Ho hum to mmmm to oooh to aaah

Ho Hum
Life has just been a bit ho hum since I last blogged but if I don't blog a bit more now then it will be a week and that is norty. Black dog still there but more like a puppy now... Managed to get a fair bit of work done considering and I've polished off about 20 chicken cards. I am doing batches of 5 that are similar but almost all different, though there is one layering design I like so will use that for chicks, chickens and roosters. Still haven't had a letter of confirmation though so he'd better flipping want them!

Mmmm
On the self Addressed site they are having daily challenges and ideas following the virtual crop at the weekend. I couldn't join in again as we had the family day - plus I just can't get the hang of EST and stuff. I thought they were behind but now I think they might be ahead. Plus all the shop bargains you have to pay postage on, which is £5 before we start in the UK. I'm not sulking too hard though! Anyway, I mention this because Hilary has put together a card organiser class which is fabby and may be something i can mke for our church fair which comes up all too soon.

Oooh
You know how sometimes on blogs people say they have a secret and it's really exciting but they can't say anything yet and it is SOOOOoooo annoying because you want to know and they are being smug gits?
Smug.

Aaaaah

Phil scanned this old pic in. I'll give you a moment to giggle at the scary lady with the big glasses.
Better now?
This is a pic of Hywel aged about 14 months (I can tell because he already has glaasses at this point). It is entitled Mooojic Van. This is because he loved to watch the music van come round the streets playing it's little tune. His mean old parents had not told him that the music van also sold icecream. Can you see they joy on his little face? He was so excited to be actually able to touch a music van that he
a: did not notice the lack of music.
b: did not notice the people behind him buying and eating icecream.
c: Did not notice his parents having a good laugh at his expense.

well that's the reason I HAVE children...

scrapping crazy

Somehow over the last few days I've managed to fit a fair bit of work and family time in but also get some scrapping done. I guess doing 8 by 8 helps! Of course I've got lots of other things I should be doing... But I'm also fighting the black dog today so I'm jst crafting and ignoring the rest of the world.
This one uses the new BG Lily Kate (mmm) cut with zigzag scissors (funky) woven with May arts ribbons (cry cos they are so lovely), MM flowers and some buttons to be like sunflowers.
This one uses the SA Sept kit and a sticker I got as a spot prize for putting silly photos of myself on the Scrapstars site which is where won the comp yesterday. I didn't mention the name before cos I felt like a bit of a traitor to Carolyn's forum!!! I also frequent the Self addressed one but that is in America so it didn't feel the same. But then I realised that as Scrapstars doesn't have a shop I don't need to feel so bad. Carolyn's will always be home. But Scrapstars is a new, friendly away!
Chatterbox paper, Mambi softly spoken tag thing, various ribbons including some from Carolyn's shop where all the buttons and brads come from too. E is from an old kit. I think it is KI varsity letters
More bits from the September SA kit plus some letters from the Scrapbook Inspirations freebie. When I opened up my mag I found I had two of these free gifts but I'm not sharing cos I love my letters I do. The poem is break, break, break by Alfred, Lord Tennyson. I wanted something about how lovely and dangerous the sea can be. I needn't have cut my swirl up but it probably made writing it easier. I just wnet for it and only had that tiny space where the heart is to spare. cool eh?
Why is he called Alfred, Lord Tennyson and not Lord Alfred Tennyson?Answers on a postcard please.
And finally...
another sticker from my pressie, scrummy crate papers (they just seem to go with everything. You can't really tell in the picture but the stripes are almost identical in hue to the jumper Hywel is wearing) seed bead flowers constructed by my own fair had. I double sided some double sided tape (with me?) and punched out some circles using yer ordinary hole punch, then painstakingly added the beads. it made making them a lot easier in the end!

Off to possibly dye my hair (can I be bothered?) have lunch and then set to making some chicken cards now I have the chickens

Grand Day Out

Yesterday was the much promised family day. As it was sunny we went ofr a circular walk in Essex. Phil was giving up watching Bolton live on the telly, I was giving up going to Ally Pally for a craft showand the kids were giving up valuable computer and tv time (oh the sacrifice). We managed to be in the car with a picnic by 10:30 which is amazing for us!

It was absolutely fantastic. we went to a village called Little Dunmow which is a flitch village where once a year a couple who have been faithful for a whole year are paraded round in the flitch chair and given some bacon (how is the competition judged?)

The walk was about 2 hours long and it was warm and sunny all the way along and started to rain as soon as we got back to the car. Phil has a book of circular walks which is very detailed and means you don't have to retrace your steps (which I don't like to do!)

The variety of fruits around the paths was amazing

(I've got ten different fruits and flowers in all)
We found some other interesting stuff too...

And on the way home we found Phil had only missed part of the match and Bolton won 2-0 yay!
And I did a bit of scrapbooking too so we are all happy.

I also found out I won a card making competition which is exciting (Only a small one but I don't care)
Here is the card!

Yup, just as fiddly as the chickens!

chicken fever

The chickens are finished!
Still got the actual cards to make but the most fiddly part is done. The cards will be quicker if I can allow for thicker margins between my squares. I make the backing out of layers of card punched into squares. But the margins between are thinker than I like, so then I end up trimming the squares. If I go for bigger it will cut down on making time. Ooooh decisions, decisions.

Still haven't actually had the letter of intent, just a verbal agreement but I'll plough on and just have to give out loads of chicken cards this year!

Carys has her guide uniform now so here is a rushed photo of her as we were going out last night. she is perfecting the tweenage "Do I have to?" look. She looks so old to me! ON Sunday hse is doing a sponsored abseil then next Friday it's the Big Gig where lots of Guides go to a concert with lots of the current favourite singers/bands eg Lamarr.

Another day another post

Surely its a record!
Only got some of the jobs on my list done - the important ones!
BUT I did fit in a trip to Artbase because my little xyron runner had, well, run out.
So I bought two of those
2 square punches (I think I now have them all - but I do use them a lot)
two sheets of black bazzill
and a cropodile.

I wish I could resist gadgets but it does cut through acrylic which will help with tarted up clipboards and resued old cd's. I'm not allowed to use it until all the chickens are made. (29 made, well 30 but one had to be thrown out due to scary eyes).
I have vowed not to do any more crafty spending until next payday. It was payday yesterday...

I decided to try using the refill without putting it back in the machine and it works a treat - you can fit far more in and there is a whole lot less wastage.

I've had a few brain swelling meetings today so tonight will be spent on more chickens. Oh life is so exciting!
As it's not so warm today - a photo of my baby over the summer. She already looks so much older

Where has the week gone?

I am Soooooooooooo sorry!
work has just been a bit worky this week!
I have done some crafty bits though. Finished the book for my Godson. It is a board book about the blessings of Ben, where his parents can put in photos of Ben, his family and God[arents and it also says how much God loves him. The front smudged a bit when I put mod podge on (grrrr) but it looks worse in this photo than it is and to try and do anything else would make it worse....


So I will try again in the morning as I have a scrap book page to make now .

Morning! Pics now up and scrap page done.
Here is my very mature family enjoying their hols in Scotland. Paper is all the wonderful Crate paper (if you see it in the shop it is well worth stroking as it has a gorgeous texture). Title printed on safmat and gone over in pen. Alphabet brads (says Mud Fun) painted with alcahol inks to get the right shade.

But mostly I have been cutting out QK chicks, roosters and funky chickens (well Phil did the chickens for me) as I have an order for 60 cards! Now that is great news only the rooster has 6 parts to ink and glue together so it's all going to take a little while. I am trying to do a bit at a time so i don't get too bogged down in it. I'm ever so nervous and excited that my stuff is going to sell in a real (well online) shop.

And now it's Tuesday. It's (oops) just past 9 o'clock so it is time to crack on with the real job of sharing God's love with the world. Tasks this morning -
1: find desk
2: print out brochure to see how far we have got
3: go to Prayer meting
4: go to brochure meeting
5: prepare Bible study for Thursday night
6: think about Sunday service - harvest then songs of praise in the afternoon
7: tackle in tray.

I will try and blog tomorrow about how far i got!

Just don't say ANYTHING!

because I am likely to shout at you. Nothing personal just a touch of pmt coupled with having to tidy the house rather than craft, plus not getting enough sleep lately (own fault) plus a tactless e-mail to do with work stuff that has me seething and sad all at the same time when really I should just GET OVER IT.
So be warned...

And I have loads of things to be thankful for.

• Rather than meeting up with Carolyn's in Birmingham I managed to arrange the Church's first weekend of prayer which went really well. We did all sorts of things we don't normally do and I was overwhelmed by the positive reaction (until the e-mail, no don't dwell on it Lyth).
• I can now walk round my bedroom without tripping over anything and redicovered my birthday chocolate orange which got hidden (birthday June. Blush)
• Movie night tonight. Every other Monday we get take away and rent a film. I haeve loads of blockbuster vouchers thanks to Tesco's yay! But our local blockbuster just closed. Booo. Still its a simple and good thing for us to do together. We watched Millions. Oh what a fabulous film! Its 12a but I would say pg as no swearing, a couple of shots of ladies in bras and a St smoking a ciggie but that was all. Two brothers find a bag of money - a gift from God - and set about trying to help the poor with the assistance of some saints. They only have a few days to go as pounds are about to be taken over by euros. Oh its no good i can't do justice to it. You'll just have to watch it and if you like reading this blog you will probably like the film!
• I met up with our training officer to discuss doing an MA next year and think I may be mad enough to try (not just in a year though...)

Hope you can count your blessings today too

Here are 3 more of mine. Don't they always look so lovely asleep?

Probably because it's the only time they can't answer back...

No title

cos it's still September....

I was tagged by Jane on Thursday and i didn't notice - shows how busy I am. So here are my answers. The ones I ahve done are in red.
I have had a sheltered life ya know

1. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
2. Swam with wild dolphins
3. Climbed a mountain - well if you add several hills together I have
4. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
5. Been inside the Great Pyramid
6. Held a tarantula
7. Taken a candlelit bath with someone - but there would be no room for my book!
8. Said “I love you” and meant it
9. Hugged a tree
10. Bungee jumped gotta be kidding
11. Visited Paris - hey I've even broken down on the perepherique. Bet that isn't on the list and that IS scary...
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise. Well we did the staying up thing. Me and some friends at Uni. Sat all night at the Ashton memorial (one of the hills mentioned above). Sadly it was misty that morning. Bummer.
14. Seen the Northern Lights
15. Gone to a huge sports game. Yup Bolton wanderers vs Charlton athletic. Mindblowing.
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables Well DH grew i ate. If that doesn't count then it's only mustard and cress.
18. Touched an iceberg. No but Phil says he does every time my feet touch him at night.
19. Slept under the stars. Only in my dreams. me and Brad. Or Justin. Or Orlando. Oh outside you mean. Only under canvas.
20. Changed a baby’s diaper. No. Changed a baby's nappy.
21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon. Heights. Me. No, no, no, no, no. I won't even go on the London Eye.
22. Watched a meteor shower
23. Gotten drunk on champagne Nope. too tight. Mind you I cna get drunk on a half a shandy...
24. Given more than you can afford to charity. Given a lot but I know I could always give more
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment. All. The. Time.
27. Had a food fight
28. Bet on a winning horse
29. Asked out a stranger
30. Had a snowball fight
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can. I have 3 kids....
32. Held a lamb
33. Seen an eclipse
34. Ridden a (baby) roller coaster
35. Hit a home run. My dream in rounders was alwauys to make contact with the ball. It never went outside the square.
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking. I'm a dancing fool
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
39. Had two hard drives for your computer. No but I've got 4 computers does that count?
40. Visited all 50 states.
41. Taken care of someone who was shit faced - just when they were drunk, or their usual expression? No but I have been the person needing care.
42. Had amazing friends. Ooooooh yes.
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
44. Watched wild whales. No but I'm from wild Wales
45. Stolen a sign
46. Backpacked in Europe
47. Taken a road-trip
48. Gone rock climbing
49. Midnight walk on the beach
50. Gone sky diving - enough with the height stuff already
51. Visited Ireland
52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger’s table and had a meal with them - only if macdonalds can be classed as a restaurant
54. Visited Japan
55. Milked a cow
56. Alphabetized your CDs
57. Pretended to be a superhero - what do you mean pretended. I AM a superhero. It's just that I wear my pants inside my tights (but they are as big as Superman's)
58. Sung karaoke
59. Lounged around in bed all day
60. Posed nude in front of strangers - after my bath before mum put my nappy on. That is NAPPY not diaper
61. Gone scuba diving
62. Kissed in the rain
63. Played in the mud
64. Played in the rain
65. Gone to a drive-in theater
66. Visited the Great Wall of China
67. Started a business
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
69. Toured ancient sites
70. Taken a martial arts class
71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight
72. Gotten married. well no I GOT married. Honestly grammar today!
73. Been in a movie
74. Crashed a party
75. Gotten divorced
76. Gone without food for 5 days
77. Made cookies from scratch. well made biscuits anyway. Real Amercain ones with my own extra ingredient - cocoa powder. mmmm American savrouy biscuits with choclate flavouring. delicious. How was I to know it's COOKIES for the sweet things in the US?
78. Won first prize in a costume contest. Many times. mum was good a the old costume making lark.
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice. On honeymoon when I GOT married. Aaaah
80. Gotten a tattoo
81. Rafted the Snake River
82. Been on television news programs as an expert - no but I have been on a tv programme as an expert.
83. Got flowers for no reason
84. Performed on stage
85. Been to Las Vegas
86. Recorded music - as a backing singer
87. Eaten shark
88. Eaten fugu (pufferfish)
89. Had a one-night stand. Bad, bad, bad idea.
90. Gone to Thailand
91. Bought a house
92. Been in a combat zone
93. Buried one/both of your parents
94. Been on a cruise ship
95. Spoken more than one language fluently
96. Performed in Rocky Horror Picture Show
97. Raised children - usually by the ears.
98. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn’t stop when you knew someone was looking. Not even when they start putting their hands over their ears while driving.
103. Had plastic surgery. Do you think so? with this face?
104. Survived an accident that you shouldn’t have survived
105. Wrote articles for a large publication
106. Lost over 100 pounds
107. Held someone while they were having a flashback
108. Piloted an airplane
109. Petted a stingray
110. Broken someone’s heart
111.Ridden a bike
112. Won money on a T.V. game show
113. Broken a bone
114. Gone on an African photo safari
115. Had a body part of yours below the neck pierced
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild .......(not to eat them ! wink !)
118. Ridden a horse - very slowly pony trekking
119. Had major surgery - c-section
120. Had a snake as a pet
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
122. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
124. Visited all 7 continents
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
126. Eaten kangaroo meat
127. Eaten sushi
128. Had your picture in the newspaper
129. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about
130. Gone back to school
Lost the will to live filling in a blog thing...
131. Parasailed. We're talking height again people. Actually if I had to do some sort of scary above the ground thing it would be this one.
132. Petted a cockroach eeeeeeeeewwwww!
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes
134. Read The Iliad and The Odyssey
135. Selected one important author who you missed in school, and read
136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
137. Skipped all your school reunions
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
139. Been elected to public office
140. Written your own computer language
141. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
143. Built your own PC from parts
144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you
145. Had a booth at a street fair
146. Dyed your hair
147. Been a DJ
148. Shaved your head
149. Caused a car accident
150. Saved someone’s life - according to them anyway

I would post the picture here but blogger won't let me. I have realise dsomething awful.
I have seen the future and it is......
Mrs Doyle.

Ah gawan.
Have a cup of tea.
Ye will, ye will, ye will, ye will.

Apologies to any diaper users who don't have a clue what the feck I'm talking about...

Yes it's september

September is the busiest month of the year for me work wise.
All the organisations that didn't meet over the summer meet in September for a catch up.
I'm also working every Saturday and have really full Sundays all month. 30th September is my first non work saturday so we are going to do something family wise together. I did think of going to Ally pally for a Stamp and Crafting show but thought I probably ought to put family and wallet first.

wallet is feeling a little weak after I splurged on the new Basic Grey collections. I just love their collections because - well, everything goes together so nicely! (duh) and it makes putting patterns together a breeze. It also mean I have to use stuff I wouldn't necessarily and that helps my creativity (such as it is). I also ordered some top ups of the colour me silly range - actually mostly the plain ones as they help to make brilliant backgrounds for chicken cards. I ahve a few Qk chicken dies now and Phil has sent some of my cards off to Omlet to see if they would like to stock them in their online shop. I don't know whether I want them to say yes or no!

Next crafty spend will be a cropodile becacause it cuts through acrylic so next time i want to make a tarted up clipboard I can put holes in it. Hhhmmmm probably ought to do some of these for the church fair in November. We are having a Pirates theme.
Why are pirates called pirates?
Because they aaaaar!

Monday I had some lovely crafting time making a board book for my godson Ben. OK so his birthday was the end of August and this is a leetle late. But hey, he's one and won't notice. I'm going to finish it I hope this Monday. Will photograph the pages too.

Every post needs a piccy so
THAT is what I think of September

Tagged about ancestors

thanks kathy!

1. Which famous person would you most like to learn that you are descended from?
Being the good christian girl that I am (try anyway) my first rection was to say Jesus but then remembered that I would be opening a theological can of worms! So I'll go for Elizabeth Fry who did so much work for prison reform
2. Which famous person would you hate to learn that you are descended from?
There are all too many obvious baddies and I will not give them the oxygen of publicity by naming them!
3. If you could be ancestor to any living famous person, who would it be and why?
I think I'll go for Desmond Tutu. His faith and his ability to make a difference - seemingly laughing all the time too - is such an inspiration
4. If you could go back in time and meet any known ancestor(s) of yours, who would it be?
This answer sounds sinilar to Kathy's. My Gramma becasue she died when I was 8 before could really get to know her. She was beautiful, very musically talented and a bit of an enigma to me. I wouldn't mind meeting the boxer on my dad's side who went to America rich and came back poor to give him some financial advice...
5. Tag five others: NZJane, Axaria, Carolyn, Rachel, Lucylou

So why blog?

That is the rhetorical question that NZ Jane asked on hers yesterday and it got me thinking.
I've come up with a few reasons why I blog

• It's better than keeping a diary
• I like to write stuff. I like to see the way that I write in a blog cos it entertains me.
• I like to find out the trivia of other people's lives and am willing to put at elast some of mine on show.
• Although I don't talk about my faith too much it's a place where I hope that I can share that Christians are (fairly) normal people
• I can archive photos and craft stuff on here in case my hard drive dies. (Mine did last year. Do YOU back up regularly?)
• I love getting feedback from people about what I write (though not many do, hint, hint)

Back to the hols, lets see if blogger will play

Wet picnic with Murray monumint sticking out of my head

Wet people at the top.

One of the fun things we did was go to a farm to make ice cream. Actually we can do this at home wit our ice cream maker but haven't done much. Note to self. Make ice cream.

It was good fun and the kids enjoyed wearing their hats...

They made some 'delicious' ice-cream. Lots of honey, raisins and meringue. Fillings hurt just to think about it!

There was also lots of fun wooden things to play on. I love this picture of Phil

Kids are now back to school (hurray!) Not that I'm glad to see the back of them, it's that there is a better sense of routine now. we had a family meeting last night (we try and have one every Tuesday during term time) and we were very impressed about their grown up answers and solutions to problems. we didn't quite crack world peace but had good suggestions for non crisp items in lunch boxes....

They're coming to take me away ha,ha, hee, hee

Went to use the car Wednesday. S'funny, the door is unlocked and I NEVER leave it unlocked. Weirder still the spare key is in the ignition. Car battery dead as a dodo. Had a good try at blaming Phil for all this then realised I must have opened the boot on Tuesday, got the shopping out and left the key in the ignition. At least I shut the driver's door. Muppet.
And finally here are my feet!

I've almost got the hang of this work thing again. It will be eaier when we are all back in our usual routine. Except Phil who is now on Sabbatical for three months. I may have already had mine but that doesn't stop me feeling green!

I'm sure you are dying to know more about the holiday...
we actually did more out and about things than we do when we are on a campsite in France.
The kids discovered that going on walks can actually be fun.
We did two walks in Mabie forest and on both days it was hot which meant that the sun dappled through the trees beautifully.


We got to watch tv together too - which we don't always do. The kids love Dragon's den (why?) and one great programme was about kids starting school. Carys has now perfected her Reception face.
Can't wait to scrap it!

One of my friends mentioned that we were going to Scotland in "rainy season". So in a very grown up way, every time the sun shone I went "rainy season. Hah!" to myself.
OK sometimes I even said it out loud.
Cos, there was rain sometimes but it was lovely and sunny most days for at least part of the day. And we usually like a bit of rain as it gives us the excuse to stay in and do nothing for a while...

One mixed day was when we went to see the deer. They were doing a deer trail at 2pm. I decided that we could have a lazy morning, eat lunch in the caravan and then drive there and hang around for a while. All went well until I looked at the map again and I realised that I had vastly underestimated the distance. Shoved the picnic in the car and set off. Every mile was an agony as I was sure we were going to miss it after driving for at least 1 and a half hours.
(We have discovered that there is a motorway speed limit, a national speed limit and a Scottish country road speed limit. Even if the road is not particularly bendy and the scenery a bit blah you are not allowed to drive over 45 miles an hour)
The countryside was so beautiful, the weather gorgeous but I couldn't take it in as I urged the car to eat up the miles faster with the power of my mind (it doesn't work)

Dear readers, we squealed into the car park at 1:59.


So we ended up having our picnic lunch about 3:15 near a monument up a hill. It was to remember someone called Murray. So we decided to call it the Murray Monumint. Obviously. And had to climb up to see it. THEN it was raining.

I'll show the photies later when blogger lets me

Hi ho, hi ho

its back to work I go...
and it's about time I updated.
Got back from hols Monday - 7 and a half hours of driving straight around from Dumfries.
(hurray for mp3's that you can play in our car stereo. 6 series of 'old harry's game', half of 'revolting people' and the whole of 'Thud' by Terry Pratchett (unedited about 24 hours of genius) over the holiday. )

Tuesday was washing and unpacking and washing
oh and Hywel's 14th birthday which meant his friends coming round for tea (my baby - 14!)

Wednesday was card craft heaven - last day of hols meant making some cards. I took my zipemate on holiday and made up some cows, cars and chickens. (and handbags but that would have spoiled the alliteration) so I've been busy sticking them on. I had to send some today and got them through the perspex of death at the post office with nay bother (fortnight in Scotland and I can talk the lingo see. Och ay). So I know that brads, ribbon thread things and thin sticky pads are still ok. Phew!

Thursday - looking at the paper mountain that was my desk and the full diary for September and sighing. But no more excuses for not updating either
I haven't edited all the photos yet you will be relieved to hear.
On the down side that means that you will have to be looking at them for the next few weeks.

(Side note: as a family when I was in my teens we were invited round to a house to look at some photos of a holiday. My parents thought the invite implied food. Oh no. Just 3 hours - and I do not exaggerate I'm afraid - of slides and some very rumbly tums).

Southerness is on the edge of Scotland. You can see the Lake district on a clear day. Actually you can see it on a foggy or rainy day too but not as well.
Strictly speaking this is the view from Drumburn just up the coast but I think that is England. It kept moving and confusing me. Or maybe i was moving. still confused though
This is Southerness beach, just down from the campsite. Lovely rocks, romantic lighthouse and squelchy, muddy sand which is what the fambly liked best
I was able to take lots of aforementioned photos - mostly thinking "that will make a good scrap page" and lots of arty shots too.

but I did join in honest...

and I was going to show you but blogger is playing up s you'll just have to take my word for it for now. :)

3 return plus thousands extra, 2 depart

Aaaargh.
I sent the kids away finally nit free. With some great new 'bugger off and never come back but oooh so good for hair' spray.
But all it needs is one little teensy tiny stubborn egg that I have missed to become an army.
I hate them.
So tis back to being monkey mother for a while. Maybe by the end of the holidays... but then once back in school someone else will have them.
It is a huge problem that probably will only be sorted out if all school children had shaved heads.
I'm convinced that they like the smell or taste of certain people rather than others - as mosquitoes do. Some children never get them. Mine can't get rid of them.

I'll pause for a moment for you to scratch your head.

I had a horrid day yesterday. A hall user at one of my churches rang up and haranged me. Although he has a right to be miffed about what happened what he said was totally over the top, down right rude and unjustifiable.
However.
I can say that today.
Yesterday I just thought he was right.

I still struggle with self esteem issues and it takes very little to squish me. I am so much better than I was last year when the black dog was with me all the time. But I've still got a way to go. And another horrible confrontational meeting today. But it's face to face which I can cope with better.
Then there is the small matter of a sermon and packing for the holiday...
Phil has just taken Spot and Mrs M for their hols. They are going to the chicken equivalent of a cattery (what would you call it?)

I have done two more cards that were needed for sending today and carys made one for my dad too.
Phil's brother Martin is 40 next week. Not possible as we are older than he is...
Paper is SAkit for July. UTEE'd star plus brads from carolyn's














This one uses SA kit for August. May arts ribbon. Carolyn's bargain brads again (which means I can use loads!) UTEE'd numbers and hearts. I have some divine turquoise utee and also experimented with putting extra fine glitter in a bag with some clear crystals. I obviously haven't got the mix right yet but it gives a distressed look.
And finally the card Carys made. I give a few hints and suggestions but she works it out. Tag and Dog are QK, letters are Girls are wierd. Paper is We R Memory Keepers. Oh I love double sided paper.


















Well family - (2 adults, 3 children, some nits) are off to cold and rainy scotland tomorrow. sermon now done, (again blogger hasn't let me put up any photos until 3 in the afternoon. began blogging at 10) just the packing eh?
See you in a fortnight dear readers!

Yeah, yeah, yeah the kids come back

back from their magical journey...

yup, I'm gonna be singing magical trevor all day today.
And I've discovered trev has a new song! (can't tell you what it sound slike cos my speakers aren't plugged in so if its rude I apologise)

Anyway kids have been away since July 25th so i'm missing them a lot and can't wait to see them today. Except I had already arranged stuff for today before i knew it was pick up day and so I'll have to wait til they get home about 5:(
Phil will rendevous at Oxford and swap kids for our dog.

I'm starting to get holiday-itis. it is not as bad as usual becase I'm not worrying about missing the ferry. what happens is that I get so worked up about going on holiday I exist on very little sleep for a few days before and so spend the first few days being completely horrid to everyone and the next few days apologising. Then we have a few days relax before I start to worry about the journey home.
So i was awake at 5 and got up at 6 today. ended up making a scrap page.
Its all about how we read all the time and lists some favourite authors. I was going to hand write titles on the stripey paper to be like spines but hey, life's too short. Did hand cut the 'bookworms' and add the stripes though!
I didn't photograph all the book piles either...


Last night I was still supposed to be sorting washing and ironing but had to make an engagement card as a commission instead. I'm always pleased to get commissions and thehn I feel sick and then I get cross because what I want to do I can't. With this one I was told that they like holidays, cars, golf and are going on a cruise. Now if I had a boat shape I could have done something about sailing off into the sunset, but I don't. The last engagement card I did was nice - but it was for Jill's sister so it couldn't be the same.
In the end I did this...
The hearts are a qk die - I was pleased that it (just about) cut mountboard so that I could utee them. I also tried making my own gold utee by putting some extra fine gold glitter in a bag with some clear utee. Kind of worked!

I may get one more blog in before hols - especially if holiday-itis persists. Otherwise I'll see you on the other side!

Road trip

(well train trip to be precise!) was enormous fun. I actually got oodles of work done there and back as well which was really good. There is no computer on a train - or tv - and I'm very good at rewarding myself with just a little bit of a fun read. So I got through 3 books I needed to read and fleshed out plans for a prayer weekend at church (though there is lots more to do on that)

I was welcomed to Swansea by a Joe's icecream. My mum doesn't really like Joe's ice-cream.
Those who have ever eaten Joe's icecream will now have to pause for a moment to think of the horror and sadness of that statement.
How. Can. You. Not. Like. Joe's.
It is the best vanilla icecream in the whole world ever. And I don't really like vanilla.

So when we are in Swansea visiting the olds, we go to Verdi's (which happily is the best flavoured ice-cream in the whole world ever). But on Friday I was in Joe heaven with a little pot of vanilla covered in choccy sprinkles. Mm, mm, mm, mm, mm.

Then it was a bit of veggin at Sue's (I think they liked the canvas) followed by getting ready to go out. I made the mistake of trying out Sue's expensive ghd straighteners and now I want some. Hmmm I'm not supposed to be so materialistic. I try to fight it, I do. But they make your hair so soft and straight and smoooooooooth.

Party was fun. We danced, even if no-one else did! Alison and Rob have a great pictire of the four friends in their forties and when i get a copy I shall add it in



here

I'm sure we all look lovely. (may have to change that comment when the pic is here!)

Saturday morning bought Phil some welsh cakes and searched for a funny card for Sue to give to Hywel. Now cos I make cards I don't usually spend that much time looking at cards (apart form to get ideas). The "funny" ones were just so rude I was embarrassed and it takes a lot to shcok me (yup as well as materialism I struggle with a very dirty mind which is quite tough as a Minister when you hear double entendres in all sorts of things and are supposed to keep a straight face)

Then home again. Sunday we had a baptism - Ashley is the most beautiful little baby. It was a really wonderful service. Yes i know that sounds like braggin seeing as I put it together - but it was one where you could really, really feel God's hand in it. What looked slight on paper was really sacramental.

Sunday we went for our traditional 'kids are away so lets have a pub lunch on a Sunday' meal. I wanted to go to the tapas bar in Upminster (its that kind of place I'm afraid - all haridressers, nail bars and tapas) but it has got hideously expensive so we went to the pub round the corner instead and had a great time).

Monday Sue Hyde came round and we chatted, die cut, went out for lunch, visited Anita, die cut and stroked papers.


The rest of the time I should have been washing and ironing - or even making a card I have been commissioned to do - but did this instead
This one uses the bebop paper that came with the scrapbook, white embossing powder and my new qk ribbon buckle die
This one uses MM cosmopolitan paper, some babycakes flowers by AQueen and co from Carolyn's (yummy) and doodlebug buttons. Bottom left is my attempt at being elsie Flannigan but I don't look quite so cute... (but then I am old enough to be her mother. Just)

And this one is using the new SA kit, my new teeny tiny photo corner die given to me by the lovely Sue Hyde, a bit of doodling, Doodlebug buttons (yes buttons are the new ribbons in my house) and...
you may have heard of Heidi Swapp ghost letters, well these are Lythan Nevard phantom alphas
(hmm doesn't sound so catchy. Must change surname. Or just get a life).
OK so they are just Girls are Wierd cut out of acetate but hey - I was pleased with the idea:)

ALMOST as pleased as I was with blogger for finally allowing me to load my piccies after a day trying!!!!!!!!

You've got to fight

for the right

to PAAAAAAAAAAAARTY!!!

well i'm a bit excited about going to my friend Sam's 40th birthday party in Swansea tomorrow. It's not going to be quite the do I imagined as my other friends are taking their kids. But as long as there are drinks and a disco I'm happy!
I've got lots of work to do on the train there and back so it should be fun.

I've been quiet all week trying to finish up their pressies. Finally done but now its dark so the pics don't do them justice really. Gosh that sounds a bit full of myself! well I could point out the millions of mistakes - its a learning curve this craft stuff and each time I do something I know how to improve the next time. Anyway what I mean is the colours are much nicer than the photos show.
The art journal is A4 size and full of nice empty sheets of watercolour paper. I'm sure Sam will get oodles of fripperies so I thought I would give her something to express herself with. She is already into art and photography - ooh maybe she'd like scrapping.
found these wonderful quotes that you probably can't read
Here are a few faves

I found I could say things with colour and shapes that I
couldn't say any other way - things I had no words for.
Georgia O'Keeffe

An artist cannot fail;
it is a success to be one.
Charles Horton Cooley

I want to touch people with my art. I want them to say 'he feels deeply, he feels tenderly.'

Vincent van Gogh

I wasn't really careful enough with adhering the quotes - learning curve stuff. Hence the artfully applied prima flowers!

The papers are the beautiful basic grey urban couture. Haven't really worked out how to use them for card making but on a larger scale they are awesome!

Then I also made my first painted canvas. Slopped on some acrylic paint, a photo of my dear god-daughter, several million qk and ellison flowers, some chipboard and rub ons et voila

will catch you up Saturday.

Party on dudes

(can't stop Bill andTedding now)