Not long now !

Hiya all,

Only a few hours to go now until we find out which products are retiring :( and as a demonstrator I get a sneak peek at the new catalogue - how exciting is that ?!!!

Todays card is one I sent to Laura to wish her a happy birthday last week ...........

Flowers are from the very useful hostess set Silhouette Sentiments and Vintage Vogue. Colours are Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive and Sahara Sand. The Top Note die makes for an interesting shaped card and the little butterflies are from the Embosslits die.

Now is an excellent time to become a SU demonstrator as you get to see the new catalogue in advance AND pre-order some new goodies to play with ! If you would like any more information, please get in touch, I'd love to tell you all about it !

Back to cleaning the house to pass the time til later lol !!

A Whotsie Whotsit !

What's a Whotsie Whotsit ?

That's a phrase Isabel uses when she can't think of the correct word and leaves us trying to guess what on earth she is on about lol !

Todays card is a Whotsie Whotsit - I can't think of the proper name for it. It's like a side stepper card but quicker,easier and with just the stepper bit. A stepper card then ???

Colours are Marina Mist, Crumb Cake and Very Vanilla. Paper is the beautiful Elegant Soiree and I've used some Marina Mist taffeta ribbon. By adding height with the top note die, it provides plenty of space to write your message on the rear.

Whatever it's called it's very sweet and fits easily into a standard C6 envelope but has a bit more of the wow factor (or X Factor lol ! )

I'm sure one of you clever people will tell me what it's called but until then it will stay a Whotsie Whotsit and I think I'll be making some more.

Pretty In Pink

Hello all,

Just a quick post because the X Factor is coming on , which means the countdown to Christmas has officially started lol !

Today we have been to a little party for our neighbours little girl who was celebrating her first birthday so it definitely had to be Pretty in Pink

Crazy for Cupcakes is a set I haven't used often enough but the cake with the single candle is perfect for a Ist birthday. I used the Timeless Type alphabet to personalise it - I have used this loads already. Although this was a considered purchase ( I considered for at least 5 minutes lol ! ) I love the freedom of making names and it's perfect for scrapbooking too, go on treat yourself !

Off to watch X Factor and wish I could sing !

More Scrapbooking

Hi all, how are you ?

Another couple of scrapbook pages today. I must thank Jules for urging me to have a go because although I've been making cards for years , I just didn't 'get' scrapbooking but since having a go I'm hooked !

I'm not very good at it yet but I am really enjoying working with some of my millions of photos. The moral of the tale is - don't knock it until you've tried it lol !

Anyway this is what I've been up to...............

Colours are Early Espresso, Melon Mambo and Whisper White. Aren't the little butterflies from the Embosslit die cute ? This is the second page................

and the 2 pages together................

If you would like to start scrapbooking please get in touch and I can help you choose some useful goodies lol!

Something football related to show you - this was the state of play after Hubby and Sophie returned from the match on Sunday

Wolves TOP of the Premier League !!! This is a very rare sight apparently only happened once before in Hubby's lifetime so they felt it deserved a photo. I think they've dropped to 3rd now, but I'm sure they'll settle for that. They have gone off to Northampton tonight for a Cup game and at this moment Wolves are 2 nil up, so maybe the undefeated run will continue ! May be a good time to ask Hubby for a SU treat- much better value and hours more enjoyment than a football match lol !!!

Because I care

Hello all, have you had a good week ?

Mine has been busy- in theory with the girls being off and not having the restrictions of the school run, I should in theory have more time but I don't know where it's gone !

This week we have had to have the shower fixed, we had a nail in the tyre on the car, a chip in the windscreen and the washing machine broke !!! Nice cheap week then - not !

I did have a nice evening last night when I went out with some girls from work for a meal. Someone was leaving and they asked if I could make the card, the gift boxes - oh and do the bouquet of flowers ! That's where Friday went lol.

The flowers I chose included some stunning white hydrangeas so of course it had to be the hostess set Because I Care to make the card............

Colours are Rich Razzleberry and Sahara Sand. Have cut out a few of the tiny flower heads to add dimension to the main image.

I LOVE the way Stampin Up means everything can be co ordinated and even made a matching message card for the flowers

I'm pleased to report eveyone loved my efforts so it was time well spent. Enjoy the weekend.

Coming up Roses

Evening all, had a good weekend ?

Well, the footie season has started again. It seems only 5 mins since that stressful , rollercoaster afternoon when Wolves were battling to stay in the Premier League ! They've started ok though- 3 points from an away trip to Blackburn ! Hubby is delighted that they are 3rd and in a Champions League slot in the league table now, downhill all the way now for the rest of the season lol !!!

This afternoon we went to David Austin Roses and even the Molineux rose was in full bloom.......

but as I'm not keen on yellow it was actually these gorgeous pink ones that inspired todays cards

Colours are Rose Red, Pear Pizzazz and Old Olive...........

The square central panel is the stamp from Growing Green just randomly stamped and the roses I have cut out from this sheet of Springtime Vintage paper..........

I must confess I normally automatically turn this one over because I love the blue pattern on the other side lol.

I also made a smaller card and scrunched the seam binding ribbon

This actually distressed ME because I normally put it thru my hair straighteners to get any creases OUT ! I wasn't too sure I liked it at first but I think it's growing on me.

And just because I haven't used Fun Flowers for a few days I made this too, although it hasn't got a home yet.

Do you like how my post is linked today- from Wolves to the Molineux rose, to pink David Austin roses to my rose inspired efforts . This blog is not just thrown together you know lol ! - well not today anyway !

Escape from Alcatraz

Morning all,

I have finally finished my scrapbook pages to show you- these were from our amazing holiday to California last year.

We went on an evening boat trip to Alcatraz. I must confess I didn't think it would interest me really but I am so glad I went. We set off early evening so it was still light but came back after dark and after watching the sunset we saw the twinkling lights of the skyline of San Francisco.

The island is in a beautiful location with views of the Golden Gate Bridge but I don't think the prisoners got to see much of it !

After dark it was very atmospheric and we listened to the slamming of the cell doors which was 'awesome ' as they say over there lol !

For the first page I cut up and inked some pages from the visitor guide........... those facts that you learn at the time but can never remember a couple of years later !

I used the Word Window punch to 'round' the cell bars and added a little Tiny Tag with Escape on it............... The second page shows my photos

Colours are River Rock (very appropriate ), Soft Suede, Crumb Cake with a bit of Chocolate Chip and Old Olive. Here are the 2 pages together...........

I must spend more time scrapbooking, I really enjoy it when I do !

Tempting Turquoise

Evening all, hope you are all well and keeping away from affected city centres.

Not much crafting been going on with the girls off and Hubby is on holiday this week too ! We have had a nice day out today in Broadway in the Cotswolds..............

Very different from parts of England seen on the news !

I have got a card to show you, it's an easel one made with the Fast and Fabulous Hostess setHave also embossed the Tempting Turquoise with the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder and added a few rhinestones. Sentiment is from Oval All.

Look how deep that embossing is, makes you just want to touch it.

Back soon , hopefully with some scrapbooking pages if I ever get them finished lol !

Always Elegant does Christmas

Wow, it's been a hot one today !

So what have I been doing ? Making Christmas cards lol ! Yes, I know but I recently treated myself to the Ornament punch and I just had to try it - I'm sure you understand.

Stampin Up do some beautiful stamps that match this punch but unfortunately I haven't got any (yet) so I just had to be more creative and use something else to decorate my baubles.

I decided to use Always Elegant which is perhaps traditionally a wedding/ anniversary set. It is excellent value (only £10.95 for the clear version ) and the little scallop edge is just perfect for these baubles..............

Top tip : if you find it difficult to line up the decoration , you might find it easier to do this bit first......

You can then position the punch exactly where you want it and the extra bits at the sides make it easier to move it about.

The little flower is from Boho Blossoms with a bit of bling added.

For the next one I used the largest stamp from this set, again stamping first and then placing the punch over the top

Punched 2 shapes for added dimension on this one.

And finally I made a z fold card and incorporated the Always sentiment with help from the Timeless Type alphabet

I must make some Christmas cards that aren't Old Olive, Very Vanilla and Cherry Cobbler lol! My normal excuse is that I love the Jolly Holidays papers but the only paper I have used this time is from Springtime Vintage, again not one you think of for Christmas !

If you use any other stamp sets to decorate your baubles please let me know. I have got some other ideas ( in other colours ! ) but that will be another day .................

Paradise

Evening all,

Just had to pop on and show you where I have spent the last 2 days - I had a voucher for a spa day for my birthday so I decided to add to it and stay overnight , all on my own !!

It was so strange being completely free to do what I wanted, when I wanted and without the constant chorus of ' Mom '....

This was my room. I think it was one of the smaller ones as it was for one but it was really sweet

The ivy framed the window beautifully.............

and the view was stunning, I felt very grand standing at the window to survey the gardens lol

Those of you who used to watch Family Fortunes ( go on admit it lol ) may recognise the shot below as it was often one of the spot prizes, billed as the spa in a stately home , ' in the heart of rural Staffordshire 'My room is the small window on the left below the 3 chimneys. Although it was only half an hour away from home it was like escaping a million miles away.

In between the sauna, jacuzzi and the massage chairs I did manage to get some ink out -- how did they know I needed a little craft desk in my room lol ?

Wandering round the grounds I came across this hammock and was soo tempted but I decided getting on and off might not be very graceful and someone else might be standing at their window admiring the view lol

I had never been away on my own before but I really enjoyed it and feel really chilled out, back soon with something crafty x