Fluffy Stuff

No Rain

2007-06-16T14:33:00.000+01:00

This is me with my feet up poolside at the villa in Menorca that we've just spent a week at. Aaah, bliss! We had Sky TV out there, so knew it had been raining back home, but it was a bit of a shock just how much there had been! We came through a cracking thunder storm on the way back down the M6 from Manchester yesterday afternoon.

We had an absolutely wonderful week in the sun (or shade, in my case!) The villa was lovely, situated in the quiet development of Son Vitamina and having our own pool is just so nice - no one to swim around, rowdy kids or drunk lads to contend with and there's no rush to put out your towels on the sunbeds at stupid o'clock in the morning.

It was nice to have a few swims every day as I haven't done any exercise since (or even before) getting pregnant and swimming is the only kind I'll do, but our local pool is closed for a refurb at the moment. D enjoyed the pool, as well as the roof terrace ("it's lovely up there") where he could go and watch the planes taking off and landing at Mahon airport which was pretty close - how exciting...

We really relaxed as D and my parents wouldn't let me do anything too strenuous. We mostly visited beaches (how nice are the beaches on Menorca?!) such as Sant Thomas and Cala Galdana, although not too keen on the few jelly fish we saw. We also spent a good 15 minutes or so driving down the bumpiest road ever (not fun!) to reach Calas Coves and were greeted with a gorgeous sight once we got there:

It was so quiet when we got there, although it seems lots of others made the bumpy trip down as it soon got quite busy. There are caves high up in the rocks on the left that people used to live in, but there was no way I was climbing up there! We spent ages watching the crabs crawling in and out of the rocks instead.

We ate lots of nice food too - one of the best things about going on holiday! Had to be a bit cautious though, being pregnant, and would have loved to have eaten more seafood, but didn't dare risk it!

We christened the baby Wiggly as that's all it seemed to do all week - must've liked the fact I was relaxing so much! I doubt we'll go abroad again now for a few years at least, so it was just lovely to be able to do this now before Wiggly arrives.

The hugest, most mahoosive thanks go to Mom and Dad for taking us away for such a lovely week for our birthday prezzies!

Back to earth now though! Loads of washing to do, no food in the fridge and back to work on Monday...

ETA: Why does Bloody Blogger insist on mucking around with the formatting every time?!! GAH!!!

Radar Love

2007-06-03T07:42:00.000+01:00

Completely didn't have time to blog anything this week, but Tuesday saw the first anniversary of Radar Bun's 'Gotcha Day'. Can you believe he's been with us for a whole year now?! Isn't he a handsome bun? I do love him so much. Beanbean will always be my special girl, but Rade is just so big and soft and docile and a bit dumb sometimes that you just gotta love him! They both seem really happy now they're outside in their new home - even with all the rain we've had and a cracking thunderstorm last week, which probably scared the little bunny pants off them!

So, onto this week's Dare...

This week is was my turn to set the Dare (already?!) and I thought I'd keep it pretty simple but just asking everyone to use some acetate, vellum, plasma or something else at least a bit transparent on their cards. I haven't really ever used acetate much, except form making the odd shaker card way back when, so had fun experimenting.

The card on the right uses Blonde Moments papers for the background (edges inked), with acetate sizzix hearts on bright pink card. Two of the hearts are decorated with wiggly lines using Anita's 3D Gloss. I first used this technique in Kirsty's class at the photography day in February and have been dying to try it again - it really does produce a great effect, although perhaps Diamond Glaze is better as I find the Anita's comes out of the bottle too fast and can make a splodgy mess! The third heart has teeny diamantes all around the edge, although I realise none of this shows up very well in the photo. Finished the card off with some pink grosgrain and a stamped greeting, with hand-drawn borders around the edge of the card and greeting.

This one's a bit pants, but it was just an experiment really. I used some acetate to make the blank, but then thought I'd better add an insert as it's darn near impossible to write on acetate! I stuck a teeny piece of pink BG Blush paper (still inking those edges!) behind a piece of the brown BG Blush paper and used a rub-on for the cake, with a teeny diamante in the flower centre. This was then all stuck onto the insert, behind the acetate. I then put the greeting rub-on onto the front of the acetate. Ta-daa!

I made another card, which I quite like, but have just realised I can't post it, as it's for my daddy's father's day card and he will see it! Duh!

Please take a look at the DCM blog and have a go at the Dare. As ever, the girls have been fantastic and there are some gorgeous cards - plus one from this week's fabulous guest designer, none other than the most talented Ms Wiseman herself!

U Can't Touch This

2007-05-27T14:41:00.001+01:00

So this is me last week, at 22 weeks pregnant - eeeek!! Please note, I do not normally wear leggings with vest tops, (in fact, I've only just purchased some leggings to wear under tunic-type tops after much wrestling with my conscience, as I distinctly remember thinking I would never, ever wear leggings again after the 80s...) but I put the top on to show off the bump. I'm rather fond of my new shape, as I look obviously pregnant, rather than just overweight and making people wonder if I might be just because I'm standing all slouchy with my tummy pushed out. One of the only things I've hated so far about this pregnancy lark is the way people just have to touch me. Generally people are pretty good, but there's a lady at work who I have to get on with but don't like all that much and she insists on giving me a good rub/pat when she sees me. What am I - a dog?! "Ooh, look at that lovely bump!" (rub, rub) How would she like it if I grabbed her chest and said "ooh, look at those lovely boobs!" Gah!! And she's passed it on to her daughter, who I also see at work ("Let me have a feel." "NO!!!!! Eff off!!!") The first time her Mom did it I was mortified, as I really wasn't showing and all she was rubbing was flab....

This week I thought I'd have a go at joining in with the Dares again! Now I've just about sorted somewhere to craft I thought I didn't really have an excuse any more and was worried I'd be kicked off the design team for non-participation (not really - the girls are too nice for that - I hope!), so I read Jo's brief and thought, "I can do that!"

This week we have to make a card using office supplies, so I used some coloured paper clips that I've had for ages and never used, plus some lined notepaper and some staples. Paper is from thePaper Loft Flips Flops range and the lettering is Sizzlits Nouveau. It's a bit boring and simple, but I'm easing myself back in gently. Actually, I'm starting to doubt that I'm good enough to be on the design team as there are some fantastic examples of work from both the other girls and those of you who play along. I've only had a couple of months break from cardmaking, but things seem to change so quickly and I feel it's often hard to keep up. However, keep trying I will. It's my Dare this week, so please have a look at the blog on Friday morning and play along with me.

Hello

2007-05-20T09:08:00.000+01:00

<------- Looky what I did!! It's a card. I wasn't sure if I still had it in me, but it's not too bad an effort, eh? I spent yesterday morning trying to tidy the kitchen a bit, clear the table of rubbish and sort out some of my stash so that I could sit and make something while D watched the most boring FA Cup final in the history of boring FA Cup finals. Luckily for me, Bex posted a card template challenge at just the right time, so I thought I'd have a go and this was what I came up with. Took me flipping ages to hand stitch those lines and they still look crap!! I've got one of those mini sewing machines, but do you think I've ever been able to work it?

I really feel like Mrs. Swotty Knickers as I have managed to make my Dare card ready for next Friday too - the first one in aaaaaaaaages. Of course, I can't show you that one yet... It's a great dare, so make sure you check out the blog on Friday morning and have a go!

Over Now

2007-05-16T11:52:00.000+01:00

Pickle is dying :-( I came downstairs this morning and was just on my way out of the kitchen when something caught my eye and instantly I knew what it was. Pickle had crawled out of her little house and was lying still on the platform. I burst into tears and absolutely sobbed. I've known for a while she was probably getting close - she's over 2 years old now and has had regular trips to the vets lately as her teeth became misaligned and needed clipping. She's been quite shaky on her feet, but still fighting the good fight, but it looks like it's over now.

I called D, (still in floods!) who was on his way home from work on nights and when he got home he found her a little box to put her in, filled it with bedding and took her out of her cage to put her in the box. "She's still warm," he said. Oh God. Hamsters do this, don't they? You here all sorts of stories about people buying their hamsters alive because they have a habit of playing dead, slowing their metabolisms right down. I looked at her and she was breathing! About once every 30 seconds, but she was still alive. Argh! What do you do? There's obviously nothing we can do for her, but what if she did come round and was in a strange, dark box? For the moment we've left her in the box and put it back in her cage, but I really don't think she'll last much longer.

ETA: She's gone :-( Feel so daft getting upset. Have fun at the Rainbow Bridge sweetie xxx

Waterfalls

2007-05-13T15:31:00.000+01:00

Oh. My. God. Just how much rain can there be in them there clouds?!! I am totally, utterly and completely sick of it now. The poor buns! They must think I don't love them anymore, sticking them outside in a draughty hutch to have their ears tormented by the sound of rain on the tarps covering the whole shebang! I hate the rain when it's so persistent like this - it makes me feel so miserable. Actually, I'm having one of my 'down' days today, rain or no rain, so it's just making me worse!!

To cheer myself up, I thought I'd revisit digi-scrapping for the first time in aaaages, after finally catching up on Kirtsy's blog and discovering the fabby freebie she created especially for my Hawaii photos - how on earth did you know? ;-) Only kidding... I'm a wee bit out of practice, and I've forgotten how to use all the lovely effects I downloaded a few months ago, not to mention how to do all sorts of things, so I guess I'm learning it all over again. Ho hum...

At least it means I can still be a bit crafty and creative until I get my 'real' stash sorted out again. I do like doing it digi style though, but would love a new pc as mine is so slow it takes all afternoon to do one simple layout!

And how impressed are you at my blogging performance this week?

Friday I'm In Love

2007-05-12T17:20:00.000+01:00

The scan was fine! Everything appeared to be ok with baby, although how they can tell, I do not know. It all just looked like random blobs to me and was so much less clear than the previous scan. I suppose that's just because baby is so much bigger. Here come the piccies - apologies to those of you who have trouble deciphering scan pics, as these are not labelled this time!

You should be able to make out it's head, with it's likkle nose sticking in the air and it's chest - the dark blob is the heart. Not really sure what the other bits are myself as I was in some discomfort, trying to crane my head around to see the screen while she pressed really hard with the scanny thing.

It's little lips are pursed like it's whistling in this one! The sonographer had us panicked at one point as she could see something strange on there that shouldn't have been, then she realised that it had it's hand somewhere between it's legs and was holding the cord. You know when you just know there's something not right by the look on someone's face? Then she exclaimed "it's a hand!" and starting laughing to herself! " I like this baby" she said. Of course, this meant that there was no chance we could see which flavour it was, which was quite a relief.

So, that's it for scans, as long as there are no problems in future. Next time we see little one it will be on the outside in about 19 weeks or so - eeeeek!! We went to the Baby Show at the NEC today and have ordered the buggy and bought a steriliser, so it's getting more and more real now. Mom and Dad bought baby a Sleep Sheep that plays soothing sounds, etc, which was the first official purchase for little one - aaww!

Come Out and Play

2007-05-10T15:54:00.000+01:00

Finally took some photos this morning while the sun was out. It's piddling down again now though :-( This is the hutch - you can see Princess Bean-Bean in the run at the bottom. She spent the whole day in the hutch part yesterday as she just hadn't a clue what the ramp was for or how to use it. This morning, however, when we went out to feed them, she was in the run - hurrah! She then showed off, running up and sliding down the ramp a few times...

And here are just a few totally gratuitous photos, just because I loves 'em!

Just look at the bunny lip!

Other stuff: we've got our 20 week scan tomorrow and I am actually looking forward to this one. At the 12 week scan, part of you goes in worrying that there's not going to be anything there, but as bubs is now kicking the hell out of me, I don't have that worry this time. Being the anomaly scan, they will be checking for problems, but keep your fingers crossed that everything is fine. I can't believe we're half way through already!

Oh and yes, that was my layout in this month's Scrapbook Inspirations :-)

It was amazing to be asked to have a go at the sketch challenge and such a buzz to see my work in print. I've really got to get my stash back out soon before I forget how to do it!

Today

2007-05-08T20:31:00.000+01:00

... was the day my babies became outdoor buns. Eeek! I so hope I've done the right thing. We've bought them a mahoosive hutch and run combo so they've got lots of space, but what a crap week to move them out! What's with the weather?! I'll post piccies of the palace just as soon as the wind and rain stop. At the moment it's all covered with a delightful combination of shower curtain and tarpaulin and looks like some sort of makeshift refugee camp. I know it's all for a good reason, but I just know I'll be so worried about them for a while. They've spent all day in the run as neither of them could figure out the ramp to get up to the hutch, but I've just been out to check on them and found that Rade has managed it, so there's some hope!

We've had a clean of the kitchen and I swear there was enough bun fluff behind the radiator to make another rabbit - gross! No matter how much you think you've cleaned, that stuff just seems to get everywhere and that's not good when you've got a baby, eh? Now I've moved some of my craft stuff into the kitchen, but even that seems to be taking over now. I just have so much stuff that I know I won't use but don't even know where to begin to sort it out and get rid. Any ideas gratefully received...

This week is all about sorting out the bedrooms and it's like trying to tackle Everest in flip flops. Today I took one look at all the crap and just burst into tears. Where to begin? D keeps telling me not to worry, Rome wasn't built in a day, etc, etc, but heck, you should see it! I should have taken photos actually, in a kind of before and after makeover way.

Sorry, this is a rambly, pictureless post, but I felt like sharing my agony with you. I'll keep you updated on (possible) progress and will post those bun pics just as soon as I can!

Jump Around

2007-04-14T20:43:00.000+01:00

Here are the Terrible Two enjoying their first foray into the garden this year. We spent a couple of hours outside this afternoon and I think they enjoyed themselves, if the binkying was anything to go by! I love seeing them outside on the grass - they're like different rabbits. I think the reason they don't run and jump in the house is because of the laminate floors - not ideal for them but easier for us to clean, so when they get on the grass they become so sure-footed and tear around like nutters! Radar's ear was straight up and doing its radar thing and Beany was munching on the grass and dandelion leaves like she's never been fed. If the weather forecast is anything to go by, we'll be out again tomorrow!

Sadness

2007-04-09T18:56:00.000+01:00

It's been a funny old day. I've spent much of it packing away my craft stuff and I'm feeling a bit down about it really. We need to have a serious move around ready for the baby, as s/he will be having our current room, we'll be moving into J's room and he'll be moving into my craft room. Unfortunately, I am the Princess of Clutter and Hoarding (the Queen being my mother *wink*) so it's a pretty daunting task. I've got a week off in May when we plan to hire a skip and have a good go at J's room (which is really J's room/ironing piles/junk room) but I am petrified! So, I thought I'd make use of the Bank Holiday to start on my craft stash. I've filled 8 big boxes already and I'm nowhere near finished - eeek! I just don't know what to do with it all. Packing it away seems so final and I'm scared that I'll never do any crafting again, but there just isn't any room to keep it out anywhere. Hmmm.

In other news, I bought the buns a lovely, squooshy new bed to replace the manky, hairy one they sleep in all day. However, they have pointedly ignored it (after trying to dig it and Beany weeing on it) and are back snuggling on the carpet. Bah!

Angel of Mine

2007-04-06T16:43:00.000+01:00

Hi honey, I'm home!! Did ya miss me? No? Oh, okay.... I am very sorry if there is anyone out there who has been checking in to see if I've finally updated my blog only to be bitterly disappointed. I have had a very, very good reason...

Ta-daaaa!! See that? That's my baby that is! While away I have been cultivating a real, live baybay in my tummy. Innit amazing? I love this scan even more:

Look at the likkle legs!! I'm really sorry if I'm boring you now, but it's all just so fascinating and I can't believe that it's really happened at last. I am now 16 weeks in and have developed a bump already - eek!! We're due on 24th September. I haven't been sick at all, although I've felt pretty icky, hence the reason I haven't blogged; for some reason, bubs doesn't like me being on the PC for too long! I have hardly done any crafting either - just made a couple of cards when I've needed too, but other than that I just can't get into it. I'm a bit sad really. I hope the mojo returns, although once baby arrives I won't have a craft room as it will be J's bedroom. Goodness knows what I'm going to do with all my stash!

So, now you know. I can't promise to blog regularly from now on as I haven't got too much to say at the moment, apart from baby stuff and I don't want you to doze off through boredom. I'm also pretty whacked and in bed early most nights, although the tiredness is wearing off a bit now and I'm feeling pretty good.

Oh yeah, my other bit of news was that I had a layout published in Scrapbook Inspirations last month! Two of my goals for this year achieved already...

Relight My Fire

2007-02-24T21:30:00.000Z

Wowee it's been a while, eh? I've not felt like being around the pc much lately and haven't really felt like scrapping or making cards either, hence the reason there's been no blogging and I've missed a couple of Dares (sorry girls!). Still, I thought it was time I got back on the old horse and started riding again, so here I am...

First things first, I did manage a card for this week's Dare. Kathy dared us to use 20 of something on a card. Being an utter wimp, there was no way I was going to use 20 blooms or suchlike. Instead, I made a relatively simple, yet very effective card using 20 thin strips of coloured card. I cut them different lengths and stuck them down on a piece of scrap card so if I made a mistake I wasn't mucking up the whole card. I then added a thicker strip of card at the end. The letters for the name are stickers from the Lisa Bearnson kit, stuck on black circles of card. The '13' is die cut using sizzlits 'Nouveau' set. Apparently, this was Matthew's favourite card as it was 'made with love'. Aaah, bless 'im.

So. Other stuff. I passed my Ofsted suitable person's interview and the new nursery is all set to open on Monday, unless something's gone drastically wrong between Friday night and now... It looks fantastic and I'm so proud of it. All the staff have been over to have a look and they all want to transfer to the new one now! Not a lot else to tell you at the moment.

Today I went up to Lach Dennis in Cheshire to Kirsty's Photography and Scrap day. It was great! I learnt loads, some of which I actually hope to remember and use sometime!

We learnt how to do things like this, where you can get a nice, sharp focus on an object but the background is blurry. We learnt how to take pictures of Natalie O'Shea walking past some 'interesting' curtains so that she was blurry but they were not and vice versa. I'm thinking much practice is needed at this, as most of the time she had walked right past and all I got in the frame were the curtains...

We did two amazing classes in the afternoon - a lovely technique one from Kirsty and one by Debs, which was fabulous and the result of which can be seen below. Kirsty's technique involved using Glossy Accents or similar on acetate to draw patterns, but I haven't finished the LO yet, so I can't show you. I lay in bed thinking of other variations, so that definitely inspired me. Debs' class was one of the best I've done - she really is talented.
Using a fabby canvas and easel from (I believe) Poundland and a generously supplied freebie photo taken by Ms Wiseman herself, as well as the lush Blush papers from Basic Grey, we created the gorgeousness that you see here. The overlay is acetate, stamped around the edges with Rhonna Farrer swirls, generously lent to me by lovely Laura (thanks chick!). It's so effective, and yet really easy to do, even though it involved acrylic paint and *gasps* scrunching the paper!! I (genuinely) took a few deep breaths before I could will myself to do it - it's so far out of my comfort zone it's not even funny. I can see me making these left right and centre for gifts (but without my ugly mug on!) Now I know I have to get me some Rhonna Farrer stamps...

A good time was had by all and I'm glad I went - I was so nervous about not knowing anyone, but all the girls were lovely, as were Kirsty's hubby Mark who worked hard to keep us fed and watered, and daughter Ellie (even if she didn't pick my ticket for the raffle!)

Love Can Build A Bridge

2007-02-06T18:54:00.000Z

I finally decided to post my Dare card for this week's fab joint challenge with the Speshal girls. My card didn't have a photo, but I scrapped it as I would a teeny page, so I guess is counts, doesn't it?

I used red cardstock for the base and inked the edges, then cut the word 'valentine' in Cafe Rojo font on the craft robo, as well as some red hearts. I used the negative of the word placed on the red background and stuck 3 hearts (with faux stitching) on foam pads on another piece of black card below the word. Before sticking these down, I made small holes and tied the two pieces together with some narrow black and white gingham ribbon. I then cut a piece of lined notepaper and wrote the words, then scrunched it up, smoothed it back out and lightly inked over it with black ink. Added a big black bloom with another heart and some more ribbon and there you have it!

Been feeling very loved up this week, so did a digi layout using the gorgeous freebie kit that Kirsty created and very kindly shared, plus a couple of other bits including a freebie arrow from Katie.

I'm getting a bit bored of using that photo of D and me on our wedding day, but it's the only decent one we have as we still haven't had the professional album done yet! The other photo is my Mom and Dad. I wanted to convey that I hope D and I have a marriage as good (or at least it seems good - unless they're really good at hiding stuff!) and long-lasting as theirs.

I've had a bit on an aversion to the pc lately, which really isn't like me, but I think normal service is resuming. Not sure if I'll get this Friday's Dare done in time, but we'll see.

So Much To Say

2007-02-05T10:54:00.000Z

... but so much I can't!! I've been a bit AWOL lately, so huge apologies to my fellow DCM team mates and to anyone who bothers to check in here regularly! I've got quite a lot on at the moment, most of which I can't really talk about yet, but I will spill soon, I promise!

I did do a card for this week's Dare, but wasn't totally happy with it, so I haven't posted it. The girls came up with some fantastic ideas for this week's very 'speshal' collaboration with the 'Everyone Is Special' team, so please do go have a look at the blog and join in. I will if I get time!

Hopefully, normal service will resume soon, although it's my birthday next Monday, so I can't guarantee it. With any luck I'll have some gorgeous photos of Scotland to post, taken on my birthday trip with my new camera, which has finally arrived this morning - yay!!

The Most Beautiful Girl in the World

2007-01-28T09:45:00.000Z

A sent me this beautiful picture of Baby Z at home on her playmat, so I couldn't resist scrapping it for her. Obviously, she has a real face and not a blurry circle! I used the Compassion kit from Shabby Princess - it's so versatile, but I wanted this LO to be really simple. A sent me an email detailing the whole of Baby Z's little life so far and boy, what a story! I was in floods reading it. I really can't wait to get a free weekend to go see them, but may not be till March now.

Went to see another friend P last week. She too is having problems conceiving. It's just so strange that I have at least 5 friends trying for a family and having various problems of one type or another. Perhaps it's an age thing? I dunno... P has a lovely rabbit called Mopsey, who just lollops about her apartment. She's a lone bun, so quite affectionate with hoomans. Except me. Last time I went, Mops decided she'd quite like a little nibble on my leg and finger. P was mortified - she never bites! This week, Mops was back to her cuddly bunny self. For a while. Lulled me into a false sense of security. Bit of a nibble on my jacket - ok, that's quite a normal bunny thing to do to strangers. Suddenly, there's a couple of pounds of fur flying across my face and latching on to my inner arm!! No blood was drawn, but I've had a helluva bruise all week! Mopsey was banished to the kitchen in disgrace... We can only assume her change in character is down to the scent of my two on me. Weird!

Here's a couple more digis I've done using the lush and, amazingly, free kit from Katie and Kirsty.

This one used this week's Pencil Lines sketch.

The one on the right was an attempt at a technique whereby you blur part of the photo to provide a panel for your journalling. Journalling isn't something I do a lot of on my LOs, but I love this one and think it fits really well.

Really need to take some new photos - all my LOs feature either me or D!

Black Metallic

2007-01-26T17:06:00.000Z

It's Dare day! This week, Saffa wants us to make a card featuring something metallic, be it hardware, inks or pens, paper or card or whatever you can find!

Not had a lot of time again, but I was asked to make a 40th birthday card, so this is what I came up with. Using black as my base, I cut out the 'happy birthday' using the Craft Robo and Journaling Hand font. I then put a piece of silver mirror card behind it. I made a ribbon slider with the Robo, cutting out '40' and again putting silver card behind. I tore the edge from a piece of Basic Gray Gypsy paper (ouch!) and added it to the card, then threaded some pale pink grosgrain ribbon through the slider and stuck it down. A few diamantes added with the Kandi Kane finished it off. It's difficult to show in a photo, but it looked pretty good in real life, honest!

As ever, the other girls have made some stunning cards, so please go take a squizz at the blog and join in when you can!

Father Of Mine

2007-01-21T15:04:00.000Z

I'm having reet good fun at this digi lark. Still haven't tried anything adventurous and there's loads of tutorials I need to look at, but I think I could get addicted to buying kits and elements! The layout on the left is the old 70s pic of my Dad and me and I used the Compassion kit from Shabby Princess. It has some fab bright papers and not one but two alphas, which are both scrummy.

The LO on the right uses a picture I've wanted to scrap for absolutely ages and just never got round to. Whenever we go camping, J barely leaves 30 seconds to let his dinner go down before he's asking to go and play. This photo captures the moment he was told to wait for a few minutes... Check out the mood! I used the Urban Kiwi freebie kit, also from Shabby Princess. The stamped alpha is from Designer Digitals. I like how simple this one looks - I managed to restrain myself on the elements!

It's so much easier digi scrapping as it's really simple to just pick a photo and change it to suit as you go along, rather than hunting one out, or finding one, printing it, then discovering you needed it smaller/larger/black and white. I'm glad I've got an external hard drive to store all my new stash on, as well as the layouts, but now I need lots more photos! We lost loads when our pc crashed a couple of years ago and I'm gutted. I was hoping to be able to start taking some with my new camera, but the online store my Dad ordered it from kindly took his order and payment before telling us it was out of stock, so I'm on the hunt for another good deal now. Grrrr!

End Of A Century

2007-01-20T07:55:00.000Z

100 posts!! Not bad for a not-so-regular blogger I guess. I am trying to blog more regularly, but sometimes I just don't have anything interesting to say. Perhaps I should just find a joke or inspiring quote for those days. Trouble is, I then have to find a relevant 90s song title to go with the post and it takes about an hour just to come up with a teeny post then! I'm not sure I like the 90s titles - I mean, the 90s was my era musically, but when you look at a list of titles from the decade, they're all a bit, well, weird! Anyway, I'm rambling...

It was Dare day yesterday. Fabulous Rhi dared us to make a card using an aperture. I had all these grand plans about using my Robo to do something fancy, but, in the end, I didn't have a lot of time and went for one of the most boring ideas ever! However, I think it actually looks quite simple and elegant, so I guess it's not too bad. Some of the other girls on the design team have used their Robos to come up with some beautiful cards, so I couldn't hope to compete really. Do go and check out all the cards on the blog and have a go!

So, for my nice and simple baby card, I used a tall card blank and my square punch to make the aperture. I would have liked it a little lower, but that's punches for you! I cut a square of 'baby' paper (from a Costco pack) and stuck that inside behind the aperture. I then drew stitches around this and around the aperture with a black journaling pen. I cut a Quickutz babygro from blue Bazzill and inked the edges to make it stand out, adding a contrasting pocket in white. Mounted this on 3d foam and stuck it slightly overlapping the aperture at one of those 'jaunty' angles! I then cut a strip of scrap Bazzil, rounded the end and stuck it near the bottom of the card, folding the edge over to the inside. I used Doodlebug 'All Mixed Up' rub-ons to add the baby's name.. and there you have it!

Happy

2007-01-16T20:51:00.000Z

Today, I are been mostly digi-scrappin'. Well, tonight, anyway. Today I are been mostly changing dirty nappies, but you don't want to hear about that... I couldn't resist this kit from Shabby Princess. I just loved the mix of colours in it and there are some too cute embellies. So, here is my first digi layout...

It's so tempting to want to use all the bits and bobs in the kit as they're all so scrummy, but I guess that really isn't my style and it's not as if they're going anywhere if I don't use them. Actually, they're not going anywhere if I do. That's the beauty of this digi lark. If you use a particular flower or rub-on, it doesn't matter, cos you can use them again and again and again! Hurrah! I'm really getting into this and I get to see more of D too as I'm on the PC in the living room and not hidden away in my craft room. Not that I'm going to be getting rid of my 'real' stash any time soon. Oh, no sir-ee Bob. I mean, these kits and bits are nice to look at, but you can't feel them; can't stroke the ribbons or lay your cheek gently against the paper to feel its texture... Or is that just me?! Now I have so much to learn and I think that that's just it - I love learning new things and having a go. I'll probably have moved on to the next fad in a couple of months. But we'll see....

So, to my word of 2007. I just did a quick Google search for definitions and this is what it came up with:

Create

make: make or cause to be or to become;
bring into existence;
pursue a creative activity; be engaged in a creative activity;
invest with a new title, office, or rank;
create by artistic means;
produce: create or manufacture a man-made product;

At some point I will write this out and put it somewhere I look every day. Probably on my mirror (not vain, just need make-up!) or my PC. Found a couple of nice quotes too, so will probably (digi)scrap these soon too.

Put The Message In The Box

2007-01-15T20:53:00.000Z

Finally decided on my word for the year, as per the Ali E Aezine. I know it might seem awfully predictable, but I chose it for reasons other than the obvious; maybe I'll go into these a little sometime. So, my word is....

Now I have to catch up and go find the definition in the dictionary and I might look for some inspiring quotes too.

New Age Girl

2007-01-14T18:54:00.000Z

I've finally gone and done it. This afternoon I've had my very first go at Digi-scrapping and managed to produce the new banner at the top of my bloggy-blog - not bad for a first attempt? Thanks to the fantastic Clare for the instructions on how to change the banner in the new blogger.

I've been putting off doing it digi-style for ages, mainly cos I feel like I'm deserting my real-life stash, and there's nothing like a stroke of some Crate when you're feeling low. However, I was mooching around on UKS, as you do and decided to check out a few links. Before I knew it, I was downloading a kit and alphabet from Peppermint Creative, and using the fabby tutorials from Jen, which I found via a link from Katie, I've had a great time! I used Adobe Photoshop Elements as that's what I'm used to and once you get the hang of it it's pretty easy to do the basics. There's loads of free stuff to download too, so go on, give it a whirl! Might have to try some proper layouts now...

In other news... I spent last night babysitting - the first and, hopefully, last overnighter I'll ever do. Looking after a one year old and a nearly-three year old is usually fine, but having to sleep in the baby's room and him waking up for a good hour in the middle of the night was not. Might have to rethink this having kids malarkey... It was worth the lack of sleep though, as I earned more than enough to add to my Crimble money to buy my new camera! Hurrah! I have a Panasonic Lumix DMC FZ7 on order as we speak (thanks Dad!).

And finally, a Baby Z update: She moved into a room with her Mom yesterday and is hopefully going to be allowed home in the week! How amazing is that? She's such a fighter and truly a little miracle.

Two Steps Behind

2007-01-12T22:34:00.000Z

Ooh, I'm a norty girl this week! This is the first week since we started that I haven't done my Dare card in time :( I've been struggling with my mojo again, as well as having trouble finding the time. However, I had one of those lightbulb moments this evening and actually got out of my cosy warm bed where I was watching Soapstar Superstar to go and make it.

This week, the very lovely Lythan dared us to raid our wardrobe in search of inspiration for our cards.

I'm ashamed to admit I actually raided my dirty washing pile for this one (oh god, the shame of it!). I can't help it if that's where the inspiration decided to manifest itself! There I am, lying in bed watching telly, when my eye falls upon my favourite pair of pants. Yes, I was inspired by my pants.

I rummaged in my drawers (oh, the humour!) to find scraps of paper or card that pretty much matched the colours and found some different textures, which looks nice. I cut them into equal strips and stapled them together, inked the edges and placed them on a square card blank. I found a scrap of lace and coloured it pink with an inkpad (there's pink lace around the edges of the pants - you can't see it here - you only get a sneaky peek of my smalls!). The greeting is from the Lisa Bearnson TSV kit from QVC a while back - I inked the edges of that and placed it on the lace.

So there you have it! One of the quickest cards I've made in a while and it just came out of nowhere - or out of my pants, if you think about it! Go peep at the blog to see the fantastic cards the other girls have made, including our newest recruit - the fabulously talented Gillian Hamilton! We are so lucky to have Gillian on board - her stuff is amazing and she's my new inspiration.

Thank U

2007-01-08T21:14:00.000Z

Thank you all so much for keeping Baby Z in your thoughts. Had a text tonight to say she's had the final stage of her op and she's coming off life support, so I'm crossing my fingers even harder. I so wish I could be there to give A a huge squishy cuddle.

Ice Ice Baby

2007-01-05T17:38:00.000Z

Dare day! This week Lynda has challenged us to make a card the features Bling and Beads! Now, I do love a bit of bling, so I made myself a mini-dare, and that was not to use too much. Whenever I want to add a bit of sparkle to a card, I can be tempted to Kandi-Kane it to death.

For this, I used some gorgeous Crate Papers - inked the edges of the stripy one with distress ink and then used the coloured strip at the bottom of the paper to go across the card - waste not, want not and all that! I used one of the tags and a monogram that come in the set with the papers. I added a few pink seed beads to the monogram and covered it in Anita's 3D gloss, which doesn't show up very well in the pic. I then threaded a few beads onto some pale pink ribbon and added this to the tag. Punched a few flowers from more Crate, added seed beads and 3D gloss. The bling I managed to keep minimal by simply using a flower bead I found in my stash at each end of the green strip, to which I also added a rub-on greeting. I resisted the urge to fire up the Kandi-Kane - go me!!

As ever, there are some beautiful examples over on the blog, so please go and look if you haven't already, then promise me you'll have a go yourself? Every girl needs a bit of bling in her life!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks for all your comments about baby Z. No news as yet today, but I've got everything crossed she pulls through.

Bittersweet

2007-01-04T20:59:00.000Z

I never got round to blogging it, but remember my closest friend A who was pregnant? Well, she gave birth early, on 12th December! Got a bit of a shock when I saw the text message her hubby had sent. Baby Z does have Down's Syndrome, but was born a really healthy weight and was out of special care after about a day, just needing some oxygen to help her. I still don't really know the full story of what happened, as A is still in hospital and has no access to email, only texts. She's managed to work out the new phone she had for crimble and sent me couple of pics of Z - she's booootiful!

Anyhoo, I've just had a text to let me know that Z had her full heart repair op today as she was starting to struggle a bit and she's now 'critical but stable' in intensive care. Wow. I have absolutely no idea what they're going through and I hope I never have to know myself. I've never even met Z and I love her so much, so goodness only knows how A and J feel. They wanted this baby soooo much and are so totally in love with her. She has to come through this. She just has to.

New Year's Day

2007-01-01T08:00:00.000Z

A predictable title for a predictable post, but hey, it's still 80s so it counts! Actually, perhaps I should start on the 90s now....

I have mixed feelings about New Year's Day. There's always such a sense of hope and expectation, yet it's just another day. I don't make resolutions any more, as I was tired of feeling the disappointment when I inevitably let myself down just a few hours/days/weeks in. I do, however, think of a few things I'd like to achieve before the end of the year, but don't set myself huge goals or targets and restrict myself with time limits.

This year, I have one specific thing I'd like to happen, but I'm keeping it secret. Those of you who know me well or have been with me and my blog for a while may be able to guess. I'll let you know if I do it before this time next year. Other than that, I guess I'd like to continue doing well at work and I have the opening of the new nursery to look forward to. I'd like to do lots more scrapping and crafting and I aim to be published somewhere this year! I want to learn better photography and am taking steps already to achieve this. I aim to keep on blogging for as long as people keep reading! I enjoy writing my posts (when I get the time) and find it quite therapeutic, so that can only be a good thing.

I'd like to spend some more quality time with D this year. His shifts and bewildering love of Torquay United FC don't allow us much fun time, but I'll admit I didn't make much effort this year. We used to think nothing of jumping on a train to Devon and wandering around for the day before coming home, but this year I just haven't felt like it. There's always something else I would rather be doing, but when it comes to it I usually end up wasting the day doing not a lot at all. This year I need to unwind a bit, so perhaps I'll say 'yes' when he asks me if I want to come, rather than 'hmmm, not really'. It can be a great excuse to get out and take some more photographs, can't it?

I guess the main thing I'd like for this year is to be happy and healthy - anything else is a bonus. I hope you had a good time last night, whatever you were doing? Here's to 2007!

The Final Countdown

2006-12-31T08:00:00.000Z

Can you believe that's another year gone? I swear they're making them shorter. There's some sort of conspiracy going on - all the governments around the world are secretly nicking days here and there and soon a year will be only 5 months long.

I'm not a huge fan of 'New Year' as an event. I don't go out - not that I tend to go out anyway, but especially not at New Year. There's no way I'm going to pay to get into somewhere that's free any other night of the year, pay extortionate prices for drinks and taxis and spend the night with my face in someone's armpit/cleavage as the venue is so rammed you can't move and you spend the whole night bursting for the loo, not daring to go in case you can't find the person you came with when you come back... Nah, I'd rather stop at home watching whatever passes for entertainment on the telly and watching the bongs at midnight. The drinks are free, I can stretch out on the sofa and there's no queue for the loo. This year I shall be at my parents with J, as D is conveniently at work on nights this week. Unfortunately, this means I have to get up at stupid o'clock to go and get him on Monday morning as he can't get home. Gah!

I saw this blog prompt on UKS and thought that it might be an interesting one to ponder. Have a think and blog your own answers, or leave me a comment.

What are you doing now, or what have you done this year, that a year ago would not have seemed possible?

Er, well. I've had a couple of promotions at work and a nice pay rise, which was unexpected. This didn't seem too possible last year, when I was unemployed (or taking a career break, as I like to call it!)
I've rediscovered scrapbooking, after a feeble attempt and the grand total of one layout I did last year. This has also led me to spend way too much on stash - also not possible last year due to the 'career break'... The scrapbooking led me to join UKS and now I've booked a place on a one day event that I would never have had the courage to do before on my own.
One of the best things that has happened is being asked to be on the design team for the Daring Cardmakers. This has been just fantastic and I have made some new friends, both on the DT and participants in the Dares and I've learnt some fabby new techniques. I've really been inspired to craft again - I was worried I was losing it and seriously considering chucking it all in last year.
Ooh, my blog!! I wouldn't have dared do this last year. Who would have wanted to read my thoughts and ramblings? However, I decided to go for it earlier this year and here we are! Still hanging on in there on the Crafty Blogs Top 50!!

I'm sure there's probably lots more, but I can't think at the moment. It doesn't actually sound like I've had a very exciting year from that, but I have! I'm back doing a job I love (most of the time), I love my husband more than ever, I have a gorgeous stepson and my bootiful bunnies and smelly hamster, my Mom and Dad are the best, I have proper hobbies that aren't just watching telly and make me feel clever and creative and I can honestly say I am happy. Yep, I still have my down days, but they are few and far between now and I feel better than I have done in a long time and that, for me, is enough.

Whatever you're doing this New Year, enjoy. I hope you've had a good year and if not, just think - things can surely only get better. Trust me, I know.... See you in 2007!! Kel xxx

Thanks For Christmas

2006-12-29T07:38:00.000Z

Did you have a good one? It was all over a bit quick though, eh? 'Specially when you have to go back to work at 7.30 on the Wednesday morning. You wouldn't believe how many children were dumped on us at 8 o'clock - it's as if the parents have actually had to spend some time with them and they needed a rest! Whaddaya mean, they do?!

Right, Dare's up! A nice easy one for those of you with post-Christmas fatigue. We decided collectively that it would be nice to make some 'thank you' cards, but simple, stylish ones that don't take forever to do, just in case there's lots to send. Well, we can live in hope.

Technically, this wasn't as quick and simple as it was meant to be, but that's mainly due to my rather unusual incompetence on the PC! I used Jo's text box technique to make a background of 'thank you' in different languages. Once you've done this once, all you need to do is press print and hey presto! You've got lots of quick cards. I then cut the 'thanks' from DCWV mat stack card using Sizzlits 'Nouveau' alpha and stuck it on top. I really, really tried so hard not to ink anything, but couldn't resist using my black Stazon around the edges of the card blank - sorry! Ta-daaaaaa!! One simple (and hopefully stylish) thank you card. Once again, check out the blog to see the other creations the girls have managed this week and please have a go - it won't take you long, honest!

I plan to blog some of my Christmas, but the photos are on Mom's camera, so will probably get round to it sometime in June. Hope you all had a lovely time - can't wait to read all about it!

Home For Christmas

2006-12-23T12:00:00.000Z

Woohooo! I've finished work for a whole 4 - yes, that's 4, days!! Hardly worth it, eh? Roll on Wednesday morning....

Still, it's been a good, if exhausting week. As a rule, I don't go out. Well, not often anyway. My social life is crammed into a week at this time of year and I'm feeling a little worse for wear now! Last Friday D and I went to a colleague's leaving party in town - it was great to catch up with lots of ex-colleagues of my own and I somehow managed to drink most of a bottle of champagne on my own - oops! Paid for it muchly the next day though... I went out for a yummy meal with my Mom and her work friends on Monday and was shattered at work on Tuesday, then on Thursday it was D's 40th birthday! Awww, bless him. The day before he kept telling me he was still in his 30s. Again and again. And again... We went out for a Chinese buffet to celebrate, then came home and had a couple of glasses of wine while we watched 'Bruce Almighty'. Early nights all round as we were both up early on Friday. Then last night was my works do in Solihull. It was a good night, although there is so much tension between the two nurseries owned by the bosses. If the others loosened their knickers a bit, they might have actually cracked a smile and enjoyed themselves... Nothing stops us when we get going though!

And so, yesterday was Dare Day! This was a first for many of us, as we had to make a card to celebrate the new year, following a recipe too - 3 brads, 2 patterned papers and a die cut or punchie...

For my card, I used a square blank, then tore two different DCWV papers into opposing triangles. I inked the edges and added a couple of brads in the opposite corners. My die cut was the tag, which was cut from DCWV mat stack and inked. The '2007' was cut from the Nouveau Sizzlit set. Added some green spotty grosgrain ribbon and the final brad and there you have it! Once again there are some fabulous cards on the blog and some of our players have already added theirs to their own blogs - do you ladies have nothing else to do or something?!! I'm sure there's something called Christmas around the corner!... Thanks for joining in though - it's so uplifting to log on and see the new comments on both the Dare blog and this one.

I felt so inspired by last week's dare that I decided to make some new Black & White cards to send out this year. The picture's not great, but they look nice in real life!
I used a scribbly tree stamp (see what you've started Keryn?!) and embossed it with black sparkle glitter. Did a few squiggles and mounted this onto some lovely Kings Foils from Little Lou's that I picked up at the NEC last year. This was then mounted over some lovely spotty ribbon from Paperchase. The greeting was printed onto the blank using the Greeting Card Factory program. I'm just so glad I got to make my cards this year, as buying them from Asda last year pained me!!

Not sure if I'll have time to blog before Christmas, or indeed anything to blog about, so if I don't, I'd like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas!! Thanks so much for reading my mundane mumblings - it means a lot to know you're out there. I hope you have a fabby time, whatever you're doing, and the 'Kalorie Kounting with Kel Klub' starts in the new year for anyone feeling guilty about overindulging like I undoubtedly will be...

It Doesn't Often Snow at Christmas

2006-12-16T08:30:00.000Z

So why do we often feature it on our cards now? Weird... Anyway, it's Dare time again. This week we decided to challenge you to make a Christmas card using only black and white - oh, and maybe a teeny splash of another colour....

This is my one and only attempt this week - things are just so manic and I'm really missing having a day off in the week at the moment. I used a white card blank, and a piece of black card, inked around the edges in black and white and used a piece of ribbon from Paperchase to divide the two. I Xyron-d some DCWV paper to an old cereal box and cut out some good old triangle trees, then inked the edges of those. Placed them on at 'jaunty' (love that word!) angles and drew trunks with white gel pen. The greeting is - wait for it - stamped with versamark and embossed using some lovely pearlescent embossing powder, then name of which escapes me at the moment. Ta-daaaa! Now, go make some more cards - you know you need to! Or is that just me?...

Slender Frame

2006-12-10T20:23:00.000Z

Woohoo! I've just jumped on the scales (well, stepped carefully - didn't want them to scream in agony) and discovered I weigh a fraction under 13 stone, for the first time in years! Yay me! Of course, this may have something to do with the fact that I spent the best part of yesterday either locked in or not venturing far from my bathroom. Euch. I think it was a dodgy piece of fish that I had for tea on Friday night - serves me right for being lazy and going to the chippy instead of cooking good, wholesome food...

I go through phases with my weight and body image. I'm not slim, but I'm not what you'd call chunky either. I think I must be 'big boned' or one of those other cliches, as I seem to hide the weight well. Whenever the subject of dieting comes up at work, people are surprised to learn that I'm that heavy and take a size 18. However, I'm not unhappy. In my mid-teens, I weighed just 9 and a half stones and still took a size 14, but geez, I must have looked skinny! Then, after a series of events still too painful to talk about here, I put on a considerable amount of weight - I went up to about 15 stones and was in a size 22.

Nowadays, I tend to use sizes as a guide - the shops are all different anyway and I can buy trousers that fit in a 16 or a 20 from the same shop! I know I'll never be skinny, and I wouldn't want to be now anyway. It's nice to see my weight starting with a 12..., but it's not a problem if it creeps back up slightly. The main problem is that I know I'm unfit - I just don't have time for exercise! I get quite a bit running round after the kids at work all day anyway... Hey, if it aint broke...

Let's Make It

2006-12-08T19:21:00.000Z

Eeeeek! I've just switched over to Blogger Beta. Did anyone else get reeeeeeally scared just before they pushed the button? I was petrified I'd lose it all, but everything seems to be here...

It's Dare day!! This week was Keryn's turn to set the challenge and I was a teeny bit worried - Keryn is a stamper!! So, no surprises when she said she wanted us to stamp. However, she then made it harder by telling us we couldn't use a manufactured rubber stamp or such like... Oh no. We had to use something - anything else to stamp with. Hmmmm...... Unfortunately, my creative juices were all used up at the Cyber Crop, so I was very unimaginative and these were the results...

I made a stamp by cutting a sizzix Christmas tree from Funky Foam ( I knew there was a use for it!) and stamped the background onto a card blank. Then I tore a piece of moondust vellum and layered it over the top. I stamped another tree on to scrap card, cut it out and inked the edges, adding a little bit of Stickles glitter for interest. This was mounted on to red card and a greeting added.

My second card was again made using funky foam stamps cut with a sizzlit flower die. They were cut out and layered on top of some torn and inked Basic Grey Gypsy paper which was placed on a pink Bazzill card. A rub-on greeting finished it off.

The other girls have had some great ideas - they're all so flippin' clever, I'm getting a bit embarrassed at my lack of imagination now. Check out the blog and have a look, but promise me you'll have a go - if I can do it, so can you!!

Problem Child

2006-12-05T14:53:00.000Z

Argh! I'm having trouble with me furries this week. I've got two days off work, as I have leave to use before the end of the year and no other likely time to take it, so I thought I would use it wisely and get some cards done, layouts scrapped - you know the drill. Housework - what's that?! Anyway, I got loads of little jobs done at the weekend so I could leave Monday and today free to lock myself away in my craft room. But no. My wonderful, gorgeous fluffy babies decided they needed some extra attention and thought a couple of vet trips were in order.

First up was Pickle. You remember her? Well, one of her front teeth had overgrown and I hadn't notice (I'm a terrible mother!), and this meant that her other teeth weren't wearing down properly and I'm not even sure she was eating very well. Off we trot to the vets - how embarrassing is it when they call you in by your pet's name?! *Note to self - think of more normal names for any future pets*. Offending teeth were soon clipped down and she behaved like an angel - didn't try to savage the vet or the nurse. Why does she find my fingers so tasty?

So, I get home and notice that Beany is sitting with her eyes closed - quite unusual for her, even when sleeping. After tea she was still like it, so I picked her up and eeeeuw!! Her eye is all gunged up! Ick! My poor little baby. My poor meagre bank account! Yet another trip to the vet, but considerably more money than Pickle's 'trim'. Gah! Bang goes my shopping trip for an outfit for Christmas parties.... How on earth they think I'm going to squeeze cream into her eye twice a day I have no idea. Actually, what is really sweet is that Radar obviously knows that something is wrong, as he's hardly left her side and keeps licking her eye (it's not just the taste of the cream - he was doing it before!) Not actually helping much though mate....

So, I've actually done diddly squat in crafting terms and now my mojo's gone walkies. Thank goodness I've managed a couple of cards for the Dare this week - to be announced on Friday at 10 am. Keep your eye on the blog though, as I think Kathy B has another 'Little Extra' up her sleeve...

De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da

2006-12-01T10:00:00.000Z

It's my Dare this week!! Never one to shy away from a challenge, I decided it would be a good idea to dare you all to use a song title or lyrics on a card. Hmmm, not as easy as it seemed, I soon discovered. I had all sorts of ideas that were fantastic in my head, but when it came to committing them to card, looked, well, crap. So, this is my one and only effort for this week (and is for my young niece's birthday in a couple of days).

It was a lot harder to make than it looks! After much fiddling around in Greeting Card Factory Deluxe, I managed to print the first part of 'Twinkle Twinkle' around the edge of a square card blank, using Journaling Hand font. I tore some strips from a DCWV Mat Stack, stuck them onto scrap card and trimmed it to size, then inked the edges with black Stazon. The star was also cut from the Mat Stack on the Craft Robo (using a template by Cindy on UKS - thanks!!) and again the edges inked. The star was raised using 3d foam pads to give it some depth. Et, voila!

Please have a go at my little challenge this week and let us know when you've posted it somewhere we can see. We really, really love reading your comments and then trotting off to look at your blogs and websites.

Nothing much else to report really, as I've had a strangely busy week doing not a lot at all. I want to apologise to everyone for not leaving comments this week on your blogs - I am trying to read them all (there are so many since the Dares took off!!) but just haven't had the time to leave comments. I hope to go back and do it soon, but you know how it is... I did see this on Rhi's blog and thought I'd have a go:

Kel --

[noun]:

A person who enjoys the smell of rotten eggs

'How will you be defined in the dictionary?' at QuizGalaxy.com

Nice. Laters xxx

This Must Be Magic

2006-11-29T19:19:00.000Z

So, how was it for you? If you took part in the UKS Harry Potter Cyber Crop, then I hope you had as much fun as I did! It was my very first Cyber Crop and I know it won't be the last - I absolutely loved it! I was very lucky to have such an understanding family - D was on nights, so in bed during the day and out in the evening, but he cooked my my meals (he knew I would have neglected to eat otherwise) and made me copious amounts of tea to keep me going. Mom said she wouldn't ring unless I rang her so as not to disturb me and also lent me her fabby camera to take photos of my work over the weekend. Some inconsiderate b****rds decided to steal my Dad's car on Friday night, yet he was more worried about me missing a class than giving him a lift to pick up the hire car. At this point, I should really just do this: *BIG WAVE!!!!* to my parents, who are now avid readers of this here blog (yep, I finally told them!).

And so, now I'm going to bore you with what I did over the weekend. All the classes can still be found and downloaded on UKS...

This was where I lived from Friday afternoon until Sunday evening! I moved lots of my stash downstairs so I could be near the PC, printers and Craft Robo, as well as the telly! Not that I watched much in the end... It all looks quite tidy here.

The LO on the right was the first class that I did and I think is my favourite LO of the crop. I used Doodlebug paper and Kissy Fit sequins, plus some grosgrain ribbon. The title and the frames were cut on the Craft Robo. The journalling reads: "September 2nd 2005. I married my best friend. Magical doesn't even come close."
This LO is for the 'Notions and Potions' class and was all about using stamps on acetate to make a frame for your photograph. I wasn't going to do this one, but had some spare time, so dug out some stamps that had come free with a magazine and this was the result. The journalling reads: "It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are". (ee cummings).

This one was for a challenge entitled 'Marauder's Map'. The challenge was posted at midnight and I was a bit too tired to work on it then, so I went to bed. Of course, I lay awake thinking of possible layouts and wasn't able to sleep for ages. I then got up at 6.45 and got straight to work! I'd wanted to scrap this picture of D on Waikiki Beach for ages, so this seemed like the perfect opportunity to do it.

This fabby concertina-type card on the left was for the 'Diagon Alley' class and was one of my favourites of the crop. I used piccies of my parents, brother and me and will, at some point, journal a piece about each on the reverse. I used Crate Papers (ouch!! Killed me to use it!) and lovely ribbons, plus a few Primas and a clip with a teeny heart charm. I can see me making lots of these in future and they'd make great Christmas cards.

The next LO was for a challenge to scrap your hopes for the future. I love this photo of D and me - we are oblivious to the camera and so totally having fun, and that's how I want it to be always for us. I scrapped on 8x8 and used some HOTP Sara papers and some Doodlebug All Mixed Up rub ons, as well as cutting the arrow and parts of the title with the Robo. (See how I get value for money out of it?!)

This LO was for 'It's Magic' and the class was to get us doodling some accents such as the quotation marks. I'm not totally happy with this one, as I think it needs some journalling, but I'm not sure if it will look right in the space that's left in the bottom left corner. I like the design of the LO though and may well use it again sometime.

The next LO was another class that I wasn't going to do - until I saw it. This was for Shimelle's 'Magic in the Middle' class and was all about not being afraid of leaving 'white space' on your layouts. Now, this is something I'm quite fond of anyway, so when I saw the class, I knew I wanted to have a go. I scrapped on 8x8 and used Rob & Bob Studio 'Scribble Floral' paper, an Angel Kiss bloom and a teeny bit of Basic Grey 'Gypsy' paper. The colour hasn't come out very well in the photo, but it's so striking in real life.

This next one is my least favourite of the bunch and I'm not sure I even should show it here! It was for the 'Wishes' class and the aim was to print a frame onto a transparency. There's too much empty space on here and it either needs some journalling or should have been done on 8x8 and not 12x12, but hey, you live and learn!

I really like this one! This was for the 'Bewitched' class, which was a sketch. I stuck quite closely to the original sketch, but it was a great opportunity to use this photo of my beloved Athens Crocs that was screaming to be scrapped. I used Paper Loft Flip Flops papers (how apt!) and some freebie ribbon, as well as a Crocs leaflet I picked up with a view to using it on a LO someday. There's a hidden panel under the photo with "10 Reasons You Gotta Have 'Em!"

Nearly there! This one was for the 'Herbology' class, which encouraged us to do some paper layering. I couldn't find a really big floral paper, so I used this instead and scrapped on 8x8. The photo is my lovely Mommy, cos I think she is 'Blooming Lovely'.

This little tag book was constructed at 7.30 am on Sunday morning, as my attempt at 'The Burrow' challenge - to create a LO or mini book about what you love about your home. I used tags cut from a Sizzix die and decorated with some All My Memories papers that were sanded and inked. I printed out various 'home' quotes and added some Primas and ribbons to finish it off. Not bad for a quicky, eh?

This was the last LO I completed and was for the 'Magic Mirrors' challenge, which was about distressing. As this is already one of my 'must do' techniques, I had to have a go at the challenge. I chose a photo of my Great Nan with her great grandchildren and mounted it on more Basic Grey Gypsy papers which had been torn and inked. I added a clip and some ribbon, plus a few Primas and brads and a title cut with the Robo.

And, last, but certainly not least, is my flip book for the 'Spellbound Smiles' class from Tracey at Little Cottage Crafts
This was another class I wasn't going to do, mainly because I didn't get the kit for it beforehand, but, once I learnt that I could make my own flip book from a sheet of 12x12 cardstock, I thought I'd give it a go.

I used K&Co 'Studio K' papers and lots of photos of J to make the facets of the book. Accents were done with stickers, brads and phrases either printed or stamped onto matching cardstock. I think I'm going to give this to J's Mom for Christmas. I really enjoyed making this and am so glad I had a go at the class.

So, there you have it! I have been so busy, but I still can't believe how much I enjoyed myself just sitting in the same chair on my own all weekend! Although, I wasn't really alone - around 1000 other UK Scrappers were around to keep each other company; well done to everyone who took part and especially those who won prizes, even if the wrong house won in the end! Here's looking forward to the next one...

All Night Long

2006-11-25T20:35:00.000Z

Wooo! Half way through the UKS Harry Potter themed Cyber Crop. It's my first ever crop, cyber or otherwise and I'm thoroughly enjoying it! I have never scrapped so much in my life. At this point, I have done 6 layouts and a few little challenges and there's still loads of classes and challenges to go. There's steam coming from the Craft Robo and the battery's almost gone in the camera (upload as you go, upload as you go...), My bum is actually numb from sitting on this computer chair all day (and night and day - must remember to go to bed at some point...)! Here's a couple of piccies of what I've been up to so far...

I'm sure there'll be lots more to show off once it's all over on Sunday evening. For anyone who hasn't taken part in something like this before, try it - you might just like it!

It's So Easy

2006-11-24T09:51:00.000Z

...Or so I thought! This week's Dare is provided by Jo and it's all about the doodles! Now, I've done a bit of doodling on layouts, but I'm not very good, so was panicking slightly, but here are my attempts for this week.

This one is really simple. The greeting was printed using 'Eight Fifteen' font and mounted onto some pink Bazzill cardstock. The flowers were punched using various punches and a Quickutz die. I used a Kandi Kane to put a bit of bling in the flower centres and then, of course the most important part was some swirly -whirly doodling to link the flowers.

The card on the right used baby blue Bazzill (sorry, I can't remember the proper names!) for the base, with inked edges and some hand-drawn lines doodled around the edge. I used Doodlebug Whimsical Winter paper (inked) layered on the base card, then some darker blue Bazzill (er, inked!) on top of that. I used a couple of the Whimsical Winter cardstock stickers and dotted around these, then hand-wrote 'Christmas!'.

Thanks to Jo for a great Dare this week. I've enjoyed doodling and plan to use it more, but it's not as easy as it first seems. I guess the thing to do is relax and let it come naturally and not to worry if it goes wrong. There are some amazing examples by the other girls on the blog, so I hope we've inspired you to have a try if it's not something you've done before?

Somebody's Watching Me

2006-11-22T21:59:00.000Z

Who reads your blog? Do your family and 'real life' friends read, or is it something you keep for your cyber world? As far as I'm aware, none of my friends in the 'real' world know I blog and I certainly haven't told my family, but I've been thinking about it a lot lately.

I'm really proud of the work we've been doing on Daring Cardmakers (we hit number 4 on the Crafty Blogs list today!!) and I'd like to be able to share it with my Mom, my best mate, whoever, but so far I haven't told a soul. I'm really scared of them discovering my blog through the link on the site - am I daft? I don't have a lot to hide, but I guess I can be more open on my blog than I may be in reality, purely because it's more anonymous and it's easier for me to write down my feelings than to express them verbally. I know I have met some of you in the flesh, and, to be honest, some of you know me better than my 'real life' friends, but it's still so easy to hide behind the pc.

So, please let me know your thoughts on this. Shall I tell everyone and risk my blogging style changing, or shall I carry on as I am? It's getting harder and harder not to mention recently!

P.S. Does anyone else find it funny that the spellchecker doesn't recognise the word 'blog'?

Cars

2006-11-20T22:03:00.000Z

Wooohoooo! I got a new car yesterday! It's not new new - in fact, it's only a couple of years newer than my last one, but at least it stands a chance of passing the MOT first time - I hope. I did so love my Clio, and it was so hard to let her go, but the problem with her was that she failed for the last three years on the same thing, so there was every chance the same thing would happen again in March. The chap next door to my parents was looking to sell his wife's Fiesta, as she doesn't use it now, so my lovely Daddy wondered if I would be interested. Er, hello!! So, with (a lot) of financial help from my Dad, I am now the proud owner of Felicity Fiesta. My poor Clio is now sitting on my Grandad's drive, waiting for my Dad to clean her up and sell her on. I did have an emotional moment or two when I drove her for the last time, until I remembered that it's just a car - a heap of metal and mechanics and there's really no reason for unnecessary emotion!

I've got the week off work as I had holiday to use up (hence this weekday blogging madness!), so I'm planning on getting busy in my craft room and making lots of Christmas cards, as well as doing various challenges and other stuff. So, today I was very busy... Watching Strictly Come Dancing and Lost that I had taped over the weekend. Hmmm, not very crafty. However, I did manage to complete a layout that covered two challenges (check me!!).

The LO is based on the Pencil Lines sketch for this week and also the Weekly Challenge on UKS
It finally gave me the opportunity to scrap those fab photos of the boys when they ate the sour sweets, and there is some journalling hidden inside the yellow gatefold mentioning this. I'm quite proud of the title - I wrote it all myself - no printers or anyfink! Papers are, of course, Paper Loft Flip Flops. Now, just 50-odd Christmas cards and a couple of Dare cards to make for Friday's challenge and I can relax....

Man Made

2006-11-18T08:45:00.001Z

Here it is, my effort for this week's Dare. Debbie dared us to make a card using some ribbon - oh joy! One of my favourite things! But no - that wouldn't be much of a challenge, would it? No, we had to make a card featuring ribbon for a male type person... Well, seeing as my darling D hits the big Four-Oh next month (eeek!), I thought I would have a go at making a card for him. I used my precious Crate Papers for the brown background, which was inked with Tim Holtz distress ink in Walnut and mounted onto green Bazzill cardstock, and used the reverse of the brown Crate for the little stripy square - also inked (duh - of course!) The ribbons are Making Memories and the circles and stickers are from the Lisa Bearnson kit that was a TSV on QVC a while back. There are some stunning examples from the other gals on the blog, so please take a peep if you haven't already!

Other exciting news - our lovely Jo is up for Cardmaker of the Year in 'Simply Cards and Papercraft Magazine' and her cards always leave me with my jaw hanging open (and anyone that has read about my jaw will know that that's not an easy or pain-free thing to do!!). Please vote for her here so she can win goodies to make more stunning cards with!

What About Me

2006-11-15T12:39:00.000Z

I did this layout last night for the weekly challenge over on UKS and I'm really pleased with it. Not only did I think up the design all by myself, no help from sketches, books or anyfink, it's a page that can go in my (eventual) Book of Me. Lots of scrappers don't scrap themselves - whether they don't like to, are afraid to or for other reasons, but, d'ya know what? I love it. I like to scrap what I know, and, after a bumpy few years, I think I know myself pretty well now. I feel quite sad that D doesn't really have a record of his parents and now they're gone it's too late to ask them to recount their stories. I want to talk to my parents and grandparents, but there just never seems to be time, or I don't know how to go about it. If I scrap myself, as well as those around me, then there will always be some sort of record for my children and their children to look at.

Have you seen the mini midweek challenge on the Dares? There will be a few of these from time to time and they're great for kick-starting the inspiration. Why not kill two birds with one stone and use the recipe to make your main challenge card? Here's the one I've done so far...

I'm fed up with having to take pictures of my work at night - they look better in the daylight, honest! Can you tell I am loving my new Basic Grey Gypsy papers?

The Way We Talk

2006-11-11T10:25:00.000Z

Dare 4 is up! This week, Tracie challenged us to come up with cards featuring different languages. Some of the others were really swotty and used ideas such as British Sign Language, Geek Speak and the language of flowers. However, I'm a literal kind of girl and just went for some bog-standard translation type stuff!

This card uses one of my favourite colour combinations of red, black and white. Paper is DCWV, torn at the edges and layered on black cardstock. Red heart cut from textured card, lightly sanded and edges inked with black Stazon. All of the 'I Love You' phrases are done with the Dymo Jr and the red ones have some tiny white gel pen 'stitches' around them.

The second card is another fave - I love using really bright colours. Background paper is Colour My World Cupcakes 'Jelly Spots' (from my NEC stash!), inked around the edges with a pink Cats Eyes ink. The tags are cut out of some DCWV mat stack card. Doodlebug 'All Mixed Up' rub-ons provide the phrases and a co-ordinating prima flower with white brad and some hot pink grosgrain and a staple finish them off.

I really enjoyed this week's dare, so please have a go and see what you can come up with. Also, keep your eyes peeled (eeeuw!) as we might just have some more mini midweek mayhem planned on the blog!

Just Like Paradise

2006-11-09T15:55:00.000Z

Thanks for asking after me. I still have the lurgy and I'm thoroughly bored of it now. Most of the staff and lots of the children at work have it too, so we all sound really healthy! Still, I couldn't let a little thing like a nasty coldy-virus stop me from shop, shop, shopping at the NEC this morning!

I usually go with my parents - Dad tootles off to the Art Materials bit while Mom and I don our protective body armour and delve into the scrum that is Hobbycrafts. However, they are on their holibobs this year, so I had to go it alone. I thought it might be a tad quieter on the first day, so I turned up nice and early in order to have a gentle meander round the hall. Hmmm, it was great - for about 20 minutes, then the hordes arrived!! Geez, what is it about crazed crafters at these shows? Anyone would think they'd been told they had 5 minutes to buy as much as they can before the world puts up the closed sign...
I really missed having Mom with me. Mainly because she is the little angel that sits on my shoulder and says things like, "Are you sure you need the same paper in three different colours?" and suchlike. I managed to spend an absolute fortune (well, for me, anyway) and I now feel rather guilty and everso slightly sick - Christmas is approaching and I've just spent J's present... I'll tell D that he won't need to buy me anything this year - I've already got mine. Oops. So, for anyone interested, here's what I bought...

Becky Higgins book - 'The Creative Companion'
Doodlebug Design papers - Lipstick Dotted Line, Love Letter, Loopy Love Hearts, Boldly Blue Stripe, Pastel Confetti (x3), Whimsical Winter Asterisks
Whimsical Winter cardstock stickers
All Mixed Up rub-ons
Crate Paper - Stork, Girly Girl, Tricycle and some matching ribbons
Colour My World Cupcakes papers - Jelly Spots, Mini Fancies, Hundreds and Thousands, Jelly Diamonds
3 Bugs In a Rug - Rhapsody-Jubilation paper
Blonde Moments papers - one set each of Sugar Dumpling, Suet Pudding and Spring Fling
Basic Grey - Gypsy 6x6 pad
Bazzil cardstock - 20 sheets of various colours
Colourbox Q cats eyes inks
Simply Cards and Papercrafts magazine
And a partridge in a pear tree...

Phew!! All of that was achieved in approximately an hour and a half. Well, probably less, actually. I absolutely hate crowds in a situation like that, so I have to get out as soon as I'm ready or I'll have a panic attack. I escaped to the Crafts for Christmas hall and bought some yummy Tomato and basil cheese - mmmmm!

So, it's all over for another few months. I keep telling myself I won't go, that I have enough stash already etc, etc, but I just can't help myself. We're a bit deprived of decent bricks and mortar shops round our way, so it's just lovely to be able to see, stroke and smell all the pretties in such close proximity. Even if you do have someone's elbow up your other nostril while you're doing it.

I Want a New Drug

2006-11-03T13:38:00.000Z

Eurgh! I have the most awful, yucky cold going. My head is surely stuffed with several rolls of cotton wool, I look like Rudolph and I'm cold, or hot, or cold... I've been taking some supposedly strong cold and flu remedy, but it doesn't appear to have any fight in it, as I'm getting worse and not better. Any recommendations?

I hope you are impressed at my dedication to you though? I've dragged myself from my sick bed to post details of the cards I've made for this week's exciting Dare. This week, Kathy B has challenged us to create cards featuring sewing, be it machine or hand stitched. Now, being completely useless with a sewing machine, hand stitching it is for me.

Iiiiin one...

Background paper is from the Paperloft Flip Flops range - I love love love the bright colours in these papers! The edges have been inked (duh!). The flowers were cut on the Craft Robo and the edges of these inked too. I used some black cross stitch thread to do running stitch around the petals. In the centre of the flowers there are some matching colour seed beads, covered with some Anita's 3D Gloss.

Iiiiiiin two...

This one also features Flip Flops paper, cut into strips and backed on pink paper. I then used different coloured threads to do the stitching around the edges of the panels. The greeting was printed on the pc, but I can't remember the font!

And Bully's special priiiiize....

It's a Chr****** card!! I don't usually make these until about, ooh, 24th December, so you're honoured. Papers are DCWV Chr****** Stack, tree is a sizzix die which has been inked and dotted with sparkly red Stickles. I used read thread for the stitching.

That's all for this week, unless I get a sudden burst of creativity, but I think I might just crawl back to bed and stay there for a week. Check out the Dare and the other girls' blogs - some awesome work going on this week!

I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For

2006-10-28T16:47:00.000+01:00

So, it's 4.30 am and I'm wide awake, lying in bed with a cuppa, reading my new Cathy Zielske book. Of course, I should far away in the land of nod, but not a chance! I have all sorts of things flying around in my head, from random songs (why does that happen?) to layouts to card designs for next week's dare... I just love Cathy Z's stuff; man, that woman is talented, but so blimmin' neat. I've give anything to be even a teeny smidge as talented as her, or Elsie, or any of the other scrapbooking godesses out there.

My trouble at the moment is that I don't have what I want, and that's a defining style. I'm still pretty new to scrapping, but even in my cardmaking I flit from style to style, using various techniques. Of course, there's nothing wrong with this, but I would love to have a style that, when someone saw it, they'd say, "Oh, that's a Kel layout". Of course, if you already do this, please let me know and maybe I'll stop stressing!

I suppose I just love buying new bits and bobs, trying out new techniques and generally having fun and not taking my art too seriously. And I guess that's the way it should be.

My Ever Changing Moods

2006-10-27T18:12:00.000+01:00

Woo hooo! Week 2 of Daring Cardmakers !! Told you it was a doozy! Jane likes to keep us on our toes... Have you had a go yet? Go on, I DARE you!

Right, for those who may be interested, here are the details on my efforts:

This one is nice and simple - papers are from the DCWV Christmas Stack, beer glass is a Quickutz die cut. Title is cut with the ever-trusty Craft Robo, bottle tops supplied by my wonderful hubby, who thought Christmas had come early when I forced him to go buy beer and drink it quickly... Edges well and truly inked with Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Walnut.

The second one was more laborious and I still don't know if I like it, but there you go. Papers are random odds and ends from my scraps folder, sunshine is a cupcake case coloured yellow with chalks. A magazine freebie flower circle doo-dah was place on yellow card, then a few seed beads put in the centre and covered with a good dollop (love that word!) of Anita's 3D Gloss.

So, after a fairly productive crafting week (I have a LO to show off another day), I have ended the week on a low :-(

Had a good day yesterday - had a mock interview with an ex nursery manager to see if I might pass the Ofsted interview and she said I would pass with flying colours! Yay me!! Today was pants as one of our staff is blatantly taking the piss and my boss is ready to walk, which will gut me, as she is fantastic and I'm not sure how I would feel working there knowing the owners had let that happen....

Ho hum. At least it's Friday! Three whole days off and lots of crafting to do.....

So Far So Good

2006-10-23T20:48:00.000+01:00

Wow! I'm absolutely gobsmacked at the reaction we've received for the Dares. I mean, I know how much hard work has been put in and I knew it was a fantastic idea when I was asked to be on the design team, but blimey! We've had loads of mentions and people taking part already. Thank you all for joining in, boosting our confidence and helping to confirm that some things are worth fighting for. Please please please stick around - the dares will just get better and better. This Friday's is a doozy - trust me!

So, nothing else to report really. Work is just work at the moment. Buns are bootiful as ever and we've gained another hamster while my bro and his family are on their holibobs.

Tell you what, have a bun-inspired layout to brighten the post! *ETA* Stripey paper is HOTP Sara Papers and the orange is from a Costco bumper pack.. Now stop asking!! ;-)

Point of No Return

2006-10-21T09:54:00.000+01:00

Yay!!! Yesterday finally saw the launch of Daring Cardmakers - a new kind of challenge blog that some blog-land friends and I have been working on (you have no idea of the trouble we've had to get this off the ground!) What excited me about this was that pretty much all of the other dare-type blogs that are around are mainly for scrapbooking, whereas ours focuses on making cards to a certain theme or idea, which should hopefully include a huge chunk of fabulously talented crafters into the dare blog world.

The first dare was to make a card around the theme of 'friendship' - something that has been an issue to many of us in the last couple of weeks, in one way or another.

My card was inspired by a Lulu Guiness handbag I spotted in a magazine that used the phrases 'love', 'trust' and 'friendship', which I thought very apt. Papers are from Provocraft - Rob & Bob Studio Scribble Floral, the flowers are from my trusty X-Cut punch and the diamantes are attached using a Kandi Kane. I've inked edges with black Stazon (if it's not moving, ink it!!) and the phrases were done with a Dymo Jr.

There are some fabulous designers on the team and we'd love it if everyone had a go whenever possible and we hope to encourage some spontaneity back into card making and show it can be as cool and exciting as scrapbooking!

See you there - if you DARE!!!

Got You By The Balls

2006-10-17T19:26:00.000+01:00

Sorry for the bluntness of the title, but that's basically how I'm feeling at the moment. Yes, it's another installment in Kel's Job Saga....

So, you know how I was dithering about applying for a new job nearer to home? Well, I kind of decided not to just yet, as I think it will be better to stay where I am for the time being, what with trying for a bubba. Imagine getting a new job and then having to tell them I was pregnant soon after... Hmm, maybe not. Anyhoo, we had a staff meeting tonight as there was a big announcement to be made. Our proprietors are in the process of acquiring the lease on a new site, literally round the corner from the current nursery and will be expanding from January. They have asked me if I'm interested in applying to be deputy. However, this would actually be acting manager for six months or so while my boss is on maternity leave.

If you remember (or look back in the archives!) I had this dilemma a few months ago - and the proprietor hasn't forgotten. I did tell her that the main reasons for not going for it then were the travelling distance and lack of knowledge, but now I feel ready after a few months in my current role and distance isn't an issue as it's actually a few hundred metres closer!

So now I have to do loooooots of reading up and generally get myself to a stage whereby I can convince an Ofsted bod that I am a 'fit person' to be in charge of a nursery within a couple of weeks. Eeeeeek!! If I can't convince my boss, then they won't really consider me for the position.

I am really excited by this opportunity. Hopefully it's just what I need to feel happy at work again, although I am well aware that it will be hard work and pretty stressful at times. I almost started giggling to myself, thinking, "so this isn't the best time to tell you I'm thinking of leaving?..." Any pearls of wisdom will be gratefully received....

Blimey, if you're still reading this, you've done very well!! Here's a new layout I did last week to brighten a very dull post...

Alive and Kicking

2006-10-15T20:48:00.000+01:00

Well, it's been a funny old week. Something that has been a huge part of my life for the last 3 years has come to an end in a rather unpleasant manner and I've found out things about people that have surprised and saddened me. I still have a bitter taste in my mouth, but it's slowly being sweetened by the taste of true friendship. I think it will take me some time to come to terms with what's happened recently, but I'm sure I will eventually. My comfort blanket has been taken away and I feel as though I'm standing here somewhat naked and cold, but perhaps it's time to stand on my own two feet. I feel new and exciting things starting to happen and this can only be a good thing. I'm really sorry that all this sounds rather cryptic for those of you not 'in the know', but I really don't want to elaborate as I believe that it's better that you don't know as it may spoil your own fun.

I've had a fantastic weekend in Paignton, Devon, blowing out the cobwebs with a walk along the sea front. It was just what I needed after this week. I love, love, love the sea - I actually cry when I see it for the first time in a while and I could sit and watch it all day. I feel so much more refreshed and ready to go again. I also had a great night out last night, playing pool with D and friends in a bar on the harbour and drinking plenty vino pinko, getting rather tiddly - something I haven't done in absolutely ages. D took much delight in telling everyone today how I got drunk - that's how rarely it happens. Funnily enough, my pool-playing improved with the increased alcohol consumption...

So, dearest readers, I'm back and I'm raring to go. Thank you for your supportive comments and messages and for sticking with me through all the whingeing and moaning, the tantrums and tears. Hopefully, I and a few friends will have something exciting to share with you very soon...

Something to Believe In

2006-10-11T20:52:00.000+01:00

Wish I did have. Don't know whether I'd rather be at work or at home at the moment. Both seem to be as horrible as each other and I can't seem to get out from under the black cloud. Don't worry, nothing wrong at home per se, but I've had some upsetting news and a really bad 24 hours and feel very disappointed and well, almost bereft.

Can't talk really.

Touchy

2006-10-10T19:50:00.000+01:00

Gah! Work. Crap. Eurgh! Need to find a new job closer to home... Ooh, what's this in the local paper? An ad for a job not dissimilar to the one I do now - only about 13 miles nearer to home.... Hmmmm.

HELP!!!!

Girls Just Wanna Have Lunch*

2006-10-08T14:55:00.000+01:00

Well, maybe it was dinner, but close enough. I love this photo of A and me. It was taken by her sister one evening in August last year, when we were on a recce for a hen night venue.

(You'll have to excuse the flash - there was no natural light. Damn these darker days!)

I love the fact that I actually look okay, even though a couple of days before I'd had a St Tropez tan trial (I never had the second one before my wedding!) and that evening I'd had my hair cut and my lovely hairdresser had once again gone a bit scissor-happy and I'd been in tears just before I went out. I finally got round to scrapping it for the weekly team challenge on UKS , hence the colours. I wouldn't normally use orange, but I needed to for the challenge and thought that this photo would be good as the paper compliments my oompa-loompa skin tone.... Still not sure if I'm any good at this scrapbooking malarkey, but I guess I'll persevere.

Here's a little tag challenge I've spotted and not done yet...

1: Do you have any middle names? Yes - Ann, funnily enough.

2: Whats under your bed right now? I dread to think. In the drawers there's all sorts of crap, but actually under the bed, probably just fluff.

3: Last time you laughed so much you cried? I think it might have been on Friday, laughing at D who can't say 'chassis' and 'ignorant', my SIL who can't say 'wage slip' and my brother who can't say 'status'. What is it with these people?!!

4: What age were you when you first drank alcohol? Probably quite young - we were allowed a tiny glass with our Sunday lunch. I was 14 when I started going out drinking.

5: Whats your porn star name? (first pets name and mothers maiden name) Inky P (edited - thanks Rhi - never thought of the security issue!).

6: Whats your desk top photo on your pc? The sunset picture I took on the cruise.

7: What did you have for breakfast? Toast and marmite... LOVE IT!!!

8: Music or TV? Music. But I do like a bit of TV.

9: Worst out fit you have ever worn? Ooh, found a lovely photo yesterday of me on holiday when I was 12, wearing a green, reversible Betty Boop jumper, tucked into high-waisted jeans with nice white canvas pumps and socks, my big frizzy perm tied back on one side and my Deirdre Barlow glasses...

10: Where do you feel most at peace? By the sea.

Okay, I'm gonna tag: Carol Tracie Rhi

* Yes, it's an 80s song title - by Weird Al Yankovic ;-)

Father Figure

2006-10-05T20:21:00.000+01:00

It's my lovely daddy's birthday tomorrow and do you know what I've bought him? Socks. Bloody socks. Socks is a Christmas present for someone like your grandad, not a birthday prezzie for one of the most important and wonderful men in your life. The trouble is that my Dad has worked hard all his life and is in the position to buy himself all manner of gadgets and gizmos (and he does!). He has all sorts of male grooming products and nice smellies courtesy of my Mom and her good friend QVC, and there really isn't a lot I can get him that he would want but doesn't already have. So, socks it is. I am already trying hard to top socks for his Christmas present.

This piccie is me and my Dad circa 1986 ish (OMG, 20 years ago!!). Notice how pixie boots were in fashion then...

In other news... There isn't any. Sorry, but my life is one big, boring bleurgh! At the moment. It's a bit work, eat, PC, sleep... I think I am actually addicted to the PC and I'm a bit worried. I find myself driving home from work and getting quite excited to be nearly home and on the computer. Poor D must be feeling very neglected (in fact, I know he is - it's a bone of contention in our house lately - oops!), but he's on nights tonight so I can surf away to my heart's content.

Ooh, just thought of some news... I have a secret that I can't tell you. Neither can Lythan. You'll just have to wait...

Money For Nothing

2006-10-01T21:34:00.000+01:00

£1!!! One whole, shiny gold pound coin! Who knew that that's the amount the tooth fairy gives nowadays? When did that happen? J lost (another) tooth yesterday, but as he was here for the weekend, lucky old me got to play tooth fairy when I got home at 1.30 this morning... A pound! I used to get 20p, or 50p for a back tooth, but I guess that was about 20 years ago. That's inflation for you...

So now J has his two front teeth, but a gap either side! I need a photo next weekend so I can scrap it....

Oh yeah, did my second ever layout today (using the Robo!) - not totally happy with it, but it's for the Dare as the 'theme' appealed to me...

The Cutter (Part II)

2006-09-28T19:57:00.000+01:00

I've got a Craft Ro-bo! I've got a Craft Ro-bo! Tra la la La... Tra la la LA!! It arrived on Tuesday morning, as wished for and it's so fabby it's untrue! I've only had a little play with it so far, but it has so many possibilities and I just hope I can use it to half of its potential and I'll be chuffed. As soon as I actually make something with it, I promise to show you a piccie, but at the moment, I'm still at the cutting out boring words and shapes stage....

In other news, I finally had my hospital appointment for the jaw of doom. The very nice specialist blokey told me it's fairly common and after asking various questions such as do I bite my nails or play a wind instrument (what, at the same time?!) , he ascertained that there's probably no reason why it happened but that there's a little piece of cartiledge loose in the joint and all I have to do are some exercises each day to strengthen the muscle. So, if I'm honest, slightly disappointed that it's not more dramatic, and fell very silly doing my jaw exercises in my car on the way to work, but relieved that my face isn't going to fall apart.

Now I'm off to play with the Robo! Might see if it would like to cut up some of my new DCWV Christmas papers....

Back In Business

2006-09-24T14:43:00.000+01:00

Woo hooooo!! Look!! I made a card! Actually, I made two, but I can't show you the other one just yet.

I just haven't been feeling very crafty of late. My mojo is more like mo-go and it's mo-gone. I get very frustrated that I see all these beautiful cards and scrapbook layouts and I just can't compete because of a) lack of time, b) lack of suitable stash and c)lack of talent. I would love to be able to buy everything I wanted for my crafting, but, of course, it just aint possible. Ideally, I wish I was good enough at this lark to be asked by a mag or website to design for them, then I would get to play with loads of pretties for nowt! Unfortunately, this is never likely to happen, so I'll just have to sit and admire the lovelies from afar, while a puddle of drool seeps through the keys on my keyboard...

What I am chuffed about with the card you see here is that I have managed not one, but two 'firsts'. I finally found my Dymo Jr and used it and I also used that bloomin' Quickutz car that everyone has and nobody uses cos it's so flipping fiddly. Yay me! Just hope the inspiration continues once I have my Robo....

The Cutter

2006-09-23T21:09:00.000+01:00

I just wubs my parents!! They are the bestest, most generous I've ever had. This year is D's 40th birthday and next February I hit the big three-oh (I've decided to tell people that I'm 26, as pretty much everyone who asks is surprised when I tell them I'm 29 as I look about 19. I am going to be 26 for as long as I can get away with it.) My lovely parents have paid for us to go away for a week to a villa in Menorca with them, instead of having parties and other such nonsense. I absolutely cannot wait, as I really missed going away this year (a week camping isn't quite the same!). How generous is that? We are going here , so I hope it's as nice as it looks (apart from the bedspreads 8-0 ). I've only ever done Mallorca, but the parents have done Menorca before and loved it - and I totally trust their judgment.

Not only that, but they are going to lend me the money for one of these . I have wanted a craft robo for soooooo long, but the price was far too out of reach for poor little me. However, they've now dropped in price and as it's more attainable, I thought I might save up my babysitting money to put towards it. Last week I turned up at the house (after a 15 mile drive) only to be told that they'd had a row and wouldn't be going out - eeeek!! 30 mile round trip for nothing - and I could have gone for a meal after the meet but had to pass. Grrr! This week, a different set of parents/children - had a phone call at 5 pm to cancel as the baby was ill. Aaargh!!! Someone is trying to thwart my attempts at owning a robo!

So, I'm telling this to my Mom, when she says "oh, we'll pay for it if you want one now - you can pay us back." Ooooh, thinks I, that sounds like a deal to me! So, with any luck, by Tuesday, I may be the proud owner of a Craft Robo. No idea what I'll do with it yet, but at least I'll have one...

Crying in the Rain

2006-09-22T20:53:00.000+01:00

The title of this post is one of my favourite a-ha songs (along with Manhattan Skyline) and I'm listening to it now - good ole Napster. I just love a-ha! Plus, it's been a bloody miserable afternoon here, so it just seemed appropriate.

Anyway, to the point of my post. I'm afraid I'm having job wobbles again. I know, I know..! I have a great job really. I've made it to a senior position from being a temp in about 6 months, I get a fairly decent wage for the kind of job it is (although compared to the so-called 'national average wage' I'm so far behind I wouldn't even catch up in a super-fast car with go faster stripes.) I love, love, LOVE the kids I look after and they never fail to cheer me up if I'm down. Most of the people I work with are fab and we can have a good laugh, but not with all of them. And that is the problem, I think.

*Rant alert!! - Please ignore if you don't like whinging!*

I am utterly fed up with the bitching and back-stabbing that is going on between certain people lately. I know that there is always a certain amount of this from time to time no matter where you work, especially if it's all girls together. But, FOR F***'S SAKE LADIES!!! I must admit, I think the management have made a couple of questionable appointments recently and there are staff who aren't as good at their job as they think they are (or should be), but it feels as though everyone is trying to get everyone else into trouble, outdo each other and generally act like pains in the arse. I'm finding it very difficult to ignore, or even to intervene, as I think that as I work with them, I'm too closely involved, as opposed to the manager and deputy. Gah! I hate this seniority malarkey. I just don't know if I'm ready to take over the deputy role in January when the manager goes on maternity leave...

The other problem I have is the travelling. It's just so flippin' far to go each day. I wouldn't mind if there was no other traffic on the roads, but sitting in a jam for 15 minutes when you're just a mile-or-so from your house is no fun. Every day. It just seems daft when there are plenty of nurseries so much closer to home. I am just so petrified of interviews that I think I'm better off staying where I am. I mean, if I have to have an interview, they'll find out I'm a fraud! I know I can do the job - and do it bloody well - but in a 'question and answer' scenario, I know I'll get all flummoxed and tongue-tied and cock it up for myself.

I'm sorry! If you're still reading this, you deserve a medal - or carting off in the van with the men in the white coats... I just needed to get it off my chest really. D just says "whatever you want to do, darling, you know I'll support you". Which is lovely, but not altogether very helpful! Bless him.

And Jane - you know you wanted more regular blogging? Well, are you sure, if this is all I can manage?

You Wanted More (Part II)

2006-09-17T18:23:00.000+01:00

Some more piccies from yesterday's meet. I didn't take many as I've left my camera at work and had to pinch D's, which is, of course, vastly inferior.

See that gaggle at the back? They're the norty ones...

Rachel and Nicola very studiously spent much of the day making cards to sell for charidee.

Em professed not to know what she was doing with her encaustic kit, but gave a demo anyway, bless her!

You Wanted More

2006-09-17T08:44:00.000+01:00

Jane's been moaning that we haven't been blogging again! Believe me, I know how frustrating it is to keep checking a blog only to find it hasn't been updated since the last time you looked. However, some of us don't have as much time infront of the pc as we would like; life just kinda gets in the way! Sorry Jane.... :-( (Plus, you have the added advantage of those gorgeous boys to blog about! I am short on material in the week...)

Anyhoo, yesterday we had another meet up of ladies from the CBC forum . It was a much smaller affair than earlier in the year, but just as much (if not more) fun than last time and I, for one, didn't feel as overwhelmed as I did before.

What I liked about this meet, as opposed to the last couple I've been to, was that we all sat around a big table and actually made some cards. Well, some of the girls did. Some of us just sat and watched the creative juices flowing! It was great to all join in, doing the very thing that brought us all together in the first place and I think it helped to break down some of the little groups that tend to form at these things.

Once again, it was lovely to meet some new faces as well as catch up with those that are more familiar. I was again amazed at the lengths some people will go to to come to these events. I am lucky in that it's only a half hour drive for me, but others spent hours in their cars, on trains or even flew to be there. Guest of honour Annmarie finally made it after several disasters involving knickers and train delays and it was fab to finally meet her for real!

We all had a real laugh, especially at Em, demanding poor Barry in Burger King give her more paper bags (after the disappointment of not finding any in the ladies loos.... - the lengths we crafters will go to for our art!) and Lucy's fantastic new range of greetings for the charity cards ('Let In Snow, anyone?) and I only have to say "Code 54, MOD DOWN!!!" and several people will be in hysterics.

Thank you to all involved for a fabby day out and shame on you to those who dropped out - you missed a brilliant time! Here's to the next one.....

Mad About You

2006-09-11T21:24:00.000+01:00

Nothing interesting to say - just wanted to share some of the latest piccies of my babies...

Sorry about the poor quality of this one, but it's my favourite. One of those 'quick, grab the nearest camera (mobile phone)!' moments....

Ocean Blue

2006-09-08T21:30:00.000+01:00

Eeeeuuurgh!! I've just spent the best part of four days on that there ship. I can honestly say it was one of the least pleasurable experiences of my life. Way back in the year, D decided he would really like us to go on a mini-cruise, to celebrate our anniversary in September. At the time I didn't give it much thought and was impressed by the very reasonable price, so told him to go ahead and book it. Big mistake. It was only recently that I began to realise that this little jaunt would mean around 35 hours stuck on a ship to Spain, about 4 hours actually in Spain and then another 28 or so hours to get back to good old Blighty. Add to this that I am a renowned motion sickness-sufferer and I started to panic. "You'll be fine!" everyone told me. "You can hardly feel it move - take some tablets and you'll be okay." Yeah. Right....

So, I spent the whole of Tuesday inside my teeny cabin, trying to stop my stomach from rolling with the ship. It was like trying to sleep on a roller coaster. I wouldn't mind, but the sea wasn't even remotely rough! Never have I been more happy to see dry land than when we reached Santurtzi in Spain early on Wednesday morning. It didn't matter that it was one of those slightly crap port-y towns where not a lot is open and you have to eat weird food for breakfast as there's not much choice. I would have eaten a scabby Spanish donkey after refusing all sustenance on Tuesday for fear of its reappearance.

I was gutted we had to get back on that floating hell-hole after just a few short hours. However, I decided I would peruse the on-board shop while the ship was still docked and discovered the miracle of 'acu-bands'! Now, I have tried these before, when I worked on the trains and, quite frankly, they were crap. However, desperate times and all that, and these seemed quite swanky, so I thought I'd at least give them a go. I sat out on deck as we left and there I stayed for the next 8 hours or so. I felt fab! No ickiness whatsoever while I was out there. I even managed to see some whales blowing and dolphins frolicking, which is what I was really looking forward to. I also managed to snap this bootiful sunset, which, believe me, was no mean feat on a rocking boat with a force 10 gale blowing around you.

I have to say, that Thursday was much the same as Wednesday, just chilling out on the deck, sitting in the glorious sunshine (and the force 10 gale!) and watching the scenery go by. Well, when I say scenery, I mean the sea-nery really. I even quite enjoyed myself, but was very disappointed not to be able to take part in the bingo, game of Family Fortunes or to watch the P&O Players do their Abba tribute.... Hmmm, maybe not!

I was rather glad to get home last night after our somewhat epic journey. I don't think it's one we'll be repeating again soon. Or ever.

Anyone

2006-09-08T17:35:00.000+01:00

1. Which famous person would you most like to learn that you are descended from?

Hmmmm, this is tough. It depends on why they’re famous. It would have to be someone who gained notoriety for their good deeds, rather than because they married a footballer or bared their boobs on Big Brother… Florence Nightingale – brave and caring.

2. Which famous person would you hate to learn that you are descended from?

Apart from the obvious peeps, such as Hitler, Stalin et al? I guess John McCrirrick…

3. If you could be ancestor to any living famous person, who would it be and why?

Someone really clever like Stephen Hawking, so I could say I taught him everything he knows…

4. If you could go back in time and meet any known ancestor(s) of yours, who would it be?

I would love to meet my Italian ancestors. My Grandad’s (Mom’s Dad) grandparents came over from Italy many years ago (apparently they brought with them the baked potato machine doo-dah’s you see on the street and were the Italian ‘king and queen’ of Birmingham at one time). We descend from a family by the name of Fezza (I think) from Assisi, so I would love to know more about them.

5. Tag 5 others....

Okay, er, Jane, Carolyn, Lucy, and two random readers, if I have any!

4 Ever 2 Gether

2006-09-03T20:47:00.000+01:00

D and I celebrated our first wedding anniversary yesterday. Wow, where did that year go? We've had a really uppy-downy kind of year too, but we seem to have made it through. D's sister died just days after we returned from our honeymoon; I found a job after 3 months unemployment and then have been promoted twice since; we have an ongoing problem we're dealing with; I've come off my anti-depressants; we've increased our bunny-family and decided that maybe it's time we started trying for a real baby too. Through all of this, our love for, patience with and understanding of each other has remained strong - grown even. Marriage - I highly recommend it!

Don't Stop Believin'

2006-08-26T20:04:00.000+01:00

Had some sad news today :-( My best friend Andrea is pregnant - after about 2 years of trying, tests and "there's nothing actually wrong with you"s. That's obviously not the sad news! We found out a couple of months ago and she's due in January. She sent me a text today to say she's been for her 20 week scan and she's expecting a little girl. ( I knew it!!) However, it appears that the scan showed she (the baby) has a serious heart defect and will require surgery when she's born and that there is a higher chance she could have Down's Syndrome.

I am just so sad at the injustice! What has she or her hubby done to deserve the heartache they've had over the last couple of years? This baby is so wanted and they have so much love to give. Of course, that will never change, no matter what happens and I truly believe that children with special needs are born to those who are strong enough to cope, but still! To now have to face the prospect of their daughter having major heart surgery before they can even take her home...

On a lighter note, tomorrow we're off to the wedding that 'the wedding order' was for, so I have to look at those bloody hearts again! Just hope the rain holds off. She should have known better than to get married on a Bank Holiday weekend.

Here is another picture of Ozzy and D that I caught without them knowing. He's going home tomorrow and we are sooooo gonna miss him!

Another One Bites The Dust

2006-08-20T17:12:00.000+01:00

I know, I know!! I'm reeeeeeeally sorry (Kathy B)! I just haven't had the time to blog this week. However, I have now finished 'the wedding order'! Ta-daaaaaaa! Hoo-bloody-ray.... I've just delivered it to the bride and groom and they seemed thrilled (and gave me a nice big wodge of money), so that's eased the pain somewhat. ('Wodge' - there's another word I like!)

So, all is quiet really. Ozzy has settled in well and I'm really going to miss him when he goes home in a week. I never knew dogs could sleep so much! Or perhaps we're just wearing him out with walking? I have really enjoyed taking him out each evening; it's so nice to go for a walk for a purpose, rather than just to have a walk. The buns seem to have accepted his presence as inevitable and no longer run and hide when he goes into the kitchen. I've tried to upload a picture of Ozzy, but my browser keeps crashing when I do it, so perhaps I'll not try again...

We went to the farm with work on Friday. I was dreading it - especially when I saw the weather forecast, but we had a great day! Well, until we came back and one of the children started having an asthma attack. I had to phone an ambulance - never done that before. Why is it that you have all the answers to the potential questions you think they will ask, but then when you do, your mind goes blank and you're actually not very helpful at all?... She was okay in the end - phew!

I'm going, before the PC completely crashes. It would be Sod's Law, especially as I have just ordered a new external hard drive on which to back everything up....

I Know There's Something Going On

2006-08-12T22:19:00.000+01:00

Meet Ozzy. Ozzy is staying with us for the next two weeks while my brother and his family are on holiday. Something tells me Ozzy has decided he's not to sure about this! I mean, I know Cavalier King Charles spaniels have those sad-looking eyes anyway, but he reeeeeally doesn't look too chuffed, does he? I actually feel quite honoured that they trust us enough to look after him. The first time they went abroad after they had him, they left him at home, with a friend to house/dog sit. Upon their return, they discovered that this so-called friend had spent just two out of 14 nights at the house - goodness knows what the poor puppy was feeling. He was absolutely terrified when they got home and had regressed back to proper untrained-puppy behaviour. They haven't been abroad since.... Until now. We've all got some adjusting to do; the poor rabbits were startled when I took him through the kitchen to get to the back garden, so I've had to fence them into their area and try to block him from their view, but they are very jumpy whenever I go into the room. Ozzy is going to be 'based' in the living room, so this means the buns won't be able to use it until they get used to him - if at all. We've also got their hamster, JefforDennis (they argue over the name - there were two but one died recently and they never really decided which was which!). So, in total , that makes 2 hamsters, 2 rabbits and a dog.... Think I might start charging the local kids to come to my 'petting zoo'.

In other news.... I am feeling loads better than I was. A couple of days off work and a good talk to the people that matter have sorted me out and I can feel the dark cloud clearing again. Thank you for your good wishes. As a treat to cheer myself up, I went to a local craft shop yesterday and bought some scrummy double-sided cardstock. It's hugely expensive for what it is, but I've been admiring it for ages as I love the colours, so I thought, 'what the heck!'. If you can't treat yourself when you're down, when can you?

Afternoon High

2006-08-08T21:32:00.000+01:00

Gah! I'm having such a pants time at the moment and no idea why. Depression is a horrible beast and one which lulls you into thinking you're okay - then jumps out from behind the proverbial bush and shouts "BOO!" while beating you about the head with a big wet fish....

Still, enough of that. Yesterday afternoon I made.... two cards!!! Wooooohooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!! I just had to have a break from the monotony that is 'The Wedding Order' (having nightmares about those sodding hearts - no wonder I'm depressed!). Card template challenge number 6 is posted on the forum and as I had a couple of cards to do, I just had to have a go.

This one was made using paper from one of the many DCWV pads Carolyn sells in her shop as well as the pink grosgrain ribbon and primas.

The one on the right also uses papers and ribbons from the shop, as well as the gorgeous Kissy Fit sequin flowers. I just love black, white and hot pink!!
I'm not totally happy with either of them, but am happy that I actually managed to sit down and do something less boring instead (hmm, there's a TV theme in there somewhere!!). These challenges are great for providing inspiration. I also managed to do my pages in a circle journal I'm in, but can't show you cos it'll ruin the surprise!

Right, I'm off to feed the two very cheeky bunsters that seem to have appeared in the living room! I can't get away with being late giving them dinner, cos they know!! Laters.....

Back on the Chain Gang

2006-08-05T18:09:00.000+01:00

Eurgh! I have just spent the most boring day working on a wedding stationery order for my friend Karen who gets married at the end of the month. Shoot me down in flames, but I have gradually come to hate doing this kind of work. I absolutely love crafting - making cards is my main thing, although I am in love with the idea of scrapping (but just haven't got around to actually doing it). I guess wedding stationery is a fairly natural progression for many card makers and at first it seemed like a good idea. I loved coming up with new designs, I loved that brides thought my work was fantastic and I loved seeing the finished product all packaged neatly, ready to send out. However, it is the most monotonous, repetitive thing I have ever done (and I have worked on a supermarket checkout!). I'm so glad I decided not to make this my full-time job (once a distinct possibility when staring redundancy in the face). However, I really, really miss crafting for crafting's sake! I just want to be able to sit in my craft room, amongst my stash and play to my heart's content.

To give you an idea of my day today, take a look at the following picture...

What you see here is a pile of 100 die-cut hearts. What I see is a good couple of hours of torture (is there such a medical condition as 'sizzix hand'?) Unfortunately for me, this innocent-looking little heart features pretty heavily in several of my wedding designs. They look lovely, but are a bugger to make! If I never see another heart again, it'll be too soon! Today I have also printed the covers for 100 Orders of Service - each piece of card fed manually through my crappy printer and I have also cut 100 pieces of card on which to mount the damn hearts.... Thank goodness I have had 4 hours of America's Next Top Model to help me through the pain barrier!

And tomorrow's fun-packed day? Yep, more hearts - only smaller....

Fame

2006-08-04T08:04:00.000+01:00

Okay, so I haven't got round to scrapping it yet, but I couldn't resist sending my pic to www.crocsfans.com . Check it out!! Having a bit of a pants time at the moment, so this has cheered me up. (Doesn't take much, I know...)

Holiday

2006-07-29T21:14:00.000+01:00

'Tis okay, fellow bloggers, I have not fallen from the face of the earth and you can all rest easy in your beds tonight! I have, in fact, spent the last week in glorious Devon - here, to be precise. A whole seven days in a field, surrounded by a load of total strangers all sharing a common interest in sleeping under canvas and performing ablutions in a portakabin.... No TV, no t'internet, no bunnies (!) and no privacy! And I have to admit, after all the moaning and complaining that I wasn't looking forward to it, I loved every minute of it - well, except for last night, when D, and one bloke from each of our neighbouring tents decided to hold a snoring contest... D found me in the wee hours dozing in the car with the gear stick wedged somewhere it shouldn't have been.

I won't bore you with the details of what we've been up to, suffice to say that we had a fantastic time and a real 'family' holiday - a few trips out and lots of time spent on the beach. It was lovely swimming in the sea on such hot days. We couldn't have asked for better weather. The pic at the top is Dawlish beach in the morning as the tide was on its way out.

This is one of the boys in the sea, playing with the rubber ring D bought. "Best £2.99 I've ever spent" he kept repeating to me. Well, at least they had fun. The sea looks deceptively calm in this pic - most of the time there were some waves and we all took a tumble in the surf at some point!

We hardly saw J as he spent all his time on the campsite playing with all the other (hundreds) of kids. Actually, it was lovely to see him with other children, as he's an only child and we only ever really see him interact with adults. I found out that he's actually quite bossy and was definitely the ring-leader, which quite surprised me. We always knew where he was even if he was out of site as he seems to have inherited his mother's er, how can I put this, oh, okay, big gob!

So, today we returned, secretly pleased that the weather seems to have taken a turn for the worse but very sad that our little holiday has come to an end. I hate coming back from Devon as D gets really down. We both would really like to live down there someday and each time we go on holiday it strengthens our resolve, but we know we are stuck here for the time being. Hey-ho, back to 'real life' I guess... Still, I get to see my babies again tomorrow, when I go to retrieve them from Louise who has very kindly been looking after them for me. I dread to think of the havoc they have wreaked! Apparently they escaped their cage in her living room one night and jumped all over her poor, unsuspecting son who was asleep on the sofa....

I have managed to catch up on all the blogs, I think, but boy, you lot can natter! I will get round to posting comments when I can, but I am bogged down the next couple of weeks with a CJ, a memory book and a wedding order to complete - eeeek!!! I'll need another holiday afterwards!

To finish, here is an arty-farty shot I took of my beloved 'Athens' Crocs, which have not been off my feet all holiday and were great to wear in the shower (after all, you never know who was in there before you(!)). In the past week I have seen that the media has finally jumped on the Crocs bandwagon - I read about them in The Sun, Heat and Now magazines. Just remember kids, it was Lythan wot saw 'em first, then me, then the rest of the world !!

The Heat Is On

2006-07-18T17:49:00.000+01:00

Phew! Bloody hell it's hot! I am so crap in the heat - unless I'm lying in some shade, next to a gorgeous azure swimming pool that I can just dip in whenever I feel the need.... I so need to take the buns out for a run, but it's even too warm in the evening as our garden gets the sun all day. I have put out a bottle of frozen water for them to lie against, but they're just eying it suspiciously and don't really know what to do with it...

I've just come back from the doctor's. Not been for quite a while and keep forgetting that I haven't yet changed my name since getting married and that I still live with my parents *oops!* For about two years now, I've had a clicky jaw. I first noticed it when I was eating anything particularly chewy and occasionally it would lock and I'd have to punch myself to get it back to normal (how weird did that look?!). Anyhoo, it's been getting worse and worse and over the last couple of months it's become unbearable - clicking all of the time, whether I'm talking, eating or just breathing. It locks regularly and this is very embarrassing if I'm eating in front of others and my mouth only opens slightly, thwarting the chances of that big forkful from entering! And the noise the clicking makes is just horrendous! I thought it was just loud as it was next to my ear, but apparently everyone else can hear it too.

So, I've done a bit of research and I reckon it could be temporomandibular joint disorder. Yeah, try saying that if you have it! I wondered if there was anything the doctor could do, or whether I would need to see a dentist - I don't have one, as they are too expensive, but that's a whole other story! I tell her what's wrong, she puts her hands either side of my jaw and I demonstrate... Her eyes nearly pop out and she made a sort of "eeeuuurrch!" noise. She said it's the worst case she's seen (and heard!) and that I should be referred to the maxillofacial people at the Queen Elizabeth hospital in Birmingham, if I would like? Er, yes please! "They may want to operate," she says. "I can't live with this anymore," I reply.

So, there will be a referral letter winging it's way to my parents' house sometime soon, I hope. Glad I went now... I think!

Yes

2006-07-18T09:04:00.000+01:00

Been tagged by Jane, so here you go! (Do you realise the problems I have trying to find titles for these posts? Will soon be resorting to songs from all decades and films, so please don't be disappointed in me Lythan!)

Gone on a blind date -Yes
Skipped school -No
Seen someone die -No
Snuck out of your parent's house -No
Been in love- Yes
Been dumped - Yes
Been laid off/fired (Made Redundant!!) -Yes
Quit your job Yes
Been in a fist fight?- Not a proper one!
Had feelings for someone who didn't have them back -Yes
Been arrested -No
Been to Canada -Yes
Been to Mexico -No
Been on the opposite side of the world -Almost
Been to Paris - Yes
Cried yourself to sleep -Yes
Played cops and robbers -Yes
Recently coloured with crayons -Most days
Sang karaoke -Yes
Paid for a meal with only coins - Yes
Done something you told yourself you wouldn't -Yes
Made prank phone calls -Yes
Caught a snowflake on your tongue -Yes
Danced like nobody was watching - No
Been kissed under the mistletoe -Yes
Watched the sun rise with someone you care about -Yes
Blown bubbles -Last week
Crashed a party -Yes
Gone roller-skating-Yes
Ice-skating -Yes
Crashed a car -Yes
Swam in the ocean -Yes
Felt like dying -Yes :(
Made a bonfire on the beach - No
Drank so much you threw up -Once - I don't do vomit - and it wasn't the amount, it was the drink!
Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose -Yes
Knitted ? -Yes
Skinny dipped ? -No

Wow, that's a lot of 'yes's'! Does that make me quite adventurous, or did I have a silly youth?

Four In The Morning

2006-07-17T19:50:00.000+01:00

Four things about ...Kel

A ) Four jobs I have had in my life:

1. Money collector for a charity magazine
2. Checkout girl at Sainsbury's
3. Trolley Dolly for well-known, much hated train company
4. Recruitment Consultant (well, for 5 weeks, before I realised it 'wasn't for me')

B ) Four movies you would watch over and over:

1. Stand By Me
2. Pretty Woman
3 Dirty Dancing
4 Grease

C ) Four places you have lived:

1. Rosslyn Road
2. Turchill Drive
3. Oaklands Croft
4. Kingston Court (Okay, so I have always lived in the same town - I'm not adventurous, okay?!)

D ) Four TV shows you love to watch:

1. CSI (Vegas)
2. Prison Break
3. Lost
4. Any of those 'Rebus' 'Trial and Retribution', 'Wire in the Blood' type shows

E ) Places I have been on holiday:

1. Hawaii
2. Vancouver
3. Portugal
4. Cyprus

F ) Four websites you visit daily:

1. Carolyn's
2. Rabbits United
3. My blog (yep, the one you're reading) so that I can use my links to read others'
4. QVC

G ) Four of my favourite foods:

1. Italian - mmmm, pasta!!
2. Mom's roast dinner
3. Fish and chips
4. Sea bass, preferably from my fave restaurant - O Alambique in Silves, Portugal

H ) Four places I would rather be right now:

1. The Cheesecake Factory in Waikiki for dinner, followed by a walk along Waikiki Beach...
2. ...failing that, O Alambique in Portugal to eat my sea bass (see above!)
3. Wherever my husband is, seeing as he's not here :(
4. In Gerry and Dolph's swimming pool here - the second bestest ever holiday after my honeymoon!

Okay, now it's your turn! I'd love to know more about you, especially if you are an anonymous reader... please answer the questions in your own blog and leave a comment to let me know x

Who's That Girl?

2006-07-12T20:04:00.000+01:00

... With the bloke's hair cut? Oh. My. God. What the heck have I done? So, here's how it happened...

I have a mobile hairdresser come to my house. She's been cutting my family's hair for years and years and is lovely and does a cracking trim. However, I should, by now, have learnt my lesson when it comes to a restyle and go to a salon, but the trouble is that she is so very reasonably priced and convenient. Every so often, she gets it just right and I'm dead chuffed with the result, but, on more than one occasion, I have sworn that it's the last time and I will have to start asking for recommendations for a new stylist.

Now, I'm not at all precious about my hair. I grow it long, I cut it all off, I dye it all sorts of colours. At the end of the day, it's just hair and it will grow back - quickly, in my case. We're off on a camping holiday soon, so I thought it would be a great idea to get a lovely, easy-to-manage gamine crop, so I don't have to faff with straightners and all sorts of products, or spend the week looking like a chav in a baseball cap. I've had it cropped before - it was very nice, thank you. My hair wasn't exactly long earlier today, so I wasn't expecting a huuuuuge difference...

Eeeeeeek!!!! I swear there was a small furry mammal on the patio after she had finished! I thought we had gained a strange-looking dark bunny. Who knew so much hair could be cut from an already short hair-do? She hands me the mirror - "it's great!" I say. "It'll be fine once I've washed it and put some wax on it," I think to myself. It wasn't. I ran upstairs to dye it and hide the remnants of the increasing number of white hairs that seem to be appearing lately. I dried it (it took about 30 seconds!) and I styled it. It looked THE SAME!!! I reckon I could have done as good a job with a set of clippers and a number 3 guard on the blade.

I sent D a warning text. He hates it when I do this to my hair and I'm sure he'd much prefer it long, but it's not his hair, is it? He phoned, I cried and became somewhat hysterical. I never cry over my hair. He told me he will work as much overtime as is humanly possible so that we can afford for me to go to a salon next time. I tried re-styling it and putting on lots of makeup to look more girly. Finally, it didn't look too bad.

So, I am being very brave... Here I am now (remember, I am a 29 year old woman, not a 15 year old boy):

See that? That's what they call a 'brave face'. Now all I have to do is sit and wait for it to grow...

The Flame

2006-07-10T20:24:00.000+01:00

Ooooh, heaven!! I spent today at a fire fighter training centre!! How jealous are you? ;-p I was nominated to go on a fire warden course for work and was dreading it. I have done a couple of this sort of course in my previous guise as a Virgin bird, and they can be really boring, but this one was actually rather interesting and informative. Of course, it helped that the trainer was quite cute and that there were quite a few fit young trainee fire fighters decoratively adorning the place.... What is it about women and firemen? It's not as if the uniform is even nice any more, but if a bunch of them drive past in their big red truck, us girls almost pass out! Mind you, I quite like other 'uniformed' jobs, especially the police in those all-black get-ups they wear when they want to look really hard - mmmmmm!

Oh yeah, I got to put out three fires and everything! Check me....

Where Were You When The Storm Broke?

2006-07-05T19:23:00.000+01:00

... In our new tent-and-tunnel combo Mom!! Bought it from good old Sainso's for half the original price and I think it's a hit. Obviously, it's meant for children, but the buns are my kids, n'est ce pas? What is it with those pop-up tents though? Once they're out of the cover there's no way on earth they're going back in again! The instructions state, "The tent should twist easily into a circle". Please note the use of the word 'should'...

I'm having a 'fat' day today. Now, I'm not usually hung up about my weight; I'm a chuffer and I know it. I eat a lot of the wrong foods and I know the only way I can help myself is to eat healthy and exercise. Problem is I don't like healthy and I don't have time for exercise... Today, however, I met up with my very lean friend K to hand over some wedding invites I've made for her and we went to Starbucks for a drink. I defy anyone to resist their blueberry (or was it blackberry?) whirl cheesecake! I consider myself quite the cheesecake connoisseur and this one is to die for. So, I then felt really guilty for eating it, especially as I'd spent an hour walking around town and my poor thighs were starting to chafe as I was wearing a skirt - god, how embarrassing to admit that! Still, I guess the hour's walking meant that the cheesecake calories didn't count, right?

I've been thinking about Kathy's song challenge and not coming up with too much. I know there are loads of songs that make me go 'aaah!', so I think I'll just have to add them to posts as and when I think of them. For starters, I'll have to have:

Bon Jovi - Thank You For Loving Me (of course!) and also 'I'll Be There For You'
Bryan Adams - 'Heaven' and 'I'll Always Be Right There' (MTV Unplugged versions)
Extreme - 'More Than Words'
Randy Crawford - Almaz
Snow Patrol - Chasing Cars

More to follow - can't think at the moment as D has Scuzz music channel on and I can't concentrate over the row!

Heat of the Night

2006-07-03T20:43:00.000+01:00

Urgh! It's too damn HOT!!! I know, I know, we moan when it's cold and we moan when it's hot, but this really is hot. It's just so muggy and icky and I get all yucky and sticky at work and we've had to keep the children inside as it was just too hot to play out today. I am sat here wearing a very dodgy outfit but I just don't care cos no-one can see me and I feel relatively cool! The fan blasting out behind me may have something to do with that though... I do worry about the bunsters in this weather though - imagine being covered in all that fur in this heat?! I gave them a bottle of frozen water to lie against this morning, but I'm guessing they haven't a clue what it's for and have ignored it all day...

The trouble with this kind of weather is that I just don't feel like doing anything. Going to work is bad enough, but once I get home I just want to flop on the sofa and I feel like Kevin the Teenager from Harry Enfield. I have, however, made a card for the current template challenge on Carolyn's forum and as demonstrated by Kathy B . I'm quite liking this one actually :-)

Damn Blogger for making the pictures look crap!! Oh well, you get the idea... Right, I think I will go and watch Big Brother in bed (can't believe I'm still watching it *rolls eyes*) I'm glad D is on nights this week and I get the bed to myself. It's bad enough trying to sleep next to the snoring, grunting, farting monster that is my lovely hubby, but combine it with the heat and I don't stand a chance...

19

2006-07-02T09:35:00.000+01:00

Yummmmm!! Went out with the work girlies last night for a scrummy meal at Jimmy Spice's in Solihull. I like it as it's an all-you-can-eat buffet type of affair, which is fab if you're an indecisive bod like me. It does seem a tad weird to have pizza, curry, pasta and spring rolls all on the one plate, but you only live once, eh? Only disappointment was that there was no choccie cake for pudding, so I had to have apple pie with my ice cream and flumps...

Now I know I am getting older when I go out with the work gang as we seem to split into two distinct groups of 'oldies' and 'youngsters'. (Obviously I am an 'oldie' by age, but a 'youngster' at heart... yeah, right! Actually, I was the oldest there last night - eeek!) A couple of the girls are still in there teens and watching them getting louder and lairy as the alcohol consumption increases is more embarrassing than funny. Was I like that at their age? Well, no, actually, but that's a story for another day... I guess I did behave like that when I started going out drinking, but that was when I was 15 and I grew out of it pretty early on. I'd be horrified if I thought my daughter was sneaking into pubs and clubs and getting hammered on 8 pints of strong cider a night! (I couldn't even drink one pint now without getting tipsy....)

How times have changed! We used to spend our Friday and Saturday evenings sitting on the benches outside the offy in the Aston Triangle at Aston Uni (see blog from 1st June) until we were brave enough to try getting past the bouncers at the Pot of Beer. Other haunts included The Hummingbird nightclub in Dale End (now the Carling Academy) and The Institute nightclub in Digbeth. I can't believe I was only 15!! When I look at girls that age now, it scares me how young they are, yet how mature they think they are, and I guess I must have been the same. I think I was fairly responsible though, as although I liked a drink, I could hold it well and never got so rat-arsed that I didn't know what I was doing. I never did drugs or went off with strange men and always made sure I got a male friend to walk me and my best mate to the bus stop for the last bus home. Funniest part of the night was walking in the front door, trying to pretend I wasn't that drunk and chewing on gum to disguise the smell of ciggies on my breath! Oh, I thought I had my parents fooled....

So, back to last night; a good night was had by all and we 'oldies' departed at about 11 pm after finishing our J2Os and walking back to the car in our sensible shoes. After a cuppa at my boss's house, I came home to spend a very hot, restless night in bed before getting up at stupid o'clock to take D to work. Thank goodness he's on nights this week - I might be able to get some kip!

Heartbreaker

2006-06-28T20:52:00.000+01:00

Well, after Tuesday's good news (thanks for all your kind comments ladies!) I've been on a real downer today :-( One of our little girls at work is moving to Bath (which isn't in Rome, contrary to my colleague's belief!!?!) and today was her last day. Now, I'm very used to children leaving for pastures new, but A is a very special girl and I will miss her soooooo much. Her Mum too - they are such a wonderful family. I know we're not supposed to get too attached to the children and we're not supposed to have 'favourites', but it's very hard not to when certain children can light up your life in a way others don't. I am in the process of making her a memory book and wasn't expecting her to leave for another couple of weeks, so I hope her Mum remembers to send us her new address so that I can send it on. Her mum bought prezzies for all the staff - bottles of vino for everyone, then some of us had special presents. She whispered in my ear that I shouldn't open mine in front of the others as it was even more 'special' - oo-er! I waited until I got home and I had £20 Monsoon vouchers (yum!) and a beautiful pair of earrings -turquoise and (I'm hoping) cubic zirconia in gold settings (!)they're lovely - very vintage-y. I'll post a piccie when I can take one in natural light. I'm just blown away at the thoughtfulness and generosity shown by them, but I know that we meant a lot to the family and Mum really didn't want to leave...

However, the one thing that caught my eye was the card she had made us... They had used copious amounts of patterned paper and I'm sure it was from DCVW, but I don't know where from as I don't own it and I would if I'd seen it as it was lush!! I was dying to ask her, but thought it may be a little crass as we were all blubbing at the time!

So, my little 'Sha', I hope you, Mummy, Daddy and Bella are all very happy in your new house and that the people at your new nursery love you just as much as we do...And if they don't, let me know and I'll come and sort them out xxx

ETA: Here are the gorgeous earrings - please excuse the fluff, but that's what you get in a house with two moulting buns. 'Tis not called 'Fluffy Stuff' for nowt!

Here I Go Again

2006-06-27T19:20:00.000+01:00

... Up that career ladder! I had confirmation today that as of next month, I will be third-in-charge at work - woohoo!! Of course, this is a very serious business and a position of great responsibility, but, more importantly, I get a lovely pay rise! Not a hoooge amount, but it's better than a kick in the teeth... One of my staff had her 3 month end-of-probation review today and I said that she was lucky - I haven't had one yet and I've been there for 7 months. My boss pointed out that I haven't had one as I've been promoted twice in those months and haven't actually been in one position long enough to have a review....

You Spin Me Round

2006-06-25T19:00:00.000+01:00

Mmmmm.... spag bol! Don'tcha just lurve it? We always have spag bol at the weekend if J's here - it's one of the only things he'll eat *rolls eyes* As you can see from the piccie, he quite enjoys it! I'm a tad annoyed today though, as I've somehow managed to get sauce splashes all over my lovely new pink top that I bought only yesterday...

Nothing much else to report at the moment, I'm sorry to say; all is quiet in the life of Fluffy Stuff. I've had one of those weird days where not a lot gets done and the time goes far too quickly. Watched the match and am rather chuffed about the England score, but we aint 'alf gotta raise our game for the quarter final!

Forever Young

2006-06-21T21:20:00.000+01:00

Lythan challenged her readers to dig back into the depths of their minds and blog about their earliest memories. I have a pretty good long-term memory and can remember lots about my childhood, such as holidays with my family - pouring soapy water on the ground to encourage worms to come to the surface for my grandad to fish with, finding an injured pigeon while on holiday at Freshwater East, watching the Mexico World Cup and Bet Lynch going up in flames (not together, I hasten to add!) while on holiday in Salcombe in 1986....

I have very fond memories of the garden in my parents' old house. We moved when I was just 5, so I was very young. I remember sitting on the swing, going higher and higher and feeling like I was going to fly over the roof of the house! I remember making 'mixtures' with my friend Pauline, using dirt, lilac blossoms and anything else we could find to put in our plastic saucepans. I vividly remember trying to impress the older boy next door and his mates (remember, I was under 5!) by tying a poor worm in a knot - they were suitably grossed out! I remember the day I moved house, going to school from one place and going home to the new house and realising that the boy who had put his hand up in assembly that day to answer a question was now my next door neighbour. We were partners in crime for a few years after and I remember the time he threw up over a book I had just made.... I remember the day my best friend A moved to our road and started our school and we've been best buds ever since.

I could go on and on and on - I love reminiscing! However, I won't, as you're probably all asleep already! I have thought of a challenge of my own though:

You know that feeling you get when you swing on the swings, or when you go over a humpback bridge in the car a bit too fast, or the big drop on a rollercoaster? Well, when I was 3 or 4, I called this the 'gungles' - I still use it now. Have you ever 'invented' a word, or do you use odd words for things? Blog it and post a comment to let me know!

Hard Habit to Break

2006-06-21T21:08:00.000+01:00

Please help me!! Last year, D unfortunately lost his sister to lung cancer, just a few days after we returned from our honeymoon :-( Susan was only 41 and left behind two beautiful children - totally bewildered but very brave. A couple of months later, D and I once again sat, whinging about how much weight we've put on and how neither of us has the motivation to lose any. I came up with the idea of a sponsored weight-loss, in aid of the Roy Castle Foundation and in memory of Susan. I thought that if people sponsored us, or made a small donation to the cause, that we would have to lose some weight. It worked!! Even with pesky old Christmas and all its chocolate-covered temptations getting in the way, we still managed to lose about 2 stones between us - fab, eh? Well, it would be, if we'd managed to keep it off....

So, I've decided that the time has come to renew our appeal. We didn't put all the weight back on, but if we don't amend our bad habits soon, we'll be back to square one. I've been feeling very lethargic of late and am cross with myself as I have a case choc-full of summer clothes that I can't get into. I am determined that I will lose some more weight this time, but I really need help to do this - I've tried going it alone and it just aint happening.

If you think you would like to help, please take a look at our appeal site for details. Hopefully, by the next Crafts By Carolyn meet in September, I would like to be at least a stone lighter, as well as fitter and generally healthier. It's for a fantastic cause too, so please, please help if you can!!

1,2,3...

2006-06-20T22:05:00.000+01:00

Kathy, viz zeez challenges you are rilly spoiling us! Here is the latest....

1. What was your first pet and what was it's name?
Inky - a jet black guinea pig when I was 6 - aah, loved the fluffies even then!
2. Which Winnie the Pooh character are you? Pooh, Piglet? Eyeore? Or one of the others?
I think I am Eeyore, or maybe Pooh as I am always hunting for something to eat.
3. Aston Martin or Ferrari?
Astons every time!
4. Favourite crisps (potato chips) flavour?
Hmmm, I like loooots of crisps, but at the moment am partial to Nice 'n' Spicy Nik Naks.
5. Money no object sailing trip - where would you go?
Back to bed - I don't do boats....
6. Tea? coffee? or juice?
Tea - milk, no sugar please.
7. What's your favourite season?
Autumn - I love the colour of autumn and it's still quite warm and sometimes sunny.
8. Have you ever seen an eclipse?
Yes, a couple I think. I was on a train on the day of the big one - it was the 10.19 Wolverhampton to London Euston(!)
9.Would you rather hold a snake or a spider?
A snake, thanks, and I have held a few (and dated a few more!).
10.Which do you play? And which is your favourite? Chess, Monopoly, Backgammon, Scrabble
I played chess when I was young, never played backgammon, don't get Monopoly and Scrabble doesn't grab me either.
11. Do you do Sudoku?
How rude!
12. 3 favourite flowers?
Tulip, orchid and hibiscus.
13. What's you favourite in a box of chocs?
Cadbury's Heroes - all of them! They're all yummy and there's no manky coconut or coffee - yick!
14. How many handbags? none, 1-5, 5-10, 10-15 or more than that?
Erm, I wouldn't know where to start counting them *blushes*
15. How many different countries have you visited?
8, I think! Not as many as I would like....

If you're reading this and fancy answering, leave me a message so I can peep at your answers!

Broken Wings

2006-06-19T19:53:00.000+01:00

So, in the true nature of 'Fluffy Stuff', today's blog features a real, live creature! Well, I thought it was dead when I first saw it, but then I noticed it's little sides going in and out and I got the heebie-jeebies as I realised just how close I had put my nose up to it. This, dear readers, is a pipistrelle bat and it was discovered on the fence around the play area in the playground at work. My colleague thought it was a lump of wood and was about to pick it up when she realised what it really was - eeeek!! It was absolutely teeny-tiny and gradually crept over the top of the fence on to the other side, but we have no idea why it was there in the first place and not doing the upside-down thang in a cave. Then again, I don't suppose there are too many caves in rural Solihull.... The nice man from the RSPCA came out (eventually, after getting lost) to move it, so I'm guessing it wasn't injured. It had probably just had a really good night on the lash and missed his last bus home...

Have you noticed my lubberly new banner at the top of the page? (If not, why the hell not? Have you no eyes?!!) After struggling for what feels like forever with trying to do my own, I eventually admitted I am useless and contacted a very spesh lady for help. She knows who she is, but I won't make it public in case she wouldn't appreciate it - hehe!

If You Don't Know Me By Now (Part II)

2006-06-15T21:24:00.000+01:00

I've been tagged by Kathy B, who was tagged by Jane, to blog 20 things about myself. This has proven to be something of a challenge, so I asked D for help. "Tell me something interesting about me darling", says I. "You're beautiful", says he. "You're not objective", I reply. "Your sh*t stinks", says he.... Great.... So, without the help of my beloved, here is what I have managed to scrape together for your perusal:

1. I will have been married for one whole year in September. (Although, based on the above conversation, who knows if we will make it to our second anniversary?)
2. I am a stepmother.
3. I'm left-handed, although I do many things with my right hand.
4. I used to be a size 22.
5. I am crap at remembering jokes, except for really rude ones occasionally.
6. I hate rude people who lack basic manners.
7. I don't 'do' late.
8. I have mottephobia (moths) and am emetophobic (fear of vomiting).
9. Touch wood, I've never had to stay in hospital.
10. I am very shy and lack self-confidence.
11. I don't eat lamb, just because I used to collect 'sheepy' things when I was younger and I couldn't bear eating them.
12. I am rubbish at taking criticism.
13. I hate it when the apostrophe is used inappropriately.
14. I think I have a cracking sense of humour, but sometimes an acid tongue.
15. I love my bunnies like children.
16. I am most comfy in big pants and abhor thongs.
17. I long to have children sooner rather than later.
18. I have a tattoo on my lower back and have been thinking about getting another...
19. I despise the words 'moist' and 'crevice', especially when used together....
20. I can't think of anything else - interesting or otherwise.

If you are reading this and haven't already done it - you must - I said so!

Mission

2006-06-14T14:37:00.000+01:00

Kathy B set a challenge on the Crafts By Carolyn forum and on her blog - to make a card using a specified template, or 'recipe' as I like to call them. Now, for once in my very hectic life, I've had five minutes (okay, so it took me a bit longer than that!) to sit down and actually craft and here is the finished result....

Now, I know it looks really wonky, but it's just the way it was lying on the floor for the photo - honest! I love this style of card and it's very 'me' at this time in my crafting career - clean lines and purty colours - mmmm! I'm just chuffed to have actually made a card; I am seriously lacking in inspiration lately, so this challenge is just what I needed. I love using 'recipes' as it just gives you a gentle nudge in the right direction, but the important parts are left up to you to put together.

So, I've finally made my card for Father's Day on Sunday - thanks Kathy! Now all I need is a prezzie.... Anyone have a 'recipe' for that?

Cuddly Toy

2006-06-09T19:58:00.000+01:00

Awwweeee!! Look at this little bundle of fluff...
His name is Mickey and he's currently residing in our back garden. No, I haven't gone and got another husbun for the princess - I don't think she's into polyrabbitgamy! I've liberated him from a miserable little life stuck in a teeny weeny stinky little hutch. Well, he might have been happy, but I don't know, cos he can't tell me. I got him from the Freeads - a lady not too far away was advertising him as 'free to a good home' and he was just calling out to be rescued... He's going to Hopper Haven at the weekend so that Louise can tend to his needs (plums off laddie!!) and then find him the perfect forever home. If he'd have been advertised just a couple of weeks earlier, maybe he could have stayed, but now we have the wonderful Radar, there's just no way. It was all very surreal, meeting this strange lady in a McDonalds car park at the half-way point between our houses. It felt very shady and illicit and I bet the other patrons wondered what we were up to when she pulled this hutch out of her boot! We could have been 'dealing' in Supreme Rabbit Mix...

Let it Rock

2006-06-08T09:31:00.000+01:00

Oooooh! Mmmmm! *Kel wilts into an unattractive heap on the floor* We went to see Bon Jovi last night!! It's the third time I've seen them live and, although it wasn't the best performance, it was still pretty bloody fab! The trouble with bands that have been so successful for so long is that they have a humungous back-catalogue of hits and it must be really tricky to know what to play and what to leave out. There were a couple of songs that didn't exactly set the crowd a-jumpin', but there were still plenty of classics to bounce to... Of course, JBJ could have sung nursery rhymes or the shipping forecast and I'd have still been in heaven! He is just soooooo scrummy! Now, on both of the forums I frequent daily, there are arguments as to whether you would or wouldn't ("Urgh! He's old enough to be my grandad!", "rrrrraaarrrr - i defo would - u know ?? " etc, etc) but, just for the record, I would! In a heartbeat. Without a doubt. And D knows it too - hehehe! Last night the poor lamb was suffering terribly with hayfever and his subsequent medication, but still pulled out all the stops and gave a cracking show. It was just a pity the atmosphere wasn't as good as other places I've seen, but I reckon that's because there seemed to be fewer real 'fans', if you know what I mean?

Also, if anyone's interested; if ever you fancy seeing a concert at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry, either hire a helicopter to get in and out, or give it a miss! We went by train and taxi and that was no problem as we went early, but it took us TWO HOURS to get home - we live just 18 miles away.... My poor parents came to pick us up and are probably not speaking to us now!

And now, for something totally gratuitous, but completely necessary....

ETA: Thanks to the fabulous Rach for reminding me of the link to this fabby site where I found the video of the song we had as our 'first dance' at our wedding. Now you all have to listen to it while you're reading my blog - haha!

Music Video Codes - MySpace Codes - Funny Videos

Run Rabbit, Run Rabbit, Run, Run, Run...*

2006-06-03T18:08:00.000+01:00

Ooh, I've spent a lovely afternoon in the garden with the bunsters, happily ensconced in their new run , which arrived yesterday. As you can see from the picture on the left, they were a little unsure of what was going on when they suddenly found themselves outside and surrounded by all this green stuff. They soon started sniffing around and then when they realised that - bonus!- the green stuff can be eaten, well, we were well away!

I think they really like the fact that they can properly run on the grass, instead of skidding around cartoon-style on the laminate floors in the house and Radar even did a couple of binkies - that funny jumpy-twisty thing that happy rabbits do. Beany, of course, wouldn't dare let us see she was having fun in such a manner.... Now, all we have to do is overcome the slight problem of their 'aeroplane-overhead phobia' Every time a plane flew over, they would stop what they were doing, heads up listening, then bolt into the carrier as fast as their furry little legs would carry them, where much thumping ensued from within. Just as they'd pluck up the courage to come back out, another bloody plane would come along. This could be something of a problem as we live under the flightpath of Birmingham Airport...

* I know, I know, you're all wondering exactly when in the 80s this was a chart-topper. I've been singing it all afternoon and it seemed too good a title to let go.....

Remember the Nights

2006-06-01T22:35:00.000+01:00

I've just been for a yummy meal at Pizza Express (garlic dough balls anyone!!) with my friend P and an old friend from school. We worked out we haven't seen each other for about 7 years, so it was nice to catch up. Well, I say catch up - what we actually did was reminisce about our school days. We realised we're getting older now - eeeek! The things we used to get up to when we were 15 or so!! I would be horrified if I thought any teenage daughter of mine was doing the stuff we were, although times have changed even since then, I guess. We talked about all the fab house parties we went to, all the boys we snogged, how we blatantly lied to our parents about where we were going, who with and where we were stopping for the night... Once, after a particularly rowdy party, a group of us snuck off to the local tennis club, where one of the lads was a member and knew where the key was kept. We spent a very uncomfortable night sleeping on the hard wooden benches of the changing room and when I woke up in the morning, my contact lenses had dried up in my eyes and I couldn't open them... Of course, sneaking out was all the more difficult than getting in, given that it was now daylight...

I remember the highlight of my weekends was spending Friday and Saturday nights sitting on the benches at the Aston Triangle (on the Aston University campus), drinking from bottles of Thunderbird, 20/20 or really cheap cider that we had to ask our older male friends to buy as the shopkeeper knew we were all 15. When we plucked up the courage, we progressed to the nearby pub (The Pot of Beer!) and bricked it if ever there was a police raid - we frantically tried to work out what our birth dates would be if we were 18... Aah, those were the days....!

9 To 5

2006-05-31T22:49:00.000+01:00

More like 7 to 8.30! I've just done a 13 and a half hour day and I'm absolutely zzzzzzzzz!!! Bloody parents' evening.... Here's a totally gratuitous piccie of Radar doing his fantastic 'dead bunny' impression.

Crazy For You

2006-05-30T12:50:00.000+01:00

Well, we did it! We found a 'husbun' for Princess Beanster. At least, I hope we have... She was fine on her dirty weekend and they seemed to be getting on well enough, although he was evidently a lot keener on her than she on him - typical! So, I brought them home yesterday afternoon... Meet Radar!!

He is absolutely beautiful - a real 'Heinz 57' I think, as he has one ear lopped and the other upright - hence the name. They make a beautiful couple, but don't let that picture fool you - oh no. Beany is so flipping hoity-toity (love that phrase!) and won't give in the upper hand. You can see he absolutely adores her as he follows her everywhere, gives her little licks, tries to - ahem - do that thing that rabbits do! And that's his problem. She just aint interested mate! I wish he would give up soon and let her wear the trousers she so very obviously covets. It would make my life much easier. I'm sure I just need to be more patient; after all, she's used to being a spoiled little wotsit around here and it will take some getting used to, but I really hope that she starts to love him as much as I already do!

I have discovered that the trouble with two buns is that at least one of them is always moving, so I think there will be tons of blurry photos from now on! Dave pointed out that Radar and Beany (or R&B as my Mom has named them) are a bit like him and me - and he has a point. Rade is a big chunky monkey, Bean wears the trousers and doesn't give in to his advances too easily... hmmm! Here is a pic I took a few minutes ago - there may be hope yet!

ETA: If anyone is ever thinking of getting a rabbit, guinea pig or suchlike, please take a look at the beautiful animals in rescues crying out for a forever home. I got Radar from Louise at Hopper Haven which I found through the wonderful Rabbit Rehome site. Take a look and tell me you can resist those lovely bunny faces... Go on, I dare ya!!

One More Night

2006-05-28T06:46:00.000+01:00

... of not being able to sleep!! AAAAaaaaarrrgggghhhh!!! I love the summer, but loathe the light mornings as I rarely sleep beyond about 5.30 am. Plus the fact my body clock is set to wake up before six due to the regular weekday routine I've gotten into and there's no chance of a lie-in at the weekends. I flipping hate tossing and turning in the wee small hours - grrrr! This morning I woke up singing a song in my head (this happens most mornings. Today it was Orson's 'Bright Idea', but one day last week it was a song about a puppy dog we had learnt at work 8-0) and also wondering how the buns have been getting on. I am longing for it to be a reasonable hour so that I can ring the rescue to find out....

Under Pressure

2006-05-27T08:50:00.000+01:00

Firstly, I want to shower HUGE apologies on Lythan; I've just read your blog and I didn't realise that I may be contributing to your happiness and wellbeing by updating my blog ;-) So I am sorry, sorry, sorry that it has been almost a whole week since I last posted - you must have been worried, eh? Hehehe.... I now feel totally pressured to keep it regular! To be quite honest, nothing much has been going on, so a load of white space would not a good blog make. I do know what you mean though - I get so drawn in to others' lives that I neeeeeeed to know what's happening, even if it's just to say you got up, watched tv and went to bed again! It's nice to know you're still out there.

So, after an uneventful week in the life of Kel, we have finally reached another weekend and I am so excited I'm practically bouncing! Not only is it, ta-daaaaaaaa!!! a Bank Holiday (again!), but today we are off to a rabbit rescue in Redditch to take Beany on her first bunny-dating session!! There are a couple of boy buns there that I have my eye on - I keep showing her the piccies on the pc, but how do you tell if she's even looking?! However, the choice is really hers, so we're taking her there to meet the lads and hopefully she'll take a fancy to one in particular that we can bond her with. Rabbit bonding is a tricky process as if they don't get on, they can literally rip each other to pieces (eeeeek!!), but the lovely Louise at the rescue has offered to keep Beany there to do the bonding for us - phew!

I've been doing a bit of thinking too. ( I know, I need to be careful and shouldn't do it unsupervised, but hey-ho!) I've pretty much decided that I'm not going to go to the interview on Tuesday. I'm really not sure that I am ready to take on such a huge responsibility. I've found out that the successful applicant will be expected to act as manager when the other girl goes on maternity and it's just made me feel a bit "woah!!!" I'm so not up for that just yet! I think I'd need a lot longer in the deputy job to build up my confidence and knowledge - a lot's changed in the almost 7 years I've been out of child care. There's a lot of changes going on our place and it looks like there will be scope for progression in the not too distant future anyway. I've also recently learnt a lot about the way the owners like the nursery to be managed. Basically, they seem to want to have a manager in place, but then like to make all the decisions themselves and tend to micromanage somewhat. I'm not sure I would like this and don't actually see why they bother with a manager at all :-?

So, there you have it. Hope you're all breathing a sigh of relief that I have managed a blog entry this week! We're off to the rescue in a minute, so wish us luck.....

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

2006-05-21T17:06:00.000+01:00

Phew!! Am I knackered! We had such a fab day yesterday, I've spent so far today in something of a daze. The Big Meet was great and it was brilliant to meet up with friends - familiar and not-so. I was really chuffed to have met for the first time two of my all-time forum faves - Nicola (she lives in Canada, you know!) and Rhi who had come all the way from Scotland. Both always seem lovely in their posts on the forum, but you know when you're just wondering if they will be the same in real life, and if not, how will you feel? A bit let-down? Well, they are both as gorgeous and scrummy in real life - hurrah!! And then there was our very own 'Swiss Miss', Nicki all the way from Zug in Switzerland. She is just so fabulously exuberant and is totally the life and soul. She never stops talking (I am so envious - I can't make conversation with anyone, let alone people I have just met!) and gave me the biggest hug when I left - I thought she'd squeeze me in two. What a totally fab bunch of women.

I was sooooo lucky to have been given some thank you gifts for my small part in the organisation of the day. I really didn't do a lot and was very embarrassed to collect my prezzie in front of everyone. I had the most gorgeously sparkly Swarowski crystal bracelet, made by my forum pal Kathy B and also a card. Both the box and card were decorated with copious amounts of Prima 'Got Flowers?' flowers and were so pretty. No idea how she managed to part with them! I also received a bunch of yummy flowers and a £15 voucher for Artbase which is fabby, as I am skint at the moment and this will let me buy scrummy bits to add to my collection of stash. To add to this, I won a raffle prize - a fabbo Sizzix die I have been hankering after and I pulled out a lovely prezzie from the bran tub, thanks to my summer Secret Santa.

I was, once again, amazed at the talent in the room. I am soooo glad I didn't enter the Romance Card competition, as the standard was just so high and I would have had to sneak back to the table to swiftly remove my card before the others spotted it in all it's crapness! I had a little shufty at the 'Show and Tell' table - there were some amazing layouts in scrapbooks (I've given Saffa a lecture about trying to submit her work to mags!), beautiful picture frames, canvasses, board books and more. There were also the quilts, stitched together by Nicki and made up of squares of cross stitching and fabric donated by several forum members. The quilts are for charity and will soon be keeping an o.a.p. warm during the cooler evenings. I was so touched by the generosity and spirit of these ladies, and particularly Sharon, who had wanted to do a project like this for a long time and felt very proud to have finally achieved it.

We went for a meal after the event - I don't think the carvery knew quite what had hit them when all these women (and one man!) walked in! The service was somewhat slow, but at least that gave us more time for chatting. I, for one, had a lovely day and just wish that I had had the confidence to chat to everyone, but I find it really difficult and tend to stick to the people I 'know' as a comfort zone. I hate my shyness and even bought a book on overcoming it once, but still haven't conquered it.

Oh, I did see 'her', by the way. I think she clocked me too, but as soon as she did, I looked away and pretended I hadn't seen her! I'm such a wimp...

I Can't Wait

2006-05-19T21:55:00.000+01:00

Tomorrow is the day of the annual Crafts By Carolyn Big Meet. For those not in the know, a bunch of crazy crafty women from the forum get together for demonstrations, show-and-tells, raffles, Secret Santas and of course, a good old natter. It was great fun last year when we all bobbed down to Hitchin in Hertfordshire. A totally weird experience though - I mean, would you go and meet up with a load of strangers you'd met on the internet? Well, at least not without telling someone where you were going, what time you'd be back and making sure your mobile was fully charged in case of emergencies!! For all I knew, they could have been craft-knife-wielding stapling maniacs.... Fortunately, they were just a bunch of fabulous ladies, all sharing a common passion for all things paper-related. We even have international guests this year, with a couple from Scotland, one from Switzerland and one all the way from Canada! Now that's passion....

Now, this year we are hanging at a function place in Shirley, West Midlands. Fortunately, this is not far from me, so I get to arrive early to help set up and avoid the awkwardness of walking in after everyone else has arrived. It's just so strange to be 'chatting' to these people every day in cyber-space, but to be so totally nervous about meeting them in the flesh.

Strange coincidence though - the mysterious disappearing member of staff from Wednesday's post is a bridesmaid at a wedding that is taking place in the same venue as our meet. Hmm, that won't be at all awkward if our paths should cross in the loos....