Feeling horsey!

Oh isn't the weather absolutely beautiful today.. sun shine all the way - perfect for a day at home doing the washing and tidying! And of course, a lovely day too for the Grand National. Now, I'm not a very horsey person at all (in fact, I have a severe allergy to them, so I usually keep a very good distance!) but I do sit and always, always watch the National. It's a must.. a bit like the annual Oxford and Cambridge boat race!


Today, sadly Here the Echo died after collapsing on the run in, but my favourite, the 100/1 rank outsider Mon Mome won! She had a woman trainer too, which is great as she's only the second female trainer to have won in the national. Good eh?!


here she is... picture taken from the web... if only I'd put a bet on!But then, I always say that every year, and never do! I just enjoy looking at the beautiful horses and choose a 'winner' on various things. This year, it's because Mon Mome has got white hocks and a little white fleck on her face.. pretty pretty.

Oh well, I may try a flutter next year! lol. If anyone did have a flutter, I hope it worked in your favour.

At long last.. a few cards to share!

Hello all...

I can at last share a couple of cards.. for those that visit regularly, I apologise for not blogging or putting piccies up on most days. Things here have been really hectic as you know. I am at last seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, and only have around 10 more commissioned projects to complete! All with word by word instructions too.. lol.. oh well, I'm not complaining.. I absolutely love my job.

Anyway.. on with the cards. As you know, yesterday I went to buy some copic markers, and here is my first card I've done with them.

I nipped over to Kathy's sketch file and decided to use this week's challenge sketch. This was the sketch.

And this is my card..

I used my vase of flowers stamp (the stamp is Magenta ). I stamped three times and then used my XCut circle cutter to cut out the circles. I've decoupaged some of the flowers and added a gem to the centre, and a little bit of glitter.

This is a close up of the background. I used a versamark inkpad and stamped the little flowers, which are from Clare Curd's Signature Range and ran over it with a brayer and inks.

And just another little close up of the decoupaged flowers.

I must admit.. I'm loving my new copics! I'm thinking I'm needing a few more!!

Now my second card was one I made a few days ago. I found the stamped images in a little tub in my studio, so pulled it out, coloured it with Whispers Brush markers and added a little bit of glitter. I'll have to check who's papers they are.. I think I know, but need to make sure.

That's it for now, thanks for visiting .. I hopefully will be back later with a few more.. xx

A great little shopping place!

A couple of days ago, I went on a little road trip.

I ventured all my my lickle own-some (well, accompanied by Sally SatNav!) to Sheffield, to dig out -what turned out to be - a wonderful shop called Craft Den.

I had been blurfing around the net, and came across the name of the shop, and my eyes twinkled with excitement! A shop.. near me... !! Well, as it happens, it's 25 minutes away.. but still!

So, I set sail in my little blue Atoz along the motorway, all full of excitement.. and boy I wasn't disappointed!!!!

Lynn owns the shop and is really lovely! My mission - and I chose to accept it - was to purchase some copic markers. I don't know why I needed them, but I just did. You know what it's like. I only got around 10 to start with, and Lynn took the time to explain all about them, what the code numbers meant, how they worked.. I tell you that lady's got the patience of a saint with me around! LOL..

The shop itself is on Loxley Road, Sheffield (click on her name above and it'll take you to her blog where there is a link to the shop. ) She does online ordering too, which is great for anyone not close enough.

There are papers galore (dribble dribble!) and a most wonderful range of stamps, nesties, inks and other wonderful things.

So, Thank you Lynn. It's really lovely to walk into a craft shop and be made to feel most welcome.

Easy Listening...

Yep.. it's official... I loves me lickle phone!!

There was a track on the radio the other day whilst in the car, and it was lovely.. I didn't know what it was, so pulled I stopped the car, fumbled with my phone and used Track ID to find out what it was.. it's quite a useful little gadget actually. (there are quite a few of these on my phone!)

Anyway, it spat out the name Faith Hill, You'll be there. So, as soon as I got home, we had a look on the HMV site and purchased the album! Great stuff! That was Friday, and we got the cd yesterday - we also got two Nickelback albums (I love these guys!).

Faith Hill is a little more easy listening than Nickelback, but I love it. Here's the album cover.

Create and Craft show..

The show I filmed with Phyllis and Diamond Card Craft is going out on Sunday..

Create and Craft, Sky Channel 671 - Virgin 747 - Freeview 22 . See you there...


Sun Apr 5th 2009

Presenter: Nigel May
Shaped Cards without Templates Sun Apr 200911:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Let Jo Austin demonstrate just how EAZI this is, and look out for the Saver Deal!
11:30 AM

Presenter: Nigel May
EAZI Alphabet and Number Templates Sun Apr 200911:30 AM - 12:00 PM
See craft expert Jo Channon show you the perfect way to use ABC’c and Numbers for really EAZI crafting.

An Inferiority complex

Oh how I laughed.. my post yesterday had a great reply from my sis, Julie..

She loves my lickle phoney-woney.. although it could be said, not as much as I! .. and she said yesterday that I needed to text her off my phone, because her phone has a severe inferiority complex now. Poor thing.. I didn't mean to hurt it's feelings! I just needed a new contract and after shopping around on Friday, this contract was offered and I couldn't refuse.. and when faced with a choice of phones, this one said 'buy me!!'.

So, what have I been upto this weekend? Well, as it happens, not alot. I was going to nip off to the show at Harrogate on Sunday, but decided to spend some quality time at home with the family. Being away last weekend meant enjoy this weekend to the max. And besides.. housework desperately needed doing. lol. I did however, find time to nip over and see my Sis and family. I can't believe how much the kids grow up. Sam, my neice, was having a bad hair day... Liam, nephew, was covered in mud - he'd been playing with the big boys at rugby, and mum.. well, she's just as daft as me! There's really no hope for me in the coming years at all!! Haha.

I didn't manage to hook up with my other neice, Stacey, who had the most beautiful baby boy a few weeks ago now.. She is quickly becoming a close second to ol' Nigella... what a great domestic goddess eh? Word of warning here.. I bought the book thinking it was going to make me a more fulfilled goddessy-type housewife, and in fact, it's just a baking book, which makes me a more filled and rounded (!) person.. which I am trying to shed! Bummer!

On another note.. I didn't manage to get any crafting done, but I did manage to find the most perfect ribbon for a couple of cards I wanted to make. It's lacy type.. and it looks lovely.

Well, it's Monday 9.08am, and I suppose I better these these loungy furmonsters up and out of bed, otherwise they'll stay there all day.. and I've got work that needs finishing.. !

Speak later.

Loved up

Don't you just love this picture... this is my cuddly twosome, Holly and her Beau, Scooby. She adores him, and he does her. Sweet. This is the first blog post with a difference.

I'm playing with my new mobile - I can blog from it!!! How great is that! This is a novelty for me because I'm not all that technical with a mobile, but this one is sooo pretty not to use to it's full capacity! So watch out, if I'm away from home.. my blog can still be updated.. Neat eh?

My new phone, do you like it?

I absolutely love it! And it's a Sony Ericcson, not a Samsung like I always have. My phone number has changed too, so if you need it - if you had my previous one - please email me and I'll get it off to you.

Right.. off to go and soak myself in a lovely, bubbly bath - not with the phone though! lol.

Oh how lovely!

Hello everyone...

How are you all? Me, I'm good... I've got over my moan the other day - thanks for all your emails.. lol..

I am just here on a waffle again - I forgot to charge my camera battery, so photos later! - but this time it is a really good waffle..

Have you come across Zoe's blog? Wow... she makes some lovely cards. And she is also a really lovely person!! I have just handed over the Daisy and Dandelion blog to her to run. I really don't have the time at the moment to keep up with everything as it is, and am just about caught up with cards for companies -just another 12 to finish for Tuesday. I have just recieved first design kit for another company too, more on that later. Then I still have a few to make for a couple of digikit companies. Oh it's all go here you know! I would love then to be able to get stuck into doing some challenges for myself.

I am also now well over a hundred cards to send off to Marie Curie, made using lots of bits and pieces from my studio - not that you can tell anything has been used!!

Back to Zoe's blog - this is what she wrote the other day - isn't it lovely?? I am really humbled actually. As a demonstrator, you like to inspire people, but to have it in black and white is so nice.

"...We then had a ride to Donny for the Do Craft demo - these events need a serious health warning. I've been mad at it ever since I got home!

I met the ever so lovely Jo Austin, again, she is such a sweet heart! and a brilliant crafter. She has taught me a lot over the years - I'm normally pretty quiet at the demo's - well the last one I went to I came out of my shell a bit - but normally I just hide in the background.

Jo probally wont remember but at a previous demo she got me to do some stamping as I never liked it - the results were rubbish - but Jo took the time to show me how to stamp and how to blend - and now I love it! Its cost me a fortune but well worth it and I am ever so thankfull - hubby isnt - but hey you cant please everyone!

I've picked up lots of tips today, especially about blending on the edges of the cards - I love this effect but Jo's way is brill, so I will, well I HAVE used it already and will be using it again.But the best thing today was some storage for my clear stamps - I was well impressed and as soon as my feet came in the house I was scouting for bit n bobs to make one for myself - I knew if I didnt do it today then it wouldnt get done.

So I've made TWO!!! I'll take some pics in the morning as its so bad light tonight but I am chuffed to bits with them.So, who is the TV star I met - well it was Jo and she signed me one of cards cos she is going to be on create and craft in the next week or so, she is filming 2 shows on Monday and they will be aired soon after - its for the company that makes the Eazi score boards - so watch out for her!

How nice is that? Thank you so much Zoe.

Well, I'm off to see if my batteries have charged.. so may well see you later.

So.. what have I been upto?

I am absolutely shattered! I feel absolutely worn out today, and I'm sure it's because I've had such a busy couple of days.

I had a demonstration on Saturday, which was very busy all day and I had lots of fantastic crafters come to visit. Even my buddy Zoe came to gather a little bit of inspiration - as if she needs it! She is a lovely lady who always tries to come to my demo's and actually, it's lovely to see a familiar face or two there..

So, after a busy day on Saturday, I spent most of Sunday at home doing the housewifey types of things and of course enjoying Mother's Day. I was quite sad on the morning, when I found out Jade Goody had passed away. It's such a shame for someone so young to lose their life to cancer. I know people didn't always agree with her televising her illness, but I reckon if it leaves that memory in peoples heart to go and regularly get their smear tests and to act on the results, then it's all good. I just feel so sorry for her boys and her mum.. it must've been awful for them. People can decide to agree or disagree with me, but I thank her dearly for making folks realise just how awful cancer can be and how quickly you need to act on it ... Rest in Peace Jade.

Anyway..

Later on Sunday, I was packing my case ready to set off for Peterborough. I was due at Create and Craft at 7am on Monday to do a day of filming. I was filming on behalf of Phyllis and Diamond Card Craft and had two shows to pre-record. I was filming 9am to 11am, another Jo was filming the second show 12 until 2, and I did the last one at 3 until 5.

I got to the hotel around 8.30pm, and met up with Phyll and Jo to discuss the program. Settled into the room around 10.15pm, had a shower and went to bed... and didn't sleep! In fact, at half past three, I decided to get up and get a cuppa. I sat from 4am making cards (yep, I took my kit with me.. lol) and travelled to the studio for 7.

My floor manager was the lovely Howard (such a laugh and genuine nice guy!). The first couple of hours was taken up with setting up the product, product shots, set display and talking through the program.

I was recording the show with Nigel and I must say, we had a right old giggle! It was so funny. He has such a wonderful personality and a cheeky sense of humour! He's sooooo nice and really puts you at ease. The shows went well I think, the first one I was more nervous than the second, but hey... we had fun!

I drove home yesterday around 6pm, after packing up my kit, loading the car and having a coffee.. and then YES!!!! My own bed and cuddles with the hubby and pupsters when I got back! The pooches missed me terribly apparantly and never settled on Sunday night, or yesterday until I got back. This morning, they've done nothing but sleep! Cute!! Oh how I love em!

So.. today.. and back to crafting. I really need to get this design work finished and posted, then I have some Debbi Moore product to get going with. That has to be back for the 31st for a show that is going out.

Well, thanks for reading all my waffle... I'll be back later with some cards.. promise!!

Oooh Aahhh just a little bit....

Hello all...

I thought I'd nip on and share a couple of cards with you this morning. They were made yesterday for my demo at the Range, Doncaster which is tomorrow 10am - 4pm.

This first one was made using the beautiful Papermania cat kit. It comes in a box with the papers, double sided cardstock, embellishments and alphabet.. a great little scrapbook kit! I've made a project with the dog papers too, but didn't get a chance to photograph it this morning.

I love these papers, they are so cute. Beautiful colours. Even the little flower embellies have pom poms on!

This card was just a quickie with the lovely little Daisy and Dandelion stamp sets that are out. I love this little bear. He's so cute!

I used the Daisy and Dandelion papers too, then restamped the flower a few times and layered them onto the front of the card. Here's a close up of the flower.

Last but not least, a little box... any guesses to what's inside? Well, I'm not showing that.. so you'll have to come along to the demo to find out.. LOL. The papers were some more from the PM Cat Kit. Lovely aren't they?