Too busy to craft!!!

Well i can't believe how busy the last week or so has been, each day has been the same routine.......

7am - get up and start doing VAT returns (shake kids off my leg and feed them junk to let me get on with work.....lol)
2pm - start packing shop orders, go for a shower and get kids ready, check for anymore orders and pack them ready to go to post office for 5pm.
5pm onwards - cook, clean and play with neglected children!!!

Well i'm pleased to say that the worst of it is over now as far as the day job (VAT) is concerned as i have finished all my end of month deadline jobs today *woohoo*.

I will be taking tomorrow off work (both the shop and VAT - still got loads of non payment ones to do) so sorry in advance as no orders will be sent out and also to my boss cause if he tries to ring me i'm not answering................lol. I'm going down to my mums for the day so i don't even have to look at any mess (not in my own house anyway.........lol).

I will also be taking a short while off crafting. Partly because i haven't been spending much quality time with the kids and partly because instead of relaxing me as it used to i'm feeling like i have to do this and i must get that done etc etc. It won't be a long break but a break none the less!!

Did i tell you all i have given up smoking???...........Well i have. I gave up on 19th October and started on the patches and WOW do they have some side effects!! I couldn't sleep and when i did eventually get to sleep the dreaming would wake me (slept 2 hours a night for three nights!!). My arms also felt like a dead weight, indigestion, stomach cramps etc - well by Wednesday of last week i was so fed up and tired that i cracked and had a fag......argh!!!

But the good news is, i found a way to make the patches work for me (just wearing one for a few hours early in the day) but even that wasn't great so since Saturday i have gone without the patches or anything else and i find it so much easier. So things are going well with the NO SMOKING at the moment.

Well for what started out as a short post to say why i haven't blogged has turned into an essay........lol. Oh and before i forget i haven't shown you my card for Sketch Saturday so here it is...................

Just Bex Challenge {Piece by Piece}

Over on Just Bex forum Nikky set us a challenge called piece by piece. We had to use pieces of paper to 'make' our pictures/designs.

Nikky gave a fabulous sample of a paper pieced house, i loved it so much that i decided to use her idea.
Feeling guilty for not coming up with my own idea i decided to make another....................A very simple card but i do like simple.........lol.

Thanks for looking. x

House Mouse Challenge #10

Our challenge this week is :~ Anything But A Card!!

The title says it all really...........lol. With Christmas approaching fast (a bit too fast some would say) it would be the ideal opportunity to create a handmade gift for someone, or maybe for yourself! It's entirely your choice what you make as long as it's not a card and features at least one House Mouse or Friends image. If you wish to make a card to go with your project then that's fine.

I decided to make a book for my little girl to write down the things she would like for Christmas. I only gave it here yesterday and already she is on the second page!!! Not sure it was such a good idea now......lol.

I decided to try out these acrylic covers as i have loved them since i'd first seen them but haven't had the chance to use them!! The cute Happy Hopper is only part of a stamp, i paper pieced the present box and coloured the rest with my copics. It took some time to cut the image out but it kept my hands busy (which is something i need with trying to give up smoking!!). The papers are from the new BasicGrey Wassail range.

Thanks for looking. xxx

Sketch Saturday #21

Wow...........don't the weeks fly by!!!

I was meant to do this post and schedule it but before i remembered or had time Saturday had been and gone!!

I had a great weekend and actually experienced some real life social life..........lol. My BF took me and the children out for lunch on Saturday (okay it was to the pub but we don't get the chance to go out at night so it was nice to socialise with our friends). Friday night was spent uploading the new BG Wassail Christmas range and Saturday Morning (and part of Sunday) was spent packing orders!! There you go..........the weekend came and went in a flash!!!

Okay, back to the subject!! I made this card sometime ago and had to check which one i had to show.................lol.

This card was made as soon as i received this stamp. I can't say i'm to impressed with my efforts but having to ink up a new stamp and all the excitement that goes with it, I just needed to make a card even though my mojo was AWOL!! I'm sure (well hoping.....lol) that we all have moments like this.

The stamp is by Whiff Of Joy, i am loving these stamps and Katharina who owns the company is doing an amazing job at customer services despite how rapidly growing the company is - I know how hard this can be so big claps and hats off to her.

The papers used are from the BasicGrey Boxer collection (a bit of a hit and miss with people but i love this collection - the bold and almost masculine coloured papers stil manage to be feminine aswell!).

Other stash used are: 3D stickers from Hobbycraft (bought these when i first started and have only just used them....lol), black satin ribbon and prima flowers.

Thanks for looking. xxx

Nothing to show!!

I don't very often post on here unless i have something to show but i have been quite busy this week with one thing or another and i haven't had much time for blog hopping or forum posting so thought i'd put a collective hello to all my friends here. xxx

I have managed a bit of crafting but this is for DT work so i'm unable to post it yet!! Least i'm getting ahead of myself these days.......lol.

I have been excited since yesterday as i took the plunge and decided to get myself a franking machine *woohoo*, there will be no more hanging around post office carrying parcels in one arm and a toddler in the other for me.......yeah!! Just the thought of all the hours i'll save each month is a great feeling.

Well i'm going to say goodnight now as i'm hoping to get an early night after a few sleepless ones this week with the kids taking it in turn to have a bug thats been doing the rounds. Hopefully i will feel more human in the morning - that could just be wishful thinking as i'm 'in office' working!!

Night all. xxx

Dt Call

Sassy Crafts require a couple of DT members, please see here for details.

Thanks :-)

Sketch Saturday #20

Here's my DT card for the sketch staurday blog.

I received 2 new stamps from whiff of joy the other week so made this card as soon as i received them..........lol. As you may also tell i am loving this Dream Street Paper and i've used the same couple of sheets for at least 6 cards now!! Such value for money i think............lol.

House Mouse #9 and BasicGrey #6

It's not very often i think of combining a challenge but have managed to kill 2 birds with 1 stone so to speak!! Here is my card for the challenges:

The House Mouse challenge was a sketch challenge which you can view here. The BasiGrey challenge was a colour combo challenge - i went for the green and red/maroon. The BasicGrey papers i used are Dasher (i think, i'm not 100% on it as i only had bits left and the strip with the name had been cut off a while ago!!), they are definitely BG though!!

Stitching, Lace and Flowers........

These are some of my favourite things at the moment. I love this light lime green ribbon and have been itching to use some since i got it. I didn't think i had anything that would go with it but i think red green and brown work quite well together (sounds so wrong though..........lol).

Supplies:
Papers - BasicGrey
Flowers - Prima
Rub-ons - Doodlebug
Ribbons from stock

Sweet Little Donkey

Isn't this Donkey stamp so cute!!

It's from a set of 6 so i'm gonna see if i'll get the chance to play some more over the next couple of days.

Supplies used:
Papers - DCWV Nana's nursery boy & girl
Stamp - alota rubber
Sentiment stamp - Sorry don't remember who this is made by

Recycled Monthly Challenge

Over on Aunty's forum i am a member of the Creating Mayhem team. Each month a team set a challenge and for each project we make for that challenge earns our team points. Here's 2 I've made.

On this card i have cut the center out of a beer mat leaving a frame, covered the frame with patterned paper and voila a nice chunky frame around my image.

The recycled element on this card is the feather bit. This was pulled off the top of ones of the kids pencils (which they don't know about......lol).

You'll have to excuse the shadow on the cards as it was really sunny in my conservatory when i took these and never noticed the shadows at the time!!

Ooops........forgot to post!!

After sussing out how to schedule posts you would think i would start to get myself organised!! I just can't believe how quick the days go and i've been really busy lately sourcing new stock for the shop, sending orders, making cards for DT commitments, family, work etc etc.

I have forgotten to post my DT card for last saturdays sketch saturday challenge, so thought better late than never.........lol.

Supplies used:
Paper - Cosmo Cricket Love Notes
Lace from stash
Prima Flowers
Stamp - Sarah Kay
Metal embellie - Making Memories.

Thanks for stopping by. x

Challenge #8 - Halloween

Over on House Mouse & Friends challenge blog this week the challenge them is Halloween. I don't own any Halloween stamps so i made my card using the traditional Halloween colours for my card.
I really struggled with this one as these are quite strong colours for such cute images. I tried to keep my card quite minimal so it didn't become to over powering. I quite like the finished result but must admit that this one is my third attempt...........lol.

blog Candy Alert!!

Wow, wow and wow............... Michelle over on her blog Stamps, paper, scissors and donkey smiles has some fantastic blog candy up for grabs to celebrate almost 25,000 hits. Here's a picture and a snippet from Michelle's blog:

Yes... I am going to offer up Both of the SWEET LITTLE DONKEYS from Alota Rubber Stamps!!! I am also going to put lots of Ribbon and Flowers in the box so you can embellish these cuties up! The value is sure to be well over $50.00 on this loot! How is that? I am soooo excited to share these Adorable Donkeys!!!!!




For details on how to enter please visit Michelle's blog and while your there don't forget to check out her awesome work. x