Birthday Boy

Yesterday my baby turned 11. I can't believe where the time has gone. He's in in final term of primary school, champing at the bit to start his new school. In fact, on Saturday, we went to a treasure hunt at his new school and he went off with his mates quite happily without a backwards glance. It tugged at my heartstrings, but I'm so pleased that he felt able to go. I'm not looking forward to September though!!

We had a rather full-on weekend of laser party, treasure hunt and football fun day. Edward has had a great time. He is thrilled with his presents - pretty much all cricket equipment with the exception of some Percy Jackson books and the DVD of Avatar. His face says it all!

The above photo shows the card I made - it's of a Kookaburra cricket bat and a cricket ball, designed by my husband no less!!

Hope you are all having a good week - three more days till half term!

M x

New Cards

I've had a few special commissions lately - five of which have been wedding cards (not my favourite type of card to make), but here's my first design. I'm not very traditional with my card designs, I prefer a more contemporary look, so I just went for a white and silver design (although it looks black on the photo). The paper is from a QVC kit by Kanban that I had totally forgotten I had - whoops! I'm really pleased with the card and I will be duplicating it for one of my other wedding orders.

This card is for my neighbour's daughter who will be 2 on Friday. The image is a Hero Arts stamp called Jessica that I have had for years. The paper is from an extreme paper stack by DCWV.

I'm counting down to half term now - 7 more working days. I really need the break and am looking forward to having a rest and having a play with my card making kits.

I have a busy weekend coming up - my youngest child Edward, will be 11 on Monday so I will be making cupcakes for him to take to school. He's having a party on Friday evening - a laser party - got the cake, made the party bags already. Edward will then be visiting his new school on Saturday morning and then it's a weekend of football. Luckily his Dad will take him to football whilst I get on with making his card and wrapping his presents - left it to the last minute as usual!

Have fun.

M x

For my sister

Today is my sister Maria's birthday and wedding anniversary. These are the cards I made for her last weekend.

This first one is the anniversary card. The papers are from a DCWV stack (sorry, can't remember which - I have quite a few!!). The heart design oval is from Craftwork Cards and the scalloped oval is cut with my trusty Cuttlebug and Nestabilities.

The birthday card is all Craftwork Cards products. I love the red and grey combination and the butterflies are so cute. I am such a fan of their products, the quality is first rate.

I hope my sister has had a lovely day, she is suffering from a throat infection at the moment, so I wish her well.

Have fun!

M x

Where did it go??

I'm talking about time. Don't you just love that feeling on a Friday, when the kids get home from school and you and your other half get home from work and the whole weekend stretches in front of you full of promise. The before you know it, it's Sunday night again and a whole week of lunchboxes, timetables, routine and tiredness is upon you.

I know I shouldn't be counting, but it is 10 more get-ups til half term (not counting the weekend). My sister told me that just a while ago, so I guess she really is counting.

Since we started our decorating at Easter our weekends have been about finishing things off and putting stuff away, which then had to be moved again for the new radiators this week. I feel like I am going round in circles!

But I am pleased to report that all the decorating IS finished so I can finally get straight. I have to have it done by the Sunday of the Bank Holiday weekend when we will be having a family get together to celebrate Edward's 11th birthday - so no pressure!!

I did get a chance to make a couple of cards which are almost finished - I'll post them later this week.

Have a really great week and hope the time flies!!!

M x

Life is good today

After seven long weeks of no central heating, it has finally been fixed (new boiler, radiators and water tank - ouch!). The joy of waking to warmth and blistering hot water is indescribable. The cold I have felt over the the last seven weeks took me back to my childhood where the only heating we had was a coal fire downstairs and a paraffin heater in the bathroom - it was a very old house (I'm only 41!!).

So today, the sun is shining, the washing is out, my winter pyjamas are going to be washed and put away until the end of the year and now starts the long task of putting the house back together.

Have a good weekend everyone.

M x

My Poor Sophie!

Since we laid our wooden floor at Easter, my poor cat Sophie has not been happy. She's 17 now and doesn't want to curl her bony old body on the hard floor. The situation is not helped by the fact that she isn't allowed on our new sofas, so she is taking every opportunity to find something cosy to lay on! Last night was the first time I have had my hexagonal blanket out for weeks and she made a bee-line for it straightaway!

M x

New Cards

I have made four new cards this weekend but I can only show you two at the moment. I don't want to spoil the surprise of the recipient of the other two. Will post those after the 17th.

For this first card I used some new paper from My Minds Eye (think it's called Quite Contrary). The owl oval is from Craftwork Cards. I love all things "owl" at the moment - so cute.


This second card is a good luck card for my son Edward who will be sitting his SATs tomorrow (not the 2010 ones as our school are boycotting them - but a previous year's papers so that they can get a level). I'm sure he will be fine - he likes taking tests! The papers are by DCWV.

We've had a quiet weekend. We went to a school quiz night on Friday which was good fun. We came second - by one point!

Still unpacking boxes and finding homes for things, but as we are hopefully having the heating fixed on Wednesday (it's been a LONG seven weeks without it), there is no point putting everything away if I have to move it so that the plumber can get to the radiators. Well that's my excuse anyway!

Have a good week.

M x

Regular posting

Apologies - a quick moan! I've been finding it very difficult to post regularly at the moment. I haven't felt that I have had anything that interesting to share. I don't mean to sound all doom and gloom, but you know what it is like when everyday life just gets in the way. I am in awe of those who are able to post everyday, but during term time, whilst I'm working, I just can't keep it going. So please dear followers, bear with me!

That said, I did manage to get some cards made on BH Monday. The fist one is for a friend's daughter. I have used my Cuttlebug to emboss the pink panel (Swiss Dots) and the oval scallop is one of the Nestabilities (I am so in love with these - beats craft punches any day!!). Oh and my lovely Martha Stewart glitters on the numbers.

This second card is for another friend's daughter - the papers are Tiffany by We R Memory Keepers, Nestabilities oval scallop again and Papermania rub-ons.

I hope everyone had a lovely BH weekend, despite the lovely weather! Ours, whilst not very interesting, was very productive. We had a lovely time with my nephew for his 16th birthday, even if he didn't like the fuss. Did have a little detour on the journey up - simply couldn't resist a little visit to Paperchase - we don't have one close by.

We spent Sunday and Monday turfing out the under stairs cupboard - my goodness what a lot of rubbish was in there - I filled two black sacks. My lovely husband laid the leftover flooring in it, painted the walls with the Duck Egg paint of our living room, then put up some shelves - he is so clever. And the shelves, well most of them are for my crafting stash that had been stacked in the dining room - what a result!!

On that happy note, I'll say cheerio. Have a good day. Until the next time.

M x

Sixteen

On Thursday it was my nephew Adam's 16th birthday and today we are off to see him to help him celebrate. For me, I can't believe he is 16 - where have the years gone?!. He was the first of the grandchildren and we nearly lost him the night after he was born, so to see this tall lanky lad turning 16 is fantastic. Happy birthday!

Have a great Bank Holiday weekend everyone.

M x