Bliss Bag & Sale-a-bration Blog Hop

 Good morning!! Hope you’re not shivering away like me! Isn’t it freeezing?!  Today I’m part of a blog hop organised by Pat with all the ILWS gals. There are 4 separate hops all using the Sale-a-bration sets so as to give you all some inky inspiration with using them. If you click on that ILWS link, it’ll show you the whole list. My round starts with me- but you may have come  from the lovely Hayley, so a big Hi! and welcome if you did.! I haven’t seen her blog post yet but I’m looking forward to peeking later! 

I’ve got 2 very different projects. The first was an idea of mine to use butterflies from ‘Bliss’  instead of a hot air balloon carrying a birthday present. The design needs a bit of reworking but at least it’s nice and bright! I had fun making the ‘strings’. I used the different ink refills to dye some plain embroidery thread. I just put a small amount of water in different plastic cups and added 4 drops of ink from the refills. Add lengths of string, leave for 15 minutes, then remove and let thread dry. To get a truer colour I probably needed a few more drops of colour. Ah well, I had fun playing! I’ve also entered this in Stampin Royalty

 for their challenge ‘Anything with wings’ . I’ve used the Happy Birthday from Punch Bunch and just cut offthe 3 edges of  the scallops. Onto my second project- a very hastily sewn ‘Bliss’ Bag. The light was chronic yesterday- and even messing around on Photoshop didn’t help any! The colour on the bag is as true as I could as I could get it ! The central panel was made from a cotton baby cot sheet I didn’t need any more. I stiffened the thin sheet with some interfacing. The ink stamped really crisp images. I used Pear Pizzazz and Old Olive ink. I added the designer buttons whilst munching my breakfast in a cafe this morning.  As a result of going to a place called the Quarter, I want yoghurt, muesli and fresh fruit for breakfast tomorrow and possibly all next week! The next stage of the hop is heading over to Blue Angel’s . I went for a nose yesterday and she’s got some beautiful cards on there.

On a personal front I was thinking about lots of things that I love whilst I was in town yesterday. My eldest boy has a real nonchalant disregard for his appearance, and I love the way he just doesn’t mind! I had to force myself not to comment as I looked on at this very scruffy but incredibly happy little guy. I also love learning how things are constructed. I was so excited browsing through bag patterns and picked up a few. Wish I’d taken more notice during my Textiles lessons. It’s never too late to learn something new, so you might find a few more bags popping up on here. I also love just looking around. I was like a little kid after popping to town yesterday, with so many inspiring images in my head. Oh to have time to write them down nevermind actually create something.  

Off to tidy up- normal energy levels are returning slowly!

If you want to visit the other blog hops-

Round 1 blog hop- Sarastamper

Round 2 blog hop- my-next-chapter

Round 3 blog hop- here!

Round 4 blog hop- creatinwithkirsteen

Card recipe: Crumb cake and Whisper white cardstock. Inks- all the ‘brights’ colours. Rhinestones. Marina mist satin ribbon. Stamp sets- Punch Bunch & Bliss. Linen thread. White embroidery thread (from my stash)

Bliss Bag- white and patterned cotton. Pear Pizzazz and Old olive ink. Designer buttons. Pear pizzazz ribbon.

Bliss Bird on a Branch & Retreating

Good morning! Here’s another little card using the Bliss set. This time I’ve used that little bird stamp which is just too cute! I’ve combined it with leaves from the Sale-a-bration Sweet Summer set (that you’ve already seen) and also used the word ‘Bliss’ to create texture on the tree trunk and branches ( there’s a close up of that later). The bird has a layer of Crystal Effects over it and is raised up with dimensionals. I’ve coloured the leaves with a marker. The stitching is done with a marker and then pricked to amek it look like real stitching. The little scallops are just halved circles stamped with the Bliss stamp and pricked. The sentiments are from’ Tiny Tag’ set and ‘Vintage Vogue’.

How are you doing today? I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed by everything so I’m having a ‘no list’ day and retreating. It feels comforting to be esconced within these 4 walls and stay out of the cold wind.I’ve ditched todays’ list and am actually sitting down and watching a film with Will. I’ve managed not to cry at the beginning of Nemo (which we’re watching) and I may actually watch an entire film rather than the piecemeal affair that usually happens. Most films I never have seen the whole way through!!

 It feels good to resist the call of everything. Ok, I confess, I did clean and hoover one room but then I simply can’t relax in a messy room (anyone else like that?!!). I’m debating whether to go the whole hog and have beans on toast for tea. I know what kind of reception I’ll get for that from the kids- but hey, I’m always telling people to be kind to themselves, so maybe I should take a bit of my own medicine!

I’ve still got places left for Friday’s (14th) scrapbook class at my house. We’re doing a 12×12 page, a 3D object and maybe something else!! It’s at 8pm and it’s a good way of having an evening off and relaxing at the same time. Email me if you fancy it.

Take care, and don’t work too hard! xx

Card project; Cardstock- Tempting Turquoise, Early Espresso, Whisper White, Crumbcake. Ink- Early Espresso. Ribbon- pink and Certainly Celery taffeta. Pear Pizzazz marker. Stamp sets’ Bliss and Sweet Summer Sale-a-bration sets. Tiny Tags and Vintage Vogue. Paper Piercer, Designer button, corner rounder and linen thread.

Bliss Sale-a-bration set & How you live

Here’s something a little different from me. I started out stamping with a more ‘artsy’ style. The CAS style has gradually become more ‘me’. I was going to do something bright and funky with this floral stamp (reminds me of a chandelier)but  I thought I’d use the watercolour paper and a spray bottle to disperse the dye ink. I’ve used Early Espresso and Cherry Cobbler. The ink really bleeds beautifully into the watercolour paper- you can see here better- including the top left hand bit that bled too much!!. I mounted the images on dimensionals – but its hard to tell in the photo. The little butterfly is really gorgeous in the set. It’s got interesting script details and looks pretty surrounded by pearls. Hard to believe that it’s free, isn’t it!

Have you noticed how little people actually smile? I felt particularly smiley as I went around the shops this evening. I didn’t actually smile at anyone, but had a smile on my face. People looked at me very strangely! I was smiling remembering as I was crafting last night. I had a radio station on called ‘Last fm’. It’s made up of songs available on a radio channel all over the world. You can put your favourite artist in and it selects other bands and groups that are similar. I’ve found some of my favourite music artists this way. I was listening to a song called ‘How You Live’. Some of the lyrics said… ‘It’s not who you know, or what you did, but the way that you lived’. The song is all about living your life to the full and doing it meaningfully. I loved it and it’s made me think a lot today. I guess that’s about not leaving my ‘Bucket list’ until I’m 60, doing the things I know I should do now and making every day count. A Carpe Diem really. Feeling inspired? I am.

I’m off to do some research about a family holiday with a twist!

Card recipe. Cardstock, Basic Black, Whisper white, Crumb cake. Watercolour paper. Bliss stamp set. Basic Pearls, Ink, Early Espresso and Cherry cobbler.

Sale-a-bration 2011 & Happy New Year!!

Happy New Year y’all!! Hope you’re feeling ready for a new year and full of life?! No ,is it just me? Nah, I’m feeling a little jaded too! Come this afternoon I’m sure my energy will have returned (ably helped out by a decent sized piece of chocolate cake!!!). You may be able to tell I’m still on the fence about Madam Rosemary Conley, but I’m enjoying cake until my Birthday at least (which gives me a couple of days!). So, I thought I’d do a bright, zingy card instead. Super quick and super easy- -took me all of 10 minutes at the very max! The SAB set is the Sunny Moments set- just embossed with white on basic black cardstock.

Well how was your New Year? We had some of our family over. They have two young kids and so have the conundrum of  what to do on nights like that. We had a quiz designed by one of my girls and part of that was a dance off using a Wii dance game. It was very funny and I’m glad no-one was videoing it!! I don’t think that it’s one of my gifts! The kids then watched a DVD which finished just about at 12‘o’clock. It’s about the only occasion where I’d let them all stay up late. At least they can’t moan that we never let them see the New Year in. As a result we have some extremely grumpy kids today, but we’ve just had some lovely friends over and they all kind of amused each other and I actually got to have a conversation lasting longer than 10 minutes which is no small achievement I can tell you!

Normal life is now peering at me from around the corner. It’s sad to see it really. Spending time with the kids and Steve is really great (minus the grumpiness), and I love having no uniform to get ready and no school run. Playing family games and going to the park is just what we needed. We did lose a bolt in our park trip. Some kids had new bikes and as we have no bike hook for our car yet, we had to take 2 cars to fit 3 bikes and 5 kids in! My littliest just couldn’t get to grips with cycling forwards- his speciality is pedalling backwards and then got very frustrated that the bike wouldn’t move. I had a sore back from pushing him on his bike around the park. The other two had a brilliant time until one realised his bike was breaking. A major bolt had come off (not one that Steve had put on!) but as it was getting very dark and foggy, we decided to come back to find it (remember the conker and bottle escapade- we wanted no more accidents!). Amazingly steve found it a day later. The chances of finding a tiny bolt in a park the size of a small village were remote, but now we have a working bike at least.

I’d better go- the kids are trying to recreate the TV show ‘Bring on The Wall‘!- I’m not sure it’s going to end without tears!!!

See you soon xx

 

Card recipe. Crumb cake, Marina Mist, and basic black, Whisper white cardstock. Greenhouse Gala striped designer paper. Flower brad, adhesive rhinestones. Real red satin ribbon. White embossing powder and Versamark ink. Circle punches.

PS scuse the flecks of powder- should’ve used my embossing buddy!

 

Covered Christmas Notebooks and the Large family!

 I know (rap my knuckles someone)- been missing again! You can guess- need I bore you?!! I’ve got plenty to post, if I could just find the time!!

This is the end product- I’ll show it how it started out towards the end. People are beginning to wonder if I have a secret deal with Tesco, such is the frequency with which I keep sending people there with the promise of various craftable products (do you like that word, I think I just invented it!!). The green on the tree (from the Season of Joy set) is altered in hue because of the thin oh-so-nearly -not-there layer of shimmer paint. It’s quite unintelligable to the camera, but trust me, it’s quite a nice shimmer ‘up close and personal’.

Pearls and rhinestones are starting from ship from the European warehouse , after an overdue absence but then, you all went mad and ordered them!! Hold on a few more days- they ARE coming!!

I love using ribbon in different ways and this time I’ve used it as a binding. After all, no-one wants to see two unfinished pieces of paper butted up to each other, really, do you?

The button is acting as a closure- with the twine being wrapped around it to keep the little book together. Thing is, why would you give a Christmas notebook at Christmas when then you look a bit silly for the next few months, whipping out a notebook out of your bag with a festive tree on it?!! Perhaps I should’ve been using it as Seasonal check list holder? Ah well, there’s always next year!!

You would hate to see my lists- you’d hyperventilate as much as me I reckon!! I actually avoid looking for a couple of hours and then the need overtakes me! It’s not just Christmas- a Mario themed Birthday party at the weekend for of my little boys complete with iron-transferred Mario’s on the T-shirts rather than party bags (that is, if they do get to me with all the post disruption).

Recently, the size of my family has been the subject of quite a few discussions. From the man serving in the Post Office who kept shaking his head in disbelief that I actually had 5 children ( I know, you have to love people like that, even if they could do with visiting Specsavers and checking their eyesight!) to another man in Asda this morning who came up to Will and said that he looked ‘stressed’ and had I been shouting at him? Will looked at him with a confused expression. Bless him, he was sitting in the trolley, happily playing with his tiger. ” oooh, I bet he has plenty of paddies (tantrums)” said the man (looking at the colour fo his hair). ‘He’s quite good”, I replied, ‘although he does have his moments’.- I have another red head and she has her moments too!!’. He asked me how many kids I had. When he heard the answer he laughed and chuckled ‘next time I see you in here, we’ll have a whip round and we’ll buy you a television and then you’ll stop having so many children’. With that, he walked off!

Honestly, it’s the not the first time (and probably not the last) that people make comments like that.The first time shocked me that someone could be so personal, -now i’m well used to it. Although it doesnt beat the ‘Are they all yours?’ question, followed on its heels with ‘Do they have the same Dad?’!! Well, there you go- I’m sure this humour and straight talking is fairly unique to Liverpool!!   Maybe I just need a sign around my neck ‘Yes, I have 5 children, and yes, I like it this way!!!   Righto- I’ve got to go and finish all the baking that William and I have been doing this morning so I can give all those teachers something for Christmas.

I hope to be back here soon!!!

xx

 

Notebook supplies- blue spotty notebook with pen (Tesco). Old Olive ribbon and ink. Real red button, linen thread, Jolly Holiday papers (background) and Merry Moments scrapbook set (paper on notebook), pearls,  Cardstock very vanilla, real red and Old Olive. Silver shimmer paint. Stamp set, Season of Joy.

Joy Card and an Epic Saga

Apologies to those of you who may have seen this treat cup card before. I really love this Christmas card and somehow, in light of all that’s happened this week, this card seems to be downright appropriate!

It was really useful to have some Skittles the perfect colour to put into the plastic cups. The paper is from a retired Designer Paper set BUT there’s a Christmas Jingle scrapbooking set in the exact same colours, so you could still recreate the look if you wanted to. Why am I giving you a project with retired product on? Well it’s not because I havent been crafting but because I’m camera-less at the mo.

Pull up a chair, grab a cup of something hot and I’ll begin another Baker saga for you that will enlighten you as to why I have no camera.

Picture yourself happily sleeping in your bed. I say happily, but I was rather squashed due to a littlie who’d had a problem in the night and was having a rare night snuggle in our bed. All of a sudden, all I could hear was Steve shouting at me to ‘get down here now’. I did wonder what I’d done- had I left the oven on or something? I grabbed my coat, ran downstairs to find Steve a little shook up explaining that we’d just been burgled and he’d only then chased the burglar out of the house. The 5 kiddies were standing at the top of the stairs, scared and confused. It turns out theyd got in and were burgling around Steve whilst he slept in an armchair in the lounge. Shocking cheek huh? They made off with more than they should have but the police were there within 10 mins and a sniffer dog and handler in another 5 minutes. It wasn’t nice, particularly for Steve, but were thankful we were all safe and no lasting damage was done. I was so glad it wasnt someone else who might have been more terrified than my hubby and now we are having to deal with all the nasty after effects that this cruel and thoughtless person/s has inflicted on us. Do they ever spare a thought for those little children that are terrified to go to bed the next day, or the fact that we are so out of pocket as a result ( and thats not counting the value of the stolen items). The police have been fabulous and are still popping in to check we’re ok.

There were however, some things I will always smile about when I remember them. Firstly was my entirely inappropriate dress when meeting the police. I’d forgotten my coat isn’t really the best coverall and dived upstairs to grab my jeans when I’d finished talking to the policeman! I also had been really really busy preparing for my craft class that same day. My craft room was strewn with bits and bobs and someone commented that the thief had obviously been rifling through my stuff.  I didn’t have the heart to tell them that it was all of my mess!!

It’s a times like this that you remember what is really important, and I refuse to be so cross or frustrated that I lose sense of perspective or the joy of the moment. They can take all of our possessions, but they won’t deter us from living free lives, not being overshadowed by fear or stuck with the ‘if only’s’. God really protected our family early that morning and despite the oven and dishwasher both breaking this week too, I remind myself that it’s all still ‘stuff’ !!

All this fighting talk is making me hungry. I’ll sign on and go and cook off in our newly fixed oven (yay!!). Normal photo’s will resume when we can adequately prove to the house insurers that we did have a camera ( honestly, these insurers get worse!!).

Card project; Old Olive, Real Red and Whisper white cardstock. Old Olive ink. Designer paper. Treat Cup. 1 3/8 punch. Stamp set- Schoolbook serif. Silver elastic. Scalloped edge punch and tab punch. 

Christmas medallion and Credit Cards

I’m still ploughing  on with Christmas! I’ve become plagued with offers via my email inbox and you know, I’ve taken them up on a few. Purchasing gifts online without leaving my home and having 5 kids  in tow is just fabulous. I guess I’m spending more time doing the things I enjoy rather than busting a gut doing the less important. This kind of leads me onto the news that Stampin’Up! is (as of today) able to take credit cards and Visa Debit cards. This is great news for those of us who dont do cash and also means that we’re not restricted geographically so much. I do have ladies that need to send me cheques and it all gets a bit messy. Now, we can take them securely and there’s no need for us to store your information (unless of course you want us to!).

I’ll shortly be emailing out my Christmas wish list forms that you can give to family and friends. I keep your wish list saved and people can contact me, purchase any amount of goods and get it sent straight to them. Contact me for more details- kerenjb@hotmail.co.uk

We’ve been busy enriching the school curriculum from home this week. Firstly there was the ‘suffragette’ cupcakes. I really should have taken pics of those! Cupcakes with purple and green swirled icing. My eldest was interested to learn that my great- Nan had indeed been a suffragette. I guess that explains a fair bit about me!! Now, this evening, my other elder daughter is baking Tudor Tarts for history club! Probably the most unique baking exercise was when one of them presented part of their assessment as a cake. They had to produce a pictoral representation of a church building. She did it on a large slab of cake complete with iced outline. It was pretty unusual and needless to say, she got rather a decent mark from the teacher. Who said teachers arent fair?!! With our surname being Baker, I guess there’s no other option for the kids. I probably should be glad that I’m not a ‘Butcher’ or ‘Candlestickmaker’, it wouldnt be half as fun!

I should really talk about the Christmas card! I had a chilled half an hour painting this little medallion using Concord crush reinker and water and Shimmer paint. I had to turn it into a bauble and the pearls made me think about the wise mens gifts somehow. See, I’m getting into Christmas and its still October! It’s dangling from some silver elastic and is really simple but effective. I love the new colour of Concord Crush- reminds me a lot of a certain chocolate!!!…

Need to go and cut out oodles of card in preparation for tomorrow’s card class. Speak soon ! xx

 

Card Project;

Cardstock- Concord Crush and Very Vanilla. Ink- Charcoal from the new distressing set. Reinker in Concord Crush and white shimmer paint. Pearls and elastic thread. Stamps; Artistic etchings and Contempo Christmas (sentiment).

Cute By The Inch Thankyou’s and Dangerous Conkers!

It’s a simple one today- I made these as a teensy thankyou to the ladies who turned up to my Launch party and a few extra for a couple of other people. They are encasing little mints and are the perfect size for saying mini-thankyou’s! The Cute By The Inch set is part of 9 stamps and can only be got by being a hostess.  I did a party on Friday and had a perfect hostess who was chuffed to choose a free stamp set and some completely free goodies of her choice out of the catalogue!

Here’s a lookie at the set- you want it?- book a party and maybe, just maybe, it might be winging its way to you!!

 

I’m writing this having to be sat on the sofa because it’s been a bit too exciting today. I never realised that conkers were dangerous and I reckon we’ll give conker collecting a miss for a little while. The reason? Well, here’s a few things I learned today.

1. Kids love adventures; the darker the evening, the more the excitement.

2. It’s always helpful having a spare torch in your bag if you intend on searching for conkers in the barely out moonlight. I also learned that your phone can make a great (if not a little dim) searchlight.

3. It’s probably not the best idea to try and dislodge conkers from the tree with a nearly full 2 litre bottle of water. Here’s why.

In the dim night sky, the kids were having problems locating these shiny brown jewels- fair enough, I could hardly see my feet. It was deemed a good idea to try and give the tree borne ones a helping hand and deliver them to lots of eager little hands waiting under the tree. Strict instructions were given to the children to come out of the way, wait until the bottle had gone up, then down and then collect the bounty afterwards. You’ve guessed it, one of them didnt wait. Harriet got overtaken by excitement and rushed in. The rapidly falling heavy bottle met the little head. It wasnt pretty. There was quite a bit of blood and then in the fading light it became quite apparent that the gash was sizeable enough to warrant a trip to the medics. We all escorted a sad, sobbing and ‘dripping’ kid to the local walk in centre. I had to retell the tale, much to the amusement of the triage nurse, and after her cranial nerves had been checked and a few butterfly stitches administered, we escaped home at rather a late hour! Delicacy cannot allow me to divulge the ‘source’ of the accident, but if you ask Harri, she’ll tell you that it really wasnt their fault!! (and it wasnt me!!!).

I asked her if all the excitement was worth it to get the conkers? -her answer,’ No’! – but she is pretty excited to tell all of her friends on Monday. That’s one cool ‘show and tell’ that the teacher can’t tell you off for bringing in on the wrong day!

I’d better go- its extraordinarily late!

Choccie project- Cardstock, whisper white, Wild Wasabi and Melon Mambo. Ink, Pear Pizzazz. White grosgrain ribbon. Punches; Scalloped square and mini heart.

 

Acetate Cards & Sad News!

I realised I needed more sleep when it was mid morning and I’d only just noticed I was wearing my top inside out! Fortunately, it was being partially hidden by a jacket so I got away with it. Tonight, therefore I’m retiring a little earlier (make that 3 hours) than usual. This card was designed for a training evening run by Stampin’Up! at Manchester.. the one I blogged about a week or so ago. The clouds are in fact done on Acetate using white Stazon opaque ink and a sponge dauber- and give a lovely almost opaque quality, but not too opaque that you cant see the Eiffel Tower through them- just like the real clouds!! This set is really gorgeous and I’ve used it loads already. Definately in my Top 20 (ahem!!!). See the other images too! Im putting in an order Friday night, so shoot me an email before if you want it!

The sad news is that the poor hamster never made it to Saturday. At my New Catalogue Party on the Friday, the ladies all saw the poor thing and it didnt look great. My daughter is ever the optimist but it was obviously its time. My good mate kindly obliged to give it a good home in her garden and so we are now debating whether a replacement is appropriate or not. All very sad. I guess it’s an important rite of passage for a child, although our kids have gone through far more than just a hamster, but it still was upsetting for her. Unfortunately the other kids weren’t all as sympathetic as they could have been, so I’m not sure we’ve got any budding counsellors in our midst!

On a positive note, I went to visit a beautiful new baby and his very proud but utterly exhausted parents. Sleep deprivation is a terrible thing, but to look at the sleeping bundle of wonder, you couldnt imagine he’d kept them up most of the night. I’m really hoping they get a little more shut-eye tonight! Speaking of things new, I decided our eating patterns had developed rut-like tendencies and so have made it my goal to eat , or rather cook, one new meal a week. Last week it was Salmon and Prawn Thai curry and this week it’s been Spanish Chicken. The kids have loved experimenting and Steve has appreciated the effort. Thanks also must be attributed to Nigella, whose recipes I’m shamelessly following, although I have been adding my own little tweaks (sorry!, hope you dont mind!). I’m doing something different tomorrow using Pork Tenderloin pieces, caramelised apples and Dauphinoise potatoes and veg…wish me luck!!

Im going to sleep now- a whole hour past when I wanted to. This blogging lark has a lot to answer for!!

See you next time (with hopefully more of a spring in my step!)xx

 

Card project, Stamp set- Artistic Etchings, Word window punch, Spiral punch. Window sheets (acetate), Inks, Early Espresso, White Stazon opaque. Cardstock; Wild Wasabi, Rose Red, Whisper White and Bashful Blue. Marina Mist ribbon.

 

 

 

New Stampin’Up Catalogue and Resurrected Hamster!

Waahey!! It’s out and it’s gorgeous! The new Stampin’Up! catalogue is here and if you ever need to happily while away a couple of hours, you’d be blissfully happy reading this.

I can take orders online– you dont need to be local and for any who want to submerge themselves in their crafting place with a whole plethora of lovelies, just email me and I’ll place an order ASAP! I’ve an Open House/ Launch Party tonight, to which anyone is invited. Email me for directions and it starts at 8pm. Better run off for two mins as I’ve got lemon and lime cake, chocolate sponge and coffee muffins all baking away happily in the oven…

Phew, I’m back! Just need to do Sticky Gingerbread and Tiffin and then I’ll be done for tonight! Are you liking the card? I’ve got loads to post, but thought I’d be restrained with just one. Notice the new colours and New stamps and wait til you see the punches, (there’s a bauble punch that matches the bauble I’ve used in the card).This is, in fact, a Christmas set- the ‘balloon’ is a bauble and the ‘basket’ is part of a Christmas tree! Don’t be constrained by the normal boundaries.

Isn’t the set lovely. At £15.95 for the wood mount and only £12.95 for the clear mounted option, it’s an inexpensive set to do Christmas, and all the  year round (a la balloon!).

Life is rather hectic at the moment. I’m preparing for two 6 week long craft courses in the Wavertree area of Liverpool. They’re for beginners and are particularly aimed at women who are not in work at the moment. If you know anyone who fancies a FREE six week long course on Papercrafting or a 6 week one on Cutting the Cost of Christmas (craft wise!!) email me. Both courses will be on a Wednesday evening from 7:30-9pm and the first starts the 13th October. Email me for details.

Family life has been a mixed bag of hormones, rapidly multiplying spellings, homework, more house tidying and the odd little trauma like when we thought the hamster had died. My second biggie, is 12 and animal crackers. It’s been her ever present goal since the age of 4 to become a vet, and time is doing nothing to dull the desire. She has a 1 year old hamster. I say hamster, but it could well be mistaken for a mini-guinea pig, such is its large frame. It’s becoming more tame, thankfully, but is happiest when it thinks it’s a meerkat and standing on its hind legs! It’s somewhat of a houdini and regularly tries to push and knaw out of her cage. Well, Cinnamon (the hamster, not my child!!), had not appeared out of her plastic square bed and Heather brought her in, worried that she died. A little prodding (gently) with a pencil and poking, we realised that this ball of fluff was in fact dead. No breathing, no moving, absolutely no signs of life. You can imagine the tears and upset from my daughter.

Hang on, she said, and dived upstairs to consult one of the many animal books she owns- its ok, she might be hibernating. ‘Hibernating?’ I said incredulously, I really didnt want to give her false hope and the thing was well and truly still and stiff. So, we tried poking and stroking some more. Unbelievably there was a tiny movement and so operation ‘warm up the beast with killing it or cooking it’ swung into action. Nothing much was working. The poor thing was cocooned in a towel big enough to have swamped my 2 year old and she looked pretty poorly. Steve had a brainwave- ‘put the towel in the tumble drier’ he announced. Heather was unsure, but, you know, it actually came right around and despite having various bits of food shoved into its little mouth , it’s back to its little hairy self. Amazing! Heathers first correct diagnosis and something to be learned for me- I didnt know domestic pets hibernated, but then, the temperature had plummeted. One of my friends commented how awful it would have been if we’d buried the hamster. Hmmm, I’d thought the very same thing, eugghh, doesnt bear thinking about!

Righto, more baking to do. Forgive me for racing off, but I have calories anxiously waiting to make their home on someones thighs!!

Card project;

Cardstock; Whisper White, Poppy Parade, Pear Pizzazz, Wild Wasabi, Marina Mist.   Ink, Poppy Parade, Baja Breeze, Early Espresso, Pear Pizzazz. Stampin’Up! brush marker in Poppy Parade (to colour the whisper white ribbon in). Linen thread. Stamp sets, Contempo Christmas and Tiny Tags. Sponge Dauber to add the ink to the ‘hills’.