Helloo...........Ok, I have three more 52Q's to catch up on and then I'm up to date. I'm quite pleased with myself for keeping up with them, even though it has been difficult at times trying to fit some crafting in to my little 'time share' LOL!!

So, here are my two recent tags......................first, "What is my latest Obsession?" Mmmmmm, all I can say is YUM!! LOL!

Secondly, "If I had a free day to do anything, what would I do?"

I used some very old plain coloured card for these two tags. For the latest obsession qu, I used plain thick brown card and punched a few circles using my 1" circle (never? lol) punch. I then added some glossy accents in 2 separate shifts and used these as my pretend choccie buttons. Quite an clever idea for me as I'm hopeless with ideas normally, LOL.

I also noticed, after making the pink tag, that I said I would go to our nearest beach, but I haven't painted any water/sea, nuffink resembling the beach/sea at all, lol, but nevermind, it's in my mind, so that's all that matters..... ha ha LOL!! Plus, the white pen would not write very well on the pink card, though I did persevere, but it didn't come out very bold at all, hope it's legible. :)

Anyway, that's it for now, I hope you like my creations and thank you for popping along. XX

I seemed to have slipped by the wayside again, lol. Nevermind, I'm back now. I've been able to catch up with a few little projects, but time just isn't on my side lately and I feel I'm constantly battling between work, family life and ME time.

Anyway, I guess that's the way life goes for most of us, it's just how we use our time is the important thing.

So, I've managed to catch up on my 52Q's, I believe I have maybe 2 or 3 (that's including this weekend to complete). I've tried not to faff about too much with them but just feel relaxed about the way I do them instead.

I've also made a birthday card using a very cute little stamp and received my inchies back from the May swap. I have yet to photograph the remainder of the set, so will upload those soon.

Here's one of my 52Q's........

Birthday card..........

May Inchies - The swap was hosted by a lovely member of Bubbly Funk, called Suzie. She was a super host. The theme was black and white, with a hint of red.

I will upload some more photos tomorrow sometime. Thanks lovely peeps for taking a look. XX

Haven't we been so lucky with the beautiful weather over the past few days? I have to say though that it is a bit too hot for me, so hopefully the next few days are going to be a bit cooler. I'm already beginning to look like a candy stick, lol.

Anyway, I've managed to catch up with 3 of my 52Q's. With quite a few things to catch up on, I didn't know what to start first, lol, but I guess I'll get there in the end.

I've managed to catch up on What makes me ME?, What is the Truth? and What is on your to do list today?

Apologies for the first one on the reverse of the card as I missed off the 's' on 'makes', when I read the title to myself, 'I tounded a bid like hiss', like I had a 'bocked dose' LOL!! Silly me.

Next is What is the Truth, probably not in the right order, but hey ho.

Third one is What is on your to do list today? I used the note paper that I had actually wrote my list on, so thought that would be a good idea. Not happy at all with this one, very plain, very boring. I just ripped it a little bit and even left my doodleys on it, as you do, when making a list, (well, I do hee hee).

I've got a set of triangular ATC's completed and ready to post onto Carol who kindly hosted the swap for us on Bubbly Funk, so will pop a piccy on later this week.

That's it for now, I have a couple of other things that I'm working and planning to work on, so hopefully I can show and tell (ha ha) those soon.

As always, thank you for popping by and leaving a comment. XX

Return from the Bubblies Retreat!!

Yes indeed, a week has gone by since I arrived home from my first ever crafting weekend retreat .

Did I have a nice time.....? YES, I had a cracking time, despite being homesick for nearly 3 days LOL!! I was only an hour and three quarters away from home, but nevertheless, I felt dreadfully homesick from the moment I arrived, (Friday 4pmish), up until early Sunday afternoon. Silly really, but I've never been away from home for that long before without Simon and Martyn.

I met some of the lovely bubblies a few times before, but there were a few new bubblies that we had not met, so it was a real pleasure to meet them IRL. Everyone was lovely, everyone made it as cosy and as fun as possible and despite it being a new thing for most of us, everyone seemed to get along nicely and share their stash, ideas and their laughter. It was lovely and despite myself being quiet, I enjoyed myself and it was just lovely and relaxing crafting for most of each day, without having to worry about little ones asking when lunch or tea is ready, or what are you doing now Mum.....LOL.

Our group piccy...................

We had our own chefs on board hee hee, a few of the girls did the cooking and made sure we had a lovely evening meal each night. Think I will hire these for special occasions lol.

Roll on Retreat 2010!!

Here's a few pics of the weekend.................

This is TraceyR's monkee that she won in the raffle. I think he's doing a grand job holding Tracey's retreat planner............don't you? (hee hee).

My creations and tags from each of the bubblies ready to go into my Retreat Planner, (when it's made). Hopefully before May 2010, LOL!!


Aside from the main group pic that we had taken, this one has to be the next best one. It's just simply lovely, and as TraceyR said, it kind of represents our friendship. "Sniff Sniff" LOL.

I haven't taken close up piccies of the things we made yet, so will do that later this week and upload them.

What have I done this weekend.....? Well, not an awful lot really. Have had the continuation of my headache from the retreat weekend, which carried on last week and a bit of this weekend too. I feel it's because I am just over tired, so have tried to rest when I can, but it's not always convenient to do that.

Yesterday, I unpacked my stash from last weekend. What a chore eh lol? Anyway, most of it is done now, so this afternoon I managed to spend an hour and a bit making a very belated birthday card. I managed to finish it after tea and take a piccy before the light faded and just in time before my camera batteries when flat.

So I'm back to work tomorrow :-(( but Simon and Martyn are off all week, lucky things. Hope to be back later this week with the creations from the retreat.

Ooh, nearly forgot......................Karen taught us how to crochet. Well, she tried her darned hardest, aimed with loads and loads of patience too. I think I had my hand up more than anyone else saying.......Karen, Karen, I'm stuck LOL, and this was just after she showed me what to do, as soon as she walked off to go to Tracey, I'd forgotten, then tried to see what Tracey was doing, try it on mine and hope for the best, LOL!! Anyway, I've resorted to ordering a crochet book, so at least I will have something to refer to and work from, hopeless with something new until it 'clicks', then it's the best thing ever, lol.

Bye for now and thanks for popping along and reading my blog. XX

For Today...

Outside my window........for once, I'm at home and it's the weekend...........so at the moment as I look outside my lounge window, my son has just gone outside and I think he's going to wait for his pals in our garden....

From the learning rooms........More Psychology :-)

I am thankful for.........managing to have the energy and 'mental' strength all day yesterday, to prepare my things for the Bubblies Retreat next weekend.

From the kitchen..........Not long finished eating some peppered ham and salad wraps for tea.

I am wearing.........pale pink cropped linen trousers, with tee shirt and fake crocs LOL (I use them as slippers LOL!!)

I am reading...............Started to read No Second Chance by Harlan Coben. I really do love his novels, I think he has to be my favourite to date........could all change mind LOL.

I am hoping..........I have 1 hour's lunch and usually come home in the car. Though I've decided to see how long it will take for me to walk home for my lunch. So tomorrow I would like to be able to walk home for lunch, within 10-15 minutes, eat my lunch and then hopefully leave 1.45 and be back at work for just before 2pm. Can I do it.....? I hope to walk to work in the morning too, walk home for lunch and back to work, then walk home when I finish for the day.

I am creating.........well, I've just finished my pages in Karen's CJ and have not planned anything else until after I return from the retreat.

I am praying.........for my Mum's health and for her to be seen by a specialist very soon. I'm also praying for a friend, whose Mum has been given very sad news about her health. I pray my friend will be strong for her Mum.

Around the house...........quietness, with the wonderful sound from the birds outside in the back garden.......

One of my favorite things.........When our son comes into our bedroom and flounces on the bed, together with Ozzy our dog and we chatter, chatter and have a giggle, before Martyn goes to bed.

A few plans for the rest of the week..........Take Hubby's car in for a new clutch tomorrow.......prepare my clothes and last minute check up of my list for the retreat.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you......

This is Ozzy grabbing the sunshine patch on our landing. It was slowly fading away though whilst he was sat there. He tried to squeeze right up to the wall after this, thinking that's where the sun was going too.............aww, bless his bum, he's soooo daft, LOL!!

Sorry that I don't have anything creative to show you, I still haven't caught up with the 52Q's.....yikes LOL, so I will do those after next week. The retreat has been on my mind a lot over the past couple of months, of which I'm really looking forward to meeting up with everyone, but it's also a long weekend away from my family, something that I hardly, well, maybe once in a blue moon, every do. I shall return to said blog LOL, with photos and crafty makes next week. (I may be back on during the week though, LOL). XX

Hellooooo............I should be creating and ticking off what's on my 'to' do' list, but just can't get into the swing of it yet, so I started a card on the weekend, not for any particular reason, (the one that took my hours lol), and finished it earlier tonight, as I had half hour free ME time, ha ha. I stamped the background with the little flower stamps, cut out the middle section, then used it again to matt and layer the other cardstock. It's not for anyone really, just here in case it is needed one day.............



Materials used:-


Inks - Versacube in Boysenberry and Lime
Kaleidacolor in Desert Heat
Bazzill cardstock - Monochromatic in Velvet
Bazzill Orange from the Bling trio (spoiled brat, 24 karat)
Bazzill Limeade
Labels 1 dies
Valencia ribbon
Misc button
Stamps - Denami Design (think they were the hawaii set from Stamp Addicts)

Size of card is approx 5.5" x 5.5"


I also made up a few meals on the weekend, just to save the toil of doing it straight away when I get in from work. I envy the fact that when I wasn't working, I was able to collect my son from school, then start on the tea and it would all be ready for around 5.15 when Simon came in from work. Everything just seems to be rush, rush, rush nowadays and the time goes soo quickly. Nevermind though, I guess it's the way things go...........

So I made corned beef hash. I know there are various ways of making this, but it was lovely and we ate it for tea yesterday and today. Used a large casserole dish, and whereas normally the meal would be divided into 3, I divided it into 6 lol. It was ample served with vegetables and the other half lasted for another 3 meals. I think we all have to economise and try not to eat too much, what with the recession etc, but it's not going to stop me from having an indian on the weekend, LOL, LOL!!!!

I seem to have moments when I will bake (cakes) on the weekend, then do nothing for weeks, then start back on it again. Think it's the satisfaction of knowing we can eat it at the end, lol.

Anyway, on that note, thanks for looking and see you soon. XX

Helloooo.......It's been a not so sunny Sunday unfortunately, so after a bit of a lay in, (unheard of for a very long time lol), we all got up around 10-15!! I know I certainly needed the extra few hours, ha ha.

I started to think about the last two week's worth of 52Q's, but just didn't get any further than that. I know by now, that this week's will have been announced, so that makes me three weeks behind, nevermind though. I'm going to plan this week, what I need to do for them.

So, I started to make a card, about 2.30 of which I still haven't finished as I didn't really have any particular plan/design to start with, so I took a fair while. I think I left it about 5pm, (I know, I can hear you saying OMG lol) and thought I'd try again next week, if I get the time. I always say walk away and go back to it later on. Doesn't always work for me though, lol.

I did finish off a card I was making for a colleague in work, who did me a very kind deed, so it's basically a 'Thank You' card for her.


Materials:

Hero Arts - Dahlia Blossom stamp
Hero Arts - 'Thank You' Tag stamp
Bazzill Bubblegum cardstock, punched at 2 sides using the Fiskars Threading water punch
Misc - wooden flower (I think though it may have been from Mad About Cards, years ago)
Misc pink mini safety pin
Ribbon - Valencia
Inks - Color Box (Petal Point) Arboretum in Magenta
Marvy Matchables in Orange

I've also popped a couple of pics on of the recent swap I took part in on Bubbly Funk for April. The theme was to have a white background with an image of a bird on it. Need to get started on May's now, lol.

Names in no particular order (LOL!!):-

Hazel, Tracy, Leigh, Nicky S (MHK)

Suzie, TraceyR, Hazel, Karen

Ali, Beth (ME), Nicky S, Paddy

Janice, Carol, Joanne, Gez

Materials used for my bird inchie were:-

Hero Arts Sketched Birds Set - LL1195

Bird - Dove C4691

Inks - Mary-Dee Grueing Blending Blox - Shades of Turquoise on Glossy card

I did another bird for a second set, but have forgotten to photo it, so will do that next week.

There's a few extra photos than I would normally upload, but after going to a car rally a few weeks ago, I took quite a few photos, (have been having a break from photography for a couple of months), so going to the rally seems to have renewed my mojo, lol.

That's all for now and thank you for popping along. XX