Last Work Desk Wednesday for 2010

So I thought I would join in and it also might encourage me to tidy it and actually do something crafty.

As you can see the last time I sat at the table to do anything was to wrap Christmas presents, hence the gift wrapping and packaging.


Do visit Julia's blog and have a look at her wonderful work and musings - so funny and maybe join in yourself and show your workdesk/space.

Oh what a night!!

As a christmas present treat for my husband and me, my daughter booked us a nights' stay in a local hotel with champagne and a jacuzzi bath ;)

Very lovely and very, very enjoyable.

Twis the night before Christmas ......

I do love that story :)

Today I would like to wish you all a Happy Christmas and hope that everything is coming together nicely *fingers crossed* and that you all get some crafty goodies in your stockings that you have been eyeing up all year.

Thought I would show you a photo of the "state" of our snowy visitor, hahaha


He does look a bit worse for wear doesn't he? If fact you could say he is "off his face" get it? hahaha Well actually I caught the culprit who swiped his face. Yes it is this little red chested fellow ....I saw him one morning wiping the smile off the snowman's face hahaha well I suppose when you are hungry raisins are a tasty treat.

Well I guess that it just means that it is time for me to wish everyone "a Happy Christmas to all and to all a good night."

- x - x -

Tis the season to be jolly .....

Happy Christmas Eve eve to all you out there is Blogland.

Thought I would share a heart I knitted as part of my parcel of gifts to my partner in the Quirky Boots Heart Swap. I now know my partner Andria has received it so I can post a photo of it here.

I got the free pattern from Jujube & Lolo they have some wonderful knitted things go take a look. Thanks for stopping by.

It's beginning to look alot like Christmas ....

Hi there blogland some snowy photos to share with you today. This was my garden before a visitor arrived and made himself at home ......


and then a photo of our visitor


not sure how long he is staying but he is wrapped up warm and looks like he has had a skin full!!! tee hee.

Next I want to show my Christmas bunting from a Bunting Swap I participated in over on Bubbly Funk Forum. I haven't strung mine together this year but might next year. Lots of other things to spot on my mantle piece too so you can play I Spy if you like! "I spy with my little eye something beginning with p". You can also see a pom pom garland that I didn't finish in time last year but now has pride of place over the mirror. Thanks to Anjie for the inspiration.


And then a close up of the letter I did. I also did one in a blue, silver and white colourway but I haven't got a photo of that one.

Thanks for stopping by and hope you are enjoying the snow and that it isn't a hassle for you wherever you are.

Birthday Cards

Thank you to all the lovely crafters over on the Bubbly Funk Forum I received these brilliant cards for my birthday last week.

So many different ideas that no two are the same. Thanks girls.

I roared with laughter when I opened my card from Janice! I had to double take after my eyes met Mr Tennant and then looked at his "assistant" and saw it was me hahaha. Dr Who's Teaching Assistant!!!!! hahahaha Thanks Janice that has made my year :)



Just to round off this blog post nicely I thought you might like to see a Belguim chocolate Pharaoh. He was delicious and one my daughter brought home from Bruges last Saturday.

Thanks for stopping by. x

Quick card for Sunday

Muuuuuuuuuum! you know what comes next don't you? Usually a "can you ......?"

Well today's was "Muuuuuum can you make a card for Josh?"

"yes," I reply "when do you need it for?"

"4 o'clock please" !!!!!!!!!! what happened to a little notice - it's all I ask?????

So very quickly I came up with this very simple card. As Josh is an Arsenal fan (well I suppose someone has to hahaha) I went for the red and white theme. I found this space invaders stamp that I bought for 99p in Papermill when their shop closed down, and thought it would fit the bill.


I might make a stock of these in various colours as just in case Kristian asks again with an hour's notice hahaha.

Not blogged in a while ....

..... ooops! I hope you haven't thought I had dropped off the planet? haha just not been able to blog for a while.

The last time I blogged it was just after Bonfire Night and here is a photo of me and daughter just to show you it was really cold. Look at my red nose - Rudolf eat your heart out hahaha. Can't show you a photo of our spectacular fireworks as they weren't - spectacular that is hahaha.It has also been ages since the last time I blogged my 365 Calendar and here are my very, very late October pages. Sorry Kate et al. Others have managed to keep up to date but I haven't got my November pages ready yet either sssssh. If you want to see up to date entries check out Kate's blog.
Thanks for stopping by.

Remember, remember the 5th November ....

.... gunpowder, treason and plot???? No not from me hahaha ...... I want to show you two more Christmas cards and a birthday card I made with one of my new favourite stamps "Laugh" by Paperbag Studios.


I stamped the image onto cream card and then cut it out and stuck it onto this patterned paper that I received in a swap at the Bubbly Funk retreat in May. I just love the expression on that woman's face - so full of fun and happiness.

The next two cards were made for the November 25th Card Challenge on Bubbly Funk. November's challenge was set by Di the brilliant designer of Tando Creative chipboard - she is a wonderfully talented woman. Di's challenge was to use shapes not normally used to create Christmas images mmmmm ...... I had to think for a while before I came up with these


two robin red breasts and
a funky christmas decoration. These were made from waste from lettering cut using the Craft Robo. The backing paper on the robin card is Basic Grey. The black card and glitter "bauble" needs a little something and I might add some text to the bottom I'll have to decide.

Anyway thanks for stopping by and I hope your Bonfire Weekend is going well and that you are all safe. x

SCD=Something Completely Different

Something Completely Different A new challenge I have joined in with this week, well technically one of the cards is for last week's challenge, yellow and green, and one for this week, claret and blue, (Millwall fans do you think? - haha)

Anyway here are my two cards and they are both Christmas ones. Need to boost my supply of these with the season fast approaching.




Also today I want to show you two more Christmas cards I made for October's 25th Club Challenge over on the Bubbly Funk Forum, this month was set by Hazel and her challenge was to make a card where the sentiment or wording is the main feature ...... mmmmmm well I don't have many Christmas sentiment stamps to thought I would use this Scenic Route paper I have had for a while and coloured with Dylusions Spray Inks and Distress Inks.


Thanks for stopping by.

Wreck This Journal

Guess what I found when I was looking for something else? ...... Yes my "Wreck This Journal" so I had to do a page didn't I.

I have numbered all my pages randomly and I am on number 21 now - still loads left to do and still enjoying it (when I find the journal that is - tee hee!)

Have a great weekend!

Another Day for Messing About with Ink and Stuff

Hello my little blog chums!

I have been busy with inks, paints, embossing powder and my waterbrush - big grin. I began with my 25th Club Challenge cards for September!!! Yes I know very late. The challenge was set by Kaz over on Bubbly Funk Forum to make Christmas cards with a "funky feel". Well I reached straight for my mica spray inks from Dylusions and got very messy and made these two very pink cards.The card with the angel on has been coloured using my waterbrush and Adirondack inks. She has Stickle shoes and Stickles in her hair. I had white pen ink in my mouth last night - trying to get the damn thing to work .... but that is another story - hahaha!

I was busy with these when the postman rung the doorbell - well what else? and delivered some Dylusion Acrylic Paints and some stamps I'd ordered from Art from the Heart. They were wrapped beautifully with a red heart - aaah anyway I ripped open the tissue paper and got straight to work.


This card was made using the How Does Your Garden Grow set of stamps - aren't they cute? Then I dived into the Dylusions Paints and boy did I have fun - sloshing and scraping it about the page of my journal - tee hee!!!! I ordered the yellow and purple as I don't have many inks or paints in these colours but I can see I will need to order some more as they are really lovely to use.


I made my own tool to apply the ink by cutting into an old credit card style card I found laying around my desk drawers. I have cut the other end too but only used the top edge for the above affect. Well thanks for staying and reading to the end - please leave a comment :) Bye x

Arty Day

I decided to kick start my relaxing half term week with some journalling in my A4 journal.



I made these backgrounds last night whilst sitting in front of the telly and then detailed them this morning whilst in bed!!!

Yes I am still in my cosy lounging around clothes - and enjoying it!!! Right a Bond film has just started so I think a cup of tea and some more paints are calling!

ooops! very very late

eek! I am very late in posting this on my blog .... believe it or not these are my September pages for the 265 Calendar Challenge. Check out Kate's blog for all the details and some fantastic artwork inspiration too.Thought I would try my hand at a collage photo too to show you the whole pages along with the left and right hand sides in more detail. I have also photographed the front cover to show you that I am using a sketchbook I bought at the Tate in London. The pages are very thick and are lovely to decorate. The name page is the first page inside the front cover. I'm not sure whether this is finished as I keep adding bits to it.

Right I am up to date with October's pages just haven't stuck the squares onto any decorated pages yet, but heyho half term is coming up so watch this blog. tee hee.

This Sunday is very laid back and lazy after the business and laughter of last Sunday - aaahh Good Times. x

Nice Day For a White Wedding!!

Well it was on Sunday. The weather was glorious for my niece's wedding and the whole day was fantastic from start to very late finish!

To look at the photos you would have thought that it was a summer wedding not one in October, 10.10.10 to be exact! No excuses for forgetting that wedding date! tee hee

The Bride and Groom looked adorable and it was a very emotional day all round. The Bridesmaids wore hunter green (one of my favourite colours next to orange that is) and they looked really beautiful as did my elder sister (Mother of the Bride) in a gorgeous marroon dress and matching hat!

signing the register

In the background the Best Man goofing around (Grooms friend), my younger sister, my elder sister(Mother of the Bride) and Me!

We scrub up pretty well as a family don't we?
My daughter, my husband, me and my son.

My husband was cut out of this photo accidently by the person who took it, shame, but I will definately have an official one of these as I think we all look very smart indeed!


So from left to right - me, my younger sister's daughter, niece #3(Bride's sister), my Dad, my Mum, my elder sister (Mother of the Bride), Groom, Bride, my Brother in Law (Father of the Bride), my younger sister, niece #2(Bride's sister), my son, my daughter and niece #2's boyfriend (next to get married I think - watch this space).

A delicious meal was served after the photos and during the dessert we were entertained by two singing waiters. Very novel and they were very talented and hilarious. I did get very tearful, during the speech from the Groom as I was presented with a gift of a spa day and a wonderful flower display for making their invitations, guest book and seating plan. That was so thoughtful and totally unexpected.

Then it was over to the marquee for dancing from a live rock band and then a disco. Everyone invited to the wedding was asked to suggest a song that they were prepared to get up and have a boogie to and during the night they played a selection of the music. It was hilarious. Everyone had great fun. There was a hog roast in the evening but I was still full from the wedding breakfast to eat, the portions were immense!

We retired to our room at 1.30 am as we were staying at the wedding venue, our room had a four poster bed which was very romantic! The kids had a room of their own which was great too.

Phew! what a long post. Hope you have stayed with me and not nodded off. Now this wedding has been and gone I hope to catch up with other crafting activities that I should have been doing - so no excuses now!

Thanks for stopping by.

October Workdesk Wednesday

I know I am a day late but this was the STATE of my workspace yesterday - hence no crafting has taken place. tee heeIf you fancy a nose at other people's crafty corners then check out Julia's blog to see a list and maybe even add yours. I'm number 136! wow what a lot of desks. :)

Thanks for dropping by.

Big Smiles

I am back after a brilliant weekend ...... but why did I have to go to work I wanted to stop home and play with my goodies I bought at the Big Stamp and Scrapbooking Show at Alexandra Palace, London.


These are the items I bought. I wasn't really looking too hard at all the items as I went to the show with some friends and we spent a lot of the time laughing and chatting. But as I was at the show I thought I would buy something, well it would have been rude not to wouldn't it? hahahaha

I just couldn't resist these gorgeous mica inks from Dyan the colours are stunning

and I have the inky fingers at the moment to prove it haha. I met Dyan and she gave me and Janice a demo on backgrounds for art journalling. Her journals are wonderful in real life! Dyan you make it look so easy but I will follow your tips and watch this space.

It was sad at the end of the day as I had to say goodbye to Di (sorry I missed seeing Tony and Sags) and goodbye to Karen and Jeremy who had the long drive back to Cornwall. And then it was a tube journey to see Janice safely back on the train to Scotland. Thanks girls and guy for a wonderful weekend.

Kathy's Sketch

Today I have blogged a card I made using Kathy's sketch September 2010 "Over the horizon". I have used Basic Grey papers and a chipboard flower coloured with distress inks and a Stickles swirl in the middle. Then I used a rub on for the sentiment.

Thanks for stopping by.

I'm getting excited

Not long now until Alexandra Palace Big Stamp and Scrapbook Show in London, loads of lovely goodies to buy and ooo and aaah over, but more importantly I get to meet up with some special crafting friends. I can hardly wait!

Scary stuff!

Wow how old do I feel going to my neice's Hen Night? Answer - very! haha.

I can remember vividly going to the hospital to see her when she was born, playing shops with her when she was five and congratulating her on her GCSEs and now she is getting married next month.

I was invited to the sedate Hen Night (you know the one for Aunties, older friends and pregnant ladies haha) I still had a great night and danced until my knees ached!

Here's a photo of me, my eldest sister(bride's mum), bride's youngest sister, The Bride herself, my mum and bride's other sister. The green boas and glow stick accessories were our theme and the bride wore a white boa, L plate and sash!

August - I'm late

Yes, yes I know, don't nag I know I am late showing my August pages of my 365 Calendar. But good things come to those that wait - not that I am saying my August pages are particularly any better than anyone elses but I do like the way this months' pages have turned out. If you are not sure what is going on with this challenge then pop over to Kate's blog and all will be made clear.

As you can see the designs of the frocks have come from the talent folks at Plymouth College of Art and I picked up this leaflet at the Graduate Fashion Show at Earls Court earlier this year when I went with my daughter to report on the show for her Uni magazine. I loved all the clothes on this leaflet and really liked the sketchiness of the drawings. I didn't want to distract too much from the designs so chose to use a monochrome look in tans and pinks. I used my Distress Inks and Adirondack Ink Pads to this effect. The month title is cut from various fonts from my trusty old Elle Magazine - still going strong! All in all I think the colour scheme is quite subtle for me. What do you think?

Thanks for visiting my blog.
Comments are welcome.
- x -

Workdesk Wednesday

I realised it was Wednesday today - I have these brainwaves! - so I thought I would photograph my work desk. Pop over to Julia's Stamping Ground to see what it is all about!

This Wednesday I am actually doing something - my September pages for my 365 Calendar Challenge. For information on that sneak over to Kate's Kathryn Wheel Blog it's never too late to join in! I'll blog my completed August pages hopefully tomorrow when I've had my first day back at school - groan.

Also on the desk is the ever present and essential mug of tea and toilet roll! I've become very attached to my waterpen as you can see in the photo since trying Karen's out at our Retreat in May - thanks Karen this is a very relaxing and calming way to add colour to a project - I love using them.

Right will now skiddaddle and see what other people have on their desks.

Thanks for stopping by!
- x -

Bank Holiday Blogging

ssssh- do you think the weather knew it was an English Bank Holiday today? It was so sunny and warm.




My parents visited today which was lovely and they brought my hairy brother with them too.

Do you want to see a photo of how he looks now?





Hasn't he filled out and of course got a lot more hair! He has an appointment with the dog barbers tomorrow but don't worry it will just be a trim. :)

If you have forgotten what Bob looked like when my parents first got him then check back to the 18th February post and you will see a very stern looking Bob. Haha.

Thanks for visiting at my blog today.

- x -

A few days away

Hello everyone thought you might like to see some photos of my recent little break in Wiltshire, Somerset and Dorset and we only went for four days haha. We stayed at a gorgeous hotel, Beechfield House Hotel and it was as wonderful as we remembered it. We had previously stayed there in 2007 but not in this room with it's half tester - boy you needed a step to get up to the bed! It was extremely comfortable though. Sunday we drove to Poole and walked along the harbour, skimming stones and looking for shells - in the pouring rain - we made the best of it, well you have to when you are on holiday in the UK don't you. Then got back into the car to dry off and drove to Corfe Castle in Dorset. Still raining but that didn't stop us from enjoying the sights and the magnificence of the place.

Think my new craft room needs some work don't you? haha

Monday we went to Longleat and this visit was even better than in 2007. We fed deer from our car (you buy £1 pot of special deer pellets) and the deer have no fear and just stick their heads through the open car windows - I don't have any photos of this as I was using the video camera but the film is very amusing. Of course we did everything on our Longleat passports and made a day of it, including riding on the train,
riding the simulator (which to be honest wasn't very good), Kris and I went into the Maze and found the middle and the way out again! Went into Longleat House and also in to see the bats again a favourite of our visit back in 2007 and again a bat wee'd on me - charming hahaha.

Tuesday we spent in Bath itself. Beginning at the Roman Baths and I tasted the waters - they weren't as bad as i thought they would be and drank half a glass. :) Although the admission price was expensive at £12 a ticket we combined them with a ticket to the Fashion Museum and it didn't work out too bad. I think both museums were value for money in their information and enjoyment. After lunch we went on a boat trip down the Bristol Avon and I got to see my first kingfisher - unfortunately it was too quick for me and I missed getting a photo. As you can see from the photos it didn't rain all the time we were away and we all had a thoroughly brilliant relaxing time.

I'll just leave you with a photo that I took laying down from the bed on Wednesday morning just to show you the wonderful view and how high up the bed was haha.

Thanks for stopping by my blog.
- x -