HOW TO KEEP COOL IN THIS HEATWAVE

I've found the perfect way to keep cool in these roasting temperatures.

Make Christmas cards!!!!

Ok, it's early for some of us. But how many of you have said that and then been panicking in December? Just the thought of snow, ice and warm clothes helps to keep at bay the fact that we are really boiling!
I coloured 6 stamped images when we were away and made them into cards today.

Here are a couple and the rest are on my Flickr.

ON THE TELE!!

I've made it - famous at last!!

Did you see the 4pm QVC show today - We are Memory Keepers? and did you listen to the caller who was praising the Big Bite and Crop-A-Dile?

IT WAS ME.

Where the courage to ring in came from I don't know because I was shaking like a leaf afterwards. We really did use the Big Bite to punch holes through the wooden backing, felt and wadding in order to fasten our son in law's medals and badges to the display case my hubby made for him. It worked a treat and the finished article is gorgeous and has been well received.

Julien was his usual lovely self and Andrew was most generous in saying that Mick should be thanked for the service he has given to his country. I was very emotional at that lovely gesture and have passed those words on.

Wow!

SO MUCH TO DO

Where does time go?

I've 'plodded' my way through the last 3 days and not done a fraction of the things I need to complete. This morning was spent shreading paper and clearing out drawers. I didn't stop either but the morning just flew by. The worse thing of all is the fact that I havn't done one bit of crafting!

I coloured some lovely Sugar Nellie images whilst away last week and had all intentions of making them into cards this week, but no!

Right, plan of action - again. Check when it's going to rain so that any washing gets done, check rest of list and ......oh blow all of that, I'm going to plan some crafting time.

Watch out tomorrow, here she comes!!!

HOME ALONE ALMOST!

Just heard from my hubby, currently in Beverley, who is, with our Mick, trying to assemble kitchen cupboards. So far he has cut his head and got a hole in his foot!!!! This is only day 1!

Me, on the other hand, have spent today trying to vac, done 2 loads of washing, which included curtains, shopped, cooked, gardened, read 2 Craft Stamper mags. done loads of 'officey' stuff, conversed with neighbours, researched info on the web and am now blogging before washing the pots.

I'm not boasting 'cos I know what he is going through. We have re-done our kitchen 4 times and installed 2 others. None were easy. Still, it will be splendid once finished.

I have 2 big trees at the front which, being conifer/sprucey things provide all year round green cover for our local birds, mainly blackbirds. This year we have been visited by 3 breeding pairs, all nicknamed Blackie and Mrs Blackie. The only way we can distinguish between them is where they fly in from and out again. So far, at least 2 lots of young have also claimed our garden and currently 2 gorgeous birds think its theirs. I have just managed to take a photo of one of them sat in the tree. As I couldn't get any closer without actually going outside, I took the photo through the window, hence the glare, but it's ok. I wonder whether they will stay or be moved on by their parents?

A MOST ENJOYABLE CRAFTY FEW DAYS

If you ever get the chance to go to Weston Park near Telford, then you will enjoy the experience if only for the gorgeous park land. This was our second trip to the model aircraft show and it was the best.

I'm not really in to model flying, although we also go to the Woodvale show which is near Formby on Merseyside. That show is also for families, not just flying enthusiasts, although some would argue that Weston is a family show too, but there's nothing there for me. The craft tent covers things like, homemade biscuits and wooden plaques, but no paper craft. Having moaned a bit about that, what the few days did allow me was time to make some cards and ATCs without interruption. I had a ball.

As mentioned before, we had excellent web conncection but it kept throwing us out in the middle of doing anything. I could'nt load photos which I could last year. Anyway, never mind, I've put some on here and some on my Flickr. See what you think of the lovely cards thanks to Sugar Nellie.

My hubby has now gone to Beverley to help my (soon to be another year older and best friend) step daughter and Micky install their gorgeous new kitchen. I have a 'to do' list as long as my frozen shoulder arm to keep me going whilst he is away, so doubt I shall get much crafting done - not half!!!!!

Thanks for reading this.

HOME

I really have had fun since last Wednesday. The model aircraft thingy is not my scene so I enjoyed the time crafting away. I made 14ATCs, 2 cards and coloured 10 stamped images. Not bad.

The web connection was brilliant. Really good signal and no problem getting in, but, once in and happily blogging away, it kicked me out!!

Anyway, here is a photo of a couple of ATCs and I'll pop more on my Flickr later.

Thanks for looking.

ALL LOST!

I typed a long note about what I have been doing over the past 2 days and just as I was about to publish it, I lost connection.

I will just include a couple of ATCs that I've made whilst away and leave it at that. Lindsay, I had a go at using water to bleach out distress ink but it did'nt work too well.

Oh well!! I'll try again tomorrow to load the photos because it just isn 't happening tonight.

WE'RE OFF

We're off to Weston Park in the Midlands to a model aircraft show.
As it's going to pour down tomorrow, we have decided to go now and find somewhere en route to stop for a while. I've got loads of crafty bits packed to keep me happy for the next 5 days and if I get a 3G signal down there, I'll blog what's happening.
'Til then.

SUGAR NELLIE

Whilst being unable to do anything too strenuous because of a frozen shoulder, (had an injection this morning!), I have managed to make a few cards using 2 gorgeous rubber stamps from Funky Kits.

I saw these in the June edition of Cardmaking & Papercraft and it was a case of love at first sight - must have those!! Actually, I fell in love with rather more than 2 and have since taken receipt of a further 3! SShh! don't tell.

Anyway, I've popped some pics on Flickr, but here's a couple to whet your appetite.

SUNBATHING

Not had chance to blog lately because the sun came out!!!

Being a rare sight I just had to make the most of it and now have a lovely tan, (got a lot of white bits still though!) I tried to compute outside and despite being in the shade, couldn't see the screen so I gave up.

I've managed to complete my stack of cards for the troops and have made 51 A6 to go abroad and 38 to sell for funds towards our returning injured lads. I'll take them to Dawn's next weekend when I go to Lindsay's workshop.

Having read Leonie's blog about her piece in the Cardmaking & Papercraft magazine, I bought it. However, it led to a bit of a spend becaue I fell in love with Sugar Nellie stamps. Made by Funkykits they are gorgeous. Must have more!! I bought 2, Fragile Beauty and Country Garden and spent some time yesterday simply colouring in the images. I'll pop on a photo of a card I made later in the summer because it's for my lovely step daughter and she will see it before she should if I show it now.

We have had the most amazing time for over 12months now, feeding birds in the garden. The number of different species visiting us is unbelievable. There are 2 pairs of blackbirds coming, both of which appear to be on their 2nd batch of young. Mrs Blackie was also inspired by the sunshine to do a bit of bathing in it!!

WOW! LUCKY ME

I went to a local garden centre yesterday where the lovely Lindsay Mason was demonstrating Sakura pens in their craft shop.

Intrigued as always by her talent, I tried to take in all the techniques she was showing us and made a few notes inbetween. However, I believe in the saying 'don't keep a dog and bark yourself' so I took my hubby along and told him to watch Lindsay carefully and remember everything she was doing!! I will test him later when I try to do some stamping using the pens.

I did however, take some ATCs to swap and Lindsay agreed on 4. Just look at my 'booty'. How lucky am I to have such gorgeous cards. Not only do I have 4 fabulous swapping buddies but I'm also building quite a collection from the experts too.