Wednesday 28 February 2018

Final round up of cards for February challenge

The past week has flown by and I'm sorry I haven't kept up to date with the card challenge but here are the final cards sent out this week.


This one was sent to Alison Bright of Determined to Shine - I subscribe to her book club/art journal group.


This one was sent to Kara of Boho Berry which is where I was made aware of International Correspondence Writing Month


I sent this to my friend Jenny whose mum has sadly passed away recently.


This one I sent to Kristina Werner - I follow her blog and You Tube channel and love her clean and simple style,of cards.



This was sent to MayMay of MayMay Made it  - again I  follow her You Tube, blog and and also a scripture Facebook group


This card was sent to a friend who is going through difficult times with her elderly parents.


The final card was sent out today to Julia who runs the Exeter Scrapaholics group each month.

Today saw a flurry of snow in Plymouth nowhere near the amount seen in other parts of the country but we are told more is on it's way.   Thankfully other than take mum shopping I didn't have to venture out much and so I could admire its beauty from the comfort of my home.







Wednesday 21 February 2018

Books for sale and catch up

I am still continuing to go through my stash and have decided to let go of some of the many books I have acquired over the years.  I have come across several hardback cross stitch books and other crafts and have created a For Sale page at the top of my blog.  They are all pretty much as new, if you are interested in any of them then please e-mail me.  More to be added soon.

Day 19 February challenge - this is for a friend of mine who moved away last year but is finding it difficult to settle in their new location.


Day 20 - this is for a lady whose blog I follow and I am just hoping the address I have is still current.

Day 21 - I am unable to show this card at the moment as I know this lady follows my blog.

After many years of not attending any craft shows I decided to go to Westpoint with  my friend Moya on Saturday.  I was kind of good in the fact that I didn't spend a fortune but not so good in the fact that I bought even more stamps.  I also picked up the essentials of adhesives.  Resisted the urge to buy wool and fabric so on the whole pretty pleased with myself.







Sunday 18 February 2018

Catch up Day 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 February challenge

Apologies for the lack of posts over the past few days just been a little busy or tired or even both!

DAY 14 -a bit of a cheat as it was hubbys card for Valentine's day.


DAY 15 - for a crafting friend to encourage her in own dreams.


DAY 16 - for a crafting friend who always makes me laugh due to her many faux pas


Day 17 - another card to show someone I care.


Day 18 - can't show today's as I know they read my blog.

Tuesday 13 February 2018

Day 13 February challenge

I'm unable to show you Day 13's card at the moment as I know the recipient reads my blog.  I can however show you the Valentine's cards hubby and I received from our Dog's Trust friends.

My card from my sponsored dog Logan

And hubbys dog Honey.

 Inside each card is a fun update on how the dogs are getting, they always bring a smile into our lives, its just such a pity they don't have their own loving homes.

Monday 12 February 2018

Day 12 February challenge

Today's card is being sent to my cousin Ruth. 


My mum is one of seven children, four being girls.  All four sisters had babies in 1964 the year I was born and Ruth is the oldest cousin, followed by myself, then Andrew and lastly Clifford. Ruth and I used to write to each other on a regular basis and I have to confess it was me that became lazy with my letter writing so I thought it  would be a good idea to send a card, apologise and hopefully start up our correspondence again.

I've been down to Scrapbook Magic today to teach the beginners card class.  These are the cards we made today, two simple fancy fold cards.  An easel card and a double Z fold card using black and white.


When I got back home I baked another two lemon cakes for the work colleagues that I work with on a Tuesday and who don't work on Thursdays. Those that work on both days get lucky lol!

Sunday 11 February 2018

Day 11 February challenge

Today's card was a birthday card for my friend Ali.  We have been friends for nearly 34 years and was one of the first friends I made after moving down to Plymouth back in 1984.  We used to live next door but one to each other but we haved both moved several times but thankfully we have always remained in touch with each other.


A mixed bag of weather today, sunshine, rain, sleet, hail and strong winds.  I was able to spend a few hours stitching on It's Only Forever which is almost near to another page completion so hopefully I will have an update of that one soon.  This evening has been spent making some Valentine treat boxes, still a few more to make but they are pretty quick and easy to do. 


Saturday 10 February 2018

Day 10 February challenge

Today's card is for my friend Lisa.  We met when we were both Creative Memories demonstrators many years ago.  It's one of the cards I  made down at Scrapbook Magic recently.


Day 8 can now be revealed as it was sent to Chris, one of my crafting friends from Scrapbook Magic, someone who always makes me laugh when we are together.


Its been a miserable grey and wet day weatherwise.  I did manage to get out for a reasonable walk with Max during a short break in the rain, apart from that little else has been happening here.

Friday 9 February 2018

Day 9 February challenge

Todays card I  have sent to our lovely daughter.  Colette has recently signed up to be a Younique presenter to give herself a chance of earning a little income while hoping to get out and about and enjoy a little break from being mummy all day.  As with many mums confidence levels sometimes drop after having children so I am hoping this venture will help build it up again.  I sent her a card to encourage her and also tell her how much I love her.


If anyone is interested in buying any of the make up or skin products then just use the link above.  While a little pricey I can honestly say the foundation, eyeshadow and lipsticks are very good quality.  I am trying out the skin care range to see how I get on with it and so far so good.

Thursday 8 February 2018

Day 8 February challenge

Once again I'm unable to post the card sent today until the recipient has received it.  I can now post Day 6 card which was sent to Julie of Julie's Stitchyknitter Journal.  Julie does some lovely stitching and knitting and lots of reading and it was thanks to Julie I got into the Agatha Raisin series.  I was also lucky enough to receive one of her beautiful knitted bunnies - not sure the bunny is helping me keep the craft room tidy but she fits in nicely with my other soft toys.  I love seeing what other people read.  I had to borrow the photo of the card from Julie's blog as I forgot to take one.


I am currently reading  The Captains Daughter by Leah Fleming, my mother in law lent it to me. I've only read a few chapters but enjoying it so far.


Wednesday 7 February 2018

Day 7 February challenge

I have sent today's card to Shery who is the owner of Stamplorations.  I am a stamp club subscriber and receive a stamp set bi-monthly along with stencils and or die cuts.  The beauty with this club is that if you are not taken with that months stamp set you can swap it for any stamps, stencils or dies in the shop to the value of your stamp club payment.  You also get other bonuses throughout the course of your membership and discount on any additional stamps you purchase.  Shery is fabulous and incredibly generous and all of the products I have received have been first class.


Its been a very busy day and I have managed to get lots done including baking two lemon cakes.  One of them is for my work colleagues tomorrow to help soften the blow when I hand in my resignation.  


Tuesday 6 February 2018

Day 6 February challenge

Day 6 is another card I can't show you until the recipient has received it but I can now show you Day 3 card.  This was a birthday card for my dear friend Karen of Diary of an Ordinary Girl.



 Karen and I got to know each other through a cross stitch magazine pen pal request many years ago met up..  After writing to each other for a while we met up and hit it off immediately and we have met up many times since.  I am sure we must be due to meet up soon as it has been a while since our last get together.  Its one of those wonderful friendships when it doesn't matter how much time goes by between meeting up or being in contact, we know that we are always there for each other when needed and we just carry on from our last get together as though it were just last week.

Just over a week ago I met up with my friend Sarah and had a wander round her local shops and came across a sweet little wool shop and unsurprisingly I came away with some new yarn.  I just loved the colours and with it came a free pattern.  I'm not sure I'm going to use the yarn for this particular pattern though - I  think I will have a look on Ravelry and see what other patterns I could use it for.


Monday 5 February 2018

Day 5 February challenge

Today's card I am sending to a friend who is going through a bit of a rough patch at the moment.  I am hoping this will bring a little cheer to her life and know that people care.


Remember my Christmas cards which I posted about in January and my aim was to turn them into a junk journal?  Well here is where the junk journal is at the moment.  I have made and decorated the covers and I have stitched the pages in.  Next step is to make it into a Christmas planner for this and hopefully a few years to come.  When I've done this I will post some more photos. 


 The outside of the journal was decorated with a paper bag I received and was far too nice to just throw away.  The inside of the journal has been decorated with leftovers from the beginners card class I did before Christmas. 

Sunday 4 February 2018

Day 4 February challenge

Today's card has been sent to a crafting friend.


A simple card made with some Graphic 45 papers for the background and a die cut from my stash.

A wedding gift stitch update.  I think I've completed just over a quarter of this design it might have been more this evening if I hadn't had to frog some of it.  It's the first time in a week that I have picked up any stitching.  


This afternoon I worked on It's Only Forever, I will update this when I have managed to complete another page which hopefully won't be much longer.

Saturday 3 February 2018

Day 3 February challenge

Day 3 of the challenge and again its one of those I can't show immediately as its in the post and I will wait until I know it has been received.   I can now show you Day 1, a card I sent to Marlene of Poppy Patchwork


 I've been a follower of Marlenes blog for some time now and I enjoy seeing the bargains she keeps picking up,  getting ideas for future reads and seeing both her crafting projects and her grandson grow.

I finally have some photos of the layouts I did at last weekend's scrapbooking crop.  First up is a photo of Colette, Lincoln, Harlee-Jay and myself when we went to visit Father Christmas.   The children were keen and eager to get in but as soon as Santa spoke they went all shy, Lincoln almost burst into tears bless him.  It's a wonderful memory though seeing them wander round the grotto.


With this layout I finally got round to using the Anna Griffin dimensional embellishments I have had in my stash for years.  Now I've always liked Anna Griffin products but I always felt these were a bit 'dull' to go on a card but the soft muted colours actually went really well with the colours in the photo.  The papers are from a Kaisercraft range I picked up at Scrapbook Magic before Christmas. 

Next up is a layout of a coffee break Colette, Harlee-Jay, Sebastian and myself were taking after our last minute Christmas shopping expedition on the Friday before Christmas.   The selfie isn't the best quality but the food and coffee in Coffee#1 was delicious


Friday 2 February 2018

Day 2 February challenge

I can post a picture of the card I sent today as the recipient is not a follower of my blog.  This is a card sent to Mike Deakin who I follow on You Tube - I enjoy watching his videos and seeing his projects develop.  I got his address from one of his old You Tube videos so this is a totally random card send but one I hope he will appreciate.


Harlee-Jay and I took Max for a lovely walk along the creek this morning.  We were wrapped up against the cold wind but at least it didn't rain while we were out.  As we were walking along Harlee-Jay was fascinated with the men doing some tree felling and wasn't scared of the loud saw and loved it when the tree came down.

After my childminding duties were over  with Harlee-Jay I called in to see our daughter, normally we'd go there on a Friday but poor Lincoln has tonsillitis and we didn't want to risk Harlee-Jay picking up any nasty bugs.  Sebastian is now six months old and it can be very tiring playing in a Jumparoo.



Thursday 1 February 2018

DAY 1 February Challenge

Today I sent out my first card for International Correspondence Writing Month (Incowrimo).  Now some of the cards I am sending out will be to people who read my blog, others will be to friends who don't read my blog and some will be addresses I have acquired through You Tube.  When I can I will post a photo of each card that has gone out but for my first one I don't want to spoil it for the recipient.

I can however share a photo of some kits I have recently received in the post.  I signed up last June to a Gecko Rouge Gold Membership.  Basically I pay a set amount each month and at the end of six months I get a voucher for the money I have paid in plus a bonus amount.  It also entitles me to a 25% discount on any kits I buy, which is how mum and dad were able to buy me Felicity and Fifi for my Christmas present. It was also how I purchased It's Only Forever.  Anyway my first voucher arrived at the beginning of January and here after many hours of deliberation is a picture of the kits I chose.


I opted for one by Anita Invarity called Down The Rabbit Hole one of several designs based on Alice In Wonderland - I'd love to get the whole series!  I really like her artwork, Fifi and Felicity were also from her artwork.  Next I chose the Mad Hatter by Omri Koresh, again another design from Alice in Wonderland - I'm kind of drawn to all things Alice at the moment.  But my final choice was something completely different called Passion by Fran Funcan.   Two of the designs are on 25 count and the other one is 18 count.  It will be some time before I can begin working on any of them but it's lovely having them in my stash to look at lol.