Nearly the end..... of 2009!

Well, just thought I would do a quick post as it nearly the end of 2009 and looking forward to 2010 - would like to wish you all Happy New Year!!!!!

Every year I make a Resolution and never stick to it and they are all usually based around being more organised,getting fit, eating healthier, drinking more water etc. etc. Yup you've guessed it - it lasts around a week!!!

So hopefully by putting this years resolutions in print for all to see I am hoping it will help me stick to them. So here goes:

1) To try one new recipe a week, and cook more meals from scratch - pkt casserole mixes do not count!!!
2) Get fitter (ahem - not holding out much hope - but you never know!)
3) Stop dithering - JUST DO IT!!

Fingers crossed.

Let me know what your resolutions are. We will be having a quiet night tonight - as always since we had kids - but for those of you having celebrations - have a great night!! Wishing you all the very best.

Christmas Stocking wrap up:



Morning all - well havent blogged for a little while, but it has been Christmas (thats my excuse anyway!!). Hope you all had a fab time and Santa was kind to you - we had a great time here with lots of surprises -


I love Jacks face in this picture - he has been asking for an x-box elite for about 18 months and at last he got one he was sooooo pleased!!

My hubby also managed to surprise me as well with a Sizzix Big Shot - I have been undecided for ages between a Big Shot & Cuttlebug - so now the decision has been made for me - although slightly scared about using it - it seems a bit complicated!?!




To give us all a kick start ready for the New Year Rainmac has set a challenge over on MSE for a Sketch Card - I have never done one of these before so thought would give it a go and would be ideal to do for an engagement card that needed to be made so I have come up with this:

What do you think??? I like it but keep having doubts should I have gone for something a bit more - ooh I dont know - bit more pink or blingy??? for an engagement - anyway all comments appreciated as I havent posted the card yet. (gulp)

Its Snow Time!

Hope you are all managing to keep toasty warm - it's been snowing here this afternoon but mainly hailstones - however the boys still managed to persuade their dad to take them out after tea for a daft run around - don't know how they managed to get enough snow to throw snowballs but:


Postie brought us some lovely cards yesterday, one for me from Sarah (aka Rainmac):



It is truly lovely - hopefully my cards will be as good (one day!).

Next my boys received a lovely post card from Mums Monkey - they were so chuffed and slightly amazed that Monkey knew where we lived - they love reading Monkeys adventures:



Lastly, I finally got round to making a money wallet for some relatives who are receiving money for Christmas - couldnt find a template I liked so with a bit of encouragement I had a go at making my own - sorry forgot to take a photo of it open:

The Holidays Are Coming!!!

Hi, well still seem to be keeping on top of things - finally got round to making hubbys Christmas Card the other night - and can post the pic now - as he has opened it and is on our mantlepiece!!



Monday was a bit of a busy night - we also got the Christmas decorations out and let the boys decorate the tree - they have actually done quite a good job - so I have left it - not needed to move anythings around!!

Also taken a few pictures of my favourite things, I love this little gingerbread man tree decoration and as you can also see I have a bit of a collection of nutcrackers:





















Last night saw Toms School Nativity - he was THE donkey!!! Brilliant he was too - however, when I first saw his outfit I wasn't sure if he looked more like the Gruffalo. The performance was excellent - all the children sang their hearts out - definately a tear in my eye - believe me it doesn't take much!!






















I finally feel that I am getting on top of things, got the pressies wrapped today, christmas cards sorted - going to hopefully get all the daft bits and bobs tomorrow and then THAT IS IT!! No more shopping - I hope - ahem! (Does internet shopping & grocery shopping count??)

Back in the Swing!

Well, I feel I am on a roll now!! After my blog award yesterday - it motivated me to get myself sorted. I had been doing a little bit of card making here is my first attempt at an easel card:



I had also been busy making Twinks hobnobs (courtesy of MSE) and other goodies, most going to the school for Children in Need:






So, today, I finally got round to making my two boys Christmas Cards (ahem easel cards - again!!):





Finally, not card related, but just wanted to put a picture up of my youngest after winning a Fair Play trophy at a Football Party he went to at the weekend - it was the first football party he had been to and was so proud at being picked for this trophy (bless!):


Got a few busy nights with School Nativity Plays and Christingle Concerts - but will hopefully keep up with my card making & blog!!

Blog Award

The lovely Craftygranny has given me my first ever blog award - yay!! Although I do feel slightly guilty as have neglected it for a few weeks - so this has given me the kick up the bum I needed to get my card making/blog mojo restarted. For the award I need to answer the questions below in 1 word answers and then pass on to 5 other people - so here goes:


1. Where is your cell phone? handbag
2. Your hair? dark
3. Your mother? home
4. Your father? dead
5. Your favorite food? steak
6. Your dream last night? football
7. Your favorite drink? wine
8. Your dream/goal? smallholding
9. What room are you in? study
10. Your hobby? crafting
11. Your fear? spiders
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? smallholding
13. Where were you last night? home
14. Something that you aren't? fat
15. Muffins? yes
16. Wish list item? mercedes
17. Where did you grow up? Greatham
18. Last thing you did? drank
19. What are you wearing? clothes
20. Your TV? on
21. Your Pets? gerbils
22. Friends? yes
23. Your life? good
24. Your mood? harrassed
25. Missing Someone? sometimes
26. Vehicle? corsa
27. Something you’re not wearing? glasses
28. Your favorite store? HomeBargains
29. Your favorite color? pink
30. When was the last time you laughed? Today
31. Last time you cried? recently
32. Your best friend? Husband
33. One place that I go to over and over? study
34. Facebook? No
35. Favorite place to eat? mother-in-laws

I would like to pass this award onto:
Caroline
Gemma
Leia
Sh3ri3
The Wife

Hi just popped on for a quick update before start cremating ahem I mean cooking tea - have a pop over to rainmacs blog she has some lovely blog candy up for grabs - some great things!

Evening everyone, haven't made much lately - full of ideas - but nothing happening. Anyway, tonight my youngest comes home from school with two party invites (for boys!) - so if that is not a kick up the bum to get motivated again, I dont know what is!! I have cheated though and used 1 card that I had made earlier - the dragon with the googly eyes. I quickly made another card for Toms friend Ethan who is football mad - see what you think -This was made with freebies from Making Cards magazine and some Dovecraft Masculine.

Well that kicked off other things then and made a few other makes :


I Love this card - definately one of my favourite makes so far - I just love the colours.

Next is a card made with a stamped image from Princesswoo on MSE - Thank you!!



A birthday card for my brother (his birthday is in February!). A bit early me thinks!!


Lastly a christmas card based on an idea on Helens blog - however mine looks nowhere near as good as hers (maybe one day!).

Thats it for tonight - I am feeling my cards need a little more adding to them do you think they look a bit plain?? but not sure what as I dont want to end up spoiling them.

Hi there, thought it was about time to put a few updates on my blog - not been too busy making cards lately, but got a couple of things I thought could go on - my first is a card for the craftyplace challenge which is a card and card making goodies for postpals
to help poorly children - next challenge will be for me to try and put the pictures up on craftyplace!! (gulp!)




















I also received a parcel on Saturday from the lovely Melissa - after winning the October challenge over on MSE she very kindly sent me some great papers, cardcandy, stamped images and loads of other bits - thank you so much!!!



Lastly to help with Alicia's appeal I got my mum on the case to knit me a doll (no raffle is complete without one!!). So hopefully that and a couple of cards will be winging their way to help.

Ooh lovely blog candy!!

Just spotted this on rainmacs blog
http://ellieskeeperscreations.blogspot.com/

there are some lovely makes on there to drool over - as well as they chance of winning some gorgeous blog candy!!

Only had the chance to make 1 card - with the boys now back at school - been trying to catch up with some housework (not very much done though!!). Sorry
it is not such a good picture - the paper is from Creative Craft
World and looked lovely but now that I have cut it to make
the card - not so sure and the greeting on the front is not sticking so good - so will have another bit play with it - why is it that you have a good idea in your head - and then when you put it into practice it never seems as good.

November already!?!

Hope you all had a Happy Halloween - and got lots of sweeties!!! (I know I keep pinching them out of my boys treat bags)

Have a couple of pictures from last night of the boys - a bit of a before and after, when they had decided to take half of their outfits off - didnt think Tom (the youngest) was going to get ready- he was all excited all week and then when it came to it he said he wanted to go to bed as his back was aching!!! However, with the promise of sweets & treats and that Jack would get them all - he soon got into the swing of it and his bad back disappeared - strange!!!




















Been able to make a couple of cards today - see what you think not sure if the little angel one
needs a little something extra??




Think will have to ask the lovely ladies advice on mse advice on colouring in with pro-markers - I just cant seem to do it right and get the professional look that the others do ...hmm.







The taller card was made with some Smirk (Naughty but Nice) papers & embelishments that I got from the Creative Craft World sale.

Few more makes:

Didn't think I was going to be able to get anything done today, with bowling with the boys this morning and we are getting the bathroom tiled so the tilers where here as well - however did manage to get another 3 cards made (although nearly burnt the tea as was getting a bit carried away in my little corner!!)


Another make with the freebies from Lets Make Cards - had a go at cutting the square out of the front (although did need assistance making sure it was square/central & straight!) . I used a glue spot and sellotape to hold the ribbon on the reverse, but covered it with a little paw print embelishment as unsure on the best way to do this - it actually looks ok though.





Another couple of Christmas cards - one Lili of the Valley, and the other is using Anitas Dimensions stickers - it doesnt show too well in the pics. but Santas arm is raised off the paper, the backing paper was one of the free ones with this months Cardmaking & papercraft magazine,
with card candy in the corners.

Thank you for all your kind comments on my previous posts, your feedback is really helpful!!

Good evening all, finding it a bit difficult to make things with the boys off school and wanting attention nearly all the time!! On Monday we had a visit to the cinema to see UP what a lovely film - except I embarrassed the kids by crying - but it was a lovely story!!!

Anyway, while hubby took the boys to their swimming lessons - I was able to do a little bit of crafting - have been dying to do so as received deliveries from Sarahs cards (just some flowers - free p&p! ahem) and also a bumper delivery from Creative Craft World - who I would thoroughly recommend - their customer service was top when I had an error at checkout and thought my order had gone to cyberspace - seemed to get loads for my £10 & free p&p again!) .

So here goes:This has a lovely snowflake charm, from creative craft world, on daisy & dandelion Winters tale paper - not sure name of stamped image as it was in a bundle I bought off ebay. I think this is my favourite so far. (sorry its wrong way round)

Next - I thought would do a fun one with some Wallace & Gromit bits from Lets Make Cards magazine:


Then my last play around was with some Lili of the Valley (I love their designs!) and some of the new flowers I have:





Lastly I have been trying to get a button on my blog (failing miserably!) for the cute Alicia, who is really poorly and needing lots of help - if you can please go to her blog :
http://cardsforalicia.blogspot.com to see if you can help - Thank you!!!

Right off to watch Midsomer Murders!!!

More Makes.

Hi, hope everyone is having a nice Sunday! Been catching up on everyones blogs - some lovely makes!! I hope mine can be as good one day - with a lot more practice.

Couple more cards unfortunatly the pics are not very good - hoping it is just the batteries in the camera!

This one is just a little christmas card with a topper in the middle of some mirror card and card candy in the corners - not sure if it is a little plain - what do you think???




This one - really sorry its not very good quality:( I am hoping to send this one in for challenge sent on mse to send cards to Ikkis breast cancer cause. What do you think - does anything else need adding?

Afternoon all, just managing a quick catch up & update on my blog (still getting used to it!). Got a few more photos to add:

This cute dragon one was a variation of a lovely one that I saw on Rainmacs blog - hope she doesn't mind me pinching her idea !?!





Anyone who has visited mse will know about Rudy & Trudy - the flannel reindeers - here is my attempt:



Finally another card make - this is for my neice who will be 16 in January (like to be prepared!) It doesn't look to bad on the photo but in real life it looks a bit wonky!! I have a problem keeping things straight!!! Do you think it needs anything else added - I had an idea in my mind what it would look like but it doesn't seem right - any feedback would be great.

Well its a cold, miserable day here today - so of course will have a little go at card making - or internet shopping (ahem), and of course some blog hopping - home alone - as boys at nannas & hubby at work - housework done this morning - so a lovely afternoon to me - and as a treat there is a Wispa gold with my name on it!!! (Maybe for 3 o'clocks!).

Yay!! I have finally arrived in the 21st Century and got myself a shiny new blog!! (however, still need help to navigate my way round!) I don't think I would ever have done this had I not had so much fun on the card making forum on MSE, where all the ladies are very kind and helpful! So I want to send a big thank you to all of them. As I know I definately would not be here in cyberspace if it were not for them!!

I know this first post is going to be a bit picture heavy - apologies for that - as have finally gotten round to taking pics of all my makes and posting them here for all to see (GULP). Please be gentle with me, I know my cards are not as professional as most - but I am still fairly new to this - and get a lot of pleasure from card making!

Have a browse & see what you think! (Hopefully can remember in which order they were made)

This was the first card I made - a handbag style one for my sister in law - who seems to buy a handbag every week! The lovely papers were sent from rainmac who helped get me started - by sending me some lovely things, for which I am very grateful!



This next one is a birthday card for one of my best friends son - it is an Ian stamp (I think) on masculine paper with a little American Football embelishment.

These two are makes for my youngest sons friends, one who has a birthday on halloween and the other just a couple of days later.
Nearly finished - honest! This is a new home card for one of my friends - thanks to craftygranny for help with this one!



Lastly a selection of christmas cards for my mum, in-laws and close friends/family (apologies to everyone else but you will be getting shop bought!)


Ok, I think that is enough for my first post - I have a couple more pics but will sort those later!!