Anyone want a bug? LOL a cold bug I mean ...

... I'm quite happy to pass the bug over to you ... LOL ... I've still got mine and been off sick with it for the last couple of days and David has gone down with it too :( we're praying that we're well enough to go to Cheshire on Thursday for a visit to my sister and her hubby. My cough is looser but worse in a way as I'm coughing more, although I can breathe a little easier at times, David is coughing well too - he's drinking a hot toddy at the moment :) that should help. I've been out this afternoon for the first time since Saturday (not good for me working on my CBT goals) but it was nice to get a bit of fresh air. I've stocked up on cough medicine and some painkillers.

I haven't felt up to much these past couple of days but did manage a layout today based on this week's UKS challenge. The elements were to use a heritage photo with modern style or a modern photo with a heritage style; use up some old stash; use green in any way and lastly use 4 different patterned papers since April is the 4th month.

This is what I did:

It's a photo of Mum, isn't she beautiful? I know this photo was taken before Mum and Dad were married in 1952 so the photo was taken around the early 1950s.

The patterned paper is by Fancy Pants Floral Chic which I've had since July 07 (Scrapagogo kit), I used Crafty Bitz hearts (had a couple of years), Kaiser adhesive pearls, some lace which I bought Saturday and Colorbok Chalk ink for edging. The title was cut using the Quickutz Abigail and Studio Classic alphabets from green Bazzill bling card. The blooms were from my stash.

It's time to rest up now. If all goes to plan and David and I start to improve, I probably won't be around until early next week so hope the next few days go well for you.

Take care and thanks for looking

Sunday's craft session

Even though I'm still poorly with a bad cough the challenges on the cardmaking forum spurred me on to do a bit of crafting today - thanks Kerrie love the sketch challenges in particular.

I created another snowy layout:

Am well pleased with how this came out. I used mainly Doodlebug stash (paper, sugar card, ribbon, swirl stickers and gem stones), also some Carolee's Creations words. The scallop edging I cut using the Quickutz Revolution scallop 12 inch border die.

Then there are these cards, the first is a sketch challenge, the second one we had to use black and white with a splash of colour.

The image is Simon & Lola by Sugar Nellie from Funky Kits. Sorry I can't remember who makes the patterned paper as it was an offcut from a 12 x 12 inch piece. The flowers are by Prima and I used Papermania glitter brads in the middle.

Ummm, I'm not really a black and white person but guess this card isn't too bad with a hint of pink. The paper is by Doodlebug and the flowers are by Bazzill and Prima with Doodlebug pink sugar brads.

That it for today, hope you've enjoyed seeing these.

Coaster box

Here I am, back from Suffolk and unfortunately feeling poorly. I came down with a nasty raw cough yesterday evening and it seems much worse today, I also think I have a bit of a temperature, so no crafting for me today.

We enjoyed our day/night in Suffolk though and it was lovely seeing Mum, she's looking really well. It helps that my sister Yvonne and I phone to make sure she has her tablets 3 times a day every day. Yvonne phones morning and night time and I phone lunch time. We just want to make sure that Mum stays as healthy as she possibly can. David and I popped down town whilst Mum's cleaner was there and I bought some lace for a swap on UKS - 10 metres! I couldn't resist buying a few other designs just for me LOL I'm loving lace at the moment. The three of us popped out to lunch to a fish restaurant nearby. For some reason I didn't fancy fish so had gammon but David had haddock and Mum had cod, it's always lovely there and well worth a visit.

The afternoon was quite productive. We'd arranged an appointment to see a private estate manager for sheltered housing for the older person for a ground floor flat/bungalow. The visit went well, although she doesn't have any properties to let right now she's going to put our name down on her waiting list for the future. We're already on the housing register for council/housing association properties though we are only allowed one bedroom properties. Rather than buy this time we've decided we'd like to rent and renting this way we're more likely to have assured tenancy. We don't mind a one bedroom as we only have a one bedroom house right now. It makes life very interesting though as I've literally taken over the bedroom with my crafty stash but David doesn't mind.

Brother David popped over after work with his greyhound Telford. Awww it was lovely seeing Telford (and David of course) and to see him bounding around. He's much better apparently but still has to have the renal food for at least another month in the hope his kidneys will improve. Poor Telford he's so used to getting some treats when he sees us but we couldn't give him anything.

Now on to crafts. I literally haven't done any crafting today what with feeling poorly but my UKS teamie Heather received in the post this morning the coaster box I made for her so I can show it to you now.

I had to make the coasters myself as I didn't have any beer mats or bought coasters. It worked out pretty well though. Here it is in pieces and then two photos of the coaster box:

I also made Heather a card with the leftover pieces:

The materials I used for the card and coaster box were: Imaginesce spring paper, Stickles glitter glue, Magnolia Tilda with Bow and Cuddly Tilda, Doodlebug rub-on alphabet (for signing off), Prima flowers and others, Sizzlets Naturally Serif decorative strip alphabet die and a few other little bits and pieces.

Hope you enjoy looking at it. Maddy posted mine Thursday so it should be in David's office waiting for him to bring it home to me on Monday - yay.

Oh yes I forgot to mention that I received a Stampin Up box of goodies on Thursday. I bought Circle of Friendship set (8 round sentiment stamps); Close as a Memory (a sympathy set) and some square rhinestone brads in ice colour. Yummy they look scrumptious. Shame I'm feeling too poorly to try out my new stamps.

I can smell dinner so I better love you and leave you, take care

Wow, you just gotta see this

I'm made up with the layout I created this afternoon. The weekly challenge on UKS inspired me to do this layout (LO), the elements were to use bling; stamping; celebration theme and to use this sketch:

As soon as I thought of celebration I thought of a photo of Mum waving present money about on her birthday back in 2005. It also reminded me of David's Mom doing the same thing Christmas Eve 2001 so the photo brings back lots of lovely memories. Here's the LO:

I know I'm biaised but isn't it gorgeous? I know the family will love this, hope David's family pop on too and see it as David's sister and BIL have met Mum.

Now to tell you what I used: the background patterned paper is by Fancy Pants Designs and called Head Over Heels. I'd cut the round out by using a dinner plate as a template :) the edging on the paper is Lakeland's adhesive paper lace. I put Papermania adhesive stones (transparent and pale blue) in the centre of each lace flower. I cut the round journalling block with my Spellbinder Nestabilities and put Kaiser light blue pearls at the bottom; the Title is on Doodlebug sugar glitter card and was cut on my Cuttlebug using (from top to bottom) - Cuttlebug Hippie Chick; Sizzlits First Steps alphabet set and Sizzlits Naturally Serif decorative strip. I stamped the doodles using warm red Colorbok chalk ink, the top doodles is a stamp by Scrapagogo and the bottom by Hero Arts.

Sorry I didn't come on yesterday had a bit of a bad spell on Tuesday and Wednesday and was in a very low mood. Thankfully I'm feeling much better today.

We're off to see Mum tomorrow and eating out at a fish restaurant. I'm looking forward to seeing my brother and his greyhound dog Telford. Poor Telford got poisoned last week and was in a bad way, thankfully he's on the mend although we're waiting to hear what today's blood tests will reveal. Telford had kidney and lung damage last week and we're hoping it's not as bad as we thought. Telford has had to eat renal food for the last week and hasn't been allowed out for walks either, his favourite treat is sausages and even saying "S" he knows what it means :) so has been sulking at missing out on his treats. Fingers crossed for a good outcome.

Thanks for looking, I hope you've enjoyed reading the update and seeing my latest LO.

As promised ...

... here are my two favourite LOs, both were created from sketches for layout challenges on the cardmaking forum:

I just adore this photo of David, it looks brighter in real life. Sorry I cannot remember what patterned paper I used, and the other LO:

Sure David's American family will love seeing these.

A beautiful warm sunny day and I did manage to get to the park and feed the geese and a few ducks. It was warm enough to sit without a jacket on for a while.

Must go and try make a card for the Chinese whisper challenge.

Thanks for looking

Two of my favourite LOs

Morning, sorry I didn't get a chance to post yesterday, work was manic after being off for two days and then both David and I had to go and see our doctor so I didn't get time to be on the PC when we got home from work.

I thought I'd do this quickly whilst I'm having a break and having some breakfast. As most of you know we start work really early - around 5.15 am and finish between 1 and 2 pm - I enjoy having the late afternoons at home especially if the weather is fine and I can get to the park where there is a lake and bird sanctuary.

Today I thought I'd show you a couple of my favourite LOs I created this month. The photos were taken in Cheshire last year ... oh dear I cannot upload photos from the work PC, sorry it'll have to wait until I get home (the work PC doesn't allow attachment pop-ups) - shame that, the photo of David is my favourite. Hope you'll come back later for a look.

In the meantime, I'll leave you with a few words which are on my desk calendar:

Dreams are the touchstones of our character - Henry David Thoreau

Some of Sunday's creations

What a lovely day today, I always enjoy a crafting day though I did pop out for a walk early this morning.

I managed to finish the coaster box and must admit I'm really pleased with it (I know I'm biaised LOL), wish I could keep it but I've put the recipient's name on it. Unfortunately I cannot show you until my UKS team mate receives it towards the end of April. I promise to upload photos of it then (along with the card I made her today) as I can't wait to show it off, my first coaster box.

I made a few cards but cannot show them all. I made two RAK (random act of kindness) cards and a secret sister card ready to send to cardmaking forum friends in May, also a birthday card for a UKS friend.

I can show you a couple of cards I made using the new Laura Ashley stash:
This card uses the contemporary patterned paper which I've edged with lipstick red colorbok chalk ink and a Bazzill flower with a Laura Ashley contemporary brad. The image is by Penny Black and is called Shy Surprise (code 1730E).

This card again uses the contemporary patterned paper, as well as contemporary ribbon and brad. Not sure where I got those flowers from but they seem to work well with the card colours. The pattern down the right hand side is made from the Impress die cut stencil - Lattice border.

Back to work tomorrow :( still only a 4 day week for us as we're off to Suffolk on Friday to visit Mum. I hope to bring you more creations next weekend.

Thanks for looking

This week's challenges

LOL it pays to have Friday off to do the housework then have the weekend crafting! Saying that we'd much rather have been in Cheshire with my sister and her husband, than David having a tooth abscess. I forgot to mention that I had to go to the walk in health centre on Thursday because I had problems with my left eye. I was told I had Chemosis (allergy/irritation with what looked like blisters on the white of the eye). Thankfully it's almost gone now I'm using some allergy drops.

Back to crafting, I enjoyed my session this afternoon. I created my third snowy LO. Here it is:

I used Daisy Bucket patterned paper, Bazzill pink card, Prima flowers, large Doodlebug sugar brads and Papermania white glitter brads (which are smaller than the Doodlebug ones). This was for a layout sketch challenge on the cardmaking forum.

Then it was on to cardmaking. I made 4 cards in total but will show my 2 favouries here. The first was for the card sketch challenge, again on the cardmaking forum.

It's my favourite, I love the colours. I used Mary Hughes patterned paper (thanks Linda for the paper pad), Magnolia Tilda in nightshirt with the Magnolia steps, Cuddly Buddly round sentiment and ribbon. For the edges of the paper and the sentiment I used Colorbok chalk ink in ice blue and orchid pastel.

Here's the other card. Another challenge on the cardmaking forum, we had to use "old" stash. Everything I used I'd had for well over a year and a half (well apart from the Spellbinders nestabilities and the chalk ink).

The patterned paper is by K&Co Juliana pad, the image is an EZ rub on transfer, and the flowers are Prima Got flowers. The sentiment is a rub on by The Scrapbook House. I used Papermania adhesive stones (lime) in the centre of the flowers and edged the patterned paper and image with Colorbok chalk ink in lavender and olive pastel. I seem to have a thing about edging paper and images at the moment and love my Colorbok queue inks.

I finished off this afternoon with covering some handmade coasters with patterned paper ready to make into a coaster box for a team swap on UKS. Now I have to decorate them and then finish the box off ready for sending w/c 28th April.

Recent cards

Here are a few cards I made recently.

A card for my good friend Chitra who retired last month:



Made using a Penny Black stamp (Furry Love-3102J) and the gold background is made on my Cuttlebug with the Swiss Dots embossing folder. Prima flowers and Doodlebug glitter brads finish the card.

An anniversary card for my best friend Susan and her husband Gordon:


Another Penny Black stamped image (which I was given) and Cuddly Buddly round sentiment - just love this card. The sketch was from a challenge on the cardmaking forum.

A "with love" card for my lovely sister Yvonne:


I love my Magnolia Tildas! This is Tilda with Cross and the Signpost which is perfect for putting sentiments on, I coloured both with Derwent watercolour crayons using a waterbrush. Tilda's background was made with the Cuttlebug swiss dots folder and cut with the oblong Spellbinders nestabilities, the patterned paper is from K&Co.

A birthday card for David's colleague Steve:


Using a Papernation decoupage sheet, the Cuttlebug distressed stripes embossing folder and Harmony Designs patterned paper.

And finally, a general happy birthday card made for a card challenge on a cardmaking forum:

I love this one using Tilda with Patch, she's so cute. Tilda is sitting on a round scalloped circle made using the Spellbinder round Nestabilities and edged with Colorbok chalk ink. The patterned paper is Imaginisce, I made the scalloped edge using the Quickutz Revolution 12 inch scalloped border die, some adhesive lace and Papermania gems.

An update on us

Now that I have a blog I thought it'd be a good way of keeping our far flung family and friends updated on how things are going. I'm sorry I haven't written to my dear penpals, hopefully a letter will be winging it's way to you soon.

Life isn't too bad. I've had some Congnitive Treatment Therapy with an assessor helping me and I can actually get out at work now though using the stairs is still difficult but I'm getting there, I have to practice my goals constantly. I can also get to the park near home which is a huge step in my fight against agoraphobia and social phobia. It has been a hard struggle but I can finally see how far I've come in the last few months, thanks to my family and friends who have supported me, all those texts - they're a huge help. David is fairly well, apart from his knees. He's got teeth problems at the moment and is on penicillin and having treatment at a dentist. Mum has been in hospital a couple of times this year but at the moment is fairly well.

Work is very busy for us both. I am now PAing for another person as well as my boss, although enjoyable, it's made life extremely busy and a bit stressful. We're busy looking into moving to Suffolk to be closer to Mum, we hope to move within the next year.

Here's that other snowy layout I created recently,

and the goodies I bought from The Range on Thursday:

Thanks to Clare for explaining how to upload multiple photos.

Looks miserable outside but we have to do the weekly shopping and I hope to pop into Staples to buy some more Really Useful Boxes for my chipboard alphabets.

Will be back later!

A first!

Blimey I never thought I'd have a blog, but some of my friends have told me I should have somewhere to show my creations, and blogging is getting more and more popular, so I thought "why not". I'm not sure if I'll be posting every day especially during the week when I work but I'll do my best so please come back as often as you can :)

I thought I'd show you a scrapbook layout (LO) I created yesterday for the April week 3 UKS challenge. Back on 6th April 2008 we had quite a bit of snow and I've decided to create a snowy 8 x 8 inch scrapbook album. This is my second layout



I'll show you the first LO another time, since I think I can only add one image to each post. Does anyone know if I can add more than one please?

I received my Scrapagogo Create kit today and boy is it lush. I also subscribe to their cardmaking kit which arrives towards the end of the month, it's lovely having those yellow pizza boxes to look forward to :)

Popped to The Range yesterday to look for Laura Ashley stash and woohoo I found some, so bought the Traditional and Contemporary 6 x 6 paper, the brads and ribbon for each set. I think they'll look great with Tilda stamped images on cards.

Had today off work and managed to get most of the horrible housework done so hope to have lots of crafting time this weekend.

That's it for my first post, hope you've enjoyed reading this.