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

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!!!

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!!!

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...

...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!!!

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...

...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....

...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?

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...

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.....

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!!!

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....

...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!!!

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...

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....

... 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!!!