Slightly Squiffy

That Friday feeling

2012-01-27T13:18:00.001Z

It has been strange not participating in Daring Cardmakers for the last few months. I get a bit anxious every Friday about 9 o'clock and then relax, a bit sadly, as I remember that I am on a break. So it was lovely to think this week that actually, I have some time to join in! So I did. Plus it was an excuse to go shopping.
The wonderful Jo set the theme of Wishi Washi - making a card using washi tape. I didn't have any so browsed the net and discovered this shop . I was worried that the tapes wouldn't come in time - they were at my house the next morning! So I had no excuse...

The papers are all old MME, as is the chipboard bird. The doily is my Cheery Lynn one again. The sentiment is from a Marion Emberson set. I stuck the washi tape on some card as it is very see through (its USP really but I wanted the colour of the tape to show through) The sentiments didn't stamp totally clearly so don't worry it is not your eyes. I couldn't be bothered to walk all the way through the house to pick up my black sharpie (all that exercise and I am still that lazy) so used a similar pen. NOTHING is the same as a Sharpie. Yes, that does sound obsessive. The rose is a Wild Orchid one.

It was a friend's big birthday this week. I was kind and didn't put the number on the front of her card, but wanted the card to look special. Anpther recent buy was a Hero Arts cling stamp after seeing it used here - isn't that card amazing?
Here is my version

For some reason I decided this photo at an angle was the best one! The petals are painted with various red distress inks. I swooshed some green paint onto some card and drew the leaves. Then remembered I do have a large leaf stamp so will use that next time. How did I get the red cardstock to match so perfectly? I painted some white with distress ink to match the flower. Simples. Add an Imagine That sentiment (NB watch out for the new stamps arriving soon) and a little MME patterned paper and bob's your card.

I added a little glossy accents to the stamens and centre of the flower.

Here's another quick cute card to finish the crafty stuff with

Oh how I am loving those pennant ends at the moment. More MME and Distress Ink colouring and that lovely stamp from the first card too.

Its not just been sermon avoidance day today - although that is next on my to do list. I have been at a meeting to look at the pastorate profile of one of the churches I minister with. It is a bit sad thinking about not being with them, but it is also a good way to celebrate what is great about the church, what work needs doing, and how that might happen. I have been involved in two of these in different places and found them both quite uplifting and a positive way to face the future. I'm also booking in weddings at one of my new churches for later in the year and having to think about patterns of work there, all of which is rather scary.
And the Bible stories set this week are interesting - authority, power, influence and evil spirits. Will my story of being freaked out by The Exorcist help or hinder I wonder? Hopefully some lunch (and the Holy Spirit) will help me decide!

14,733

2012-01-25T16:46:00.000Z

14, 733 words that is.
That is the sum of my dissertation not including bibliography. (ooh forgot to attach that when sending the rest to my supervisor. Be right back) Done.
Also 14, 733 does not include any quotes over 50 words long.
or the 47,737 words I transcribed from interviews.
Its not finished yet. I will be in fear and trembling next week when meeting the lovely Revd Dr C.
But I am so close now, so close.
I may go on about it a lot but it has rather taken over my life for the last 13 months.

Then it will be lots of finishing things off and beginning to start new ones. A very strange feeling.

But it is lovely to have just a little time for play. And I played ad played on Monday.
(flashback to Carys as a 3 year old when I would pick her up form the child minder. "What did you do all day?" "I played and played and played and played and played" "What exactly did you do?" "I played and played and played and played and played")

This is where it pays to sort through your scraps. I've seen paper like this in a new MME line coming out and thought "oooh love that painted blue". Opened an old box and lo, there was some there. It is paper rather than cardstock so I stuck it to a white card for better backing.
The papers are Echo Park Times and Seasons. I also used a Cheery Lynn doily die (lovely die, terrible name) plus some Kaiserkraft wood pieces and an angel from Tesco, painted cream (she was pink and gold, bleurgh. They sound like Cheery Lynn colours).

Phil and I thought it was so funny that on this hard to reach island which basically is a monastery community there were all these signs for Facebook in random places.

This layout was inpsired by Miss Smith's Just One Sketch. You are supposed to choose your own, which I will one day but for now just nabbed hers! Everything is from a Gotta Craft kit apart from the sticker with "Skrinkle Haven" written on it and the gems. And the sprays.

Its another funny story about how we forced everyone on a family trip on holiday and then it rained so we went home again.

Right, just getting ready to Shred. I've actually recovered enough to go running twice since starting to throw myself around the sitting room like a mad thing. Wish I could master the press up though. I blame gravity myself...

BTW thanks to all those who said that they read the blog - much appreciated!

I can run 5k but I'm still not fit

2012-01-20T10:55:00.001Z

says it all really!
I am pleased beyond measure that I can now run 5k, something I NEVER thought would happen. But I haven't lost any weight - to be honest I have put on a pound or so over Christmas and my squishy tum is still squishy. So I decided I needed to add some other kind of exercise to do the trick. I have now done two days of the 30 day Shred.
And I won't be able to run again until I have done a few more days Shredding.
Why?
My body is in agony! My thighs are dying and there is no way I can run until it has all settled down. As I have shredded before I know it will, but right now everything is screaming.
Sigh.
But it needs to be done.
If you saw me you might not think I needed to lose much because I dress quite carefully and have thin legs up to just above my knees. But with my frame I should be a size 10 and I am a good size 12 so there is work to do. At 46 I know that if I let it lie now then it will be there forever.
(If this were an article for the Church magazine I would then launch into a bit about caring for our inner selves and working on the bits that are unsightly so that we are a fit part of the body of Christ. But it isn't. So I won't.) (Plus that sounds remarkably like the last Church Magazine article I wrote. See Ministers don't just work on Sundays you know. We have to be journalists as well)(Bad ones, admittedly)

Enough of that - show us yer scrap pages I hear you cry. Well I don't really, Not sure anyone is reading this anymore but its a good place to record my crafting life and other news

Title: Every Day.
In a chapel on Caldey Island was this amazing desk crammed full of small pieces of cardboard with heartfelt prayers written on them. There was a note to say that they would be taken regularly and used in the prayer life of the monks
Products used
Papers: Lilybee (from November Gottacraft kit) plus scraps from stash. Stickers: Lilybee and Basic Grey; Stamps: Studio Calico and MME; mask: that special touch; Mists: Glimmer Mist in olive and suede; buttons from stash

Title: Good Times
Our family holiday was all worked round being able to share in my Dad's 80th birthday celebrations in Swansea. His birthday was on a Monday but he chose to have a party the day before and he wanted to make preaching part of it.
I used a Studio Calico sketch
Products used:
White Bazzill; Cosmo Cricket Salt Air from Imagine That; Cardstock Stickers Cosmo Cricket; dies: Papertrey Ink; Cuttlebug Embossing Folder; Mister Huey white spray mist; twine.
Scallop detail: these were offcuts from a card I made that were lying on the desk and just gave the softness needed for the journalling. The journalling strips were layered together

Title : Jolie laide
This photo was taken at Dad's birthday meal. Its not a bad one really. "Jolie Laide" really means someone who is unconventionally attractive but I have used it to sum up what I see when I look in the mirror. This will go in the Tenby holiday album even though its not really about the holiday but that is what I like to do - have photos from the time together but sometimes use them to reflect on other things

I was going to use a sketch but somehow that didn't happen! Instead i jsut cut boxes and strips and layered them. It all came because the edges of the masked bit were harsh and needed disguising

Products:
Cardstock, Papers and Stickers: Lilybee from November Gottacraft kit; Doily, Crown and Mask from Imagine That; stick on gems, mini postcard and lace from stash; Studio Calico Mister Huey white ink; Black soot distress ink and everything outlined with black pen

Must now finish my sermon on the call of the fishermen (Did you know there was a woman with them? "As Jesus walked along the shore of Lake Galilee,he saw two fishermen, Simon and his brother Andrew, catching fish with Annette" I always want to go "boom, boom" at that point in the reading but so far have managed to restrain myself. One year...). There is also a chapter of Jonah as well, the least action filled one but perhaps the most dramatic. Jonah says "In forty daysNineveh will be destroyed!" And the Bible goes on to say "The people of Ninevehbelieved God's message". SOME of us have to say much more than a sentence to make an impression...

Have a great weekend - and if you are curious I am playing Romford, Western Road at 9:30 and Chadwell Heath, Mill Lane at 11:15. Love to see you there!

2 months and 2 days later

2012-01-17T16:28:00.002Z

Now I'm really back!
I have been rather quiet I know but life is beginning to settle down again - at least for a short while so I can update you on a few things if you are interested

Dissertation: Draft one is done and needs reading through and culling. But I am on schedule which is good. Spent a lovely 8 days writing the Diss at my Mother in Law's house where I was looked after royally. She lives in Milford on sea - one of the most gorgeous places in Britain
Running: I have finished Couch25K and am still running three times a week. I have put on a pound or so rather than losing weight so am thinking about redoing the Shred as well. I am certainly fitter than I was. I managed a 6K run at Milford and another with sea on one side and ponds on the other side of a path. I'm afraid Upminster doesn't seem quite so scenic
A year of two halves. Jan - Jun will involve packing up, saying goodbye, GCSE's and A levels. It may also include learning to ride a scooter. then July onwards will be hello Torquay, (hopefully) hello University, making a new home. After a bit of a rethink, I will now be making my bedroom the craft room. The room was going to be Carys' but she rather nicely gave it up (possibly because she didn't want her mum coming in to her room to make cards). It will be repainted but look at that lovely light

In other news... I had a lovely crafting day with Sue H yesterday. Because of the Dissertation I hadn't had a real day off for a while and certainly crafting for the last 2 months has not really been on the agenda (did have fab Christmas and family time so not all bad! Oh and I did knit 5 scarves as presents. no photos though)

Sue brought me lots of fabby presents including some cute stamps. I made a card with them after she left. Isn't that bunny sweet? I coloured him in with Distress Inks and a water colour pen. I am trying to use up some of my paper pads (as you will see below). This is a MME Lime Twist one. Also used loads of Nestabilites, a Sharpie pen and some stick on gems.

the rest of the cards used a Kaisercraft pad - all black, white, red and silver. This card came about because I wanted to cut the circle out of the middle and then rather liked what was left. The black panel is actually raised on thin foam pads. The middle section is Nestability die cuts plus die cuts from the pad. The greeting is PTI (my fave one for birthday cards as you may have spotted). The black dots are Ranger Enamel Accents. That swirl looks rather James Bond doesn't it.

About 2 years ago Emma at Imagine That hosted a PTI party where we brought along our stamps and swapped them. I am now using up the images! You may wonder how I got the whole border of the card embossed when the embossing folders are too small. well, I trimmed it down to be an American length card and problem solved. Also my usual crafting suspects of dies, black pen and stick on gems. The sentiment was computer generated using Papyrus font.

And this is the circle from the other paper. All from the Kaisercraft pad apart from the bird which is Paperartsy and the sentiment which is Imagine That

Finally I trimmed a border from one of the card sheets, stamped a phrase onto a die cut label from the pack and added a few glossy pen dots. Simple (good for a man). (not that men are simple)

I've even made some layouts but I shall share them another day - and not in two months I hope!

Incidentally, when I try to look things up in my new home I keep putting TS1 as the start of the postocde, rather than TQ1 and ending up with a map of Middlesborough where Hywel lives. I am obviously still missing him loads

Call off the search

2011-11-15T15:41:00.001Z

I'm still here.
It has been a while though!
Life has been rather eventful and not much crafting has been done - until yesterday!
Its after half term so there is just one type of crafting on the agenda...

This year my Christmas card production has been helped along by 2 Imagine That stamp sets - Christmas Blessings and Damask Designs which features the lovely angels wings. I'm not sure Emma intended them to be angels wings but that is what they look like to me!
I thought I would make simple cards this year. Only there are 6 layers - 5 are die cut, one dry embossed, all inked and the image was stamped in gold ink, the sentiment across the top and then the image outlined with a glue pen and then covered in Glamour Dust. See, simple. Oh and to get colours of distressing I was happy with, some of the layers are inked with three colours. Simple. See?

The papers are all from an old K and Co pad which was not necessarily Christmas papers but the right kind of colours for me. I did variations on a theme

and variations on the variations

adding tags from the K and Co pad or a lovely Martha Stewart pine needle punch I bought.
I've made over 50 so will just need to find time for another batch day - and some more papers.
But life is still rather full with

Dissertation bits to be done. March is coming and I really want to be done well before that!
Running - I did get up to 28 minutes but I have been a little unwell so need to redo a week of 25 minutes I think
Accepting a call to new pastorates. From early July next year the family Nevard will be living in Babbacombe, Torquay. Its a big change in lots of ways. We will have been here 13 years by then and it is a wrench to go. But the Spirit said - have a look - so we did. Next Sunday/Monday will be spent back in Torquay looking at Sixth Forms. I'll be glad when that is settled to be honest.

which all means a bit of downsizing will need to happen. I'll be sharing my craft room with the boys in future. ie my stuff will be in their bedroom - which they won't be using most of the time but it will be a new challenge! Anyway that is all to come and I am wanting to live in the present as much as possible. So I will still be a bit quiet here for a while but I am looking forward to rejoining Daring Cardmakers and scrapping again in a little while

Some mother's don't have them

2011-10-26T00:00:00.001+01:00

I don't like slapstick comedy where everything goes wrong. I think I still have a twitch from being forced to watch Frank Spencer every week as a child. I do try. I bought Black Books as a box set to watch on holiday only to find I can only manage one episode before having to leave the room. So you can imagine that it wasn't my idea to go and watch Johnny English. I wanted Tintin but was outvoted. So how was it? lets put it this way. We all have to score films we watch on DVD or at the cinema (!) JE Reborn got 9.5, 9, 8 and 4 - which i then marked down to 3 when I realised I was still shuddering 10 minutes later. I was glad I had a corner seat so I could cringe with my legs right up. 2 of the points were for Dominic West on his own as well. So if you love seeing silly men doing prat falls then it is the film for you. if not, you have been warned (especially if you do not drool over Dominic West)

But I do like hanging out with my fams so that is all good. Nice day off yesterday - I taught Christmas cards at Imagine That and found some Christmas papers to use at home for my own cards. The day also included a little bit of scrapping following the Shimelle class which i am really enjoying. But then I do love patterned paper!

This page was about using spots and stripes. As the papers were busy I decided that I would paint over a section with black paint. And then hated it so added some white embossed dots and home drawn black and white striped paper.

I adore this photo. I love the way that I caught the lemur mid leap. we did get a lot of lovely lemur photos so expect to see more.
Details: Papers: Pink Paislee and Fancy Pants; Stamps: Papertrey Ink; Embellishments: Chatterbox

When I knew that Carys and Phil were going to get airbrushed tattoos I wanted them to take the camera to record the process and may have had a wee tantrum when Phil said he hadn't as he didn't want to intimidate the "artiste". Humph.
Details: Papers: Cosmo Cricket, Basic Grey; stickers: Cosmo Cricket; Dies: Nestabilities; Punches: Fiskars and Martha Stewart; Pearls from Imagine That

I've managed another layout which I hope to share but then on Thursday I will have to pack up the craft room to turn it into a guest room as Phil's mum is coming with her 4 collie dogs!

Sometimes you just have to listen

2011-10-21T16:36:00.003+01:00

I took a whole week off from running until the first knee stopped hurting and the one that had come out in sympathy was only twinging. I am redoing week 5 and did 2 8 minute runs without being in agony. Moral of the story is - if your body is crying out then you need to stop and listen.
Hmmm there is a sermon in there.
There is a sermon in most things though I find.
Its called theological reflection. (if you want to be posh) or "What is God saying to us through this" (less posh). (more me)

I had seen that Shimelle is doing a new scrap class and I ummed and aahed because I do not have the time or the energy but it is all about patterned paper and I love patterned paper (strange but true). While I dithered I entered a draw for a free place with the extremely talented SJ and won it. So that answered that one. And what a fab class Pretty Paper Party is. I have even managed to squeeze in time for two layouts in 2 days which is unbeleivable in many ways.

This is for the first prompt. All the papers are Crate Paper via a Gottacraft Kit. I thought that the numbers paper worked well when thinking about the monks prayer life which goes on a 24 hour cycle. The chapel is so plain but that fresh green at the back is the perfect colour. we were only allowed on the balcony which is quite high and opaque so sitting down you can't see the monks at prayer at all, only hear them. There were about 10 children on the balcony who were completely still during the time of prayer - which was a thing of beauty in itself. Still felt a bit odd to be an "observer" though.

Details: Journalling spots Chatterbox and Little Musings; ricrac and flower from stash; Letters Papermania; white dots Ranger Enamel Accents

The other layout I finished is from my Dad's 80th birthday meal

Phil was keeping us entertained as ever (food good, service slow). This is not a truly 12x12 layout as someone cut too much off the bottom along with the manufacturer strip... It uses a sketch from the class with some extra circles
Details: Papers: Cosmo Cricket: Circa 1934 and odds and Ends, Theresa Collins, MME,the black dot paper is a Christmas one that I can't remember; Letters: Websters Pages, Cosmo Cricket, American Crafts; Stickers: Paperchase, Jenni Bowlin; wodden embellishment, buttons and heart from stash; Glimmer Mist: black and gold

I am doing a stint at our contact centre in the morning. It can be quite tough but it is important that children get to see their parents. I am on the way with the service for Sunday so may be able to squeeze in a bit more play time if possible!

The lonely knees of the short distance jogger

2011-10-15T21:25:00.001+01:00

Humph. As you will know having been bored to death by my Couch25k updates, I have discovered jog/running. And to my surprise I really enjoy it. I did my first 20 minutes without stopping last week and was working up to the next biggie - 25 this week (It really is an excellent way to get you started). I've lost a little weight, have bags more energy
BUT
my kneeeeeees
they hurt. And they hurt a lot of the time. Not agony so I can't walk but enough to wake me in the night. I have been trying to run through it hoping that it was some kind of novice running thing and part of getting fit. But that is not really working. So I am trying to be sensible and actually leave them a few days until they stop hurting and then try again. it will mean repeating a week or two but I don't actually want to stop all together.
If that doesn't work I will have to go to the doctors and I hate that.
I now have a lot more sympathy for people with athritis of the knee cos it really is a bit pants.
I still reccommend the plan and the going outside and running thing. Its brilliant
(which makes me think of this. Which is brilliant)

Last Monday (ooh has it been so long since I blogged?) I had a lovely day crafting with the most wonderful Sue and started two layouts which I have since finished at home.

This is from Sassy Lil Sketches - a site that is just about to close down sadly. I used Sue's rather lovely Creative Memories circle cutter system which is a lot easier than drawing round a plate! I used some really old stuff on this - Queen and Co felt; a Hambly transparent frame and some chipboard pieces. Paper is from MME and letters are Grungeboard. The grungeboard and the chip stuff all coloured with Distress Inks.

The little wooden Kaisercraft circle was coloured with Tumbled Glass distress ink - perfect match! And then the little paper middle fell out of another craft kit - the September Gottacraft kits and lo - exactly the right colours.
The layout is all about the refurbished old lightboat house in Tenby which featured on Grand Designs

and then one I had to finish at home

This used the aforementioned kit papers - all Crate Paper. I also used a yellow mist on a Studio Calico mask. It looked quite good but even better when I went round the edge with a prodding tool and did some pretend stitching. I really liked the patchwork style paper but some of the patterns were a bit pink and girly. So I replaced some and layered others - there was a Nestability square just the right size. The edges were all pricked and inked too. It took a while but it was worth it I think.

The butterflies and flowers are Chatterbox and the stickers from Authentique (via the sold out kit).
I love this photo of two of my boys. I caught Emrys actually smiling at the camera. Result.

Any other crafting time (sadly not a lot) has been spent working with the fab new Christmas religious phrase stamps by Imagine That. I have a class almost prepared and might come up with some quick and easy designs for my own cards too. Which I won't start until half term - but that is nearly here already.

I've had a busy week workwise including a 24 retreat with other Ministers where I had to lead two lots of prayers. Its a hard gig leading worship for other professionals but it seemed to have been well received so thank the Lord for that. It was amazing that different themes and readings kept weaving into the various parts of the 24 hours that different people prepared.
I've got a long day tomorrow so am looking forward to a day off on Monday - but no running yet I fear.

So now what?

2011-10-07T23:06:00.001+01:00

to go on holiday I loaded a vast number of books onto my Kindle. (ahh I love my Kindle so. Although I still catch myself trying to turn a page every now and then) The thought of being without a book to read leaves me in a cold sweat so it was lovely to know that I would not run out. I was excited to read the Games of Thrones books. And I read and read and read and .... they are all pretty long you know. So today, finally, I finished book 5. And George R. R. Martin is a cruel author - he leaves you (almost literally) on a knife edge with loads more to be resolved. I feel a bit bereft having got to the end. And I suspect it will be years until the next one. They are great books, I reccommend them. It might help to print out a list of who is who so you can reference it - or be prepared to read a few pages of a chapter until you remember who is related to whom as the chapters skip to different countries. And be prepared for characters you love to DIE. Hywel (who managed to read all 5 in 3 weeks) laughed at one point when I wailed outloud at something unexpectedly sad and cruel.
So now I have started "The brightest star in the sky"by Marian Keyes. Which will cheer me up when I am pining for the Seven Kingdoms.

Here is another Tenby holiday layout. we went to an aquarium/vivarium in a former church - which still had a graveyard and looked very much like a church from the outside. It was very well put together though with lots to see including the rather lovely blue frogs. I was less enamoured by the snakes. Mind you I was listening to an Audio Book at the time featuring lots of creepy snakes which didn't help. Look at how blue the sky was - no doctoring happened with the photo. We just had lots of amazingly good weather.

The sketch is a Shimelle one . I played it pretty straight really using some new Studio Calico opaque white mist to start me off and a selection of buttons down the side (sewn in and everything). I felt that the journalling was a little bit too low down so added some white dots at the top to balance things out a little. All the papers are MME and the letters are Doodlebug, Making Memories and Adornit. The ribbon is via Imagine That - Kaisercraft I think. It is fab as it comes in rows that are 3 deep and you can ink them or leave them bare like I did here.
Here are closeups of the words

For some reason I did some cursive writing. I wish we were taught proper cursive in the UK. This is the best I've done so far.

Tomorrow I will be trying to run for 20 minutes straight for the first time which hopefully will inspire the evening service sermon slot - it will be about Euodia and Syntyche - two women who are arguing in Phillipians 4 and ideas abuot how to help them out. I am thinking of writing some letters from them but might also bring in something that I've learned from the pygmies. Hmmm its is not all quite there yet!

Me right now

2011-10-05T15:43:00.001+01:00

I'm noticing more grey hairs (bring it on, I want to be funky grey. If I am rubbish grey then I can have fun trying different colours)
I'm on Week 5 run 2 of Couch to 5k tomorrow. Which means one run until they start being really serious. Am surprised how much I enjoy running ("we don't" say my knees)
I'm trying to dress smarter for work. "Are you going to an interview?" they say. Today I'm wearing a red crepey short dress with black leggings, long cardi and biker boots. I am going to talk to people about confirmation but that is it really.
I'm living through a time of uncertainty, waiting for a traffic light to either say green or amber. I don't like it but it will be over fairly soon now
I'm aware that more of my MA is in my head than on paper and I'm not really looking forward to making it the other way round
I'm still terribly untidy and wish it were not so, but also aware that when I tidy up is when I lose things
I'm still being reminded about how much I need God in my life and how I don't have all the answers
I'm squeezing in a little time for crafting. 3 Tenby holiday layouts done now - here is no. 2

This is based on Sketch 268 on Scrapbook Challenges - not very much like it in the end!

Bazzill was sprayed with yellow glimmer mist. Papers are Echo Park For the Record and Simple Stories - as are the stickers apart from the Making Memories ones. Also added some Prima Gems and Card Candi. Here are some detail close ups

And a quick card - I'm in a kraft phase at present

Papermania card, Cuttlebug emobssing folder, Nestability dies, Waltzing Mouse stamps

And that's all about me right now!

Au revoir, auf wiedersehen

2011-09-30T12:12:00.003+01:00

Well I started to write this blog post an hour ago but our dog (not so) Lucky hurt her paw somehow while she was out for a walk with Phil. He had to dash home to take his bike for an MOT and attend a coffee morning so I was left with an unhappy dog who didn't want anyone to look at her paw. It turned out that she cried a lot less if she could be sprawled on our half landing with me sitting on a step next to her stroking her while trying to do some work. Phil is back, we can't see any lasting damage and she is now putting weight on that leg. I am as stiff as anything!

This week it was my turn to choose a Daring Cardmaker challenge. I looked up what significance Sept 30th has and it turns out it is World Language Day. I thought that was a great excuse to revisit one of the very first dares that DCM put up almost 5 years ago now. Here are my cards from October 2006

and here is this weeks - has my style changed a lot?

Well I am not sure this is really my style anyway but I do like it. I guess the big change has been the use of distress inks or some form of outlining on a card and I am more likely to use stamped words.

Details: Cardstock: Craft Creations; Papers: Pink Paisless and MME; Flower: Wild Orchid Crafts; Lace: Ribbon Girl; Chipboard: Pink Paislee; Stamps and pearls: Imagine That; Stormy Sky and Aged paper Distress inks; needle and thread. Butterfly cut from a template (another paper with butterlfies on it)

And here is another card made with the leftovers and a new set of sentiment stamps by Paula Pascual available from Imagine That - where this weekend is discount weekend (1-2 October) so head on down and grab some bargains

This is also a good time to say au revoir. I'm not stepping down totally from Daring Cardmakers but I do have to step back for a while. Work life is getting increasingly complicated and home life may do to in the next few months so I will only be an occassional contributor until I can see the wood for the trees. Sob.

I have managed to start my holiday album for this year with the title page

It was based on Shimelle's starting point for this week but now looks rather different. I had decided to use Distress Stain and a Mask but didn't like how it turned out. Last night I spent ages moving things around and adding them to cover most of it (can you see it just peeking out). This morning in the shower I suddenly thought - why didn't I just turn the Bazzill Kraft paper over? Numpty.

Details: Papers and Stickers: Simple Stories; Spellbinder Die; Vintage Paper distress ink; Brown pen

Its a harvest festival double bill on Sunday. Still not quite sure what new and interesting way we can celebrate it this year. I know we will talk about Bangladesh and give our gifts to the local Women's Refuge but the rest is still rather a blank page at the moment. Here's hoping God will sow the seeds...

My mad 48 hours

2011-09-25T19:20:00.000+01:00

Friday morning 8:45. Loaded up the car with all of Hywel's Uni gear.
1ish arrived in Hartlepool. Ate lunch and then had a trip down memory lane driving by the old house, the old school and ending up on my "patch" the Headland. To find two new statues
This rather lovely one of a fisherman (with the photogenic St Hilda's in the background)

and this one of Andy Capp. Reg Smythe who created Andy went to Sunday School at the Independent and probably danced round the maypole (everyone of a certain age who lived on the Headland danced round the maypole)

and then there was this much less photogenic scene. my first Church. It was closed down about 11 years ago now after I left but I was the last Minister. (The closing down is a long but not altogether sad story) Its been sold for a while but obviously redevelopment hasn't happened yet. Although the shape is nice from the outside, it would be a nightmare really and pulling it down might be for the best. better than this anyway. The halls could be entered from the street below as they were under the church and the Sunday School rooms to the left are about 3' lower than the church building so there are stairs EVERYWHERE. It was very hard to take photos but somehow I thought I should.

Friday 3:00 arrived at the home of Sts Elspeth and Andrew who offered to look after Hywel as he couldn't move into his Uni accommodation until Sunday. So they moved him in today (all arrived safely!). It saved one of us having to go back up to Teesside today.

Friday 4:30 after having an all too short catch up with Elspeth (Everyone needs an Elspeth in their life - she is kind, caring, funny and always a delight to chat to. She saved my life many times when I was a new mum and is obviously still doing so 19 years later!) and saying goodbye to Hywel (who was so anxious about the journey ahead she almost forgot to say goodbye and give her first born son a farewell hug? I couldn't possibly say) I did the scary thing of driving to Lindisfarne via the Causeway. It is longer than I thought it would be but at least it was still light! My friend Ruth who has been scoffing at my fears almost missed the tides and had to drive over in the dark. Won't be scoffing again eh Ruth?

Friday 7:00 booked into the Lindisfarne Hotel. Having had to phone them up and ask where it was. There are only about 20 houses/pubs/hotels on Lindisfarne but my Satnav had taken me past it and I was lost. How embarrassing. Still the warm welcome from the lovely Sean and the gorgeous room made up for it

Friday 8:00 Meal in Rachel's new house making new friends whilst waiting to see if the old friends would make it over before the tide. And then catching up with them after they did.

Friday 11:00. Bed for me. Phil at home was getting ready for 5 hours in prayer overnight to prepare for Back to Church Sunday. What a star.

Saturday 7:30 Out jogging alone this path to the castle and back. In the rain for some of it as well. I never expected that all the words in that sentence would ever apply to me. Still only doing 3 minute runs but I'm hopeful of improving!

Saturday 10:00 Walking off a rather fab breakfast by wandering round the island and catching up with St Cuthbert

and spotting seals (they are the little black dots in the photo below)

1:00pm Lunch with some lovely people and then a walk before getting ready for

4:30 The Induction of Rachel as Warden of the St Cuthbert Centre. I did a little singing, Bible story telling and preaching. I described Rachel as having" a wise head, warm heart and creative spirit" - all very true!

6:30 Getting changed in the Disabled Toilet at the Centre. Was down to lacy bra when... clearly door not locked as much as I thought it was. Hope it was only one poor chap and not the whole hall that saw me...

6:40 left Lindisfarne for the drive home.

12:50 arrived home. Hours between rather tedious but at least I now know I can drive that far on my own.

Sunday 9:30 first of two services. praise the Lord he gave me the strength to get through, plus all the memories of the day before helped. I am pretty sure that all the mistakes would have happened even with more sleep actually
Most of the rest of today has been recovering! I'm so glad I did it though.

But it does mean that I am late with my Daring Cardmakers card for this week. Jo came up with a wonderful dare - Green Eggs and Ham, using Dr Suess as inspiration. Thanks to the wonders of t'Internet I came up with this

Quite simple really. Outlined papers, die cut using Nestabilities, printed on sentiment (thanks to Sharon for the font tip) and that's about it really.
So if you have had to read through ALL that stuff about my road trip when you really just wanted to see the card - sorry!

Surely not?

2011-09-19T18:07:00.002+01:00

Almost the end of Monday already?
Now I'm not one to moan (cue those who know me well collapsing in fits of laughter)
but BOY am I wiped out.
I'm having an adventure up north this coming weekend so have had to work today and that comes on top of a heavy week last week - not just in terms of what is in the diary but issues and problems that I have to deal with, or that are too big for me to deal with which is overwhelming in itself. It is humbling too as it is a reminder that being in Ministry is not about "fixing" things but rather pointing people to the One who can truly make a difference.

Which goes someway to explain why I still haven't blogged my DCM card from Friday. Tsk tsk.
So here it is

We got to play with the lovely new Funky Hand "Happy, happy birthday" CD, which is full of loads of different papers in amazingly different colourways. I ended up using a brown toned palette which is great for turning a card masculine. You can see the fab array of papers by looking at the Daring Cardmakers blog and by clicking on this link to Funky Hand too!

To be in with a chance to win your very own CD rom you must

1. make a card for this week's challenge and leave a link so we can see it

2. add links to your blog telling your readers about Funky Hand and the Daring Cardmakers

3. enter your card for no more than FIVE other challenges

I printed some of the patterns at 4 on an A4 sheet and some at 2 on an A4 sheet so that the scale of the papers changes. I used some nestability dies and made the flame from punching a small circle and cutting into it a little. Although it is a man's card I had to add some gold glitter on the candle. The sentiment is made from two different Imagine That stamp sets - Write Big and Number One.

This Sunday is Back to Church Sunday and many churches of different kinds are getting involved. So if you have ever even fleetingly wondered what worship is like then this is the Sunday to give it a try as you are sure of a warm welcome!

Just as well this is not a webcam...

2011-09-14T17:25:00.002+01:00

I've just finished Couch to 5k week 1 and am really rather red! This is yet another autumn attempt to keep fit and it is early days but so far so good. I decided I would rather like to run - inspired by all the women detectives in US novels who always feel so refreshed by runs - but more so by the awesome success of my lovely friend Ruth who started in the new year and is now super fit. I'm using the NHS version with podcasts that tell you when to run and when to walk. I am still mostly walking (well wobbling) but will go up to the next gear on Friday.
will this last longer than last years get fit attempt? Who knows?

I thought I would show a few recent layouts. This one is based on a layout by Finnabair and really doesn't compare but I love her style and thought I would have a go

to be honest a lot went wrong...
the stamping was rubbish. my sewing machine wouldn't play (perhaps because the paper was still a little damp from the glimmer mists). I decided to leave the loose ends on my journalling lines to show how we were unhappy that 2 important people were missing from the wedding. yes, my scrapbooking is DEEP). Still it kinda worked and I used a stamp I bought years ago and never used (the ruler one)
Details: Papers: Glitz Design; Stamps: ruler (unknown) and MME; stickers: Websters Pages; Glimmer Mists; Papertrey Ink number dies; black soot distress ink

This page was really quick to do. I had been showing the gorgeous Sue Hyde how to use Distress Stains so used the turquoise piece of Pink Paislee paper as one of the layers. Most of the rest was cut out of MME papers with lots of glitter on.
Details: Papers: MME, Pink Paislee and Prima; Diecut word Papertrey Ink; seam binding from the ribbon girl; Distress Stain

and a rather bright one using up scraps. I added some paint splodges and some buttons as pretend Mand Ms. Peanut butter ones are to die for by the way but at £1.99 a bag will have to be a rare treat
Details: Papers: Echo Park (I think); Dies: Spellbinders; Letter stickers: MLS; buttons: donated by my mum and therefore vintage

I am off out to a Bible Study tonight. I love Bible Study especially the lightbulb "ooooh I see" moments that people get sometimes. Here's hoping there is one tonight! And I stop talking. I talk too much. Instead of letting people have time to pause and think I just go on and on and on and on and....

Call off the search

2011-09-09T12:34:00.002+01:00

yes I'm finally back blogging.
I don't like to advertise the fact that I am going on holiday so did rather drop off the face of the internet. I've actually been home almost two weeks but haven't had much time to blog. Fortunately there is Daring Cardmakers to keep me going!

We went to sunny Tenby

which was lovely. We were in a quiet holiday park just outside so this was the wonderful view we saw every day. And hardly any rain for a whole two weeks! We visited my parents in the middle of the hols to celebrate dad's 80th and generally had a fun and relaxing time. There will be scrap pages so I won't bore you now. And then life on return has been a mad hectic whirl.

We have two back to school and college, one counting down to going back to Uni
and the addition of one cousin who is staying with us while he does an internship and course in London. He is so busy we hardly see him though. He is my only first cousin. I held him when he was newborn and I had just finished my first year at Uni. He is now 27. I am just old.

So back to DCM. Keilly set her first dare this week and it is fab! We are to be inspired by this photo and also add butterflies. I had also spotted a great sketch from Sassy Lil Sketches which I used. And used pretty slavishly if I am honest! (My creativeness is still creaking from the break)

I had started to panic about the papers as, much as I love green and pink I didn't have much of them. Then I noticed the papers I had just been using for a layout which were a slightly more acid version so I used them and grunged them up further, also adding a liberal amount of glitter.

Details: Cardstock: Craft Creations; Papers: Glitz Designs; Punches: Fiskars and Martha Stewart; Dies: Spellbinder; Embossing Folder: Cuttlebug; Sentiment: Imagine That

Its another tough week for those of us who have sermons to write - the parable of the Unforgiving Servant mixed with remembering 9/11 and Racial Justice Sunday. This week for movie night we watched the Infidel which has given me some food for thought in trying to put it all together (mustn't mix it up with Cowboys Vs Aliens which we saw the day before and has a very different message...). Forgiveness is a hard thing to preach about because it is so easy to moralise over it when you don't have enormous things to forgive. I found this article from last year which sums up the difficulties and gives me some pause for thought. Ah well sometimes preaching is about asking questions not answering them!

Its oh so kawaii-et

2011-08-12T13:52:00.004+01:00

Which weak pun enables me to link to one of my favourite music videos as well as introduce my Daring Cardmaker challenge for this week. Bjork is bright, loud and bonkers which I think sums up Kawaii style too! Leo - who came up with this ingenious dare also points us to this blog for more about kawaii.

So here's my card. I was lucky to walk past a shop chock full of Chinese and Japanese bits and bobs and after hours of indecision over what to buy I plumped for a set of little owls and some spotty tapes.
I thought to myself "if only I had some sassafrass papers as that would be just right" and then remembered that in my stash of old Self Addressed kit I had some. Score! I didn't have any sunray papers so made it by chopping up some green spotty paper and adding it to green Bazzill bling. I also used Imagine That stamps, Nestability dies, Prima pearls and my trust sharpie pen.

Here are two more recent layouts
This one was heavily influenced by the awesome Louise Nelson who uses loads of paint, handmade papers and white pen. Expect to see more in this style as it is a lot of fun.
And yet another wedding layout...
This was inspired by another amazing scrapper Karen Grunberg I loved the strip of stickers or ribbons down the left hand side of her layout and thought I would give it a try. I ran the ribbons through my little xyron refill and they were super easy to attach to the layout (my top tip. Don't use the "x" style machine as you get loads more use from just feeding bits through the refill) Papers and stickers are all For the Record.

Its been quite a week in Britain. One that can leave you saying "huh?" and "why". It has also left me with some hope as I see so many people responding positively and trying to work out seriously and sensibly what to do to stop this kind of rioting happening again. I was quite surprised to really appreciate Russell Brand's heartfelt (if sometimes flowery) ponderings which will feature in my sermon on Sunday!

Its been quite a week!

2011-08-08T19:04:00.004+01:00

I had a brilliant study leave talking to different people - and transcribing about 16,000 words! Thanks to a rather wonderful (Holy Spirit guided?) coincidence, I had booked a special something for Friday night which fitted in perfectly. As a thankyou for doing something a dear friend had treated Phil and I to a night at the theatre combined with a stay at a London hotel. It turned out that the hotel was only 10 minutes walk from the United Reformed Church central office which was where I was doing my interview that day. So rather than go home I ate a lunch bought at the King of Falafels (a roasted veg wrap - and they roasted the veg while I waited. Yum) at a quiet park and did some more reading (spoiled only by the rudest girl in London who was so rude I am not even going to tell you what happened. I wanted to intervene, really I did but thought she would probably smack me one) until I met up with Phil at the hotel.

I had phoned him to ask him to bring a camera but he missed the call so I have no record of the wonderful afternoon and evening we spent at the hotel and wandering round London. Ah well. We stayed at the Grange White Hall which is right next to the British Museum. Then we meandered around Seven Dials and Covent Garden and then had a meal at Carluccios which was soooooo tasty. Then we went to find the theatre and we were a little early (what me - early for the theatre just in case? Who would have thought!) and spotted a little garden just behind the theatre. Wow what a find! Its called the Phoenix Garden and is a teeny tiny oasis of calm and beauty. We went to see Blood Brothers which was fab and it was a treat not having to worry about getting the train home again.

Next morning we had a little stroll around the British Museum (still mostly closed we were that early) and then travelled home again to discover the house and animals all still standing. Phew!

Which all goes to explain my lack of card until now on Daring Cardmakers. It is the first Friday of the month (again?) and the choice was poppy or gladioli. As I have a poppy stamp that is what I went for but I decided to give it a twist as I have used it straight for a DCM card before. So I stamped the layers of this stamp onto various MME Stella and Ruby papers and added some black Glossy Enamels in the centre
Other Details: Cardstock: Papermania and Fancy Pants; Stamps: Papermania and Imagine That; Ribbon: Anitas and from stash; Dies: Spellbinders; Embossing folder: Cuttlebug; Gems from Imagine That.

Here is a layout I made a while ago but I am behind in showing them off
When Carys and I went to see the Wizard of Oz for our birthday we took a camera with us and tried to take a nice photo of the two of us. Guess our arms are not long enough...
Details: Cardstock: Fancy Pants; papers: Tim Holtz (coloured with distress ink), Echo Park, Basic Grey and MME; Elements: Echo Park, Pink Paislee, Jenni Bowlin; Spell binder dies

Close up of the words and bad photos!

Its back to the real job tomorrow but a week away from the cut and thrust of church life has me raring to go - at least in the short term!

(Don't) take a letter Miss Jones

2011-08-03T16:09:00.003+01:00

This week I am mostly on study leave. Which means doing the qualitative research section of my dissertation. aka interviewing people, recording them and then transcribing the recording. Phew that is hard! I have realised although i can type quite fast I really can't keep up with interview speed AT ALL. Thank goodness for my digital recorder.

(BTW I think I have discovered another question for the "Are you a real grown up" quiz. does the word "Dictaphone" make you snigger? If yes, you are still not a real grown up. Guess what my answer was?)

Two people who are obviously grown up enough to do a bike ride for charity are the two Dom's who are raising money for Kids Company - a charity supported especially by my dear friends Sue and Nicki, amongst others. Do have a look at the website about the bike ride here

I'm playing catch up with some crafting this week as well. here are two layouts I made earlier.
My nephew loves his dad so much as this layout describes!
Jack was born 3 months premature - you can't tell now can you? Its amazing what science and prayer can do! The conversation took place at the end of the day when Jack was on his dad's knee and he turned and looked at him with such devotion. So sweet!
For the layout I basically raided my scraps of paper file to find things that I thought toned together which I punched, die cut and layered. I added the guitar charm as Martin plays in a band.

The other layout is also Jack related.
and uses lots of October Afternoon papers and stickers and letters with a little misting and sploshing of inks as well.
There are yet more wedding related pages to be revealed I'm sure you are thrilled to know. But it is a great way of recording memories and keeping me out of trouble.

Right can't put off the transcribing any longer. It has been fascinating so far to ask people questions and reflect on their answers. And realise that I was quite possibly wrong in my assumptions about team Minstry, leadership and authority. Well its is good to be humbled from time to time...

Just been to see a comedy!

2011-07-29T22:03:00.006+01:00

I finished off a rather busy, but successful (at least in terms of the holiday club) week with a trip to the cinema en famille. The kids sniggered and giggled all the way through... Harry Potter 7b. I don't know WHAT they were on. Carys found Voldermort's face highly amusing and I think the other two just found bits of it ridiculous. When Voldy came to his end I said to Carys he had been danduffified and she said "He should have used Head and Shoulders" and I am afraid the tow of us lost it just for a while. If you were at the Vue Lakeside and disturbed by the muffled guffaws from row M this evening I do apologise. (Interestingly they were running late so dispensed with adverts and previews. I quite liked that!)

So I am a tad behind (again) with my Daring Cardmakers card this week. Sharon has chosen her very first dare - Cute as a button: Use buttons as the main feature of your card. Now I love the "button bits" style of rubber stamp but don't have a set so decided to have a go at drawing my own lines - and here is what I came up with
a bunch of balloons (hope you can tell that is what it is meant to be!)
The buttons came from a button jar but I think they are all Doodlebug - they have a lovely shape and nice matte finish (and yes it is rather sad that I can recognise a particular type of button). Papers are all MME Lime Twist, stamp is Waltzing Mouse and I also used some nastability dies and a Sharpie black pen.

I've now taken some photos of the wonderful present the highly talented and all round wonderful Sue Hyde made for me. Its a bumper size exploding box
which means it is gorgeous on the outside
then off comes the lid and ... pouff!
and each little box (and the centre "stem") are filled with crafting goodies
Isn't it fab?

This Sunday the gospel reading is the feeding of the 5000. Which does make a Minister sigh "how much more can be said about this event?". But one thing that the Noah's Ark week told me was that hearing the same story 4 days in a row brings new dimensions and I was still learning things as we put everything away. (ie why is Noah's boat called an ark and the tent that held the commandments called the Ark of the covenant. Fiona said something like it being a place of safety that reminded people that God was with them. Apparently "Ark" is a latin based word that means container. According to Wikipedia). So perhaps there is more to say about the feeding of the 5,000 as well....

All aboard the skylark!

2011-07-26T19:19:00.005+01:00

All aboard the skylark!
Which for those of you of a certain age will be a reminder of this - one of those bittersweet programmes that came at the end of kids tv and let you know that the boring stuff like the news was coming.
That and this are going round my head at the moment. Aaah. Even that Thames TV opening credit is like a Proustian Madeleine wafting me back to days gone by.
And why am I whisked back to my yuoth? Why we are doing a holiday club at Church.
Three guesses on the theme...
Well done.

I love doing holiday clubs. I may moan a bit in the morning. (What me, moan?) but these kids are really lovely - even if some of them were only born in 2006! We are doing a Messy Church style of club with lots of craft, song and retelling of the story. It is a reminder of how short the attention span can be. And what children are prepared to tell you about their families (so Mr X has a nipple ring does he?)
BUT I also have had to remember how completely shattering they are as well! I was trying to study leadership and the church for my MA this afternoon and kept dropping the book (then gave up and had a quick nap!)

Its a funny story though isn't it Noah and the Ark?
There's a gurt big boat
and lots of cuddly animals.
And a beautiful rainbow.
And the annihilation of most of the population of the world apparently
Yet its one of the ones we love to tell to children.
Maybe its a good reminder that life is not always sunshine and rainbows. But I do struggle with the thought that God would be so cruel.
Most of the countries around Israel have very similar stories of the floods e.g. the Gilgamesh one so it is pretty likely that there was a devastating flood at some point in history that people were trying to make sense of. But did God really cause it?
(NB the above paragraph will not be making its way into the holiday club!)

When I haven't been trying to get my head round the size of the ark (football pitch big) or how all the animals would survive 40 days, I have been doing a spot of crafting. I have also been doing a spot of meeting up with the lovely Sue H who gave me the most amazing birthday present that will have to have a post of its own in the next few days.

Here are two of the upcoming wedding scrap pages - many more to come!
I save sketches on my computer and put them in weekly folders with the name of where they come from on them. Except I failed with this one and it only says "July sketch" on it. if anyone recognises the sketch would you let me know please?
I pretty well slavishly copied it
Details: Cardstock: Bazzill; Papers: MME and Pink Paislee (one side coloured with distress inks); Mists: Tattered Angels and Cosmic Shimmer; Punches: Martha Stewart; Glitter: Glamour dust; Letters: Websters Pages; Pearls: Prima
and this one is from this weeks Pencil Lines Sketch 247
(Carys and I had our fascinators for £14 in total. I must do a page on how cheap her whole outfit was!)

Details: Cardstock: Bazzill; Papers: Cosmo Cricket Circa 1934; Stickers: Cosmo Cricket; Punch: EK Success; Swirl: Tim Holtz; Paints: Deco Art and Ranger; Embellishements: Craftwork Card Candi, Mei Flower gems

Wish I was there again

2011-07-22T10:21:00.009+01:00

The wedding was amazing. Such a fantastic day that I wish I could do it all over again. Almost everything was perfect - apart from Matt and Max being back in Canada obviously. The sun shone in the afternoon - I reckon it was about the only part of the UK where that happened! Everybody scrubbed up well. The bride and groom were so, so happy. And so were we. I'm afraid you can expect to be bored rigid by photos and layouts in the next few weeks as I try and capture some of the day!

Here is one of my family and we are all smiling (Phil is smiling not eating Carys' head thing!)
(We don't know what the stuff on the bottom of the photo is. I reckon it is our angelic aura but Phil says no)
I've already done one page - where I just tried to write down as much as I could of the little details of the day and using the lovely confetti photo from above. You can tell Carys is a Nevard in that photo - she looks like she could be Terry and Erica's daughter I think!
Here is a close up of the writing. Still not that clear but I'm not typing it all out!
Details: Patterned Paper: Basic Grey, Prima, Pink Paislee; Paints: Glimmer Mists; Sticker: Prima; Pens: Sharpie and Wilkinsons; Letters: American Crafts Thickers and Adornit stickers; Stamps: Imagine That; Ink: Versamagic

The words "these are" are done with some of Imagine That's new stamps which you will be seeing A LOT as I love them so. This layout is a sample for a class featuring another wonderful new set as well - number one
Details: Cardstock: Bazzil; Papers: Prima (actually only one double sided); Punches: Martha Stewart; Embossing folder: Cuttlebug; Dies: Nestabilities; Inks: Distress Ink, Memento, Versamark; Other: Black pens, embossing powder and heat gun, foam pads.

And here is my Daring Cardmakers card for this week: the theme is "Wish you were here" and I remembered that I still had some Mr Campy stickers left so made use of that Cosmo Cricket set of papers as well.
I'm not sure if I will keep this sentiment on - I don't usually send "wish you were here" cards but I don't know what else to have either - "Good luck with your move"?
The colour balance is off as well. It is a cream card base rather than slightly green. serves me right for another last minute photograph.
Other details: Cardstock: Craft creations; Stamps: Waltzing Mouse and Imagine That; Dies: Nestabilities; Pen: Sharpie; Dies: Nestabilities; Gems from stash.

I've had quite a full week this week with meetings and planning things. I'm starting to get to grips with next years preaching calendar which means finding out the school holidays for 2012-2013! I had a wonderful 24 hours with my amazing mutual support crew. I'm getting ready for the service to celebrate becoming a group of 5 churches and being part of a team ministry with Phil and Martin.

And I took a funeral for a lovely man I didn't know called Vic. Vic made violins and one his creations (number 7!) was played beautifully at various points during the funeral.
His nephew read "The Old Violin" as part of the tribute - which I now discover is called The Touch of the Masters Hand. I want to use it in the morning services where there are lots of short parable stories that Jesus tells, like the pearl of great price.
Its kind of the opposite meaning - in the parables the man recognises the value of the pearl and gives up everything else to have it. And in the poem the worth of the violin is not recognised until it is used. But the link is there somewhere. Just need to work on it a little more I think!

Best of times, worst of times

2011-07-15T12:27:00.004+01:00

We have our big family wedding tomorrow - we are so excited. Here are the happy couple
Although the forecast says rain it will NOT raid it will be sunshine and roses all the way!

The only raincloud on the horizon is that my nephew and great nephew (yup I'm that old) got as far as Heathrow to find their documents and money had been stole ON THE PLANE. I can't talk much about what happened next as there are going to be repurcussions but the upshot is that they were put on a plane back to Canada within a few hours of landing and before much could be done about it. And a little while later the documents turned up at the airport - but that is too late now. They have been treated appallingly (can you imagine having to entertain a 20 month old on two consecutive 7 hour trips? and that is not the half of it) and we will miss them so much at the wedding.

So be warned - your possessions are not safe on a plane.

Onto nicer things though!
This week we had another corker of a challenge on Daring Cardmakers when Nat asked us to pick a pin from Pinterest and use that as our inspiration. I have been trying to avoid Pinterest as I know I will get sucked in - and it was all rather overwhleming when I had a look. Too many lovely images in one place! But I was drawn to this image of what I think are creamcicles (we don't have them in the UK)
from here. Which was pinned to start with but now is from tumblr. Which all makes me feel very old and confused! Anyhoo here is what I did with the inspiration
I made an A6 stand up card and cut lots of rectangles out, rounded the corners and then trimmed off a bit. I sewed some lines kind of where the sticks were and added a simple label greeting and a Prima resin flower.

Details: Cardstock: PTI; Papers: MME Stella and Rose and Line Twist, various collections; Inks: Vintage Photo distress ink and Roan Brown coloursnap Chalk ink; stamps: Personal Impressions; Punch: EK Success; Dies: Nestabilities; Resin flower: Prima; Thread: Ribbon Girl

Here is a recent scrap page which records my various fun outfits at Church fairs over the years.
"Happy" was already on the paper which helped me choose a title
and I wrote about the fact that I didn't buy anything to make up the outfits, somehow everything was in the house. I needed to write down the moment that I felt in the pocket of the tail coat and found a little pencil that my "Pop" (what I called my Grandad) must have used. He died 33 years ago (as it happened we were married on the anniversary of his death which brought him into it somehow). I lvoed him so much and still miss him and finding the pencil made me cry - but in a good way.
Details: Cardstock: MME LOst and Found paper; Template : That special touch; Paint: Distress Stain; Images: Echo Park and QVC; Letters: Webesters Pages and Cosmo Cricket; Ribbon: Kaiser coloured with Distress Ink

The other slight downer about the wedding is that I can't attend the new stamp launch at Imagine That. Emma has excelled herself this time. I was able to borrow some stamps to make up new classes and didn't want to give them back. There are 7 wonderfuls sets! And tomorrow she is offering 20% off everything and demos and make and takes so do go along if you are near Upminster. (or even if you are not. The train/tube station is only 5 minutes walk from the shop!)

Gay social whirl

2011-07-11T11:45:00.003+01:00

My sister in law and new brother in law to be arrived in Britain on Wednesday. The big wedding is next weekend (so excited!) and they are spending almost a week with us exploring London and all things old. Terry has never been to the UK before so it is fun showing him real history (he was blown away by the tower of london) and laughing at each other's accents. He is a great bloke and makes Erica so happy which is wonderful. So as well as lots (and lots) of work we have been out and about too. The whole family went to watch the Mousetrap on Friday which was much funnier than I had expected. I recognised one of the actors as he used to be in rep in Hornchurch - our local theatre. we have also checked off a proper country pub with real beams and from home we filmed them walking along Abbey Road - a must do for Terry.

Funnily enough later that day Phil and I walked along another version of Abbey Road - in the new MandM store in Leicester Square. We went in as we had a little time to kill before the play and we couldn't believe there was a whole shop dedicated to MandM's. Plus I was secretly hoping that there would be a packet of peanut butter MandM's as I had a yearning to try them. As far as I could see there was not one ordinary MandM packet on any of the four floors. Let alone peanut butter. Wierd

(My lovely in laws found a packet in the Mr Simms sweet shop on my road. They are truly delish but at £2 a packet they will have to be saved for special occasions!)

All of which is to explain why although I made my Daring Cardmakers card last monday it is Monday again before I am blogging. Sigh. Anyway Rein came up with a lovely idea - Suitcase. And as we had problems with the Inlinkz code last week you have a chance to win a prize again this week - find out more on the DCM site.

Here is my take on the dare
Yes it uses Lime Twist again. But I so love those bright and cheerful colours! I made the suitcase by die cutting rectangles, rounding the corners and making handles by die cutting two circles at the same time. I did make the inside of the suitcase match but you can't really see it.
It is held open by the use of many foam pads.

Other Details: Craft Creations cardstock; Nestability dies; Woodware heart punch; Martha Stewart border punch; Tim Holtz ticket die; Imagine That ticket stamps,; Adornit letters ; Paper and String button

I'm teaching at Imagine That this afternoon. Which means I had to forgo a day trip to France. Still it means I can get on with some chores before perhaps having a crafty play. Being out and about means that I haven't done anything for a whole week!

Bringing up the rear

2011-07-04T16:50:00.006+01:00

that was always true of me in school sports and rien ne change pas (as I think they say in France) as I am last AGAIN with my Daring Card this week.
but I have been keeping busy with birthdays (thanks to those who sent greetings and cards), trips to the Wizard of Oz to celebrate the double birthdays (Carys is 15!!!!) work, loading up my new Kindle, work, a successful choir concert and work.

So here is the card. As it is now July (eeek) the theme was the flower of the month at Daring Cardmakers which for July is Larkspur or Water lily. I looked up Larkspur and saw one that looked a bit like this

Details:
Card: Craft Creations; Paper: MME Lime Twist; Dies: Nestabilities and PTI (scallop); Embossing folder: Cuttlebug; Punch: Stamping Up; Stamps: Imagine That; Distress Ink: Pumice Stone, Ranger; other tools: white Ranger enamel accents, white pen and green thread

Here are two layouts I managed to do last week
This one uses some VERY old Basic Grey paper. They are the sort of colours that Alison liked given the Lythan treatment (aka the black pen). I can't believe it is almost three months since she died. I haven't done much scrapping lately, I think because I had put the bits to do this page ready and couldn't bring myself to make it for a while. I'm glad I did though.
Details: Cardstock: Bazzill; Paper, letters and tags: Basic Grey Lily Kate; Pebbles: Prima; Chipboard: Cosmo Cricket; Punches: Martha Stewart; black pen and word pebble from stash.

And one that was much quicker in the making...
based on Pencil Lines sketch 243
Details: Papers: MME Lost and Found, Pink Paislee, Lily Bee; Die Cut: Lily Bee; Crown: Grungeboard coloured with gold Dabber; Bird: Pink Paislee; stick on brads: Imagine That; ribbon: Scrap Revolution; stickers: Adornit; stamps: Banana Frog

I'm hoping to do some scrapping in the few hours I have before Movie Night time. (Its the Social Network. We all loved the last film - the A team but the one before that Death at a Funeral - we had to switch off before it finished as we all hated it). Trouble is it is so warm in the conservatory that I can't stay in for long. (never happy are we?)

It'll be a mixed week of work and fun this week as my sister in law and her partner Terry arrive from Canada. We are the first stop on their visit Britain/get married/have honeymoon holiday and it is so exciting. Would you believe it though, Terry would love to see a football game (he is a sports journo) and this is the only 5 minutes there are when there is no football to be had!

Looky here!

2011-06-28T14:31:00.006+01:00

Real eggs (you can tell by how dirty they are) courtesy of hen, hen, hen and chicken (or is it the other way round?). we are going to be able to give away eggs again which is lovely. well done ladies.

I have been a lot less productive recently thanks to my cold migrating into feeling really blah. I'm a lot better now but still very deaf and gungy. Phil and I have solos to sing on Friday and are both hoping madly that our voices will be clear by then.

I have managed to make a few cards and even some layouts but I will save those for another day. Here are some more small square cards - I really love them right now. I've been trying to use up my BG Origins papers and chipboard. I have made quite a few cards with them but have had to put them away now as I can't face the sight of them any more. Just need about 4 more cards and they are officially done with, which will feel good!
(based on a Waltzing Mouse sketch)
Ditto. Both used Imagine That stamps too.
This one has no sketch but uses Waltzing Mouse stamps

OK if you are called Erica or Terry you have to step away now as I made the next card for you. It was my turn to set the Dare for Daring Cardmakers this week. And my card is only just being added right now (blush). As they are getting married soon I thought it would be nice to feature cards with something old, new, yadda yadda on them. The team have done such a fabby job I reckon. Here is my take

Old: the initial cards - also Blue. I have had these knocking around since the Self Addressed kit days. I keep nearly throwing them out as they just take up space but then use them and think "no, they are still good". But I have lost the details of who made them. Also old - ribbon and heart shape ribbon holder
New: Prima Papers - which i chopped up a bit. The cherries are from the co-ordinating sticker set
Borrowed: Can't tell you yet! It is something small that is an added extra to something that will make you go "yippeeeeeeeeeeeeeee" if you are a scrap booker or card maker but won't make you quite so excited if you are not. Can you guess what it is? To find out more you need to get to Imagine That on 16th July or at the very least, subscribe to the blog for more details!
Flowers, leaves, pins and glass thing (to use its technical name) are from Wild Orchid Crafts.

I will do my best to comment on cards this week. The last few weeks life has rather got in the way and I fear it may be the same this week too. If you have participated in the dare - I thank you!

A card for me?

2011-06-21T15:02:00.004+01:00

I've got a little bit of the lurgy. I do tend to the man flu I will admit so I have been falling on my fainting couch and catching up with location, location, location these last two days, intersperesed with things I must do! So if I still had this card I would send it to myself. Only someone else needed it much more than I do! (She fell down the stairs. She is mostly ok though). Huge work load and said sniffles mean that I haven't blogged about my Daring card for last Friday as yet. This is it!
Kathy set us the clever theme of cards that rock or wobble. Mine doesn't wobble as much as it could have done as I went for a lacy bottom and it is a little more sturdy. Still goes with a hefty push though!

I cut out the kites, clouds and bows from a MME Lime Twist pad, stuck them down and sewed in the kite tails. This was very fiddly. All the papers are Lime Twist, the dies are Spellbinders, stamps from Imagine That and a Sharpie pen was used quite a lot.
The other designers did an amazing job this week so do take a moment to look at their blogs

One of my many things to do on Saturday was to go to the Church fair which had a Kings and Queens theme. I decided at the last minute to get dressed up.I am QE2 circa 1950. The dress was in a drawer )I'm not sure why) it belonged to my grandmother who was oviously about the same size as me as it was a perfect floor lenght. She died when I was 8 and I always assumed she was the same height as my mum. Maybe not then (Mum is 5" taller than me). The fur was hers too. Being a vegetarian I am anti fur. But as this fur stole was created in the 1930's I think I can be allowed to appreciate its lightness but warmth and the way it makes my skin look brighter. (Must. now. put. it. away). I had a little coronet which is a sparkly necklace that stayed in my hair and the perfect finishing touch of beautiful long white gloves (aka Carys' old socks with the end cut off).

Hope you are in fine fettle!

That's what friends are for

2011-06-14T11:01:00.005+01:00

After my moan fest on friday about my same-y cards, my lovely friend Sue suggested I looked at the Waltzing Mouse sketches. I have some of the fab WM stamps but hadn't found their sketches (I'm only almost a year behind!). They were just what I needed so I had some fun yesterday making cards as per my mum's requests. Every now and then I make them for her card box and its thanks, thinking of you and new baby ones that she seems to need the most!

Apart from this one which I will have to give to someone
This uses the very first sketch WMSC1
Details: Cardstock: Craft creations; Papers: MME Stella and Rose; Stamps: Claudine Hellmuth and Imagine That; Inks: Memento Dewdrops and Black; Nestability dies and Sharpie pen

WMSC7
Details: Cardstock: Craft creations; Papers: MME Stella and Rose; Stamps: PTI; Dies: Spellbinder; Sharpie pen; brads from stash.

And this is why I needed all the Stella and Rose pads - so many gorgous colours. I love all the lemons! There is one paper that is still MME but not from this collection. Can you spot it? (Are you that sad?)

WMSC9
Details: Cardstock: Craft creations; Papers: MME Stella and Rose; Stamps: MME and Imagine That; Dies: Spellbinder; Sharpie pen; Anita's ribbon.

Have you noticed my new favourite card shape? It is an A4 size cut longways so it is a different kind of A6 card that still fits a C6 envelope too.

With the leftovers from that card I made a more centred one
Details: Cardstock: Craft creations; Papers: MME Stella and Rose; Stamps: Imagine That; Dies: Spellbinder; Sharpie pen; brad from stash

And then I thought I ought to try out one of Kathy's sketches. That is the first place I should have looked really as she does some great (and not so samey sketches). I would have put this first only its for my dad and he has a Facebook account and didn't want it to be the first photo
Details: PTI cardstock; MME Lime Twist papers (finally some different ones!); Dies: Spellbinders; Stamps: Banana Frog; Stickers: Making Memories: Brown sharpie pen.

Baker's Twine - is pretend! I have ltos of colours but not brown anymore but I saw a tutorial on Mary Anne's blog and decided to have a go with my not quite so juicy Sharpie. I did the stripes diagonally which helps I think.

And finally ... Carys had a proper hair cut on Friday. She has not had one for years but (although I am not quite convinced as yet as it is a dream come true) we are finally nit free! (I will say no more on that subject except gah! I hate the little b*****s and I truly believe they prefer some heads to others). C has had to have occasional trims which meant the back was not at all straight. At least the curls meant you couldn't quite tell! But my lovely, lovely hairdresser Julie did an amazing job on Friday and it swooshes now!

Same old, same old

2011-06-10T10:40:00.003+01:00

I think having the new people on the Daring Cardmakers team has meant everyone has upped their game - there are some wonderful cards this week, even though for some of us the Dare was a little challenging. (The count down to Christmas doesn't start until after my birthday I'll have you know which is just 4 days from being exactly 6 months from Christmas which is about as perfect a date as a birthday can be in my opinion, especially as I get to share it with my lovely daughter)
BUT
my cards now feel very samey, very blah and I need some extra inspiration.
For someone whose life is asymmetrical and unbalanced my cards seem to be very much the opposite.
Sulk.
So if you know of any great card sketches that feature off centred designs then do let me know. I need the extra input.

Which rather links to the other main event in my life this week. This Sunday it is Pentecost - when we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit to the people of God. For those crafters amongst you the best way to describe the Holy Spirit is as the "mojo" of faith. (For non crafty people this is not the same as Austin Powers mojo, at least as far as I am aware). The Spirit enlivens, challenges, teaches, pushes our boundaries and enables us to fulfil our potential - when we are prepared to listen.

I need that boost right now. I need to be reminded that in faith I can do incredible things and to be awake to what God is doing through others as well. I need the Spirit's help with decisions I need to make, attitudes I have and energy levels that flag.
And if it doesn't seem too trivial, a bit of new crafting inspiration wouldn't go amiss either!
(Lets hope I can put some of this across on Sunday morning.)

Back to my Daring Card for the week. A card featuring Father Christmas
Here it is in all its centred with a background of patterned paper (yawn) glory.

Details: Cardstock: Craft Creations; Papers: Cosmo Cricket Mitten Weather; Dies: Nestabilities and Quikutz (stockings as boots); Stickers: Cosmo Cricket; Pen: Sharpie; other: black thread and pink star from stash

Have a great Pentecost weekend!

Meet the new girls

2011-06-08T18:41:00.004+01:00

What do you do when your ex battery chooks start eating their eggs?
Its not an easy one to asnwer. we tried all the preventative measures (I say we, I mean Phil) but what with that and laying soft shellers it was getting desperate. In the last few months we have had about 5 eggs. Total.
You can't really eay ex batts and we are non meat eaters anyway.
So....
the three musketeers have gone to live with a vegan. They can live a happy retirement and she doesn't want eggs. How cool is that.
And we have 4 new girls.
They are called
chicken
chicken
chicken
and hen.
Not because they are not worthy of having names. They are.
I fancied Mary, Mungo And and Midge but I am just showing my age. (here are Mary, Mungo and Midge. This is my favourite ever episode. Seriously. When the mouse gets in the.... well I won't spoil it. Plus John Ryan who wrote and illustrated it gave me my Scripture prize at School when I was 6 so I'm practically related).

However, although we can tell them apart while they are all scrawny like, when they are feathered they will all look the same. So no names it is. But hopefully - lots of eggs!

I taught a class at Imagine That on Monday. 5 lovely ladies doing my rather layered cards. Thanks to most of the die cuts being predone and all of them sharing so beautifully, one of them finished ON TIME and the others just after. Its a record! While there I obviously had to buy something - rude not to! I bought some new nesties and a set of stamps by Claudine Hellmuth. There is one lot that are spongy and one that is acrylic so that you can stamp with paint or ink with one and then outline with the other.
Like this

(Crate Paper papers; Martha Stewart punch; Nestabilities dies and Imagine That sentiment)

this (forgot to overstamp and so drew round the bird)

this (managed to salvage an idea that rather went wrong. Also used Personal Impressions stamps; EK Success punch; Stella and Rose papers)
and my favourite using paint
Off to bible Study now. See you Friday!

Country Swap

2011-06-05T15:41:00.004+01:00

This week we swapped England for the Land of My Fathers (and Mother). Because we are taking an extra weekend away when Phil's sis gets married in July we had to come back and work this weekend. (Sob, sob). It coincided with an anniversary weekend at our new church so its just as well as we would probably had to have come back anyway.

But the weather in Swansea was mostly good. I took some MA work to do as I have missed a few study days recently and so while I read, Phil went to Skomer Island to watch puffins. I love this photo! we will be near there in the summer so if they are still about I may have to join him. I did go out to the local Botanic Gardens to take arty flower photos though. And we went on the obligatory trip to Verdis in Mumbles for ice-cream or toasted teacake.
(Mumbles lifeboat house taken by Phil)
Carys managed a sleepover with my Goddaughter and her BWF (Best Welsh Friend) while I caught up with her Mum and we also visited Phil's brother who lives in the same village. Not bad for 5 days all in really.

We also enjoyed Welsh culture by watching the Urdd(Youth) Eisteddfod coverage (with English subtitles) and everyone laughed at me for being scared of Choral Recitation. I can't find any Youtube clips to prove how creepy it is but I find groups of people all saying the same words as if one voice and pulling meaningful faces very freaky. Love my culture. Just not that.

We came home on Friday which is when I made my Daring Card. Managed to photograph it yesterday and then write about it today! The theme is the flowers of the month which this time are roses or honeysuckle. I went the easy route.
My other sis in law is 40 this week so hope she likes her birthday flowers! The card is yet again using my Stella and Rose pads from MME via Imagine That. Plus nestability and sizzix dies, an Imainge That stamp, lots of different paper and fabric roses, a paper doily, hand stitching and enamel accents.
Close up (slightly over exposed but I like it) of the flowers

Here are two more cards using up the other MME papers that I have (almost done) I had an idea for using two nestability dies to make shapes within the card. Not unique but I was pleased with myself!
This one is a 5x5 card
and this a 4x4

I found for the bigger one the pattern inside had to be the same as the outside but it didn't matter for the smaller one. Maybe the patterns I used? Anyway the inside stars are attached with foam pads. I expect I'll make a lot more of these. My mum has asked for some Get well and with love kind of cards so I shall make a few tomorrow and then it is back to the working grindstone with avengeance!

Today we celebrated Ascension Sunday and talked about how, although Jesus left his friends he promised he would be with them always, even in times of change. And featured the story of Who Moved My Cheese which is worth a look at (not religious. Not really cheesy although cheese does feature.) Its funny how we can often long for change as long as it doesn't mean we have to do anything differently?

Mum Le Taxi

2011-05-27T09:54:00.006+01:00

If you are of a certain age that title will get you singing along to one of the most irritating songs ever (and I'm not biased against it because she is now Johnny Depp's partner, that would be stupid and childish. Obviously). If you don't get it, don't click. You have been warned.

Emrys has an AS level exam today. He needs to be there at 8:50. The bus he normally takes, may get there for that time. So its better that we drive him to make sure. And then pick him up as he is on study leave apart from exams. Which is a few round trips! We would share it out but Phil did the same yesterday and he is off being examined himself today - the last part of his bike test. He is obviously nervous as he was awake for hours (which kept me awake although he didn't make any noise. Weird). Later today I will take Carys to the dance group she has just joined. Although I worry about my kids spending too much time indoors, I don't know how we would cope if they were really sporty types!

In between I will be preparing for Sunday - this week the key phrase is "always be ready to answer anyone who asks you to explain the hope you have in you" (1 Peter)
I suppose for me hope is a key part of faith. I think life is a lot harder without hope. One of my favourite lines in the prayers for a funeral is for the family when I say "may they grieve but not as those without hope". For me, hope is the promise I have from God that he will always be with me and love me no matter what. As it says in Romans 8
For I am certain that nothing can separate us from his love: neither death nor life, neither angels nor other heavenly rulers or powers, neither the present nor the future, neither the world above nor the world below - there is nothing in all creation that will ever be able to separate us from the love of God which is ours through Christ Jesus our Lord.

And that is what keeps me going. Sometimes with a skip in my step, sometimes with gritted teeth, sometimes only just hanging on by my fingertips. But always with hope.
That first reading about being ready to explain the hope says that you must do this with "gentleness and respect.". I hope I have!

Well that has helped me to get the juices flowing so I can think about the service whilst I spend time fetching and carrying Number 2 son so now I can share my Daring Card for this week.
It is a special week on Daring Cardmakers as we have 4 new members of the team. Lots of people applied which was lovely and it was tough to choose who would become part of the team but these 4 had something special as I am sure you will agree. So to Fran, Keilly, Leo and Sharon - thanks for saying YES!

To celebrate there is a fabulous giveaway from my most generous, lovely and talented local craft shop owner - Emma of Imagine That. It is a lovely shop (both real and online) and the classes there are many and varied (even if some people's tend to over-run. That would be me). One of the best things about it is the shop designed clear stamps. I have clear stamps from other places that have started to show wear and tear but Emma's are still going strong. And you ahve a chance to try one of the sets out as there are three up for grabs this week. All you have to do is

Join in this weeks Dare
add links to Imagine That and The Daring Cardmakers
link to no more than 5 other challenges.

We had a fab challenge set this week by Zuzana - Passion for Fashion. All of the Design Team creations are too die for. Some of those shoes and bags and dresses I want for myself. Here is mine. Don't want to wear this one...well I might if my waist was that small!

I often doodle dresses so I did a couple until I had one I thought I could replicate in paper (ie it had to be pretty simple). I thought of making a fabric skirt but decided to stick with paper. I cut out all the pattern pieces, doing two for the skirt so that I could layer up the pleats. I added tiny punched circles underneath to make a 50's style petticoat. The dress is on foam pads to give some dimension.

Details: Cardstock: Papertrey Ink; Papers MME Stella and Rose; Stamp: Imagine That Write Big; Ink: Memento Black and Distress Ink Pumice Stone; Dies: Nestability; Card Candi

Its my mother's birthday today. Happy birthday mum! HOPEfully she will have her card as I actually sent it on Wednesday (early for me!) so I will show it here
The card is based on this week's Kortkissen sketch. I love simple clear sketches but don't often use them. (or any other sketch). I did doodle a few myself at a conference the other day (whilst concentrating I assure you) and have tried one out which I like. I'll save that for another day

Details Cardstock: Craft Creations; Dies: Sizzix Tattered Florals and Nestability circles and tag; Punches: Woodware circles and Martha Stewart leaf; Papers: MME Stella and Rose; Inks: Memento Black and Distress Ink Pumice Stone; Stamp: Waltzing Mouse; floss and brads from stash;

Actually during the time this has been written Emrys has been returned home (exam "OK") and ideas for the service thought about in the car duly noted. And we will definately sing this though not quite as ethereally - which is far less irritating than the song I started with in my opinion!

I like little things

2011-05-25T16:17:00.003+01:00

Maybe it is because I am small.
Phil finds it a hoot. He knows I will always choose the biscuits and cakes that are little - not because they are less fattening but they are small. Tiny sandwiches - yum. Sushi - so cute. Mini tomatoes, babybels, baby corn, baby leeks - put teeny, tiny, baby or bite size in the name and I'll eat it. LOTS of it. Just make it small.

I think life is somethimes better in bite size too. Often I get overwhelmed by complexity and huge problems in the lives of people at church that I care about or 6 million things that I said yes too when only 2.5 million really needed to be done by me and then I want to run outside and go "aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah". Often I just turn a bit snarky with the family (sorry family). But if I were to pick out the bite size pieces - Stop and pray. Do that little job. Phone someone. Say no. then maybe it would feel better. Small steps. Got to love them.

I've been making small cards this week. This may be because I ordered some new cards for the Church card club (Romford URC 2-5 every first Saturday of the month, come and join us) and fluffed the order and bought the wrong size so swapped some of my cards so that there is a variety of sizes so now have some small cards to use (and breeeeeeathe. Sorry about the long sentence!) but actually I have remembered I quite like them.

Here are some of them All made with MME Fine and Dandy Collection and Craft Creation linen effect (small) cards. They are all 10x10 cm
My fave. The owl was on the paper and comes in yellow and blue so I also made a matching turquoise version. I have many owls left. I may make more.
Also used: Nestability Dies; Stamping Up punch; Sharpie pen; teeny button from stash

Also used: Nestability Dies; Imagine That All Boxed In stamps; Papertrey Ink Bitty Baby Blessings; Sharpie pen; Ranger Enamel Accents

Yup, slightly squiffy though less so in real life. I also hold a camera at a squiffy angle and sometimes it is hard to process that out completely!
Also used: Nestability Dies; personal Impressions Punchable Labels stamps; Martha Stewart and EK Success Punches; Sharpie pen.

Also used: Nestability Dies; Papertrey Ink Bitty Baby Blessings; Sharpie pen.

I am pleased though that my biggest thing - number 1 son is home for a long while. Though I am hoping he soon moves his suitcase from the hall. Just saying.

More birthday fun

2011-05-20T12:23:00.004+01:00

Well the birthday antics are over now until half term when we celebrate with me ma. Monday ended with takeaway and movie . The film we watched was Children of Men which we all enjoyed a lot. Ambiguous ending though!
Here is Phil's card.
The sort I make a lot but I like it. So there!
Details: Cardstock: Craft Creations; Papers: MME Lime Twist pad (available from Imagine That); Dies: Nestabilities; Embossing Folder: Cuttlebug; Punch: Martha Stewart; Distress ink: Black Soot; Sentiment: from Imagine That All Boxed In stamp set; Black pen: Wilkinsons; White pen: Signo; Cord brad: Nikki Sivils; brads and thread from stash

Emrys was 17 on Thursday. That makes it 17 years since I saw Four Weddings in the cinema. I knew I was going to be induced on the 19th (so civilised!) so Phil and I went out the night before. But I laughed SO hard I thought I was going to set labour off. The birth itself had some traumatic moments (I remember the midwife coming in and calmly saying "sorry there aren't any doctors free right now" in that sort of voice where you knew she was swearing on the inside and then the consultant swooping in putting his white coat on as he did so, kind of like a superhero and eventually it was all ok) and then afterwards Phil got out his lunch and put the cricket on, which I have ALMOST forgiven him for!

Anyhoo back to the present, to celebrate we went to watch Thor. Which should probably be called "Phwoar". I'm not usually one for a beef cake but Christopher Helmsworth obviously worked hard on those muscles so it is only fair to admire the workmanship. Carys and I really prefered Tom Hiddlestone who played his brother Loki. All in all an enjoyable bit of hokum! Then we went to Pizza Hut for a meal - guess what? And had loads of laughs together.

Emrys is a big fan of the Qwantz Dinosaur comics by Ryan North where every cartoon has the same drawings but different text, so my card is an homage to that using my Cuttlebug Giraffe as I didn't have any dinos. And I was hampered by them only coming in one size!
Used the same papers as above! And the falling off tail has been stuck firmly back on.
Emrys was "amused". High praise

Which brings me to the Daring card this week. It had to be right down here as it is going to be Phil's anniversary card for next week so I didn't want it to be the picutre that appears on the Facebook version of the blog. So if you ahve read thus far Phil, look away now.
I bet when he recieves it he will say "huh?" "very nice" "it was for a dare wasn't it"

Samm gave us a really cool challenge - to be inspired by Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol. So I kind of took it literally Thought I'd do a different angle. If you want the words wholly in focus you need to look on the Daring Cardmakers site.
Details: Cardstock: Craft Creations; Papers: MME Lime Twist pad (available from Imagine That); Dies: Nestabilities and Quickutz; Black pens: Sharpie and Wilkinsons; gems from stash; foam pads

The family gets reunited next week as Hywel's first year at Uni is over. Doesn't time fly!

its birthday time!

2011-05-16T17:44:00.004+01:00

Honestly it feels like half the people in one of my churches have birthdays in May. And so do Phil, Emrys and my mum. And its our wedding anniversary month too. PHew! Which is a lot of cards to make. Fortunately I have the Daring Card prompts to help me out.

One of the most lovely ladies in the whole world is 80 this week. She doesn't have much family but a huge circle of friends who were organised into a surprise party for her on Sunday. About 60 people turned up and she was conpletely floored! I was tasked to make the card for Church friends to sign. In order to fit with this weeks theme of the Darlin' Bugs of May I decided to put a whole host of butterflies on the card.
It is an A5 sized card so there was plenty of room for names. I used my standby large number templates from Urban Lily, cut from white card, embossed and glittered. The papers are all either Pink Paislee Queen Bee (appropriate!) or Basic Grey Origins from the 6x6 pad. Some die cutting, punching and dotting with Rangers enamel accents and I was almost done. Added a sentiment from Waltzing Mouse and voila.
Gotta love Martha Stewart butterfly punches!

Here is the card I made for the birthday girl.
Details: MME Stella and Rose pads (from Imagine That); Nestabilities and Sizzix dies; Fiskars and Martha Stewart border punches; Imagine That stamps; Papermania brads; Flowers from Hobby horse and Wild Orchid

I haven't photographed the card for Phil yet. Nothing groundbreaking - my usual style only I have bought even more new MME pads from Imagine That - Lime Twist and they are just up my street (again). So expect to see more. Phil chose a trip to the big smoke for his birthday - to see the Cult of Beauty at the VandA - lots of lovely pre-Raphaelitey and beyond paintings and etchings and clothes and furniture and photographs. I was blown away by seeing a photograph of Jane Morris - one of the pre-R models - taken in the 1850's.

I was also blown away by lunch. Not so much the food although it was delish
(note we shared the salad that is just on my plate and I really wanted that meringue - or one like it. Look at the size! but I know I couldn't have managed it)
but by the place we ate it -the Morris, Gamble and Poynter rooms. Probably the most artistic place to have your lunch ever. I think that photo has been taken in a way to fit the whole room in.

We were down the end from the photo on the site. With a good view of those lvoely chandeliers and the stained glass
and right where Phil could enjoy himself and call it art appreciation!
Takeaway and movie on DVD tonight.
Thursday night it will be cinema and eat out but probably in a pop art style McDonalds which is not quite the same

Time

2011-05-12T12:39:00.000+01:00

As Dr Who said in the best episode ever "People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect, but *actually* from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint - it's more like a big ball of wibbly wobbly... time-y wimey... stuff"
and that is how I feel today.

I had time to blog earlier but Blogger decided it was time for an upgrade and went offline. Still, got some work done.
Its my 5th blogaversary today. 5 years of recording (mostly once a week I'm sad to say) my craft and a little of my life and my faith.
Me then
Me now
Shorter hair (its been up and down), same glasses, more wrinkles (you just can't see them on this touched up photo ha, ha). About the same weight and stuff. A few more grey hairs (bring it on). Same job - though it is changing and growing. 4/5 of an MA done. Children gone from being on the cusp of teenager to on the cusp of adulthood.
Ooh enough introspection - makes me feel a bit funny!

Time is the name of the challenge at Salt this week.
And Time is also the name of the last Salt challenge as we have decided to call time on the blog for a whole host of reasons. (Time being one of them!). I shall miss the deadlines and the challenges but I am prayerfully considering how to continue scrapping my faith

Here's my layout. The photo is of Hywel aged about 1 in our garden in Hartlepool
Once more I used MME Stella and Rose papers as the colours were such a good match! I quoted some of Ecclesiastes round the edge of the circle and here is my short reflection on it
Other details: Cardstock: Bazzill kraft; Punch: Martha Stewart; Die:Nestability Label 1, large circle; embellishments: Clock from Costco kit, buttons from Nikki Sivils, pearls by Prima. Letters: Chipboard Maya Road, Cosmo Cricket stickers; Paint: white dabber; White pen: uniball signo

Over the next few days if I have some blogging time (hah!) I shall put together a little display of some of my favourite layouts from Salt.
Saltinies - thanks for the care, prayer and inspiration - I shall miss you and the blog so much!

Took a break

2011-05-06T10:20:00.005+01:00

We had a wonderful (but too short) break at my Mother-in-Law's house for the second Bank Holiday weekend. It was too short because of school's not understanding that Minister's need a full week's holiday after Easter and the kids went back to school for three days (humph). Still we packed a lot in, We spent the weekend wedding watching (me and C - we made the effort too)walking, shopping, looking at New Forest ponies, taking arty shots (phil), marvelling at how close the Isle of Wight and the sea are to MiL's house (both these are taken from the beach) and relaxing. But life has gone back to mad since then!

So I have not had a chance to either blog or craft much. I've done two layouts which I will share anon but here is my Daring card for this week
It is the first Friday of May so it is a flower of the month - lily of the valley. I decided to simply be inspired by the colours and as I had to do a Diamond wedding card combined the two challenges. The colour isn't true - it was very dark this morning so I have had to overexpose a little, hence the close ups following. I wanted diamond patterns, green, white and sparkles and threw a few paper roses in too for effect

Details: Cardstock and white card: Craft Creations; Patterned paper: MME Stella and Rose; Border Punch: EK Success; Flowers: Wild Orchid Craft; Dies: Sizzix Lollipop and Nestabilities; Embossing Folder: Cuttlebug; Glitter: Glue Pen and Glamour Dust; White Dots: Rangers Enamel Accents

I added glitter to the edges of the embossed card with tape and Glamour Dust
The numbers are die cut patterned paper embossed and glittered
The flowers and the punched border also got the glitter treatment!

Phew. need another break now!

Party time?

2011-04-29T10:00:00.000+01:00

Today is THE wedding. Most people in my family couldn't care-a less but I love weddings! I don't get to take many these days as people go to hotels rather than churches. I am sure I would do more if you were allowed religious ceremonies in hotels in England and Wales* (God won't mind, he is happy to be part of the party wherever) but you are not so I don't.
* Scotland has much better laws and Ministers can take services wherever - even outdoors - how cool is that!

Carys and I will sit and watch a bit and go "awww" a lot. She goes "awww" every time she sees Will and Kate, sweet romantic big hearted fool that she is! Everyone else will go bah humbug (but may secretly sneak a peak at the goings on).
Daring Cardmakers is joining in the royal fun with this weeks dare. The uber talented Nat has asked us to make cards "By Royal Appointment"
I had picked up this crown at Imagine That as it was cute (and cheap!) without knowing what to do with it. I have been making a lot of cards with this basic frame design recently (as you will see) and wanted a red/ white (ish) and blue theme to the card. Aside from the "Q" being a bit off (the blog isn't called Slightly Squiffy for nothing you know) I am rather pleased with this card and I don't say that too often. Fortunately a special person has a birthday soon so the card will be hers (and I can hand deliver it too - result!)

Details: Cardstock: Papertrey Ink; Papers: MME Stella and Rose; Stickers: Jenni Bowlin; Stamps: Banana Frog; Dies: Nestabilities; Embossing Folder: Cuttlebug.

I have been making cards using my Stella and Rose paper pads. I bought all four as I couldn't decided which to have and I am so glad I did as they are just so lovely and make crafting a joy as they all tone together so well. The first two are basically the same card using different pads and opening differently. I also used Stella and Rose stamps in the background.
The flower dies are Tim Holtz for Sizzix with punched circles in the middle as faux buttons. The stamp is from Imagine That - and you can buy everything to make the card from Emma's wonderful shop (call in if you are near Upminster or phone/go online).
This also uses the Stella and Rose doily stamp which stamps perfectly every time (amazing for me!) and the other stamps are Paula Pascual for Personal Impressions which fit the EK Success label punch (also easy to cut around which I was doing until I read the back of the stamp packet and realised how they were designed) - the stamps is available from Imagine That.

Some of my favourite things together - striped paper; butterflies; white pen; pearls (possibly added to cover up a white embossing powder accident); kraft cardstock.
Sigh.

So if you are of a crafting nature then why not buy at least one of those pads - I heartily recommend it.
Right where's the champagne to toast the happy couple?

Refreshment and recovery

2011-04-28T10:02:00.005+01:00

Its been quite a week and a bit for me. Holy Week is usually full of different kinds of worship every day. This year there was less, some cancelled in advance to give me a break whilst I cared for my friends (I have wonderful, understanding Elders at my Church) and some because of when the funeral was - Maundy Thursday. As it happens there was already a Seder Meal planned for the Wednesday so we had some Last Supper moments there and then ate together after we gave thanks for Alison's life on Thursday. It was a big funeral and it is hard to lead them when it is someone you care about. Actually I try to care about everyone I lead a funeral for, even if I have never met them as we are all beloved children of God - but the personal connection can make it tough. But God held us together and it was good.

It gave Easter a new dimension for me as well - preaching about the power of resurrection and the hope of new life so soon after being confronted with death. But it was good. Phil (photgraphed by our friend Alan)and Carys
(picutred with Pilate) were stars of the Passion Play in Hornchurch (OK Jesus was outstanding but they were the next best things in it) - an audience of 8-9,000 over three nights isn't bad is it!

So now I am in full recovery mode which means doing as little as possible as I have no energy left (cue the violins). Mind you I did need to go to Lakeside so that Carys could have some new clothes on Tuesday (she keeps growing) - she is a very unfussy person who doesn't need designer labels - hurray! And did very kindly allow me to buy two tops as well, using my New Look 20% student discount. I'm gong to miss that next year...

I have had some crafty time - not as much as I had expected but there you go! It is Salt day today and we have some sad news as Kim is stepping down. She has been such a support and inspiration and will be sorely missed. Pauline asked us to think about "the great commission" from Matthew 28. I love this passage for two reasons as you can read here
"Some of them doubted" but he commissioned them anyway. We don't have to be super sure and confident in our faith - Jesus still has work for us to do - but sends the Spirit to help us (which is why there is a bird on my layout)
I thought I would use this photo of lobster pots in Staithes as a fishing motif for evangelism. I wanted a cream or kraft background then remembered one of my new purchases was a Tim Holtz kraft resist paper pad - one of which was a map image - result! And then I noticed one of the papers I had pulled out to use had all the days of the week on it - which is how often we should be witnessing to Christ - double result (Non crafty people just to let you know that when this sort of thing happens we get VERY excited).

Details: Papers: MME Stella and Rose, Crate Paper Restoration; Punches: Stamping Up, Fiskars, EKSuccess; Letters: Jillibean Soup; Ink: Distress Stains and Inks in Peeled Paint and Broken China (and Vintage Photo ink); Kraft Cardstock: Papertrey Ink; Embellishments: Prima flower, Papermania pearls

I completed the last of my kits last night as well - and used summery paper on a snow scene layout but I think it works
Papers are Bella Blvd and Echo Park plus Fancy Pants chipboard. I cut lots of strips using punches and dies and as I was laying it out managed to do it slightly squiffy but decided that it worked like that and kept it so! Here is the writing
It should, of course, say "rifling through". Don't know why I missed the word out but if I hadn't it wouldn't fit so there we are

Other details: Bazzil cardstock; Punches: Martha Stewart, Fiskars and EKSuccess; Stamp (for label which fits my label punch perfectly): Personal Impressions; Ink: Spiced marmalade Distress ink; Flower: Maya Road; Brad: WRMK; ribbon from stash; pens: Sharpie (for outlining) Zig (for writing)

I'm obviously still in an orange phase. Unexpected.
I'm hoping to get to watch a bit of the wedding tomorrow and then it is outfit shopping for our family wedding in July on Saturday!

The Call

2011-04-17T19:20:00.004+01:00

Sure enough the call that I have been waiting for came at 4:55 on Friday morning. It was my intense yet painful privilege to be with one friend as her life came to an end and another friend as he begins a new kind of life without her.
Its only Sunday now but that seems like such a long time ago. This will be a very different Easter with a very special funeral on Maundy Thursday - the day when Jesus reminded his friends one last time that his death was coming soon and what it would mean - and a very poignant Easter Day when we celebrate the eternal life we share through the resurrection of Jesus.

And I have a sore throat and a cough.
Which may seem a bit trivial in the grand scheme of things but Ministers need voices - so I have to not talk too much for the next few days in order to do what is needed from Thursday onwards.
The outpouring of love for my friends has been wonderful.
And so has the love given to me as I have walked the road with them. It is very humbling.

Which may make then talking about crafting seem a bit trivial.
But I don't think it is.
Doing crafty things has helped me through some tough times and when I can't craft it is usually an indication that I need to do some self care. So spending time with ink, glue and paper is an important and healing thing for me.

I did actually do my Daring card for this week on Thursday but have only had the chance to photograph it today. The theme is Spring Fling. I woke in the middle of the night on Thursday with an idea of what to do for this card.
I have seen this quilting technique done on scrap-pages and fancied adding it to a card. Its a bit fiddly! Basically you punch out circles and fold the edges over as evenly as possible and stick them together. Next time I might glue all the edges down as it caused a few problems with the flower. The flower was on a spring which went wrong and then I tried three ways of sticking it down before I had to sew it onto the card!
Details: Card: Craft Creations; Papers: Cosmo Cricket Delovely: Punches: Martha Stewart around the page and Woodware circle; Flower die: Tim Holtz; Stamp: Imagine That; InksMemento and Dewdrop; Candi: Craftwork Cards; Sharpie Pen

I've had a little space to do some scrapping as well (see note on therapy above! I have been able to speed up my scrapping by making up kits. I've only got one left so I will have to do some more now as it works well for me
This one had a moment in the middle where I thought I would have to start again but I persevered and am glad I did now. I used a poundland doily as a template. I have had the glass beads for about 5 years and the lace was in another kit bag but wasn't used. I thought I had finished the layout and then found the transparency over the photo caught in the bag and I am glad I used it as it adds a certain something
Details: Bazzil cardstock: Papers: Kaisercraft; letters: Doodlebug; Spray: Tattered Angels; WRMK Corner Chomper; Punches: Martha Stewart; Craftwork Candi; Flowers: Hobbyhorse crafts; Pearls from Imagine That.

Here are the words in closeup

I have just finished this one

Photo was shopped by Phil (thanks hun) My skin is not really so fresh! Its all about the fact that at 45 (ok nearly 46) I have probably lived half my life. The friend who has died was only 7 years older than me which shows you never know...

Details: Bazzill cardstock; Papers:MME; Template: Technique Tuesday; Punches: Martha Stewart; Stamps: MME and Kaisercraft; Ink: Memento; Rub ons: Basic Grey; Bird from a Gottacraft kit; Letters: Papermania and American Crafts; Sharpie pen; Gems from Imagine That.

Don't forget to tell everyone that you love them...

Palm Sunday ponderings

2011-04-14T11:05:00.003+01:00

I'm having a few moments away from preparing for Palm Sunday and waiting for the phone to ring with sad but not unexpected news. It may not ring today, which keeps me on my toes. But it will soon. Which makes it hard for me to concentrate on anything - and I am remarkably easy to distract (oh look a car went passed the window! and a person! And a horse drawn hearse!) (Actually a horse drawn hearse didn't just pass but I live within walking distance of a busy crematorium and do see at least one a week. They are growing in popularity round here).

The thing with Palm Sunday is that you can have a fun service full of hosannas and praise to Jesus and donkeys (if you are really brave) and then the next Sunday it is Easter Sunday full of alleluias and praise to Jesus and Easter eggs (we have mini eggs as part of communion and there is always a bit of me that wants people to not eat them so I can take them all home as I love mini eggs so much.).
And in between though, we have Jesus sharing himself on the cross and helping his friends prepare for his death and the acknowledgement of all that we have done wrong that has brought him to this.
So if you miss out on Holy Week service events, you miss out on the sadness that makes the celebrating even more joyful.
So what to do?

Most years I do a kind of walk through the whole lot of events from Palms to Cross but this year it is a little different. More palms than passion but still something about the cross.
I think.

All of this in head chuntering led me to chose the Salt Challenge for this time around.
The Servant King.
I found this rather lovely picture on the internet and thought that these older MME papers complemented the colours. I shoved them around a bit, inked, outlined and then added extra bits where the outlining went a bit off. It is a technique that stops my work being too regular but I wish my hand wouldn't suddenly make a line where I didn't want it!

Details: Bazzill cream cardstock; Papers: MME; Letters: Websters pages; crown and heart: Grungeboard; Cord brad: Nikki Sivils; stars: Jenni Bowlin; Punch: Martha Stewart: Candi (ugh, hate the new name) Craftwork Cards

The blurb is two verses of "My song is love unknown". How cross am I that it just missed filling the space? Very. Does it really matter in the bigger scheme of things? no.

Hopefully I'll be back tomorrow with a Daring Card, but it does depend on whether the phone rings today or not. If you are waiting for bad/sad news - my prayers are with you

One of those days

2011-04-12T16:00:00.004+01:00

when I am not really settling to anything and there is lots I should do.
Oh well.
I am going to divert myself with a quick blog post and then see if I can do something constructive with my time.

I had a fab day with Sue H going round Alexandra Palace on Saturday. I say day but we get there early and were shopped out by 2 which left me loads of time to visit and work the rest of the day. Here is my haul
I didn't get any bargains but did get some things I was looking for, a couple of treats and even something for Phil - the purple prayer paper that is like the material used in floating lanterns. I was her very first customer!

I managed a card making and scrapping time yesterday. Here is the layout first.
It was made with one of my prepacked kits which was actually made up mostly of a Gotta Craft kit featuring Glitz Designs. It is based on Shimelle's sketch but kind of went its own way!
I reinked my Black Soot distress ink pad but obviously overdid it as I was getting ink everywhere. In the end I gave up and addded extra "grime" to the background. The problem with being left handed is somehow you often end up putting smudges on stuff. But perhaps it is just me! The awesome photo is by Phil and taken at the end of March when he dropped H off at Uni. The month thing is a transparency and I painted the back and added it to paper for added visibility.

Here is the blurb
and an arty detail
I also made two cards using left over scraps of Bella Blvd papers.

(I think the green is another company though). Also used Fiskars and Martha Stewart punches, nestabilities, IMagine That stamp and white Candi
If in doubt, use a star die, that's what I always say. This card features my new Martha Stewart punches and some papermania brads. everything else as above.

OK off to mope about and try and think about Palm Sunday now. Or tidy up. Or something

Life is sometimes hard

2011-04-08T15:54:00.003+01:00

One of the things that I do is run a bereavement course that helps people understand the grief journey - it is called Helping Overcome People's Emotions in grief - or HOPE. And it is amazing to be able to see light dawn on people's faces as they begin to see that how they are feeling is normal. This week was one of the tough ones - about handling guilt and anger amongst other things and remembering that basically Life Is Difficult.

And at the moment it is. Not for me and my family but for people that I love and it is a hard journey that I am trying to support them through. And not managing very well on it myself just now! I need to remember the Serenity Prayer
God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
And I need to allow God to hold onto us through it all.

Which is all a bit deep and vague, to protect others privacy, but I know that this too shall pass and God will wipe away all tears.
Which is keeping me going. Just.

All of which is by no means a way of introduction to my rather frivolous Daring Cardmaker Challenge this week! I was a bit stuck so asked my best friend (Google) for help and he told me that it is Draw a Bird Day today. Who knew? So that is my dare!
I hand drew mine onto patterned paper. This was version 2. Please do not look too closely at where version 1 made a nasty mess of the paper that I was too tired to deal with.
(Made ya look)
All but the orange paper is from American Crafts. I bought a kit at TKMaxx which was a bargain price only the papers are thin single sided paper and not the double sided card weight that AC normally is. Be warned! The clouds are cut from a cloud patterned paper and the flower came from the same kit. The orange paper is MME Stella and Rose. The card was going to be 4x4 but then I like the ovelapping look so stuck that panel onto a 5x5 card that the orange is stuck to (still with me?)

And that's that.
If your life is hard and you would like a prayer or a chat then just leave a comment and I'll get back to you
Hugs

A lovely couple of days

2011-04-05T17:46:00.011+01:00

No its not Friday - I just have some time to post earlier in the week (but must make tea soon before Phil has to go out to management committee. As much fun as it sounds) and have some things to show. I had a pretty nice Mothers Day. Wonderful breakfast in bed, fabulous books and tasty treats (especially the licorice allsorts that Hywel left behind for me as only he and I like them in our family. Sadly all gone now!). It is only pretty nice because Mothering Sunday is a Sunday and thus - a working day for me. But later in the afternoon there was a family walk (just a short one), some kit preparation (see below) and the return of Lewis which is a Sunday evening treat (more for Hathaway than Lewis say the girls of the family). I did miss out on the annual hug from Emrys I was hinting at. I'll be more specific for my birthday...

Then yesterday I went over to my gorgeous friend Sue Hyde's to have a crafty play. We haven't really been able to craft together - or meet up much - for ages and ages so it was good to do that. Plus she makes the best ever lunches. I took some of my kits that I had put together on Sunday. I printed out loads of photos and then bagged them up with various papers and embellishments, spraying one lot of cardstock and adding paint to a title the night before. So now when I have a little time spare I can grab a bag and go. Even more fun as I begin to forget what papers and photos there are in each one. (its me age)

So here they are. The first one doesn't really do justice to Phil's amazing photo which you can see in all its glory here but I did want to show it off a little
Still loving that turquoise and yellow! I used some turquoise seam binding from the Ribbon Girl - it is so easy to ruffle it with just a strip of tape underneath

Details: Bazzil cardstock sprayed with black glimmer mist and a glimmer mask. MME Stella and Rose 6x6 pad; Nestability dies; Fiskars punch and decorative scissors; Bazzill edger strip; Making memories letters; Prima flowers; Dewdrops from Sarah's Cards; silver stick on gems from Imagine That. Black Soot distress ink, Sharpie and other black pen.

Here's the words

Next a layout called "Since then". This photo was taken just before Hywel left for Uni. Although some of the perspective is off Carys is up close to me and is her real height - then. She is now as tall as me (which is not very in grown ups terms but still) which gave the inspiration to talk about other changes. Phil found a place that turns photos into credit card type things to have in your wallet - so I carry this around with me. (photo not layout)

Details: Base paper Basic Grey; other papers, stickers and die cuts Crate Paper Restoration; Letters: Jillibean Soup and Cosmo Cricket. Flower: Maya Road. Vintage Photo distress ink and brown pen; Nestability Die

and the words
and finally one I did at home
It is a very funny story so I'll let you read it first
I am a bit miffed with myself that I keep using banners on the right hand side of pages. Must look through old scrap pages before doing another one!

Details: Cardstock: Bazzill Vanilla; Papers: Girls Paperie and Echo Park plus Prima Journal Spot - all covered in Cosmic Shimmmer yellow spray; Chipboard: Cosmo Cricket; Stamps: Technique Tuesday; letters: American Crafts; stickers: Paperchase; Nestability dies (for frame); Black Soot distress ink and black pen. multicoloured thing bought at a Stitch show at Alexandra Palace. No idea where the ticket came from. I have a bunch and can't remember buying them!

Talking of Alexandra Palace I am off to the Stamp and Scrap show on Saturday. Anyone else going? (Just as well I didn't give up craft spending for Lent...)
And today is lovely because I have finally finished a section of my Dissertation and Carys has a Merit for her grade 4 piano. What a star!

One of these things is not like the other

2011-04-01T09:24:00.005+01:00

... make that two as I am hiding my Daring Cardmakers card(s) down the post so that the picture doesn't appear on Facebook which Phil's mum sometimes browses.
So I'll start with one of the cards from my latest Imagine That class (schedule available now!) using more of those delicious Stella and Rose papers and a bit of the old white gel pen
I'm really loving yellow and blue together at the moment. Who'd have thought it? Once more my class is the opposite of "clean and simple" so there may need to be some die cutting done in advance. Emma and Judy, I apologize (and I'll help!). I'll show off the other two cards and the layout I have done for another class (guess which colours it features) some time over the weekend.

OK so coast is now clear for Daring Cardmakers. We are so pleased that Zuzana is staying on as a team member and would like to offer you the chance to join us too. No fame or fortune, very few freebies but a lot of fun! Have a look at this post and why not have a go

As this is the first Friday in April - and April the 1st (slight pang here as everyone is rushing off to school/college/university this morning and I didn't get my annual parcel which is full of potatoes) we are back to flowers and the flowers for April are daisies and sweet peas. I found a lovely free sweet pea image here - many thanks to Birds Crafts! Then I had several attempts at colouring in using distress inks and a water brush. One was too small for the card I wanted (which has now been put on another card and already given to someone!) and some went completely wrong. Having got the image the right size I did two more. One was ok, one was perfect - until I somehow managed to place it near the distress ink covered glass block. I could not face doing it all over again so both mothers are going to receive slightly flawed cards.

Spot the difference!

Details: Card Creations Card; Stella and Rose 6x6 pad papers; Spellbinders Dies; Cuttlebug embossing folder; Distress Stain; Ranger enamel; EK Success punch; Purple Onion sentiment stamp; Black sharpie pen

Phil and Hywel have set off on their road trip caused by C2C running 45 minutes late so that H missed his train to Darlington by 5 minutes yesterday. At least Phil doesn't have any services to prepare for Sunday so will combine chauffeuring and studying with some bird watching as compensation!

And I need to grapple with the humongously long (but all relevant) reading of the Man Born Blind for Sunday and tease out what it says for us today - whilst wondering how I shoe horn in Mother's Day. I like being spoilt on Mother's Day (chocs; brekkie in bed; slap up meal in MCD's. True. (the one in Harlepool used to give you a little pot plant and everything) even maybe a huge from Son 2, although i am not holding my breath) but I don't like to make it the central focus for worship on a Sunday. For all those who love it there are so many who are missing mum's who have died, missing mum's who are alive but have never been the sort of mother they needed to be or feeling the ache of not having children of their own. Actually both readings (the other is God choosing little david out of all his fine brothers to be king) mention parents to a certain extent so it maybe possible.

However you spend your Sunday - and however you feel about it - I hope you find it good.

Hither and thither

2011-03-31T16:41:00.003+01:00

I feel like I have spent the last week in the car going from pillar to post, what with people to visit and sons who miss the bus/lose a lens from their glasses/miss the train to Uni (not his fault but it means his dad has another road trip tomorrow) and meetings to attend. Ah well, life's like that sometimes. I've actually had a week of (whisper it) no evening meetings and I can't remember one like that which wasn't holiday before so I have had a chance to catch my breath.

But there have been a lot of things on my mind which is why this week's Salt challenge was perfect for me. The theme is "Worry" and the key verse to think about is Matthew 6:34. Eugene Peterson has interpreted it so well in the Message as you can see from the text on the right of my photo
My computer was going bonkers when I was doing this. It keeps double clicking when I single click or something and I would write all of this out in Picasa and then it would disappear. Doing it 5 times was a real test. Maybe because I need to learn this verse off by heart and really, really make it part of my life.

Here is the layout that frames the photo
Details: White bazzil cardstock; Peeled Paint Distress Stain (lovely!); MME Stella and Rose Hazel 6x6 paper pad (even more lovely); MME Girly stamps (the doilies - best stamps ever!); Memento inks; Martha Stewart butterfly punch; Nikki Sivils brown button. Papermania chipboard letters; Other buttons and flower from stash. Everything up to and including the punch is available from the wonderful Imagine That

Here is my rejected Pencil Lines submission. Sob! Still it was rather over ambitious and I do like the layout anyway which is the main thing
It actually looks better in real life - I just couldn't get the white colour balance sorted. This is us with the Ginger Group youth team in our current sitting room which now looks very different. I used a bubble wrap stamp and loads of old Basic Grey papers and chipboard along with an American Crafts rosette, some glass beads; gaffer tape, a WRMK brad thingy and various different letters.

Almost time to go out to Carys' Gifted and Talented Open Evening. Wish I wasn't going as a) it was Parents Evening last week and b) we are supposed to be talking to our kids using someone's paradigm thingy that I don't even understand. And maybe tomorrow I will have time to think about my Sunday services... No rest for the wicked

Life can only go faster...

2011-03-25T13:27:00.004Z

(sung to the D:ream tune)

Yes, every time I think I have some time it gets eaten away. Sometimes because I procrastinate. But I do learn an awful lot from the Internet and some of it is even useful...

This week I made some canvasses like the Christmas presents for mum and mum-in-law for Mother's Day. Mum has had hers as she and Dad were here for a few days while she attended a meeting in London. we are a convenient stopping off point which means she isn't so weary from travelling and we get to see each other. That is the problem with full diaries and living far apart (about 4 hours drive and can be more. Was once remarkably 3 and a half and I still don't understand how I did it!)

And I have made some samples for a card class at Imagine That - I'll show them when the next brochure is printed. My Minds Eye Stella and Rose is a fabulous range of papers!

So all I have to show is my Daring Card this week and a few others I have made to add to the pile I need for birthdays etc. Kathy set us quite a tough dare (in my opinion) - the Book Club where we were to take our inspiration from books. I thought about bookworms which led me to one of my fave kid's books. Funnily enough Nat put the iconic image on her blog last night but I had already started the card - honest!
It didn't actually work as well as I had hoped. The background sun is taken from another page of the book
The papers are all Crate Paper - mostly brook and a little of the cowgirl for the head. "Happy" is stamped with Banana Frog stamps. I added proper eyes and a smile as mine looked rather ghostly. Or was that because I was listening to "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" while I made the card.

Here are a few more cards using up my old Crate Papers. I love them so but it is satisfying to empty paper folders!

I have a busy weekend but then a rather leisurely Monday. I am hoping that the copy of the BBC Pride and Prejudice I ahve ordered arrives tomorrow so I can introduce Carys to the joys of Colin Firth being broody. Things can only get better...

Who is the Time Theif?

2011-03-18T09:38:00.004Z

Two weeks since I last blogged. I feel so bad...
Sometimes my life is just a bit complicated. Being a Minister can mean some funny working hours and situations that leave you surprisingly drained. Its not like being a doctor or a miner but it is one of those roles that can take up all of you if you are not careful. Which is why I have hobbies (we are seriously encouraged to have them!) and I try to keep up being creative even if I don't blog. But i know how frustrating it is if you follow a blog and it goes a bit dormant so sorry for that.

There is a fair bit I could show you but its another packed weekend ahead so I have to get down to proper work as soon as I can so this is the bare catch up.
I missed posting my last Daring card - perhaps because I didn't like it?
Anyway the Dare was great - to add homemade embellishments to your card. I do that all the time so super easy right? Well the muse didn't really strike so I ended up with a layered flower that I wasn't totally happy with. However the other examples by the team are gorgeous so if you haven't loooked at them - go and admire right now!
Details: Crate Paper Pink Plum papers; hand stitching; Sizzix and Nestabilities dies; Imagine That stamp; Fiskars border punch; WRMK corner chomper; Vintage Photo distress ink; Prima brad

This week Jo asked us to use stamps - not the rubber variety! I was stumped for a while until I remembered that my Cuttlebug came with a stamp die and embossing folders.
Details: Crate Paper Samantha Papers (finally finished them. Yay!); Nestabilities and papertreycuttlebug die and folders; Black Soot and Barn Door distress inks; Sizzix and thin black pen Ink dies; Scenic Route stamp; zigzag scissors;

And finally Salt for this week. Hazel gave us the theme of trust. I wanted to express my bewilderment about events that are happening - both personal and global that seem so unfair and incomprehensible. All I can do is trust in god and put my life - and those of others into his hands.
The photo is from Free extras - a good source of photos. There is a lot of inking, spraying and covering up mistakes! The papers are lovely Basic Grey urban couture. I'm working through my old Crate papers (as you can tell) I think Basic Grey may need to be next!

Details: Pink Paislee and Basic Grey papers; Martha Stewart punch (to create ruffle); Nestability and Sizzix dies (Sizzix to create letter masks); Caramel apple glimmer mists; Wild Honey and Vintage photo distress inks.

Here is a close up of the Bible quote
and my reflections on trust
H comes home tomorrow for an almost 2 week break (he is going back early to avoid Friday prices and weekend trains). It will be lovely to see him.

Gotta be quick

2011-03-04T14:23:00.004Z

cos I'm running behind (again)
So straight on with the crafting!
This week on Salt Stacy challenged us to think about Attitude. I was obviously still in St David's Day mode as well as continuing to reflect on the Sermon on the Mount as the two things came together. I thought about how important it was to wear my heritage as a child and how I should always wear the attitude of faith today. I've never taking the Beatitudes and turned them into attitudes before but it has really given me a lot to think about. Although i don't really like how the layout turned out I do like the thought behind it! It is based on a Shimelle sketch

Materials: Cardstock: Bazzil - cream and blue swiss dot; Papers: October Afternoon; Glimmer Mist: Olive; Stamps: Purple Onion and Banana Frog; Thickers: American Crafts; Dies: Nestabilities
And then there is Daring Cards - we are in March - yip! and so the flower of the Month is Daffodils. (I am ashamed to admit I don't really like daffs - I'm more of a tulip girl meself). I used a sketch that I made whilst browsing through some Cards mags in Imagine That so I can't tell you whose card I have lifted.
I made the daffs using the retro flower large punch and cutting a petite scallop circle and snipping a quarter out of it. The gems are the same Poundland ones as last week coloured with a sharpie pen.
Other materials: Cardbase: Craft Creations; Papers: Cosmo Cricket, October Afternoon and Crate Paper; Stamp: Imagine That; Distress Inks: Wild Honey and Peeled Paint

This Sunday is finally the last one before Lent - we don't normally have such a long lead in! So we will be thinking about Jesus on the mountaintop being seen in all his glory. It is a strange and wonderful story. I think what it means is that it is one of the times that we can see that Jesus is more than just an extraordinary human being and that whatever happens - we should listen to him. Lets hope I can share that with the congregation on Sunday! Because I now sometimes have two services on a Sunday morning (but don't this week) I can attend my Romford Church where the Junior Church have been working hard at worship that they are going to lead us in. I'm looking forward to being fed!

Dumbing down? I think not!

2011-03-01T14:04:00.004Z

1: Happy St David's Day! Its the day for being (extra) proud to be Welsh!
Here I am a short while ago in traditional costume. If we lived in wales my kids would be getting at least a half day off school. But they are not. we will have leeks for tea though

2: The dumbing down bit. we watched Solomon Kane last night (5 out of 10 but it is unusual to get theological reflection in a film that also involves blood spatter and decapitation). There were some characters dressed up like this. "What are they supposed to be" Phil and I asked. "Plague doctors" said our two almost simultaneously (but not close enough for "jinx"). "Whuh?" said the parents (including the one with History O Level) "those masks are full of herbs" said one child airily, the other nodding corroboration. Readers, I have never heard of such a thing and yet, here they are (ok so its not always correct but even so). Please tell me I am not the only one? So, obviously not everything is easier than in my day - or Phil's which is even older.

In crafting news I managed to do a Sketchy Thursdays sketch on time this week. whee!
I turned it around though. It is all about us climbing up Roseberry Topping and looking exhausted at the top (I really was!)
Details: Papers: Crate Paper Restoration; Cardstock: Bazzill; Embossing folder: Sizzix; Glimmer Mist: Olive and Caramel; Stickers: Crate Paper and Paperchase; Die cuts: Crate Paper; Chipboard: Basic Grey; Leaf: Grungepaper; Letters: Jillibean, Making Memories, Grungepaper; Buttons: Nikki Sivils; Distress inks: Peeled Paint, Crushed Olive, Pine Needles, Brushed Corduroy

Having had a few days at home as well as away last week meant that I have had time to do more than one layout for fun
This one features Carys sitting on the landing just before the turning to her room. Her teeny room is down a narrow wonky corridor and the lighting isn't great in there. so she sits here quite a lot to read. It never looks that comfy. she had just had a shower and her hair is wet, not super greasy! it is based on an old Pencil Lines sketch
Details: Cardstock: Bazzill; Paper and Chipboard: MME Fine and Dandy; Letters: Adornit and American Crafts Thickers; Tools: Sharpie and Wilkinsons fine black pem; Ranger enamel

I think the title is probably a mistake on this one
It is supposed to be "Going Grey" but Phil says that it reads "Grey Going" Sigh. I added the arrow but it hasn't really helped!
This one uses all sorts of old stash - tick! and Shimelle's sketch of the week for 16th Feb.
Details: Papers: American Crafts, Chatterbox, Papermania, Fancy Pants; Letters: American Crafts; Numbers: Sassafrass; Felt:Queen and Co; Letters: Thickers; Flower - Aachen euroshop; Arrow: Grungepaper; Glimmer Mist - black; Distress ink: Black Soot; Journalling Spot: Crafty Templates Quirky Kit cut down with Sizzix Die; Punch: Fiskars
Back to reading about being teams in management Studies. I may have read too much of this (for my dissertation) but it is so, so interesting! (No mention of Plague Doctors in there either...)

Refreshed

2011-02-26T16:45:00.003Z

Well a few days away did the trick! We've been back 'oop north to see our Hywel. As Middlesborough is not really our holiday destination of choice we found a cottage about 45 mins away close to Saltburn and Staithes to stay in.
We picked Hywel up on Wednesday after exploring his room, his kitchen/sitting area with the "lovely" art work (male students plus Budweiser bottles and masking tape. I'll say no more) and watched True Grit (fab) before returning to the cottage. Can you believe that after 11 years of having the same mobile tariff it was the first time we have used Orange Wednesday? Maybe because I almost always have meetings on a Wednesday. We'll do it again though! Anyway as H doesn't have lectures between Wed afternoon and Friday lunch time he came and stayed with us and we climbed Roseberry Topping on Thursday.
It's not that big a hill but it is straight up and it was very, very muddy. We ended up having a competition to see whose shoes were the most impractical. I won (fur lined crocs) and slipped twice on the way down. Fun though.

It was very hard leaving H behind on friday. Harder than its been not having him around this term. Still he comes home for two weeks in a month's time and then I will find he is under my feet! Although today we have cleared the boys room of huge amounts of old tut so he can spend his time up there in comfort now!

This week on Daring Cardmakers the lovely Samm chose the dare and what a cool one it was - "POUND SHOP PRETTIES" - use some items from a Pound Shop
I'm afraid I wasn't very inventive though
I used foam pads and gems from Poundland. Some of the other things were pretty cheap though - especially the felt from Hobbycraft which I cut to rough circles with sharp scissors and the Banana Frog letter stamps bought on sale. I made this card at the last minute beofre going on the break so didn't notice the smudge of Ranger enamel accents (they are so lovely and white though!). "Bother". is a version of what I said when I noticed it.
Also used: Echo Park papers and Nestability Label 1 dies
Do have a look at all the wonderful cards my team mates have made!

Punked

2011-02-18T10:25:00.004Z

Apparently that is not really a word. "Punk'd" is what Google took me to. So I am claiming Punked for my own. Punked is when several pieces of news or events that although sad/demanding in their own way are really copable with, come together at the same time and leave you feeling like you have been dropped from a great height. So that's me - some rubbish news for a friend, some meetings that left me wanting to bang my head on a desk, some uncertainty over the future, some failure to do my Dissertation study that makes me feel like I am running behind (maybe because I am?) and I am punked. Still I have some days of rest and recharge coming up and I can't wait! And I know through it all that I am not alone - that God is with me and will take care of me - and all those I am worried about. It got me thinking about a wonderful song that brings me comfort - He will raise you up on eagle's wings

And He will raise you up on eagles’ wings,
bear you on the breath of dawn,
make you to shine like the sun,
and hold you in the palm of His hand.

Actually listening to it (even though it sound much better when sung by Phil - but he isn't on Youtube) makes me feel better. I'm going to do my best to shine...

Of course, my new edition to the Oxford English Dictionary (or should it go in the Uxbridge one) came about while thinking on the Daring Cardmakers Challenge for this week. Rein asked us to make Steampunk inspired cards. Phew that was hard! My thanks have to go to the Graphics Fairy who has a collection of Steampunk free digital images which helped a lot. And here is my take on the dare

Apart from the images almost everything has been in my stash for years. The papers I had in a
Self Adressed kit in 2006. I used a lot of it up on cards and 8x8 layouts at the time but knew I had some left. Here is one of my first layouts (first blogged in July 2006) using the same collection!
5 years makes a difference! As I did a little bit of a stash tidy recently I panicked that I had thrown the papers away saying "I'll never use them" glad I didn't. Which is all a VERY long way round of saying I know not who made the papers.
The penny farthing was printed directly onto the paper. Fortunately I had two sheets of it as I didn't think to check which way up it needed to go the first time. I jsut couldn't bear putting the words upside down on the card! The face was printed directly onto the green paper (wich may be WRMK but was in the same kit). The cogs and washers and beads are from my creative embroidery bead box and stuck on with Glossy Accents which i also used to highlight the binoculars.
Other items used: Cosmo Cricket letters; Black soot and brushed corduroy distress ink; Nestability dies and Martha Stewart punch.

The "I see" has a follow on inside
If you are feeling Punked today I hope you feel held by the hand of God too.

Not such a good idea

2011-02-17T10:19:00.003Z

Yes, I had fun on Monday crafting without a cause but - now I am wondering if I will make my deadlines this week. Ah well such is life! I am running (along with my colleague) (which is what I now get to call Phil as we are in a team) Eldership Training on Saturday. I do enjoy running such courses but it does squeeze time slightly! We are just hoping that the acorns arrive in time... Taken along with a rather meeting heavy week - some of which have needed an emergency (small) sherry afterwards - I am rather pooped.

Anyhoo, here is my Salt layout for this time around. The lovely Ruth asked us to think about truth. Which turned out to be quite hard to do, forsooth. (!) I spent some time mulling it all over and there were a few Biblical phrases that stuck in my mind. One was "What is truth?" which is what Pilate askes Jesus at his trial. Pilate is trying to work out who Jesus is and asks “You are a king, then!” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” "What is truth?" (John 18:36-38)

Because knowing the truth is hard. I'm reading a lot more about politics at the moment and what is truth is a question that I keep asking. In the end, being a bear of little brain, I looked to see what else Jesus said to help me make sense of truth and I found this phrase from earlier in John's gospel "“If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31;32). Which freed me to say - follow Jesus teachings and that is where truth lies.

Of course it is not always that simple. the current Sunday readings are the Sermon on the Mount which is really tough teaching by Jesus. Following Jesus teaching is demanding. Maybe that is what is true. Being a Christian is hard. Sigh. As I have noticed this week...
Anyway all that reflection is in this layout which again doesn't spell it out but hopefully will still have meaning for me when I look at it again in 20 years time...

the papers are My Mind's Eye Fine and Dandy collection. I thought the numbers would remind me that I have to be true to my calling 24/7. I printed a huge chunk of the Sermon on the mount using Times and Times Again font.
The pic is one I took when trying to do a self portrait with the Nikon D60 which doesn't let me see what is in the lens but I kind of like the way I am looming at you demanding what is truth? (Thanks to my colleague for cleaning it up. And I suppose it was true to leave all the wrinkles on it)

Details: Cardstock: Bazzill; Papers: MME; Letters: Doodlebug; little gems from Imagine That; Ribbon: Seam Binding from the Ribbon Girl; Tools: Black Soot Distress Ink; Sharpie and Wilkinsons thin black pens

Just because

2011-02-14T17:38:00.006Z

I got to do some scrapping for fun today. I do have two crafting deadlines this week and not loads of spare time but sometimes you've just got to say blow it and go for it! (thoughts on the others are churning away Design Team mates!)

One of the pages I can't show you as it is an entry for another design team which I have not really the slightest chance of getting on to but decided that the sketch suited the photo anyway. I also can't show it because despite using two different cameras and various spots I couldn't get a decent photo. Dusk is a pants time to try really...

But I will show you part of the photo I scrapped because it is a treasure. It is a photo of Phil and I with the Ginger Group (a Christian youth team we spent a year on, visiting churches around the country and helping them with various projects).This is what we looked like when we met and fell in love. Eeep! I have never been so chubster. (What made me lose weight? Love I reckon!) Look at all Phil's hair.
Here he is now
I love this self portrait he took. He is the king of photoshop and he has given it a lovely brown hue. I faffed about with the other layout and this one took about 30 minutes! It is all about today. Sadly, I goofed up and we have not had 25 Valentines - it is only 24. Boo hoo. I think I might just leave the mistake there as I can't see how to cover it up!

Details: Paper: Bazzill Basics Kraft; Cosmo Cricket Circa 1934; Banner : Bazzill; Dies: Nestability and Sizzix; Doily: Poundshop (!); pin and ribbon: Ribbon Reel; Distress ink: Black Soot; tools: Close to My Heart line guide.

Here's a close up of the words
and here is what I look like now...
more lines and moles and a hint of grey is coming - but there we go. (Oh if only my arms were longer I could do better self portraits. Or maybe I should just learn to use the timer like Phil can). While I have spent the day making a mess, (and doing a few loads of washing) Phil has also cleaned the kitchen including the cooker and is now about to go out to lead a bereavement course. I am heading out for another Youth Praise and then we will meet up again for family film night. It's the all time romantic Girl With a Dragon Tattoo. In Swedish.

Say it isn't so

2011-02-11T12:06:00.004Z

that a whole week has gone by again...
Most of my crafting time has been taken up with making wedding invites (which I am not going to show until they have arrived with people so that could be months) or more of the canvasses as Christmas presents (this time in more neutral colours). I had to give up on one because it was a plain disaster but as I buy packs of 4 I now have three unpainted canvasses staring at me. I'm wondering if I can bear making some more as mother's day presents...

Legally Blonde was fabulous. Better than I expected. Very funny. Catchy songs and clever choreography. Denise Van Outen was not on (a friday night too!) and the lead has just changed but it was no matter - the cast were all great and I have a soft spot for Emmett. And HOW can they sing and skip flawlessly at the same time for ages? I am in awe. Sigh. I do love being able to go to the theatre with my best girl. Oh and we had pretty good seats too. I thought they were at the side but they were right in the middle of the aisle so the view was great.

Onto Daring Cardmakers for this week
OK so that's not it. But I am giving my DCM card to Phil for Valentines and my blog posts to Facebook and uses the first photo so I'm using a card I made for someone else. At Card Club on Saturday Helen had brought along this fab Sizzix die and I wanted a go. But I forgot to take my Distress Inks and Sizzix dies always look better with some definition so I couldn't make him up til I got home. This must be the most layered kids card ever!

Details: Card from Anitas; Papers: Daisy D; Dies: Sizzix and Nestabilities; Distress Ink : Brushed Corduroy; Tools: White pen; pinking wheel; brown pen

Now Phil, stop reading here...
This week on Daring Cardmakers we had a fabulous treat - a sponsor!
The Ribbon Reel sent each of us a mouthwatering array of ribbons, trims, pins, buttons and twines. And there is a gorgeous prize on offer for someone to win too if you play along with us. Nat set the challenge of

Two items of ribbon/trim/twine

One or more buttons

At least one heart element

Here is my take on it
Details: Papers: Jenni Bowlin; doily: Imagine That; Buttons: chipboard Jenni Bowlin; real Paper and String; Glimmer mist (on doily) gold and toffee apple; Dies: Sizzix and Nestability; embossing folder Cuttlebug; letters:Cosmo Cricket; foil and double sided sticky sheets - Stix 2; Distress ink: Brushed Corduroy

Why not have a go? The rules are simple

1. Make your card using the recipe above and add it to your blog

2. Add links to both The Ribbon Reel and The Daring Cardmakers

3. Enter your card for no more than FIVE challenges (including this one)

I'm hoping to have a proper crafty day off this Monday - well until Guides Youth Praise and Movie Night. We have lively praise services on the nights that our uniformed organisations meet and they are popular with the kids and their families - we have three in 7 days this time as we try and fit the girls around Thinking Day. But if I can get motivated hopefully there will be more than one blog post this coming week.

Tonight I'm going to be legally blonde

2011-02-04T09:45:00.003Z

Ok actually tonightI am going to see Legally Blonde and remain officially brown with some grey bits coming in. (I've decided to see how going grey goes. if I like it I'm going to leave it. If I just see an old lady well, maybe I'll end up blonde after all!) Carys and I are taking advantage of Get Into London Theatre and having a girly night out. Which I hope will be as succesful as our girly shopping day last week. (We had a lot of fun. She tried on dresses and I drooled over Fenn Wright and Manson which is absolutely out of my price league but I am sure I would look adorable in all of their stuff. We bought... six pairs of tights for school between us).

So today will be mostly taken up with Service preparation time. This week the Bible reading is about being Salt and Light. Which means I can use my most favourite passage from the Message

"Let me tell you why you are here. You're here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You've lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage. "Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. 16 Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand - shine!

Isn't that a lovely image?
And for more lovely images of a different kind, pop over to Daring Cardmakers this week. As it is the first Friday in February (eeeep! where does the time go), it is the time for a flower of the month. There is a choice of Feb - voilets or primroses. I decided to go with violets - but not to take it too literally.
The papers are from Kaisercraft. I bought them to use in my Doniford Bay scrap album because I noticed how many of us had purple clothes. And then I didn't use them. They are double sided with plainish on one side and patterned on the other. Nice! The flowers are made with a Sizzix die - the lazy persons way of making the flowers. Using felt means that this has to be a hand delivered card as the flowers turn out BIG!

Materials: Cardstock: Craft Creations; Papers: Kaisercraft; Embossing Folder: Cuttlebug; Felt: Hobbycraft; Dies: Sizzix, Tim Holtz and Nestabilities; Trim: Ribbon Girl; Stamps: Imagine That;
Inks: Memento; Glitter: Stickles

My crafting plans for the weekend are to finish off my Christmas present canvases that have been sulking in the corner and also take a chunk out of making my sister in law's Wedding Invitations. Scary - but exciting! I also have worship; Elders meeting; Bereavement course advertisments; Craft club and various other bits and bobs to do before I can play so better get on...

Love your enemies

2011-02-03T12:40:00.003Z

A quick post today as I am running about like a mad thing!
Today is Salt day and Pauline came up with a fabulous challenge for us, reflecting on Jesus' words in Luke 6 where we are called to love our enemies.
My first problem was - who is my enemy? There was no-one, no category that I wanted to have as my enemy as I know life is more complicated than that! I wondered about making myself the enemy but that isn't really it either. So I went to my fall back of photos of me when I was little and found one of Lythan "the nurse" aged about 3.
Now if I was prepared to nurse my enemies then that would show great devotion as. although i love watching Casualty and Holby City on TV, I would rather eat my crafting supplies than do actual nursing.
The only writing on the layout is the quote from the Message version of Luke 6
as the idea of me going the extra mile to care in a practical way plus these words really says it all to me and the layout demanded lots of white space.

Here is the rather spooky/wonderful bit.
The day before I had been sorting through scrap papers and came to my pile of Basic Grey"Offbeat" bits. Right, i said to myself. They are such a jumble of colours you can use them on the next layout no matter what the photo is like. Without referring back, I chose the photo. I couldn't quite get the coluor balance right on my photograph of the finished layout but the blue of my cardigan, the blue of the door and the blue of the papers? Exact match. The reds are pretty close too.
OK so not life changing - not really enough positiveness and difference to the world to be a miracle but it still felt sort of profound (but maybe in a way only scrabookers can understand?)

Do have a look at everyone's wonderful contributions on the Salt website

Materials: Papermania Cardstock; Papers: Basic Grey; Stickers: Basic Grey (hearts coloured with red Sharpie pen); Jenni Bowlin and Papermania; Rub-ons - Basic Grey; Stamps (can't remember the name!); Black ink; Punch: EK Success; Brad - Nikki Sivils

Completed

2011-01-31T19:36:00.005Z

and its not even summer again yet. I have finished my summer holiday scrapbook. I do one every year as it is a good way of capturing the memories and pictures of the family. I'm often still going until just before the next summer hols so ending by the end of January must be some kind of record...

I adore the colour of that Bazzill cardstock that came in a Gottacraft kit to match the Glitz papers. I also used Fancy Pants and MME papers; Chatterbox, Making Memories and Bella Blvd; Rnager white paint and Nestability dies.

I've put another needle in my sewing machine and also played about with tension and stitches and so am ready to give the sewing lark a proper try again - as here
I'm so cross that there appears to be a brown caterpiller across the page. It is actually some beautiful flower ribbon
here it is with the light turned up!
I used cream cardstock; MME papers; a doily inked all over; Cosmo Cricket lettering and a Jenni Bowlin button. Phil took the beautiful photographs and edited them.
And finally
Papers: Basic Grey and Echo Park; Daisy D rub on put on acetate with paint one the back; Glimmer mist; Embellishments: WRMK, October Afternoon, Cosmo Cricket; Making Memories; Bazzill;Nikki Sivils; Paperchase; Fiskars border punch

And that is that!
Yesterday I was not preaching as it was my Study Leave week but there was a Pastoral Tea Party at one of my churches. There the Elders, who have a group of people to care for within the Church, sit with their groups so that folk can get to know each other and their Elder better. It is a really good time of sharing and helps us to feel like a real family. I asked the children what to sing for one of the hymns for our short closing act of worship and they chose "O come all ye faithful", then after some thought "Come and join the celebration". We sang the latter. Why should carols just be for Christmas after all!

My new favourite number

2011-01-28T18:50:00.004Z

is 78.
'Cos I did quite well in my last Dissertation module - results came out yesterday
OK enough of that.

My other favourite number is 216 as that means home. I have been away for three days doing some research for said dissertation in Cambridge. I did have a fab time, catching up with some of the most adorable people I know, meeting the new ordinands at Westminster College (thats someone training to be a Minister and where they train) walking a lot (it is 30 minutes walk from where I was staying to Anglia Ruskin university) and reading lots of Management Studies books about teams and leadership and making connections to Ministry until my head buzzed. But it is good to be home and hanging with my babes and laughing over tea again. Tomorrow Carys and I are having a girly day at Lakeside which will be fabulous I'm sure! (Even though I detest Lakeside :))

Because I have been away I haven't been crafting but I actually managed to do my Daring Card early in the week rather than 10pm on Thursday night as I usually do.
Lynda gave us a fun dare to think about.

The Year of the Rabbit

3^rd February 2011 will welcome in the next Chinese New Year – the Year of the Rabbit. So this week I’m going to let you have TWO options to choose from:-

Make a card with an Oriental feel to it

Make a card that features a rabbit.

It’s entirely up to you.

I went for rabbit as I knew I still had one of these cuties left
Cosmo Cricket Togetherness - what a great collection. I only have a few sheets left but loads of the chipboard pieces as i couldn't bear to use them. Serve me right! So I'll have to make some cards with the rest of it I think. Everything is Cosmo apart from the ribbon which is Papertrey Ink. Oh how I wish they would make it easier (ie less costly) to order for UK people as it is soooo expensive.

My other favourite number is 30. That is the date this Sunday and although I have a tea party at Church I do not have a service to prepare this week as I am on study leave. Although I look forward to Sunday's away from the pulpit there is often a sense of regret as well because of what I won't get to wrestle with. This week its the Beatitudes - some words that Jesus said and I love this version from the Message

"You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope.
With less of you there is more of God and his rule.
You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you.
Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.
You're blessed when you're content with just who you are - no more, no less.
That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought.
You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God.
He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat.
You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being 'carefull,' you find yourselves cared for.
"You're blessed when you get your inside world - your mind and heart - put right.
Then you can see God in the outside world.
"You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight.
That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family.

May you feel blessed this weekend!

Passing on the style

2011-01-24T16:13:00.005Z

My wonderful friend Sue has just passed on an award to me and said lots of lovely things that make me blush. Thanks Sue!
I ahve to share 7 things about myself. I can't believe there are 7 things people don't know (that I am willing to share!)

My mum wanted my middle name to be Xantippe. It isn't.
because both my parents are 5' 7 I thought I would be as well. At 45 and 5' 2 I need to accept that the only way from here is shorter
I look a lot younger than I am - and being 45 as I said this is now a good thing.
When I see people struggling with 3 small children under 4 I pity them, wonder how they do it and also why they chose to have kids so close together. Then I remember that was me 14 years ago. (it gets better but more hectic in terms of exams/university)
my voice is one of the biggest things about me. Not when I speak one to one but I know how to PROJECT.
My singing range is almost 3 octaves. it is rather weak or shrieky at both ends but I would love to finally get there!
I bite my nails but not down to the quick so I just about get away with looking like I just can't cut or file them properly.

So who do I pass on to? I jsut can't link to 15!!
but here are some of the best crafty blogs that Sue hasn't already mentioned. Many of them I am/have been on teams with and they are lovely people as well as great crafters!
Jo Kill - unique and amazing talented. The details on her cards are amazing
Nat - it was seeing her creations that got me into Self Addressed kits that kept me going the first few years of my cardmaking. She is still fresh and funky!
Samm - she does bright and beautiful so well. I hope we'll meet one day as we only live about 15 minutes from each other!
Keryn - one of the original Daring Cardmakers still going strong and she is the person to go to in NZ if you want Stamping Up goodies
Rein - there is always something fun and unusual to see on her blog
Asia - makes such sweet and pretty cards
Lynda - I am in awe of her stamping
Jules - great cards and I love playing hunt the heart
Anice - best boss ever and creator of the wonderful Funky Hand goodies
Ruth - her cards are great but it is the other creations that she makes that inspire me
Allison - I love the soft and subtle colour palettes that she uses. (And the feathers!)

there that is 10. Enough for now I think!
I finished another scrap page today.
This uses the November Gottacraft kit as the basis
I added
Papertrey ink stamps; White dabber paint; letters: (Making Memories; Cosmo Cricket; Tim Holtz dies;) Martha Stewart butterfly punch; EK Success and Fiskars border punches; Prima bling; KI memories striped paper (how old is that?); Paperchase Deer.
The silver disc is a chipboard circle covered in glossy accents covered in fine glitter covered in glossy accents.
And lots of ink and black pen work.

Its a toofer day

2011-01-21T09:53:00.006Z

Yes, I ran out of time to do my Salt post yesterday and so it is "toofer the price of one" today.
Yes, almost as funny as the reason why Milliband chose Balls as his Shadow Chancellor - cos "two Eds are better than one".
I'll get my coat.

So ... Salt.
It was my turn to choose the subject and so I went for something that I needed to process and reflect on - bereavement. As I am a Minister I get to take funerals which is an enormous privilege. It is harder than you might think - a funeral itself is usually 45 minutes tops but there is a huge amount of emotional energy to try and deal with and I find them spiritually draining. I try and help the family to come to terms with the fact that their loved one has died. I know it sounds obvious when you are staring at a coffin but it needs that full stop. And also to let go of that person and give them to God. And to say thank you for the way that they touched the lives of others. A mixture of laughter and tears and tough moments and prayer.
But it is only the beginning really of the long hard road of living without that person and thinking about all the "what might have beens". I have suffered some bereavements in my life which had a profound effect but it was not until a close family member suffered an even greater loss that I began to realise just how hard this is. How long the path is. And that no-one else can travel it with you. Apart from God.

Which is why I am involved in Bereavement courses and set the tough challenge for the team this week.
Here is my take on "Walking through the valley of the shadow of death"
The photo I used was taken by my very talented photographer hubby. I had wanted to explain the significance but ran out of room (as you will see). See more here and click Phil's link for more information. It is a path that you cannot take without guidance from one who knows the way.
I thought that I would have plenty of room for the Bible quotes and my own thoughts on the left hand side but I had more to say than I expected.. I have a Creative Memories lines template that helped me keep the writing straight. I did some handsewing this time as I haven't changed my sewing needle yet.
Materials
Cardstock - Bazzill cream smooth
Papers: Pink Paislee(Parisian Anthology; Queen Bee) : MME (Lost and Found); embossed paper from stash
Embellishments: Copper brads and button from stash
Inks: Distress - Pumice Stone and Brushed Corduroy
Letters: Making Memories; Cosmo Cricket; Adornit: Jenni Bowlin
Here are a couple of close ups of the hard to read bits...
I do appreciate the wonderful work the rest of the team have done for what is quite a challenging challenge!

Asia chose a fabulous dare for the Daring Cardmakers this week!
It's All about Me!
where we had to choose some of our favourite stuff to put on a card that you would like to receive yourself. well... I should have made a bigger card as I had to take some bits off
So what are my favourite things?
Kraft cardstock - check
Square card - check (but the ones I have are smaller than my usual square ones. Sulk)
Pink Paislee Parisian Anthology papers (which I love so much I bought some more at Imagine That yesterday. I NEVER buy more of the same paper!) They look pretty without anything done to them (the mat for the photo above is the reverse of one of the papers) but when you put ink or spray or anything on them - oh my. They have a fab resist. Isued tow of my fave Distress inks - Peeled paint and crushed olive on the paper which I then faux stitched using the more time consuming punch and outline technique.
I used papers from another favourite collection - Crate Paper Restoration - hand cutting the doily and letting it hang off centre (which I love). The doily is covered in Glamour Dust but you can't really see it, not even up close. (The butterfly has white glitter on it)
then there is a little bit of ribbon, a sticker border and a punched border - there had to be a punched border - this punch is Fiskars.
On top I inked a Waltzing Mouse stamp for Nesties label 4, cut it out and embossed it and then decided I wanted to use my best new stamps and matching ticket die - my Christmas present from the adorable Sue Hyde and also bought from Imagine That.
A punched Martha Stewart butterfly on foam pads and some pearls and the card is complete. Phew!
Although now it is on big screen the card looks like it is leaning to the side to me, I do think the presentation looks professional. wanna see it before cropping?
My work and play desks are much more like the right hand side of the picture than the left!

I have quite a full weekend ahead. At one church we are trying something new by inviting the people in our road in for coffee to see what is needed by the community and if we can get something going. I wonder if anyone will come?
Two services on Sunday and in the afternoon there is a tea party at the other Church. For two sunday afternoons these are held so people know who their elders are (the Church leaders who have special care for them) and get to know others a bit better - ending in a short act of worship.
I hope whatever you are doing, you have the chance to be creative - it is good for the soul!

How I spent my day off

2011-01-18T11:27:00.003Z

I am quite a lazy person. I think sloth is probably my biggest deadly sin - although I can score quite highly on most of them if I put my mind to it. And I am very good at berating myself for all my deadly sins, rather than looking at what I have achieved and trying to amend my bad habits.
So in some ways I didn't do very much yesterday but in others I did so I thought that if I wrote it down that would help

several loads of washing (5 0r 6) either put away or washed and dried. Actually I have just realised that the whites are still in the dryer which means I will have to iron some shirts. horlicks.
cleaned and tidied downstairs loo and conservatory and also washed floor in sitting room. (Please let our next house have wooden floors)
Did a few work emails and highlighted others to deal with today - which I have!
Worked on my second set of 4 canvasses. Have a bit of a problem with these as having merrily stuck down paper in a slapdash way with multi medium (which I was sure is what we did in a class I took) I have discovered it is acting as a resist and is an ugly looking rim around the paper. Each canvas is now having a different treatment to try and hide it. Horlicks is not what I said when I discovered this.
booked two holidays - one near number one son so we can spend some time with him and the others can see where he lives; the other near my parents so we can join in the 80th birthday celebrations when they arise.
Finished two layouts (see below)
Watched movie with family - Nativity! and Glee (not so keen on the second series and am close to muting Lea Michelle as she makes my ears bleed. No offence)
Spent far too much time sitting on my backside on the computer.

but it was not so bad was it?
I can see that what was missing was

quiet devotional time. I do struggle with this. I feel really bad as I should be able to concentrate on long times of quiet prayer surely? However I am 45 now and I still haven't caught the knack so I need to truly find what works for me. Which I think is spending more moments in quick prayer and contemplation - a bit like one of my fave hymns (we don't usually sing it like this but all the organ versions had VERY loud organ and quiet singing and I rather like this). Being a "good" Christian does not come easy and at the points that it does, well, that can sometimes be a sign that things are not actually healthy either (although there are some really blessed saints who have their act together!). I preached on Sunday about it being "all about Jesus" - not John the baptist, or us - that success or failure is not just about how good/bad we are. I've found that phrase has stuck with me this week and as next Sunday I am leading worship at two other Churches and the readings follow on, I think more will be said along those lines then.
exercise and fresh air. I've been having a few annoying health issues and so am not throwing myself around like an idiot at the moment but I really ought to do something - even if it is taking a reluctant dog for a walk. Yes I ahve the only dog who is pulling to go home after 100 yards...

so lets see how I do on my next proper day off which won't be next week as I have a funeral in the middle of it!
Phew this is getting long and I haven't shared the crafty makes yet. I am waiting to take another funeral. It is hard to settle to anything on those days so I have been catching up on emails and looking at the lessons and ideas for Sunday (and wittering on in this blog)

Layouts then...
This one is about Phil being on a boat when they did an Air Sea rescue exercise. I suppose it could have been Prince William!
Papers: Echo Park; Bazzill white card stock
Embellishments: sassafrass (stickers) ; maya road (flower) ; prima (gem)
Lettering: American Crafts; Making memories; Cosmo Cricket
Tools: Nestabilities circle and label; Fiskars scallop punch; Sewing machine (either I need a new needle or to give up trying to sew on layouts)
Distress Inks - blues and greens used together;
Turquoise glimmer mist

And this one uses the photo that Phil photoshopped in December
Do you know this is the first non holiday or Salt layout that I have to put into an album since April 2010? I ahve made others - for the competition - and I hope they will be returned. But that is quite something. it takes me a year usually to finish the summer holiday album which is fine by me as it tends to be about moments or reflections on the family rather than events or a linear documenting of the hols.
This was based on an old Sketchy thursday sketch, originally for two photos. I am usually good at working out how much space I need for journalling. This was an epic fail...
I am fed up with just using all papers from the same manufacturer and also feel I am good with using loads of papers in different ways but rubbish at adding embellishments so I actually went through lots of paper selections to try and find colours that fit and having a pile of potential bits to use too. Kind of worked! The star tag is really the wrong colour so I might take it out and paint it a bit. Or leave it. The flower was white as was the little paper ric rac but I used the scarlet glimmer mist to paint them.

papers: Bazzil Cardstock; Basic Grey Junebug and Ambrosia: Cosmo Cricket Cogsmo
Embellishments: papermania brad and metal tags; corner and "family" plate from Costco kit; prima flower; Doodelbug paper trim; acrylic shape from a Gottacraft kit
Lettering: basic grey boxer
Tools: papertrey Ink die scallop die; nestabilities circle; Cuttlebug embossing folder
distress ink - Pumice Stone Glimmer mist - Scarlet

And the song still plays in my head every time I look at this photo!
And what do you know - I just went to see the intro to possibly link to the photo and you see the group walking sideways; individual headshots and a back view and never en masse towards you like this. Its an iconic shot that never was...
Hmmm got to be a sermon in that somewhere (yes ministers really do think that way!)

By the way - thanks for all the lovely comments on the last post - they make me all warm and fuzzy!

Running up

2011-01-14T09:57:00.005Z

I'm chuffed to bits to say that I am a runner up in the Scrapbook Magazine Scrapbooker of the Year competition.
wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
I had to send in 3 layouts and the one they chose to feature in the magazine is this one
It uses more of that fab Pink Paislee paper that you can ink. I also used Nestability and Tim Holtz dies; K and Co and basic Grey embellishments; Paperartsy stamps and lots and lots of Distress Ink. Thanks to Phil for taking the photos of the butterflies!

Would you like to see my prizes? This is most but not all of my haul
Ooodles of types of adhesive which probably only crafters would get excited about! Two 12x12 albums; brads; flowers; ribbons and also a magnifying glass on a stand which I am using for my cross stitch at the mo but may be donated to Auntie Jones who could then read her paper without holding a magnifyer as well.

I've also managed to make a whole two things this week
1: My Daring Card -
This week we had a No Calorie Recipe!

Here are the ingredients you must use on your card:

1 image (stamped, digital or other type)

2 pieces of ribbon
3 different papers

and we were also sent some lovely digital freebies from Robyn's Fetish digital stamp store.
The green and orange papers are digital as well as the green/orange patterned one and the image is coloured with prismacolour pencils. One of the orange layers was embossed and there is a lot of foam paddage going on - it will have to be a hand delivered card. The stanp is a Paula Pascual one and the ribbons are Maya Road and part of my prize which arrived on the day I needed orange and green ribbon!

Finally I also made a layout this week
You can't see the title thanks to the dark morning but it says "Simples". well it is a layout about meerkats so what else would it say? The circle took ages because I made a mask and misted the rest of the paper and then decided to hand sew around it. Looks good though for the effort I think! The layout is based on a sketch from Get Picky which is a sketch blog all about using more than one photo. great idea! I used Cosmo Cricket papers; Bazzill black card stock; Sassafrass and Prima embellishments; Tim Holtz and Papertrey Ink dies and the same Martha Stewart border punch as above. Sigh. I haven't used it on a layout since but it looks like I use it all the time now. Mind you it is pretty cool...

Here is what the journalling says for those of you who would also like a magnifying glass (like my hubby whose life has been changed by one...)
back to balancing the needs of two different churches and one order of service - this week it is Induction of Elders at one church and Reception of a Member at the other. That means I must be careful not to talk too much!

Changes

2011-01-07T10:21:00.003Z

This year will see some changes for me - mostly work wise.
Firstly, I have now started (just) the new pattern of leading worship on a Sunday which means most Sundays taking a 9:30 and then an 11:15 service. I actually wrote 9:15 and 11:30 down first. Must make sure I get them right... Last Sunday was straightforward as it was the two Churches I am already Minister of - familiar territory and I could use the same material with a few tweaks. This Sunday it is Parade services at 2 of the other Churches and I am having to do different things at both for various reasons. All age services are never that easy to gauge for me - plus there are all sorts of little things that happen that you take for granted when you know how but can throw you when you don't - e.g. is there a sung amen at the end? What happens to the offertory?
So I am a tad nervous...
There is also the issue of getting out of one and over to the other - these two are the furthest apart. Not far in terms of mileage but if the Sunday shoppers are already out then it can take for-ev-ver.

Now Phil and I need to sit down and see how this new way of being Ministers in the Churches is taking shape. Exciting new challenge but daunting and scary.

And then there is the MA. My Dissertation paperwork is in, just need to wait for the OK in terms of subject and then ethical clearance and off I go. Up until now my work has been marked by seminars and tutor guidance. Although I have a fab supervisor now it is really all down to me.Ulp! My Christmas present was a digital recorder so that I can transcribe interviews which makes it all very serious like. Still I hope that what I look into will be helpful for the Church - I want to focus on how we get team ministries to function when in the United Reformed Church there is no leadership hierarchy. In our team that is just as well as Phil and I would not like one to be the boss of t'other. But you do need to have systems in place to make it work.

What I hope won't be changing is my crafting time. I do need some creative outlets. Being an introverted type I need time on my own to make sense of the world and crafting helps me do that! So here is this weeks card for the Daring Cardmakers. This year we are going for flowers of the month starting with Snowdrops or Carnations as January gets two! I adore snowdrops so it was no contest choosing really. But then how to do it? I did some googling and found this lovely digi stamp at Doodle Pantry (the shop isn't working today - perhaps I broke it! so the link is to the blog)
I painted the image (badly) with Peeled Paint and Antique Linen distress ink and coloured the petals with Glamour Dust. I used the same inks to distress and colour the card stock. The background paper is the fabulous Pink Paisless Parisian Anthology (Fancy Filligree) which you can buy here. Its kind of like the old magic painting whereby you add some colour - ink or spray or paint and the resist is revealed. The sentiment is also from Doodle Pantry - it comes with the snowdrop. I used several different nesties incluing that new Circle border one so expect more circular images to appear on my cards. The ribbon is from stash.
Here is a close up of the lovely image and my terrible colouring. I need to find a reeeeeeeelllly fine brush and a steadier hand. It doesn't look so bad from far away.

If you are one of the people expecting presents from me, look away now.
Have you gone?
I give people from my churches parts of animals for Christmas. Or parts of toilets. Or teachers. I buy gifts through Oxfam and then make a token crafty present for them as well. Only I ran out of time this year and so have promised they will receive something before Easter. I have just about done the first batch of 4 (another 4 to go)
They are (about) 6x6" canvases. I used lots of different paints and distress inks and sprays, plus some vintage book paper. Then I added stamped text and flourishes to the canvas. Some thin chipboard or mountboard (depending on the scraps I had) was painted with white paint and given a grain effect and then distressed with Antique Linen and vairous blue and green inks. The house was made from papers by Crate Paper; MME and Glitz Design. The knob is a bead from Hobbycraft and the heart is Ten Second Studio metal, cut using a Sizzlet heart, embossed, painted and sanded.

Holiness

2011-01-06T12:42:00.005Z

I'm really not a very holy person.
Even though I am paid to be.
I am all too aware of my faults and failings.
And how they can become an excuse "I was born that way"
No excuse at all Rev Nev!
This "New Year" (actually only one of many - School = September; Jewish = Sept/Oct; Christian year = Advent; financial year = April etc, etc) is a time to reflect and to try and loosen the bindings of complacency once more.
Although it is EXTRA hard when the mornings are dark and I am exhausted after Christmas and just want to lie in bed and eat chocolate which is sadly not very biblical.
But today's SALT challenge is helping me in my thinking about how to make a change. And Kim's blog has a wonderful reflection on wanting change, praying for change and making change that I will be dwelling with for a while.
Kim challenged the Salt team to "Pray for holiness"
and here is what I came up with
A picture of a Willow Tree angel and a determination to strive to be the best me I can be.
I am very good at comparing myself badly to other people. Apparently this is a trait of people who are INFP on Myers Briggs (don't know what that means? Have a Google, it is very interesting). So this year I have decided that what I need to work on is being who God has called me to be - ie me and not anyone else.
Sigh.
It is hard work though!
But that is where the verse that Kim have us is so helpful
and if I manage this
perhaps I will be closer to my goal.
The papers are all Lily Bee Christmas Town purchased because I like the die cuts (one used as the photo frame) and they are not too Christmassy. We didn't really take any photos over Christmas so that is just as well.
Other products used:
Flourish stamp and white chalk ink
Jenni Bowlin buttons
Sticky backed copper studs from Imagine That
EK success label punch
Tim Holtz flourish die
Crochet ribbon from stash

I've also made a few cards - some tiny thank you cards using up odds and ends (Scenic Route and Funky Hand)
and some cards based on a sketch by Joke I found - I think through 2Sketches4U
(papers all Funky hand)
I think I will adapt it a bit more as it is a great way to make 4 cards at the same time. The card is still quite big though.
Sentiment is from Imagine That

A year in review

2010-12-30T13:04:00.007Z

well....
I did think about picking out all my fave cards and/or layouts for the months gone by but decided that was just too much like hard work.
So here are just a few things of note for this year, crafting wise.
And a few other personal ones as well.

This year saw me give up two crafting opportunities due to trying to squeeze too much into too little time and if anything has to go - it is crafting (as opposed to work and study. I already do very little housework so can't give up the last few crumbs and dust bunnies)
Firstly,
Docrafts mag - I was an occasional contributor. Loved the challenges and the editors! But the deadlines were a bit of a nightmare with everything else I had to do. (No-one's fault, just the way things work)
Here is one of my fave layouts for them.
There are some that haven't been published as yet - a shame as they are some of the most personally meaningful ones I have. Maybe one day I can show them to you.

Secondly - and even more tough was the decision to step down from Funky Hand. I sooo love Anice's designs and Anice and the whole team are just wonderful. But I wasn't pulling my weight and had to make the decision to leave. Cue much sobbing from me (because I am an emotional wuss pants)
Here are some of my fave projects

I am still part of 2 just for fun design teams though - the Salt challenge team which brings out new faith based challenges every two weeks

and Daring Cardmakers - yes we are still going after all this time

and taking classes/drooling over all the lovely stash at Imagine That where I have taught two scrap classes this year. How wonderful to have an amazing craft shop in walking distance of the house (although i always cycle/drive as I usually want to bring some goodies home)

I also managed to do a little cardmaking and scrapping just for fun. here are my faves

I also completed two MA modules; Hywel did his A levels and went to Uni; Emrys did his GCSE's and went to college; Carys moved up to senior ties - probably because we now have about 7 junior ties in the house for her to wear (she is as untidy as her mother) and now has singing lessons and is developing a lovely voice; Phil is studying to become a fully fledged biker so he can take me on the back of the bike and his nature photography is just stunning - have a look at his Flickr account
And I went to see Muse. Which was awesome.
Workwise we are trying to make a team of 5 churches from two sets of two plus one, which has gone pretty well so far and gives Phil and I an extra challenge in our old age! Here is to really making it work and allowing God's love to flow out to the communities where the churches are based.

I don't really do resolutions (although last year I promised to only call Emrys "Emrys" and not things like "Embiddlyboddlyboo" which Phil still does. I managed it but it is very hard) or one little word but I think my word for the year might just be "beleive" and now I have to ponder why...
Happy New 2011 everyone!

Well it is about time

2010-12-28T10:23:00.004Z

The trouble with taking a break from blogging is starting again!
Well here I am,
the other side of Christmas Day
and THE ESSAY ( well Research project) is handed in.
I have a dissertation proposal submission deadline looming but I think all is in hand - and then it is head down and work steadily on the actual thing for 13 months. I am not really a work steadily kind of girl so this will mean discipline...

And I am hoping to restart with Daring Cards and Salt too. It has felt really odd missing them out. But necessary for a while.

Christmas was fab.
Christmas Eve involved the joy of the Pyjama Service - about 25-30 children in their pj's listening to the Christmas story and being sent home to bed. And then the awe and wonder of Midnight Mass. Then Christmas Day - fun and celebration.
I love all those services so much.
Sometimes people ask if I am working over Christmas. (Does three services in 12 hours count? And Phil has 4!) but it doesn't really feel like work. Sharing in priase and worship is the highlight of Christmas. The food and presents and Dr Who are just a bonus.
Just as well as Dr Who was not great and I fell asleep. i think I did that last year too...

And yes, we had to wake the kids.
But then they are at the stage where they would rather sleep in until after noon anyway!
My parents have just left after a few days visit and we are having our own Pyjama Day today.
Phil has had to put clothes on to take dogs for a walk
(dogs plural as we are collie sitting. Actually having 3 dogs wasn't as bad as I thought. Especially as the youngest is fascinated with the guinea pigs and can stare at them for hours at a time).

We have really very few Christmas shots. Only this one from the walk yesterday given special treatment by Phil after I mentioned what it reminded me of!
And yes, Hywel is home. He goes back sometime next week but is rather vague as to when ("Maybe Sunday") It is great having him home although he does take over my computer rather as his is still at University!

I haven't done much crafting at all - and owe crafty presents all over the place now! but I did manage a new card class for Imagine That using their fab ticket stamps, doilies and Basic Grey Cappella papers on a kraft/white background

And here are a few cards I managed to make in work breaks recently. I am trying to use up old sets of papers as I have rather too many! I do adore this october afternoon set but something has to go!
Will I post again in 2010?
I'm sure the suspense will be killing you!