Sunday, 31 December 2006
More Wedding & a Boxing Day LO
Boxing Day Clay Shoot
Martin decided that as it was his first Xmas in his own home, he wanted to mark the occasion by organising something completely different.
So he came up with the idea of a Clay Shoot. It was so much fun. Us girls kept the scores stood by the fire & we breaked half way through for food. Hot chilli, thick wholesome soup & jacket potatoes. Real bonfire night fodder. Followed by Martin's mum, Joyce's sherry trifle, yum!!!!!
The men had 50 clays each & believe me, it isn't as easy as it looks to hit them!!!
Martin won with a score of 23, Tony (his BIL) came 2nd with 22, our Dad & Martin's Dad came in joint 3rd with 10 & Kev got 9. But they had such great fun... It was completely different & I really enjoyed it.
Saturday, 30 December 2006
DCM new dare...
Here is mine.
It is good to play along again, as being poorly left me too tired to create!!
I've used purple sarapapers, silver peel off corners & words, clear vellum held on with eyelets,
tags topped with sheer ribbon & tiny flowers with brads.
3 more tiny flowers finish off the bottom corner.
Friday, 29 December 2006
A Christmas Layout
It is pictures from my sister's Farm Cottage
hence the title Christmas @ Shortflatt Farm.
I made it using goodies from my Vintage Mega Bonus Box. (Card & papers)
I've added a few rub ons for lack of embellishment ideas!!!!
The tree was given to me as a freebie in an order I place middle of July, can't remember now where from!!!!
Those papers by Chatterbox just screamed christmas to me...
Wedding Album
Thursday, 28 December 2006
Craft Pressies
In front of it is the contents of my Vintage Mega Bonus Box from Scrap Magic.
There are 20 sheets of 12"x12" card & 30 sheets of patterned paper in vintage designs by Rhonna Farrer, Rusty Pickle, K&Co, Chatterbox to name a few. The packs in the front are die cut book plates, some yummy Laura Ashley Buttons & Adhesive envelopes & some 7Gypsies Bali wire (10 pieces)
This picture is my Secret Santa gift from my team mate along with a couple of the jars I bought myself from Ikea to put ribbon in.
My other presents range from, novels by Jodi Picoult, to bottles of wine & Baileys, to candles, body things, Lush bath bars, food. More body things from the Sanctuary & facial creams from Clarins (I am 40 soon!!!)
Also a bottle of my favourite perfume, chanel Chance...... the list is endless......
Sounds like the generation game reading this lot, I'm busy checking the pile for a cuddly toy but I did get cat calender & diary & some very fluffy slippers!!!!
Wednesday, 27 December 2006
Home.....
I literally got in the door an hour ago & I am exhausted.
I have everything to unpack, washing to do & all my pressies to look at again!!!!
I have some fabby gifts & that includes my Secret Santa gift from my team mate. It was fab, a gorgeous tin filled with ribbon & brads.....
I am still poorly, I ache everywhere & have quite a chesty cough.
I stayed indoors most of the time except for Xmas Day when we went out to lunch & Boxing Day, we went shooting.
I hope you all had some amazing pressies & lots of great food, wine & company.
We had a very lazy time, as most of us were poorly, with a cold, in the end!!!
I got some great craft bits from my sister, which included a Vintage Mega Bonus Box from Scrap Magic & the Creative Keepsakes' book by Ali Edwards, "A Designer's eye for scrapbooking with patterned paper." So, I may be engrossed well into the New Year.
To round off my visit, my sister took me to my favourite shop today, Ikea!!! We avoided the Metro Centre like the plague, but I got some storage bits for my increased collection of craft supplies....
What I'm looking forward to now is a hot bath, very large mug of tea & my warm bed...
Catch up with you all later with some pressie photos..... but first I must locate my camera!!
Sunday, 24 December 2006
Christmas Eve..
I knitted him back in 1990 & he is still my fav decoration.
I used spangly white for the snow & it always makes me smile when I get him out.
Well, firstly I want to thank all of you for reading my blog. I hope to give you more to see in 2007.
I have a small craft calendar taking shape in my diary of things to make & do!!!!
Perhaps I should re name that Resolution list!!!
Thank you for the lovely comments yesterday, which I only got this morning as my email wan't working again!!! Sadly I still feel like a pile of poo!!! Dad is the same, but I have presents to think about & quite a hefty supply of cold & flu capsules.....
HAVE YOURSELVES A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!
I hope to be online by Wednesday but for those who aren't going to be around,
HAPPY NEW YEAR, 2007!!!!
Saturday, 23 December 2006
Apologies...
I don't like to fill my blog with miserable things so usually keep my aches & pains to myself but today, i'm feeling sorry for myself!!
I hurt my foot 14 years ago & it caused my body to get out of line. It puts pressure on my back & I have since been refered to a Chiropractic. I can be sorted out but all this damp foggy rubbish for weather has set the pain in & by the time I've sat all day at my work computer, it is a struggle when I get home.
Now I have gone down with a stupid head cold & keep feeling dizzy.
I'm going away tomorrow & I'm so cross. I hate to be poorly if I can't be home in my own bed.. I don't actually "do" poorly very well. those of you who have read a while will remember my flu just before my sister's wedding!!!
I'm resting & hoping it will clear suitably for tomorrow.
I went to two staff meals this week, Thursday was my old work mates & the food was great.
Last night was the office meal & my throat was sore before I set off. I barely tasted anything I ate & couldn't get drunk, though I gave it my best shot!!!!
I've missed the last dare on Daring Cardmakers. I hope to produce omething later today but am not holding out much hope. My brain, eyes & fingers don't know each other today!!!!
See how I feel later on after a gallon of tea!!!!!!!!!!!
I will make my last post tomorrow & I have no idea when I will get computer access again.
Thursday, 21 December 2006
I've been "Christmas" Tagged
Egg Nog or Hot chocolate?
Definately hot chocolate, with a smidgen of Bailey's in it.
Coloured lights on tree/house or white?
I most definately like the icicle white lights, they look so delicate.
When do you put your decorations up?
Ususally the last weekend before Christmas & while watching Home Alone!
What is your favourite holiday dish?
I love all festive fayre but I adore turkey with all the trimmings.
What's your favourite Xmas memory as a child?
It has to be my sister's red pyjamas that she only wore on xmas Eve.
How & When did you learn the truth about Santa?
I honestly don't remember. I think it was around the time just after my mum died.
Do you open a gift on Xmas Eve?
We always used to. It was usually a magazine we each liked & a tiny bottle of baileys or brandy for my sister & I, & port ofr Nigel.
How do you decorate your tree?
These days it is just a few mini baubles on some twigs & tiny fairy lights.
Snow, love or dread it?
I love to see snow, it is so pretty & I am transported back to being a child when I'm in it, trying to step where no one else has. But, I hate the slush left behind & the mess.
Can you iceskate?
Ha Ha Ha, you're having a laugh!!!
Do you remember your favourite gift?
Spencer Bear, my teddy & daily companion. (who incidentally is looking forward to his 5th birthday on Christmas Day!)
What's the most important thing about Christmas for you?
Drinking mulled wine & wrapping last minute gifts on Xmas Eve, getting excited about watching people open their gifts next day.
What is your favourite Xmas dessert?
Xmas Pud! My Grandma's recipe.
What is your favourite holiday tradition?
They sadly are all in the past, but it used to be just the ritual that my sister, Nigel & I shared.
What tops your tree?
Nothing... they're twigs.
Which do you prefer giving or receiving?
Of course I love to get pressies, but I love watching others open theirs from me knowing they will love them.
What is your favourite xmas song?
Christmas Carol would be, "Mary met an angel", but Silent Night can bring me to tears.
Pop song has to be Step into Christmas.
What is your favourite Xmas story?
Nativity.
Anyone who has had time to drop by here, if you fancy having a go, consider yourselves tagged!!!
Wednesday, 20 December 2006
DCM final 2006 little extra
Make a tag for a special present, was the design brief for this very final DCM extra challenge for this year.
Here is mine.
It is actually an altered CD & it is decorated with the gift wrap which goes on my sister's presents.
If she reads this it will just give her a glimpse of what will very soon be under her tree!!
Tuesday, 19 December 2006
UKS December Week 4 Challenge
Sketch 10 points
3 patterned papers 15 points
Brads or buttons 5 points (30 bonus points)
total 40
As I mentioned in an earlier post, I wanted to do this challenge, but to be honest I had no idea what photo to use. I thought about a tree, presents & all the usual Christmas things but then my friend Joy emailed to me some pictures of Kimberly's baby girl, Carrington. That suit just had to be scrapped so I asked permission from mum to use the photo & here she is, my Elf....
Joy has kindly emailed a photo of the finished LO to the proud mum so I knew it was now safe to put on my blog.
I have done LO's for my sisters Wedding album, which also earned me 40 points, but as I can't show them yet you will just have to trust me. Just as soon as I get back from Tracy's I will set up a slideshow of the album. I'm getting nervous now, I hope she likes it!!!!
Monday, 18 December 2006
Gift Cards...
Here are a couple of gift cards I made really quick to put the details of the magazine subscriptions in.
Martin is getting the magazine Bike, & Tracy is getting Marie Claire. She knows about this as it is a renewal but I thought a card would be a nice touch. Her hubby Martin doesn't know about his mag nor does he read my blog!!
I've been over on UKS today mooching about & I really love the December week 4 challenge. It is a sketch & I have already got started on the LO. I am just waiting for permission to use a photo of a gorgeous little baby girl called Carrington. If her mummy doesn't really want me to use it then I have an alternative, but not as appealing, pic for its place...
Elsewhere, I got my final shopping done today & tomorrow they will be wrapped when I take my afternoon off. I think I'm just about done altogether now as if I have left anything it is too late.....
The next few days is going to be about me & getting through the final working week.
Sunday, 17 December 2006
UKS Sunday Blog Prompt
Couple of last minute ones
I hate talk talk....right now!!
Saturday, 16 December 2006
Last Minute Makes..
Lucky for me I have a plan for such faux pas!!!
I have 10 minute makes just perfect for the job.
This card is just a silver peel off stuck to some lilac card & cut out.
Rather a bit like the DCM Friday dare, B&W with splash of colour except this is Silver & White with a splash of colour.. Well I didn't have black peel offs did I!!!
The B&W card in the post below is already winging itself to Grantham to a dear friend.
My Dad's card is made & it contains the snazzy holly tag I made for the mid week little extra.
Can't show that, Dad reads every day & I don't want him to see his creation!!! Sorry, Dad, you'll have to wait until Xmas Eve...
Friday, 15 December 2006
Black & White Christmas
This one is just a simple holly & berries design stamped onto white card for the background. The plaque the main holly is on, was cut using my Carl Hand-Held Cutter with Victorian blade. I inked the edges black to give that "olde worlde" feel & did the same for the message box. Font used, Black Chancery as I think this is a true Christmas font!! I stamped two of the large holly & berries & overlaped them slightly. I used metallic red brads for the splash of colour.
I might make more over the coming days but right now I have two pages of a Wedding Album to complete & a Wedding Anniversary card to make. Been giving the B&W theme some thought for that & see what sketch I come up with....
It's Party Time!!!
Thursday, 14 December 2006
Trying out Beta Power!!
You are The Moon
Hope, expectation, Bright promises.
The Moon is a card of magic and mystery - when prominent you know that nothing is as it seems, particularly when it concerns relationships. All logic is thrown out the window.
The Moon is all about visions and illusions, madness, genius and poetry. This is a card that has to do with sleep, and so with both dreams and nightmares. It is a scary card in that it warns that there might be hidden enemies, tricks and falsehoods. But it should also be remembered that this is a card of great creativity, of powerful magic, primal feelings and intuition. You may be going through a time of emotional and mental trial; if you have any past mental problems, you must be vigilant in taking your medication but avoid drugs or alcohol, as abuse of either will cause them irreparable damage. This time however, can also result in great creativity, psychic powers, visions and insight. You can and should trust your intuition.
What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.
Quick, Painless & Hassle Free....
Wednesday, 13 December 2006
My offerings for this mid week extra
The boy gets TREE, the girl gets SNOWFLAKE. the little tag in the middle is HOLLY.
It might just wind up on the front of a card anytime soon!!!! I have missed someone out of my makes & still have an Wedding Anniversary & New Years Day birthday to cater for!
I am now the owner of a new cutter & wow, it cuts good!!
Talk about saved by the bell..........
Things are going against me, but ....
Tuesday, 12 December 2006
Back Down to Earth, but no bump!!
I'm still thrilled by it all & the lovely words from all my blogger & forum friends has made me feel really special all of yesterday & right through today too!
But, after all the excitement there is little to blog about as I have been crafting furiously over the last two days & can't share a single thing!!!! Oh it is hard, makes you wish you didn't tell family & friends about the blog, but then who would read my drivel......
I had the afternoon from work, time in lieu & tackled the mountain of craft jobs still needing doing.
Cards to complete & write. Secret Santa pressie for my team mate on UKS to wrap & make a pretty tag for. Got the computer badges done that a colleague requested & just have a gift voucher card & envelope to do for another. Then another asked for a card for her Dad. Her mum died just a few weeks ago & it is going to be quite a difficult Xmas for them. She didnt want anything too jolly & full of Merry Christmas, that is almost complete as I type...
I have the Secret Santa pressie for my work colleague to do next but we don't exchange until 22nd, so plenty of time for that. So, I am starting to feel relief & plan to make something for me. I so loved the Pencil lines sketch no.9, maybe I might get it done once the final two pages of the Wedding Album are out of the way....
Why oh why did I not be born with two pairs of hands!!
Oh, one more thing before I do forget... Blogger is being VERY naughty & won't let me post comments on other people's blogs. I think it is the Beta bloggers. It keeps telling me I can't be logged in & try again later. So apologies to Lynne, craftydevil as I know you are poorly & wanted to send {hugs} your way... I will keep trying never fear... And it isn't uploading pictures either it would seem, despite assuring me it had....yeah right Mr blogger......Merry Crimble to you too!!! bah humbug...
Monday, 11 December 2006
Toot Toot..continued..
Toot Toot! Just have to share...
Sunday, 10 December 2006
Sunday Bloggers - UKS Prompt
Saturday, 9 December 2006
Day of Changes
Second round for both DCM dares
I had to pop to a work mates house first as she had the wiggly type of potato masher & mine is just rounded with slots... See I have decided potato mashers are my thing!!!
I also used some bule wrap, some papermania ribbon & some sticky ribbon. Oh & a chopped up cocktail stick, so perhaps this card also belongs in the "Use the kitchen" dare from a few weeks ago!!!!
This one pleased me as I used scraps up & cut circles from them. The large heart is a colorbok's doo dads. The small "love" is from the MM wedding charms pack. Best wishes is a silver peel off & I used a piece of white ric rac. As I used circles I decided to round the edges of the square card.The small purple flowers are from Crafty Carrot.
Friday, 8 December 2006
Stamp with a Twist...
Yes, that is this Friday's dare....
Stamp a design using anything other than a commercial stamp.
Sounded difficult to start, but I was at work & had only had three mugs of coffee on a Friday morning....
Well the card turned out easy to make, trying to get it into this blog was another matter!!!!!!!
I made mine using my Potato Masher!!!!!
A few flowers, some mottled background paper, 2 strips of lace & a swirl Queen & Co Brad.
Pressies....
No, seriously, we often forget the true meaning of Christmas. It is meant to be all about a tiny child, born into nothing & giving the world everything.
Presents are exchanged as a symbol of this & I'm sure everyone loves to see beautifully wrapped gifts under the tree.
Today, I ordered my gift from my Dad. He gives us girls money so we can get what we want.
I have added £11 to the money & ordered myself a Big Shot beginners' Kit @ £69.99 & a selection of dies (7 in total). I can't wait for it to come. A big Thank You, goes to Jakey, for putting me on to this company... {{Hugs}} to you, Jakey.xx
Thursday, 7 December 2006
Hurrah!!! They're Finished
I'm not sending cards, I'm giving badges.....
To decide who gets which, I asked them Do you want to be A Tree, Santa, Gift or Snowman?
I have to make myself one yet & I also need to get out my French Dolly & knit scarves for the two penguins that live on top of my monitor..They are actually stress toys from Haven Knox Johnson, the wonderful Boat people...
Am thinking I will need to take my camera to work & get a photo of my desk when it is all decorated up for crimble!!!
We have the tree up already, the decorations are mid way..
Yamaha's New Sleek Offering
Now I have a love hate relationship with these things. They look fab, but as I'm terrified of water, looking is all I do. However, no matter where you go or what you watch on TV, a jetski always manages to appear! Which in the height of summer is awful because we practically eat, drink & sleep them!!!!
This is the newest editon to the Yamaha family & I have to say, it certainly got me smiling. I loved the detailed photos (which wouldn't scan properly!) of it & the colour is really nice. Some are bog standard blue...
I might have to scrap about Jetski's as they do take up such a large part of my day, despite having never been on one!!