Ta-dah!!

My Amazing Technicolour Dream Blanket is finished! I can't believe that I have finally done it. I know I have only been making it since November, so really that is no time at all, but I did despair of ever finishing it - particularly as the border was so boring to do

I don't have lots of measurements and amounts of yarn used, cost etc. All I know is that it stretches across a double sized bed and almost touches the floor on both sides.

I was undecided about the border for so long. I'm still not completely happy with it but I'm not changing it now! I think with the benefit of hindsight I would have done two rows of cream first, then the four rows of navy, but never mind, it looks OK.

I've timed the finish well to coincide with the start of summer, but as the weather is typically British at the moment, perhaps we will need it on the bed for a few more weeks yet.

And Chloe was the first to try it out. Since we have had her, she has spent a lot of time curled up on the blanket, on my feet as I have been crocheting (oh, and a lot of time chewing wool too!).

So on to the next project. Well really it's to finish one of my works-in-progress - the blanket I started making for Emily's bed. That one will seem really small and light after this monster. And then at some point I MUST get back to the hexagons!

Two posts in one day - how amazing. You can tell I am not at work this week, wouldn't normally have the time or the energy.

See you

M x

Happy 12th Birthday Edward (for yesterday)

This is the card I made for my son who was 12 yesterday. It's not terribly exciting unless you are into Nerf guns which Edward seriously is.

Mark found me 16 different images from the internet. Each of the squares measure 4cm, and they are mounted on black card and then again on a large square white card (8" square). Didn't test my card making abilities that much but Edward was thrilled.

He had a lovely birthday, with a few presents and cards in the morning. Then off to school. This is the first year I haven't made chocolate cakes for one of my kids to take to school on their birthday, it felt really odd. After school he had more presents and the rest of his cards and then we went to Pizza Express for tea, with my parents as well. We had a lovely time. Chloe couldn't understand what all the fuss was about though, but she did try and help him open one of his presents.

She's actually in my bad books today, as she has chewed one of the keys off my laptop keyboard. Hope I don't need to "page down" again! I'll post more photos of her soon, although she doesn't sit still long enough for us to get good photos!

I must go and see what havoc she is wreaking as I type - it's suspiciously quiet!!!

M x

Another day another card!

Can I keep this up I wonder? Probably not!

I made this card for my neighbour's daughter who was three on Saturday. All the products are by Craftwork Cards except the ribbon which I have had for ages. The range of paper is called Sorbet Scoop, and the elephant is a die cut from the range. I love using my Fiskars border punches, they are so useful, I wonder how I managed before.

Hope you have a great day.

M x

Freebies

Here is a card I made using paper that was a free gift with a scrapbooking magazine, and the stamp was also free with a card making magazine. Normally I'm not that keen on the free gifts that magazines tempt us with, but both these caught my eye. Of course, the magazines themselves are ones that I always buy, so I wasn't lured by the free gift alone!

The stamped image is coloured in with my trusty Promarkers. The little green circles are Candi by Craftwork Cards - really like their new range of printed Candi - these have little flowers on them. I cut the circles using my Cuttlebug and Nestabilities, and the scalloped border was done with a Fiskars border punch. Oh, and a little bit of glitter glue here and there! A very quick and simple card to make. Hope you like it.

Hope you are having a restful day.

M x

Hey bloggers, it's been a while (again!!)

Life has been a bit crap to say the least, in the Frecklepuss household for quite a while. I haven't really had much to say, well nothing that isn't doom and gloom. I have been toying with the idea of giving up blogging - it's hard to pretend that all is rosy in my life when it really isn't. But I realised that I would miss all your lovely comments and the feeling of community out there. So if I may, I will carry on for a while.

I have a couple of cards to share with you, they are the final batch that I made using left over cardstock from Crate Paper. All embellishments are from Craftwork Cards.

The second card was based on a design by Julie Hickey of Craftwork Cards (her work is marvellous - you should check it out). The petals were cut from a template (by CC of course), and edged with Stardust glitter glue.

Thanks for listening. Hope you are having a good weekend.

M x

PS - you can also find me on Facebook - Michelle Pratt (Frecklepuss)

Grrrr!!

Haven't been around much recently as life and no internet have got in the way!

We've had no internet connection for quite a few days now and it's getting pretty tedious. It's only when you don't have it, do you realise how much you rely on it! (If you are wondering how I'm posting now, well don't tell anyone, but I've jumped on my neighbours unsecured connection!!). It's Edward's birthday soon and I've been worried about how to order his presents (all from Amazon and Play), we haven't been able to sort pet insurance out until today, pay bills etc!

This morning, Edward departed for a week's stay in Bude at an activity centre, as his Year 7 trip. He was so excited and not at all worried. I've spent the last few days gathering together all his bits and pieces to pack, with a niggling doubt that I had forgotten something - still can't think what it is, and it's too late now as he'll have probably arrived by now! It's the lack of contact that I don't like - no phone call to say they have arrived safely. I'm not used to being out of contact with my children being somewhat of a control freak, or over protective mum.

I'm woefully behind with all the cards I need to make for May, and haven't picked up a crochet hook for a few weeks. The puppy is keeping us busy though. Whilst she is adorable, her feet are well and truly under the table! She has her moments of naughtiness, has discovered the stairs, and has realised that she likes to bite things! At least we only have to get up once in the night to her, and the puddles in the dining room seemed to have stopped too!

Anyway, sorry to be all gloom and doom, but sometimes you just need to get things off your chest!

Hope the week and weekend have been good for you. Have a great week, I've got a busy one, Year 6 SATs!

M x

New Cards

Here are a couple of cards that I made recently. The base cards are cream although they look white in the photo. They are from Craftwork Cards - Back to Basics range, good quality, good value.

The paper is old stock, had it for ages and am trying to use it up. Its the Birdie Collection from Crate Paper. I love the soft colours and they really suit a little bit of sparkle, either with some Stardust glitter glue or a sparkle Sakura Gelly Roll pen - my two favourites.


The circle messages are also from Craftwork Cards and I used my Cuttlebug to cut the coloured circles and the scalloped circles.


I still have enough paper to make a few more cards which I hope to finish and post soon.


Can't believe we have had our little Chloe for over a week. She's a real sweetie, but can be quite naughty. It's really hard being cross with her when she looks at you in a sad way. Night times are still a challenge, but we'll get there in the end (I hope!). I'm really looking forward to the time when we can take her for a walk - four weeks to go!



Hope you all had a brilliant weekend.



M x