Thursday 30 April 2009

NEW SITE

It's no good you know - the USA is just soo far ahead of us lot! Just check this blog out
Yours
P XXXX


STUDY DAY


I did get a bit of work done at the bench today.

I tried out this project

(great site for ideas and how to stuff)




Front





Back









- anyway - I followed the instructions, and I was fine up to the bit with the frame and making the pockets. I just could not see where she was coming from (or how it would end up!) so I ended up creating my own pocket system.

Inside showing pockets






Then I did it again - using one sheet of heavy double sided scrapbook stock, and a lighter, contrasting pattern paper for the pockets - and I cut notches on the pocket edge so you could really see them. I also used a magnetic clasp to keep it neat. It is fairly plain because I had not decided it's place in live while I was making it - now I know it's destined to be an album/'book' I can add loads of extra bling. After having had a play I think it's better in the lighter weights - and it's a really novel album!








Yours




P XXXX










FMS




First - look I got a badge!
In't that fun?

The show was great, but has really has wiped me out. I have 3 or 4 reasonable hours in the morning - and of course I spend that time crafting so everything else is way behind





Yours


P XXXX






Tuesday 28 April 2009

You know that rotary trimmer the Do Craft have this month for £10?
Well, I quite fancied a go at one - I use a 'normal' cutting knife for most things. Saw the same thing here for under £3 - and the extra blades were only a couple of quid too.
AND they still have 10% off everything - so I have had a ball. Spent all the money I took on Sunday - ahh well.
Yours
P XXXX


LOCAL

Here - we had an earthquake! NO - I was in the church office working (get your smutty old minds out of the gutter there!!!)
Honest - a real earthquake
I was in the church office when the building shook and rumbles - it was like a roll of thunder, and the photocopier was shaking. 'Gosh' - I thought - 'that must be a big lorry going past'.
Yours
P XXXX


Monday 27 April 2009

FMS

lazed in bed a bit - went shopping - then stood for 2 hours in the potting shed pricking out seedlings
will I never learn!!
Yours
P XXXX


Sunday 26 April 2009

Have joined
and
Yours
P XXXX


CUTTLEBUG / NEW SITES

Guys - You know I rummage about on Ebay - and you also know I like to - shall we say be 'cost effective' (I love a bargain). I also hate to see people cheated out of there hard earned pennies when there is no need.
Why are folk paying OVER £6 on Ebay - for things that cost LESS than £5 (£4 if your are canny!). No wonder Ebay have had to stop using the advertising saying they save you money.
I am going to giving you 2 websites that you can get Cuttlebug dies and folders (and other stuff of course!), at REASONABLE - as in proper prices!!!!
Costs have gone up a bit because the exchange rate is just not as good as it was 9 months ago - that's life: but there is absolutely no reason what ever to spend over £6 on an embossing folder!!!!
Yours
P XXXX


Saturday 25 April 2009

SHOWS



I have been working on a new sign for the stall. I am nowhere near as good as the old goat, but I have made a start. Got a bit of out-lining and tidying to do - and I am going to add big gems and stuff - but it's quite cute really.



Yours

P XXXX




Thursday 23 April 2009

DO CRAFT

The new Do Craft magazine is out now.
Am I nuts - or is it early??
Anyway - I picked one up today
Yours
P XXXX


STUDY DAY

Have been to craft class today (yes, again! - have been every week this month, well, I need a boost). Janet took us today - Janet is much more technical and into clever things. http://www.mypaperwarehouse.co.uk/find.asp

We made a swivel card - show you later - and -

Just the cute-ist little file card/folder/wallet thingie, you have ever seen.

A5 size, all decorated, with ribbon and slide out pages to stamp/write on, and pages to add photos and a dangly heart tag and stuff. Really pretty.


This is the
front view with the flap closed
- and tied with ribbon
.








.

And with the flap
opened out so you can see the back as well - decorated as well, of course.











With the flap open so you can see the sliders






So thrilled with this - it promised to be a really useful addition to the shop.





It is quite a fiddle to get all the papers cut out, but it really is so cute.











Yours










P XXXX






















Wednesday 22 April 2009

TIRED

Yoga is supposed to be uplifting and invigorating, right? We had a serious stretch out session this morning and fidget and I have been snuggled up dozing all afternoon
Yours
P XXXX


Tuesday 21 April 2009

H2OS

you must have heard by now that H2Os are being discontinued (huge shame) and the company is selling everything off with a 40% discount.
I have been trying to buy 3 big packs for months but they are snowed under (wonder why that would be!). Finally managed it - the payment has just gone out yippee. The bill with post is under £70, that would buy, what, about 40 little pots here? I have 75 coming - well chuffed.
Yours
P XXXX


Monday 20 April 2009

CHALLENGE

This is for:-



I don't often join in this one because I can never remember the sketches!


But - this just happened, and it's a lovely page. Well, so, ok, it's not a card - but it is verrrry pretty!
The new is the beautiful turquoise winter theme paper that I picked up in a sale last month - and the old - well the photo is last winter, the lettering gos waaay back, the brad is brand spanking new and the turquoise pearl matting is something I use a lot.




Yours

P XXXX




NEW SPACE/DAY OFF????

I did that slide show in photobucket and copied it across - it's a bit slow but bear with it!
The start is the beautiful green lawn - which is mush at the moment. Beside that is the new space (fence taken down) - corner of the house - new retaining wall - on the corner will be the fountain (moved from elsewhere) - that bed is built up along a bit to enclose the bed with the bamboo (that was the other side of the fence.
Does it all make sense??
It is getting sooo pretty. I can't tell you how great it is to be a bit better this year and be pottering about in the garden again. Let's hope the weather stays with us for a while
Yours
P XXXX


Sunday 19 April 2009

ATC



Moving earth and building flower beds today.

Made a set of 4 ATCs with my new stamp.

I have out grown my 2 small plastic storage boxes for my stamps: and progressed up to an old cat litter tray (clean of course!)







Yours


P XXXX






Saturday 18 April 2009

CHALLENGE



This weeks challenge from

http://charismacardz.blogspot.com/2009/04/challenge-15-little-black-dress.html

is 'THE LITTLE BLACK DRESS'

So here is mine guys. It's a clarity stamp, with a textured infil, done with masking and a pattered stamp.







Yours


P XXXX






NEW CARD RANGE

New RANGE launched on the web site - Memory Cards.



Cards individually tailored to the recipient's interest's, in a box to keep them safe. I have done 2 so far - I think it's a brilliant idea!

Yours


P XXXX






Friday 17 April 2009

FMS

Tips for a better night's sleep - from a fellow fibro sufferer with her own site.
You never know - there may be something new to try (would argue about the alcohol - it's the ONLY way I get any rest (too many years: too much abuse, I expect)
Yours
P XXXX


NEW CARD



New day

New stamp

New cards



Bit limited with what I can do since I sliced off the tip of my finger - so a gentle painting day. It should be tough enough tomorrow to start scribing again (I hope).

Pretty, delicate, plain note cards





Yours


P XXXX






Thursday 16 April 2009

STUDY DAY

Sorry guys - this is a bad week, so not much going on.


Did go to craft class today - and did buy a penny black stamp. Our local shop has just been made distributors. Janet is not into the cuties (yet), but we have loads of the botanicals - And they are so beautiful. They stamp well too - which is good considering how bad I am at stamping.
Really looking forward to playing with my new stamp - but must rest.
Got a commission to finish off tomorrow - then I can have a go


Yours

P XXXX




Tuesday 14 April 2009

Did you know you can pick second hand books up on amazon for 1p or 2p if you want to go mad.

Seriously, I have just picked up a Celtic Calligraphy text book for 1p

AND, quite a rare and challenging book about creating pictures from calligraphy (usually called calligrams - never tried this) for 2p


The second hand section on Amazon is really great - forget the Amazon warehouse - look for the small sellers trading (not just books, but all sorts), second hand.











Yours
P XXXX




NEGLECT

I am sitting in the church office and there is not a soul around, so I am tidying up my shop titles (I can edit my site and my blog from anywhere). I have just realised how much the card side has taken over my texts and poems. It is ages since I worked on a full poem or hymn - even longer since I made a book for a poem or chant (really like those). I think the Mother Earth was the last one - and that was a commission!
Ashamed of myself - must get back to doing proper texts. I am exhibiting at The Great Northern Pen Show in a couple of weeks too, not enough to do a huge amount.
Yours
P XXXX


Monday 13 April 2009

DAY OFF


Monday is kitten's day off


(And I have been building flowerbeds in my new space). I think my 'new' neighbour is unhappy about my cabin - don't know - just a feeling. Perhaps it's the smell of fish


Yours

P XXXX




Sunday 12 April 2009

SHOWS

I am totally shattered - it was manic today! And I have caught the sun a bit - there are going to be some really sore bodies tomorrow!

I am not going tomorrow (not going to push my luck here!), but you can still go along to The Station Inn Oxenholme, and have a go on a quad bike, or the bouncy castles, as well as have Evsie draw you.


Did you hear us on the radio this morning? They were broadcasting live and kept plugging Evsie - cor the old goats head - you could see it swelling




Yours

P XXXX




SHOWS

This weekend you will find us at
Yours
P XXXX


Friday 10 April 2009

NEW PROJECT

I have been resting - I think I have a bit of a chill - every time I try to do something I get all hot and uncomfortable - opps, way too late ((again))


Just wanted to show you this -

Easter basket

Soo, soo, simple

http://www.princesskitten.co.uk/design_29004.html







Yours



P XXXX








Thursday 9 April 2009

NEW CARD



It's no good - I can't just not do anything.

My order from Cuttingedge arrived - and I love these borders, so I had to have a fiddle.

Don't think the scan really shows the flower shapes properly, but the cards are so cute.

Will sleep all day tomorrow




Yours


P XXXX






Wednesday 8 April 2009

STUDY DAY

Took princelet to craft class today.

Bless his cotton socks - he loves it.

Not sure if it's the lunch Eva makes, or the ladies to show off to - but he loves it.

This is a brass stencil - light box embossed - stippled brown - heat embossed with clear glitter and matted.

YES - OK - OFF BACK TO REST (again)





Yours


P XXXX






Tuesday 7 April 2009

FMS

kitten is really poorly - off to bed (again)







I have been to the ostio today and what with the Fibro flare and her treatment (she is very good - but exhausting) - and bearing in mind that I am usually away this week

- I am going to take a long week end holiday

I am about if you need me - but it just might take a bit longer for me to answer emails

Sending you all love and ((gentle)) hugs



Yours


P XXXX






Monday 6 April 2009

NEW BLOG

found a new blog for you with all sorts of tutorials - we so need that.
And she has some blog candy if we can say what we are journaling at the moment.
As the rest of you know I am mainly working on the story of building my new house. I have loads of pages now but it will take forever to do it all - the old goat is into the garden landscaping now!
Yours
P XXXX


DAY OFF

Monday is kitten's day off
But - I won some money and the cheque arrived so I went to cash it.
I very rarely have money just to spend on craft stuff so I am so thrilled. I bought one of the new Fiskar's border punches
Got a few packs of pearl card that I have not got yet. And a fantastic new paper called Colotec - it's an ivory and has the most fantastic surface for inks.
They are still very new in this country so you might find them a bit hear to find, but they will get more available because they are so useful.
Then I dropped in to http://www.cuttingedgecrafts.co.uk for a set of border embossing folders that I really love.
I am treating princelet to a craft class on Wednesday - he love it: all those grown up ladies to impress!
And that's about it really - huge thanks to http://www.doyourownsite.co.uk/ - the guys who devise my web site program - I HUGELY recommend them
Yours
P XXXX


Sunday 5 April 2009

FMS

Do you know what time the old goat rolled home?? Just in time for lunch - TODAY!!
On the plus side, he is now out in the garden building walls and flower beds for me to earn extra brownie points.
As for me - fibro flare I'm afraid - big time. Just don't feel attached to myself, everything hurts, can't keep my eyes focused. It's a gorgeous day and I want to be out there digging. Did plant a few little plants though. And gave the guys had half an hour agility work. It takes a huge amount of effort to work the dogs - you have to really concentrate, and so do they. On what you want them to do, what they are actually doing, what they MAY do, what you are going to do next, on what your feet are doing, on your body language to direct them, on how you are working as a team and I have 2 so they have to learn to wait and take turns.
Our trainer reckons half an hour training work gives dogs more 'work' exercise than 2 hours run in the park and is far more tiring - you can see why. It is just as well he recommends 20 / 30 minute chunks: that's all I can manage too!
Well that's about all I have done today
Yours
P XXXX


Saturday 4 April 2009

NEW CARD



I

LOVE

TREES



This is a pennyblack stamp, embossed gold, matted, matted, and matted again



Yours


P XXXX






OUT AND ABOUT


The old goat has gone to Clitheroe to do a beer festival there - working I promise.
Pop over and have your portrait done
and yes - he did do the poster


Yours
P XXXX


Thursday 2 April 2009

STUDY DAY




You have to see this

I am so excited about this

Fiskars have just launched an amazing new punch - it goes round right angle corners.

Yes, the punched border on the cream inner is punched with one punch. It will edge round ANY size square as long as it is cut in whole inches (the USA still works in inches), you just put in as many of the (in this case) small flowers with stems as you need before you turn the corner.

It is a bit odd to explain, you need to see it in action. But Fiskars are clever bunnies, and as with their normal and circle border Punchs, it's all to do with the base.

I have just won some money in a competition so I am going to treat myself - they are around the £20 mark, but I think it is so versatile. You could do just a corner - a corner and a line - a corner and 2 lines. a corner and an uneven amount of sides - just the central border.

Oh, the middle is done with watercolouring stamps - just is case you were wondering!








Yours



P XXXX