:00.001Z

It's been a busy week and It's good to chill out today and watch a bit of telly, hop a few blogs whilst my Husband is making Tapas in the kitchen. He decided that we'd pop to the supermarket and pick up some goodies to make tapas and is making a mess in the kitchen as I type. He's not tidy when he cooks but he does make some yummy food so he can be forgiven. We've bought a ready mixed up Mojito mix and have started already so I'll probably be asleep by 5??!!
Hoping to get in my craftroom later today if I don't drink too much and fall asleep? It needs a serious tidy up, there's stuff everywhere and needs organising so I can find things which is beginning to become a little tricky!
Anyhoo maybe I'll post a couple cards tomorrow that I've made with my new goodies from the NEC.
Enjoy the rest of your Saturday xxx

What's on your Workdesk?

2011-11-09T07:05:00.000Z

Good Morning, I've not had a lot of time to play with my crafting goodies since my trip to the NEC last Friday but did manage to just stamp out my new stamps from Lili of the Valley, cut a couple of the spellbinder dies out and get a bit inky with my new colours of distress inks. Hopefully later today I will be able to have a little crafting time?
Hope you have a good Wednesday.

NEC trip

2011-11-05T18:27:00.003Z

Thought I'd just pop in a quick post about my trip up to the Midlands to go to the NEC craft show on Friday. I had a really lovely day with a mega early start on Friday morning and met my friend at the NEC as she lives about 20 miles north of there. She's not a crafter but I think I may have got her a little bit hooked or at least interested in making the odd special cards for friends or family and she was filled with inspiration to use at work to raise funds.

I found the Do crafts stand and delivered my Thank you card and had my picture taken and maybe in the magazine in a future issue so be warned to look out for my ugly mug!

I also saw loads of people from Create and craft but didn't go over and get my picture taken with them. I did however spend most of the day boring my mate with saying 'there's so and so off the telly!' I also spoke to a couple of ladies who I follow the blogs of, who were working and demonstrating on the Lili of the Valley stand. It must be really weird for them when complete strangers go up to them and start chatting away. I managed to spend far too much money as usual but it had to be done. I'll post a picture of the haul another day. *pictures added above*

Finally on a much sadder note I just wanted to mention the awful accident which happened on the M5 right next to the junction that is near to where I live. I except that most people have seen it on the national news or seen what happened on one of the social networking sites. My heart goes out to all the family and friends of anyone involved. Not much else that I can say but felt that I must say something.

A Thank you for my winning tickets

2011-11-03T12:41:00.003Z

I thought I'd rustle up a card to say Thank you to the Docrafts team for my winning tickets for the NEC, which I'm off to tomorrow. I've used papers and a topper from a Tatty Teddy 12" x 12" paper pack and a 8" x 8" card blank and covered it with the polka dot paper then used my edgeabilities to die cut and emboss the paper. I've also used one of the spellbinders flower dies to make the roses and added a bit of bling to the edges of each one. Let's hope they like it?

Santa wordbook

2011-11-02T11:01:00.008Z

Here's the Santa wordbook I started last night and showed on What's on your workdesk, I've used a digital kit from Nitwits called Joyful hearts and it's super cute with some traditional colours and some more modern colour ways. I've added loads of ribbons, some bling and a snowflake charm. Hope you like it? I'm off to have an eye test now, hope I don't need new glasses!

What's on your workdesk?

2011-11-02T06:47:00.003Z

Good morning, well there's not a lot on my workdesk, just a word book which I started making yesterday evening. I need to print off some more images to add to it. There's a couple of Nitwits Santa's on there at the moment which I will post a picture of when the project is complete. **Here's the wordbook all finished**

I'm on holiday this week so plenty of craft to pop into my craftroom. I've made even more Christmas cards so I hope that I will be able to sell some, I might even put some on ebay or etsy which I haven't tried before?

It's my daughter's 23rd birthday today but I will have to make do with a phone call as she is now living and working in Italy. I've got a fairly busy week planned, eye test later today, then lunch with a friend. Got to take my Mum out on Thursday and then I'm off to my friend near Birmingham to stay overnight ready to go to the NEC on Friday with my winning tickets, excited!!!!

What's on your workdesk?

2011-10-19T15:20:00.006+01:00

I'm not feeling too great today and have done pretty much nothing with my day off other than watch create and craft and drool over all the goodies for sales at wonderful prices!

I spent the day decorating the training room at work yesterday a full 9 hours pretty much non stop of sanding and washing down woodwork and then painting and I completely wiped myself out, I think I must have moved muscles that have not seen any action for a very long time! Good job today was my day off anyway so I've been able to recover a bit before I'm back to work tomorrow.

Anyhoo I thought I'd post a picture of my workdesk showing the cards which I've now organised and packed up ready for a card party during the next few weeks. I'm great at making a card then not putting an envelope with it straight away so it then takes me ages to get them all sorted out when I want to sell some of my creations. I've promised myself that from now on I will sort the envelope or box straight away saving hassle later on, whether I do that is another matter?

I had some exciting news via email the other day I won a competition via the Docrafts website, 2 tickets to the NEC in Birmingham for the Hobbycraft event in November which just happens to be during my weeks holiday. The tickets arrived this morning so hopefully my bestest friend ever won't mind a visitor for the night as she lives close to Birmingham? I've asked her along not that she's a crafter but she may enjoy it anyway?

Happy colouring!

2011-10-16T07:54:00.003+01:00

Good morning! Bright and early today my husband woke up at stupid o'clock with a painful bad back and I was up not long after cos I just couldn't get back to sleep which is a real pain on a Sunday off. So I thought I take a photo of the card I made the other day. I was really pleased with the colouring, I just seemed to get the shading right even though the hair isn't great as I found that really difficult to know where to put the highlights in all those curls!? I've used my new spellbinders rolled flowers die for the embellishments. The image is a digi from Saturated Canary, this talented lady has now added more to the site so it's very tempting to add more to my collection.

I'm out to take my Mum grocery shopping later on this morning and my Husband wants to go to the local pet shop that sells tropical fish as he bought himself a massive new fish tank yesterday with his hard earned pennies and wants some plants and ornaments to decorate it with.

Have a lovely Sunday.

Candy colours, no Christmas

2011-10-07T18:35:00.002+01:00

A non-Christmas post. I've used a digi image from Saturated Canary coloured with a combo of promarkers, flexmarkers and copics. I used some spellbinder dies for the flowers. The design papers I can't remember the name of sorry but I love the colours so bright and cheerful.

Look what's just arrived!!!!

2011-10-07T13:07:00.005+01:00

I ordered this little beauty last week and missed the delivery of it on Tuesday cos I was at work so rescheduled for today and at about 10 o'clock the delivery man knocked on the door with my parcel. I have been playing for a couple of hours and it's so great to be able to die cut more than one item at a time and it will be great to die cut larger shapes when I can afford to buy some more dies.

Of course the cat had to investigate what going on cos she is so so nosey.

Carnival night

2011-10-03T20:27:00.010+01:00

Here's some of the photo's from Saturday evening of the our local carnival which is a really big thing in our local area, these are some of the larger floats which people work really hard all year round to produce and give everyone a lovely evening out. Saturday evening was so warm I spent the evening in jeans and t-shirt for the first time ever on a carnival night bit different from last year when it poured with rain all evening! The first photo is just part of a wonderful float which swept the board of all the prizes that are awarded. I swear some of these floats must be visible from space as they have so many lightbulbs on them, they are so hot when they come pass you, bless the people on them they must have been boiling?!

From mayhem to tidy space

2011-10-01T15:03:00.006+01:00

I've had a tidy up this morning so the photo's from the top one which is the mayhem of my craftroom after some major crafting in the last couple of weeks to a fairly tidy space where I can actually find what I need and I wanted to make some space for the Grand Calibur that I ordered yesterday, so excited can't wait to play with it!!

More crafting for Christmas

2011-10-01T14:15:00.003+01:00

Here's a couple of Christmas sweeties to add to my ever growing pile of Christmas cards. I'm hoping to do a party to sell some of my makes towards the end of this month so really need to keep up the pace. I've been trying to make at least 2 cards a day for Christmas so that's why I've not entered that many challenges lately.

It's carnival in my town today so I am looking forward to a couple of drinks tonight and bit of dancing about in the street which you can only really get away with once a year at carnival. The weather is wonderful unlike last years carnival night when it poured down with rain all night not that ever stops us dancing about and enjoying the parade.

Tatty Teddy takes over the world!!!

2011-09-30T15:27:00.010+01:00

More cards from the Tatty Teddy production line.

More Tatty Teddy Christmas

2011-09-25T13:44:00.008+01:00

The results of a very productive morning in my craftroom!

Tatty Teddy Madness!

2011-09-24T14:57:00.001+01:00

As you can see I've gone a bit Tatty Teddy mad. Loving using the Me to You cd and just recieved the Christmas Tatty Teddy kit from create and craft this morning so rushed upstairs to my craftroom to produce yet more cards ready to sell or use at Christmas. Hope you like my efforts?

A hard card!

2011-09-22T10:00:00.002+01:00

A another challenge card, check me out and still an hour to spare before work! I've used one of the Tatty Teddy stamps from the exclusive set at Docrafts coloured with flexmarkers with lots of glitter added. A bit of mirror board with a embossed piece of shiny white card. I love the white on white look but as the challenge suggests it's not the easiest to produce. This is for one challenge:

Fab'n'Funky - A hard card

Christmas Fairy

2011-09-22T09:48:00.002+01:00

More challenges, I'm on a roll don't stop me! This is a Lili of the Valley stamp coloured with Flexmarkers, Promarkers & Copics, with a bit of mica powder added not sure that it shows up that well in the photo but it's there. Some stickles glitter glue on the edges of the nestie shapes and I used a snowflake die in 2 types of mirror card. This is for 2 challenges:

Lili of the Valley - Aqua, White & Glitter

Crafty Creations - Fabulous Fairies

Something Girly

2011-09-22T07:54:00.002+01:00

Here's something girly to enter into a couple of challenges, I've used Digital papers from

Nitwit Collections, this is Summer's End which is full of lovely autumn colours. The digi image is from Saturated Canary and I will be continuing my collection of these little beauties. The card is an 8"x8" which is becoming a bit of a favourite of mine at the moment but I must find some envelopes from somewhere so if you have any ideas please let me know.

The challenges are:

Digital Tuesday - People images

One Stop Craft - Girl

Well I'm off to spend some time in my craftroom for a couple hours before I have to go off to work, working til 9pm tonight which is a horrid shift but I have to look after my newbies at work and make sure that their Managers are making sure that they are not left all on their own during their first week.

What's on your workdesk?

2011-09-21T10:33:00.002+01:00

Good morning, I thought I'd show you my workdesk, not very tidy I'm afraid but there's been a fair bit of Christmas card and Birthday card making going on lately. You'll see on the top photo a couple of Tatty Teddy cards made up and I'll post them another day, I'm loving using the Christmas images and papers from the Me to you cd which I had as a birthday present last month. I joined the Docrafts craft club and the 8"x8" stamp sheet you can see on the bottom photo is an exclusive for their members, a snip at just £5.95, bargain! The birthday cards I've been making are for my Mum & Dad, Mum's birthday today and Dad's tomorrow. My Dad's 80 years young tomorrow bless him he's had a really awful year with his health but he's a lot better now thank God. So I'm off to Mum & Dad's in a minute with a quick stop off to buy my Mum some flowers, she at the hairdressers at the moment giving herself a treat. Hopefully you'll go and have a pot of tea and a cake somewhere a bit later on, and maybe a trip to the local craft shop which Mum loves too as they sell wool and she's a very keen knitter. Anyway have a lovely Wednesday.

Cute Card Thursday

2011-09-15T16:34:00.003+01:00

More wonderful digi images to colour from Saturated Canary and some nice bright autumn coloured papers from my stash. This card is for this weeks Cute Card Thursday challenge.

I've had a Thursday off for a change cos I've got 6 new starters to induct on Saturday which will be fun but I've got a far bit of prep work to do tomorrow at work.

Loving the Digi images

2011-09-10T12:51:00.004+01:00

This card is for a couple of challenges as I've not entered anything for ages so I thought I'd make the effort and use this beautiful digi image from Saturated Canary. I've fallen in love with these pretty images from this talented artist after seeing the rubber version at funky kits but I love the instantness (not really sure if that's a word?) of digi images and the ability to alter the size to what I want. I used my basis grey papers and made my flowers from a spellbinder die, cut and rolled into shape and sprayed with some glitter spray. The Swirl die is a sizzix 12" die cut down.

Allsorts challenge - Flowers & Swirls

Stamp Something - Anything goes

I'm just enjoying a peaceful day at home doing some crafting whilst my husband is working. Also waiting for an email from my daughter in Italy to tell me about her first full week in her new job.

Have a lovely weekend.

Viva Italia!

2011-09-06T11:23:00.004+01:00

Hi all, Just a quick post to tell you what happening in my life and post a couple of Christmas creations. Well this weekend I've waved my daughter off to work in Italy for 6 months! After being offered a 4 month placement with a British retailer designing knitwear she was also offered a 6 month placement with a Italian design house, so it didn't take much for her to decide to opt for the Italian job (sorry couldn't resist it!)

We are so very proud of her achievements and wish her the best of luck in her future career. I miss her loads already, after having her home for a month, it was pretty hard to say bye to her as she set off for her adventures in Europe. I can't wait to get a full run down of her first full day in her new job, but it's restricted to text messages at the moment until she gets an internet connection.

Ok, so back to crafting, which I have been doing even though I've not been blogging of late. Here's a few cards made with the bits and bobs I bought with my birthday money.

Here's a digital card made with the new Me to you cd for docrafts, I've only added a button and a bit of ribbons to the top and some glitter of course. This will be my Mum's birthday card.

Here's couple Christmas cards made with the super cute stamps from Lili of the valley, I just couldn't resist them and want the whole set, well both sets but we have to eat!

Here's some of my recent crafty makes...

2011-08-16T19:17:00.009+01:00

Just a few of the lastest makes. Some new stamps a mixture of Forever Friends, Fizzy Moon and Gorguss girls.

About time for a challenge I think....

2011-08-04T20:30:00.002+01:00

This is for this week challenge at Cute card Thursday - No designer papers, I made the background using distress inks and some masks. It's a bit different to my normal style but a change is as good as a rest. The stamps are a mixture from my stash, the flowers I coloured with copics and promarkers and then sprayed with glimmer mists and added a dew drop to the centre.

Graduation day

2011-07-19T15:13:00.006+01:00

Just a quick post to show a couple of Graduation pics from a lovely day yesterday. Luckily the weather cleared up for a while to get the traditional 'throw the caps in the air' shot. So proud of our daughter who has worked so hard over the last 4 years to achieve a First class honours degree in fashion knitwear and will be off to bigger better things very soon.

Sorry - Missing in action!

2011-07-06T07:39:00.002+01:00

I know I've been a very bad blogger but life has been a bit of a roller coaster lately.

I mentioned a while ago that my Dad broke his hip and was in hospital, well he came out for all of 3 days and ended up back in intensive care with a really nasty urine infection. It turned out that he had lots of kidney stones which was the cause of all his health problems and the fall where he broke his hip. Well I'm really please so say that he has been back home for a week now and slowly getting his strength back.

My father in law has had lots of health problems over the last couple of years and sadly passed away 2 weeks ago. The funeral is tomorrow so we all get to say our final goodbyes to a very sweet man. God bless you Rex.

On a happier note our very clever daughter received a first in her degree. We are the proudest parents ever. She is at home at the moment before she goes off to London to start a placement working for a high street retailer designing. It's really exciting that people may be going into shops to buy my daughters designs!

I'm on holiday next week so hopefully I will get time to spend in my craftroom, fingers crossed.

Just another simple card

2011-06-03T08:50:00.002+01:00

I'm just loving stamping straight onto glossy card! It's fun to go back sometimes to remember how I starting crafting. I've used a tatty bear image and coloured with promarkers and copics. I've also added a touch of stickles glitter glue for some sparkle.

This card is for the 'Moving along with the times' challenge - No designer papers.

I'm looking forward to a bit of a chill out this morning it's been madness at home and work!

The sweet shop

2011-05-29T11:08:00.004+01:00

Just another quick post, this card is for the sketch challenge at The Sweet shop. I've used papers from basic grey, with some pink mirror board. The image is a digi and sorry but I can't remember where from which I've coloured with promarkers and copics. The sentiment stamp is from a forever friends set. Sorry about the photo, it's not very good the lights rubbish this morning!

Just stamping for a change

2011-05-29T10:51:00.003+01:00

Well I thought I'd go back to where I started with my stamping and they fit just right for the following challenge.

Allsorts - Things with wings

"Less is more" - Pick a square

Saturday challenge - Clean & Simple

I used some shiny card and stamped using two stamps from graphicus slightly off centre just cos I like the effect. Sometimes it's nice not to add so much to cards and I really like the finished result.

Proudest parents ever!

2011-05-25T19:56:00.002+01:00

We found out today that my daughter has got a place to show her knitwear collection at Graduate Fashion week in London on the 7th June. I had a little dance around my office today at work whilst I cried happy tears of joy! We are such proud parents and now I will be trying to get the day off work so I can go and watch. This is such a great thing for her and will make such a difference to her future career.

Check out her website here.

Need another week off to get over my week off!!!!

2011-05-21T18:27:00.010+01:00

What a couple of days I've had, on Thursday we headed up to Nottingham to see my Daughter's end of year fashion show for her degree. Well last week the car was having a bit of a funny 5 mins but was fine all week so off we went on our 190 mile journey. I should have known better really than not to put it into the garage before the trip, but with everything that's been happening with my Dad being in hospital and going back and forward to there all week with Mum it was the last thing on my mind, anyhoo we got about 50 miles from Nottingham and the car played up again, we pulled onto the hardshoulder of the M42 and restarted it and it was fine again just really 'lumpy' (sorry the only way I can discribe it) we got there fine, parked up in the hotel car park and then forgot about the car just praying it would get us home on Friday.

Well off we went into the city centre via the tram to get something to eat. Asher was really busy getting everything prepared for the fashion show so we weren't able to see her until later on. So we went back to the hotel again to meet up with my friend Jane who I've known for over 30 years who had come up the watch the show with us. After a quick wash and brush up, down to the bar for a quick catch up and a large drink. At 7ish we got to the University ready to see the fashion show, the first show was running a little late so I had to wait a little longer to see my little girl who I haven't seen since January. After a very big hug and a kiss she dashed off again, eventually she joined us when we sat down to watch the show.

We are just so proud of her she has worked so so hard to complete her collection and it is wonderful. Check out these pictures, they're not the best but hopefully we'll get some of the official ones later on.

After the show we managed to get something to eat about 10 o'clock and another little drinkie! She went off partying with her friends and we headed back to the hotel, and I was well and truly really for my bed (I'm usually a bed by 9pm kind of girl these days, sad and old!!??)

The adventure home was a bit of of an epic story I'm afraid the car got us as far as junction 1 on the M42 before it decided it didn't want to work anymore so we pulled off and rung the AA. God love my Dad who stills pays this for me and has done for the last 22 years. Mr AA man was there within about 10 mins really quick and managed to get us going again. All was well until we got about 25 miles from home and it broke down yet again, It was a bit more scary this time as before we had managed to pull off the motorway onto a junction and then a pub car park, but this time we were on the hardshoulder with lorries and car going pass at what feels like a million miles an hour! We called the AA again and had to wait 45 mins this time but the AA guy, Jason is such a hero cos he saved us having to pay to upgrade our membership to get us home and after having to be towed down the M5 which was very very scary, he put the car on the back of his van and took us home. Now I have a nice large garage bill to look forward to, deep deep joy.

Back to work tomorrow, would rather be spending the day at home with my feet up never mind got earn some pennies to pay for the car!

Cat no longer a kitten

2011-05-17T20:38:00.004+01:00

Thought I'd post some pics of the cat, she's turned into quite a stunner from the little bundle of cute fur that we bought back from the farm last July. She loves being out in the garden but gets mad with us when we won't let her out while we're at work or go out somewhere. We only left her out once when we weren't at home and she cried at us when we got back as if to say 'where the bloody hell have you 2 been?'

Pinks and Lilacs

2011-05-17T13:05:00.002+01:00

I'm just loving these images from Crafts and Me a little bit different to my usual cute purchases. This card is for the Ribbon Girl challenge which is pinks and lilacs which have got to be my favourite colours every since I was a small child.

I've coloured the images with promarkers, the sentiment is a graphicus one I've has for ages which I've stamped using distress inks. I made the backing paper with glimmer mist sprays and the mica really shows up in the flash so I've added a picture of the sentiment taken without the flash so you can read it.

Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm off out to see my Dad in hospital in a minute.

Lazy old Teddy Bo

2011-05-17T12:49:00.003+01:00

Now lazy old Teddy Bo is lying back to smell the flowers, nice to do every so often.

This card is for the following challenges:

TeddyBo - TeddyBo only

Moving along with the times - Two B's

A spoon full of sugar - Anything goes

Of course the image is a TeddyBo, coloured with promarkers and copics. The papers are My minds eye not sure what they're called but I love the colours. Buttons and ribbons from my stash. So to count towards the Moving along with the times challenge - 2 B's it has buttons, brown with brazzil bling cardstock and a bear so more than 2 B's.

Clean and Simple

2011-05-17T12:34:00.003+01:00

I went on the hunt for some different challenge sites to enter this morning and found loads so have been crafting my little socks off this morning (several more posts to follow)

This is for the following challenges

Clean & Simple - sketch

Incy Wincy designs - clean & simple

I've used a kraft card blank, design paper is a magazine freebie, with bentley bear stamp another magazine freebie. The cardstock is yet another magazine freebie which I have embossed with a cuttlebug folder and then distressed. The dies are nellies. I stamped the image with distress inks and then colour washed it out to fill it in.

Teddy's bears picnic

2011-05-16T14:18:00.003+01:00

This card is for Allsorts challenge ' Teddy's bear picnic' The image is from Teddybo and once you start with these digi images you will not be able to stop yourself buying more cos they are just wonderful with something for every occassion. I've used some vellum I've had in my stash for ages and the colours were just prefect for this card. Ribbon from my stash and I've used a border punch to create the lacy edge. The images is coloured with copics and promarkers.

Tatty Teddy

2011-05-16T14:04:00.003+01:00

This little Tatty Teddy image is a new addition to my craft stash, I just couldn't resist, just lovely. I've made a wiper card which I spotted on someone else blog this morning whilst hopping around blogland. I thought it was just a little bit different than the norm. The stamp is coloured with copics and promarkers with a little added glaze pen on the pot and his nose. The papers are basic grey from 2 different collections, I've added a little bit of faux stitching to the mats to highlight. A couple of flowers from my stash with brads in the centre.

This card is for the following challenges:

Stamp Something - Anything goes

Basic Grey - Mix & Match

Cupcake Craft - In the garden

Penny Black challenge

2011-05-16T13:55:00.002+01:00

This card is for Penny Black's challenge ' clean & simple' hopefully it's not got too much embellishments to count? I can never resist putting a few buttons on my cards. The stamp I've had for ages and is just the cutest. I've coloured with Promarkers and the die is a nellies. The gingham papers is a freebie from a magazine.

The week that was.....

2011-05-16T07:55:00.002+01:00

What a week it's been, I haven't had time to breath let alone blog! Last Monday my Dad was rushed to hospital with a broken hip so I have been taking Mum to and fro to hospital, hairdressers and the supermarket.

Dad's will be 80 this year and up until now he has been pretty ok health wise expect for the odd bad cough he gets in the winter. It's been a big worry for Mum as she doesn't drive and we live about 10 miles away, luckily she is a very young 76 and is still pretty fit. He's still in hospital after waiting until last Wednesday to have his broken hip replaced, poor man was in so much pain I hated seeing him like that! But he has been up out of his bed yesterday and sat in the chair for a couple of hours, even if he was being a bit of a pain to the nurses by not wanting to do it, I think he met his match and she was having none of it, thank goodness. We're hoping that maybe he will be home by this time next week once they have delivered some special equipment he will need to help him until he gets his mobility back.

I'm off work on holiday this week so it will be a bit easier to get everything done at home and go and see Dad as well. Going to have some me time crafting today just to chill out for a while, the housework can wait I think!

May Day outing and a few more cards.

2011-05-06T14:12:00.005+01:00

Thought I show you where we went on Bank Holiday Monday, back to our old village of Kingsbury Episcopi to go to the May festival, it's been going for about 18 years or so and has got massive compared to how it started out, it used to just be down the Church street with a few craft stalls and now it's spread into 2 huge fields plus Church street. We had a lovely day wandering around the village and catching up with people with hadn't seen for ages.

We had a bit of a giggle looking at the pictures of our daughter who when she was about 8 or 9 danced around the May pole, ah happy memories.

Now to the cards....

This digi image is from Wee stamps really cute, coloured with promarkers and copics, matted onto polka doodles papers from double sprinkles of kraft CD.

A Magnolia image coloured with promarkers and copics, matted onto Basic grey papers.

An easel card on a little box I made, the stamp is a Bentley bear freebie from a magazine coloured with aquamarkers.

Joy....to colour

2011-05-06T13:43:00.005+01:00

Just how beautiful is this digital stamp from Crafts & Me It's called 'Gift of Winter' and there's loads more to collect and they were just calling my name to buy them this morning whilst I had a lazy morning in my PJ's surfing the net. Not sure that my colouring has really done it justice but it's fun to practice.

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

Fab 'n' Funky - Put those papers away'

Papertake weekly - Anything goes, optional something round

Colour Create - Aqua, green, purple & white, optional glitter

I dug out my angelina fibres and bonded them together between 2 heat proof mats with a travel iron and then pull it behind my image which I've matted onto pink mirror board. The sentiment I've had for ages from a set from graphicus. I stamped it with distress ink and then inked the edges. The wings and dress are glittered to add a bit of sparkle. It's quite simple and it's nice to not use design papers for a change, may have to do some more now I'm in the swing of it.

Buzzy Bee!

2011-04-21T16:09:00.003+01:00

A cute TeddyBo image again this time coloured with aquamarkers and watercolour pencils, then cut out with a nestie die, bit of ribbon and a button job done. Not sure what the DP is but it suited the colour scheme. Quite simple but I like it. This is for the Creative Inspirations challenge - Pets & Animals.

Here comes the Bride.....

2011-04-21T13:25:00.003+01:00

I've made a wedding card nothing to do with the Royal wedding but just because I wanted to and it fits several challenges I wanted to entered as well so that's a bonus.

I've made an 8" x 8" card, using paper from Basic Grey which I've distressed with distress inks and glimmer mists and then sanded the edges, over the top, added a vellum from papermania which I've also distressed with inks and glimmer mist. The image is from TeddyBo which is in sepia and I've lightly coloured washed with aquamarkers and distress inks, I've also added a little bit of glaze pen to the windscreen.

The tags are a big shot die, the flowers are made from a nestie die, which I've distress with inks and glimmer mists and then cut and rolled into a rose shape, to fix and add a little extra glitter I've sprayed with glitter spray from crafters companion.

It's for the following challenges:

Cupcake craft - Lots of layers

A spoon full of sugar - Let's celebrate

TeddyBo - Tags

Cute card Thursday - No text

Fab 'n' Funky - Here comes the Bride

Well, enjoy your long Easter break, think of me who will be working! (I've got Sunday off so it's not all bad)

The Easter bunny is coming soon!

2011-04-17T09:04:00.003+01:00

I know I couldn't resist this image from TebbyBo, I've made so many Easter cards I better hurry up and post them to the people or Easter will be over before you can blink. Anyho this card is for 4 challenges:

Basic Grey - Easter/Spring

Allsorts - sketch

Daring Cardmakers - Spring/Easter

Creatalicious - Easter including the colours Pink, green, yellow & blue

I've used a digi image from TebbyBo coloured with copics and promarkers. The papers are basic grey 'gypsy' nearly the end of a much loved 6x6 pad. The 'egg' shape is cut with a nestie and the papers edges inked with distress inks. Ribbon and buttons from my stash.

Digital Tuesday Challenge

2011-04-16T09:54:00.003+01:00

This card is for Digital Tuesday challenge - Little women. I've made a twisted easel card, DP's are from basic grey, digi images is from All that scraps - Hairdresser Honey, (my friend is a hairdresser so this will come in handy) coloured with promarkers and copics. The sentiment is one I've had for ages from craftwork cards. The buttons and ribbon are from my stash haul at stitch and craft @ Shepton Mallet. Have a good weekend, hopefully I'll get some time to craft this weekend?!

More TeddyBo cards

2011-04-12T11:53:00.003+01:00

I'm loving these Teddybo digi images and have been on a bit of a roll making cards with them. Hope you like?

Teddybo challenge

2011-04-12T11:45:00.003+01:00

This card is for the Teddybo challenge, I love the tag images from TeddyBo and printed this one out quite small and put it onto a spring card. I coloured it with promarkers and used a couple of different punches to make the flowers and added a faux pearl in the centre. The papers are from a pink petticoat freebie out of a magazine.

Forever friends challenge

2011-04-10T15:34:00.004+01:00

This is for the Forever friends challenge - card for a girl, hope this counts ok cos it's just lots of girly pink in this Easter card. I've used an image for the forever friends Easter stamp set coloured with promarkers matted onto nellie die cuts with the edges inked with distress inks in spun sugar. The papers are from a digikit I have and the sketch is from the latest sugar nellie challenge.

I hope you're all making the most of the lovely sunshine, whilst it lasts. My husband has cut the grass again and we've been out to buy some plants to go into the raised bed. I'll plant them later on when it's not quite so hot outside, far too warm for me in the sun. I post a picture when it's all done.

On a challenge roll today

2011-04-08T20:17:00.004+01:00

Yes I'm on a bit of a roll today and made another card this one for Mojo Monday challenge. The images is a forever friends stamp from one of the Easter sets coloured with promarkers and copics. I've used some freebie papers from a magazine and the blue paper at the back is glittered not that it really shows up in my rubbish photo. The really pretty polka dot ribbon is from my haul from yesterday. I really enjoyed using a sketch I haven't done one in ages and it does help the old mojo no end.

I'm back to work tomorrow after a couple of days off, I've given up one of my days holiday cos we have a massive offer going on at work this weekend and felt a bit guilty if I didn't do my bit.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Basis grey challenge

2011-04-08T12:34:00.003+01:00

This double twisted easel card is for the Basis Grey Challange - More than one fold. I've used the pyrus range of papers, I have a 6x6 pad and also bought some sheets of 12x12. I adore the colours which are quite muted. The image is a Mo Manning's from Mo's digital pencil which was being sold for charity. I've coloured with promarkers and copics. I've made my own flowers with a diecut from spellbinders and cut and rolled into a rose shape. The text sentiments are from my stash.

Challenges and new stash

2011-04-07T16:15:00.008+01:00

Firstly here's my entry into the latest challenges at the following:

Creative Inspirations - Punches & Dies

Papertake weekly - Anything goes optional something new

I've used these super cute images from Teddybo which are a joy to colour and work with. I've used some new dies (see rest of post below) and some yummy papers from basis grey, the image is coloured with promarkers, added some buttons, flowers and tiny bit of pretty ribbon. Hope you like? Sorry about the quality of the photo of the card my batteries have gone in my camera so I had to use my mobile and it's rubbish for photos.

Anyway I've had a lovely morning out with my Mum, I won, via the local radio (Thank you Midwest) tickets to the Stitch & Creative show being held at the Bath & West showroom ground in Shepton Mallet. So check out the new stash, I love the shows you always get good deals on things, 2 packs of 12 promarkers for £24 and 5 distress ink pads for £17. Loads of yummy ribbons and buttons, also 2 Nellie multiframes for £15. Not bad!

I'm a bit disappointed at the lack of choice in designer papers there and very few stamp companies with the sort of thing I like, just fussy I suppose? I really wanted to buy some more basis grey papers but didn't see any. I suppose the guys that sell that sort of stuff go to the really big shows, well come to Somerset more often and I'll spend my hard earned pennies with you. Anyway we were done in just over a hour and half and by then I'd run out of money and was getting sore from being pushed and shoved in the crowds. Mum had a good old haul of knitting yarns and also got some bargains so she was happy. We filled our faces with a yummy scrummy cheese, potato and onion pasty and then went home.

Check out the photo's of my new goodies.

Teddybo cards

2011-04-04T20:01:00.004+01:00

These are the yummiest images, little teddy bears, so cute. Check out TeddyBo & TeddyBea at Teddybo.com. I've recently bought some new dies so have been using these in my cards. I've coloured the images with copics and promarkers, and mixed up the colours a bit in the tag card, loving the opposites on the colour wheel! I used my glimmer mists on the larger tag, then stamped over the top with a large word stamp I've had for ages.

The top card is a cute fishing teddybo, in colours just right for the man in my life so might keep this one til fathers day.

Sorry about the photo's which I have taken on my mobile so they're a bit poo!

Loving my new blog header

2011-03-15T10:34:00.003Z

I've just designed my own blog header (see above) using my cool new Craft artist software. So many wonderful digikits to play with plus all the digikits that I had from scrapbook artist, I think my header will change on quite a regular basis now I've worked out the right size to use.

Enjoy your Tuesday xx

Cute teddies!!!

2011-03-12T18:02:00.008Z

I've got the Forever friends CD rom and it's got so many lovely papers, and characters etc, I didn't know quite where to stop when my friend asked me to make a baby card for her niece, so I just kept printing out bits and pieces and papers and made a big card with loads of sides. I like to think that these types of card for special occasions like a new arrival are the ones that are kept in a box for many years to come.

Well that's the top 3 pictures under that is a card I made using my craft artist software and a pretty digikit from Nitwit collections I've made it into a proper card it looks 3d but it's just 2d the software has done all the hardwork.

Next is a card which makes me think of my Mum and my daughter just cos of the knitting thing and they both wear glasses! My daughter probably won't like my much for that but I don't think she looks at my blog very often anyway. The image is from a new discovery called Teddybo so cute and great to colour, I've gone a bit mad on buying these digi images so expect to see some more soon.

Lastly one little shaped card with a forever friends bear on it just ready to give at Easter.

Enjoy your weekend I'm working but never mind day off in the week to craft in peace.

Anything goes!

2011-03-02T20:00:00.002Z

A long overdue entry into a challenge, this is for Papertake weekly 'Anything goes' I've used Nitwit collection papers which came with a magazine as a freebie on a triple easel card. Not the best photo in the world cos of the bright sunlight flooding in through my patio doors but I'm not complaining about sunshine, roll on spring and warmer weather.

Some of my creations over the last few weeks

2011-02-23T14:33:00.007Z

I thought I'd better post some more cards but from my PC not my phone cos I can't work out how to get any text on the post when I use my phone??!! I've used quite a few of magazine freebies on these cards. The badger stamp and sentiment, the nitwit papers, the cupcake stamps and papers. Gotta love a good freebie. I used a triple easel card on the bottom card which I saw demo'd on create and craft this morning, nice to have something different to create.
It's my husband's birthday today so hopefully we might go out for something to eat this evening nothing too special just the local harverter, cheap and cheerful.
And finally a cat pic, my husband left a work bucket by the back door and guess who had to get into it!!!

posting from my phone!!!!

2011-02-06T16:23:00.003Z

Baby word book

2011-01-23T12:49:00.011Z

I made this for my friend to give to her brother and sisiter in law for the birth of their new little girl ages ago but have only just transfered the photos from my phone to the computer. I was really pleased with it as were they, and it's getting a place in the baby's room I found out yesterday. It's so nice that all my hardwork will be kept as a proper keepsake for many years to come.

Calendar bit late but it's finished now! (Long Post)

2011-01-22T08:54:00.016Z

I've made this as an order for my friend (At a reduced price as it's soooo late!) She chose the images she liked and I decorated it with patterned papers and other bits and pieces. I've used some of my new nesties which I bought from the pick of the week on create and craft just after Christmas I now have plenty of them to play with so be prepared to see a lot of them when I post from now on.
I've on a nice 3 day weekend so have plenty of time to craft and relax after a pretty full on week at work. Hope you all have a lovely weekend.

Fab 'n' Funky challenge

2011-01-06T09:47:00.003Z

This card is for Fab 'n' Funky's anything goes challenge. I've used this super cute image from Mo's digital pencil on a spring card with my nestie label dies then sanded back some embossed card, then matted on top with some pretty flora paper. The flowers are papermania plain ones inked and then sprayed with glimmer mists with a little gem in the middles. Roll on spring I say, when it's raining and miserable outside this cheers the day up a little bit.

Lots of Handmade Christmas goodies

2010-12-25T21:13:00.003Z

One very naughty Kitten who has been climbing the Christmas tree and hiding in the middle like some sort of furry ornament! The tree is being taken down tomorrow I can't stand the hassle of keeping her out of it any longer. Never mind hopefully next year she won't think it's a game??

I was lucky enough to receive lots of beautiful hand knitted gifts for Christmas, My Mum made the gloves above, isn't she the best ever! She also made a lovely scarf in the same green as on the gloves, hand knitted socks and some more of the yummy crochet rosettes as brooches. Also my daughter (who is studying Fashion Knit wear at University) made me a lovely scarf and a mug with a sketch of one design on it, which they have been selling to raise funds for their final year collection fashion show. So wonderful to have gifts which have been made with lots of love and thought.
Have a wonderful Christmas.

First some cards then some cakes!!

2010-12-11T12:02:00.009Z

The cards are using the new digi images from All that scraps so so cute and easy to make a stunning card.

Lemon Drizzle cakes using my cool new cake tins, bargain from homesense £3.99!

Lemon Kisses

Lemon Kisses recipe

Makes about 20 (not when you use a bigger cookie cutter though?!)

200g/7oz soft butter
140g/5oz caster sugar
1 egg yolk
1tsp vanilla extract
zest & juice of 1 lemon
280g/10oz plain flour, plus some for rolling
half jar lemon curd
140g/5oz icing sugar

1. Stir together the butter, sugar, egg yolk, vanilla and lemon zest from 1 lemon using a wooden spoon. Stir in flour using your hands at the end to bring the mixture together. Tip out onto a floured surface, make a smooth dough, then roll out to about 1cm thick and cut into shapes with a cookie cutter ( I used a heart shape, but stars would be great for Christmas time) Arrange on baking trays and leave to chill in the fridge for about 30 minutes.
2. Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Bake biscuits for 8-12 mins until pale golden in colour, then cool on wire rack. Once cool spread with lemon curd and sandwich 2 biscuits together. Next mix lemon juice into icing sugar to a runny consistency then dizzle over the biscuits leave to set.

Final step sit down and eat with a nice cup of tea, yum yum!

Something sparkling!

2010-12-06T11:22:00.005Z

I've been back making jewellery again. The kilt pins are for an order taken at the card/jewellery party I did a few weeks back and it's taken me ages to get some inspiration to be able to make them. I had a really loose brief of just use different colours from the one which she bought at the party which was purple. I hope she likes them.
The bag charm I might give to my mum for a Christmas present, not sure yet if I want to part with I may make her another one and keep this one myself.
The cat's being a real pain and is sat right in front of the computer monitor so I can't see what I'm typing, good job I can touch type! Better move her and make sure I haven't written anything rude by mistake??!!

Advent calendar

2010-12-03T07:35:00.006Z

I thought this year I would make my own advent calendar so I begin with the massive task of making lots matchbox shaped boxes which as you can see I got a bit carried away and made 26 instead of 24! Never mind all the more chocolate to eat, yum yum! I used papers from my minds eye 12x12 pack which I bought last year and is going on forever cos it's HUGE. Added brads and a bit of ribbon, I used some die cut numbers and then stuck the layers together. I hope you like it, my husband was not too impressed but will eat the chocs I bet.
This is perfect for Creative Inspirations challenge this week which is 'Christmas Decorations'

Also look who decided they wanted to be involved in the photo shoot this morning as usual, she is sooo nosey! Mind you she probably thought she should get some credit for making the calendar because she was sat on my craft desk whilst I made it.

Jingle bells, batman smells.....

2010-11-19T20:28:00.007Z

My latest batch of Christmas cards, loving the Bentley bear downloads from one of my craft magazine subscriptions so cute. I'm working this weekend so no time to craft boo hoo!

Butter wouldn't melt??!!

2010-11-14T14:03:00.003Z

Ah doesn't she look sweet......warning do not be fooled by the sweet butter wouldn't melt face inside lies a little devil, who steals pens, climbs curtains and bites my fingers when whenever she gets the chance! But I still love her very much.
I thought I'd make my daughters birthday card with this cute image from Mo's digital pencil and colour it to match 'snip' I was pretty happy with the results. The papers are all basic grey. Hope you like?
Will be back later with some pics of christmas cards just to prove that I have still been crafting if not blogging.

A very long overdue post!

2010-10-08T20:10:00.002+01:00

I know I haven't blogged since the middle of August but I just haven't had any time. Works been busy and really great so by the time I get home I just want to crash. My daughter's gone back to Uni so it's just back to the 2 of us or should I say the 3 of us cos of the kitten, who is swiftly turning into a cat. She is growing really quickly and is still into everything she can get her paws on! She loves to steal socks off of the clothes airer and try and hide them if she can get away with it.
She loves to climb everything in sight, my curtains are fully of claw marks and I don't think there will be much point putting the Christmas tree up this year as I think it will be pulled over as soon as we turn our backs.
As I type she's climbing all over the computer trying to chase the mouse pointer etc. Nightmare!

Great day

2010-08-17T09:13:00.007+01:00

It was a lovely sunny summer day yesterday so as I'm on holiday I made the most of it and went out to a local National Trust property Barrington Court it's only a few miles from where I live. My daughter has just been treated as a gift, to a year subscription to National Trust membership by her friend so we thought we'd make the most of it. It's glorious, the sun shining and a wonderful breeze blowing just enough to keep it comfortable from the heat of the day.
We walked around the gardens and the kitchen garden made me very very jealous of all the yummy produce that they grow. The only sad thing is that the main part of the house is no longer furnished so you just have to imagine what it would have been to live in. Saying that though parts of it were a bit creepy for my liking, I think I'll stick to where I am thank you!
Hope you like the photo's.

Post for today

2010-08-14T19:45:00.003+01:00

Here's a digi scrap page I've done today. Our kitten 'Snip' is getting to big so quickly we've had her nearly a month now.
I've been on a day off today, I'm working a couple of hours tomorrow morning and then I'm on holiday for the rest of the week cos it's my birthday on Thursday and I hate working on my birthday! It's also going to be our 21st wedding anniversary so I better get making a card for him sometime this week too.

Notelet gift set

2010-08-04T14:17:00.009+01:00

I started making this little notelet set last week and this is the first time I've had time to finish it off so I hope you like it. Made with really cute papers from Crate papers not sure what they are called cos I've had them for ages. the template is from splitcoast stampers and was fairly easy to put together. I added some gift tags and made my own envelopes as I didn't have any the correct size for the notelets I'd made. I did have a little helper whilst crafting 'the kitten' didn't manage to get a photo as I was too busy stopping her chewing everything in sight!

Had a lovely day at home today, did some housework, YUK! I even tidied up the airing cupboard which was a bit dangerous when you opened the door and got covered in sheets and towels. Also my daughter and I walked up to the town and went and had a naughty cream tea in the local tea shop, we are bad girls!!!

Check out the cuteness!

2010-08-04T08:13:00.005+01:00

Our kitten is getting so much bigger but is still soo soo sweet, check out these pics of her in her favourite toy a little cardboard box which she either sits in or chases around like a nutter. We thought we'd have to take her to the vets cause yesterday she was limping but this morning she's fine and running around like nothing has happened. She probably pulled a muscle on one of her little stunts she does when we weren't looking?

Also check out my carrots and potatoes from the garden they were really yummy! There weren't many potatoes but enough for a meal or two, I've still got a few more carrots to pull up and some more beetroot. My sweetcorn is beginning to form cobs which is really cool, nature is so clever.

She reached the top!

2010-07-24T09:54:00.001+01:00

The kitten's been climbing the curtains again this so check out the picture! Little devil!

A long overdue challenge

2010-07-24T09:46:00.003+01:00

I've not entered a challenge for month's so I thought I'd have a go at this one for Stamp Something that is asking for something flowery. So here's a magnolia image with a diecut flowers, some ribbon, brad and some glimmer mist for some shimmer. The image is coloured with copics and the papers are from the new papermania range.

Climb every mountain or curtain!

2010-07-23T09:01:00.004+01:00

Ah Kitten's are so cute, but only when they are asleep! This morning is ours has been practicing her climbing skills and has managed to get right up the curtain rail around the patio doors which I couldn't reach to get her down and had to get my daughter out of bed to come and fetch her! Here's a couple of pics above of where she started trying, didn't get a picture at the top cos I was too worried she'd fall and hurt herself. It's such a good job she's is soooo cute!

More Kitten pictures.

2010-07-20T07:44:00.005+01:00

Here is 'Snip' aftering running riot in the house, she's discovered the fish tank and is trying her best to get into it now! She kept my daughter awake half the night chasing her tail.

New addition to the family

2010-07-19T12:32:00.003+01:00

I've been talked into getting a kitten by my daughter but it's so cute! A little girl kitten and the farm that it came from had already called her 'Snip' which seems to suit her down to the ground. She been into everything already so my furniture is going to be ripped to pieces in minutes but never mind she's worth it.

Some of my latest digi pages

2010-07-16T12:59:00.005+01:00

I thought I'd show a couple more of my digi scrapbooking pages. I haven't been doing much paper crafting of late but I did make a couple cards last weekend just to make sure I hadn't forgotten how? I'll post them at a later date. I've got a weeks holiday next week so hopefully will have a bit more time to do that. Mind you, my daughter is back home for the summer on Saturday evening so I will be spending my free time with her.
Works been going really well, it's been a very steep learning curve so far, with loads more to learn. My new boss seems quite happy with what I've done so far which is a relief. I've got a day off today as I'm working all weekend, hopefully it'll be nice and busy so the weekend goes fast and I can look forward to having some time at home with my family.
I would like to get out in the garden today but it keeps raining, it really windy today and it has blown over my growhouse sending all my plants flying! I'd only just planted up some herb seeds last weekend and now they're all over the patio! NOT HAPPY! My poor sweetcorn has blown over to one side, I'm not quite sure how to keep that upright?

So here's my digi pages as promised I hope you like them?

My new job

2010-06-29T08:33:00.003+01:00

Thought I'd better put something on my blog. I do visit every day but just to check out what everyone is up to and grab a few digi scrapbook freebies. I'm been pretty busy settling into my new job, I'm into my third week there and everything is going well so far. They are a great bunch of people to work with. I'm having a later start today so I can catch up with the evening team and it's my first weekend in this weekend coming. It's been nice having the weekends off but I miss my own bit of space during the week not having a day off during the week.
I'm off to another store to do some training tomorrow, still got masses to learn. The lady I'm going to be working with is a real fountain of knowledge and has helped me many times in the past.
I'm off to do some chores before I go to work, have a wicked week.

Going to miss them all soooo much!

2010-06-11T17:05:00.002+01:00

It was my last day at my present store before I move to my new store and start my new HR role. Everybody was so sweet and lots of tears were shed by a few of us, me included several times during the day. Check out the pics above to see what they got me as a leaving pressie, best of all is vouchers to a local craft shop so I can go and choose my own goodies. A couple of the girls were naughty and went and shrink wrapped my car which slowed my going home down just a little. I will really miss them all so very much but am looking forward to starting my new role next week.

A well overdue post!

2010-06-05T19:48:00.005+01:00

I know I've been a very bad blogger so I thought I'd better put a couple of the digi scrapbook pages I've done on here.
We went to see my daughter in Nottingham last weekend and then to a Christening on Sunday, so I took a few pics of my daughter, my goddaughter and my husband, which I've scrapped.

Also can't resist showing you a photo of my veggie bed which is growing really well, we've had endless salads from it already can't wait for the cucumber and tomtoes to be ready too.

Caramel crush

More Material Makes!

What's on your workdesk Wednesday

Playing with bunting part 2

Playing with bunting

What's on your workdesk Wednesday?

My favourite five cards of 2011

I have done some crafting....but only a little!

Five Fav Christmas cards of 2011

One calendar finished 5 to go!!

What's on your workdesk?

Making Calendars

Felt and flowers

Yes, I've been sewing well sort of??!!

Making Hat pins

Lots and lots of tags

What's on your workdesk? Bit late!!

Forever friends challenge

I didn't tidy up, just crafted!!

Tapas tonight, bring on the Mojitos!

What's on your Workdesk?

NEC trip

A Thank you for my winning tickets

Santa wordbook

What's on your workdesk?

What's on your workdesk?

Happy colouring!

Candy colours, no Christmas

Look what's just arrived!!!!

Carnival night

From mayhem to tidy space

More crafting for Christmas

Tatty Teddy takes over the world!!!

More Tatty Teddy Christmas

Tatty Teddy Madness!

A hard card!

Christmas Fairy

Something Girly

What's on your workdesk?

Cute Card Thursday

Loving the Digi images

Viva Italia!

Here's some of my recent crafty makes...

About time for a challenge I think....

Graduation day

Sorry - Missing in action!

Just another simple card

The sweet shop

Just stamping for a change

Proudest parents ever!

Need another week off to get over my week off!!!!

Cat no longer a kitten

Pinks and Lilacs

Lazy old Teddy Bo

Clean and Simple

Teddy's bears picnic

Tatty Teddy

Penny Black challenge

The week that was.....

May Day outing and a few more cards.

Joy....to colour

Buzzy Bee!

Here comes the Bride.....

The Easter bunny is coming soon!

Digital Tuesday Challenge

More TeddyBo cards

Teddybo challenge

Forever friends challenge

On a challenge roll today

Basis grey challenge

Challenges and new stash

Teddybo cards

Loving my new blog header

Cute teddies!!!

Anything goes!

Some of my creations over the last few weeks

more phone posts

posting from my phone!!!!

Baby word book

Calendar bit late but it's finished now! (Long Post)