Papercrafted Clock & AWOL Hamster

And just when you thought you’d seen the last of that stamp set ‘Forever Young’!!- here’s a really different take on it! It’s a chocolate holder (or small pressie). The actual clock comes apart from its red base and it is attached using velcro tabs. It took some work, I can tell you and involved a whole gi-normous lot of fussy cutting. The clock face is layered with some acetate to give the glass look and whilst I couldn’t quite get a patina on the cardstock, the gloss finish is echoing the varnished wood. This photo shows you how the door actually opens into the ‘mechanics’ of the clock . You twist the ‘brad handle’ and it can close again!!!

Can’t say I’ll be making this one a lot- but it seemed wrong to leave the stamp without attaching it to a proper grandfather clock. My kids looked at this and said ‘why?’. I’m sure a lot of you are saying the same thing!!!

As I was reflecting on my blog recently and weighing up how to change it, it dawned on me that my blog often seems quite dramatic. I do not ever make these stories up and yet my life is starting to become almost comically dramatic. My opinion of my life wasn’t helped by a certain chain of events today.

Steve has recently sold his car and is waiting to get the replacement. This did mean that my school run required a very early start in order to drop off Steve, my older two and then back half way across the city to drop off the two younger ones. You can guess it was a little more rushed than usual. I tore into the kitchen on my way out and suddenly felt something underfoot. The ‘thing’ under my boot let out what I can only describe as the animal equivalent of a blood curdling scream. At this, I too screamed (like a complete girl) and ran out of the kitchen in a bit of a panic. I guess most people would scream if I stood with my full weight compounded into a small area. Everyone wanted to know why. I said I’d trod on a mouse or something. They asked how big and it dawned on me that this was no mouse. ‘Was it a rat?’ they questioned. No, I didn’t think so. I then said ‘it was the same colour as your hamster Heather’. At this point she shot like a rocket upstairs to find that her hamster cage was still intact with no obvious exit holes yet the hamster was indeed AWOL. I felt sick. Utterly sick. Like a lead balloon had dropped in my stomach. The realisation that I’d just stood on her hamster and probably given it overwhelming internal injuries started to dawn on me.After a hurried barricading of the kitchen, we rushed out, now more late than ever. I had to be reminded not to drive into people several times by Steve. It’s a wonder I arrived at school in one piece.

 The kitchen was very quiet when I got back home. I presumed it had scurried into a completely unreachable part of our kitchen. I was gutted. My daughter had been in tears and I felt really quite stressed. I hoped it had died a quick death and wasn’t suffering in the corner. It wasn’t until tonight, two hours after Steve had taken all the kick-boards off from under the kitchen cabinets. He came back in, checked again and there were two beady eyes staring him out; Pearl the Invincible. If you could have seen the antics it took to get the hamster out from behind the fridge you’d have been amazed. My husband deserves a medal for perseverance. I sadly chickened out- partly through guilt but mostly due to a work deadline. She is now in her cage (which has been taped up at every possibly exit point) sleeping soundly. Great. She is blissfully unaware of exactly how many man hours we have spent on her. She even got prayed for.

Silly hamster.

Took the edge off the kids and silly Halloween. I had no patience for it tonight. I asked two teenagers ‘aren’t you a bit old for this’?! just about November huh,cold days and long nights! but we did see the most amazing rainbow on the way home from school tonight. It was so vivid. One of the kids asked whether there is really a pot of gold at the end?   Hello?! ermm- no. Although I do like to imagine the rainbows end was touching our house and we didnt find a pot of gold, but a dusty, tired and prodigal ball of fluff!

See you when I’ve recovered from the shock xx

Christmas Tree Card & Half Term antics

I’m in the middle of planning a Christmas series for the beginning of November. Kinda like a 12 Days of Crafting Christmas. Here’s an idea of the sort of thing I’ll be doing; clean and simple(ish!). I’ve actually delved into the cute (completely new for me!) too. If you sign up for email notifications on the right further down, you’ll know exactly when it starts. Im not doing just cards, there’ll be all sorts!

Onto this card- this is one of the ones I sent into Stampin’Up! I actually got picked outta the hat to win a stamp set as a result so that was a really nice little leaving surprise from them! I adore these cute trees- they could have hearts, pearls, or rhinestones decorating them. Christmas cards just don’t have to be in traditional colours- so add some bright zing into them. The spotty vibe is still there.

The middle tree is raised using 3D foam so it looks different to the other two and helps the colour shine through the holes. Because there’s a matching punch, its nice and easy to create. The shaped layers are just small cut off sections of a Top Note die.

Family life has ground down to a ‘waiting in for the man’ situation. Thankfully we now have a gleaming new window. This led to wiping away even more tiny shards of glass, cleaning away the bright pink fingerprinting dust and this in turn led to the realisation that the other window was woefully dirty so I had to clean that one too. In preparation for the replacement window, I had to clean up the glass from the back garden. As I was there I hung my head in shame at the  garden as I ‘d abysmally neglected it over the summer (well, we hardly had one did we?!). A whole lot of cleaning. Too much. I don’t have half terms to simply clean them away! The alarm was seriously pimped and a really nice guy came to install it. The thing is, I really put my foot in it.

I’m sitting with my Mum, Dad, Auntie Judy and one of my kids in the living room, the other kids are in the dining playing on the computer. I do try to keep the noise in our house down. A crazy goal I know! I heard some loud noise and shouted through “Too loud, can you please turn it down”. As I’m shouting I realise that it was in fact, the alarm guys mobile phone. I taper off the sentence but its too late. My eldest is quite a peace maker at times and decided to go out talk to him, and calm the potentially troubled waters. She did her best but ended up digging herself into a greater hole. We sat in the room, hiding, and laughing like naughty school kids whilst she explained it all away!! Ah well, you live and learn.

 The kids were however pretty useful yesterday when I took them for a surprise trip to Krispy Kreme in Manchester as they’d been stuck in the house for a whole two days (not the greatest idea to coop up kids in one confined space for 48 hours!) As we’re rolling up the motorway, it was terrifyingly obvious that we were doing just that. The side to side trembling is not a good look for anyone and particularly not at 70mph. We came off at the first junction and thankfully found a garage. We realised that a back tyre needed inflating a little. Ah, but how? How many of you have inflated your car tyres before? Oh really?!  Surprisingly I actually knew what the correct  pressure should be but three of us girlies were not going to let it beat us and I was going to give it a good go before I played the pathetic female card. After a bit of faffing we correctly inflated both back tyres, successfully started the car (the battery’s on the blink!) got to Manchester and were met by some lovely people at Krispy Kreme who got the kids to decorate their own free doughnuts. Result!

The noise level is now too great upstairs. Someone lost their memory stick in our bedroom so the bottom three littlies are helping her find it. Thing is, its descended into a free for all. My bedroom is trashed (again) but they’re having a great time and reconnecting by playing together. It’s at times like this I’m especially glad of having a big family. They all amuse themselves and I’m able to drink a cup of tea. That’s why I had so many kids (wink!!).

See you when I’ve finished creating my ‘iffits’ tea;  ‘if it’s in the cupboard and fridge, that’s what we’re eating!’ xx

 

 

 

Contemporary Baby Card & Not Again!

Its half term! Yay! should be long lovely mornings with nothing to do except gently ease the kids out of their jammies (scouse phrase!) and try and keep them relaxed. It’s not quite happening here (but then, did you really expect that from me? The saga I promised  you is coming shortly- but really I should mention this card. I love how the background looks a little like stars in a twinkling  night sky surrounding a alternative baby card. Lets face it,- they’re all the same those  newborn congrats cards- usually standard colours and stock images. I suspect I may have  difficulty finding a recipient to congratulate that wouldnt think the card was a little off, but hey, my style is what it is!

I’ve used another office mini envelope, sealing it and then cutting off the top. Punch half a circle and add another half circle that you’ve already punched twice so to create a little circular frame. I think the details are what I love again- so here’s a better close up

I know the Forever young set is perhaps an unusual choice for a baby card- but by using  the profile stamp in green and glittering  it, and it changes the whole look. The pendants are from Pennant Parade set and I’ve added some little hearts. The envelope does contain a removable white card that you could write something personal on or simply add the birth details. I’ve got loads of lolly sticks left from the brief dalliance I had with Cake pops. I’m planning some fun Christmas cake pops so they won’t get wasted. Watch this space..

Onto the story. It seems we have extremely efficient burglars in our area. They saw fit to break in 2 days short off a year since the last time. (I know, not again!) Thankfully I have a diary, so I’ll be able to look out for them next year. I may well leave a small menu card taped to the window with a selection of home-made cakes they can order in advance, so at least we can prepare for them coming. Thankfully too, we have insurance so its only a matter of a shed-load of hassle, increased premiums next year and a small matter of an policy excess to fork out for!! It’s a times like this I’m very glad I’ve organised my Christmas list, as things appear to be complicating my life in an increasing amount.

It’s funny too, how your mind works (you know mine’s a little skewed!). As I was starting to clear all the smashed glass up, I found a little worm squirming amongst the shards. I actually said ‘aahhhhh’ out loud, and felt sorry this little thing had been caught up in all of the mellay. As I was sifting through the mess, I had to throw the contents of  container away that was full of  a cinnamon sugar mix (that I’d previously used to make some French Breakfast puffs. It was a pretty naff job, clearing away all the glass, but made so much nicer because everytime I swept up more glass, the aroma from the cinnamon/sugar mix I’d just cleared wafted through the air. It would amount to the nicest glass cleaning-up experience I’ve ever had!!- See, not everything has to be miserable! I won’t bore you with the complications following, or this post would be exceptionally long. The kids have been a little upset by it all, and that’s the worst thing. BUT you have to remember that its only ‘stuff‘!

I will go and leave you with a quote from a man called Matthew Henry who lived in the late 1600s’ to early 17oo’s. This was his perspective after being robbed ;

“ I thank God first because I was never robbed before; second, because although they took my purse they did not take my life; third, because although they took my all, it was not much; and fourth because it was I who was robbed, and not I who robbed”.

Isn’t perspective everything?!!!

xx

Tiny Thanks & Harvest Pumpkins

Inspired by Ros Crawford (& not for the first time) combined by the fact I’ve been going a little pumpkin-crazy I decided to do something in response to the Harvest Festival challenge over at City Crafters Their theme is anything to do with Harvest or Fall and I spied a little tiny metal bucket kicking around by itself. I’ve used harvest colours and the idea of being thankful for harvest rather than images of produce per se. It is really diddy- and I’ll show you a pic in a moment to give you scale. This is to remind me to give thanks. After a particularly difficult week with something I’ll share about next week, its tempting to look inward and moan. But why do that when we have so much to be thankful for at a time when millions have so little. In this bucket are little tiny cardstock  soldiers each containing something that I’m thankful to God for. You can never be too thankful, so when I’m tempted to be ungrateful, I’ll dip into my gratitude bucket and remind myself  to give thanks both for the harvest bounty and the oodles of other things I’m priveleged to have.

See how little it really is. And yes, thats a real 50 pence piece! I’ve covered the handle with crochet thread, the papers are from Authentique. The ribbon  is Stampin’Up’s pumpkin pie (very appropriate!) and the lace is some lovely stuff I’ve had in forever and as I couldnt bear to use it, I chopped it in half and just pleated it on the back of the cardtsock circle that I’d coated in dst.

Here you can see the little title sticks. I made something very similar but on a much grander scale a few years ago using Kilner Jars and ribboned pieces. On these were verses, quotes and encouraging thoughts for two of my loveliest friends.

Onto the pumpkins. Sometimes I wonder whether my brain is wired slightly different to everyone elses and have moments where I wonder quite which planet I’m on! I had an email  last week that eventually led me to finding this recipe for Pumpkin Latte .I thought it would make a nice change to do something different that wasn’t food. I didn’t read the recipe with my brain in gear and so the thought of buying pumpkins to roast and puree them just to create a latte didnt seem to phase me!

Here’s the lovely roasted puree- isn’t that colour just splendiferous?! Have to admit, the coffee was amazing- even though I had to create the pumpkin spice mix from scratch too. Had I been in the US and could have bought canned puree and pumpkin spice, I could’ve finished the beverage in about 15 minutes as opposed to 1 and half hours it actually took me. Yeah, yeah, I know, I’m nuts!

Here’s the coffee. Needed to work on the slight pumpkin dreg bits at the bottom but it was deelicious. Shame I’ve just got too much time on my hands (wink!) I then had a load of puree left over- so as not to put it to waste I created these-

These Pumpkin Cupcakes (and no, they don’t really taste of pumpkin- think carrot cake) were cobbled together by  just lobbing half a cup of pumpkin puree into a normal cake mix with some vanilla extract and pumpkin spice – but how to decorate them? Martha Stewart came to my rescue and I borrowed her Brown Sugar Frosting which is utterly awesome. I saw she had a recipe for caramelised walnuts. Well, this rung my creative bell as I’d been watching a bit of Australian Masterchef (love it!) and knew I’d never made  a decent toffee. What’s a girl to do? Going to the grave having never created caramelised walnuts?!! Problem solved- but only just. Narrowly escaped burning the sugar and had to then kinda dump the whole sticky nutty mix onto a silcone sheet as I’d forgotten that the pan I was using didn’t have a handle on (long story) and it was crazily hot. After a bit of bashing with a rolling pin swiftly followed by the realisation that if I let it cool a tad, I could separate the walnut pieces by cracking the toffee lumps, I had these cute little toffee enrobed walnuts. Thanks very much Masterchef.. my pile of still dirty washing thanks you (not) but the creative part of my pysche actually completely adores you.

 Beware eggs and milk, I need to tick off a decent custard from my cookery bucket list!

See you when I’ve cleared up the mess -(oh and that was just from the latte!!) xx

Christmas Tag Card & the X-Factor

 Hey! There has been a good reason for my absence, but I’ll tell you about that once a few things have got sorted out. I’ll have a brilliant saga post coming up soon, I can tell you!

This card is one of my favourites. It has so many little details- I love a card that makes you look closer and check out all its credentials! The tag holder is in fact a pillow box, with the bottom chopped off and secured with some wet glue (I’ve used Tombow). I dug out a neglected set that I used to death two years ago and used it for the tag and stars and combined it with my sparkly new Pennant Parade set. Here’s the tag within the pocket; I’ve tried to change the look of the Christmas tree by chopping up several of them and stacking them in a random way. I retrieved my stapler from the back of the drawer; I had a bit of a thing about stapling everything a while back. That phase went, but maybe its coming back. I do really love Bakers Twine- (well , how could I not with a name like that!!).

My interesting happenings whilst food shopping continue still. It did bring about an unexpected reaction from my littliest and is probably worthy of a mention here…

I had paid for my shopping and was wandering out of the store (feeling pretty pleased with myself as I’d picked up some amazing bargains to put away for Christmas) and Will was singing a song of sorts. An oldish lady (not truly old, just getting that way) commented on his song; ‘Oohhh, what a lovely song, he’ll end up on X-Factor!’. Now that comment, I’m afraid is rather ‘red rag to a bull’ with me. I know I shouldn’t have, but forgive me, I couldn’t leave it alone.

” The X-Factor? I really hope not! I’d hate it if he was on that. I’m afraid I’ve told several of my kids that they’ve got nice voices and can sing but they’re really not good enough to have a solo career. I guess I prefer to tell them the truth- if more friends and family told those who audition for X-Factor the whole truth, they wouldn’t end up making a complete fool of themselves on national TV”.

I know, she did rather get it all guns blazing. Of course I said it nicely and in a completely conversational way, but tis a bee in my bonnet and it was close to stinging me if I’d remained silent! The poor lady took one look at me, stared directly at Will and said “oooh, you’ve got a nasty Mummy”. This evoked a somewhat strong reaction from Will. Indignantly he retorted “That is not a nice thing to say and she is not nasty”. He did emphasise the ‘nots’ bless him. Part of me was extremely chuffed that he would rise to such a defence and the other part was mildly cringing. The chuffed part of me was definately in the majority though! The lady now looked extremely embarassed and said “ermm.. no, you’ve got a lovely Mummy, haven’t you, she’s lovely” and proceeded to pat my shoulder and look fondly at me. I rather suspect it was an act, and she didn’t really harbour lovely feelings towards me, but that’s ok! She shuffled off and I went on my way with rather a wrongly large grin on my face!

Later that day, I related the story to my kids. One of them said immediately (and somewhat disdainfully). “Oh right, you gave her your ‘ crushing your dreams speech’. Oh, I didn’t realise it was quite so famous with her. Hmm. I still stand by it, but I really hope they don’t end up in major therapy!!

Have a great blowy evening- I’ve been cooking with pumpkins- have some photos to share of the results next time.

xx 

Forever Young Part 5 & Aldi!

This is not my favourite card. Far too traditional for my liking. However, I wanted to do the same stamp in different styles so this is for all you traditional-lovin’ people! You’ll notice my love of ‘taking miniscule sized circles, delicately dobbing glue on and placing them on the page with a cocktail stick’ reappearing. But they had to be like apples and the only other sized circle just looked liked giant-morphed genetically modified apples! What’s not so clear fom the picture is that they’re all slightly glossy- well a good apple has a lovely shine (although not any of the ones we’ve bought recently!).

I stroked the ink pad from side to side on the stamp to try and get the variations in texture on the bark. Sorta worked. The leaves were one using a blender pen and some of the dye ink using two colours. The grass was treated in the same way. Makes me think of farms and old-fashioned summers and kids who have lots of time to swing and not be plagued by homework (oh, sorry, slipped off-topic there!).

It’s been a busy few days. First, I needed to rectify another dose of inadequate parenting; my kids came home saying their teacher was astonished that none of the kids at school knew their National Anthem. True. I’d never taught it to them. Well you don’t . Have any of you sat down with your 4 year old before they start school and gone out of your way to sing it to them? Nope, me neither. I don’t remember my Mum doing that, but we did have to have Christmas lunch finished in time for the Queens Speech on Christmas Day at Granny & Grandads house when I was young, so maybe it was inculcated there. And so our trip to school became a rather involved discussion of a monarchy, democracy, republic etc. We also covered the Queen and those in line to the throne and why they came next, hotly followed by a very quick ‘run around the world’ listening to various National Anthems courtesy of YouTube. (I have to add that by this point I had actually arrived at school and was sitting stationary in my car!). We all sung to our National Anthem (now that they actually knew it- although I showed them the second verse!!). We listened next to the Star Spangled Banner. I did have to resist the urge to place my hand on my heart. I just love that song. It makes me feel all patriotic and I’m not even American! The kids were not so keen on the French one (sorry)- they didn’t like the fighting lyrics. I know we have Pomp And Circumstance and have beyond our share of colonialistic behaviour but our Anthem is fairly neutral! They weren’t keen on the German or Spanish but did quite like the South African one. We nearly got the Turkish anthem but time escaped us. I can tell ya, by 8:40 I felt I’d earned my title- ‘parent educator’ for the day.

Now, I haven’t given you any sagas recently, and this is more of a mini-reflection upon an experience we had today. (Apology first, this is a long post, just feel like sharing y’know!).

Anyhow, I needed to go shopping. On my drive home from school I was debating where to go. I decided to go to Aldi- which is a big deal, I can tell you. I managed not to drive into the car park without a snarl on my face and parked up. I guess it would be timely here to mention that about years ago I received a £40 fine for overstaying my welcome there. I didn’t read the signs. I normally do. I had 5 kids off school on holiday and I had to take them shopping. Enough said.

I had thus boycotted the store for all of this time. It amounted to nearly a grudge. I guess people are easier to forgive. I knew I was in the wrong and should have taken my punishment more graciously. I didn’t. It just smarted. I went into the store and the hassle began.

I didn’t have a pound for the trolley. I had cash, but no coin. As there appeared to be only 1 member of staff in the entire shop, I then had to queue behind all the other shoppers paying for their goods before I could get the £1 to go back out of the store and return to begin my shopping. To be fair, it was very empty and there was no hustle and shoving. There are possibly reasons for its emptiness but I’ll address those later. I got nearly all the things I needed. Yes, the veg was really cheap. I was totting up in my head the running total and wondering how my friends get their whole weeks shop for so little? I wasn’t buying luxury goods (do Aldi actually do those?) and didn’t have an overflowing trolley but still it was mounting up.

The stress began once I started loading the conveyor belt. Those assistants can motor. Wow- there is an imbued ‘hurry’ that overtakes you once they start scanning your food. I was literally throwing my food onto the belt (mentally worrying what damage I was doing to them) because obviously if he piles the other end too high before your goods are loaded out of your trolley then your shopping is going to drop onto the floor. Apart from getting the trolley round the wrong way (double dufus), he then says ‘Madam’ (arrggghh- I hate that meaning-laden word. Sir, sounds refined and gentile. Madam sounds old, worn out and a little bit stroppy!), please don’t pack our goods until I’ve finished, please pack them over there’ and pointed to the ledge by the window. Aha, I thought, this is how they do things cheap and frustrate the customer at the same time. The speed they throw the food in your trolley enables them to get through more customers, employ less staff and increase their profits. I’m getting discounted food because I have to double-pack. I wasn’t thrilled about carefully packing into the trolley, going to the side, removing most of the goods onto the ledge and packing them again into bags and then back into the trolley.

However, I discovered why I weigh so much. I’d never realised how heavy food is! If I’m putting so much heavy food into my mouth, that kinda would explain it!! Sorry Aldi, I didn’t love the experience. I can understand why Tesco is heaving at that time of day and you’re not. William loved running up and down the aisles making flying noises, but I’m not sure the other customers did. Ho hum, maybe I’ll go back to Tesco!!

I need to go and unpick 4 different colours out of a squidged mass of Playdough. You have to keep those colours separate, don’t you!

xx

Forever Young Part 4 & Humbled!

Monday! Yay! well sort of yay!… I must have subconsciously been sighing that led to such a large sigh as I got out of the car, that a friend commented upon it. Sometimes sighing is good. It’s the attitude I just need to keep in check!

Here’s part 4- same stamp set, just a different 3 stamps within it. Didn’t want you getting bored now!! I was going for the parlour set of framed photo’s look. Guess I’m nearly there with it. I just love how such a very plain and traditional image can be modernised. Love my stamps!! The girl centre-top hasn’t been pebble-dashed, just glittered. Hopefully the closeup will give you a better idea. It’s always good to texturise something. Couldn’t escape without a few stripes sneaking in. Where would the world be without stripes huh?!

With a little more cutting around shapes (honest, it doesnt take too long), and mounted them on dimensional foam pads- that’s it. Really simple. Hope you likey!

I have to say an ENORMOUS humungous, exceedingly heartfelt T-H-A-N-K-Y-O-U. I have been stunned and really humbled by the amount of people who’ve emailed, messaged, left comments and spoken to me in person about my decision to move on from Stampin’Up!. I didn’t know you guys cared so much (wink). I was unprepared for the strength of feeling and lovely comments and it has really humbled me to think you all care. Thankyou. You have no idea how much it means to me, and I really appreciate you taking the time. Please keep in touch- I want to too. I don’t want to stalk you all- so please feel free to run the other way! I’m not leaving or going anywhere, so you know where to find me!

I thought before I  went, I’d leave you with a picture that made me smile. I was cleaning out the car (my hubby will tell you that that’s a rarity) and found this little note. Both bemused and a little unsettled, I found the author and asked her whether she’d written it and what she meant by it. To tell you the truth I was hoping there would be an alterior reason and it wasn’t a comment on my daughter’s materialistic desires or my poor parenting. Sadly- it was as she’d written.

“Mum, it was a day where you wouldn’t let us buy anything”

Me: “hmmmm….”

What is a girl to say?!! I ticked myself off for being a bad mummy except I’m both devastated she might think that every day she can buy stuff and yet I know that’s not true. The girl has got her head switched on this weekend though. She got pocket money from her Grandad and announced she’s not spending, she’s saving for some ‘Wheelies’. Maybe I should take a leaf out of her book and try a few days spending absolutely nothing and just see how long I can last..(better get a big food shop organised then!).

See you soon,… off to finish a big pan of Ragu. Another kiddy playdate tonight, but fortunately this friend is ok with non-kiddy food so no pizzas,sausages, chicken nuggets nor waffles in sight. Hurray for vegetables!!

Forever Young Part 3 & Goodbye!

 Hello! are you still with me? Exhausting, this- blogging every day!!! I think the title probably warrants an explanation. I’m saying Goodbye- but not to you lovely blog readers, nor crafting or this blog but to Stampin’Up! It’s been two years and I’ve learned lots, met some great people, made some fab friends but you know, everything must come to an end. Notice that my blog is a little more streamlined! I’m simplifying my life (if that’s really possible!) and making way for the next thing- whatever that might be.I’ll be putting one last order in towards the end of October- so you know where to come if you want your £1 postage deal. For any of you lovely people who’ve been my customers and haven’t read your emails- do get in touch, I can give you details if you still need  your Stampin’Up! fix after October!!

Enough of the goodbyes- it’s really new hello’s!! I know I’m using all Stampin’Up! stuff still. I always will- but also want to introduce some other lovely stuff too- well we wouldn’t want to permanently neglect some of those poor little bits hiding in the back of my cupboard? would we?!

This card has grass on (to state the obvious!). I do love cutting grass- another soother after a long hard day. Not that today has been hard- but well, you know. The ‘clouds’ were a happy accident – the paper had cloud-like images and I wanted to incorporate the paper into the main picture; ground it a little. So, using a craft knife, I cut around the shapes and slotted my cardstock into it- a bit like a fancy photo corner. Hope you’re not quite sick of the set yet- not many more to go…

Today I enjoyed doing something I never thought I would. Housework. Yes, you heard me right.

I’m not turning into Anthea Turner or the Perfect housewife (Steve would collapse laughing here if he was reading it). But I cleaned and got great satisfaction from it. Why? Possibly because I was uninterrupted and actually Finished a job. I never finish anything- be that a cup of tea, the washing, the ironing or more often than not, a sentence. That’s partly why I love crafting- you know that feeling when a project is completed. No stray ends, no ‘leave it til laters’. Finito. Completed. Finished. My kitchen sparkled, and I smiled- well it did for a few hours and now there’s a whole load of dishes stacked in wobbly piles. But I can still gain satisfaction from the fact that it was completely clean once. Once. For me, that’s fantastic.

Here’s to one completed job in a day. What job would you like to complete?

See you soon x

 

 

Forever Young Part 2 & Happiness!

Hello again! Today is another in my mini-series using the Forever Young set. This is a cuter card with a different feel. I did feel the poor girl (assuming its a girl- hard to tell with a silhouette!!) needed jazzing up a little so fashioned her a quick red dress. She looks a little warmer- poor thing with the wind blowing a gale at the moment too!!

I’ve added some glitter to one of the hearts- always reminds of those frosted grape things that get paraded about at Christmas. I remember making ‘frosted glasses’ with egg yolk and sugar for a dessert yonks ago; wasnt a pretty picture!

I picked up the bowl I’d painted today. I’ll take a pic of it and post it with one of the other cards. I love it- makes me happy. Speaking of happy, theres been just a little too much hilarity in our house today with one of my littlies friends for tea. Will was having so much fun that his face was bright red. Wish a bright red face indicated happiness; Last time my face was bright red was this week when Will and I were doing ‘The Biggest Loser’ on the Wii. It would coincide with the postman ringing the doorbell and me answering it looking flustered and sweaty. He’d obviously seen our exercising efforts through the window and smirkingly asked ‘been exercising then?’. I muttered feebly ‘something like that’ and shut the door quick. Shame we can’t all glow! Is that asking too much?

I’m procrastinating. The kitchen has got itself dirty all by itself again. No matter how clean I get it, it just spirals downwards. We were in the kitchen yesterday preparing a sandwich and Will was less than impressed that I’d forgotten to buy tuna. ‘But why did you not buy tuna?

‘Because I forgot too, I’m sorry’.

‘But why did you  forget?’

‘I just did, Mummy forgets things. I’m afraid I’m not perfect’.

‘Mummy, you are perfect’.

‘(laughing) I’m really not!’

‘Mummy I love you and you are perfect’.

Priceless! So not true- but cute all the same. So glad I can have my heart warmed like that. Super glad I’m not stuck in a smelly office missing little snippets of  his conversation. Here’s to staying at home (if you can)!!

See you soon (after I’ve purchased some Tuna!)

 

Forever Young Part 1 & Almond Rolls!

Hey! Hope you’re having a great day with all this lovely sunshine! This is part 1 of  7 Forever Young Projects! I think is my favourite one so I thought I’d show it first

I love how this tree image can cover so many different looks. This is nearest to my style. The little envelope is from Home Bargains and was pennies. Before you ask- it was a little time consuming to put all the little ‘blossoms’ on but I think it was worth it! I used a toothpick to pick up little blobs of Tombow glue and then dab over the tree. Using the same toothpick ( which was then slightly sticky) I could pick up the teeny circles easily.

It’s easy to accentuate part of an image and I’ve just used one of the frames in the stamp set to draw attention to the little girl on the swing! I just stamped out 3 frames, cut out the centres and slathered on Crystal Effects. I mounted them with dimensionals to give more height from the image.

I love the colour combo of Melon Mambo and Calypso Coral (the new In-Colour). I didnt really like it at first- too peachy-pink, but in combination- a great pairing. I guess life is like that sometimes. Coffee by itself? Ok- but add some cake and all of a sudden, you’ve created a magnificent pairing!!! I’ve just sat down and actually drunk a whole cup of tea with an almond roll that y eldest made in cookery at school. It was very yummy and the recipe came from a US friend of ours. She’s going to have to keep them well away under lock and key! They’re up there with the Pioneer Woman’s Cinnamon Rolls (and thats saying something!!!)-See- having kids does have its perks. I think she just might have reduced the EC flour mountain significantly and came home with 14 (the other 10 were gobbled by her mates). I was quite pleased to actually sample something she’d made, because she seems to create lovely dishes  and then she and her friends eat it at lunch time. Makes me glad to be contributing to her friends lunch menu at our expense!!!!

Need to go and make a times table game with one of the littlies. He hasnt got any stars on his tables chart at school and the lad next to him was not being very nice about it. I’m not entirely sure what he needs to do to get a star, as I tested him , and even out of order, they’re pretty ok. At this rate, I’ll be going in with a pad of stars and doing it myself! Kids huh?!

See you very soon! x