Tuesday 30 December 2008

Ive got the Bug!!!

No I am not ill or anything, I have just bought a Cricut. I have been looking at buying one for ages but wasnt sure I would use it for the ammount of money it costs but I did some extra work in December and earnt the money to buy it myself.

I have spent hours trying to decide which of the 3 to buy but have settled with the little bug for now, see how I get on with that and maybe I will upgrade at a later date.

No work for me today so I am crafting, I have a couple of projects I want to have a go at and if they work out maybe some piccies later so off to make a start, maybe back later!!!

Love

Maz

Monday 29 December 2008

That's it for another year

Well Christmas is over in our house as I was back to work today, I get Thursday off so it's a short week again for me.

Now to look forward to 2009 and the things I want to plan for, I want to take a new direction in my crafting but not sure what it will be yet, since I started this blog I have spent many hours (far too many!) looking at other peoples work on their blogs, there are a few that I could spend hours on if I had the time.

I love Jak Heaths blog - Crafters Kitchen her work is stunning, I love the way she makes her cards in a simple, elegant way. The way she matches her colours and the ideas she has are really inspiring.

I also love Annette's blog - Scrap happens here, I love all her work and like me she is a mini book lover.

I also have to tell you about my Daughter in laws blog - Karens cards from the heart, Karen only started crafting a few years ago but she has already found her feet with card making, I couldn't wait to get my Christmas card from her this year and I wasn't disappointed either.

What blogs do you all visit regularly? I am sure you all know of ones I haven't seen yet.

There are loads of great blogs out there and hopefully I will do a little more with mine this coming year.

Love

Maz

Tuesday 23 December 2008

A special Christmas Message !

Well its Christmas eve tomorrow and with work and family I shall be very busy so I wanted to take a few minutes to say a big 'Thank You' to everyone who has taken the time to read my blog, its still a baby at the minute but I am hoping to do much more with it in 2009.

I would also like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas, to me Christmas is about family and especially the children, taking time to be together, celebrating and enjoying the company of each other. It is also a time to remember the true meaning of Christmas.

I have been very lucky in that I have always been surrounded with a very large family and yes we have our ups and downs as every family does but that's what makes it work. My own childhood was very different than those of my Grandchildren, my Mum didn't go out to work but spent her days sewing and baking enabling us to always have 'proper dinners' and new clothes even thought they were not well off. My Dad was a serviceman and served 21 years in the R.A.F. and although he spent many months sometimes away from home we were always together at Christmas

So I would like to ask you to read this poem that was written by a serving Australian Peacekeeping Soldier stationed overseas:-

T'WAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS,
HE LIVED ALL ALONE,
IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE,
MADE OF PLASTER AND STONE.

I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY,
WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE,
AND TO SEE JUST WHO,
IN THIS HOME, DID LIVE.

I LOOKED ALL ABOUT,
A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE,
NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS,
NOT EVEN A TREE.

NO STOCKING BY MANTLE,
JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND,
ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES,
OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.

WITH MEDALS AND BADGES,
AWARDS OF ALL KINDS,
A SOBER THOUGHT,
CAME THROUGH MY MIND.

FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT,
IT WAS DARK AND DREARY,
I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER,
ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY.

THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING,
SILENT, ALONE,
CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR,
IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME.

THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE,
THE ROOM IN DISORDER,
NOT HOW I PICTURED,
AN AUSTRALIAN SOLDIER.

WAS THIS THE HERO,
OF WHOM I'D JUST READ?
CURLED UP ON A PONCHO,
THE FLOOR FOR A BED?

I REALIZED THE FAMILIES,
THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT,
OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS,
WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT.

SOON ROUND THE WORLD,
THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY,
AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE,
A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.

THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM,
EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR,
BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS,
LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.

I COULDN'T HELP WONDER,
HOW MANY LAY ALONE,
ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE,
IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME.

THE VERY THOUGHT BROUGHT,
A TEAR TO MY EYE,
I DROPPED TO MY KNEES,
AND STARTED TO CRY.

THE SOLDIER AWAKENED,
AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE,
"SANTA DON'T CRY,
THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE;

I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM,
I DON'T ASK FOR MORE,
MY LIFE IS MY GOD,
MY COUNTRY, MY LAW."

THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER,
AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP,
I COULDN'T CONTROL IT,
I CONTINUED TO WEEP.

I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS,
SO SILENT AND STILL,
AND WE BOTH SHIVERED,
FROM THE COLD NIGHT'S CHILL.

I DID NOT WANT TO LEAVE,
ON THAT COLD, DARK, NIGHT,
THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR,
SO WILLING TO FIGHT.

THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER,
WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE,
WHISPERED, "CARRY ON SANTA,
IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS SECURE."

ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH,
AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT."
MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND,
AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT."

He asks that we pass this on to as many people as we can.

Christmas will be here in a couple of days and I am grateful to all of the service men and women for our being able to celebrate these festivities. My own Stepson was recently a serving soldier in Irac. We should remember to think of our heroes, living and Dead, who sacrificed themselves for us. Please, do your small part to plant this small seed.

Regardless of our political persuasions, regardless of our colour, creed or religion, regardless of our age or our sex, we undoubtedly owe our freedom and safety to our heroes in the forces, I also ask that you think of the families who's loved ones wont be home for Christmas this year, those brave men and women in foreign lands, far from home.


Merry Christmas


Maz

Friday 19 December 2008

New Frames

This is one of my great car boot finds, I bought 2 of these in the summer from a local car boot for just 50p each. The frames were originally from Next so I bet they weren't that price when they were new.



I realised I needed a present for a lady at work, I don't know this Lady very well but I do know she has 2 beautiful Granddaughters whom she adores. I didn't want to buy the last minute, no thought present so I dug out these frames and did this with them



Now she can display a photo of each of her Granddaughters in them and hopefully as they are quite neutral in colour they will be suitable for any room in her home.


The frames hold a 7" x 5" photo and have been covered in paper from Daisy D's, the paper is an all over design in the palest green with a hint of pink in it, I have added a strip of lace finished off with some beautiful braiding I already had in my box, I added some silk flowers with just a flush of pink in them and added seed beads to the centre of the largest one.

I hope she likes them!

Maz

Thursday 11 December 2008

I cant believe what I have done!!!

I really cant believe how stupid I have been!

This year as you know I have made all of my Grand kids presents for Christmas, the parents knew what they were all getting so I decided to make them all a surprise present and not tell any of them what they were. I deliberately have NOT added the pictures on here as 2 of my Daughter in laws read this blog, so what have I done you may ask.....

Well I have taken photo's of all the presents and uploaded them to my pc into 2 folders, the ones the parents know about and the ones they dont, no problem there or so you would think, the only trouble is I have used the folder with the suprise presents in as a screen saver on my pc and when my eldest Son and his family came to visit at the weekend my Grandaughter asked to use my pc as she always does and what did she see when she turned the screen on.............

Her present sitting looking back at her!!!

All I can say is I must be getting old, I didnt think for one minute that she always goes on the pc when she was here.

So much for the suprise eh!!!

Maz

Tuesday 9 December 2008

Another one or two off my list!!

Well I can now cross 2 more things off my 'Still 2 Do' list, I have made 2 sets of these, 1 for a Christmas present and 1 for a raffle prize at work.

I love these sets as they make great presents whether for Christmas or Birthdays, they are great to also have a spare set made up for an last minute pressie.

I bought the books and covered them using papers by Daisy D's, ric rac, metal corners and some paper flowers.





To go with the set I have made for a present I have also covered these picture frames to match



The frames were bought from Ikea in a pack of 2 for a couple of quid so quite a bargain. I may even get a set of these and cover them for myself.

Well off to see what else is on my list

Maz

Friday 5 December 2008

Where do the days go?

Well I cant believe its been over a week since I added anything on here, when I started this blog I promised myself that I would post something everyday or at least every other day but already I am starting to fall behind.

I have been so busy with work, I have taken on some extra hours for Tesco up to Christmas in the hope that it will earn me enough money to buy either a Cricut or a Craft Robo for my self, the biggest problem is that I cant decide which to buy so

whats your favourite and why?

Any advice or help would be great to help me decide, I have spent hours on the internet looking at places like UKS and other sites but still cant decide.

Well its our Christmas Crop Party tomorrow, I have finished my Secret Santa just got to decide what to take with me to do all day so I am off to go and have a look at my 'Still To Do' list and see whats on there.

Bye for now

Maz

Thursday 27 November 2008

I have been busy making....



This set for the Secret santa for our Christmas crop. I have made a matching perpetual Calendar (right), a Diary (bottom) a 'To Do' list book (middle back) and Notebook (left) all I have to do is add an Address book and a nice pen, They are all made from papers from the Making Memories 'Boho Chic' collection, a co-ordinating range of embellishments and ribbons and my great Bind-it-all.

I have also been busy making gift tags for the Grandkids Christmas presents, all 48 of them!!!




I have made 19 of the ones on the left for the girls presents and 29 of the ones on the right for the boys presents.


All of the images were hand stamped onto winter white textured card using Black Stazon ink, I then inked the edges in copper and mounted the image onto Cajun Bazzill which was cut just slightly bigger than Santa.

I have used my label programme to design the greeting which was then printed and affixed to the inside. The finished tags had either cotton string or gold Sari ribbon tied around the bottom and through the hole in the top. I am quite pleased with the way the came out even though it took my Daughter Sarah and I all day to make them and I am hoping that the kids will hang them on their Christmas trees when they have opened their presents.

Talking of presents I now have all of the boys presents completed, thats 6 height charts and 5 boxes as well as the suprise presents I have made for them, I cant tell you about them as 2 of my DIL visit this blog and I dont want them to know what they are. I also have the girls presents in hand, they are coming along nicely.

I may even get time to make some Christmas cards now I have an idea for them, but we shall see !!!!!

Sunday 23 November 2008

We have Snow...

...and it looks like we shall be having more of it.

That means only one thing, stay in and craft!!

I have been really busy with work so the Christmas present making has slowed down a little but I am hoping to catch up a bit today. As I said previously I am making the grandkids a suprise present as well as either a box or height chart and I have photographed them but my Daughter-in-law reads this blog so I cant post any pictures of any of them yet or she will see what her too little boys will be getting.

I am still struggling with the christmas cards as well, I SO want to be able to make some nice Christmas cards to give my family but it just isnt happening, I now have two pieces of paper cut, 1 white and silver and 1 a pale green and then nothing!!! I just done seem to be able to match my papers and my embellishments together so I put it all away again. I have been looking at this blog and this lady ( Jak ) make stunning cards http://crafterskitchen.blogspot.com/ take a look for yourself and you will see what I mean.

Well I will hopefully have something to add here by the end of the day so see you later

Maz

Tuesday 18 November 2008

Ok I will add them this way then!!!!!


Ryans Advent calender






2 Name plaques I have made for a friend
I have also added a slideshow on the right with some of the height charts etc
Take care
maz

By request...

Here are some of the height charts I made for my Grandchildren for Christmas





What do you think then?

Christmas Presents...


Like I said in my last post I didnt actually get round to making any christmas cards on saturday, this is what I made instead- well the one on the right. I am also going to make a little note book and an address book to go with this using my Bind it all to give as a raffle prize at the christmas crop. I got this idea off the internet, I think it was off the Zutter Sisters website although I cant be sure.
I made the left one for my Grandsons teacher as a christmas present, he has a male teacher this year so harder to think of a present for. Much more suitable for a man dont you think?
Today as promised I also photographed some of the grandchildrens present, just need to work out how to add them onto this post now!!!
Maz





Monday 17 November 2008

I didnt get the cards made!!!

Well I told you I was off to the crop on Saturday and whilst there I was hoping to get some Christmas cards made..... well it didnt happen.

I got everything out of my bag, card blanks, stamps, inks, pens, papers etc and cut the deckled edge off the first card blank, I then proceeded to cut a pice of backing paper to stick onto the card, a beautiful paper in white with streaks of silver running over it and that was as far as I got with it.

I just find cards so difficult to do, either I dont have the right papers or I dont have the right embellishments or some other excuse but the truth is I dont have the inspiration to make them.

My Daughter in law attends this crop with me and let me tell you she can make a nice card, in fact she is very talented. Once we got home she did help me by stamping and embossing some images for me so I could continue by myself, she did this last year and I still have the images as they never got made into cards then either!

Oh well tomorrow is my day off and it will be crafting all day for me, I have 24 childrens christmas presents to finish, hopefully I will get to add some photos of them tomorrow and if you do happen across my blog be kind and leave a comment for me, it doesnt have to be all nice ones either.

Maz

Friday 14 November 2008

Been a busy few weeks!!!!

Well I started this blog and then had no time to post anything, I have been busy with work and making christmas presents for my 24 grandchildren.

Last year I decided in October to make then all either a quillow or a patchwork quilt and finished the last one on christmas eve.

This year I decided to make all 8 pre-school kids a height chart and the older ones are having a decorated box which I bought from a local store that specialises in flat packed furniture. I wanted to get more organised but still didnt start until about a month ago.

They are coming on well and I will post pictures of them all soon.

Off to our local crop tomorrow and hoping to make some christmas cards there but we will see!!!

Tuesday 28 October 2008

My first blog!!!

Hello and welcome to my blog,

I have for a long time toyed with the idea of having a blog, just a little somewhere to write notes and thought of my daily life which is not really that interesting; more that I want somewhere to write about and show off the projects I have involved myself in over the years.

I love to look at other people's blogs and read about the things they are all making, doing, enjoying or having a moan about.

Hopefully I will be able to deliver something that interests some of you fellow crafters as much as I have taken an interest in some things I have seen on other peoples blogs

Willow
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