Lucky has arrived

She is so cute!
Big... but cute.
She has met the chickens (wearing lead and muzzle) and did not chase after them or pull at the lead.
You can see her lovely tippy tail here!
And how tall she is (though she is small for a greyhound). She actually did win some races in her time - she is 4 now. There were about 50 dogs to choose from - soooooooo hard. I can't wait for the kids to meet her.

Emrys is actually home poorly. He hasn't been right for 5 days now - I think it must be some kind of virus. He is the sort that likes to be left alone when unwell so to be honest, I keep forgetting he is there.
Yes, I am that good a mum...

I also promised a look at the layout I did on Monday. Oooh hark at me, its as if I have a readership gagging on my every word. I just like to show what I have done, even if I am not that keen on it myself.
I have to admit though, in the end this came off. For a while it nearly went on the scrap heap (as it were!)
Bazzil cardstock and 2 BG Stella Ruby papers. One hand cut to within an inch of its life. And the blue stripe paper is, umm I can't remember. And if I move now to look at the actually paper, Lucky will wake up..
The chipboard letters are painted with Ranger dabbers. I just love the colours!
and I added orange glaze pen dots. The layout needed that bit of orange to make it zing. SO I added quite a bit in the end...

The stickers are all by Christina Cole
I decided to leave the journalling a bit messy and mistake filled. It is not because I am too lazy to start again. How very dare you!

Once I put the layout in the album I realised that the two Wemyss Bay holiday layouts so far both feature orange quite strongly so I am wondering whether to make it a theme for the whole holiday album.
Or just move them around when I have added more....

work hard, play hard

and forget the housework

is the motto I live by. Goes all right most of the time, especially after the injection of tlc by loving parents!
Since last posting on the work side I have done:
3 services - and prepared for them (thats the time taker - Friday, Sat morning and evening and Sunday afternoon)
and attended a play hosted by the Salvation Army - the Liberator by the Lacey theatre company. Absolutely awesome acting and staging. OK so that was work/play at the same time.
As was the Romford church card making club. It is work as I have to lug all the stuff and help people out with ideas. Though as time goes on they need less guidance. So I do get to play a bit.

On the (really) play side I have
made 13 cards for the Church fair at Glynis house. Glynis is my Church Treasurer and fellow card maker. We both admire each others styles which are totally different. I tried to use up some bits of old Self Addressed kits. Now why haven't I used this paper before - it is lush!

I now have "the vase" to go alongside "the boat" as a handcut/punch combo staple.
Used some more of the Self Addressed kit for Sept too. Boy do I love it!
Just added a QK die and a safmat greeting

Then last night we had our first ever wee firework party. Phil lit a fire in our brazier and bought some quiet fireworks as I don't like bangy ones.

and of course sparklers. Loads of people around ahd the loud, expensive fireworks so we were able to enjoy them out in the garden. We ate baked potatoes and toasted marshmallows. We did have soup to eat but Phil left the gas on low under it by accident and it caused a firework like explosion in the kitchen...

Later I made my MiLaw a never ending card for her birthday. It is the class I taught at Imagine That that I thought I had done all wrong but hadn't. They are very easy to make - just take a while to put together.

And I finished a layout I started about 3 weeks ago but have not had time to do. I will post photos of them tomorrow as I think there are enough photos today. The rest of today will probably be quite boring.

Oh.
Except we may just have met our new dog.
Lucky.
Racing name:
I'm Lucky.

Somehow I don't think she was...
If we pass the ownership test then the name may change.

I think we're alone now

We have had non stop visitors for 2 weeks! Phil's brother and nephew, followed with a days break by Phil's mum followed with a day's break by my mum. we now have 3 weeks before my dad comes while he has meetings in London. Phil is happy as he likes to sleep in the buff and can't pad a round nekkid when family are here. Plus when mum came and fell down the stairs she was nekkid and he is rather fearful of meeting her in that condition.

(She had just come out of the shower and obviously wrapping a towel right round you or even getting dressed in someway in the bathroom is not sensible when you can just wander round a house you are not totally familiar with in the dark - because you don't want anyone to see you in your birthday suit - and forget to turn left into your bedroom and fall down stairs instead. fortunately we have a half landing otherwise it would have been more serious that one fractured toe. Which wasn't diagnosed for 2 weeks. Why bother the doctors over nothing? Somehow it still ended up feeling like it was all my fault though :) )

So now Phil can frolic round the house - just having to avoid the children who would be equally traumatised really and can write all about it on THEIR blogs. It is lovely to see them all as we live so far away. And the house is all clean and the ironing is all done (mostly summer clothes!) and the garden is fresh and tidy. Mums are wonderful.

Friday has sped round again. The Daring Cardmakers challenge was set by Tracie this week

and CUT!!!

All styles are welcome but there MUST be an element of handcutting somewhere.
It could be a greeting, a shape, letters printed on your pc and handcut,
anything goes as long as you did it by hand.

I knew exactly what I wanted to do. But I'm not entirely satisfied with the result.The paper is all Colour Me Silly by Basic Grey.
I traced round a plate to get the edge of the card. All of the little parcels are hand cut - though I did use a corner rounder too. Everything is inked and outlined as usual but the "ribbon" was done with a Sakura Glaze pen. I used clear Glaze on the lettering too. I think that is the bit I am least happy with - had cut lettering is a bit childish - at least when I do it!
Here are a few photos from our boat trip in Bruges last week - we are getting old so we need to wear hats now. Phil bought a fairly smart winter jacket - it is a miracle as I don't think he has ever bought one before!
I bought a new coat too but here I am wearing my super warm mens bouncer jacket from Tesco. I had to buy it in a hurry when my coat got water logged earlier in the year. It looks terrible on me but feels so good.
Middle age here I come...

Ich aus einen Berliner

einen apfelberliner in fact.
Doesn't apple dougnut sound less fattening in German?

Yes I am back from the choir trip and it was all good! Achen is a lovely place and Phil and I did a bit of culture and lots of shopping. There are some gorgeous statues dotted around which we both snapped (we took two cameras!) We did a lot of eating too even though Germany does not really understand the term vegetarian yet... We spent a few hours in Bruges on the way back - very pretty. Although I started to feel confused - are we in Belgium or Holland? What language should I speak?Now I know what it feels like to be a tourist on a European whistle stop tour!

We brought back some lovely decorations for the tree, some German cakey biscuit and some felt bits and bobs - some from the Euro shop! (Like Poundland but even cheaper)

Yesterday I got cracking with some cards for the Church bazaar in two weeks time. I used the Self Addressed September kit which is fabby - I love blue and green together. I also finally did my Daring Card for the week. This was done using the wonderful ribbon from Ribbon Oasis. the theme is Wrap it in Ribbon for Christmas
so I did!
Red cardstock, Blonde moments paper, stamp from one of those teeny Christmas sets out this year. Thick yummy red felt ribbon around it. Tree made from two other ribbons. The star is cut from a different sheer patterned ribbon. I thought I would make another card using the ribbon for the midweek extra. But didn't read the rules first. All I remembered was "not a Christmas card" but it is actually a recipe. SO here is what I did anyway.
8x8 cardstock from SA kit folded. QK did candles using paper from the kit. Punched squares with corners rounded, safmat greeting (may redo that but it doesn't look so nasty in real life!And finally the most yummy scrummy glittery gorgeous ribbon you ever did see which goes so well with the lime green Bazzill.
And finally for tonight a 60th birthday card for a wonderful person called Sonia. She is too young to be my mum but she has been like a mum and gran for us here and she is someone you can always call on in an emergency. A real angel!
I used a cream square card, Infuse papers (5 different ones!) a cuttlebug embossing folder, Basic Grey chipboard numbers covered with plum UTEE by Blonde Moments, aged photo distress ink and two copper brads.

I've been in Cambridge all day today for my MA class (brilliant stuff!) and have another meeting this evening. Think it might be beans on toast for tea...

Gah!

I hate weeks like this when I have been busy crafting - but usually at the last minute when I forget to take photos. or I haven't finished the thing to show you.

Sunday I was tearing my hair out trying to make a never ending card. I was teaching it on Monday and wanted to get it right. But was failing. However when I went to check at Imagine That I did have the principle right. Its just that there is a moment in the middle where it just seems wrong. Actually it is jolly simple but so effective. I am going to make one for my mother in law's birthday but as she is staying with us now that is a job for next week. Gah!

Emma told me the plans for the 1st birthday weekend. A super scrapper is coming on the Saturday. I would so love to do a class with her but it is my church fair which would be a sacking offence to miss! Gah!Next day I am pretty busy too but I'm determined to be there for some of it as the shop has made such a difference to my life (and my wallet!)

I had entered Best of British newcomer category but didn't win. Sob! I have seen the work of one of the two winners (CloClo on UKS) and she is far more talented than me! Gah! SO I have decided that I came 3rd (see last year there were three and this year only two so stands to reason it was me. Well that is what I am telling myself anyway) and am also crowned Best of 216 Corbets Tey Road. The prize wasn't quite as big as for BOB but I did win a new paper storage case, some Piggy Tales papers, some paint dabbers and brads! Go me.

I can show you the card I made for MiL after she saw the card I made for my friends granddaughter, which is a copy of a card i have shown on here before. I'm using up my Piggy Tales paper which I love, but you can't keep forever!
the red looking mini beads are actually shocking pink I promise you
And those little flowers may have been added to hide some stray ink from my fingers but I couldn't possibly comment...

while taking the photos I took a quick snap of Lord Byron aka Hywel sitting at the computer (where else)

He is really starting to look older now. Well I suppose he is 15!
And finally here is a photo of me doing a solo at last week's concert.
I said "I look really old"
Phil said "I think you look like an angel"
awwww - think that is a moment to be scrapped. Hence me writing it here before I forget.

We are off to Germany for 4 days with the choir in the morning so auf wiedersehn!

Chock a block

that's how life is still round here! I actually have a week off next week but what with teaching at Imagine That, opticians for 3 kids, hairdressers (for me and by me), MA coursework and a funeral in the first 3 days it seems to whizz by. (A funeral in my holidays? That, my friends is why we normally go away for the whole of the hols. You don't feel the need to say yes if you are going to be 100's of miles away) After that we go to Germany with the choir - so I can't complain. Has never stopped me though. Here are the edited highlights of this week:
Monday - house work then heading to Cambridge for Study skills. Stayed overnight with Neillybabes and his family. Neil is now a Tutor at the URC Ministerial training college and we were at college together. Haven't seen his wife Jenny for years and years and we had fun catching up! Tuesday - reading for the course, chatting with another college friend and doing an MA seminar. Realised that it is not enough to read the papers once through - especially if it is early in the week before. Got given homework. Bah! Got to craft in the evening - but only time for the DCM card for this week.
Wednesday/Thursday work, work, work. Goes like that sometimes, especially this time of year. Meetings, assemblies, meetings, prayers and meetings. Which is why holiday time is precious. Thursday also entailed looking at a 6th form college for Hywel. (Eeek) I think he liked it. He will probably do Double ICT, Design and Technology and Maths. If he does DandT at A2 level as well then he has to make a flat pack furniture project. I am thinking purpose built craft cupboard myself. Then a late night emergency card make - see further down for the results!

Today is a big day for us Daring Cardmakers. We have now been doing this for a year. What a wonderful, amazing, creative year it has been. With two marriages and 3 pregnancies along the way. Friendships old and new have developed and strengthened and my small brain has been forced to try all sorts of things (I have almost stopped sulking about the purple holey Christmas card). Our first card was about Friends so it is only right that as we come full circle the title of our Birthday dare should be

Our Amazing Circle Of Friends
and we'd like you to incorporate at least one circle into your card.

Simple eh?
I started singing the Andrew Gold song "thank you for being my friend" to myself and decided that was my theme tune for the card. I used a song for one of my first cards too - look.
Anyway here is this weeks. I thought it would be interesting to see how my style has developed. I have decided... not much! I even used the same font! (UPDATE: Journalling Hand is its name!)
The flower is BIG. AS you can see it outgrows the card - but doesn't topple over! The papers are all Sassafrass Lass I believe, from a summertime SA kit. I bought extras of these papers as I love 'em. I hand cut circles but the flower petals are punched. Then I went round every single detail on the papers with black pen as well as the usual inking and lining.

I think it really makes the patterns stand out.

Tonight we have our choir anniversary concert (big day for anniversaries). The choir has been going for 40 years - with the same conductor! I was asked yesterday to make him a card. Ulp! It is A5 size to allow room for everyone to sign it. Again I used an SA kit.

I was told what words to use
Lots of layering and krylon pen then triple embossing on the chipboard letters.

the notes are a cuttlebug die. When it is Christmas I will be able to cut it out with chipboard. But I have a while yet so I layered several die cuts on card and UTEE'd them.
They could almost be metal couldn't they?

Today consists of service prep and tidying out the guest room (still full of Carys' bits) as my Brother in Law and nephew are coming to stay overnight. We, of course, will be out! Phil, Martin, Jack and Carys are going to watch the Arsenal/Bolton game. I get to do gardening at church with a barn dance in the evening. Fun, fun, fun!

Then there was Sunday

Here is the pool we borrowed from another church. Due to a communication breakdown over how hot it was earlier on, it was toastie warm (almost too hot)

All I needed was a few people blowing bubbles through straws and I would have had an instant jacuzzi!
Here are the two baptismal candidates -Tinu and Addie. A lovely couple, originally from Nigeria. They taught us a song in Yoruba - which turned out to have the same tune as "brown girl in the ring". I'm guessing that the tune ended up in the Caribbean with the slaves and then came here (and not just thanks to Boney M!)
Addie is baptised

And then Tinu

Unfortunately so was Tinu's phone as she had put it into Addie's pocket!
They were then confirmed and made members of the church (well after we had all got dry)

Also pictured is Jane who wrote a song speshly. Wish I could have recorded it as it is wonderful.

We had an amazing time, it was well worth all the effort we had to put in. NO time for crafting today but I have done some tidying and putting away which is a miracle in itself! I hoe for a bit of crafty time before I have to go to Cambridge tomorrow

first there was Saturday

I spent the morning getting the pool filled for our first adult baptism at my Heaton Way Church (see next post for more details). In the afternoon we went out as a family for a walk. We don't do this often enough really.
It was a gorgeous day.

we went to a local woods. Well it will be woods when the trees grow...

We climbed this fantastic wooden structure.

From wherever you are you can see the M25 round here

I snapped Hywel's hair - colour this nice shouldn't be allowed on a boy I reckon.

The wood is obviously ladybird friendly as I have never seen so many - and some were quite strange.

We passed this lovely tree
and indulged in a bit of art a la Andy Goldsworthy. Well not quite!

I saw this and thought of... well you can guess who!

I made some cards last night for the baptism and a first birthday - but forgot to photograph them. Doh!