So Proud of my Niece

My youngest niece, Samantha is off to the USA next week to start a 4 year college course in Soccer. She is 18 and football mad just like my sister. She plays football for York Ladies and decided a couple of years ago that she would like to go and study in the States. She applied for a scholarship and passed the exams.

She is really looking forward to it but obviously nervous. She is quite close to my sister as she is the only daughter with 2 older brothers. My sister is very proud of her as we all are but she is going to miss her.

My sister and brother in law are going over with her next week for a fortnights holiday and then coming home, leaving Sam there as the academic year starts in August. She will be home for Christmas.

Here is the card that I have made her. The image was a sticker which was matted onto a nestie. The papers, ribbon and gems are all from my stash. The greeting is from craftwork cards.

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Nice Surprise

There I was last night getting dinner ready and hubby came in the kitchen and said 'There is something that you need to see in the lounge'. 'I'm busy' I replied. 'You need to see it' he said. So throwing the tea towel down I go into the lounge and there in the middle of the floor in his bouncy chair was Leon!!

What a great surprise it was as I haven't seen him for a few weeks and was missing him.

So nanny and Leon had lots of hugs and kisses. He has grown so much and I can't believe he is 1o weeks old now.

Here are a few pictures that I took. He's gorgeous but then I am a little bias!!!! :-)

Here's Nanny & Leon

Granddad and Leon

My Little man (he looks so much like his Daddy here)

This is Uncle Dan changing hos first nappy!! It was a clean one too so goodness knows what he would have been like if it had been a messy one!!!

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Ordered Cards

Went to weight watchers last night for my weigh in. I stayed the same which I was pleased with as it was my friends son's birthday and they had a BBQ. Although I didn't each much of the BBQ stuff I did have a couple of sausages and a whole bowl of chipsticks!! mmmmmm!! I also had a couple of small bits of chocolate cake.....so staying the same was good!!!

A work colleague of hubby's asked me a few weeks ago if I would make him a birthday card for his dad. He sent me a couple of pictures of his dad as a child and asked if I could use them on the card. Well this is what I came up with. The papers are all from my stash. I have matted the picture and greeting on Spellbinders nesties. The greeting is computer generated and I have inked it using and ink pad. Buttons I found in my stash and just used some cord through them.

I sent him a picture of it and he was so pleased with it he asked me to do him a card for hos wife's birthday. Remit was flowers, roses and diamonds!! This is the finished result.

The image is a 3d Forever Friends bear which has been matted on nesties labels. Papers are from the Forever Friends Summertime double sided pad. Flowers are from stash as is the gems.

The greeting is computer generated. He loved this one too!! So success all round!

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Last Card from Doncaster & New Bathroom

Well today so far has been a bit manic.

Decided that my conservatory needed a good clean. The roof has been leaking and we are waiting for it to be fixed so have been neglecting it a bit. Took me a bit longer than anticipated but now all the dead spiders, flies, dust and dirt has all gone!!!

Then had a pile of ironing to do so that was done and then I was able to finish off a couple of cards that I had started but they will be shown in another post.

Right here is the last card made in at the Workshop at Doncaster and I have to say my favourite. It's a twisted easel card. The flowers were die cut and are double sided and I just had to go and my them. They are from My Craft Studio and are lovely. I will definitely be making this one again.

As you I have been having my shower room done and it is all but finished now. I had to go a week without a shower, had baths instead but I do love my shower in the morning. Well here are the pics of the finished room. I thought I had some pics of the old one but I can't find them. The old shower room had blue tiles, a square shower cubicle, loo and a tiny corner sink. The flooring was vinyl.

The shower cubicle is curved and the shower head is one of the raindrop ones and has a handheld attachment with it.

The sink is bigger than the old one and has a vanity unit underneath with cool self closing doors

My lovely new shiny shower cubicle doors

My new toilet and my new heated towel rail.

You can just see the floor which is laminated flooring and my beautiful tiles. Most of the bathroom apart from the flooring and the loo roll holder all came from e-bay! All I need to get now is the blind for the window.

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100 Followers Giveaway - Scrappin for Kenzie.

Michelle here on Scrappin for Kenzie is giving away loads of stuff on her site if she can get 100 followers.

Pop over to her blog to have a look.

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Sunday Sunday

Well today wasn't as strange as yesterday but still not normal, lol. I definitely think that it is because we have been having the work done. I glad to say that it is all completed now apart from a bit of dressing up. Still need to get a new door and blind, but it looks lovely and I am really pleased with it. Once i have downloaded the pics I will post them on here. Whilst the work was being done I was up in my craft room. I was doing a card for my niece as she is going away to study in the US at the beginning of August. There is a tale to the card but I will enlighten you on that in another post.

Right onto the first card done in the afternoon session of the Summer Crafting workshop. Here it is and I really like it... When we were shown it, I gasp as it looked quite complicated but in the end I really enjoyed making it.

It was done in sections with the wrap being done first. The pin wheel was made and secured with another home made button.

A pocket was made inside, which you can't really see in the picture. I think this card would make an ideal wedding card or gift card to put vouchers or money in.

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Strange Saturday!

Well it felt like it. Can't put my finger on it but just strange. Maybe it's the work we are having done... Oh well never mind. Had a good day though, finished a card for an order and the gent was very pleased with it and asked if I could make his wife a birthday card.

In the afternoon I sat and watched the 25th Anniversary performance of Les Misarables. It is one of my favourite shows, the music is amazing and I am off to see it in London next Saturday. The last time I saw it was back in 2000 so long overdue for another visit!

Late afternoon I went round my friends as her son was having a barbie for his birthday. Luckily the weather stayed dry.

Right back to the cards. Here is the second card we made on the morning of the workshop at Doncaster. Lots of elements to this one and paper folding. We also got to use the button maker that we had in our goody bags. May use some of the elements again but probably not all together.

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Lazy day

Hubby surprised me this morning by telling me that he had the day off. I had to go into town to the bank so he came with me and we had a nice couple of hours shopping, getting some stuff for the new bathroom and for the garden.

This afternoon I had a bit of ironing to do and unpack my food shopping when it arrived! Some of it was missing though, my fault not Tescos! I have a tendency to click on items but forget to add to basket...opps! Still after it had been put away I sat down and chilled. Should have really been finishing a card for an order but hey ho!!!!

Right lets get to the cards I made at the workshop last weekend at the Summer Crafting Show. This card was the first of the day and my least favourite. We received all the bits that we needed for the card in our goody bags. The backing paper is from the big pad that we were given. The birdcage image is on acetate and dangles if you know what I mean. I'm not into the birdcages but I enjoyed doing the decoration on the side.

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Another male card

Here is another card that I have made for my male collection. The papers and image I borrowed from a blog that I follow here who got the papers from here.

I had all the stuff in front of me but found it very difficult to put it together... Eventually I cam up with this. Backing card is from my stash, greeting is from Craftwork cards again ( I do love those greetings). I have used the Stampin Up scalloped edge punch to the bottom of the card and the backing paper. All other elements are from the download kit.

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My new drive, path and patio

A couple of weeks ago we had our drive, path and back patio done as the old one was pretty horrible as you can see from the before pics.

The guy who did it did a leaflet drop and we weren't really interested but then he did next doors and it looked really nice. While he was doing next door I asked him for a quote and it was quite reasonable quote so we went ahead with it. I am really pleased with it and it looks so much better.

Before pics.

The back patio

The side path

The driveway (with Nellie )

The side path out front

After pics

The side path

The side path at the front

The driveway (minus Nellie)

The back patio

There still needs to be a little more work to be done to the front garden but as you can see it looks so much better.

We are having our shower room redone at the moment so I will show you pics when that is finished.

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Where's the Summer??

Well?? Does anyone know who has stolen the Summer. Hope it get's found quick cause I hate this rainy weather.

Yesterday was weigh in day. I wasn't holding out much hope of loosing anything due to what I had eaten over the weekend at Doncaster but off I went and I am pleased to announce that I lost a 1lb. That's 17lbs I have lost in total now and am really pleased.

Due to me being away since Thursday and then having the shower room done I haven't been making any cards recently (well at home anyway). So here is a card that I made last week. One of the many male ones I have to do. I found these 3d stickers in a drawer in my craft room when I was looking for something else. The backing paper I have used was from my stash. The greeting is from Craftwork cards. I chalked it to go with the colours of the stickers.

Have been to the dentist this afternoon to have the 2nd lot of treatment for my root canal. I must say that although it didn't hurt, my teeth are now aching. They are still numb but are aching. My next appointment isn't until 24th August as the dentist is away on holiday!!

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Summer Crafting - Doncaster July 2011

Last weekend Pam and I took a trip up to Doncaster to the Summer Crafting show. We left on Thursday and had a leisurely drive up there. We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express that is just off the M18 and it was great. Very good value also.

On the Friday we were booked in for the workshop day with Stephanie and Nancy from Create & Craft. The day was manic and very busy (220 people there including a couple of men!!) but we still managed to complete 8 projects (4 embellishments and 4 cards). I will put these on the blog once I have photographed them. We got a goody bag that was supposed to be worth over £100 and it was. We had the craft equipment in there that we would need for the day. We were all given a 360 page 12 x 12 paper book from K & Co worth probably between £20 - £30 with some beautiful papers in. We used a few for the projects during the day but there was still plenty left over.

On the Saturday we had a lazy morning (after last year there was no way we were going to the show at the start!! It was just too busy). We had a late breakfast and then we went to the Lakeside Outlet for a bit of retail therapy. Well it would have been rude not to as it was on our way! They have a M & S outlet store that has some lovely stuff in it at huge reduced prices. We don't have anything like that down our way here. It was here that I bagged (excuse the pun!) my bargain. I was looking for another navy blue handbag as the one I have was broken. Well we went into Domo and had a look around as they were having a sale. Well the whole outlet had a sale on. Having a look around I found this stunner. Real leather. Original Price was £80 (OMG!!!!!) reduced to £56. I didn't pay that though......I got it for £25 :-).

We then went into a couple of clothes stores and came out. Had some lovely stuff in them but not what we were looking for at the time. They have a Next Outlet which we walked into and then out again as it resembled a bit of a jumble Sale.

We had a cuppa and then made our way to the show. It was about 1ish now. We saw lots of people leaving so we hoped it would have been less busy. It wasn't at the at that time but by about 3ish it had calmed down and we were able to get round to all the stalls. We saw a few people that we knew from the Crafters reunited forum. We went and found Toni who was demonstrating on the Imag-e-nation stand and rescued her for an hour to have a wonder around and then a drink.

Now my purchases! Well I have to say that I am ashamed of myself. Seeing as this is the first craft show Pam and I have been too since Doncaster next year, the picture below is all that I bought! Very poor show and when I added up how much I had spent I was gob smacked. I have never spent so little at a show.

Although we did go back to the show on Sunday Morning for about 1/2 hour and I did purchase a scor pal mat and another set of stamps that are not on the picture, it's still a poor show for me.

Still have to have a troll through the internet now :-)

We did have some nice meals out over the weekend as well. Especially at the pub that was just across the car park from the hotel. It's called the Woodfield Farm. The food was excellent and the desserts are to die for. Excellent value also. The other 2 nights we ate at the Beefeater at Lakeside. Both excellent meals.

A very enjoyable weekend had.

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Superman

It's my friend's son's birthday next week. He has been going through a bad time at the moment due to being beaten up and left for dead a few years ago and suffered a fractured skull. Anyway he is a big fan of Superman (he'll be 27 next week!!). I went onto the website 'face in a hole' and mocked up this picture with Dean's face on it. Then printed it off, matted onto card from my stash. The backing paper is also from my stash. Added some buttons with thin ribbon, the greeting from Craftwork cards again layered on to card cut with Stampin Up scalloped oval punch. I hope that he likes it!

Well I said goodbye to my house guest this evening. Due to me going away Nellie had to go back today. She has been so good and I will really miss her. This is the pose that she used to give when you first got in. She normally has her paws up like she was under arrest :-). Thought I would share it with you.

I have scheduled this post so by the time you read this I will be on my way with Pam up to Doncaster for the Summer Crafting 2011 event. We are having a lazy drive up there tomorrow in Pam's new car, workshops all day Friday then the craft show on Saturday and then home on Sunday.

I will let you know how it goes when I get back.

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Another day goes by...

and another weigh in last night. I lost 1.5lbs which I am really pleased about. Just got to keep it up. Need more walking...

Made another card to show you. This one is for my brother in law. It is the first of many male cards I have to make for July and August. The image is decoupage and I think it comes fro La Pashe. The backing paper comes from 'Men rule the World' paper pack. card and gems are from stash. Greeting from Craftwork Cards. I have done faux stitching round the backing card using a fine nib pen.

As you are aware I am having treatment on my tooth, well root canal treatment. 'Ouch!!' Well I've had one appointment and need at least another 2. Well yesterday it decided to play up. Not been too bad today but am away for the weekend so I'm hoping ot will be ok. Next appointment is Wednesday. I will be taking plenty of painkillers with me..

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Time flies..

Where has the time gone since I last posted. It's going so quickly. Haven't been up to much. Nellie has been keeping me busy. She goes back tomorrow and I am really going to miss her. I have another video of her having a funny 5 minutes in the garden which I will post later.

Yesterday my friend asked me if I had a baby boy card in my stash. The answer was no! So I have made a quickie today. The paper and card are from my stash. The decoupage image I have had for years and it has been made up for years too. I just added some gems and a bow. The sentiment, which you can't really see is a Paula Pascale one. It reads 'a sweet baby had arrived'

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Dog Sitting - Nellie

For the past 2 weeks I have been dog sitting Nellie, my friends dog. She is a lovely dog. Regular readers of my blog will remember I had her for a trial day a few weeks ago.

She is a lovely dog and loves attention. She is a very licky dog which can be annoying sometimes. She is always there with me wherever I go (even to the loo!!)

She goes back next Wednesday and I am pleased that I am going away to Doncaster for the weekend cause I know I am going to miss her.

I have also included a couple of quick videos that I took of her having a funny 5 mins.

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