Right,...

...while I've got 10 mins (just got some veggies roasting to go into a soup!!) - except its mafting here so thinking it might be salad for tea. lol.

I just wanted to quickly post a pic of the nearly finished cross-stitch that is doing my head in. I lurve the pattern but the 22 count is horrible I cant wait to finish it and I am nearly there, however, I seem to speed up when I am nearing the end of something and now making silly mistakes so its taking longer - aargh!!

The pattern is a freebie from Jaunty Fox designs -I'll try and find the link, and pop it on my blog.

Postie has been as well yay!! with a couple of Martha Stewart bargains - yum!!


The book is hardback and only £4.50 from Amazon - I've only had a quick look but seems idiot proof (so I am ok!!! :-)) and some nice things to do (and free cd to copy designs & templates). The holly punch I have been lusting after, after spotting it in a magazine - and a bargain on ebay - so well chuffed. That remind me must go and write my feedback.

Toodles!!

Thanks for looking

Ali
xxx

Yoo Hoo, I'm still here....

... I know, I know long time no post and long time not many visits to other blogs - sorry!! Just things got a bit mental at home, then a trip to the Papercrafts fair at Harrogate and then we had a long weekend away in London for Toms Birthday and had a brilliant time - except I need another holiday to recover, I am still cream crackered from all the walking and I'm not going to mention the washing and ironing - lol - it was only four days but blooming 'eck how much laundry!!!

I had a lovely surprise when I got home my m-i-l had been and tidied the house - lovely except also rather embarrassing - I bet she thinks I'm a right dirty moo - lol. It was semi(cough) tidy, I just thought I'd do it all properly when I got home ;-).

Anyhoo, best not think about that - here is a photo of my little stash from Harrogate - was quite restrained really:

A box to organise my cross stitch threads, images from lotv, inks, papers, stamp some dst, promarker, ribbon and a lovely little wooden house that was only a couple of pound - not sure what to do with it yet though - but I just liked it.

I am also still doing a bit of cross-stitch but not enjoying it I didnt have any linen left and they didnt have any in the shop I visited but they had 22ct aida, which I thought would be nice and give a similar effect - but I hate stitching on it - aargh - dont know why I just dont like it. I'd already made a mistake on the Lizzie Kate pattern by starting it- getting half way through and then realising I hadnt cut the material big enough - huge aargh!!! so in my strop I chucked it out, therefore reluctant to ditch this one - I will finish it - even though I am hating it - I'll pop a picture up when I am finished.

Lastly a card - yay!! (although I must say since I have made this my mojo has gone awol so if you see it please return to me!!!


We have been invited to christening at the end of October, and this is my card the image was a freebie (and coloured with promarkers) but I cant remember where from if anyone knows please let me know and I'll pop a link up the gingham paper was from a freebie pack from a magazine. I have punched some plain white card and then added gingham ribbon from my stash.

I would like to enter this into:

Truly scrumptious - c&s
Creative Card Crew - babies
Papertake weekly - critters

Thanks for looking (hopefully will be back on track visiting and commenting soon xxx)

Ali
xx
Thank you to Padster here is a link to the freebie image at elephantastic :-)

Toms birthday card...

... this seems to have come round quite quickly, I can remember working on his last card!! Well, he is still mad on army things, so it is another army themed card. I really struggled to find a suitable image and ended up going for a kidlets one from Bugaboo, just hope its not too babyish for him:



I have used one of the larger card blanks that I got from a £1 stall, where I have distressed the edges. The backing paper was a freebie from here, the Bugaboo image has been coloured with pro-markers and matted onto kraft card. Then I have added some - I keep going to call it rafia but it isnt anyhoo you know what it is - lol, and typed, printed and distressed the edge of the sentiment.

I would like to enter this into:

CRAFT - children
Charisma - inspired by a son (In the army now - status quo)
Papertake weekly - anything goes.
Stamp something - use a digi
Creative stamp friends - card for a man
One stitch at a time - use a digi
Crafting for all seasons - birthday

Thanks for looking

Ali
xx

A few more things off my to do list...

... yup, still ticking things off my list - the chicken has (finally) been made into a cushion:



I had plenty of stripey material left over so that is what is on the reverse of the cushion. Even hubby is starting to get into the swing of things - with the spare material I suggested re-covering the dining room chairs - he did one last night, hope to get the other 3 done over the next couple of nights when he has finished work - yay!!! (However, can I just say I did suggest doing this years ago - but he said it wouldnt work - erm???)

A frame was purchased this morning:



I know its not framed right no pinning, stretching etc - just a bit of pulling and a bit of ds tape - but it seems to do the trick ;-) - hmm just thinking whether to stick some things around the edge of the frame to take the plainless off - but worried I'll end up spoiling it??

At last, a card:



I must admit this was made the othe week, just didnt get round to bloggin it. The image was stamped by one of the lovely ladies over at MSE and coloured with promarkers. I have used freebie papers from a magazine, with flowers, sentiment and buttons from my stash. I lurve this image - she just looks lovely.

I would like to enter this into:

Always something creative - pink & brown
Emerald Faerie Garden - buttons
Aud Sentiments - for a girl
Charisma cardz- anything goes
Passion for promarkers - anything goes

Thanks for looking

Ali
xx

p.s. no extra threads today???

A mixed post...

... a little bit of everything today (well, except a card - which may be later). Okey doke, where shall I start - I finished my little Barbara Ana design the other night:


I am really pleased with it (I've missed off the bottom row of some squares- as I liked it like this) just need to get it framed now - and after giving myself a kick up the bum to actually get stuff finished I'll be off to get a frame tomorrow and have a go at doing it myself.

I've actually started & finished covering the foam for my pew - err how many months has that taken??? lol - see what you think:
It was hard sewing and reading the intruction manual to the sewing machine - oops its only its second outing since my hubby bought it for me last Christmas!! Can you spot my new oil cloth - just a little bit CKish - doesnt go with the peach walls though hmm how can I break it to hubby he's going to need to decorate - hee hee.

Have you heard the song Jar of Hearts - well here is my Jar of Tarts:

My mum gave me the jar (I think its just an old coffee one), I have filled with Yankee Candle tarts added ribbon, painted a little wood heart and written on tarts - et voila!

Are you still with me - not bored you to tears yet???

Just a couple more pics honest!!

Right, I need new magazines, like I need a hole in the head -BUT - have you seen the freebies at the moment, I got my subs. copy of cross-stitcher yesterday and I have read the print off it already and what about this for a fab freebie kit - I cant wait to start it:


Or how about a cute Margaret Sherry one in World of Cross Stitch, stitching not your thing?? There are some soooo cute Humphreys Corner Christmas stamps in Papercraft essentials???

Right just off to hide one of the mags before hubby comes home!!

Thanks for looking

Ali
xx

p.s. A bit of Sewing Machine help please when I have been stitching and finishing off when I go to snip the cotton and the cotton from the bobbin I have been getting 3 threads to snip instead of just 2??? Nothing in the manual??? Can anyone throw any light on this - I am wondering if it is because I am stitching quite slowly???
Thank you!!