Its Friday....

...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!!!

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!!!

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....

...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....

...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....

...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...

...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!!!

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.....

....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...

...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....

...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!!!

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!!!

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...

...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...

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...