Crafti-n-est

Warrington workshops!

2012-01-30T14:15:00.001-08:00

Okay so I'm a little bit excited, I have the opportunity to teach some one day card making, general crafts and jewellery making workshops in the centre of Warrington. I have a venue confirmed and these classes would be full day events giving me the freedom to teach a whole range of techniques, if anyone wants any more information please email me at egundry@Warrington.ac.uk.

I'm off to find some thermals...no seriously I am it's so cold and I'm assured it's only going to get worse...I'm not good in the cold...a red nose and purple hands is not a good look!!!

Take care
Love
Est xx
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Mixed media

2012-01-29T07:37:00.001-08:00

I'm getting to be a lazy blogger again, not because I can't be bothered but because I'm working most evenings during the week so don't have the chance to fill you in with my waffle...thankfully I hear you all sigh!!!

I've been having a play the last couple of days, using what I have learnt in Jeanne Oliver's online class, which I am loving, I'm still only halfway through watching all the videos but each time I do watch one I'm inspired to have a go at something different, which can only be a good thing however my hands and nails are constantly covered in mod podge and paint, I'm currently sporting a rather pretty brushed corduroy distress ink and gold acrylic paint finish...I think I could be starting a new trend!!!

So I've just finished this...

Was nice to try something different, although still working in the same colour scheme...I was chatting with one of my students on Wednesday evening and she finds she does the same too so I'm not the only one...although I did try a red colour scheme for this little box and canvas....

I love mixed media at the moment!!!

Off to watch a few more videos online and maybe to wash my paint covered hands!!!

Take care
Love
Est xx
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Thank you Mr Branson...

2012-01-22T09:40:00.001-08:00

...Well I finally started my online course today, run by Jeanne Oliver, now I have Internet again...had to call Virgin this week because my Internet kept disconnecting, not helpful when I'm trying to send emails and poor Harry couldn't access his xbox live account...so we were without the world wide web for four days and you would have thought the world had ended...poor kids!!!

Anyway Old Richard sent a very lovely engineer yesterday who took one look at my set top box, which I think was made in the 70's, and told me he was going to replace that and the modem...woo hoo...we now have a brand spanking new box that pauses and records...ask me if I know how to use it yet!!!

So I have watched two of the videos so far, the course is called "Creatively Made" and is a journey of art and discovering the gifts you possess, bit spiritual but very inspiring, so the videos I viewed today were altering a hardback book to make a journal and altering a readymade journal...

I've done the first...Altered hard back book...book covers were removed and used as a front and a back and I've filled the inside with watercolour paper so I can create more art...I loved doing this, I love to create from scratch, although I'm very messy and my fingers are stained with distress inks again!!!

And the second is in progress on my desk...might finish that later, but then again after I've eaten Sunday Dinner which is very slowly roasting as we speak I might just veg out on the couch and watch crap TV.

In my mixed media class this week we were using wax, melting it in the melting pot and using it to "age" stamped images and apply direct to canvas to distress...this was my sample..with a scrunched up tissue paper background...

I'm loving vintage and browns at the moment can you tell?

Off now to perfect my roast dinner.

Take care
Love
Est xx
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Red Bull...

2012-01-11T12:59:00.001-08:00

Really does give you wings...I had to resort to drinking a can before work tonight and I'm a bit hyperactive now, I kept falling asleep on the couch before my evening class and didn't think my students would appreciate the look, just hoping the effects wear off soon so I can sleep, I'm bone weary tired and not even sure why I've not had the hardest week must just be the dismal weather or my bus lag from the weekend!!!

Taught my mixed media class tonight, which I love, and we were working with wood, gesso, acrylic paints, distress inks, stamps, polymer and air dry clay....all to create something like this....

The little flowers are all made from fimo using moulds and the heart was cut using a dinky little cookie cutter, I've had my Tim Holtz stamps out again and even let my students loose with them too, although I did ban them using stayzon on them!!!

I'm off now to read...I'm loving the Kindle App on my iPad, I've already read two books since Sunday, Breaking the Silence by Diane Chamberlain, which I managed to read on the Chorley trip, and The long Walk by Slavomir Rawicz...both beautifully and emotionally written but two very different types of story, I'm currently reading Death Bed by Leigh Russell, got to love a bit of blood and gore before bedtime!!!

Take care
Love
Est xx
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Sha la la la la la la la....

2012-01-09T14:00:00.001-08:00

Shamballa!!!

Blogger was playing up yesterday and wouldn't let me post this picture last night...

This is the bracelet we will be making in my next class in Chorley and a similar style watch too...thats still in progress on my desk though!!!

So I was back to work today, the great thing about Mondays is I have the day off and just have an evening class so I took myself off to Manchester ...to buy beads of course, I love having a good mooch in The Bead Shop in Afflecks Palace, lots of inspiration and beautiful bling to feast your eyes on...and it means my students get the best quality beads because I can see what I'm buying and it means I can treat myself too...got some shamballa style beads to play with...well I have to research the products don't I!!!

Talking of research while I was in Chorley yesterday look what stamps got a new home...

And...

Can't wait to have a play with them can see them being used in my art journalling, talking of which my new online class started today so I'm off to stick on my giant headphones and watch the videos for today...I'm off to get my art on!!!
Take care
Love
Est xx
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270 minutes...

2012-01-08T15:16:00.001-08:00

...is how long I spent getting to Chorley and back today...that's three games of football...!!!

I'm so tired I either have jet lag or rail replacement bus lag...not sure which yet as I'm sure it would take me less time to travel to sunny Spain, I have just penned my email of complaint to Transpennine express, I'm not one to complain usually unless it is completely necessary but when I'm sat on a train on a platform for twenty-five minutes slowly watching the time tick by and realising I'm going to miss my connecting rail replacement bus and knowing there isn't another one for an hour...that really infuriates me...especially when the wait was completely unnecessary!!!

Anyway had a really good class despite being an hour late, my ladies were very understanding and we had a good giggle, I've not seen my Chorley crew since November so was great to catch up with them all. I will be there again in February (11th) so if anyone is interested in coming along to the class, we will be creating Shamballa style bracelets and watches, drop me an email or give Louise at the Crafty Patch a ring on 01257 277324 to book a place.

Off to sleep off my bus lag!!!

Take care
Love
Est xx
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22 miles...

2012-01-07T14:37:00.001-08:00

Is all it is from my house to Chorley, where I am holding a jewellery making workshop tomorrow, yep 22 miles, to drive it takes 41 minutes, to walk it's about 6 hours 35 minutes...you have got to love Google maps...and to go on the train...a shocking 2 hours...that would be two rail replacement buses and two trains!!! Good job I've downloaded a library full of new books onto my kindle as I reckon I can read at least two of them on the way there!!!

I keep repeating I love my job, I love my job...and I do it's just I hate how public transport thinks Sunday is still a day of rest...huh I wish and how any rail work that has to be done is always done on a Sunday...honestly Sunday's on trains are as busy as any other day...believe me I've been crammed in a virgin pendelino with enough students and hikers to know!!!

Okay rant over...maybe one day I will learn to drive...and not just my kids up the wall :-)

I forgot to post this picture last night, it's of the inside cover of my calendar journal...I'm going to do a page like this for every month, either a wish or a dream or a goal for the month kind of format...

I had those Tim Holtz stamps out again, a little more distress ink, in fact I have used so much lately that my fingertips are now an attractive shade of Brushed Corduroy!!!

Off to dream of smelly rail replacement buses and jammed trains!!!

Take care
Love
Est xx
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Haircuts!!!

2012-01-06T12:02:00.001-08:00

Its a sad day when you take your youngest to the hairdressers and she comes out looking older than she did when she went in...little Mia no longer looks so little, she's had a fringe cut into her hair and the razor cut to thin out her inherited thick hair...she was a little concerned when sweet Lizzie (my hairdresser) asked if she wanted a razor cut...bless her I think she was expecting a shave...I was very nearly in tears...but not quite when she gave the thumbs up in the mirror to let me know she loved her new grown up look!!! Locks swept away with the brush and Mia running her fingers through her fringe every three seconds makes me realise my little girl is growing up right before my eyes, won't be long before she is stealing my make up and shoes!!!

Completed the cover of my calendar journal last night...

Still loving the Holtz inspiration, can you tell!!!

Off to catch up on the cockney soap

Take care
Love
Est xx
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Time for something new...

2012-01-04T08:45:00.001-08:00

How many of you are thinking of trying something new, or learning a new skill, the college I work for in Warrington currently has a wide programme of short five week taster courses available at various times and venues throughout Warrington, on a wide variety of subjects, from jewellery making to learning the guitar...click here for more information and enrolment details. The first course is free, yes free to everyone, although a £10 materials fee may be charged for some courses, and subsequent courses are at the bargain price of £30, which works out at £6 per class!!!

The college are also offering longer 12 week Saturday morning classes based at the Museum Street campus, in a range of subjects from the Handmade Home to Introduction to Sage...further details can be found Here

You never know you may just find a class in something you've been wanting to try and with it being the new year it's the perfect time to learn something new.

Take care
Love
Est xx
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Well that's it...

2012-01-03T12:27:00.001-08:00

So that's it now the holidays are officially over the kids are all back to school tomorrow, uniforms are ready, packed lunches are made and hair has been washed...dried and straightened, you can tell my girls are growing up!!!

I'm not properly back In work until next week, I have a couple of evening classes this week and I'm running a jewellery making workshop in Chorley on Sunday but I have the next couple of days to myself, once the kids are packed off to school...blissful long days where I don't have to listen to Jeremy Kyle (courtesy of Ella) or Hannah bloody Montanah (that would be Mia not Harry) or Harry opening the fridge every time he walks past it...I will miss them though, the house is eerily quiet without them when they first go back to school however there was some talk earlier about February half term!!!

I haven't had the chance to craft today as planned, we had to brave the gale force winds to pick up a few bits in town and to have one last McHeart Attack before healthier eating resumes, I did however manage to sign up for another online class which starts on Monday, I'm really looking forward to it, I believe I need art and creativity in my life to keep me happy and healthy...I'm a big believer in art therapy. I found this class through Christy Tomlinsons Blog I've completed several of her online courses already and loved them, so Christy recommended Jeanne Oliver's class and I thought why not, I have just under a week to get organised and get together the class supplies and next weekend off to get stuck in...will keep you posted.

Will leave you with a card I made for my Dads birthday which was last week so its safe to post on here now...little bit more Tim Holtz influence...

Off to set several alarms...its going to be a very early morning!!!
Take care
Love
Est xx
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Day two!!!

2012-01-02T09:39:00.001-08:00

Yep day two of 2012, is that twenty twelve or two thousand and twelve?

I've spent the day lesson planning and prepping today, a job that I hate the thought of but actually quite enjoy once I get stuck into it, I have 10 new courses starting next week and two that are ongoing so that's 12 classes a week alongside workshops and demonstrations it's a good job I love my job, I'm actually looking forward to going back now too, it's lovely to be off with the kids but I think these holidays are beginning to drag a little bit, I'm only hoping we don't have a repeat of a couple of years ago where we ended up having several extra days off due to a little dusting of snow!!!

So my classes are all sorted for the beginning of term, I have samples made and handouts written and teaching bags packed up...I'm always organised at the beginning of term...!!!

Tomorrow is the last day the kids have off and will probably take them out for the day somewhere, saying that only the girls will come out with me now, I'm not sure if I'm cool enough for Harry anymore :-( I have realised during these holidays that they are growing up far too fast and it's not going to be long before they will all be off doing their own thing, only had Mia at home on New Years Eve as it was!!!

Will leave you with a canvas I created last week...not sure what day, what did I tell you about losing track of those days...

This 12 x12 canvas was created using printed tissue paper (background), acrylic paints, stamping, doodling, a bit of serendipity and a whole lot of rub ons and is heading for a home on the wall in my dining room.

Off now to see who wants to "play out" with Mum tomorrow!!!

Take care
Love
Est xx
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Happy New Year

2012-01-01T10:48:00.001-08:00

Well it's goodbye 2011 and hello to 2012...a fresh new year with promise of fresh new beginnings and resolutions, I've not made any yet, not made a decision to eat healthily or give up smoking or anything else for that matter...too much pressure involved, I'm just going to continue to embrace life with all it's ups and downs.

The end of last year, wow that seems strange writing that when it was only yesterday, was pretty harsh, I lost a very dear friend and my Nan within a month of each other and just ended up throwing myself into my work, I've had a little time over the Christmas period to reflect and heal and just to try and come to terms with the loss. I'm creating art again, which I stopped doing and found a wonderful challenge this afternoon over on Kate Cranes
blog, called the 366 challenge, which basically allows you to create a calendar in an art journal giving you the opportunity to journal your month....here's mine for January...created using distress inks, acrylic paint, stamping and a bit of paint flicking...which by the way ended up all over me!!!

Im loving Tim Holtz style at the moment and fell in love with his 12 tags of christmas...can you tell, I'm going to fill this in daily, or maybe weekly but it's something I'm planning on completing each month and at the end of the year will have a detailed journal of the whole year.

I nipped to Hobbycraft one day last week, is it just me or is it really hard to differentiate between days in that week between Christmas and new year, anyway I've discovered a replacement for Mod Podge, it's called Decopatch glossy glue, you can't miss it it's in a bright pink container, it sticks almost instantly and did I mention it's in a pink container ;-)...

Here it is looking rather sexy next to my new Martha Stewart punch...bloody hell how expensive are they but they are gorgeous, I've used it a couple of times already.

Well that's me off...Eastenders is on tonight, BBC are going to mess everyone up tonight showing it on a Sunday...Happy New Year to everyone
Love
Est xx
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Bump!!!

2011-10-09T13:40:00.001-07:00

I just found bump!!!
It's an app that allows you to literally "bump" pictures and other stuff from iPhone to iPad....yep I'm a geek lol...so I've been bumping some pictures I took earlier of some art journalling pages using my iPhone to my iPad...much as I love the iPad taking pictures isn't easy as it is so large and hard to control...

Using oil pastels to create background and stencilling....
The journalling reads "big dream...of one day owning my own craft shop in a little cobbled street beside the sea side"....

Watercolour background, water coloured canvas tag and utee heart...

I have Recently discovered clear gesso...applied over patterned paper you can then watercolour the paper allowing the design to show through....

Can you tell I'm loving orange at the moment!!!

I've spent all day today lesson prepping and planning and am finally chilling on the couch listening to the x-tra factor....yep I'm still sad but Mr Barlow is looking rather lush...and I'm not talking about the ken from corrie!!!

Take care
Love
Est xx
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Crab Apples!!!

2011-10-08T11:29:00.001-07:00

I know I've been a terrible blogger lately I am back teaching at the College and I'm working three evenings a week, I'm still teaching leisure courses but I'm also teaching BTEC courses in Mixed Media and Jewellery making which has been a challenge but in a good way and I just don't seem to have a minute to myself lately, running this alongside family, weekend workshops and demos and I'm pretty much wrecked and sadly in bed for ten each evening!!!

I was over at Crab Apple Crafts today demonstrating for Kars, using the gorgeous new Marianne Christmas Creatables with the Cuttlebug...I had a fabulous day and met lots of lovely crafty ladies and gents and only ten minutes travel time too :-)...

Nigel very kindly took this picture of me...

Thanks for that Nige...

Have just worked out how to blog from my iPad...only took me FIVE months so hopefully I can blog a little bit more now...we can live in hope!!!

Off to drink several glasses of a very chilled liquid refreshment and chill out with the X factor...yes I'm that sad!!!

Take care
Love
Est xx
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I Love....

2011-08-24T12:40:00.000-07:00

...Primark!!!

I`m sorry but it is true...Ella even has socks to prove it!!!

The girls and I hit the streets of Liverpool yesterday, my second favorite place in the world after Manchester, and we DID Primark...All five floors of it...well four floors, because we didn't want to do boy stuff!!!

We DID it that well we had to buy a suitcase to transport our purchases home...I love that ;-)!!!

We came home with lots of new clothes, very happy but very, very tired!!! So tired I nodded off on the train home, you know that moment when you are part way between being awake and being asleep and you feel your head fall and you wake up slightly only to nod again...that was me...you got to love big sunglasses to hide that look!!!

Luckily I had the girls with me to chunner and jabber away keeping me partially awake so we got off at the right stop!!!

Funny though got home and still managed to complete this page in my art journal...very apt for yesterday...

Titled "Home Sweet Home"...

And these are a couple I completed Monday but it was too dark to photograph...and quite possibly too late...this Art journaling has me staying up late and getting up early...bit like a new baby but with less commitment, I wouldn't say less mess because that would be an outright lie!!!

This one is titled "Time"

and this one "Rock Chick"...

I have been busy tonight prepping for my last Demo for a couple of weeks, I am over in Lancaster on Saturday at Cardcraft UK so come and say hi if you are nearby.

Off now to maybe get messy with Mod Podge or Grungy with Gesso!!!

Distressed!!!

2011-08-22T12:18:00.000-07:00

...Not literally, I have been shopping...again!!!

This Art malarkey is proving to be a little on the expensive side, I know its because its a new hobby and I have to go out and buy all the materials...so its good when I can snatch these babies up....

With a lip smacking 25% off!!!

I know I couldn't leave them in the shop at that price...plus it would have been rude to because the shop in question, my local craft shop is closing down...Nooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!

But until they do they have 25% off most of their stock.

And had a little chuckle to myself when I took that picture because my new distress inks look so neat and tidy lined up like that...until you look at the bigger picture...

Can you spot them!!!

I have been like a crazy art woman possessed the last couple of days, I am filling the mini Faber Castell Art journal I bought yesterday, and so far have created these pages...

This is my "Beside the Sea" page...

This one is about my Kids....

And this is about Mia and how girly she is...

All the backgrounds are created with my gorgeous water colour crayons...I am seriously in LOVE with them...where have they been all my life, and I have stamped, stenciled, journaled and doodled my layers...I am really happy with these and love the size too (about 10x15cm)...I am planning a WHOLE day tomorrow creating...have I mentioned how much I love my job, six weeks off for summer...not a bad life huh.

Bargain Hunter.....

2011-08-21T08:41:00.000-07:00

...Not in the David Dickinson orange kind of way but in the "nipped into The Works before I had to face the aisles of Asda" kind of way...

And look what I got...

Can you see that...£2.99 for a mini Art Journal two Faber Castell Brush tip Pitt pens in gold and silver and a black fine liner, along with some stickers and stuff...BARGAIN!!!

Not opened it yet though I have been like a woman possessed today after I did the weekly shop I decided to have a clear up in the garden...big mistake because no amount of Radox bath soak is going to ease the muscle ache I have already...that coupled with cleaning the rooms the children comically refer to as their bedrooms...I was convinced they were restyling them for an episode of how clean is your house!!!

However both Aggie and Kim would be super proud of me now and I swear if they make a mess when they come home there will be serious issues!!!

I had a wonderful day yesterday in Kendal at The Paper Warehouse, caught up with some familiar faces; Clare Rowlands designer of the fabulous Molly Blooms stamps, not seen her for a couple of years so was lovely to catch up and go check out her blog because her stamps and her cards are absolutely stunning, also managed a good old catch up with Melanie Heaton, we`ve not worked together for a couple of months and always manage to have a giggle and a good old chat when we do, and I met the very talented Jane Gill too. It was an incredibly busy day, I didn`t get out for crafty smoke until about 2pm I had people watching my Demo continually until then, and I even ate my lunch whilst demonstrating...not a good look I can tell you. I was demonstrating the Christmas Marianne Creatables which sold out in a couple of hours!!!

Did manage to create this double page layout in my Art Journal last night before I crashed rather inelegantly on the couch...

Its the first double page I have done and I like it so much that I am only doing double pages from now on...so there ;-).

I am off now to pour myself a very large glass of Pinot and sit in my perfectly manicured garden!!!

And now for something completely different...

2011-08-19T10:19:00.000-07:00

...I made Jewellery!!!

I know bit of a shock huh?

But I bought the most gorgeous hand painted Indian glass beads yesterday and just had to create with them, I was running some taster sessions today so the tools were out so to say...

Lush aren't they?

You can buy the turquoise one here and the pink one here from my favorite shop in the whole world....The Bead shop in Manchester...if you are a bead addict and you have never been you must go its an Aladdin`s cave for beaders, remember looking at sweets in a jar when you were small and trying to decide which ones to have, its the same feeling...just a little bit more expensive!!!

I will be back on the Art journal tomorrow honest, I had to pack all my materials up to take to my Information sessions last night for the BTEC course, which went amazingly, my students are excited, I am excited...easily pleased aren't I?

Okay I am off to a body shop party...woo hoo, I love body shop products soft sweet smelling skin here I come!!!

Behind the scenes...

2011-08-17T13:14:00.000-07:00

...I have been beavering away behind the scenes today, preparing for two 30 week BTEC courses I am teaching for the College in September, I am very excited about these, one is in Jewellery making and the other is Mixed Media, it is not only a fantastic opportunity for me to be teaching these but also for many of my students who need a progression route...I love my job, even though I was sat at the computer for six hours today...yep six, planning course outlines, creating supplies lists and translating the BTEC course aims and objectives into my own subject areas...did I say I love my job, honestly I really do, this is a fresh new challenge for me and I can`t wait.

I am running an advice session tomorrow night for these courses...Me!!!...

...sometimes this all feels like a dream; that I have a job that I love so much, that I put so much into (ask any member of my family for confirmation of this) and that I am actually pretty good at, I had a teaching observation a couple of months ago...I know I have been a bad blogger and should have shared this earlier but I was awarded a Grade 1 Outstanding Tutor and over the moon about that was a little bit of an understatement...I am truly blessed to be able to love work as much as I do.

As I said last night Picasa was playing silly beggars whilst I was trying to edit photos, so this is the first Art Journaling page I attempted with my brand spanking new, lush, stroke-able water colour crayons...did I mention I love them!!!

This page is all about how I have fell in love with Art and the journaling reads:

"I never considered myself an artist before until I began Art Journaling and I`ve fell in love, I`m excited and I can`t stop talking about it..."

I know I am probably boring you all with this now but it is just like a new love and that is how I wanted the page to "feel"!

Just a reminder that I am demonstrating for Kars at My Paper Warehouse on Saturday, they are hosting their annual craft event, I demonstrated there last year and had such a lovely day meeting lots of other demonstrators so this year should be just as good...if you are nearby come and say Hello, even if you are not it is definitely worth a trip just to check out the amount of ideas and inspiration each demonstrator has to offer and the amazing scenery in a beautiful part of the country...did I mention I love my job!!!

Off to proof read my supplies list...just kidding, going to catch the end of Twilight with Ella, apparently there's some serious eye candy in that ;-)!!!

Wax Crayons....

2011-08-16T13:10:00.000-07:00

My new ones arrived today wrapped very carefully in Amazon packaging, these are not just any old wax crayon in fact if Marks and Spencer did wax crayons these would be them...these are water soluble wax crayons...think scribbling some colour, spritzing some water and then dragging a brush across.....Yummmmeeeee!!!

Look at the lushness of these babies...

And yes the kids are banned from these at 15 quid a pack they are the most expensive crayons in the world, I even chuckled to myself when I ordered them but I have been creating with them tonight and I loves them, in an "oh my god where have you been all my life" kind of love...sad but oh so true!!!

So I`ve created three art journal backgrounds using them but then Picasa decides it`s had enough so will only let me edit one page...

My Blue/Green living the dream page...

Thinking of adding some white acrylic texture stamping around the edging of this one but I am loving the watercolour background, the crayons blend so easily on gesso.

However.....

...I also bought some oil pastels today and I am in love with them in an "Oh my god you nearly made my heart stop beating" kind of way....I LOVE THE EFFECT!!!

And out of all my pages this is my favorite one so far, just because its my favorite colour combination and I doodled...

I`m off to stroke my new crayons!!!

Art Journaling and Canvases...

2011-08-15T12:44:00.000-07:00

...Are my new favorite past time, it`s official...you know why?

Because I was up until 1am last night making this....

It was for my Best friends Birthday (Happy Birthday Sarah) and I have just safely delivered it so its safe to post on here now...I doodled, I journaled, I stamped, I gessoed, I mod Podged and although I get covered in it (and still am) she loved it so that made it worth all the gunk under my nails and up my arm, I really loved it though and am planning on making a similar one for myself...and check out my new little "Gorjuss" girl I managed to get in there too!!!

I also completed this page in my journal about my love of music...

And created this canvas to match....its 8x15 inches so an unusual shape to work with but I am trying to create a whole series of these to co-ordinate, I currently have the three I have finished above my desk on the wall...helps to inspire and motivate to have your own art on display I think...

And here is a better picture of my "wings" jornaling page....

I have lots of ideas buzzing through my mind and have not been this enthusiastic about being creative for such a long time, I love Art.

Off now to create some more mess but I have it on good authority that mod podge does wonders for your skin ;-)!!!

Christmas is coming...

2011-08-12T11:30:00.000-07:00

To Saint Helens (Sintellins is the correct pronunciation I am assured!)....tomorrow at Crafts4u2do.

I will be there demonstrating the Cuttlebug machine with the new Christmas Creatables dies...which are gorgeous even if I do say so myself, Check me out I've even been into the loft to hunt down a miniature Christmas tree and baubles!!!

Lindsay Mason will also be demonstrating and it's always nice to watch other demonstrators and pick up new techniques and ideas.

So if you are around come along and say hi, they have a lovely little cafe in the shop too ;-).

I'm pleased to say that I headed into Manchester today for the first time since the trouble they experienced Tuesday evening...there are shops that have been damaged however the mood was that of the city will go on, shoppers shopped and life just seemed as it should be...moving on, was a little surreal walking along areas I had seen on the news where situations got out of hand but although there was physical damage evident, shops are open and Manchester seemed it's normal buzzy self :-).

Having said that I'm skint now, I've spent yet more money on materials and items for my canvases and art journal and I'm off now to get myself covered in a rather stunning shade of metallic purple acrylic paint.

Painting and Decorating....

2011-08-11T13:23:00.000-07:00

...Is what my Dad used to do when I was a little girl, he hung wallpaper, glossed woodwork and emulsioned ceilings....me I paint papers, mod podge anything in sight and gesso surfaces...must be in the Genes!!!

I want you to meet my two new best friends...

....they go hand in hand, a match made in heaven for my new love...making a mess...I am not sure what it is called because I have created Canvases and am currently working on an Art journal.

Here is my double page journal spread...the light is pants in my house tonight :-( it looks orange but its a pearly fuchsia pink...and its all about me finally finding my "wings" and being able to "fly"...

I am not sure if it is art, I am not sure what the category is, but I am definitely enjoying it and that's the beauty of it.

Oh and I have a little secret

...I am a geek...

It`s not such a secret really but I love gadgets and I traded in my old Ipod today....for a new one, complete with camera...oh yay...I have told you I am easily pleased!!!

Off to play with my new toy!

Im all sparkly....

2011-08-10T13:28:00.000-07:00

...me and my Chinos and my desk and even my kitchen floor!!!

Spent the rest of the afternoon playing with my paints and creating more Art, I am loving it, doing something completely different, playing around with new ideas and watching the changes that take place in something. I found another canvas, this time a smaller one, at just 8x8inches not much bigger than a card and the same size of scrapbook layout that I favor...I think Art canvases are my new "thing", its all about what I want to achieve and the words I want to write and the colours I want to use, rather than being ruled by a photograph or an occasion. I think in the words of many crafters I not only found my mojo I actually discovered a new one, can you tell I like it...even though I am covered in glitter and I hate glitter!!!

So using the scraps from the canvas I created earlier I made this little matching tag...

And I have finally started to create an art journal too and its not stuck down yet or finished but is going to live very happily in here...

And this is my Fly like a Bird canvas, all about spreading your wings and living for the moment...

Will seriously have to go and clean up glitter now, and definitely will be buying more canvases tomorrow...i am hooked!!!

Art....

2011-08-10T06:30:00.000-07:00

...Until today I never really considered myself an artist but Wikipedia defines art as:

"The product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences or affects one or more of the senses, emotions or intellect"

I sat down today and created something for myself...not a demo sample not a class project I just wanted to play about with paint and glitter and paper and i loved every minute of it, even though I am covered in paint and glitter and my desk looks like its been tipped, even the girls joined in and painted a couple of spare canvases that I had. Crafty Wednesday is what we named it and it certainly beat watching the horror unfolding on the news at the moment.

So here is my piece of Art...

It is a 30x40cm Canvas so quite large and I have used Acrylic paints, mod podge, masks, glitter, stamps, patterned paper and even bubble wrap...I stamped with it, fab effect. It really made me think about what I do and that true art should come from the heart, which this did...oh and my paper and paint stash too.

I have the bug now and I want to do another one, will have to hunt down a canvas as I think I gave the girls my last two :-(

I am off to clean the paint out from under my nails, and plan my next piece of Art!!!

I Love Promarkers...

2011-08-09T03:56:00.000-07:00

You Know why?

Because they do this...

Yep colour my pearls!!!

I knew really, its one of those facts that is stored away in my head behind a locked door and down a dark alley, was just planning a trip to Hobbycraft when I caught sight of a Promarker winking at me from my pencil case as if to tease and taunt me until I remembered...and then bang!!! I unlocked that memory and sat and coloured in my pearls...simple things amuse me can you tell!!! And can you spot that little rogue double sided foam pad...they get everywhere don`t they.

Off to meet a friend for coffee...I am on holiday woo hoo!!!

Wii did it....

2011-08-08T14:19:00.000-07:00

.....we fixed the Wii!!!

I say we, but it was thanks to a very good friend who knows all about this technology stuff the girls and I are back Wii-ing!!!

I'm not too sure about this Wii Zumba though, Ella and I did a 20 minute session and even though the trainer kept saying "you're doing great" I didn't feel great...in fact I felt like my heart was going to explode and that I really needed to be lying down...possibly in a dark room, With a glass of wine and a cigarette, we did it though and bloody hell it's hard work but I feel kind of energised, I'm not one for exercise unless it's running through Primark on a Saturday but I managed and I'm even on track with my five a day today...and that doesn't even include the Pinot!!!

I have spent most of the day preparing for my demo on Saturday over in St Helens A Christmas demo in August...got to hunt for a Christmas tree to display some projects...going to mean a trip into the loft tomorrow.

Will post some pictures tomorrow, I'm blogging in bed from my iPad...oh yeah baby I saved up for one and treated myself the day Jack turned 18, kind of a well done on surviving being a mum for 18 years gift to myself!!!

Off to listen to the wind rattling around my house on this beautiful summer night!!!

Zumba...

2011-08-07T13:27:00.000-07:00

...In my bid to keep a little bit fitter...running up the stairs has me reaching for an oxygen mask at the moment, and my idea of five a day has a lot more to do with a certain little grape than a selection of fruit, I purchased this today...well I sent Ella to Asda with my Dad and the money because I was working...so far so good yes?

So the intention is there which is half the battle , the motivation arrived when I decided at 7.30pm that yeah I would have a little go...not at all concerned about making a fool of myself in front of the girls...nope they have seen me on Just Dance and had to endure me singing on Lips...not pretty I can tell you!!!

I am all geared up and ready to go....and...my Wii won`t work...go on say that out loud I dare you ;-).

I have spent the best part of an hour on Nintendo`s troubleshooting site, we have tried resetting, resyncing, I have maybe said a few bad words under my breath...and I have given up...been for a smoke and poured a glass of wine...see that's one of my five a day!!!

Any help gratefully received!

Chorley bound and a sticky situation

2011-08-06T23:52:00.000-07:00

I'm up early and off to Chorley to teach a jewellery making class at the Crafty patch with a very lovely group of ladies today, just wish it wasn't so early!!!

These two day weeks are really stretching me I kid you not, hoping that I don't get attacked with a can of stick and spray today as Wendy tried to yesterday, as she tried cutting on her Accucut she managed to completely cut through a full can...glue flew everywhere literally and I think we spent the rest of the day high from fumes, this crafting is a dangerous business I can tell you and I'm considering asking for danger money...no harm done really just jaw ache from giggling.

Forgot to post this last night but for anyone wanting to know the plate combination for embossing, either with a creatable or a brass stencil using the cuttlebug it is as follows:

Plate A
Two shims of thick card (I use two pieces cut to the size of my plates that I got in a fill a box for a fiver)
Creatable die (with die already cut) or brass stencil with card you want to emboss over the top (core-donations works well)
Tan embossing mat
B plate
Cutting B plate

Roll it through and hey presto embossed images in a jiffy!!!

On some of the older creatable dies it tells you to use a C plate...please do not I managed to break a cuttlebug with this combination.

Have a great day whatever you are doing.

Embossing with a Cuttlebug and leaving an un-embossed section

2011-08-06T10:15:00.000-07:00

Over at Card-io today I was asked the question How do you emboss with an embossing folder but leave a blank space...I wasn`t sure of the answer but have been playing around since I got home and finally cracked it...

Cut Some chipboard to measure 11x15cm approximately the same size as a small embossing folder, and secure a die with a piece of tape, I have used a circle...

Run this through your Cuttlebug using plate A, C and B, you want to keep the Aperture section...

Place the card that you want to emboss into an embossing folder, I have used Swiss Dots, and place the chipboard aperture over the top of the closed folder...

Run this through your Cuttlebug using the following plate combination: Plate A, two shims of thick card, Embossing folder with Chipboard aperture attached, C plate...

and here is what you get...

Depending on what aperture you cut will determine the shape of the un-embossed area.

I got there in the end!!!

Free Cuttlebug Giveaway!!!

2011-08-05T23:40:00.000-07:00

For one lucky Crafter.

Come along to my Demo today at Card-io in Wigan, spend over £20.00 to claim your free raffle ticket to be in with the chance of taking home a gleaming Cuttlebug die cutting and embossing machine, the draw will take place at around 3pm....Good luck!!

Can you believe this....

2011-08-05T10:12:00.000-07:00

...Not only have I done almost a week of blogging every day I am also giving away a Cuttlebug tomorrow...I am demonstrating over at Card-io in Wigan and if you spend over £20.00 you will receive a raffle ticket to win a Cuttlebug machine and guess who is drawing the ticket...yep little old me!!!

Had a day to myself today and headed into Manchester to traipse the aisles of Primark in peace without the usual "Mum can I have a drink", "Mum i need the toilet" and "Mum will you get me this" you know what, I ended up buying more for the kids than I did for me...whats that all about!!! Although I do have new shoes and a new handbag...oh and new Chinos and two new tops...okay I did pretty well too!

And made these yesterday for my upcoming Demos...Felt can be cut on the cuttlebug with the Creatables dies and the English rose is perfect for twisting into felt beads....

Glued to a ring blank...

And threaded on elastic with Pearls to create a bracelet...

I met a fellow blogger at my Demo last week and just going to give her a shout out now, saw this idea on her blog, with the link to the tutorial, which I kind of watched then made up my own, easel card with a drawer...perfect for gifts...thank you Barbara for providing the inspiration

Right I am off to chill out its really hard having five days off work then having to work for two you know!!!

Stargazing....

2011-08-04T03:24:00.000-07:00

So mingling with the stars yesterday in Blackpool...wax ones but hey they looked pretty damn good to me.

Mia was a little uneasy to begin with thinking the statues were actually going to come to life but soon relaxed enough to have her picture taken with various different celebrities, I remember going to Madam Tussuad's in London when I was younger, My Nan used to take me all over the place, the London Dungeons were a particular favorite and they are opening one in Blackpool in September, not sure I will be able to convince Mia to go there though.

So here I am with Mr Russell Brand....he is very very tall!!!

And Mr Alan Shearer....

Could get used to the celebrity lifestyle!!!

I also had a bit of a play with one of the Doily Marianne Creatables yesterday and came up with this easel card...again the white cuts are all in glitter card but my camera does not like that stuff, can`t say I blame it I hate glitter too....

Having a relaxing day today no day trip planned...yet!!!

Backpacks at the ready....

2011-08-03T00:31:00.000-07:00

...Yesterday we went on a daytrip and at one point I think we were totally lost in the middle of North Wales on a bus but we had a wonderful day and the weather, just as BBC weather had said, was very kind to us...apart from when the train went through Prestatyn where it was bucketing it down!!!

We headed over to Conwy and walked round, and up and down the castle...its bloody huge and there was obviously no health and safety in place when it was built because the steps were lethal, but its a very beautiful and powerful building, very easy to imagine looking out over the water waiting for attack!!!

Did forget my camera...kicking myself about that so had to make do with my little "BlueBerry" and took this one of the girls outside the Smallest house in Great Britain...no way I would even fit my craft stuff in there and I dont think even Ikea could maximise that space, its so dinky and quaint and at one point there were two people living in there!!!

And on the way home we stopped here...

I have been on the train so many times and heard Deganwy is a request stop only please inform the conductor if you wish to alight here...someone did woo hoo...Easily pleased aren't I!!!

For those ladies who came to my Demo on Saturday at Garners here are the Christmas cards I made using the new creatables...the white cuts are all cut from white glitter card but the camera didn't pick that up very well...

Tree and doily card...

Reindeer and Sleigh easel card...

And Winter Scene landscape card...

Be Christmas in 143 days you know...says so here!!!

Right I am off to get ready for yet another day out...I am exhausted I must have walked at least 100 miles this week, slightly exaggerated but that's what my feet tell me, Its Blackpool today and the waxworks...camera battery is charging so I wont forget that...we are off to mingle with the stars.

Potter, Pearls and Pants!!!

2011-08-02T00:51:00.000-07:00

I finally watched Harry Potter yesterday...The last one...EVER...or is it?

Two words sum up this film, never mind Jonathan Ross or Barry Norman`s opinion...mine...BLOODY AWESOME!!!

I loved it, have always loved it, the books and the films and now it is no more so as I wipe a little tear from my eye I am happy in the knowledge that I can get away with wearing Chino`s...I know slight subject change there but obviously a trip into Manchester (to the pics) isn`t complete without a trip to Primani and I picked up a pair of said chinos yesterday and according to Ella I look good in Teens clothes!!!

And finally Pearls...made these on Sunday evening after the trip to the bead fair and finally took pictures yesterday when the light was a little better...

Bracelet on beading wire...

And matching necklace on beading wire and chain...

I love those big chunky flowers and wish I had bought more now :-(, I will have to search Ebay for some more!

Okay supposed to be off to Conwy for the day today and the BBC weather site have promised no rain...wish me luck!!!

Shhh.....

2011-07-31T23:15:00.000-07:00

....Its oh so quiet!!!

First proper day of my holiday and I am up at stupid o clock because I can`t sleep but its very quiet because all are still in bed, that's the great thing about holidays, late nights mean the kids stay in bed longer in the mornings.

So after a fabulous day at Haydock yesterday and collecting all this stash...

I know I probably didn`t need half of it but it was just oh so pretty and can you spot the turquoise theme!!!

I sat and created these little pretties last night...

Charm bracelet on chain...

Similar charm bracelet on Beading wire...

I also made a necklace and bracelet using the big cream flowers and cream pearls but the light had gone by the time I finished so I will post a picture of those later.

I am taking Ella to watch Harry Potter today I think we are the only two people in the country that haven`t seen it yet and then Potter will be no more :-(.

Hope everybody has a lovely day.

Creatable Cards

2011-07-31T08:03:00.000-07:00

I had a fabulous day yesterday demonstrating for Kars at The Craft Room in Newcastle Under Lyme, I met some lovely crafty ladies and promised to put some of the cards on my blog that I had on display, I did promise to do it last night but unfortunately was held hostage by a certain type of white wine and a very comfortable couch!!!

So here are some of the cards I made using the Marianne Creatables:

Don`t forget if you are in the area I am demonstrating in Wigan on Saturday over at Card-io come and say hi if you are in the area or looking for some fab ways to use your Creatables dies in your Cuttlebug.

I am off now to play with my new stash of beads, I have just been to the bead fair at Haydock Park and probably could have bought myself a Tiffany Bracelet with the amount of money I have just spent...!!!

Summers Here...

2011-07-29T11:23:00.001-07:00

...and the time is right....not for dancing in the streets but maybe for me to keep up to date with my hugely neglected blog!!!

I have finished for summer so hopefully will be able to share some of the projects I have been working on and teaching recently, just a quickie tonight though to promote some Demonstrations I am doing for Kars over the summer.

Tomorrow I am in Newcastle under Lyme at The Craft Room in Garners Garden Centre so if you are in the area come and watch me demo the gorgeous Createables and Lace dies along with the Cuttlebug, and I will be available to answer any of your Cuttlebug related questions.

Check out the list of upcoming demos to the right to see where I am over the Summer.

Won`t be so long to blog in future!!!

Something not quite right....

2011-02-16T13:32:00.000-08:00

...And so it got to Wednesday before I managed a day off in half term, something went slightly wrong there, although on possibly the most romantic day of the year, Valentines day in case you were wondering, I took the official photographs for a very good friend's wedding and got to ride in a limo too!!!

I can`t post any of the photographs yet though because even the Bride and Groom haven`t seen them, I have a mammoth 400 photographs to crop, edit and play around with before I decide on which ones to present to them...yep really 400!!!

So we had the best day, the rain held off, the Bride and Bridesmaids looked beautiful, the page boys were incredibly handsome, the speeches went well and the very delicious Lancashire hot pot supper went down a storm...twice ;-)...yes I went back for seconds.

And so today I thought it about time I spent the day with the kids and we went to a friends for lunch and had just a total chill out day, before we went though Ella took this photo of Mia and I,
it`s so lovely to have an up to date one...

So after my chill out day I realised I have a Jewellery class in Chorley on Saturday that I hadn`t prepared for so had to plan and design that, and had a mountain of paperwork to plough through and then had to prepare for a promotional day I am doing for the college tomorrow...no rest for the wicked!!!

Did find these photographs on my point and shoot when I uploaded today's pictures, they are from the Demo I did in Preston last week and are made using the new creatables which are just downright lush...

Off for a crafty smoke and quite possible another early night...being awake at 5am this morning did not go down too well!!!

Scrapbook Magic...

2011-02-13T10:48:00.000-08:00

...Thats the feeling I get when one of the kids looks at one of my layout or flicks through an album and smiles or makes a comment...pure magic!!!

That`s the reason I scrapbook, well that and Basic Grey :-), to be able to preserve memories and not just of special occassions but of normal everyday moments, that walk in the park or the fact that now my 15 year old son is taller than me he is now able to give me a piggy back, not momentous moments but those I wouldn`t ever want to forget.

I was working in a care home this morning where some of the residents suffer with various forms of memory loss and dementia, I had one of my scrapbooks with me of me and my kids, and was showing it to them, the joy it bought to their faces was just incredible, whether it tapped into memories they had forgotton or moments they remembered I don`t know but just to see the light shining in their eyes as they smiled...that was magic.

Scrapbooking is good....

And on that note here are two layouts I completed Sunday...

This is the first 12x12 layout I have done for a while and I really like it...

and an 8x8 layout in my favourite colour scheme...needs something else though...

Will have to re-think that one tomorrow...

And using the leftovers from the above layout I created this which is currently sitting on top of my microwave in the kitchen...

And now I am seriously considering hitting the quilt, even though its only 7.30pm my little peeps are struggling.

Vintage...

2011-02-12T09:44:00.000-08:00

...No I am not talking about wine...

I spent the day working for the college today at a Vintage Fair in Warrington Market, for those who don`t know Warrington Market is an indoor market and open daily and historians have discovered that the market has been around for approximately 750 years, luckily its pretty up to date now, apart from the vintage pretties that were displayed today...there were handcrafted goods and beautiful little items that i remembered my Nan owning when i was a little girl, if I had known how vintage her dressing table set would be now I would have carefully had it wrapped in tissue paper, I remember sitting for hours brushing my hair with the brush and holding the mirror up to check my "auburn" shine...anyway I was promoting the college courses that we have starting at the beginning of march and I had a really good day and even met Laurel and Hardy...obviously not the real ones but some pretty good lookalikes, I love how diverse my job can be.

I also chatted with some of the stall holders...set out a bit like a craft fair...obviously being crafty I like to chat to fellow artisans and there were some very talented individuals displaying their beautiful little pieces, I particularly fell in love with Vintage Twee...beautiful shabby chic stall directly opposite our stand which meant lots of lovely eye candy...go check out her beautiful site here

Been having a bit of a play with my sexy Swarovskis and fabulous findings...and this is what I have been creating...

Acrylic leaves and flowers, crystals and Swarovski...

With matching necklace...

Turquoise...my favourite colour in the whole world...Pearls, Fire Polished Crystals and Swarovski...

And a bit of fun...bought these little birdcages at the Gmex last week and added one to a ribbon and cord necklace with some Pearls, Charms, Acrylic flowers and leaves and Swarovski...

Just realised that is quite a lot of jewellery I have created lately...hmm maybe I need a day of scrapbooking tomorrow...yes that sounds like a plan, especially as I don`t have to do any lesson planning, I am off most of half term...Woo hoo...lie ins planned!!!

Off now to plan some layouts and sip some wine!!!

All You Need is Love....

2011-02-06T11:04:00.000-08:00

With Valentines day almost upon us it seemed only appropriate to celebrate by taking part in a challenge set over at the Most Wanted Lifestyle magazine Blog

...The challenge, should I chose to accept it, which I did, was to create a Crafty Valentines Tutorial and I have chosen to construct a little "You make me Shine" gift card with tea light candles combined...The perfect addition to that romantic candlelit meal or relaxing bubble bath. An ideal gift all year round, changing the decoration and embellishments to suit the recipient or occasion, try it for a welcome to your new home gift and add some twine and keys for embellishments in place of the ribbon.

To make the gift card cut a piece of card (I used white) to measure 14 x 23cm and score and fold at 7 and 9.5cm along the long edge, this creates the gift card with a 2.5cm spine to accommodate your tea light candles.

Decorate this with patterned papers, I have inked around the edges of mine and stamped images, I have an Autumn Leaves set that contains the sentiment "you make me Shine" which I thought quite fitting for the candles.

Construct a simple box from co-ordinating card-stock, mine measured 13x16 cm and I scored and folded along the short edge at 2, 6, 8 and 12cm and then along the long edge at 2 and 14cm.

Cut along the scored lines to the folded line to create the top and bottom of your box, cutting an aperture in one of the long panels to insert an acetate window.

Assemble the box and insert your candles, and then stick this to the inside flap of your gift card.

Tie some ribbon into a bow around the length of your card to secure.

I hope all that makes sense and I would love to see what you come up with.

Its a little bit funny but....

2011-02-06T10:52:00.000-08:00

...I am such a bad blogger, I know this is the case because I have been told...to my face...so I thought I would sit, feet up on the couch, laptop carefully balanced on lap, coffee at my side and blog in the peace and quiet that is Sunday evening, I love Sunday evenings that full tummy feeling after a Sunday dinner and those last few hours of the weekend stretching ahead, I may even treat myself to a glass of the old grape juice before hitting the quilt early tonight.

I headed over to the Stitch and Creative crafts show at the Gmex in Manchester yesterday for a couple of hours overheating, being battered by shopping trolleys and at one point very nearly knocked out by an unsuspecting elbow...one of those sat on the floor moments, I went to stand up and some poor lady nearly had her arm shot into next week by my head...I saw stars and I am not talking about Stephanie Weightman or Nancy Watt!!!

Anyway I think the show was a little bit of a letdown to be honest, although it was absolutely swarming with people...mainly women...nothing jumped out and screamed buy me buy me...I did see the Grand Calibur machine being demonstrated...oh how strange it was walking round watching other demonstrators instead of being the one demonstrating...So the new die cutting machine that will cut and emboss up to A4...I am not sold on it yet will stick to my Cuttlebug and Cricut for now.

So I did make a few purchases mainly embellishments, pearls, bling, ribbons and flowers, some stamp sets and a scrapbooking kit and some lovely heart shaped doily's to go with this....

I couldn`t resist her...isn`t she cute.

Spent today planning for my upcoming Demo at Inspirations by Cardcraft Plus over in Preston on Tuesday, where I will be demonstrating the Cuttlebug Machine with the gorgeous Nellies Creatables.

Here's a sneak peek of one of my samples....

This layout was on my camera when I uploaded to the PC it is a recent one because its using stash from some of the bargain scrapbook kits I got from TK Maxx...Harry and his "Sea Legs"

And I have been making Jewellery...no surprise there then considering I teach Jewellery making, however I very rarely make Jewellery just for the sake of it, but I have got myself a little granny lap tray stuck a beading mat into it and so all my beady bits, my sexy Swarovski`s and my fabulous findings fit inside it and I can sit on the couch when I have five minutes with it all in one place ready to roll...clever huh...I even have the granny beaded glasses chain for my specs...which I have to wear all the time now for close up work.... booo :-(.

Loving these frosted acrylic flowers and leaves at the moment, I don`t usually do plastic but teamed with some pearls and crystals they look particularly pretty....

and teamed here with Swarovski and some metallic roses...lush...

Okay so hopefully that little lot of waffle has more than made up for the fact that I have been an awful blogger lately...I am blaming working evenings and poor lighting at night so I can`t take decent pictures...that is my excuse...and the overwhelmingly humiliating fact that I have become the biggest Eastenders fan too!!!

You can take the girl out of London but you can`t take London out of the girl...especially when I say: Grass, Glass and Bath...for which my kids constantly take the mick out of me for...so there I said it my secret is out..."My name is Esther and I like Eastenders"

Off now to pour a Glass (said in a southern accent) of grape juice ;-)

He made the News.......

2011-01-19T12:46:00.000-08:00

...............Jack!!!

At 5pm tonight we all watched Jack on the Television, he had been selected to be interviewed by Sky News at Warrington Collegiate today in response to the proposed cuts in student`s EMA payments, Jack believes that EMA allocation should not be based on parents income (he doesn`t receive it) but that students should receive travel and equipment resources, currently he relies on a part time job for his funding, and he came across as articulate and confident...so proud of my little guy.....look.....

Not sure that he is going to be able to deal with the fame, we keep asking him for autographs!!!

And after all that excitement I had to sit down and relax so I made this little pretty with some gorgeous crystals and pearls, I am really liking pearls at the moment...not so much that you could call me a Pearly Queen, more a Pearly Princess, I am loving the whole vintage jeweled look and am running out of arm for my pearly bracelets!!!

I am off to fashion a V.I.P star for Jack`s bedroom door!!!

Blackberry Bathtime!!!

2011-01-16T09:55:00.000-08:00

I had a little accident this morning involving a Blackberry and a bath...you can pretty much guess the rest...its currently drying out on the radiator...luckily I got the back off and the battery and sim out straight away before too much damage could be done, I know it still works because I sneaked a peek about an hour ago and to my amazement its okay, a little water damage to the screen but considering it had a good soaking I am impressed with Blackberry technology!!!

I'm also impressed with Ipod too...I finally went wireless yesterday...I know I was probably the only person in the world without a wireless Internet connection, so I am all geeked up now and managed to install it almost by myself with a little phone support and now can access the Internet on my Ipod....sad aren't I!!!

I have a card making class on Thursday and my students wanted to do valentine cards...so here is a heat embossed card that I whipped up this afternoon...

Off to tend to the Sunday roast mmmm and marvel at my lil Blackberry!!!

Midweek Mutterings!!!

2011-01-12T10:40:00.000-08:00

So it is Wednesday and we are halfway through the week and I am six classes down three to go, but I am bone weary tired, don`t get me wrong I have had a fabulous week: I have met some wonderful new learners, caught up with some familiar faces and managed to successfully teach all the lessons I had planned...which is always a bonus but I am so tired I am planning on hitting the quilt in pure indulgence with a glass of wine and a box of chocolates and my blackberry close to hand so I can text the kids should I need anything...obviously they will stay up because to them an 8pm bedtime means punishment!!!

I did however come home today to these little pretties...sent to me from Kars for my next lot of Demos....

These Creatable`s work in all manual Die Cutting Machines and are so intricate and detailed and when die cut they produce that lovely bevelled edge that manual die cutters give...I cant wait to have a play with these at the weekend...

Birdcages....

Birds...

3Dimensional flower templates...

Gorgeous frame...

Off to hunt out the last of the Christmas chocolates!!!

I`m Ready...

2011-01-09T07:29:00.000-08:00

...My bags are backed and I am ready to go, I found "Work Clothes" under a pile of jeans and jumpers, my paperwork is all ready and my timetable printed out so I don`t meet myself coming backwards this week...Back to work...only for five weeks then I have two weeks off, I love my job, and I have also managed to sneak in a day off a week too so I am only working Monday to Thursday until my demo's start again.

A couple of people have asked me about the classes I teach so here is my timetable for the next five weeks, the classes are run by Warrington Collegiate, and are free if you are in receipt of certain benefits, otherwise they cost £30 for the five weeks, most materials are provided although you may be asked to bring something particular in for a session, for example in a couple of weeks I am teaching the canvas wall art I posted a couple of days ago so I would ask my students to bring in their own canvases.

My timetable is...

Monday 6.30-8.30pm: Jewellery making at Great Sankey High School.

Tuesday 1-3pm: Scrapbooking at Fairfield and Howley Community Project.

Thursday 1-3pm: Card Craft at Museum Street Campus

Thursday 6.30-8.30pm: Jewellery making at Orford Day Centre

The rest of my classes are referral only, here are some of the other course the college is offering.

Made this little gift box last night, it only measures about 4 inches and nestled inside is a birthday gift for someone....told you I was organised this particular birthday is not for another couple of months...

Off now to laze about for one last evening!!!

Saturday`s Dilemma...

2011-01-08T09:22:00.000-08:00

....Okay so if you are very good and very bad in one day does the good cancel out the bad!!!

I will start with the bad...I was supposed to be doing the weekly food shop, you know descending on the aisles of Asda living through the torture of a dodgy trolley wheel, several thousand people greeting each other in the MIDDLE of the bloody Aisles, and kids running riot everywhere...however I slipped into TKMaxx before I could muster up the courage to place my pound in the trolley.

and look what I got....

Nestled in that cute retro plastic shopping basket is an 8x8 scrapbook album lots of papers, die cuts, letters and bling...all for an incredible £4.00...!!!

Then my beady crafty eyes spotted these We Are Memory K page kits....

Not sure of everything that's in them yet as I haven't opened them to stroke the papers yet, I am saving myself until after tea...but they were only £3.00 each!!!

And finally this...which just reminded me of Mia....

And was a bargain £2.00

So if you love a bargain get yourself down to your nearest TKMaxx for scrummy drooly stash!!!

Okay so that was my bad now for my good...after negotiating my trolley around the awful aisles of hell on earth, I mean Asda, I got myself a Christmas Saver Card!!! I know I feel all sort of grown up and responsible, I have never saved for Christmas before but am planning to whack a couple of quid on it every week just to make this years festive season a little easier on the pocket, I have also picked up a couple of birthday gifts in the sales and wrapping paper too, tell you this is the time to do your Christmas shopping, I am going to be one of those awfully smug people that by October say oh yes darling I have all my gifts and they are all wrapped and ready!!! Or maybe not!!!

I am off now to stroke my lovely new papers and flick through the Christmas Magnolia magazine that arrived yesterday before the kids drag me on Just Dance!!!

Oh just to let you know that said Magazine has had a price increase to £7.99....shocking but if you head over to Craft Obsessions they are selling it at the original price of £6.99...I have just ordered my copy.

Its Friday....

2011-01-07T10:46:00.000-08:00

...and I want to say wow I got that Friday feeling but all I can think of is I only have two days then I am back at work...I love my job don't get me wrong, really love it, but I have had FOUR weeks off work and I have so got used to being at home, I say being at home what I really mean is shopping, and I want to decorate my hallway apple green and work some magic on the rest of my house...well actually I don`t, I want Laurence Llewelyn Bowen and his team to come and work some magic and make my house beautiful and colourful instead of beige and boring whilst I am at work and while he is inside I want Alan Titchmarsh and his gang to come and work the outside while Trinny and Susannah are clearing out and re-organising my wardrobe and Jamie is cooking me enough 30 minute meals to last me a lifetime... don't want much do I!!! But just how weird would that be if all those makeover marvels were there to greet you with their bubbliness when you came home from work and all you wanted was a cup of coffee and a cigarette!!!

Made this card last night for my Card making class...Quilling...I know!!!

X-Cut have some amazing new quilling dies that work perfectly with the Cuttlebug and had a couple of these for a while but finally got round to having a play with them...

And I am a little bit excited...because this came today....

Had a quick peek and it looks beautiful and I cant wait to have a play with that...got to love Online January sales.

Off now to email Lawrence, Alan, Trinny, Susannah and Jamie!!!

Landing Lights!!!

2011-01-06T10:00:00.000-08:00

Well Hallway to be precise but you get my drift...spent the day shopping for the house today and got myself some cracking little bargains including this gorgeous chandelier style lampshade which sparkles beautifully...

So along with that I bought some Black filigree panelling to hang on the outside of the dining room door...facing into the hallway, a new doormat and some big fat fake black Gerberas.....looking very funky now but a little shabby...not shabby chic either shabby screaming I need a paint job shabby...I have asked the kids what colour they think and not too impressed with Harry's suggestion of grey...so I think I will decide then at least I can say I consulted them...Im thinking a nice fresh apple green to go with my striking new black accessories!!!

Spent a little more time Lesson Planning last night, I am very nearly done now, I don't think I have ever spent this long planning before but all my courses are brand spanking sparkling new ones...

This is a basic stamping and watercolouring card for my card making course...

And this is a basic vintage page for my scrapbooking class...the photograph is of my Nan and Grandad on their wedding day not sure of the year but their anniversary was on Boxing day, going to have to check with my Dad on that one.

Going to have a mooch on the Dulux website now and try to convince Harry that Green was his idea!!!

Sleepless in...Warrington!!!

2011-01-05T10:25:00.000-08:00

Two nights of chronic insomnia are finally taking their toll, I could fall asleep standing up right at this moment yet if I go to bed you can bet your bottom Dollar....Or last quid...that I will lay there tossing and turning listening to the noises of the night...mainly cats and dogs where I live...willing sleep to come only when it does to be disturbed by my insanely loud Blackberry alarm, that not only wakes me but half of Warrington, and thinking and feeling that I certainly didn`t get in my eight hours!!!

However I have been productive and actually got out of bed whilst suffering this latest episode of sleeplessness...I have almost completed my lesson planning for the next term...I am teaching 45 classes for the college between now and the February break and I have 31 of them planned and prepared for...I know shock...I`m actually organised, I have even wrote my lesson aims and objectives!!!

Here is a couple of cards I am going to be teaching to Adults with Learning Difficulties in a basic Craft class...Iris folding and Tea Bag folding...wow took me back a couple of years I can tell you, It has been a while since I did either of those but actually rather enjoyed it...shhhh!!!

Tea Bag folded gate fold card....

Iris Folded card...couldn`t resist putting a little Tilda on there...

And a layout for my Scrapbooking class, using glitter, acrylic paint and chipboard...pretty brave for me because I HATE glitter, but it looks so pretty ...

Got another day of lesson planning tomorrow but had a nice day today shopping in Manchester, mainly for class supplies but it was nice to wander round the shops without getting elbowed by bargain hunters or my toes run over by granny shopping trolleys, I love the Sales!!!

We very Nearly....

2011-01-04T10:14:00.000-08:00

...Had a "Snow Day" today, it was this time last year that the country stood still for a week...remember...So it was slightly amusing this morning to wake up and find someone had very gently sieved snow over Warrington...what was funny was waking Harry up telling him it had snowed and then listening to his reaction when looking out the window...(not happy)... obviously he too was anticipating a snow day...despite that all my little guys looked so smart and happy this morning...albeit a little early....but they seemed quite happy to pose for me...

We all managed to leave the house by 8.30am in a flurry of hair product, girlie and guy smellie stuff and the poor hair straighteners begging for a rest...and the great thing, we get to do it all again tomorrow morning!!!

Its a Wrap....

2011-01-03T10:47:00.000-08:00

...Quite literally in two senses....

My ever increasingly beautiful Mia eating tea...A wrap...

And the kids are all back at school/college tomorrow...so that's it the Christmas holidays are officially over... what's that...oh yeah I forgot....I still have four days off with no children muwahahaha, they are not happy about that I can tell you but hey there's nothing I can do to alleviate their pain apart from send them back to school with Walkers crisps instead of Asda Smart Price and Sandwiches made from Warburton`s and not that see through cheap stuff that pretends to be bread...somehow I really don't think that this will make the pain any easier to bear when they have to get up at 7am but hey I tried!!!

I completed another two layouts last night, sat up until the early hours again, I cant believe that I have to go to bed before midnight tonight my body clock is going to well and truly ticked off when I am up before brunch time tomorrow...

Harry and I from the day out in Blackpool we had on my Birthday...

And my Boys being Boys in Liverpool in the Summer....

I completed this challenge after visiting The Colour Room yesterday and loved the latest challenge colour scheme, it suited this picture taken in the summer so well too.

Okay that's me done, with the lunch-boxes all prepared, the uniforms all clean and ironed and various different Sports kits distributed to the right child in the right bag....I`m off to French Manicure Ella`s nails(!!!)... Sometimes I`m sure I have "MUG" stamped on my head!!!

It may be the New Year but....

2011-01-02T11:19:00.000-08:00

...I`ve had one of those funny "old days"...New year or not!!!

I have spent the entire day Lesson Planning for next term but haven`t actually achieved much, normally if I sit down for a couple of hours I can have my entire course outlines wrote and have an idea of each lesson plan...but pah...nothing...I`m about half done which is not good as I wanted a couple of days next week to enjoy the last of my holiday but looks like I am going to have to spend another day at it tomorrow...:-(

Did manage to finish this layout, started it last night just before I got my backside kicked by Ella on Just Dance!!!

And made this card using my new Paisley Cricut Cartridge...how cute is that little doll...

This is however for one of my lessons next term...little shabby chic heart with buttons sewn on trimmed with lace, ribbon and a pearl pin and scented with lavender...sweet or what...

And this is for another class...a canvas wall art, using all "up-cycled" or found objects and materials...I quite like this and am thinking of hanging it on the wall with the little heart next to it on a shabby style hook...well until my lesson anyway...

I`m off for mince pies, custard and cream...before they go out of date...honest ;-)

Is this the Beginning...

2011-01-01T11:26:00.000-08:00

...Of things to come? I spent the day "Spring Cleaning" and its not even Spring!!!

I have de-Christmassed the house, there is no more sparkle, no glitter and the Decs are all stored back up in the loft until next year...So that's it then... Definitely all over for another year and I am starting to worry myself by considering saving for shopping vouchers and heading to the sales for Christmas cards and Wrapping paper!!! That wont last thought I can guarantee it, as soon as I am back at work and have no time to think of ridiculous whims like that. I still have another 8 days off work though, even though the poor kids are back at school on Tuesday...Muwahahaha.

I have even managed to make Mias birthday card and considering her birthday is not until March I am pretty scared...

Its a 20x20cm gate-fold card so quite a big one but managed to pick up some of these sized envelopes when I was in St Helens a couple of weeks ago...

I`m off now to print out my timetable for January and get some lesson planning done....or maybe I will "Just Dance" with the girls because quite honestly I need all the practice I can get!!!

Merry New Year!!!

2010-12-31T07:32:00.000-08:00

The little comment that Mia came out with this morning to a friend of mine...and after purchasing Just Dance 2 for the Wii a bottle of Baileys and three bottles of wine for a tenner in Asda this morning I honestly think it will be a "Merry New Year"...The girls and I are planning a dance off tonight and the rechargeable batteries are on charge as we speak...I am not sure Harry is planning on joining us, he will probably just record us looking like Muppets flailing about and upload the videos to You tube or Facebook before we know it!!!

So that's it then almost the end of another year...am I officially getting old now because this year has flown by at the most alarming rate and time is supposed to go faster the older you get!!! Speaking of which it was my Dads birthday yesterday and I made him this card, little Edwin coloured with Pro-markers.....

...and celebrated with him by having a little (!!!) glass of the old grape juice...I am certainly on target with my five a day with all this grape juice I am drinking lately!!!

This is one of the new additions to our family...another bloody build a bear...I swear that shop will not go out of business...EVER Mia now has 6 of them complete with outfits, pyjamas, shoes and god knows what else...so introducing Holly....the Christmas Kitty!!!

And here are a couple of the scrapbook layouts to go in my "Twenty 10" album....

Blackpool Beach...

Mia at the Albert Dock...

On A Beach in Liverpool somewhere....

Just want to say thank you to my readers, I know I have not been the best blogger this year, hopefully I will improve next year and blog at least once a week!!!

So Wishing you all a very "Merry New Year" and all the best for 2011...Bloody hell I have only just got used to writing 2010 and now its going to change all over again!!!

So this is Christmas.....

2010-12-29T12:34:00.000-08:00

....So that's it then...Christmas almost over for another year, my tree is looking very bare without the contents of Argos/Asda/Primark/Game sat under it prettily gift wrapped and the fridge almost empty again, the thought of another mince pie making me feel ill and two days of sales shopping with my kids are enough to have me reaching for the alcohol...Again!!!

Don`t get me wrong we had a lovely Christmas, but it was very quiet...I think that's thanks to electronics...Xbox, DS, PSP...you get me...I long for those days where it took me four hours to assemble something for the kids, where I broke my nails and had to stick a thousand stickers on in numerical order...I miss the excited whoops instead of the "cool" or "mint" comments that occasionally escaped my teens lips every so often when they open something they asked for...the magic is almost over for me as a mum, I only have Mia left to live the magic of Christmas through and at almost ten I am not sure that's even going to last much longer...However...Just look at this.....

Christmas morning...looking very grown up in her new dress and her new haircut but just look at that sparkle... that's what Christmas is about.

And this very beautiful shot of Ella...complete with new fringe....

Here`s a card I made just before Christmas...obviously, using my new Edwin stamp....

And I have done a fair bit of scrapping over Christmas, here`s one layout from Blackpool beach in October...Not recommended for those who feel the cold....

And I was supposed to do a demo earlier in December on Promarkers but had to cancel due to the weather, this was one of my samples...

I am off now to drink some water and eat some fruit and vegetables to cleanse my system of all the stodgy sugary crap I have eaten over the past week.....Just kidding bring on the wine and celebrations!!!

Oops I did it again...

2010-12-12T11:05:00.000-08:00

...Yep another blog post, two in one day I can tell you are all impressed...but considering I have only managed 50 this year I thought I had better get my backside in gear!!!

Here`s my "Twenty 10" scrapbook album complete with title...

And here are a couple of layouts I have completed over the last few days that are now in my album...

Off now to get ready for the X Factor final...Go Matt Cardle...yes I am that sad!!!

28 Days Later....

2010-12-12T04:12:00.000-08:00

...I go back to work...I have a whole 28 days off, I knew I went into Adult Education for a reason!!!

I "broke up" on Friday, well I was sick...bleurghhh...so Thursday really and already I have planned a month of clearing out cupboards and crafting...and lots of waffle on my blog because I will have time to do it. I have had the busiest term at work, since September I have taught an incredible 95 classes and enjoyed every minute of it and its looking like I am going to be just as busy after the Christmas break too.

I have completed so many projects for classes and have been teaching Christmas Crafts this term creating these little gems in a couple of my classes.....

Pound Shop wreath made spectacular with some wired ribbon, baubles and a glue gun....

"Pound Shop" mug made delicious with some Galaxy chocolate and hot chocolate and lots of sparkly curling ribbon..."reindeer poop" chocolate covered raisins and "Snowballs" mint imperials...

So I am a little bit Christmassed out now...I have spent the last five weeks covered in glitter, listening to Christmas songs and eating mince pies and the kids want to know when I am putting the tree up...do I have to bother this year...hmmm I guess so!!!

I did make this little Christmas card using one of my new Gorjuss Girls stamps...she is just so cute and coloured with Pro-Markers...which I love

And I finally started my Christmas shopping last week...I know last minute Lil...I`m pretty organised now though, went again yesterday got a majority of what I needed and wrapped up what I could...until I ran out of wrapping paper...6 bloody metres of it...so while Christmas shopping last week I treated myself to this...because it was such a bargain....

That scrapbook kit was £6...and has a ten pocket 8x8 album...I am going to theme this one, I have never themed an album before and call it "Twenty-10" and scrapbook all the memories and days out with my kids from this year. I have already completed three pages...get me!!!

I just wanted to say if you have been informed by my son that I am an extra on the Doctor Who Christmas special this year and was hoping to spot me die on it(!!!) I can state now that I am not appearing on a screen near you any time soon...I have no idea why he has told people this but I laughed so hard I cried when he told me that all his mates were going to watch out for me...KIDS, I have absolutely no idea where he gets his crazy sense of humour from!!!

Happy Birthday Ella!!!

2010-11-25T14:22:00.000-08:00

Finally a teenager Happy Birthday Baby Girl!!!

Although she seems to have been practising for a couple of years now!!!

Short blog post tonight but I promise to get back into blogging properly soon, I am just up to my crafty little eyes with glitter and baubles teaching ten Christmas Craft classes a week for the college!!!

I have my weekends back now though as my Kars Demo`s have finished for the year, will miss those but maybe not the early mornings, now I can stay snuggled in my duvet on a Saturday morning until the postman wakes me up as I am planning on doing all my Christmas shopping online and parcels are bound to be delivered at ungodly hours on a Saturday!!!

Off now to munch on some Birthday cake....mmmm!!!

Cheap Chomper!!!

2010-11-04T12:48:00.000-07:00

Well that`s it...My holiday is almost over, just one more day off and that's already reserved for housework and the weekly shop...BORING!!!

To soften the blow a little I headed up to the QVC outlet store in Birchwood details here to hopefully pick up a bargain or two....woo hoo, I have never ever managed to pick up anything remotely interesting....until today, even though that November rain lingers, and that hair of mine is still kinky I managed to bag myself one of these....

Its called a "corner chomper" and it will round the corners of chipboard and has a photo corner design too...and guess what...under £2...yep the bargainaliscious price of £1.99!!!!

Then I spotted a We are Memory Keepers Scrapbook pack...18 papers, three lots of assorted stickers and glitter brads...£2.99..guess what...I bought two packs ;-)

And because I am lazy and haven't took a picture this is all I could find...

So less than £8 spent and I got new stuff to play with...oops that's alongside the stash that arrived from Ebay today...I am just out of control!!!

I am demonstrating the Cuttlebug using the Creatables and the Nellies Frames on Saturday at the Duke of Edinburgh Hotel...honestly, Its a craft event for Heaths of Barrow I would have loved to stay over but I have another Demo on Sunday in Poynton at the Hazel Grove Art Shop demonstrating the new Slice Elite, Cuttlebug and Cricut...and then back to work for the college on Monday.

I have six Christmas Craft courses starting throughout the Warrington area so if anyone would like any details of course content, venues and times just drop me an email.

I am off now to play with my chomper...that almost sounds rude...and to chomp Quavers...they taste curly and are oh so more-ish mmmm!!!

November Rain...

2010-11-01T15:24:00.000-07:00

...Makes my hair go kinky and thats a fact, I can spend ten minutes wrestling with the hair straighteners every single morning only to step outside the door in the winter damp weather and my ends flick right back up, sometimes I wonder why I even bother!!!

I am glad I did today though, because even though Warrington was murky and damp Mia and I went shopping in Liverpool and it was beautiful sunshine over there. She had an Insect day...inset to the rest of us...and found it highly amusing to wind up Harry and Ella this morning because they had to go to school...not sure where she gets her sense of humour from!

And on the way home she began the conversation....
...Mummy, I have had a lovely day today thank you (which translates SHEESH did you really spend that much money on me!!!)...
...to which I replied, you are welcome Mia I have had a lovely day too (translating into Oh my God my purse is groaning)
AND
Then she continued with this little gem...
...Wouldn`t it be great if Mr Williams (head teacher) texted you tomorrow and said we had the rest of the week off..................................!!!!!
NO...i replied I can`t afford it, to which she smirks clutching her Primark booty!!!

Despite having to sell half of my belongings to fund her shopping habit it was lovely to spend the day with her, she makes me laugh, she is beautiful, loving and witty and a pleasure to be with....

I have been crafting too...mainly to get over the shock of how much money Mia can spend in Primark...I have obviously taught her well...
Inspired By Mel on Friday at a Breast Cancer Make and Take day we both took part in I created this...its not quite finished, I have to put some finishing touches to it....

and I have also created this... a gift voucher card....

I can see me creating a few of these for Christmas.
Have to go and...you guessed it... tidy my desk!!!

Its been a while...

2010-10-25T13:10:00.000-07:00

Since I blogged last, I know and to all those who have complained to me about my obvious neglect for my blog and the witterings I post I am sorry....I`ve had a mammoth timetable for the College and every weekend I have been tied up with Demos for Kars...I do have two weeks off from College though so expect some blogging...so much so I will probably bore you to death!!!

I have completed so many crafty projects over the last...hmmm is it really a month since I blogged last...I know it`s longer because I have done a term at work without a blog post...WOW that's just Lazy-Est!!!

Anyway without boring you with the rant about Uniform Policy at Ella and Harry`s school...!!! And how we have had Ofsted inspecting at work, and how I have loved teaching this term so much and how fabulous all my Demos have been.....WAKE UP...I have had a pretty good month.

I am demonstrating and teaching Pink Make and Take Jewellery at Cardcraft Plus on Friday...Come along if you can make it...but be warned there will be a lot of pink about.

I am also demonstrating the new Slice Elite on Saturday over in Frodsham at Crab Apple Crafts with Rosemary Merry on Saturday, so if you are interested in a PINK electronic die cutting machine come and watch. I will be blogging a product overview very soon.

So tomorrow is my Birthday...and I am at that OH MY GOD halfway stage between 30 and 40...I remember my 30th birthday and that was only five years ago and so being 40 is only five years away...I should be worried, or upset or thinking I am getting old...Yes...But I am loving life too much to even begin to worry about it...I love work, I have wonderful family and friends and I am just happy with who I am so...like they say age is just a number...will leave you with my favourite pictures from a lovely pre birthday celebratory lunch with a friend today...

Cheers...Happy Birthday me...

Ooops!!

2010-09-12T13:02:00.000-07:00

Forgot to mention a friend of mine is selling a Bind it All machine hardly used if anyone is interested please email me xx

Thats It!!!

2010-09-12T12:35:00.000-07:00

Back to work tomorrow after six long weeks off work!!!

I am looking forward to it though, I really enjoy work and I have new classes starting in new venues and there should be some familiar faces too, did have a bit of trouble trying to decide what to wear though, its been a while since I had to wear "work clothes" lol drama over now though!!!

Made a couple of cards today using one of my new Magnolia stamps, Creatables and some new Christmas papers....

Traditional red and green...

and a bit more contemporary...pink and green...

Tilda is "sitting" inside the card on this one, and I love the new wreath style Creatable which both cuts and embosses, the little stars are embossed.

I am off now for an early night with one of the five magazines that I have bought this week!!!

Windmills and Towers!!!

2010-09-11T12:39:00.000-07:00

Today I was demonstrating for Barbara over in Thornton at Windmill Crafts...and I have had just the best day, to all the Ladies...and Gents who watched my demo and asked me questions...thank you, without you guys it would be pretty dull...and I even saw the Blackpool Tower on the train over too!!!

...Special thanks to the lady who had travelled from Tenerife in the early hours of this morning to watch me demo too...I told her I would blog that ;-)

I will be honest with you though, if you pay Barbara a visit be prepared to let go of your cash...I did...She has the most amazing collection of Matilda stamps and I came home with these two little Gems......

Oh and these too ;-).....

And I really want to play with them tonight but came home to a hideous pile of Ironing and all the kids beds to make up...and now I am too tired...boo!!!

Play day tomorrow...I promise myself!!!

September Classes

2010-09-09T12:15:00.000-07:00

I have had quite a few people getting in touch with me about the classes I am teaching for Warrington Collegiate starting next week so though I would post my timetable on here for all to see...Classes run for five weeks this term:

Tuesday 14th: Scrapbooking 10-12 @ Penketh Oaks for five weeks

Thursday 16th: Jewellery making 10-12 @ Museum Street for Five weeks

Monday 20th: Jewellery Making 6.30-8.30 @ Great Sankey High School for five weeks

These courses are free if you are in receipt of certain benefits (email me for more information), all my other courses this term are referrals only.

And something very very strange has happened...so strange even I am a tiny little bit worried...I have all of my course outlines wrote...that's seven courses for five weeks, planned and designed, all course materials sourced and either purchased or ordered, I am demonstrating over at Windmill Crafts on Saturday and not only am I prepared I am packed and ready to go too...Its so much of a worry too that I had a "to do" list tonight and I "to done" it...good job really because.....
.......
.......Back to work Monday after five weeks off...and I am working ELEVEN days on the run!!!

Over at Craft Range next Saturday and Crab Apple Crafts next Sunday Demonstrating for Kars so come and say Hi if you are around.

I Did It!!!!!

2010-09-06T12:34:00.000-07:00

I bloody did it, I passed my first module of the degree I started, I received confirmation today and I am Bloody Beaming...

...because I really did not expect to pass, not because I thought I couldn`t do it but because I decided two days before the hand in date that I wanted to change the whole angle of my assignment and rewrote it completely in about six hours!!! I am over the moon and now have to decide if I want to continue with the second module, which obviously I do but have to work out if I can fit it in as I am back at work for the college next week and I have an awful lot of Demonstrations and Classes over the next couple of months at the weekends too...

...if anyone has a little house elf they want to lend me then I would really appreciate it, failing that I am thinking a personal assistant, a nanny or an Au pair...when I was little my Nan used to work for a family who always had Au Pairs although I always thought they were called "old pears".

So I am in a really "wow I really can do it " mood tonight, you know what I mean, as adults and especially as Mums we tend to doubt our own abilities as we get a little bit older and more often than not put our families before us so to achieve this even after screaming at my kids to shut up, ironing with one hand, on the phone with one shoulder, we`ve all done it perched the phone between our shoulder and our ear...whilst trying to work on my assignment...multi tasking to the max I do believe, I feel damn bloody good and intend to revel for a little while longer ;-).

Mia went back to school today...no tears!!!

Although that was because we got to school after the whistle had blown, not my fault I wont go into the grim details but as we left the house she had a nosebleed so I had to clean her up which made us late...I swear there is always a drama in this house, and because she got there after the whistle I dont think she had time to think about crying whilst I bundled her PE kit, games kit, lunch bag and school bag into her arms which were already full with "Sarah" the build a bear in school uniform!!! Do you know you couldn`t make this stuff up could you!!!

Look at this...

Does she remind you of anyone!!!

And how beautiful does she look here...

Beautiful because she insisted I braided her fringe and then straightened the rest of her hair...kids!!!

Completed two layouts today, after having my purse emptied by Harry and Ella, new phone for Harry, new earphones for Ella, and various sprays that make them smell sweet...bit of a worry considering Harry is nearly 15 and should be allergic to water and cleansing products.

Another one of the series of photographs I took of Mia when she collapsed after the shopping spree...this is the one where she realised I was taking her picture, just before a big scouse security guard told me off for taking pictures...of my own child...yeah whatever mate!!!

And one of Jack and I messing about last Monday in the sunshine...

So that's three layouts, a card and a "cupcake tube" I have created in two days...you want to see my desk...no really you do, I have turned over a new leaf...I have been tidying up as I go along!!!

I know even I am worried...the sooner I get back to work and back to normal the better!!!

Off now to search House Elf on Ebay!!!

Thats it then....

2010-09-05T11:18:00.000-07:00

....Summers officially over....

Mia starts back to school tomorrow and Harry and Ella on Tuesday, Jack begins a new course at a new College tomorrow too and I....

....Have another week off work..hehehe!!!

Peace and quiet and the house staying tidy all day, no five thousand to constantly feed throughout the day and being able to go out exactly when and where I want to without twenty bloody questions...but I will miss them, I have really enjoyed spending the summer with them and despite the awful weather we have had the last week off was beautiful and we made the most of the sunshine with a couple of days out...

A picnic in the Park on bank holiday Monday something not quite right about the sun shining on a Bank holiday....lots of fun, my kids are good company when they are happy and outside...

Sunbathing....

Trying to sunbathe but having our sun blocked....

.....How high can he jump!!!

Piggy backs....

Then on Tuesday we hit the streets of Liverpool.

Too early in the morning waiting for the train to take us to the land of the Scousers...

My Munchkins in the Sunshine sat by the Mersey...

Going for a Titanic moment on a Ferry across the Mersey....Bloody brilliant boat ride...anyone who knows me really well knows I love the water and I loved every minute of the boat trip, but this for me was amazing, looking down at the sun sparkling on the water and the wind ruining my hair...

On a little beach the other side of the water, this was the safe beach, the one we went to before this we literally had to run for our lives as the tide came in!!!

...and after walking what seemed like twenty miles, the ferry ride, the beach, running for the ferry to get back, lunch in McHeartattacks and a mammoth two hours in Primark...poor little Mia....

Quite literally shopped til she dropped!!!

Yesterday I headed over to Manchester Central...GMEX to everyone for the Craft show....my poor feet are seriously screaming at me after this week believe me...

This is my stash....

Two scrapbooks for a fiver...bargain, two Tilda Magazines, lots of bling, three stamps, lots of gorgeous new papers, a Martha Stewart border punch....Yay finally lol and lots more, and I even started to play last night with my new goodies...so far have created this....

Very naughty I know but I saw a kit to make these "Cupcake Tubes" but wasn`t going to pay £7 for them when I knew I could make them myself from some card and acetate and one of my new stamps, isn`t that just the sweetest.

Layout of Mia from Tuesdays shop til you drop...using brand new papers...not like me at all I usually have to stroke them for at least 6 months before I will cut into them...

And because I had some paper left over and I wanted to try out another new stamp I created this...

I am liking aperture cards at the moment and created this with one of the Nellies frames, added an acetate window and stamped on that too.

Eagle eyes will notice I have used my new Martha Stewart punch in every one of those projects...see there its already paid for itself ;-), and showing just how versatile a punch can be...I so need another one now!!!

Off to lay out Mia`s uniform and make her packed lunch...I haven`t missed doing that I can tell you.

CABIN FEVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2010-08-24T12:58:00.000-07:00

It is official!!!

I can`t wait to go back to work, I love my kids dearly and from the bottom of my heart and all that but cooped up with them indoors whilst it pours with rain is seriously having effect on my mental health!!!

Got up this morning...at stupid o clock I may add, nothing to do with insomnia oh no...my dearest son who went to a party last night and was supposed to be staying the night at a friends house started knocking on the door whilst it was still dark, now call me old fashioned but when I used to "stay the night" somewhere that actually meant the whole night and returning home at a reasonable hour the next day, not something past seven in the morning!!!...anyway like I said I got up this morning to Sunshine, once I had administered a decent amount of caffeine to my body to recover from the shock I decided because it was sunny...honestly...that I would take the kids on a picnic...no sooner had I thought that the heavens opened!!!

ARGHHHH!!!

So that idea out the window and all my other ideas quite literally scoffed at, I googled rainy day activities and had a choice of...wait for it...playing with string, recording the sounds around us, or making an indoor den...go on google it I dare you...dear god...I opted for the picnic idea...indoors obviously, so we moved the furniture back took up the rug, put down a picnic blanket and had a "carpet picnic"....
....
....Do you see now why I have to go back to work!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I did however have a couple of commissions to work on this afternoon...but my god I missed my ipod whilst doing so, I swear if I have to hear another episode of Spongebob I am going to find that Pineapple under the Sea....!!!

Another Christening Card...the third one I have made in two weeks...

A gift bag for Pandora Beads...

Spotted this fabulous site this morning, whilst googling rainy day activities...honest ;-) and came up with this layout using their August 15th Sketch....

And finally....phew I can almost hear you say...

Took this picture tonight, not long after I found out one of my crafty ladies had very sadly passed away, just thought that the clouds looked very beautiful.

Promise to complete Day two of my Blog challenge tomorrow.

OOOHHH Look what I found!!!

2010-08-23T13:48:00.000-07:00

Over on my good friend Victoria`s Blog I have just found this Blog challenge, created I presume to help lazy arse Bloggers like me keep up with their blogging...so here are the challenges...

* Day 01 — A photo of you taken recently
* Day 02 — This month, in great detail
* Day 03 — Your favourite television program
* Day 04 — A photo you took
* Day 05 — Your favourite quote
* Day 06 — Whatever tickles your fancy
* Day 07 — A photo that makes you angry/sad
* Day 08 — Hopes, dreams and plans for the next 365 days
* Day 09 — Your favourite book
* Day 10 — Your week, in great detail
* Day 11 — Your favourite song
* Day 12 — Whatever tickles your fancy
* Day 13 — A fictional book
* Day 14 — A hobby of yours
* Day 15 — Your favourite animal
* Day 16 — A song that makes you cry
* Day 17 — An art piece (painting, drawing, sculpture, etc.)
* Day 18 — Whatever tickles your fancy
* Day 19 — A talent of yours
* Day 20 — A non-fictional book
* Day 21 — A recipe
* Day 22 — A website
* Day 23 — A YouTube video
* Day 24 — Whatever tickles your fancy
* Day 25 — Your day, in great detail
* Day 26 — A photo of you taken over ten years ago
* Day 27 — Your favourite movie
* Day 28 — This year, in great detail
* Day 29 — A photo that makes you happy
* Day 30 — Whatever tickles your fancy

So for Day 1 - A photo taken of me recently....

I know its not the best photo but I love my hair in this Picture...

Be back tomorrow with the next challenge!!!

2010-08-23T12:43:00.000-07:00

Some time ago I bought this....

...with all good intentions of having a beautiful creative place for me to fashion pretty little items surrounded by inspiration and clutter free shelves, embellishments perfectly organised and papers colour co-ordinated and flat, this morning I woke up to this...

Oh dear...every time I craft that's what my "creative space" looks like, it takes me so long to find the perfect paper or brads that by the time I have matched items up I have lost the motivation to craft....now however, after a couple of hours proper sort out it looks like this...

I know, it`s so tidy I don`t want to craft now because I know I will make a mess!!!

I did all that without the aid of music...:-(
My ipod is poorly sick and is staring lifelessly at me from the docking station in the kitchen, and my god I miss it so much, all my music is on there, organised into playlists. I even bought new headphones last week...fear not its booked into the "Pod-Pital" and hopefully will be fit and well very soon. Either that or Harry is going to lend me his Nano, which has some very questionable music on it!!!

I had a great day Demonstrating over in Kendal on Saturday, WOW the scenery is so breathtaking and the very kind Keith took me back to the train station via the scenic route, up in the hills, so high up my ears popped but it was so worth it when we looked down over Kendal, absolutely stunning...thank you Keith.

Was lovely to see so many people turn up for the Demonstration day too, and I didn`t stop talking to customers the whole day, had to bite my sandwiches between "Cuttlebugging" whilst chatting with fellow "CuttleBuggers".

If you are in the area at all its well worth a visit, the staff are very welcoming and friendly and the stock is huge, and there`s an upstairs too ;-).

So yesterday I was feeling a little delicate due to some rather serious drinking on Saturday night with my best friend...it was her idea to start the shots of Absinthe honestly, but did manage to create this with the Tim Holtz Birdcage Die which I am totally in love with...

And then was using up some scraps and my Creatables...which by the way are gorgeous, and I created this...

Oh My God...I know its a Christmas card, but with all the beautiful weather we are having I had to cool off somehow didn`t I!!!

Demonstrations...

2010-08-19T09:17:00.001-07:00

...Just updated my Demonstration diary...to the right.

I do have more to add I am just not sure of the dates yet.

Sneaky Peeks!!!

2010-08-19T08:38:00.000-07:00

I am Demonstrating in beautiful Kendal on Saturday at The Gosvenor Paper House, using the gorgeous Creatables cut and emboss dies and the Nellies Frames. may even throw in a bit of Cuttlebug embossing too, just because I love it. I love demonstrating the Cuttlebug, I have had mine for three or four years now and I still use it all the time.

The Creatables dies are pretty lush too, I have managed to cut through just about everything I have tried them with, and they emboss too.

Here are a couple of the Samples I have created for my Demo on Saturday:

12x12 layout of Mia in the Snow, die cut some of the Snowflakes in felt...

More felt...this time the Daisy dies, glued to a hair clip...I think Mia may be pinching this once my Demo is done...

Snowflakes again, this time cut from funky foam and linked together with jewellery nylon, looks invisible, to create a Christmas decoration...

And the Butterfly...simply cut from card and glued to a decorated paper mache box to create a little gift box..

Jack returned safe and sound from his tour of America...I got a keyring and a couple of bags of dirty washing, bless him...

He really didn`t jump off the Grand Canyon...clever photography...

I am off now to have a play with the Butterfly die above...I have had an idea...watch this space!!!

Its Saturday...

2010-08-14T12:31:00.000-07:00

...and I was very rudely awakened this morning by a generous soul knocking on my door at 6.30am....twice...what the...ignored it and tried to go back to sleep until at 6.50...grrrrr...the same thing happened again...so I happily trot downstairs full of the joys of...I am kidding...I stomp down the stairs muttering profanities under my breath only to find nobody there!!!!!

Good start to the day there then!!!

The day got better believe me!!!

Got these cards to share, The Christening card was a commission ....

And this is for a certain very special someone who is celebrating a birthday very soon...shhhh ;-).

Off to watch some stars twinkle...okay I admit I am going for a smoke!!!

I`m All White....

2010-08-10T13:07:00.000-07:00

...Honestly...

....literally!!!

I am currently covered in white acrylic paint, its all over my hands, on my arms and even in my hair, where I lent so far over my desk that my hair dipped in the paint!!!

Crafting...occupational hazard!!!

Had a fabulous day though, My good friend Heather, who is also my Learning Support Worker in one of the venues where I teach, came over today to craft craft craft, gossip and "Do" lunch, because we are ladies!!!

A whole day of crafting and it was fabulous and considering there were two messy crafters at it we didn't make that much mess either...

Mia joined us in our crafty marathon too, getting the luxury of sitting at my desk on the comfy chair because we were at the table, but checking on our progress every so often...love this picture...

...and all of these too, because she is just a little poser, and in case you were wondering that dress cost me £2......can you believe that, got to love the Asdoh sale ;-)

And honestly I didn't spend the afternoon taking photographs of my little poser, I completed five...yes five scrapbook layouts...

Ella and her Ice Cream...

Mia on the Beach at Colwyn Bay...

My very own "Rock Star"...

Harry and Mia in Woolston Park...

Mia and her "Big Bro"...

I love the Summer Holidays, even more so today because its the very first day so far of the holidays that it hasn't rained and Harry and Ella have actually been able to play outside today...Jack on the other hand, halfway across the world enjoying temperatures we in Warrington can only dream of.

So far on his tour of America he has spent a week in Ohio, been to a Baseball game, done some night Shooting, visited Ohio State Park, gone fishing, travelled to Vegas, took in the Grand Canyon and headed over to Dallas...and I am so NOT jealous....I have all the photos to scrapbook when he gets home...lucky me!!!

I`m off now I am going to go outside, for a sneaky smoke, and to catch the stars again...last night was so clear and I saw a shooting star...first time ever, and yes I made a wish, then I have to clean this bloody paint off me...wish me luck ;-).

Who took it from us?

2010-08-05T09:08:00.000-07:00

I am talking about the summer...Obviously...It has rained every single day of the school holidays so far, my garden is underwater and flip flops are not suitable footwear at the moment when we should all be chilling in shorts and summer dresses!!!

We did get over to Colwyn Bay last week, even though in Warrington it was pouring down I had checked the weather and there was a break in the clouds over the Bay for the afternoon, cloudy but dry...well until we went in the sea then we were pretty wet but at least it wasn`t from the rain...this was the first time ever I had been on a beach with all my kids...is that sad or what...shoes off, socks off and jeans rolled up and the fun began...

Typically we bough buckets and spades and tried to build a sandcastle...that failed miserably though and we used the buckets to carry our wet socks home!!!

Traditionally we had Fish and Chips for tea and had the entertainment of a sea gull the size of a small dog trying to get into the litter bin near our table but sliding off every time he tried to lower his head into the opening. That has been recorded by Ella on her phone and should be winging its way to You`ve Been Framed very soon.

Had a couple of days off work so have been scrapbooking some of the pictures I have taken so far this summer...not a lot of sunshine in sight though...

This photograph just captures Mia`s personality perfectly...

I was recently introduced to a park very near to my house that I never even knew existed and took the kids over there a couple of weeks ago...photo opportunity for mum, run around in the sunshine for the kids...

Perfect Posers...

Took this photo of Harry in Colwyn Bay High Street last week, he is into climbing at the moment, not sure how long that will last before we endure a trip to casualty but it makes for cool shots for me.....

I am demonstrating over at Preston tomorrow and Saturday for Inspirations by Cardcraft so if you are in the area either day come and say hi, they are having a four day craft extravaganza, started today but runs until Sunday, and there are lots of free demonstrations taking place.

Off now to clean the Fimo from every available work surface it stuck to today...promise pictures soon.

Its almost here...

2010-07-19T12:44:00.000-07:00

SUMMER!!!

Honestly, I have it on good authority, even though it seems to have rained for forty days and forty nights...about seven if I am honest but I am so sick of the rain as is everyone else I imagine, there is nothing summery about having to wear boots and carrying an umbrella everywhere you go...today however...the sun came out, long enough for me to get excited run upstairs and put on the new maxi dress I bought last week and have been unable to wear because of the wet stuff falling constantly from the sky!!!

Then I proceeded to walk up to the school to pick up Mia all floaty like...think the chocolate Flake advert on Television...and the heavens opened...me in floaty maxi dress and flip flops...luckily I had the said umbrella...so not a good look!!!

The kids break up from school tomorrow, Mia unfortunately has to do a full day whilst Harry and Ella are currently winding her up because they only have to stay in school until 12.15...what is the point, and they have a non uniform day too, so I washed their uniforms and blazers at the weekend for one bloody day!!!

Made this thank you card today for Mia`s teacher, glimmer misted the little roses and yes I still have it on my hands...I tell you that stuff really takes a hold, I have the most beautiful nail varnish effect!!!

Am secretly a little bit pleased because Mia moves up to year five in September and she has a teacher that all my other three have had, and I really like her and she doesn't even read my blog so I didn't even have to say that!!!

Okay off now to bathe my arm in some "after bite" Ive been bitten by a nasty little bug and have what looks like a golf ball growing in my arm...not pretty I can tell you!!!

Listen.....

2010-07-17T08:32:00.000-07:00

Its so Quiet.....!!!

Kids are all out but all due to return very soon, crashing through the front door quite possibly full of vigour and energy when I am trying to chill, always the way huh!!!

I have finally relented and been out with Ella today and bought...Hair Dye...is 12 too young to start dying your hair?...hmmm, when she is almost as tall as me it seems to be getting harder and harder to argue with her, I have convinced her that black like mine is probably not a good idea for the first time so we selected a rather scrumptious chocolate brown...wish me luck!!!

The main reason I relented is that she has just completed her first year in High School and despite all the phone calls home regarding the length of her trousers...I KNOW...apparently three quarter trousers, very sensibly teamed with thick black tights and sensible shoes are deemed inappropriate school wear!!! Anyway she bought her school report home yesterday...dum dum dum dum....and its fantastic...and I knew after reading the first page it would cost me so hence the agreeing to the hair dye, she has proven that she can be responsible and mature at school setting a high example of how a young lady should behave so I could hardly say no could I?

Had the strangest week this week, all my classes are finishing up now until September, have two more next week then I am off for the summer, top up tan time...if it ever stops raining, I am over at CardCraft Plus on Wednesday though in Preston running a Jewellery Class and in Chorley on Saturday running a Kars Demo, I have several card and jewellery commissions to do too so I really should be working...however its Saturday and I want to chill out with chocolate and chilli heatwave crisp...not together of course...hmm but then again!!!

So its the end of the school year on Tuesday...TUESDAY what an insane day to finish school, luckily as there is only Mia left in Primary school I only have one teachers gift to sort out...and organised or what its sorted...Altered coffee jar with some yummmm....believe me they are...cappuccinos inside:

And created this layout of my Nan last week, have spoke about her an awful lot lately it seems so it seemed fitting to scrapbook this beautiful photograph of her looking immaculately glamorous...

I miss her more than I ever thought I would, I would love to chat to her about all the things my kids get up to and listen to her laugh at the latest drama I was dealing with.

Off now to Internet shop...I need some new stamps I think!!!

Fame!!!

2010-07-10T23:14:00.000-07:00

My Little blog has been spotted!!!
By the scrumptious dotcomgiftshop
Who have the most amazing gorgeous gifts for sale, they have compiled a list of 101 "Lovely Craft Blog" and mine is there!!!
AND
Over on there blog they have also featured one of my cards too, Happy-Est!!!

Its currently "Stupid O Clock" on Sunday morning...and I have already done a weeks worth of ironing and watered the garden...obviously with a watering can because of the hose pipe ban!!!
I can`t sleep because I have a hack of a cough :-(

So I am off now to do some blog hopping before any one of the kids wakes up and demands to use the computer!!!

Its been a while....

2010-07-04T08:26:00.000-07:00

...Since I blogged...Sorry!!!

Got a lot on with work and being a student you know ;-)...so much that I have a 2000 word essay that needs to be handed in on Wednesday...ARGHH!!!

So yesterday like a good student...not...I worked....was over in Lancaster for the day demonstrating, had a lovely time, met some lovely people and even got cream cakes too mmm mmm, I didn`t even do my homework on the train, on the way there I read my book and on the way home I struggled very hard to stay awake, luckily for me I did as the last stop after Warrington is London Euston...I think that might have taken some explaining back home ;-), thank goodness for the guy with the bottle of fizzy pop behind me that woke me up!!!

Got home last night about 6.15 last night and then left again about 6.20 as I was doing the photos for a friend at her Wedding reception, have just finished editing them and am going to deliver them shortly, but I know she won`t mind me sharing this one...

...I just love how much love is in that picture without even seeing their faces...beautiful!

Kim and Aggie haven`t been round all week to clean my house, bloody dire I tell you, even the Housework Fairies are on strike too, although I did leave Harry a little note yesterday mentioning a certain electrical appliance known as the hoover and a carefully selected piece of material also known as the duster...and blow me down he actually did it...the hoovering and dusting...the power of the written word!!!

So I have spent this afternoon creating this for a friends birthday in a few weeks...shhh its a secret...

Off now to rescue my chicken from the oven and to bang in some roast potatoes...mmm I love Sundays!!!

Snail Tails!!!

2010-06-15T14:25:00.000-07:00

Mia is babysitting a snail for a friend!!!

Not just any snail but a Giant African Land Snail called Wolverine...technically that should therefore be called Snail-sitting then!!!

I hit upon the really great idea yesterday, whilst Mia was sobbing her little eyes out in the school playground after two weeks off school, to let her take her snail into school today...sometimes I wonder if my sanity is all there...so walking Mia to school this morning with a fish tank under my arm containing Wolverine...can you picture it!!!

Anyway Wolverine seems to have had a great day at school, all the children either held him or stroked his shell...Mias teacher however declined to have a snail trail left in her palm...!!!

Will post some pictures soon of just how big he is!!!

Managed another card over the last few days, did this one in dribs and drabs...starting Saturday!!! Saw the idea at a Demo and wanted to have a go at the design myself, and again I have used my little Gorjuss stamp, I am never going to get tired of these stamps.

Off now to Google my "homework"...honestly that's what our tutor said last week, to quote him..."Google, Copy and Paste"...I am loving student life!!!

I did it...

2010-06-13T13:48:00.000-07:00

Finally managed to upload some pictures...how...well after a palaver of old cameras and leads I found a usb lead that links my camera directly to the computer...Yeah me...well yeah Dad really who arrived this morning like an extra from Jessops!!!

So while England were playing a little game with a ball last night...I was listening to it...honest...I just didn`t have my face painted or have a flag wrapped round me...I made this with my brand new Gorjuss girl stamp...

I am loving the purple and green colour scheme at the moment, really fresh and funky.

These are a couple of the vintage style layouts I have completed, the photographs were my Nans, when she passed away I inherited her photo album, unfortunately it was one of those with the adhesive film that hold the pictures in place...a scrapbookers nightmare because the colour fades so much, and although it really upset me to have to remove all the photos from the album, because my Nan had lovingly put them all in there, they are now safely stored in an acid free box.

Now I have early evidence that I love to talk on the phone.... just check out that sexy Trimphone...My Nan only ever used the phone after 6pm and on Sundays...oh how times have changed.

In my Nan and Grandads garden with my Nan...

Just a couple of projects I have been playing around with...baby bunting and shoes in a box...complete with socks...

Made the template for the shoes myself after seeing similar ones, I think in future I will just buy them...took about three attempts before I got a left and a right shoe...for a while I thought I was going to have two left feet!!!

Got a busy week ahead...so not sure if the blog will get the attention it deserves, have cut down on my evening classes though but have three nights out this week planned, not been out for months then three nights out come in one week...bit like buses huh!!!

Honestly....

2010-06-12T13:02:00.000-07:00

... I was all ready to blog...lots of vintage scrapbook layouts that I have completed of me as a little girlie, cards I have made, jewellery I have designed and lots of crafty bits and bobs...However...My memory card reader won`t work...Boo!!!

I am not quite sure what is wrong with it but think that Ella was the last to use it!!! Hmmm kids!!!

Had a busy couple of weeks...working and studying, have seven new classes a week and have started my degree, also doing a lot more Demo work...was in Preston yesterday at Inspirations by Cardcraft Plus...look!!! I also met Melanie Heaton and Hayley West who were demonstrating alongside me.

I promise to try and sort out my reader and blog all my pictures tomorrow but for now I have to go check on my poor sick babies...Harry and Ella have a nasty bug and I am hoping that they stop throwing up soon...there is only so much OUST a girl can use in one day!!!

Im so excited!!!

2010-05-25T13:12:00.000-07:00

Been so busy the last week, It was adult Learners week last week and I was involved in so many events that I actually met myself coming backwards at one point...shook hands and told myself about all the courses the college has to offer!!!

Obviously I didn`t really but it felt like it at times, was an amazing week, especially the awards ceremony on the Sunday which was to recognise learners achievements, some of my students were up for awards so I was a very proud tutor!!!

Work is winding down a bit at the moment, half term next week so a couple of days off planned with the kids and quite possibly a bit of a clear out...I can`t find anything...anywhere, not just craft supplies but shoes and handbags and items of clothing I know I have, I am currently looking for a housekeeper who will accept payment in cupcakes...please apply below ;-).

Off to Preston in the morning to teach another jewellery class at Cardcraft Plus and if you are are around between June 10-13 they are having a four day craft event...details here I will be there on the Friday...demonstrating jewellery making.

And finally my excitement...I have been accepted on a degree programme, really happy about that in professional management and the first module starts in two weeks...I am a student and have been told that I will not only get student discount (Yay) but also that I am allowed to sleep longer, drink more and wash less!!! Not sure I will be putting that part of student life into practice but I am all for the student discount!!!

Cupcakes and Crystals!!!

2010-05-11T01:50:00.000-07:00

I am back Online!!!!

Yeah Baby, thanks to some very sound PC advice!!!

So I can check Emails, catch up with Facebook, view my Bank Balance online, and Blog the pictures I took on Sunday!!!

And I have this morning off so I have time to do all that too!!!

Had a lovely day on Sunday with my little girlie...we hit Hobbycraft...only for some class supplies but we had such a lovely girly giggle, she is me to a tee unfortunately and even has the hands on hip shaking of her head pose down to a tee!!!

When we got home, we baked...Yes I know and I don`t do baking!!!

When I say we...she sauntered off to her Grandads and told me to bake the cakes and she would decorate them...she is bloody 9 and I found myself actually agreeing!!!

So Joint effort...and beautifully displayed on my cut glass cake stand that a friend bought for me...so pretty...

And this is my little darling posing in the garden sat at my new table and chairs...finally replaced the one I had stolen two years ago...

Pretty as a picture...

Hmmm...starting the posing...

Where does she get that from...

Looks like she is playing "Air Cello"...

Scarey face...

Just plain cheeky...

Finally...phew I hear you gasp...this is a Swarovski Crystal ring I made a couple of months ago, even taught this in a couple of my classes...

Off now to surf the interwebs...I missed it!!!

Blackberry Blogging!

2010-05-09T13:41:00.000-07:00

I have gremlins, or a virus or quite possibly both, my PC decided tonight that it wasn't going to play and I am reduced to blogging via Blackberry...but quite honestly how cool is that?

I honestly had a host of pictures taken ready to upload, isn't that just the way...from a swarovski crystal ring I made to the delicious cupcakes I created today...oh yes I have been the domestic Godess herself today!!!

Hopefully I will have the computer sorted by tomorrow, either fixed or thrown through the bloody window but aiming carefully so I don't damage my gorgeous new table and chairs I bought for the garden yesterday!!!

Wish me luck!!!

OWCH!!!!

2010-05-07T03:12:00.000-07:00

I have a headache...and it`s my own fault too, sat up watching the Alternative Election Night last night, but fell asleep on the couch after a couple of glasses of wine, only to wake up at 1am hardly able to move...OWCH!!!

And the fact that I have already had to face the aisles of ASDOH this morning in my pained and hungover state didn`t really help either...trying to decide what meals to cook during the week when all I wanted was a neurofen and a bacon buttie was no easy feat believe me...but its done for another week...yeah me!!!

I was planning on spending the day "doing" the back garden, the weeds out there are ridiculous, I have to take a strimmer out with me every time I want to peg a line of washing out, but it looks like its going to rain :-) and I would hate to get halfway through and have to stop.

Instead I might just sit and plan my lessons for next week or just curl up under a blanket dreaming of somewhere nice and warm.

Made this layout yesterday for my Scrapbooking class last night, its a lovely picture of Mia, taken during the Christmas holidays last year and just really sums up her personality...

Happy...

And finished some more Bling...well this one is more arm candy than bling because the beads look like sweets...

...and I am just loving green at the moment, even considering redecorating in a similar colour in my living room...

Off now for coffee and Neurofen!!!

Ooooops!!!

2010-05-06T06:33:00.000-07:00

I promised my students that I would add this picture to my blog either last night or today and I forgot...sorry ladies...

Better late than never!!!

Creativity!!!

2010-05-06T02:09:00.000-07:00

Well I have a couple of hours to myself so I thought I would post some projects I have been working on the last few days. Had a funny week this week, I think that Bank Holiday Mondays knock everyone out of sorts a bit and I can`t believe it is Friday tomorrow already. I am not demonstrating this weekend either, the first weekend I have had off since March...Pinot and Lie ins planned!!!

Although I really should clear my desk before I plan anything, its covered in beads...seed beads at that!!!

Okay made a couple of easel cards lately and adapted the design to do a circle one, which I am really pleased with...good old Tilda, been playing at making handmade flowers too, the patterned ones are a mosaic stamp that I have cut into and curled the "petals" layered and secured with brads, the brown ones were cut from greyboard on the Cricut and inked with good old Tim Holtz distress ink, then stamped with the same mosaic stamp using Stayzon, and the rose is several flowers cut and shaped into the 3D shape...I am never buying pre made flowers again, I love fiddling and making my own now....

I am doing another two craft fairs in the next month so I have had to get my finger out and create a decent stock of jewellery...was up at 6am on Sunday morning making this...Beautiful purple glass beads...

...and this...Nautical Nicety...I love those beads so much...

...and this...Apple Green, loving that little charm and the spotty beads...

...And been playing with my new spacer tubes again

and came up with...Tantalising Turquoise...

...and...

Passionate Pink

Don`t those beads just remind you of sweets!!!

Off now to clear the seed beads...Honest...Just want to say a big Happy Birthday to my Auntie Liz who is celebrating her 50th this weekend and my cousin Jessica who will be 21...Happy Birthday sorry I can`t be with you xxxx

Crafty Me!!!

2010-05-03T06:02:00.000-07:00

I have really enjoyed this bank holiday weekend, two whole days off with no lesson preparation, planning or paperwork to do because I am pretty much up to date, so I have had time to craft...just for fun...I know incredible!!!

I have also had time to blog and unfortunately scour the Internet for the latest bargains...see it is bad for me to be off work!!!

I have the morning off tomorrow and then Wednesday is my day off, although teaching Wednesday evening, so I am being eased into this week gently, which is lucky because I am booked solid over the next couple of weeks, it is adult learners week at college the week after next and I am assisting in promotional events for that over the week and also doing some work for the lifelong learning team too and I have just been booked in to teach another Jewellery class for Anne-Marie over at Cardcraft Plus at the end of May.

Still waking up really early so this morning I got a couple of jewellery commissions out of the way, ideally to leave the rest of the day free, but I haven`t really got much done, unless you count making a mess!!!

These are the layouts I completed yesterday...

2009...This was a landmark year for Ella as she left Primary to start high school and had 15inches cut off her hair...I just wanted to document that...been making those little handmade flowers again too...

Mint...Just wanted to record some of the words that Harry uses as a teen...

And I am addicted to these little paper flowers at the moment they are so easy to make and thought they would team well with Tilda...Oooh and the frame is one of my new Marianne Creatables that are very similar to Nestabilities, and I like them...

Off now to tidy up some of the mess I have made and then I think maybe some chocolate is needed!!!

It feel like the middle of the night!!

2010-05-02T05:45:00.000-07:00

Sunday....Ahh, day off, day of rest!!!

Yeah Right!!!

Woke up at 5.30am and could not get back to sleep, finally got up at half six and have been awake ever since!!!

Have managed to clean the house and do six...YES SIX...loads of washing, and I have finished a scrapbook page that I started during my demo yesterday...will have to photograph it later.

Talking of my Demo....what a funny morning, and that was before I even arrived!!!

Has anyone been to Shotton station...that's where I had to get off the train...you know you are in trouble when the train is rammed and you are the only person to alight...hmmm...did not even realise I was in Wales until I saw the signs in English and Welsh...I couldn`t even find my way off the station!

Imagine this...I am stood in front of a stile in heels suitcase in one hand and a Cricut Create in the other thinking there is no way I am getting over that...luckily I managed to collar a very nice 88 year old out for his morning stroll who informed me if I ventured over the style the only audience I would have for my demo would be the cows and "them ills" which I am presuming meant the hills!!! anyway he was my knight yesterday as he directed me to where I needed to be...although had to listen to his life story along the way bless!!!

Great Demo day yesterday too, Lesley at Purple Butterfly is lovely, go pay her a visit if you are in the area, she administered the correct amount of caffeine, arranged for a lovely sandwich and salad and even bought me a muffin in the afternoon...now that's why I love my job, no honestly I love demonstrating, I love meeting new people and showing them tips and techniques and answering questions about the various machines, and it only took me an hour to get home too...from North Wales!!!

Spent Friday evening Scrapping...I got the bug again I think, although this afternoon I am planning on cardmaking I got some of the new Marianne Creatables and I got to make up some demo samples...look how pretty is this...got to find a lush ribbon to thread through that.

So here are my layouts...

Mia...All Natural Beauty....

And Mia...Cheeky...

Off now to play with my new dies ;-)

Goodness Gracious...Gorjussness....

2010-04-30T04:09:00.000-07:00

Again....

Sorry I am going to bore you to tears with this stamp I swear but I really love her, I am about to whizz over to Funky Kits and drool over some more stamps but I can`t make up my mind which ones to get...decisions decisions!!!

So I created this mini book...I say mini its about 8x8 inches square...for a couple of my classes this week. That was fun when we ran out of double sided tape I can tell you!!!

Book closed and handmade paper rose...

Book Open....

Close up of the left side....with more hand made paper roses

And close up of the right side with yet more handmade paper roses and my little Gorjuss herself...

So maybe I am going to try another stamp, honestly you would think I only owned one...;-)

Tomorrow I have a demo for Kars over at Hawarden so if you are in the area come and say Hi and find out all about the Cricut and the Slice machines.

Off to enjoy my Friday afternoon off...

Asda...Done
Washing...Done
Housework...done
Can only mean its time to scrap!!!

I can tell you are Impressed!!!

2010-04-29T06:06:00.000-07:00

Well this can`t be bad can it, another blog post this week!!!

I have the afternoon off work, had a class this morning and have another tonight but a couple of hours off in between cant be bad huh?

Been meaning to blog a couple of layouts that I have recently completed and a couple of pieces of jewellery too...

Here are the layouts, which surprisingly for me are all 12x12, quite liking this size at the moment and makes a change from the 8x8 that I usually do:

A couple of Ella...

Lady....All of a sudden all grown up!!!

Teen...Not quite but practicing hard!!!

One of Ella and I...

Chill...All we could do during the big freeze!!!

And a couple of Mia from her birthday party...

Laugh!!!

Birthday Girl!

I have missed scrapbooking, not had one of those evenings for a long time where papers are hiding my scissors and I have various embellishments stuck to me...I do have a nice tidy desk now though as I spent the day on Tuesday "sorting" it out...I would post a picture but I have just finished scrapping the "Laugh" layout above and quite honestly its embarrassing!!!

Had a couple of jewellery commissions to do lately, including these...

How gorgeous are those beads?

And finally sourced some spacer tubes which didn`t cost the earth, aren`t they pretty.

Well I am off now for a cup a soup...hooked on them at the moment.

Simply Gorjuss....

2010-04-25T13:08:00.000-07:00

My Gorjuss Stamp!!!

I did warn you I would over use it, created three more cards this afternoon with her...

I am off to buy more Gorjuss stamps!!!

April Adventures!!!

2010-04-25T04:19:00.000-07:00

I`m finding it hard to believe that yet again it has been almost a month since I blogged, this month has just flown by at an alarming rate!!!

I have been here there and everywhere, you should see all my train tickets, I have had a Kars demo every Saturday this month too, from Carlisle to Knutford, Poulton-Le-Flyde to Northwich, got one more next weekend then I have a whole weekend off.

Also did my first Jewellery Making workshops for Anne-Marie over at Cardcraft Plus in Preston this month, had a really good time and met some lovely ladies and hopefully that's going to be a regular class too. Have you been to the shop...OMG its full of gorgeous lushness, not just craft items either, and its HUGE!!!

So I am going to blog more, even if only a quick post, I have to now because I have been giving out my card to people at my Demonstrations so have to keep up to date and organised!!!

Here are just two little cards that I used on my Demo yesterday in Northwich, loving those stamps, had them a while and I can see them being stamped to death over the next week because I have also bought some more Tim Holtz distress inks and they pair beautifully with them...

And finally...am I the only crafter in the world that doesn`t use Cosmic Shimmer...well I finally gave in yesterday and bought a bottle...just to see what all the fuss is about...okay I am off to play!!!

You Missed Me?

2010-04-01T13:10:00.000-07:00

Wow I can`t believe I have gone so long without a blog post!!!

The last six weeks have been a complete and utter Rollercoaster ride...think the Big one at Blackpool on a much larger scale!!!

Won`t go into all the drama of each episode of the new soap opera "Estenders" but believe me if I had to screen write I would have enough material for several years worth of half hour episodes!!!

I am currently "on Holiday" I use the term loosely because I am exhausted...I can`t wait to get back to work for a rest, I had to do a girly shopping trip with Mia today, who turned 9 a couple of weeks ago, she had birthday money burning holes in every pocket she owns so we hit the hell factory...ooops I mean the Build a Bear...40 bloody quid for a dog...dressed in a pink hoody, Jeans and roller skates!!! Do you know how many items of clothing I could purchase in Primark for 40 quid!!!

So we welcome "Scruff" to our house...the only bonus I can think of is that we wont have to take this dog for walks...obviously because she has skates!!!

Mia and I have just about removed all the bloody fluff from out clothes too...who`s idea was it to wear black today!!!

Okay if you are out and about in Carlisle on Bank Holiday Monday come and say Hi to me at Houghton Hall Garden Centre where I shall be demonstrating the Slice, Cuttlebug and Cricut die cutting machines in the Craft Shop.

Happy Easter everyone

Little Miss.....

2010-02-12T22:58:00.000-08:00

....Attitude!!!

Ella...All grown up, not my little miss anymore!!!

Hours and hours in front of the mirror experimenting with hairstyles...hair up, hair down, Jabbering away on the phone with her girlie Friends, Texting with her 3 gazillion free texts she seems to qualify for every month and generally getting taller by the day...love these quick cheeky pics I took of her this week...

This is a layout I finished earlier this week too, love this close up of Mia in her santa hat...

Been a busy and stressful week this week, but I have a completely free weekend...so far, and a couple of days off next week too...half term...got to love teaching!!!

So far this morning though I have redesigned and updated my business cards and they are on their way to me, checked and replied to my emails, requested some information from the Body Shop about becomming a Party Demonstrator, been to a couple of the parties and it looks like fun so maybe considering it, planned my new courses that start after half term, entered a free draw to win £500 in Primark vouchers, poked a couple of people on Facebook and had two cups of coffee...and its only 7am...So I am off back to bed for a weekend lie in!!!

NO WAY....

2010-02-08T03:53:00.000-08:00

...Really...is it...Only Tuesday!!!

Because the week I am having so far feels like it should be at least Thursday night!!!

So much for the blogging daily, that's not happened either...sorry...All the best intentions and then.... Insomnia sets in.... that I am awake between 1am and 4am every night feeling, or the oh my god is it only ten minutes since I looked at the clock in the dark last...and now I know I am going to see every hour before I wake up...It`s truly horrible...not only the frustration in the middle of the night because you know you have to get up in the morning but also during the day when you are sleep deprived and your mood is dramatically effected by the lack of sleep...!!!

Sunday evening however I completed these 12x12 layouts...

...My Snow Babies...

And...
...Fright Night....

Forgot how much I love doing 12x12...and as soon as I have tidied my desk from completing these layouts I promise to do more.

Off to bed now...Quilt calls!!!

Guess who`s back....

2010-02-07T04:21:00.000-08:00

Hello People...did you miss me?

I have been a terrible blogger this year so far so a big sorry to my regular readers who find a little time every day to nip on here and read my waffle...I promise more waffle more regularly and maybe a few crafty bits and bobs thrown in for good measure!!!

Had my first demo of the year on Friday over at Inspirations by Cardcraft Plus in Preston, I met some Fabulous Funny and downright zany people...I was in good company there then, and had just the best day, everyone is so friendly in Preston and the new shop is absolutely beautiful, filled with such lushness that I had to sit with my blinkers on for fear of returning home completely bankrupt, pay it a visit if you are in the area...or just go for the day...there is a Ben and Jerry's just around the corner ;-).

So I will be teaching over in Preston on the 14th April, running my first independent jewellery making class...How exciting is that. I even have the sample ready, now that is just far too organised for me and I mustn`t let that happen too often!!!

Been making a few bits of arm candy, a friend and I are planning on doing a craft fair also in April so thought I had better build some stock up...

I made this last week too, I got the idea from the Crafting Springtime gifts book I bought a couple of years ago that has been collecting dust on my bookshelf ever since...along with the Sew Pretty and Crafting Christmas gifts from the same range, have to think of a name for her because Mia thinks she needs a little name plate and I agree that would be pretty cute.

Talking of Mia, she had her hair cut last week...ten inches...yes I have the lock of hair to prove it no decent photograph yet...although took these yesterday on my Blackberry...look sunshine, real sunshine...No coats, no hats, no scarves or gloves....a lovely spring day...

and look at the little guy!!!

He is growing daily...and eating me out of house and home...the little guy turned 14 this week...and has a meeting at school next week to discuss what GCSE options he wants to take...Do they have GCSE`s in eating and playing football,

Okay off now to do some scrapbooking, still got a pile of "snowy" pictures to work through...pretty much like the rest of the population of Britain I imagine...!!!