SOMETIMES

Following an article on Jo Capper-Sandon's blog about 'Mixed Media', I bought the May issue of Craft Stamper to see her work. This is part 1 of 3 articles she has done and the June issue is out tomorrow - can't wait.

Anyway, I found this other piece on 'connected ATCs'. Actually, I have already tried this when I placed one of the Tim Holtz masks over 4 cards and went from there to produce different cards with the same media.

I enjoyed making these yesterday and will use this technique again.

IT'S OFFICIAL

Yes folks, it's official. I am an OAP!!

Following my 'grand' 60th birthday last December, my (lovely) step daughter (who used to be my best friend), bought me a leather bus pass wallet and searched the internet for the correct application form for my area to enable me to apply for a bus pass. Her dadi (who unfortunately is my husband!) made me fill it in and take it to the council offices. Just because he has had his pass for 3 years he said I should have mine!

Anyway, he made me use it yesterday. We drove to the south of Blackpool, parked up and jumped on a bus to North Pier. I am born and bred in the town but we never go there anymore as it's changed so much and is not very nice just now. However, we wandered around, took some photos of the burnt out wreck which used to be Yates, got asaulted by a drunk before making our way back, also by bus.

I can't remember the last time I went on a bus. It's the waiting for them that gets me so I doubt I shall be repeating this exercise any time soon! P.S. Susi, I still love you. xx

CARDS FOR OUR TROOPS

Please have a look on Dawn Bibby's blog for details on how to support our troops, both here and abroad, through making cards - our favourite hobby.

Dawn has set up a link with the forces, which I believe Rena is going to control, whereby we can send cards to her studio for sale and the proceeds will go support those lads and lasses who have been injured in service.

The other side to our support for the troops abroad is to make cards to send out so they can then send them home to their friends and family. After all, where are the card shops in Afghanistan?

I made Christmas cards last year and honestly they were some of the best cards I've ever made. I was so inspired by what I was doing and why. Just have a go and see what you come up with.

WHILST WATCHING QVC

Whilst watching Dawn on QVC this afternoon, I managed to make another Toby scrapbook page.

These photos were taken in our first motorhome, a Compass Drifter, which we had purchased following a drive out one weekend!!

A nice van but boy! did we have trouble with it. Having said that, we kept it over 4 years before buying our first 6-wheeler, an Autotrail Arapaho. I loved that one and only let it go for some lovely gizmos we saw in the first Kontiki Z. That one was awful and we only kept it 10 months before trading it in - at a massive loss - for our current van, a Hymer 694, another 6-wheeler. All have been bought from new but I would never buy new again. The VAT man has had quite enough from us over the years.

Anyway, whichever motorhome we have had, Toby always found the most comfortable place he could, which was usually either over the cab in the first 3 vans, or in the pull-down bed in the current one. Infact, the Arapaho and Kontiki had cupboards over the cab and we had to leave the doors open so he could cuddle up in the bedding, which we stored there. Only when he couldn't jump up did we have to make a bed up for him elsewhere. He was always comfy and loved every minute of camping.

We went away with friends for the weekend last January and as we have Toby back home with us, he came with us again. We will always take him as long as we still have a van..........

THEY'RE BACK!

The first swallow of 2009.

Summer is on the way at last. I saw the first swallow this morning. He (or she) was chirping away whilst sitting on the telephone wire.

It's such a gorgeous sunny day too. He just made it very special.