Ahoy Card & Tesco Bun Fight!
Good morning- or should I say ‘Ahoy There’! With the weather improving here’s a little project that makes me think ‘summer’. Whilst it may already have come and gone – it would be lovely to imagine balmy beaches & some quiet downtime.
Anyway- away from the dreaming – here’s some brand new product available from May from DoCrafts. Suitably titled ‘Ahoy There’ there’s papers, tags, lovely stamps featuring lighthouses, beach huts, ship steering wheel thingys ( what are those called?!!), knots, waves etc. this card is mostly stamped onto patterned paper with some paper piecing. Fun.
It never ceases to amaze me what I end up witnessing. I recently read a quote that a good author can see 5-6 ideas a day for a story simply from watching around them. Well I’m not planning on writing a story anytime soon- but here’s an amusing story that I hope not to be a part of in a hurry.
So- I’m out. I’ve been to pick up No.4 from a friends. We got chatting. It got quite late. Now I’m quite a stickler for bedtimes ordinarily but ‘nice mummy’ combined with ‘chilled mummy’ came out of the cupboard & I decide to get diesel for Steve’s car ( yes, I was driving it- I didn’t fill up gas containers!!). I then threw caution to the wind and popped into the shop as I was running low on basics.
Son no.4 thought this was great and as we wandered around Tesco, I noticed an animated gathering of people. Not wanting to miss out on excitement due to my often humdrum existence 
we sidled closer for an inspection.
Well, it was in fact a guy reducing down food. I’ve never really seen a mini crowd in Tesco and they were so close they were practically hugging him.
My interest piqued, I nudged forward.
I like to watch.
I scoped out the competition.
There was a girl a similar age to me: her trolley containing lots of reduced veg. She had a pleasant smile & seemed chilled.
I turned my attention to a couple who had a determined stance. They were poised & both had baskets. Aha- a tag team I realised. They were joking but had those scary type of eyes that say ‘don’t mess with what we’re doing’. Another pair were obviously a mother and daughter and looked like they did this regularly.
The last woman was, for want of a better word scary. You’ll see why shortly.
As the poor Tesco bloke slapped reduction stickers on the food, he lashed them into large green baskets next to him. What happened next was quite surprising.
It was akin to what happens when you put food in a tank full of piranhas. The fish look chilled until the food hits the surface and they all go a little rabid.
Umm.
Rabid was a frenzied understatement.
The customers were plunging, ducking and diving.
Then -silence whilst they waited for the next instalment.
I had to watch from the back. I couldn’t bring myself to dive in. After all, son no4 was with me. Not sure what he’d have made of his mother joining a food scrum. I did however edge a little closer.
Then the duck breasts came out.
The smiley girl went to take them. Scary lady also went down. Smiley was first but Scary snatched it. The picture of a bird of prey swooping down on its kill was a perfect comparison.But, the fiercest Peregrine Falcon had nothing on this woman.
Smiley looked up and caught my eye. She was as incredulous as I was. She graciously shrugged & let the Bird of Prey female take the spoil.
I could not believe it. Even the member of staff looked disapprovingly and remarked “stop fighting please”.
Another member of staff walked outside from the staff quarters and muttered something unprintable under his breath.
At this point there was a sense of camaraderie between us both. I was still not wading in. Smiley lady had a renewed sense of justice, ploughed through, grabbed a load of stuff and started offering them around. I had managed to pick up some eggs by this point and Smiley passed me a crazily cheap pack of beef burgers.
Still feeling shocked by it- I decided to plough on. As we returned that way- the crowd were still there. Stuff was now being reduced further. The eggs had gone from £1.19 to 20 pence (& they were originally £2.00).
I swopped my eggs and couldn’t believe the amount in Scary’s trolley. Lots of people could have benefitted from the bargains- she had a TON. The other experienced couple were so keen to jump forward that they had actually just broken a part of the fish frozen section!
Those were some ruthless reduction hunters.
Drama at Tesco; who’d have thought it? Grown up women having a bun fight!
They need to issue tickets next time !!
Better go, have some reduced mince to make a meal with
Tea Bag Flowers & New Tent!
Sorry I’ve not been around much recently. The whole busy excuse is getting a little lame so instead I’ll say that I’ve been flexing my creative muscles in a way that demands my attention away from the Internet. This picture is the latest edition from Paper Crafts and my card is the top one. The challenge was to use items found in a kitchen and create projects with them. The flowers are actually made from emptied tea bags- a little more finicky than average paper roses because the tea paper is so delicate- but gives a really pretty look. Give them a go- just remember to get rid of the tea first! ( oh -and new tea bags unless you’re going for a vintage look!)
Today I’m keeping an eye on HSN- DoCrafts are showing products for the first time on the American channel. Hope it goes well for them. I had to prepare samples for them- so it will fun to see what they look like!
Family stuff continues to give me lots to smile about ( & plenty to test my patience too!). We were fortunate enough to win a Camper Van kids pop up tent from Monster Toys that my boys ( & certain girls) were looking forward to getting. It’s gorgeous- a blue camper van & I’ve heard lots a muffled laughter since. There’s room for at least 3- although I was ordered to squeeze in and trust me- its not for adults. The kids helpfully commented that I was in fact quite possibly too large for it.
Thanks.
They want to sleep in there & were late for school this morning partly due to the lure of playing in said tent. It’s a welcome relief from the constant cry of ‘please can I play on the DS’.
I’m still waiting for them to come home and clamour to ask ‘please can I do the dishwasher’
Or ‘Mum, please will you let me do the ironing”.
Am I asking too much
We found a prom dress. Amazingly.
It’s not quite right. I’m supposed to be inserting a lace back into it.
A case of she thinks my skills are superior to what they actually are. At least there’s some vague confidence in me!
Ah well. Better dash. See you when I’ve redirected my mail- so much is either going missing or I’m receiving other people’s post. Would be quicker to hand deliver everything I fear!
xx
Man Card (minus the gems) & Being Surplus!
For many- the man card is something regarded as a topic to be discussed in whispered tones – with much shaking of heads & communal agreement at the general toughness of the challenge. However, recently I’ve quite enjoyed making them – the travel range (All Aboard) just fits it to a tee ( or if you have lots of friends leaving or going on fabulous holidays).
Obviously maybe lose the gems. Not many blokes seem to appreciate sparkle. Steve would be unimpressed. I hadn’t finished ‘adding’ really. Maybe one day there’ll be some universally accepted ‘man-gems’?
Probably not.
The die cut world shape is from the X cut Kinetic die. Just love that.
Today has been one where I’m possibly utterly surplus to requirements.
After looking after my littlie a lot of last night- he was unable to go to school because of a tummy upset.
My eldest girls were off due to an inset. We had to try and find a prom dress. Please don’t get me started on relaying that story.
Needless to say the shortened version went.
Lots of dresses.
Frowns.
Disappointment.
Me hurrying to find others.
Smash.
Will broke something.
Utter mortification.
Rush to school.
Return home.
Cookies and milk.
What continued ( apart from long term planning of how mum and dad are going to allow one dog, one cat, one extra rabbit and at least two guinea into the house), was a constant bleating about having the DS ( game machine).
Now I’m limiting it at the moment. And I mean severely rationing it. No. 5 would remain on it as long as his eyes were open.
I’m saying no this week.
It’s not gone down well.
He has his eyes on a certain posher version.
The 3D XL to be precise.
He came to me in the Kitchen.
“Mum”, he commented thoughtfully,
“I would like the 3D XL around more than you”.
I stared a little, bristling at his words.
“I do like you, but I like the 3D XL a bit more”.
I don’t expect to be top of my kids most valued items in all the world but it stings a little to be dethroned by a small piece of plastic.
“That’s not very nice” I replied hoping it was just an over exaggeration.
His Dad tackled him over it- asking whether he’d sell any of his family to purchase such a thing.
“I’d sell everyone except you Daddy. I need someone to look after me”.
Yup.
It was me in the night hosing him down. Me again getting new clothes & settling him.
But, no- it’s Dad all the way.
That’s ok- at least Dad had a higher value.
We quizzed him as to what he’d do when Dad was at work.
“Would the DS take you to school?”.
“Oh no, I just wouldn’t go to school”.
That would be a perfect solution for him. He’s a school avoider.
“What would you do for tea- or breakfast- the DS can’t cook” enquired a sibling.
“Of course it can’t cook” he retorted “I’d just starve whilst I was playing”.
He probably would.
And now maybe you understand why I’ve more or less banned computer devices this week.
If I don’t, I just might be out on my ear- sold on eBay to furnish my son with what he really thinks he wants.
Charming.
You can’t take it too personally- after all he’s 5, brutally honest and with a slight developmental delay in accessing his relational side ( joking here!). Empathy may not be his strong suit.
Well, I’d better go really-
I need to go to sleep.
See you when I’ve avoided being traded in for a more interesting model!
Yay! Card & Searching For a Dress
Morning!! It’s a cold and chilly one at that. This little card was made with my Silhouette- yes, I know I could have cut the bricks out individually -but it was way quicker and a neater finish using the Silhouette.
You can see I’ve stamped on acetate and punched out some holes to give movement to the card
The papers are the Soirée range from Pink Paislee- a slightly older range and I’ve combined them with some of the Dear Lizzy 5th & Frolic papers from American Crafts.
This Saturday I’m off to Lady Green Craft Shop out in Blundell Sands. It’s my first time demonstrating there- and I’m looking forward to it.
We’re still in the Easter holidays and enjoying a slightly slower pace.
Today, however we’re all going shopping. Dress shopping to be exact. It’s not for me- there’s no way I’d take 4 of the kids frock hunting.
My eldest has her prom to go to. Coupled with the fact that she doesn’t like wearing dresses and has a particular style in her head plus a limited budget, it could be an interesting trip.
The other kids are overjoyed. Not.
I’d go with her on a Saturday but as most of them I’m working, I’m going to be brave although I’m trying to remain positive & hope we find something in the first shop! ( unrealistic optimism?!!). She wants a black velvet tank maxi. Not specific or anything. They’re a little thin on the ground. She found one in Canada! Despite my reservations she thought it would be cheaper to get someone to make it for her. £125 was the quote. Never mind. She pleaded with me to make it.
Sadly my skills are not that impressive and can you imagine creating it and then they didn’t like it?!!
Anyhow, I’d better go. There’s clearing up to do.
This week- we’ve been doing some meals together. Harri is my sous chef and she’s fab at helping with veg prep. As we’d put a meal in the oven, No.4 peered at the oven, looking at what was inside.
As he nonchalantly strolled off, he queried ‘is that, that German Shepherd meal?’
Ermm no.
We’re not in the habit of eating dogs.
I swallowed my laughter although couldn’t subdue a grin-
‘That would be Shepherds pie, hon’.
See you when I’ve found something else exotic to cook.
xx
Togetherness!
Hey! I’m just doing some blog reorganising -so apologies if you read this yesterday!..
‘Togetherness’ is sometimes a forced commodity. It rarely seems to happen particularly when youve teens/tweens with both their own agendas and tightly scheduled personal lives. We decided to go out on Monday. It was Easter after all, and Steve had a rare day off.
Not wanting to go really far, we plumped for the lighthouse walk near Hale Village which, despite the potential of being thrown off the cliffs due to the merciless wind, is still a lovely ramble.
Trying to get teenagers out for a walk sometimes is like trying to shoehorn the whole of Buckingham palace into our small bathroom. It aint gonna happen. That day, we cajoled successfully despite protestations and general mumbles and groans. We had been remiss in not doing an Easter egg hunt. Our tween was in fact remonstrating us for most of the weekend. I had a daft and secret plan. I’ll come onto that.
We’re walking down a private footpath, wonderfully hedged either side with Hawthorn. I was actually enjoying myself despite not being able to feel my extremities. Furthermore, I decided to do an impromptu ‘hunt’. I simply gently let some eggs ‘slide’ out of my pocket, trying to be all nonchalant about it and hoping they wouldn’t notice it was me. Yeah, ridiculous notion.
The bottom three got very excited. I in fact broke into a run. lashing eggs out in front of me & smiling as the family actually were having fun.
Well, that lasted all of 30 seconds.
The lure of flying confectionery was so great that there was a head-on collision.
Both kiddos sprawled on the floor & one crying.
Before I even attempted to say it was all ok, I could see the blood and ripped jeans from where I stood.
Steve was unimpressed with the frivolity. It was an accident waiting to happen. The tween was wailing very loudly. She refused to move. I’m not sure what distressed her more, the pain, blood or the fact that her favourite jeans were ripped. Steve tried to console her with the promise of replacing the jeans but of course, she wouldn’t be placated. Those jeans were perfect and she wouldn’t be able to find any others. Ever.
The sorry straggler made it back to the car. All of 3 minutes it took. There were some highly amused onlookers. There always are. Somebody is definitely following us around for a laugh.
We sat in the car. Wails had reduced to sobs & the oldies were in fact relishing the warmth and cutshortedness of forced outing. We however, we not to be thwarted. There was another destination nearby.
Cue more groans.
We arrived, started walking and a strange air fell upon our merry band. It was the sound of conversation & smiles (if there is a smile sound- I definitely heard it!!). We laughed & oohed and aahed at the overhead planes. We got lost in a maze & they played in a playground. The kids illegally picked wild flowers (& I told them off afterwards!!) and we had some togetherness.
Took a while- but got there in the end. I think teenagers just need warming up to the idea.
We went home and warmed ourselves up with some tea and scones and pretended we were a normal family!
See you when I’ve finished pretending… xx
Birthday Butterflies
hey! First off- the card;
It’s part of the 3D workshop that I’m teaching in May at Crab Apple Crafts in Frodsham.
The workshops are on these dates:
Retro Stamping- 10:30-1:00pm Thursday 9th May
Gorgeous Ombre 2:00-4:30pm Thursday 9th May
3D stamping 10:30-1:00pm Thursday 23rd May
Backs & Fronts 2:00pm- 4:30pm Thursday 23rd May
All courses are £12.50 and places are limited. To book either ring 01928 787797 or check out here for more details. I may show you some sneak peeks of some of the other courses in due course!!
The card is using the DoCrafts Urban stamps butterflies that everyone seems to be going nuts over at the moment and the papers are Simple Stories ‘Fabulous’. The colours are a change for me & I’m using acetate (again!!).
