Down to earth with a bump!

Well, after my lovely weekend, this week has been a great example of falling from a great height.

My lovely, wonderful 16 year old daughter (well, she's nearly 17) announced first that she was dropping out of college, and then that she was leaving home - this was done from the doorway with backpack already packed.

I felt so gutted, I have tried to make her the centre of my world, whilst at the same time trying to teach her the independent skills required to go out into the world. I know I should see this as the ultimate consequence of the way we have tried to bring her up, but I was kind of expecting it in a few years time.

Thankful she has not tried to go it totally alone, she has moved in with her boyfriend and his parents, so at least there are adult influences, and they are staying here over Christmas (Christmas eve and Christmas day). I wouldn't be her mum though if I wasn't worried whether she's eating enough, getting enough sleep, being good and polite blah, blah.....

So I haven't done a lot of crafting this week, as I've just been feeling a bit low. Daughter did phone last night to see how I was and let me know that she's okay - perhaps we can have a better relationship now that she has a bit of distance (I do so hope so).

Anyway, must go and get ready for work - back soon!

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Oh such a perfect day!

Well, actually it's been a perfect weekend, I've had such a brilliant time.

Firstly when I got up yesterday I found some inspiration to make a card, and it was finished by 9 a.m. - I was up early yesterday as I was going to a bag making workshop. That was where my day got better and better. I spent the day with some amazingly lovely women, chatting, eating amazing food and learning how to make a bag. For me there was more learning than most, I managed to cut one of my pieces wrong and didn't take enough material with me to correct it - thankfully one of the other ladies gave me some material so I started all over again. I didn't finish either bag at the workshop, but that's where its been the perfect weekend, as I came home with the skills and put them into practice this afternoon, finishing both of the bags while cooking a lovely roast dinner.

I can't imagine a better weekend, ever, it's been just BRILLIANT!

 

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Beautiful box

Well, I had a great time yesterday and managed to make a whole project in one go!!!

I have to say that I really love Pinterest, and this project was one I found through browsing there, although the actual project is from Splitcoast Stampers and can be found here.  It looks quite complicated, but I have to say that it is really easy to make if you follow the instructions carefully (I should have followed them more carefully and ended up having to re-do a few bits, but hey ho, you live and learn!).

The backing paper and images are from one of my snowman CD's (think it's the Walking in the Air one), the images are stunning and the only thing I have to decide now is what to put in it, the individual trays are about 3 inches square by about 7/8 inch deep, chocolates or jewellery are the obvious choices.

I did have a ribbon on the box to tie it closed but it actually holds together just as well without, so I took it off, it also was making the box open slightly when it was tied.

One last mistake of mine for you all to learn from - when you adhere the image to the top for decoration, make sure you stick it to the side that doesn't have the box directly underneath, otherwise you won't be able to get anything in to the top draw of the box.

 

 
Anyway, hope you like this & see you soon.

Morning all

Well, it's not even 8 a.m. On a Saturday morning and I SHOULD NOT BE UP, but my scooter needs fixing so I've got to take it to the garage in a minute.

I have had the most crafty week I've had in ages, I made some lovely cards with Alison last weekend and have managed to carry it on throughout the week - I've even inked up a stamp and coloured it! and will probably turn it into a card today.

I thought I'd show you a couple of cards that I've made with the help of my new favourite toy, the ebosser

This first one I made last weekend when Alison was here, we were looking at one of the folders and trying to decide what you could do with it. I started with a 6x6 card base and embossed the lovely swirl onto it, I then used worn lipstick distress ink around the card, next I cut out two butterflies (diesire die) and inked these up too, I glued one to the card and glued the other on top but only glued the centre so the wings are free, I put gems down the body of e butterfly and small gems on the eye stalks. The sentiment shape was another diesire die! And I think the sentiment is a Kanban stamp.

This next card is a bit brighter, but is finally using up some card I've had for ages. The background is an embossalicious folder and again the dies are from the diesire range, they work really well, the sentiment is from Lily of the Valley.

Anyway, I'd better go and get ready - crafty afternoon ahead!

 

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I'm back - again

Well, this post should have happened on Thursday morning, but I managed to hit the wrong button & everything I handwritten was deleted, I didn't have time then to re- post and then forgot to do it until now.

Thanks to my lovely friend Alison, who I spent a brilliant afternoon with yesterday crafting & helping her to spend money, I now feel like I'm getting back into Cardmaking - I actually managed to make 3 yesterday!! But I will save posting pictures of those for another day and just give you the details of one I made last weekend.

The stamp I used for this I've had forever and never used until now (hangs head in shame), I decided to stamp in versamark ink and then embossed with Wow ebony embossing powder - heated from behind it gave a lovely glossy finish. I then used some TH distress inks (I only possess 6) to create the ground and sky, then I used watercolour pencils and spectrum noir pens to colour in the buildings, tree and star. Then I mounted it onto some lovely sparkly blue card, then mounted onto a 5 inch square card blank that had been completely covered in a backing paper (again I've had this forever so couldn't tell you where it came from), The corner is the frostyville corner by Memory Box. It's a really simple card, but I'm quite pleased with it - it's nice to be making cards again!

Anyway, I'll try not to leave it so long next time.

 

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Creepy Crawlies!

I don't have a card to show you (have made a few, but only a few) and it's been absolutely forever since I blogged, so I thought I'd show you what was blocking my path as I went to go to work a few days ago.  Luckily I'm not scared of spiders, both hubby and daughter call on me when the little blighters need removing.

Time to start thinking about Halloween as it's only just over a month away (and avoids the C word for a little bit longer!).  I saw on pinterest the other day a lovely idea, Gingerbread skeletons! and I managed to find on Ebay a gingerbread cutter that then comes with a press to put the skeleton into the finished man - so I've ordered on and all the children that come to the door will be receiving gingerbread skeletons this year.

Well, best go and get ready for work in a minute.

TTFN.

Crafty Week

Well, I've had a week off work this week & as my 16 year old daughter wouldn't be seen dead with us (well at least thats what it feels like), I've had plenty of time for me.

On Monday I took a pdf cut file freebie that I got from Waltzingmouse (available on the webshop under freebies) and had some fun turning it into a cut file for my Silhouette, it cut brilliantly and I now have a beautiful green Three Kings box sat on my desk - I am soo going to make loads of them for Christmas, I seem to remember that if you put 6 together they fit into a circle which would make a great centre piece to the Christmas table, and a great alternative to the British cracker.  I will remember to take a picture of it at some point.

I have decided that blogging on my iPad is still not great as the camera is rubbish (mind you I am spoilt having both a Nikon D50 and a Sanyo Xacti), really doesn't do the cards justice and that will not encourage me to share!

On Tuesday I turned my hand to upholstery and re-covered a seat pad for my hubbies most comfortable stool - very proud of my modest efforts although I doubt I'll win any awards.

The rest of the week I have spent slowly playing - I've been cutting up t-shirts into strips so I can make a woven rug - will definitely show pictures of that when I get started!  I've also been trying to get involved with some challenges, I found one on Docrafts, which is their bear challenge - so I dug out my lovely new Lili of the Valley stamps and set to work.  I coloured the image with my watercolour pencils and I'm really happy with how well that turned out, much more subtle than alcohol pens, the papers are from a Laura Ashley 6x6 pad I've had forever - couple of Quickutz punches (corners & tag) and a cuttlebug embossing folder used on the green panel.

Anyway, hope you like (who am I kidding, nobody reads my blog) - off to find some more challenges to do.