I am still around

How long has it been since I posted on my blog? Too long and I am sorry but things and life have been hectic as usual.

Well I was really busy with my Niece's wedding, I had a lot of orders for the wedding from different members of the family and most of them to kept as a secret and none of which I have photo's of, I must remember to take pictures of stuff as I make it. Even though it was a busy time I thoroughly enjoyed the wedding, it was a lovely day and nice to be able to relax a while. Thanks to Karen for looking after the shop for me.

So where are we up to now? The shop has been busy first with craft club which has now been extended to 3 sessions a week with a 4th session in the planning stages, then we had father's day with lots of special orders for that.

Then it was time to re-stock with Candy Bouquets, these are a few of the ones we have in stock at the minute

Then the birth of our new Granddaughter to prepare for, Katie Jayne was born on Thursday weighing a healthy 8lb 9oz, Mum and baby are doing fine and both came home yesterday. Well with a new baby it was time to stock up on the baby section so Nappy Cakes were first on the list

This one was made for Katie

These are a few of the others we have in the shop

The items on the Baby section sell out really fast so its a constant battle to keep the shelves stocked. The nappy cakes are really popular with our customers as are the personalised canvases we make

These are a couple I did remember to take photo's of although I have made some for orders which I have no pics of.

So another busy week in the shop but today I shall be enjoying the day off to watch England play, some of the family are coming round for that and we shall be having a BBQ later and just enjoying the sunshine.

COME ON ENGLAND!!!!!

Sorry but I have been very busy....

I firstly have to say how sorry I am that I haven't been on here for such a long time but I have just been so busy with the shop that I just dont seem to find any time.

Well what have I been doing? I have been very busy with orders and making new stock for the shop so thats my excuse for not having visited my blog in such a long time.

The shop is doing really well and is keeping us very busy at the minute, we have taken some wedding orders for the upcoming months which is really nice.

We have craft club well established now and have now had to extend this to 3 sessions a week to give everyone a place, we have met some lovely people since opening the shop and the craft club is proving to be very popular. Our ladies are all different crafting abilities but they all seem very keen to have a go at anything we throw at them. Her are the first 3 Ladies who have been with us since the first week

Susan with her first attempt at crafting, Susan had never made anything before but started with a blackboard, she has since made another for her DIL.

Tina with her first shopping board, Tina was another lady who had never crafted before but has now made a number of items with us

Christine with her first shopping board, both Christine and Tina now plan to make as many Christmas presents as they can.

Wednesday now seems to be family night which is really nice as us girls dont seem to get together so often now, there are 6 of us all chatting and crafting, 2 of my DIL's have never crafted but both are planning to start scrapbooks of their Boys. Marie is a little more into crafting and has made things with me before this is one of the blackboards by my DIL Marie, she made 2, one for her and one for her Mum.

So thats some of the things that have been keeping me away from my blog, you need to go and look at Karen's blog to see some of the beautiful cards she has been making for the shop

I promise I will try and visit more often and bring you more of the items we have been making very soon!

My new shop opens today!

Well its been ages since I posted anything on here but I havent been watching daytime tv or lazing around, not at all I have been very busy getting my new shop ready and it opens TODAY!!!

I also have a new blog that my DIL will be helping out with, It's called  Love, Heart, Home as thats the name of my new shop. The new blog will tell you all about the daily going on's, the workshops we will be holding and anything else we can think of.

I have to say a few Thank You's and some of them are to people who will never read my blog but I want to say it anyway:

To my family who have helped make my idea into a reality. Sarah, who has helped me get the shop ready and who is always there to help when needed, Ryan my Grandson who has put up with late dinners and being bored especially this last week and to my fab hubby Tony who works long days in his job but never moans about coming to help me after work.

To Lincoln, my DIL's brother who has made all the beautiful units for my shop from picture in the laura Ashley book, the shop looks gorgeous and I couldn't have got here without him. xxxxx

To Karen, my DIL. Karen keeps me going when the stress sets in by reminding me 'It is a good idea and everything will be fine' Karen has also made a fantastic selection of cards for the shop so Thank you Karen.

To everyone and anyone else who has been involed in getting the shop ready for today, a HUGE thank you, you know who you are.

Before I go I just want to add that today is also 26 years to the day since my Hubby and I moved in together, we have been married  for 24 years of those years so Happy Anniversary Tony, I love you!

Well thats all the soppy stuff done with, I am off to get ready for the day. Hoping to be back later with news of opening day and some pictures of my NEW SHOP!!!

Wedding Invitations for my Neice

Today I want to show you the Wedding Invitations I have just finished for my Neice's Wedding next year.

Not a massive order just 50 pocket invites together with acceptance cards.

The outside of the invite

Outside, inside and the acceptance card

The invites were made using white card that I cut and scored myself, the paper is from Pink Petticoat Doodles range in Lilac and White. I added Silver to back both the sentiment on the front and the panel inside.

That's another order completed, back to my never ending 'To Do' list

Look what we got yesterday!

Yesterday we went to get a new puppy, she is a 6 week old Brichon Frise.

My Son bought one for my DIL and when I saw her I just melted so yesterday we went to get one from the same litter.

Her name is Angel.

Dont you think she is just gorgeous?

The countdown to Christmas and pictures of my box!

As promised I want to show you a few pictures of something I have made recently, I have decorated this box to be given as a present, the box is from Ikea. I am only responsible for the decorating and not for the stunning piece of stitching that adorns the top.





I lined all the drawers out using papers to match the colour of ink I used and added a length of tape measure along the bottom as this will be used as a sewing box.





I used a set of Rubber Stamp Tapestry peg stamps along with a set of flourish stamps by Rhonna farrer to make up the design. I then used a brown pen to add the small branches and added pearls to the finished design.



A few close up pictures of the hardanger used on the top

The hardanger was designed by a very talented lady called Colly who has an online shop which you should go and have a look at.

I used small wooden reel to make handles for the drawers which I painted and stamped to match the box.

I have orders for 2 more of these, the first one is for Colly and I am going to start this one today so hopefully I will have pictures of that one next week.

Well I am now on the countdown to Christmas, as you all know I do have a few grandchildren to cater for but I am not making for all of them this year so that should make Christmas a little easier.

So far I have 4 patchwork quilts to make, these are for the babies that hadn't been born when I made the last lot of quilts. I also have 3 pencil boxes to make like those I made last year, these are for the little ones who have just started school this year. I also have a few orders to get finished for other people so this will no doubt keep me out of trouble for a little while.

Hope to be back tomorrow with pictures of a few more bits I have made, off to do some chores as I will be going to see my Son at some point today as it is his birthday

Happy Birthday Dean! x x x

Hi everyone, I am back!!!

Thought it was time to get back to blog land as I have thoroughly neglected my blog for so long.

Well what can I say, its been 3 months since I last posted on here!

Things have been a little hectic over the last few months, I had a few personal problems which have now been resolved, my hubby and I are back together and things are a lot less stressful since we moved house.

The new house is so small but I am steadily sorting through my crafting stash and making a little room for it, some has gone to my daughters house for storage, some in the attic and some in the garage. It has been difficult deciding on what goes where as I always need the stuff I didn't think I would need that has gone to my Daughters house, never mind it will all be sorted in time I guess.

I have been doing some thinking over the last few months and have plans for a new venture after Christmas with 2 of my friends, I am so excited about this and will have more details about this soon so watch this space.

The best news is that I have finally given in my notice at work, I officially finish on the 6th November although I doubt I will be at work this week as I have Cellulitis in my leg so at least one week on the sick for me, I am on antibiotics so we shall see.

Well I will be back later with pics of some of the items I have made over the past few months if I can get the photos transfered onto my new pc.

See you later!

365 Cards - Day 133 - Imagine this....

Wow my second post today!

Today's challenge over at 365 cards is Imagine this... Bubbles!
think of bubbles and how they might inspire your card.

Well bubbles to me means a nice hot bath brimming with Bubbles!

Here is what I mean

I have added the bath and then coated the top of it with Puffy Paint, the polka dot paper also reminds me of Bubbles and the dots are carried on through the ribbon and the button. I used a small rub on that says Relax to the side.



and the inside reads - You deserve it!



Short and sweet as I am off out to my Sons house and to have a sneak peep at a house I am going to view on Monday

Back later to check on everyone else's cards

1 Card for 5 Challenges!

Why is it that when I make a card for a challenge a few days later a challenge comes up requesting either the image I have used or the Colour Combo? This seems to happen to me quite often, a few days ago I made a card featuring a cake for this challenge over at 365 Cards and now yesterdays challenge features a cake, this cake!

So Day 132 over at 365 Cards is Picture This!


The challenge is to use the photo to inspire your card, whether it be an object, colors, or a theme, how will the photo inspire you?
I used the Cake image as my inspiration and coloured it Brown and Orange, Yum!

My card also fits the requirements of the challenge over at C.R.A.F.T. their challenge #8 is to make a card that is number specific.

This week we would love to see your special AGE/ Anniversary cards, so be it a 18th/ 21st etc birthday or golden Anniversary we would love to see your spin on the challenge.
I made mine for a 16th Birthday!

Moving on to the challenge at Use It! #18

Here is Ann's challenge:
•Add some texture
(felt, flower, velvet ribbon, etc.)
I used Flowers which are embossed plus a fabric flower and 2 different Ribbons
•Use at least 2 punches
My Martha Stewart Border punch and a small flower Punch
•Use paper from your favorite manufacturer.
I used New papers which I fell in love with by Papermania- Antique Cream
•*Bonus*
Add some pearls as your finishing touch. I have Pearls!

This week is challenge # 18 at the Creative Card Crew and they want to see Ribbons
I have used 2 different Ribbons

Last but not least is the challenge at Pile It On who want you to use 3 different embellishments and combine this with at least 1 other challenge.
I have Flowers both Paper and fabric, Brad, Butterfly Charm and Pearls and teamed it with 4 other challenges

I decided to use 16 as the age for this card, my thinking was that at this age young women so want to be adults but as I remember from my own 2 Daughters, still have a little bit of being a kid in them. Using this as a guide is why I have teamed the quite grown up papers with the almost cartoon type cake, hope this makes sense?

So here is my card for these challenges- it is a quad card

Here it is closed and this will fit nicely into a DL envelope



Open viewing one side


Now from the other side with room to write your greeting on the large centre panel



and from the top



This is the first time I have made one of these cards so what do you think?

365 Cards - Day 131 - Ad Inspired

I love the Ad inspired challenges that Pam sets over at 365 Cards and Day 131 just happens to be one of those challenges.



So, here is how this challenge works - take the above image and use it to inspire your card.
This great image was picked by the super talented Amy, so what do you see in this image?

I see the white boards on the walls, the splash of Red and those Dr. Seuss Shower Curtains so my card is based on those elements and the Dr. Suess book 1 Fish, 2 Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish.

Here it is



I took a White card and cut the circle in it, this was surrounded by the Red before I scored lines using my Score Pal.

I recently bought a great paper stack by DCWV for making Kids cards with and this was the first time I used any of it, I used the Blue Fish paper at the bottom of the card. I cut 2 strips with fancy scissors, 1 Blue and 1 white to mimic waves and mounted these behind the Fish Paper.




I printed the Blue fish onto white paper and added the sentiment, this was then adhered to the inside of the card so the fish would show through the circle when the card is closed. To finish I added a colourful ribbon, only about 4 yards of this left to use!

I think this will make a great Kids Birthday card for almost any age.

What do you think?