Danemi's Shabby Chic World

Normality returns

2012-02-05T18:23:00.005Z

Aaaaahhhh!!!! It is 5th of Feb - not sure where the last few months have gone but gone they have and its now time to chill(chill - huh - look at the bottom of todays entry) and enjoy the results of our labour. We have a finished kitchen (apart from the blinds and the chairs that I am going to upholster - I am waiting for the fabric to go half price - its the red gingham from Laura Ashley - It often does and I just need to be patient!!!)

Still here are a few piccies of the end result

Anyway - my passion for craft is starting to sneak back in and it came in the form of PROMARKERS - decided to treat myself and yum scrum I am loving it - its basically colouring for grown ups (Ssssssh!!! I won't tell if you don't I'm not really a grown up - I am sure I will get found out one day) .......anyway this has made me fall in love with my stamps again - they have sat unloved in a tall bank of storage drawers for what feels like half an eternity. I have also been to Staples and bought some yummy paper.

A decision has been made (Where is the drum roll???) I am going to give digi stamping a go. I have sat for the last few hours blog hopping and generally surfing tinternet for digi downloads. Have printed a few and tonight I am going to sit down with said print outs and beloved Promarkers and

C O L O U R !!!!!

On my travels I found the following blogs/places that are lovely

http://sugarnellie-simplysassy.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb370/satutratedcanary/thereader4.jpg"/>>

I think I deserve it - the snow came down in force overnight - today there was a white winter wonderland - a carpet of snow as far as the eye can see. Although totally beautiful - hubby works 90 miles away and he will come hell or high water make every endeavour to go to work tomorrow no matter what - we are told the main roads are not so bad but in the sleepy little village where we live - thick thick snow ...so..... We cleared our driveway, our neighbours drive way and then drove into the next village where Mum lives and we cleared hers..I am making it sounds as if it was work work work - to tell the truth it was interwoven with snowball fights, making snowmen with the children and enjoying watching them pull each other on their sleigh and making snow angels.

So back at home in the warmth - having just consumed - chicken and stuffing sandwiches alongside a lovely plate of salad and rounded off with a bowl full of bananas and ice-cream - yum scrum!!!

First post of 2012 - Extension Update

2012-01-15T20:35:00.006Z

Well first of all - I must apologise - this is my first post of 2012 - well first one I have actually put some text in. There have been a few piccies captured here but nothing else. Wow the last few months have been hectic - our extension began in Oct and the Builders left about 3 days before Christmas.

I have found out that I dont cope well with mess. We had the new extension which is now a Kitchen/Family Room and then my old Kitchen and Craft Room were knocked into one large room. The Building Inspector had us take the floor up in the conservatory and put the new drains under there rather than go up the front garden and across to the side - said it was too long a run. So we had all the builders and the electrician, the plumber and the carpenter all here doing their own things.

We had to empty the old Kitchen and my Craft Room. The Convseratory had to have everything pushed to one side and everything covered with plastic. So we had things stacked up all over the house boxes and boxes and more boxed of my craft supplies - never realised just how much I have acquired over the years and to be honest I cant wait to get back and play with it all but I have a way to go yet before that can happen. I had pots, pan, dished and oodles and oodles of food stacked up in my sons room and he slept in with me - hubby slept on our sofa - good job its very roomy and comfy - he was leaving home at 5 in the morning so sleeping there he didnt disturb anyone (he often gets up part way through the night if he cant settle and goes and lies on there - we have a quilted throw that I made which he keeps on the back and he or the children often snuggle in it)

Anyway..here a few piccies of the process

obviously here is the before shot...we took the whole wall out to a metre before the path (other side of the hedge) My 7 yr old daughter and I took the hedge out the night before the buidlers arrived. I was doing it and she came out and wanted to help - she was amazing - dont know where she got her strength from but she wanted to help Mummy and help she did!

We wondered how far down the Building Inspector would make us dig and much of an impact it would have on our budget - we were advised the best thing to do was have a test dig for £40 and then the Inspector came and have a peek at it. Well we were already thinking at least 900mm - we had to go 1300 and ahve the conifers in the back garden removed - ending up pushing the budget up £1300. Here is Daddy, Daniel and Emily having a closer look

Course Mummy had to get in on the action too!

..and so the big day arrived - the children were so excited and wanted to watch

Here we are standing looking out of what was the front Lounge window - yes I know Emmie and I were not ready for the day yet - I am of course sporting a sexy nighty from M and S, think Em had just got out of the shower - Daniel was the only one dressed!

This used to be the side of the bungalow - we took the stone off and reused it at the front - apparently it stopped being made in the 1980's and I really wanted it to look as if it was meant to be there so we reused it on the front and then got a close match for the side. Anyway the piccie below is just before they broke through to the house - we have two openings double sliding doors into the lounge and then dont know if you can see the cut line at the back which goes into the new playroom/craftroom - along with the two veluxes - hoping for a nice bright room

Some time passed then we finally had walls front doors minus the glass and a roof minus the tiles - my oh my was it cold for a couple of nights as the builders had broken through to the extension but the tiles were not yet on. The children and I came in from school went straight into my bedroom and put the electric blanket on along with the tv and thats pretty much where we stayed!

Looking out through the front doors

and towards the back

Fast forward about 2 1/2 months - the builders left a ccouple of days before Christmas and I finally managed to get the Christmas Tree up in there

Well to present day - the Builders and the Electrician were here this morning doing a couple of final bits and the floor fitters are here too hence the mess but hope you get a bit of an idea - I will post a few completely finished photos when it is finally done

Ignore the table - we had to put it somewhere when we emptied the Kitchen for the floor to be fitted

I have got the gate to paint yet and the little side return - I have painted the inside Culprinol Lavender and the outside Green - wasnt sure the neighbours would like looking at purple fencing - lol!

2012-01-13T16:57:00.000Z

new tv needed!!!!

2012-01-13T16:50:00.000Z

2011-12-31T18:00:00.002Z

2011-12-31T16:28:00.001Z

doors to sell

2011-12-06T14:57:00.000Z

2011-11-27T23:19:00.003Z

2011-11-27T20:12:00.002Z

http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/images/products/kroby-pendant-lamp-double__51455_PE151113_S4.jpg

2011-11-27T12:11:00.002Z

Ex display RWK Kitchen

2011-11-13T10:30:00.002Z

2011-11-06T08:46:00.008Z

Doors and SIde Panels?

2011-11-05T09:57:00.004Z

Do we centralise the doors splitting the measurements between the whole wall and have to have smaller doors/side panels because the units come out 750mm from the wall or do we ignore the 750 and take the measurement from the front of the units and centralise there which would mean we have largers doors/side panels - aaaggghhhhh!!!!!!

Here we go....

2011-10-25T00:17:00.001+01:00

The build starts tomorrow - well seeing as its now 8 mins after midnight - this really is Day 1!!!!!
How do I feel...heart thumpingly terrified and excited all in one! We went to the outlaws this weekend and whilst we were there we finally bought a kitchen...it was from a really swish kitchen showroom..we were lucky enough to get an ex-display complete with top of the range appliances. There's the odd little fault but nothing major apart from a scratch on one door but the chap has ordered us another door.
We have been playing around with designs and been to so many different kitchen places..Ikea (several times) Jacksons, B and Q, Wickes, Magnet and Howdens - to name just a few - the hours I have spent playing around with the Kitchen Planner from Ikea - it is really useful having that tool at your disposal!

Anyway here are some sneak previews....

The Island which there was a bit of damage to the ending strip and a teeny tiny mark to the top edge - we are going to be reducing the width anyway and the chap has ordered us a new piece of edging strip - so hopefully that's that sorted. Also the gas hob is being swapped for a Series 4 5 ring induction hob - we just need to get a stainless steel frame for it so that it will fit

Here is the run of units which are deeper than standard so even when the tamba screens are down there is still lots of worktop left to use..we are having the dishwasher and sink unit at the left hand side followed by the runs with the tamba units on

3 tall units - one on left is a integrated Kuppersbush fridge freezer with a siemens oven in the centre and we have negotiated a price for a Siemens combi microwave to be fitted in above it - they are going to cut the door down so that the two can go one above the other and still be safe/look right

and next are some lights from Ikea that I would like to have over the island - not going to have a hood - will probably go with an extractor on the wall

which layout

2011-10-18T23:22:00.005+01:00

Which layout is best?????

This is Option A - things are symmetrical - tall units either side with beloved island close at hand - will I get fed up of walking up and down the 21ft of the room to get the milk out of the fridge although I prefer this one the best - I think

This layout B - tall units together and Dining Room area defined

This is Option C - U shaped run the breakfast bar will be wider than currently shown - downside with this is smaller dining area

or c shape with a twist

Change of plan

2011-10-09T18:03:00.000+01:00

The oak kitchen didnt work out - they changed the hob and then said they hadnt but the lady that I was dealing with let me know that they had!!! Not impressed and then the price for the other units came back so high - it just started to feel like - why are we doing this..so it was back to the drawing board. I have spent all weekend ringing around kitchen showrooms - there maybe a possibility at "In toto" in Birmingham (someone is ringing me back on Monday - the lady that I spoke to was lovely and told me about two kitchen - she knew one had gone but wasnt sure which and there was a kitchen there that was a cancelled order (hadnt even been out of the box) not sure which if any is available so am looking forward to hearing more. Meanwhile a lovely lady a Magnet today told me about an ex display - she sent me the picture below

They do not make the range any more, however some of the units not shown on here are a cream textured one which breaks it up - so I thought I can get my tall units (cooker, microwave and food) in the cream. Unfortunately the range doesnt come in a tall unit other than a 300. The lady recommended I got their cream gloss - she thinks it will go beautifully. This photo is an actual photo of theirs, the ones for sale are the wall units on the left and the run with the sink and with the hob. She said the worktop alone cost them 2K - it is a mixture of granite and quartz - the product is called Roxx and its really think - the colour is a bit like concrete but polished - its supposed to be very very durable and rather beautiful. The sink is included but not the hob but at least there is a cut out there so one can be placed in it. The talls are not included hence my needing to get some in cream. There are units on both sides of the island and some are cream plus theres another two wall units in cream. We will see what prices they come back with tomorrow.

Be back soon to record what happened. This extension is going to cost so much to have done - we have got to keep a rein on the budget for the kitchen - some days I feel full of energy and drive and other days - aaagh!!!

Possibly my new kitchen but with a twist

2011-10-02T18:34:00.002+01:00

I am thinking of getting this to go in the new kitchen when it is built - was a bit unsure at first as I dont want it to look twee and old fashioned - I certainly wont be having those wall tiles and am hoping for a more modern hood. Decisions decisions!!!!

my makeover to a mahogany corner unit

2011-09-23T18:56:00.002+01:00

2011-09-14T22:33:00.000+01:00

latest kitchen plan

Handle this!!!

2011-07-16T22:01:00.001+01:00

Extension Plans

2011-07-06T17:27:00.000+01:00

Pinterest!

2011-06-17T23:59:00.000+01:00

WOW lookie here

http://pinterest.com/danemi1/

Totally awesome - only go if you have time to gaze and wonder - drool and enjoy! Be prepared to get lost in the beauty of it all - I have toda spent a good couple of hours building up my like files - totally love it - please pop aboard and say Hi - I have shabby chic boards and happy places amongst others - it is so inspirational!

Kitchen Dreams!

2011-06-08T16:05:00.005+01:00

Ideas whirling around in my head - not sure if the kitchen will be in the extension or if we will put it at the front of the house where the lounge is now and put the lounge in the extension - and my craft room would be along the back of the bungalow pretty much where it is now but extended - ohhhhhhh its scrambling my mind so to drag me away from all that - here are some piccies from my kitchen dream file - hope you enjoy

Isn't the island totally wonderful - so different - a real gathering place don't you think?

Love the light

like the new england look

like the tall cupboards at the back then the island in the middle and then the table and benches in the foreground!

love the bi fold doors for this one - we seriously considered them but the builder put us off them as he said its an awful lot of weight on one set of runners - people often get problems with them unless they get really decent ones which would probably cost us about 5k - ouch!!! He suggested we get a large set of double doors and maybe have a full length window at either side of them!

Wonder what size room you would need for this - I think in my heart I would like something like this - , units a large island and then somewhere for family and friends to gather around a large table - homework - coffee - candlelit dinners ...whatever the occasion!

love the fresh colours - the lightness and the shapes in the doors

Love the height of the wall units - in fact to be honest being rather tall I always find normal kitchen units a little low (I get backache) I would love love love to have them base units a bit higher than normal!

Love this!

Who needs an Aga to have a kitchen mantel shelf and check those boxes out - you can chalk on the front - whats inside them - the kids would love them - I would too!

Love the little spice drawers in this!

Gorgeous gothic arches

Lovely seating area in rather a grand kitchen

I can just imagine the kids sat tying their shoes at this bench - gonna have to get a cute dog like this though to complete the picture - lol!!!

devil is in the details

natty notice-board

totally adore the ditsy crockery!

nifty space saving idea!

Another Clever Idea!

places for little stowaways

Decisions decisions!

2011-06-06T16:11:00.010+01:00

Decisions decisions .......We live in a lovely bungalow in a very pretty little village with trees and shrubs everywhere -

its full of lovely people, the school is in the next village and the city is only 5 miles away. Wherever you are in our home you can hear birdsong - my friend is very clever and can tell me the type of bird just from hearing their songs but not me I'm not that good - anyway the reason I am dribbling on is...we need more space. I can hear my Mum saying well we lived in a smaller place than this when you were we little and we managed very well - what do you need more space for - it will only be more to clean....I know Mum I know but we just do need more space...these days most homes have more than one bathroom (she lives in a bungalow on her own and she has two loos)

there are four of us and someone always wants to go when someone is in the shower....I feel I am waffling here so I will push on - it became a case of move or extend..well when we bought this place I remember pulling up outside and thinking we cant afford that - from the outside it looked lovely - once we got through the door I realised why it was within our price range - to cut a long story short - we have absolutely gutted the place...lets just say the bathroom shower curtain hid the hole in the bath and even the two bottles of bleach that we used on day one of living here still didn't sort things out enough. The cupboard doors that fell off whenever you tried to open them wasn't funny. So room by room - we worked our way through. Dad was alive then and being a builder and stonemason by hand not to mention a fab all around diy-er - he was a God send! Everywhere I look I can see him - feel his love......could we move - absolutely not - we looked but just didn't see anything that we liked better than here.

SO.....
plans were drawn up and planning permission sought - it was granted in Sept of last year but we didn't want builders working through the winter months so we decided to save a bit more and wait - well we are ready - very scared but ready. Hubby's job was under redundancy 2 years ago so he took another position with same company hundreds of miles away for less money - I am so proud of him as he has worked his way back up and passed where he was before. The fear is always there though...so we have been deliberating for the last few months but we have chatted long and hard about it - he is 37 so we still have hopefully plenty of time to enjoy it

WE...
are going to extend the side of our bungalow into the side garden - it will house a 21 ft 9 by 12 ft 2 kitchen/family room. After that our existing kitchen is going to have both walls taken down and one built in the middle making my daughters bedroom and wait for it ...my craft room much bigger (YAY!!!) and then if we are still hanging in there - knock through from our bedroom to the integral double garage and steal a 1/4 of it for our en suite shower room. The dust and the dirt will absolutely drive me crazy I know it will but I sooooo hope it will all be worth it.

I am busy looking for inspiration for the kitchen - I can see farrow and ball pain being used by the gallon, definitely yearn for some Cath Kidston fabrics and totally love the country family kitchen look with a big table and chairs at one end where the children can do their homework as I prepare the evening meal!! Idyllic - in reality we will only have money left for beaks on toast and the children will be sat arguing about whose turn it is to empty the dishwasher!!!! To start me off though here are some piccies that I have been putting in my favourites folder - I am sorry I don't know where they came from - I have been building my collection for quite some time

Love the lightness - definitely has to be a hand painted farrow and ball finish I think - we have found someone who makes their own kitchens - he is very reasonable I am told (price wise) - will take quite a bit longer than normal as he has been poorly and just does a bit now to keep his hand in - I don't mind - it will take a couple of months before the extension is ready - I have said I will paint it myself to keep the costs down -

am I MAD????

Totally love the style and again the hand painted finish!

Would love an aga - just because it looks nice - don't have a clue how they work but to be honest Father in Law gave us a brand new cooker that goes in a oven housing - its in the garage waiting to go in its rightful home!

Have noticed a lot of the kitchens I like are light blue - very clean looking!

Totally love the light in here - we were going to have bi-fold doors all along one end but the builder has suggested it may not be such a good idea as it means a lot of weight on one runner - suggested we go with large double doors and then a long window at either side - what do you think???

Definitely have floor to ceiling cupboards on my want list - one for the oven and at least one maybe a couple for pantry/crockery and pans etc and for brush/ mop and hoover etc then have a vision of a large island so Hubby and I can work alongside cooking without getting in each others way!

Like the painted finish alongside the stained wood - lovely effect!

I am a total lover of all things purple - wonder if its got anything to do with Cadburys Dairy Milk wrappers - anyway when I saw thing I just thought OMG WOW!!!!! I love it!!!! but could I live with it??? I think so!!!

What I liked about this one - was the mixture of painted and wood again and like the lantern plus look above the cooker - the metal hooks on the wall - very useful - like it - like it!!!

Yum - scrum - love the above - not sure how I would feel as time went on about the colour but love the style of the units especially the large one on the left hand side and think I have to have a butler sink

really love the large unit at the back of the room

and the unit above too

love the soft chocolate and the duck egg blue combination!

Just like ours Grandma's used to have - that is what appeals to me!

Cath Kidston Sew Book and Shed Envy!!!

2011-05-29T22:33:00.007+01:00

A few piccies to share with you today - this is Toby - I am brand new to sewing - really not sure which way is which but enjoying the journey - MOST OF THE TIME!!! Well I traced this lettle fella from this Cath Kidston Book- and sat all day attaching my tracing to various bits of fabric and then cutting out and sewing - I am really chuffed with how he has turned out - havent got any further though as in I havent attached him to anything other than my scanner that sits on my desk at work in my office - he sits there and makes me smile when I look across - I wonder if visitors to our office puzzle over why this crazy lady has him sitting peeking out the scanner - but hey do I care - he makes me smile and that is what matters!!!!!

Ok on to my table now I hope you will bear with me - this is what it looked like a couple of weeks ago - along with the accompanying chairs. Here's me thinking I will take before and after pictures...oops nope I have just gone to view my piccies and have realised I have taken the before of the table....

and an after of the chair so am slapping my wrists and promise when I get a mo I will take a follow up of the table but until then - here is the chair

I have gone with Culprinol Garden Shades - Lavender and Country Cream. I have done the garden bench that sits at the front of our home and the table and one chair out the back - still no I am not going to count how many more chairs I have to do - need some better weather before I pick my paint brush up again - would love to do the garden shed too - have serious garden shed envy after seeing some of these........

this ladys blog is here

Then I found these on the google

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1258/1024431969_ab0c388b00.jpg

http://www.barbarabutler.com/linpha/albums/Garden%20Shed/Garden%20Shed%20side.jpg

then onto one of most favourites - you will need to click on the link but it is sooooo worth it - shed envy - whoa - where do I start

http://birdiebluesky.blogspot.com/2011/05/loft.html

Did you visit - did you - wasnt it just soooo worth it!!!!

Sweet Cottage Dreams: Peace For Andrew#links

2011-05-29T21:13:00.001+01:00

I visited this beautiful blog this evening and ready a very heartwarming story of something thats recently happened - I went to leave a comment on the blog and unintentionally created a link - pop over and have a read though - it really is beautiful

Sweet Cottage Dreams: Peace For Andrew#links

gulp what a beautiful moment - my nephew is serving out there at the moment - my sister is worried sick - I join you in praying for peace and for our soldiers safe return!

Best wishes

Danemi1

TRANSFORMATION THURSDAY

2011-05-26T16:31:00.003+01:00

Have you seen this wonderful blog - the lovely lady over there hosts Transformation Thursday - it sounds like such fun so I have for the first time uploaded a piccie to take part...yikes a little nervous!

A little while ago I was given by a very kind lady this..completely free!!!

I got to work on it straightaway - sanding and priming and then got out the Farrow and Ball Dimity Paint - first attempt too. Here is how it turned out....

and close up

I just love the green and white spotty paper - my favourite!!!!

Nothing short of fantastic

2011-05-24T19:58:00.003+01:00

Do you like the photos - well they are definitely not mine - oh my oh my oh my I wish they were!!!!!

Have they wet your appetite well can I tell you about something that has just happened something so wonderful - so small to a lot of folk but to me - I thought wow - technology is amazing - I came across this most amazing blog - and thought totally wow wow wow - the photos are adorable - so inspirational - but it is a german blog - now I know I lived there for 3 years but heck my german was at best very very rusty and that was then so now - well I didnt have a lot of hope but I wanted to add it to my favourites just so I could look at the beautiful photos - the colours the softness - the ideas - and then...as if by magic - I noticed at the top of the screen a button had appeared and it said translate - so what the heck I clicked it and before my eyes the text all appeared in English - absolutely amazing - I am chuckling to myself I bet to most folk they would think yeah and..... to me its just brilliant - I am so darned glad I installed the google tool bar - have never bothered looking before what it does but wahey I am grateful for it now...I am of course going over to the ladys blog to tell her how amazing I think her blog is and how I have very cheekily borrowed her pictures to share with you guys - I really hope she doesnt mind if she does I will be back to remove so feast your eyes quickly - just in case - ttfn (hope she has a google tool bar to translate my message!!)

YAY = THE LOVELY LADY SAID YES!!!!! SHE IS HAPPY FOR ME TO SHOW HER GORGEOUS PICCIES/BLOG!

Count Every Blessing!!!

2011-05-24T16:32:00.003+01:00

I went to a car boot at Hemswell Antique Centre last year and bought some orange pine shelves for believe it or not 50p. I had no idea what I was going to do with them...until ping - light bulb moment - and off I went - sanding and painting, more sanding to distress Laura Ashley style on the corners. Then dug out my prima chipboard letters..didn't like the pattern so peeled the surface off, covered with free wallpaper samples from B and Q, more sanding and then I inked the edges - some strong twine to hang it with and of course a little touch of red gingham (my favourite) and voila....

ok.....so who noticed I didn't have enough E's left - so improvise, adapt and overcome that is one of hubby's motto's left over from his Army days...I adapted the 3's. Was it obvious???

Don't you just love the primitive wooden signs that you can get out in America - I would so love to visit even if it was just for the craft shops alone - think the children would prefer the Disney side of things - lol

This one made me smile...

Y'know if choc was slimming - my word I would be a size 8 - I wish!!!!!

I have just been surfing - no silver in sight and have come across a UK website that has primitive signs

such as this

and

How delightful!

OOOOH before I go - I wanted to share a couple of other things I have made..

The bunting around the mirror and can you spy my newest addition to your family - a little pressie from my hubby...May I introduce...Wilbur Griswald Snodgrass...(a name chosen for him by some of my facebook friends - it was a hearty debate!!)

He is a Gisela Graham special and I hope you agree he is something very special!

Look what I have been up to!

2011-05-23T16:22:00.011+01:00

I made this little gift bag from a scrap of Laura ashleys red gingham - I think red gingham is my most fav fabric - EVER!!! Just seeing it makes me feel happy and girly inside. I borrowed a yo yo maker from a friend and that is how I have made the flower for this bag - thought it was so easy and really effective I have been a bought a couple now in different sizes, however the heart one I was loaned is a different story altogether - suffice to say not a success story! The circular box that I have sat it on to pose for this piccie was a pressie from my friend Lisa as part of my birthday pressie - dont think she had heard of Cath Kidston before she met me, lol! when she handed it to me she said I think its like that Cath Kidston person makes! It is beautiful - another feel good jewel amongst my treasures!

Next and before you say it - I know I am a little premature but wait....

it was a challenge set me by my elder sister who I have to say I am very very proud of - she suffers terribly with MS, but she has managed to do a b tech in arts recently and the stuff she has produced is fabulous. ANway as I say I went to visit one day and she gave me a pressie - the tree below except it was falling to pieces and looked very sorry for itself and she said do something with that - well the top was missing for a start - it no longer came to a conical end - just stopped halfway across as if someone had cut the end off...I have to admit to being rather intimidated for a while - it sat in a box on my desk for a couple of months - then one day I got the gusto and went for it - here is the result

I have just been surfing the tinternet and found this

Isn't it totally awesome - my little princess would absolutely love to play in this - if I win the lottery I am heading over to here to buy one...until then it will have to be sheets and a clothes horse!

For the little man in my life -

Have popped it on my dream wish list for him - just here

now on my dream list for me - here are some fabrics from clarke and clarke - they are their part of their new release - dont know if they have hit the shops yet???

here they are - put to good use

wouldnt you just love this to drive around in????

Back soon with more tales and piccies - ttfn xxx

Confession Time!!!

2011-02-11T15:58:00.008Z

I entered the fabulous Valentines Swap - held here and swapped with this lovely lady. When I got home from work today there was a package sat on my step. Well I have had a so so week - I received my ticket yesterday - speeding ticket - 37 in a 30 zone. Oops - so was a bit cheesed off knowing I now have to pay a £65 fine - doh!!! I also have a lovely speed seminar to look forward to - oh well it will make me think harder next time wont it - anyway I digress - I saw this parcel sat there and just couldnt resist - I know I was supposed to wait until Valentines Day but aaaaagh - oh what excuse can I give - my bad!!!!!!

Anyway look here at the beauties I received - Thank you Amy xxxx

This piccie above is upon opening the box, below is a few mins later - look at how beautifully all the packages are wrapped

Awww Thorntons - I may have a treat after I get weighed in this evening!!!!!!

pretties!!

Yummy scrummy!

So pretty!

Twinkle Twinkle!

Making Memories Adornments!

Beautiful Hand Stitched Card

These are so sweet!!!

My favourite - I love it ....a little red and white painted wooden heart with my favourite ribbon - GINGHAM!!!!

Lissy Lous Giveway and Garden Peas and Fleas too

2011-01-21T12:08:00.003Z

If you head on over to Lissy Lous 2 year giveaway blog - you can see how fab her site is and how lovely her giveaway is - good luck all and dont foget to take time to have a good old browse around her site - its well worth it!
Lissy Lou's fabby blog

and whilst on my blog hopping travels also came across the Garden Peas and Fleas lady - her button is here - the button picture may not work but the link does and she too is having a giveaway - why not pop over and introduce yourself

Do you want to help a very worthwhile charity and ....Do you like Cath Kidston!!!!!!

2011-01-17T17:09:00.003Z

If you head on over to this ladies wonderful blog - she is holding a charity raffle with all proceeds going to Alzheimers Charity - a very worthwhile one I bet you agree.

The fab prizes are Cath Kidston - ....

My absolute favourite!!!!!!! What a wonderful lady - she does all sorts for Charity! Have only just discovered her blog but am loving it!

valentines swap

2011-01-05T16:13:00.001Z

Well Happy New Year to all out there in Blog land - sorry I have been absent for a wee while - ok quite a while - have been mega busy chaning jobs and then had wretched flu for a while - anyway here I am again - if there is anyone there still reading - if not I shall carry on in my own little world ...lol

but for those that do pop by - I have been directed to a lovely lady's web site - and she has a fab swap coming up - how lovely to have something to look forward to after taking all the decorations down

http://sewspecialbears.blogspot.com/2010/12/lets-spread-bloggy-love_30.html#comment-form

Windows Seven

2010-10-24T16:01:00.000+01:00

Well a lovely gent and his good lady have taken my pc and brought it back today with Windows Seven instead of Vista - and they ahve also sorted out the PC for the children so hopefully we should be a bit smoother running now with our pooters!!!

It is the start of half term this week and we have all sorts of things planned - getting ready for Christmas a little early in the danemi1 household. We have christmas shopping on the list - making family christmas cards - wrapping pressies - making christmas stockings - have also bought a couple of printed christmas canvases for the children to do. Baking and a trip to the park is on the list too - think we are gonna be busy - lets hope it is better than the trip to funfarm when they were last on holiday and my dd broke her foot - we don't want ANY more broken bones!!!

Hope all is well in blogland!

just found this - I am going to give it a go!!

2010-09-27T22:28:00.003+01:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EICadoBCC1s

broken bones!

2010-08-24T15:49:00.002+01:00

Update to previous post - fun farm didnt turn out as well as I had hoped = it resulted in 5 hours stuck in accident and emergency at the local hospital - a wheelchair and a walking frame and a potted foot and leg later

My little princess fell of the little climbing wall in the little childrens area - thick padding everywhere but she still managed to break the bones in the top of her foot - bless her. We are going away very shortly for a few days - father in law is soont o be 60 and has just retired from his job as Managing Director of a large haulage firm in the North of England - to celebrate there are 30 of us going to Haven in the Lake District - guess who wont be going swimming now!!!! Poor little pumpkin!

By going flat out out cleaning and working all Friday and Saturday, I did actually manage to get some time this Sunday to work on my project - here's the before and the almost there point

Fun Farm

2010-08-19T09:28:00.003+01:00

Off to the fun farm today - no I havent gone loopy loo - its a play place for the little ones - the kids can play and the Mums can have a cuppa and chat - aah lovely - back soon

.

Home sweet home bag and the joy of being a Mom!

2010-08-13T14:09:00.001+01:00

I am tired - I went to bed at 3 am no I wasn't out partying I was sat at the sewing machine in the conservatory with the rhthymic rain pattering on the roof - and I was playing - I followed a tutorial loosely to make the bag and then from there well I just kinda went with it - I played like a kid - trying this and that and finally ending up with the other - and I really enjoyed it until I looked at the time and it was almost 3am - a quick tidy up of the scissors and pins - in case the kids got up before me - what am I saying in case - should have said WHEN - as they are always up early! Didnt put all the fabrics away though..anyway this is what I came up with

I found this today - it sure is an interesting read
How many of us - look at magazines and covert the perfect body - moan about our tums or our hips and things - if only we could have better boobs - slimmer waists - y'know the thing - well read this and be proud of your womanly shape - especially the transformation it has undergone in the 9 months you were incubating that gorgeous little baby of yours

*************************
The Shape of a Mother Blog
*************************

Tilda Christmas Book - I made a gift bag!!! Yay!

2010-08-12T13:22:00.007+01:00

My neighbour brought this book across for me to have a browse through and oh my word its beautiful

Here's a tutorial for some fabulous Christmas Gift bags - so adorable....

Here is the Christas Gift Bag Tutorial

A Close Up

and this is what I made - I didn't want to do Chistmas just yet

Ta-da.....I love it - learnt a lot whilst doing it - and hopefully it will turn out better next time but I am pleased with it - not sure the ribbon is the best for it - my friend who is coming over this evening knows how to do a round braid cord - may see if I can learn that - think it may be better with that...so much to learn!

Off to do some baking with the children now - Chocolate Orange Cake and maybe a Lemon Drizzle too!!!!

Cushioned in Comfort!!!!

2010-08-08T19:02:00.000+01:00

I have fancied trying patchwork but for someone that couldnt sew a button on - well it was just out of the question...or was it - with the help of my friends Jackie and Vera..I managed to do the one with the red and white gingham border - then on my own - totally I have done the other one - not come out too bad (as long as you dont look too closely!!!!!!)

Visit to Cath Kidston Shop and link to 1 Hour Bag Tutorial

2010-08-07T09:46:00.006+01:00

Just back from a few days away with the family - Bracknell and then Worthing Near Brighton - we called at the CK shop at Bicester and then again at the shop in Windsor - even my little girl loves CK things and got the mug that you can see with her pocket money (start them young in the finer things of life - lol!!!) Don't really know what I am going to do with it all yet, but it was definitely a need rather than a want - lol!! Most of the fabrics were £12 a metre rather than the usual £15 = BARGAIN!! The two at the very front... the red and the blue with labels on are tea towels but I understand you can make all sorts with a tea towel - pretty and gorgeous quality too.

Have come across a blog this morning by a lovely lady who shares her fab tutorial for making a really pretty bag - only takes an hour to make apparently - I think I may just give that a whirl

http://vintagericrac.blogspot.com/2008/01/1-hour-bag-tutorial.html

Well we have washing coming out of our ears at the mo but at least the cases are unpacked and dh and the children are at Tescos at the mo. Going to a BBQ later today so had better get ship shape in a mo - maybe just a cuppa tea before I do!!!! Naughty girl!!

Sewing Update!

2010-07-23T15:49:00.010+01:00

I am so unbelieveably excited and rather quite proud of my little curtain that covers the washing machine front - I am a girl that couldnt sew a button on three weeks ago - all of my sons badges for his beavers uniform were sewn on by my husband as I just couldnt do it - not any more

I made the above to go with these

It all started when I went into Laura Ashley a couple of weekends ago and saw my favourite red gingham on sale - half price - before I knew what was happening I had paid for a metre - didnt have a clue what I was going to make with it but just knew I had to have it and since then I have made the above and then I concocted this little bag for me to take my sarnies into work

and as for the red gingham...I made this

and I have been doing some more with it today - this is going to hopefully be a 15 inch patchwork cushion

The children saw me sewing and wanted to join in so my son did this - not finished yet but loving it - think he is doing a terrific job - he started a couple of hours after us as he was on a sleepover last night!!!
and my little girl has made these cute little brooches

Let's hope they never know the fear of the sewing machine!!!!! Rebel without a clue that's what I was but hopefully now thats behind me (just dont look too close as you will see plenty of errors but hey its a start).

art-moms site!

2010-07-18T22:50:00.002+01:00

new site I've just discovered - its really sweet
http://www.art-moms.com/quotes.html#Teacher/Daycare_

is my machine threaded right???

2010-07-11T23:12:00.003+01:00

Drawers Makeover!!!

2010-07-11T21:48:00.008+01:00

I bought these drawers from a lady at work for a tenner last week you can just see the sander on the floor (didn't know that had sneaked in the photo - it was very sunny when I took the picture and couldn't quite see what exactly was in the viewfinder)

Here they are now.......

The children think that the window ledges in the conservatory are for dumping - pens and pencils - books and scraps of paper etc etc on - well I spent an hour or two on Friday - splitting things into groups and assigning each group a drawer - then hopefully they can find things and I get clean window ledges - what do you reckon to my chances - lol - gotta try though eh?

On another note - had a busy busy weekend - the family have had 3 parties this weekend - Emmie went to a pals party at a play place yesterday lunchtime then off we all went down to Henlow to see our dearest friends Howie and Avril - I have been friends with them and their whole family for just over 20 years - they are like family - family that has been handpicked - I love them all so it was fabulous to spend time with them - the weather was beautiful - the food fab and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Today was pay back time - the children were both ill last week with a bug and I had time off to look after them which meant I had to work at night rather than in the day so time was very very limited - oh my word - how the washing had built up in just a couple of days - I spent from 0900 to 1400 washing and ironing and then we had friends coming at 1630 for a bbq - so quickly threw a summer fruit crumble and a lemon drizzle together and also the pasta and aubergine bake (recipe below) Lee got the barbie on - we put the pool up today as well - oh and in between Daniel went to a school pals laser tag party - I am now sat down feeling rather pooped. keep thinking I should be making a start on another dining room chair but nope I think my bed is calling me and its call is louder!!!! Have a great week everyone xx

Oops before I go - something else to share - I made this recently with lots of help from my friend as I can't sew for toffee ( she has the patience of a Saint!!!)

Slimming World Recipe Auberge and Pasta Bake

2010-07-06T14:48:00.002+01:00

Doesnt this sound fab - I have just found it on the Slimming World Page - me thinks I am going to have to try it soon - have just bought 3 Aubergines so what am I waiting for

This mighty meat-free delight is perfect for Green days. With lots of creamy mozzarella coating delicious pasta you’ll never know you’re slimming!
Serves: 4 Syns per serving: Free on Extra Easy, Free on Green*, 15 Syns on Original**Add 6 Syns if not using cheese as a Healthy Extra

ingredients
1 tsp Marmite 1 onion 2 garlic cloves 454g/1lb tomatoes 284ml/½ pint passata salt and freshly ground black pepper 340g/12oz penne pasta fresh basil leaves 170g/6oz mozzarella cheese 1 aubergine

method
1. Dissolve the Marmite in a pan with 284ml/½ pint boiling water. Chop the onion, garlic and tomatoes and add to the pan with the passata and seasoning to taste. Bring to the boil, reduce the heat, and simmer for 12 minutes until slightly reduced.
2. Meanwhile, cook the pasta according to the packet instructions, drain and refresh under cold water, then add to the sauce.
3. Place half the pasta in an oven-proof dish. Top with half the aubergine and scatter over some basil leaves. Repeat with the remaining ingredients. Slice the mozzarella and place on the top. Season to taste, then bake for 20 minutes until the cheese has melted. Serve hot with a huge crispy salad or Free chips.

- well actually tonights tea is taken care of - have made a slow cooker sausage casserole - it has lots of spinach, courgettes, carrots, new potatoes, celery, stringless green beans, oodles of garlic and onion, handful of mushrooms - am hoping lots and lots of homemade goodness - no processed stuff in sight - hope it tastes good - I have to be a bit devious as son is starting to say dont like this and that - he doesnt like mushrooms so I blitz them along with the spinach and then I know he is still getting the goodness - he eats it and loves it - ignorance is bliss!!!!

caravan blog

2010-07-02T23:34:00.001+01:00

Here is just the cutest blog I have found in quite a while - it is absolutely gorgeous - makes me want a caravan just to do up like the very proud owners have here - I am in Love!!!

http://happylovesrosie.blogspot.com/2009/08/vintage-caravan-done.html

Have a good look around this ladies blog it is amazing

Photo Mosaic

2010-07-02T12:46:00.002+01:00

Oh my word - I have found a new toy

am so chuffed with the above - if you fancy making your own mosaic - try here

It is fabulous fun and it is free!!!! Am delighted with it!!!

and made a collage but think I need more practise with this

2010-07-02T12:35:00.001+01:00

Shabby Chic Chairs

2010-06-29T22:09:00.004+01:00

We had 4 of these

and now I have done this to one of them

with a close up here

1 down 3 more to go

I was quite pleased when I found this fabric as the colours go fab with the sofa

Hope I havent bored anyone - am just so excited as its the first time I have done anything like this - hubby bless him not sure if he is humouring or trying to stop me running out and buying new but he says they look like they are from Laura Ashley - except you would pay a lot more for them than the amount you have spent on paint and fabric - bless him!

learning to dance in the rain

2010-06-16T16:29:00.006+01:00

I remembering receiving this and it wasnt until I was browsing through this blog today that I refound it and wanted to share it with you

The REAL Meaning of Words....

It's amazing how a photograph can express the meaning of a word.... feel free to share this ...

Respect

Sorrow

Rescue

Patience

Pain

Love

Divine

Innocence

Friendship

Departure

Compassion

Best Friends

"Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass...

it's about learning how to dance in the rain."

2010-06-15T17:25:00.001+01:00

found this gorgeous website today

full of scrumptiousness
http://daisypinkcupcake.blogspot.com/

A day at Edinburgh Zoo

2010-06-14T22:58:00.010+01:00

We had a few days away in Edinburgh and whilst there decided to go to the Zoo although as Emily kept reminding us - there were no elephants or snakes there a fact that Aunty Eloise had told her - think she was a bit disgruntled she wouldn't see either but what we did see more than made up for it - we saw zebras, lions and tigers monkeys, rhinos and penguins amongst lots lots more but for me one of the nicest parts of the day was witnessing the close relationship you have as brother and sister - sometimes!!!!

We saw you holding hands and walking along together chattering away

playing together

I love being part of this family - even when you are arguing and being little monkeys - you still give me this wobbly feeling in my tummy - being a Mom and a wife is just the best thing EVER!!!

relaxing in the beautiful sun cuddled up together - precious moments

and then - oh my goodness.........

both children had wanted to go up in the trees and before I knew what was happening I had said yes not realising it would be me going up with Emily as she was too short to go on her own - Lee usually does that sort of thing - but he asked and I couldn't say NO - what do you mean couldn't say No - had you forgotten Elaine - YOU DON'T LIKE HEIGHTS!!! Anyway up we went -

Daniel first....Then Emily...and then MoiI don't think I really knew what I was letting myself in for - when you got really high up - it was like a 50p piece only a lot lot bigger and around each outside piece there was a different rope or plank to walk across and then after that each part was split into segments and they all had different challenges - OH MY GOODNESS - I got across the first and then froze - I looked at Lee who was busy underneath snapping away with the camera (including pictures of my bottom as I discovered later - Needless to say those photos didn't make it onto here!!) I looked and mouthed I don't think I can do this - I then looked at our beautiful children - Daniel was having a blast and he was gaining speed and Emily was quite happily starting to catch him up - how could I let them down - if they could do it - I could do it for them - although I have to say the fight or flight sensation was almost eating me up but my love for them pulled me through it and Emily and I completed a full circle around it - every step for me was an almighty challenge - I have never been so pleased to get to the other side of something - Emily and I then came down - even helped a little girl en routebut our young man Daniel stayed on there for another 45 minutes - so, so proud of our children and my word did they teach me something up there - they silently gave me the courage to face a real fear head on!!!A fabulous day - totally exhilarating - one that will stay with me for many years to come - I just had to snap a shot of this huge sign that I saw - very, very beautiful and rather poignant!

MMMMMM!!!!

2010-06-14T18:30:00.007+01:00

Yesterday we used these
and with the help of two eager little angels

we made

for this wonderful man

my hero - such a kind and wonderful man - who has just completed a marathon and the reason he did it - support a mate and to raise money for a little lad with cancer. I was so worried about him - he hasnt done anything like this for years and the mad fool he hadnt done any training other than switching from lager to cider!!! lol (his words) He got to 23 miles and started to really struggle - his knees went but as he said he was so close to the end he was NOT going to give up and he calls me determined - HE DID IT - well done baby - so proud of you my love XXXX

He wouldnt let us come to the finish line - he is shy bless him so we decorated the front door - made a cake and put candles on - the kids drew lots of pictures and we awaited his return - hot bubble bath and bacon, sausage, egg and mushrooms and a cuppa tea at the ready

Morning all!!

2010-06-12T05:02:00.006+01:00

Can't believe I woke up - ping - wide wide awake at 0415 - oh my goodness - that is too early and could I get back to sleep - not on your nelly could I. It was the school fete last night - beautiful sunny evening surprisingly - the kids were full of it - bumped into various friends - very nice - on a more sad note though - was told of a lady that I quite often pass the time of day with at hometime whilst waiting for the little ones to come out - she had gone for a minor op on Monday - Sinuses I believe - whilst there had a heart attack and she has gone - just like that - leaving a hubby and two young children - youngest being only 18 months old - how terribly sad - everyone was stunned at school - you just dont expect it do you - really makes you realise how precious our time here is - yet we continue to take it for granted - think I may well be taking a bit more time to stop and smell the roses now - give the kids even more cuddles and appreciate all that is around me - we spend so much time worrying about work things and other stuff - when really we should be living it to the full

Well what are we up to this weekend - DD has a birthday party to attend this morning I still have to mae a card yet - maybe thats why I have woken so early - best I go and get a wriggle on in a mo - then tomorrow two things are happening - dh is taking part in a marathon (cross country) has he done anything like this before - OH YEs - but I am really worried as it was before we met and we have known each other for 18 years - he is taking part to support a work colleague who is doing it to support his Dad - very nice of them both but crikey I hope he is ok but he will not listen - says he is only walking it and not in a rush to get around - what can I say - he is determined to do it....my son has a church parade during it in the village here where we live - he is in the Cubs and its Cubs on Parade - bless him he is so proud - oops that reminds me had better make sure the uniform is washed and pressed - wel with that said and done had better go - it may be early but there is always stacks to do - have a great weekend all!!!

Afore I go - will just share with you a couple of beautiful blogs I have recently found

http://cherryhillcottage.typepad.com/cherryhill_cottage/

http://thepaintedhive.blogspot.com/

these talented ladies have beautiful homes and love love love what they can do with stuff - drools!!!

EDITED TO SAY

Phew I have done it - card made and pressie wrapped - should I go back to bed for an hour or paint the bathroom - ceiling is done in there and one coat on the walls - hmmmm - will I be grouch pants if I dont get some more shut eye - will tidy up my cuttings and glue etc and then ponder about that one

here is the card - hope she will like it - she is a self confessed tomboy no hope its not too girly - what do you think?

Helllo in Blog Land!!!

2010-06-10T22:19:00.007+01:00

Helllooooo if there is anyone out there reading this - firstly let me say THANK YOU - and also I am sorry its been such a long time since I have written anything on here - how are you - no seriously - how are you??????

Hope you dont mind and I do hope the lady in question doesnt mind -http://dianaevans.blogspot.com/
but I have just stopped by this lovely lady's blog and found this which she had got from a friend of hers - it was just so gorgeous and so empowering I wanted to share it too with you

Isnt it just brilliant?

As I say It has been a while - what have you been up to?

I have gotten quite into Shabby Chic - have fallen in love with all things Cath Kidston and have started sanding and painting and playing and loving it - have this week altered a really large picture frame that I had stuffed away - sanded it down - painted it with Gesso and then stuck various torn strips or CK wallpaper all over it adding splodges of apple green paint to it as I went - its currently had a couple of coats of varnish and is drying - will remember to take a piccie and upload it - its my first attempt and I must say I am rather pleased with it!

Have tonight found this blog and think its fab - what do you think
http://www.wherewomencreate.typepad.com/

and here is another - its a lady who does fab fab fab work - esp her art journals
http://joleneeborn.blogspot.com/

2010-02-25T11:04:00.002Z

long time since last post - I am still here - have had health problems but had op week and a half ago and am en route to getting back to normal if that term has ever applied to me - lol!!!!!

Have just been sat sorting out this years calendar - not having a holiday as such - just lots of minibreaks - gawd now I sound like Bridget Jones - I love those films!

Have managed to get free tickets to Ideal Home Exhibition next month so am looking forward to that. Just booked aqua sana day for hubby and I at Centre Parcs Sherwood Forrest - - cant wait - its fab! What else or yes going to use my Tesco Points to get Merlin Tickets - annoyting thing is though I am 1.50 short of points for getting all 4 through them - so am going to have to buy 1 pass - heck! Oh well

Hope everyone in blogland is ok - am off work until Monday - my mate is coming tomorrow and we are having a craft day - I may get a bit of practise in today ready - Have a good day!

2009-11-30T18:21:00.000Z

stamps for sale

2009-11-17T19:04:00.019Z

anna griffin darcey collection scrappy cat designer flourishes
The Paper Company - Baby

Inkadinkado Somerset Alphabet

The following two packs are sold together

Inkadinkado Rock Star

tim holtz visual artistry urban grunge

tim holtz visual artistry lost and found

heidi grace - urban acres

heidi grace - marina dr

fancy pants 6 x 6 brush strokes

daisy & dandelion - gone fishing

inkadinkado - flourishes - arabesques

Sorry I havent been on for a while - things have been hectic - hubby has been made redundant - so things have been a but yucky but they are starting to pick up again now - anyway am starting to get ready for christmas now so have had a huge sort out of my craft room and have the following stamps for sale over on UKS - photos should hopefully be just above this blurb.......thanks for looking - Elaine x

This is what I am gonna make one day soon

2009-09-21T20:50:00.004+01:00

onion , finely chopped
2 garlic cloves , crushed
olive oil
2 x 400g tins cherry tomatoes
4 tbsp mascarpone
a handful basil
6 chicken breasts , skin on

How to -

Heat the oven to 190C/fan 170C/gas 5. Fry the onion and garlic in 3 tbsp oil until softened but not coloured. Add the tomatoes, season, then simmer for 10-15 minutes or until thick and glossy. Take off the heat and stir in the mascarpone and half the basil, roughly torn.
Heat a little oil in a pan and fry the chicken on both sides until golden. Transfer to a baking dish and pour over the sauce. Cook for 25-30 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through. Scatter over the rest of the basil.

Yummy Scrummy Toffee Apple Pud

2009-09-21T20:21:00.004+01:00

Well what do you think to this

We have a gorgeous bramley apple tree in our front garden - so sent hubby up the ladder this evening - ready so I could make this.........

Here is the recipe

Ingredients
85g butter , melted
140g self-raising flour
100g golden caster sugar
1 tbsp baking powder
200ml milk
1 egg , beaten
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 Bramley apples (or other cooking) apples, peeled, cored and sliced

FOR THE TOPPING
140g dark brown sugar
250 ml boiling water

Heat oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. Grease a 2-litre/3½-pint ovenproof dish lightly with butter. Tip the flour, sugar and baking powder, along with a pinch of salt, into a large bowl. Mix together the milk, butter, egg and vanilla extract and stir into the dry ingredients until you get a smooth batter. Arrange the apples in the dish, spoon the batter on top and smooth with a knife until the apples are covered.

For the topping, pour 250ml boiling water over the sugar and stir together until smooth. Pour the liquid over the pudding mixture, then scatter over the pecans. Bake for about 40 mins until the pudding has risen and is golden. Use a big spoon to serve the pudding, making sure you get some of the gooey caramel sauce covering the bottom of the dish. Serve with pouring cream, warm custard or vanilla ice cream.

There's more

2009-09-20T23:30:00.005+01:00

Have a look at this one - made this afternoon with the help of Jiminy Cricut and the Zooballoo cart

My friends little boy is 1 this week - (Spot the figure 1 under Ollie Octopus's arm)

Papers are Love Elsie - nice, bright and funky - love them

Have you seen this - just received it in an email

Looks like fun - doesn't it - head on over and check it out

http://caardvarks.blogspot.com/

Busy Making Cards

2009-09-20T21:40:00.008+01:00

Have been so busy just recently - with the school hols and then the children returning to school and all the activities starting up again. I do kickboxing - the children do it on another evening of the week - my son does Badminton and Beavers and my daughter wants to start gymnastics. My oh my - I run a craft club once a week from home and squeeze 20 hours a week in at work - where of where do I find the time to craft but if I dont I am like a bear with a sore head - I definitely think its an addiction - I always feel so much better when I have been cutting and sticking - lol

Anyway just recently I have had a thing for making cards instead of layouts - here's the results

That is for a close family friend who has just been in hospital - get well soon Kath!

I have two friends who are expecting a visit from the stork very shortly - not sure if its gonna bring girls or boys - you watch now I have made 2 girls and 1 boys cards - they will both have boys!!

I found the instruction on how to make this double tag card on Utube in the early hours of this morning when I couldn't sleep - hang on - will see if I can link them to here
.....
Have tried - I cannot do it direct but if you click on here - this should work

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oympgN3qzj0

2009-09-01T17:02:00.001+01:00

http://www.shimelle.com/cupcakes/200/between-l-and-n/

want to try these when I get a mo - look so yummy - dont think I could bake them for the kids and not eat some so had better wait a while till my journey is complete - dont they look good

2009-08-27T23:06:00.001+01:00

Oh Stupid Me!!!!! Google Profit Club AAAAGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!

2009-08-13T10:24:00.002+01:00

Money is a bit scarce at the moment like so many people just now. So when I saw the Google Profit Club - a way of earning money from home using the PC I thought well I am on here so much anyway why not give it a go. It was £2.49 to find out more and I thought oh well its the cost of a drink at the pub (something we do about once or twice a year - go out!!!) and its done on a credit card so hey why not - I asked hubby and he agreed. So paid the nominal amount and off I went to read the reams and reams and reams and - you get the picture!!! Needless to say I thought - oh that was a mistake - oh well - I didnt want that beer/drink anyway and put it down to experience.

Hubby gave me a letter from the bank yesterday - the company have kept taking money out since then and apparently they can continue to do so until you can get hold of them to cancel - strangely enough and I know you will find this hard to believe but whenever you ring Amercia to speak to them - they are not there and a voice says please call later and hangs up.

I sat here until the wee hours this morning researching other folks fates at their hands and to see how they managed to solve it - some have sent emails but most have added that they wont do anything from an email only an actual conversation which is aaagh as you cant get tos peak to them.

Someone said register your card as lost but we cant do this as we have already told them what has happened and they are not stupid they will know we havent.

So here I am sat in tears venting this on here - cos needless to say hubby is fuming with me and I am so angry at myelf I consider myself to be fairly savvy - ok ish!! but how on earth was I so stupid to get sucked into this - y'know what your mom always said...If somethings appears to be too good to be true it usually is'!!!!!!!!!

So folks if you see anything with Google Profit Club - click that x button on the top right hand corner of the screen QUICK and avoid like the plague

the most amazing blog candy ever

2009-07-22T10:42:00.004+01:00

I absolutely cannot believe this blog candy - there is gonna be one very very happy winner soon

see here

......

Hope I have linked it ok - cor please please please please please please please please lady luck shine on me - its not a want its a need 'onest guvnor!!

I have just got this...

2009-07-22T10:33:00.002+01:00

Too cute.....and a bargain too - total £6 from Jo-joMamanBebe in their sale

School Pressies

2009-07-21T10:41:00.006+01:00

Last week was aaaaaagh busy - had all the teachers pressies to make - birthday cards to do and also a new baby book for work to make - and I was in a fabric atc swap on UKS - which I had been intimidated by and stupidly kept putting off - why oh why do we do these things - I signed up for it as it sounded (and was/is) so lovely but I cannot sew a blumming button on - I am crazy I know. I was fine until I saw one of the lady's set of atc's and thought oh my goodness mine are awful compared with those. (I found out later that she was a professional seamstress!!)

Anyway when the pressure was on I got going and actually ended up loving doing it so I can safely say this one really took me out of my comfort zone but I am pleased I did it

Anyway here is a piccie or two of what I made last week

The top two little boxes are presents for the ladies in the admin office - one is just a couple of lip glosses and the other is a strawberry candle. The two books are for teaching assistants - the books are just lined books so they write all their little notes inside. Mrs Picketts one has a piece of really touchy feely material on - kind of a ribbed chenille

the two candles I bought plain at Ikea and have just prettied them up - there is a lovely little girl in my daughters class who is deaf - she has two ladies who work with her on a one to one basis - one works two days and the other three days (I think) but they also help out in class and Em loves them both - really nice ladies

Miss Stumms Note book is for the teaching assistant in my boys class and the brown/rust note book is for Em's favourite dinner lady

The gold and red book is for the head - (Who it turned out that day had balloons all around her door - she was 50 on Friday)

The next two are exploding boxes for the two lovely ladies themselves - the teachers - Mrs Metheringham and Miss Wells. Will be sorry to move on from their classes - they are both lovely ladies

and finally here are the atc's that I made

It is now the school holidays and I doubt I will get much scrapping done during the week as I am going to be working in the evenings mainly - humph!!

Purple durple!!!

2009-07-15T00:15:00.004+01:00

I love the closeness of this photo!!! Long may it continue.

I said to dh when he went shopping - I want a colour - something funky - oh my word - I only left it on for 15 mins instead of 20 - if I had left it on for the full time - I think my hair would be actually glowing - lol - actually I really like it - its totally different = it looks really purple when the sun shines on it - ha ha - oh well

soooo cool - sarah jane

2009-07-08T15:54:00.005+01:00

oh my - have you seen how gorgeous this new range is. It is called Sarah Jane and is beind sold by Indigo Mill - I LUUUUUUURVVVVE IT!!

http://www.indigomill.co.uk/shop/-new-in-/new-sarah-jane-by-bella/

Gonna have to get me some of this on payday

There are some lovely new ranges appearing aren't there - I love paper so much but dh thinks I am tap tap curly wurly!

New Layout

2009-07-05T18:43:00.008+01:00

Well it has taken me most of the day in between lots of interruptions from the family and little turns in the pool but it has been so hot here - anyway - have finally finished playing with my blog - what do you think?? Was looking for a fresher looker - something more summery and alive....Well anyway I will live with it for a few days and see how I go

I have not had a lot of time the last two weeks for crafting as we have been on holiday to Centre Parks in the Lakes - fantastic time and then since being back have been catching up at work and home and dealing with a swine flu scare at the children's school - one of the teachers is off with it - poor woman.

Anyway I have given my bootie a shake and got crafting this weekend and have done my circle journal ready to post on Monday for Quirky Crafts forum. I really hope other peeps think it is ok too - took me quite a while and quite a bit of playing - have tried different distressing techniques with it - and am now ready to pop it in an envelope - already excited at the prospect of getting it back all filled in - seems ages away but I bet it goes fast

Anyway let me go and find a couple of piccies from our hols, in case Grandma and Grandad log on to have a peek at our delightful duo

This is where we went

Here they are after winning the sports challenge - well done guys

really proud of you - as always

The boys went creep crawly spotting with the forrest ranger Dan spotted the first toad of the season - the Ranger was really impressed with him and on his return he brough me a stem of beautiful wild flowers that he had found - Just for Mummy - my heart melted

Whilst the boys were having male time Em and I went to ....

have our hair braided

and our nails painted

Think the creepy crawlies and the walk tired Daddy out - he had a head massage when he got back - here he is look

All for now

despite asking our young man time and time again if all of his homework was done and despite being told absolutely yes - he has now found some at bedtime before he starts back at school tomorrow - guess who is banned from playstation for 1 week - aagh boys - will be boys!! _ back later with more piccies

broken toe

2009-06-21T21:02:00.002+01:00

Guess where I have been this afternoon - the hint is in the title - yep A & E in Preston. I went to my friends house in the week - and was that busy talking to the children, I walked into one of those metal stand things (only 8 inches high) that props a door open - ouch I nearly cried - my ickle toe really hurt - then yesterday when we went to Glashoughton my ds and I crossed paths and he accidentally stood on my toe - well it has been aching like I dont know what - even woke up in the night with it - I can still walk though no problem so have just been wearing toe posts leaving the tender area uncovered. Anyway on the way back today from QVC outlet at Warrington (which incidentally was a complete waste of time) I asked hubby where we were going and he said hospital - seconds later we pulled into A and E - the waiting board said 2-3 hours wait and I thought OH NOOOOOO...but half hour later we were back on the road - the nurse practioner had a good old look and a prod and said she was sure it is broken but as it is the little toe there isnt a lot that can be done - so take ibrufen and paracetamol and she strapped it to my next toe. We are going to Centre Parcs tomorrow and have a spa session booked for Tuesday night so I started to panic but as long as I am careful she said it would be ok - phew.

Other bit of news - I have now lost 3 1/2 stone - yipppeeee and when we went shopping yesterday I got into my first paid of size 14 jeans - yayyyy so excited -long time since I have bought jeans that size - just hope I can keep it off now - still want to lose some more but am happy where I am at the moment - first time in a very, very long time that I have been able to say that!

My entry

2009-06-21T20:38:00.002+01:00

although I think I may be too late - have had horrendous problems - no aol whatsoever at home so have logged on at father in laws house and taken picture with the kids vtech zoom camera as that is the only one with a memory card that fits fil laptop - so please excuse the fact that the picture doesnt really do my card much justice

anyway here we go - for rosie and dees challenge

fab dt call

2009-06-18T14:20:00.002+01:00

Only a very quick visit today as my aol has been playing up YET AGAIN - and in fact this time it is going to be out of action for a week ----aggghhh

So here I am logging on from my friends house

but I had to come on and let you know about this fabby dt call

check it out here

http://rosiedeeschallenge.blogspot.com/

The two ladies are very talented ladies and fabulous friends - why don't you give it a go - you wont be sorry!!

Thanks all

Back when I can

Hugs to all

Elaine

7 day free stamps giveaway

2009-05-27T13:53:00.001+01:00

wow - have you seen this

so fantastically kind

http://thecraftypad.blogspot.com/2009/05/crafty-pad-7-day-stamp-giveaway.html

be sure to click and have a peek

Afternoon All

2009-05-25T12:49:00.004+01:00

I got weighed yesterday and yippee - I have lost 1/2 stone in the last fortnight - so that is a total of 2 stone 12 lbs so far - yippeeee - I do have to confess I had a little celebration evening - had 3 slives of cheeze and tomato pizza and some of the kids sweets when I went to the cinema to see Night at the Museum 2 - have you seen that - it is fantastic - anyway if I stepped on the scale now it may say I have put a pound or two back on - but hey ho - have been doing this for 52 days and have had two treats along the way - one was when my friends Rosie and Dee were here the weekend before and I had a couple of indian nibbles - 5 in total but they were only small and then this mini blowout - but hey if I am to keep it going I need a little reward now and then.

anyway have a look here -

http://cazzytime.blogspot.com/

how very kind - this lovely lady is from a fab new forum I have just joined - it is run by lovely ladies - and is really warm and inviting - why not pop over

quirky crafts

Quite Proud

2009-05-10T18:23:00.012+01:00

Sorry it has been a little while since my last confession ---oops I meant Blog Update

I have been busy - as you know I made a decision to do something about my weight - have been unhappy about it for what feels like forever - kept blaming having a baby - my goodness - my baby is now 5 and then I blamed comfort eating after losing my Dad - well that was 15 months ago so anyway I thought enough is enough and off I went to visit Lighter Life - almost a mortgage later here I am well on my way - I have lost so far a total of 2 stone 5 lbs. I don't know how much I want to lose - guess I will feel inside when enough is enough - but am definitely not there yet. I am however feeling more positive and it is fantastic being able to get into more clothes and also pretty underwear.

This spurred me onto do something about my fear of needles/injections and on Thursday I gave blood - something I thought I would never be able to do - so yeah I am quite chuffed with things at the moment. All I have to do now is face my fear of cats

I have done a few crafting bits just recently and here they are

We went to Pennells garden centre yesterday - a favourite place of mine - not the outside part where all the plants are but inside - in the gift section - so much eye candy - anyway I bought three green glass flowers and played with them when I got home - here are the results

I also saw a gorgeous little lime green wooden bird and did this with it when I got home

I got a lovely surprise the other day - my friend bought me a present to say thank you for being there for her - which was so sweet and wow when I opened it up I was bowled over - look at how beautiful this is

It is from Monsoon and can't you tell - I just love their products - usually have to wait until the sales are on though as they are soooo expensive.

The other nice thing that has happened to me is hubby bought me a present - he went to Asdas and found these lovely jars - for just a pound each ..I of course have spent most of today rearranging my embellies

I have to try and get it all tidy as I have two very special friends coming over to stay next weekend and it will be crafting and chatting all the way - can't wait!

blog candy

2009-04-23T16:21:00.001+01:00

look at this fabby website for such gorgeous blog candy - how kind
http://bevscrafts.blogspot.com/2009/04/some-blogoversary-candy.html
gorgeous blog too

Sunday news

2009-04-19T11:34:00.005+01:00

Well my little girl went for her first sleepover last night - my golly it seemed strange not going to tuck her in when I went to bed. She had a great time - I knew she would - but oh did I miss her My friend said on Friday night that she could go and stay over if she wanted with her little one - the next morning before we got up she had packed a little bag and got her favourite toy and it was by the front door when we woke up in the morning - excited or what - bless her - anyway they all had a great time and just now she is sat at the table colouring and is quite happy with her little self

I am on lighter life and have been since 31st March and started my Saturday classes yesterday - had been away every weekend before so had been weighed in on a Tuesday - anyway to cut a story short - I have lost 22lbs so far - not bad - quite pleased - but still a way to go

My fantastic husband has been taking on most of the cooking duties when he is at home which has certainly made things easier, He is cooking roast beef for dinner today and Mum is coming over - I will no doubt have a soup or a shake or maybe go whole hog and treat myself to a peanut bar - yummy scrummy!! I have just had my porridge and mixed in a little banana shake with it - it is so filling - and believe it or not really tasty

OK - back in a mo - just going to photo the two layouts I have done this weekend

Well - I will be back later - to have a go at rosie dees challenge and also to give you some info where you can get some cricut carts at a most reasonable price - watch this space!

weigh in

2009-04-14T22:46:00.002+01:00

From a long post underneath to a mega short one - just a quick update have been weighed tonight - and all that abstaining from gorgeous cakes and yummy food was worth it - have lost 5lbs this week - yay!!!

Hope you all had a Happy Easter!

2009-04-14T20:32:00.028+01:00

Hope everyone had a great Easter! We went to the outlaws and had a really lovely time. We got to see family and friends and had time to chill out together - the weather was gorgeous

Here are some piccies

We decorated eggs and made easter bonnets

Our neice Amy joined in too although I think she felt a bit daft putting it on - so we compromised at this - lol!

Em and I baked some jam tarts - aaaaaagh they smelt so good - I am on a diet though so smell is all I could do - sigh!

Grandma helped them make some little easter cakes with yummy little eggs on top - my favourite
Our cousin and her gorgeous little girl

DD with Aunty Tammy's designer sunglasses - Didn't manage to get any piccies of Uncle Darren - there is always next time!

Here is a rare thing - a piccie of my gorgeous hubby - I don't very often get the chance to take his piccie - he is such a darling - most of the time - lol!

Time for bubbles - everyone loves bubble - regardless of age don't they??

Easter Monday we always have a treasure hunt for the children - we hide the treasure all over the garden - and then off they go - it has become quite a tradition

and then afterwards -

off to the park to feed the ducks

and roll the eggs.

All in all a lovely Easter - thanks Mum and Dad P from us all xxx

scrap like you mean it - week 13 and pencil lines

2009-03-30T16:39:00.006+01:00

I have quite gotten into the scrap like you mean it challenges - they give the old mojo a bit of a kick start - this week it was about incorporating stamping into your layout - hmmm well I haven't played much with my fancy pants stamps so thought it was time to break them out and I also saw this sketch on the pencil lines blog -

so I decided to give them a bit of a mix up and this was the result

yummy candy

2009-03-27T16:05:00.006Z

http://paula-pollys.blogspot.com/2009/03/my-blog-candy.html

Look at the Easter Candy below - How scrummy!!! Here is the link

http://jennifer-phoenixcrafts.blogspot.com/2009/03/easter-blog-candy.html

magnolia easter candy - on the gorgeous blog .......

http://rosaswelt.blogspot.com/2009/03/hudge-magnolia-blog-candy-give-away.html

I love the title of this next blog - and again another very generous lady

http://mustgoonastashdiet.blogspot.com/2009/03/blog-candy.html

wow wow wow

look at this fab blog and gorgeous candy

http://www.scraps4fun.com/ fabarooni and wow look at the ladies scrap room - fantastico

Scrap Like You Mean It!! Week 12 on UKS

2009-03-25T18:11:00.005Z

I have started taking part in the scrap like you mean it challenge on uks - week 12's sketch is here

and here is my intrepetation

the red ribbon isn't actually as crooked as it appears on here

If you want to join in - here is the link

http://www.ukscrappers.co.uk/index.php

The other layout I have just completed is here

Both layouts have been completed using Laundry Lines paper available from the fantastic Indigo Mill

Visit to Dunelm Mill

2009-03-25T16:57:00.006Z

Well I had a little visit to Dunelm - wanted to see if our branch had started selling cardstock yet - nope - apparently it is only the newer stores - we will get it eventually but probably tail end of the year. Anyway I had a look around whilst I was there - would have been rude not to wouldn't it - anyway look at these beauties

aren't they gorgeous and the length of fabric flowers in each was worth the £2.99 price tag alone - really cute and then I saw this it was a slight gamble as it was wrapped in cellophane and you couldnt see what it was really but for £1.99 - what do you think

and inside

lots of card pages with pockets followed by sheets of lined paper - great for thinking on the go - have started putting things at the kids say and do on scraps of paper in them and quick sketches so that when I come to sit down and scrap I am ready to go - well thats the plan at least of which I have made a start

Then to finish off my visit - I had to have a new oilcoth for the table in the conservatory - we replace it quite often and I do like something a bit zingy - thought it was rather cute

I returned quite happy with my little purchases!

uks scrap like you mean it challenge

2009-03-19T11:44:00.005Z

Over on UKS there is a fabric challenge set by the group Scrap Like You Mean It - well I am supposed to be packing and cleaning up but hey ho - I saw it and knew I had a bag of scraps and suddenly felt inspired - so grabbed a 12 by 12 canvas and the bag of scraps - found a piccie and here is the result

I am rather pleased with it - need to borrow hubby's diy stapler later to tidy the back up but yeah - my only concern is when you look at it - does it look as if the kids are saying we love you or is it as intended - We Love You (from Mummy and Daddy) I think what I will do is sign inside the frame on the back

Thanks for looking - why don't you have a go and show me what you come up with. I have loved playing hookey this morning and playing with fabric and glue

Here is the link

Cheeky Smiles

2009-03-18T18:28:00.006Z

Talk about cheeky smiles - these piccies always cheer me up when I look at them

and one that always twangs my heart strings

I remember this one being taken - Emmie was just a few months old and totally adorable.

The picture was taken of her in her grobag although you cant really see it - well it makes me think back to getting the grobags - when we bought our son home from the hospital and it suddenly dawned on us - this was it - it was down to just us to bring this little fella up and be totally responsible for him - my oh my - that was a scary but heartwarming moment - well anyway I digress I was always worried about him when I went to sleep at night - he would be beside me in the moses basket so close I would lay my hand on him - we would swaddle him in a sheet and a blanket just like we had been shown in the hospital - we did this for about 5 months but by then he was starting to wriggle a lot more and it was time to go into his own room into the big cot - oh my - I kept having visions of him going under the blankets - anyway after a bit of thought and a chat with a neighbour I had a search around the internet and found these

so totally amazing - from then on - that was what I used all the time with both of my two.

They were absolutely fantastic - you could feed them their night feed in them - unzip the bottom half and change their nappy and clean them up and they could still feel snug. You could even travel with them depending what sort you got and then when you arrived at Grandmas - all you had to do was lift them out of the car seat and into their cot and familiar surroundings made them settle so much easier

I was quite sad when they outgrew them - but like a lot of things - it was a milestone - a sign that they were getting bigger and as much as we want to freeze moments in time - we have to let them grow too. I guess that is why I love my scrapping - taking the pictures that I do - freezes that moment in time not only in my heart but on paper too so when I am old and grey and losing my marbles I can hopefully look back and remember a perfect time

EBAY

2009-03-15T20:25:00.012Z

My hubby bought at the end of last year for me a Papernations Decoupage set - its got loads in and is very cute - I think I have done one card with it - decoupage isn't really my bag and I do not have time what with all the scrapping I am trying to get done - my cards and the photography courses I am going to be taking soon. So rather than it sit there being unloved I thought I would look for a better more loving home for it - there's lots and lots in the kit

here we go - some piccies

Mothers Day Cards

2009-03-15T17:16:00.007Z

Mother in Law if you happen to be viewing this post (which is highly unlikely but just in case you are )STOP!!!!!

I know my Mum won't be thats for sure!

Ok this is what I have been doing this afternoon whilst everyone has been watching Nanny Macphee

It was the challenge that is on Rosie Dees Blog that spurred me on to do them.

From there I went on to make these two

Our visit to Waitrose through a 5 yr olds eyes

2009-03-15T10:11:00.014Z

a wave from the friendly baker

isnt the packaging gorgeous let alone the scrummy contents

I dont know where my daughter gets her sweet tooth from - LOL!!!

Look there is even a piccie of the lovely checkout lady she was really friendly with us - the children thought she was great

everyone got a cake or a giant cookie to bring home = unfortunately there was no way of getting a piccie - they were eaten too quickly apart from mine which I had once the shopping was away and the little ones had gone to bed - and then I savoured it with a cuppa

Keep trying something different

2009-03-15T09:45:00.008Z

I like to keep having a go at something different be it playing with alcy inks - embossing powders - scraplifting different styles or playing with paints and bubble wrap - I had so much fun doing these last night

The red letters are felt thickers - love them - the word create was white chipboard that I have painted creamy yellow, doodled in red marvy plumes and the blue is the american craft glitter pen - the and sign started life as a patterned chipboard symbol which I peeled smoothed and again attacked with the american craft glitter blue pen - so much fun - so much texture - loved doing it

I have only just started doing this but I love the effect it gives - lay a piece of double sided tape onto your cardstock or paper and then pucker your ribbon on to it - gives a lovely dimension to your work

finally finished the next one

Good Morning All

2009-03-14T09:38:00.011Z

I was so chuffed this morning when I logged on and found I had some comments waiting for me - thank you so much - it has really cheered my day - have been so busy this morning - have been cleaning for last hour and a half - so thought I would treat myself and have half hour on here - dont you find it is so addictive - I sit down and start reading - and hopping from blog to blog and I get so much inspiration from everyones work - it fires me up to go and get started.

Anyway the last few days I have had really dirty fingers - why?? because I have just taken delivery of some more alcy inks and distressing powders so have been sat playing

Here are a couple of bits that I have made

Have you seen this fabarooni blog candy - have to be quick though it is being drawn tonight

http://madeforkeeps.blogspot.com/ Isn't it fantastic!!!

and wait theres more - here is another very kind lady with some stunning candy

here is her blog http://donkeysmiles.blogspot.com/

Sally has some super candy too on her blog

http://www.sallys-daze.blogspot.com/

and valid until 31st of this month - one this amazing blog

http://donnamundinger-popsicletoes.blogspot.com/

is the following blog candy

The kindness of fellow crafty bloggers astounds me - thank you

couple of challenges

2009-03-11T22:42:00.009Z

Over on the Arty Girlz site - they have a SMILE challenge - so here is my version

Have a look at their site - it really is great

and have double up on this one - hope it is ok - first off all it is for the paper take weekly challenge

and ,,,,. and. wow ,,,,wait for it - Karen on Crafty Goings On blog is offering 72 copic markers as blog candy

- wow isnt that just absolutely amazing - you have to either download or stamp an image and then colour it in - so my little skipper above seemed ideal - why dont you go and have a look for yourself - here is karens blog

have a quick giggle at this -

2009-03-11T16:42:00.002Z

have been playing on webfetti - isnt it an awful picture - had been up all night when this was taken

Tuesday

2009-03-10T19:00:00.004Z

Today being Tuesday I should be having craft club at mine this evening but there is a chap coming to the village hall - who is an experienced photographer 25 years in the business, taking piccies and teaching how. He is giving a free demo tonight and then if anybody wants to take a proper course they are reasonable prices (apparently) So we have decided to nip up there and see what it is like. Lee told me about it - said it was advertised at our village shop so after tea - emmie and I had a wander up to get the details - then played tig all the way home - cor can she run fast when she wants to. I am pooped!!!

Anyway thought it was time to show you what I have been doing the last few days - have had some inspiration as Steph came up on Friday night - we sat scrapping until 20 to 4 in the morning and having the occasional sip of wine as one does - chortle chortle. Anyway she brought lots of lovely stuff with her and I have been on a roll ever since!!!

Here is what I have done for last weeks challenge on Rosiedees Blog

I now have to catch up with this weeks one - hmm - will get my thinking cap on.

Meanwhile..

as you can see 99% finished - just have to decide definitely on the ribbons and the placement of the handmade flowers - thanks Claire for the demo on them. Papers used are Scenic Route - I love them and the plain cardstock is actually American Crafts

Baking day I really enjoying doing - I have played with paint and bubble wrap on this - and had a thoroughly good time doing so - hubby says he likes this layout more than any other one I have ever done - wow

This one kind evolved as I was doing it - and again a bit of paint and bubble wrap -Ok I have tried it - now onto something else - wont bore you stiff with tons and tons of bubbled paints

Rightyo had better get a wriggle on now - its half seven - I have to be at the hall in 15 mins - gotta pick myc amera up first - ta ta all - see ya later

Dont forget to check out rosie and dees challenge blog http://rosiedeeschallenge.blogspot.com/

birthday parties

2009-02-28T11:19:00.005Z

Our children have a far better social life than we do - how did that happen - lol - dont all parents find the same - anyway Daniel has gone to his friends party this morning - quadbiking!!! Daddy has taken him - it finishes at 1230 and is the other side of town. Emmie has a party in the next village at 1300 so only half hour difference - we didnt know if we would be back in time so we have decided to divide and conquer - lol!

Anyway here is the card I made for Daniels friend

and here is the card I made for Ems friend

and to finish off heres a little layout I made earlier of Mil and me

No camera - I feel naked - aagh

2009-02-26T00:13:00.003Z

My two and I went out with my friend and her children last week, which was cut short as My boy wasn't feeling very well - in the course of this I left my camera in her car - and have not managed to get it back yet - I didn't realise just how much I use it until now - we had a power cut last night and had to use candles everywhere - it was pancake day though wasn't it - so I had to get the matches and light the hob - and make pancakes by candle light - I would love to have taken pictures of it all - and later we went out to the shop - on the way back we had bought some doughnuts - Lee suggested we sit on the bench in the village and eat them - it was lovely - a really nice evening - we could see for miles and there we were all of us scoffing these gorgeous apple doughnuts - another photo opportunity missed - aagh - I am seeing her on Friday and she had better remember to bring my camera - especially as she is coming her for a meal - we are having a girly night 5 of us - what am I making - cheese and cider fondue with all the trimmings - yummy scrummy and a glass of vino or three - hee hee

This way to some absolutely gorgeous blog candy

2009-02-17T23:21:00.006Z

have you seen these
http://bevscrafts.blogspot.com/2009/02/it-candy-time-x-2.html
and
http://cardsandacuppa.blogspot.com/2009/02/blog-candy.html
and
http://cherryhillcrafts.blogspot.com/2009/01/love-romance-blog-candy.html
and
http://stephmuchadoaboutnothing.blogspot.com/2009/02/blog-candy-10000-hits.html
and
http://bunny-zoes.blogspot.com/

what kind ladies and fab blogs too - go and have a look

Elaine x