First Offerings...

...of the year and for the Craft Fairies DT. I still have lots of goodies to work my way through, but thought I'd post my first efforts.


Here are the goodies I got:

So far I've made this:

Covered using DCWV card and paper I had in my box. Flower were also part of my DT goodies. Ric rac was stuff I already had. Twill hanger was part of packaging in a set of bedsheets. Font is QK Sunshine.

and this:

Used paper and sparkly card I got from my local craft shop, flowers again from the DT goody bag and handled made using seed beads and wire. I then covered the inside of the card in a matching pink:

Will hopefully have more finished in the next couple of days.

Called about my missing order from Ellison today and was told it was despatched on 18/12 and that apparently DHL couldn't find a location for the address - a bit odd as I was getting it delivered to work and DHL are in there almost every day (so much so that our Receptionist is on first name terms with the driver). Hopefully it will turn up in the next couple of days now though - I'm really getting desperate for the stuff now (especially as it was a Christmas pressie).

Anyways gotta jet now - hope you're all having a good 2008 so far, bloggy-types.

Toodles xoxo

Sick of Winter

Ugh spent the start of the week with my head stuck down the toilet - no joke when it's 03:00 and your're trying to yawn and puke at the same time :(

Better now though, although a bit tired tonight as it was nearly 5 when I got to sleep this morning because of the wind then back up just ater 7. Was pretty wild here last night - this street seems to turn into a wind tunnel if the wind is blowing a certain way. Oh also, I appear to have lost my wheelie bin - looked for it tonight when I got home, but couldn't see it - must've blown off into the night a la Wizard of Oz!!

Not been up to much else really - new washing machine arrived on Saturday, so that's made life a bit easier as I've been taking washing to Mum's and Stu's for the last couple of weeks.

Just going to have a chilling weekend this week - weather crappy outside and flat all cosy inside, so no contest there really. Would love to spend some time making stuff (which reminds me I need to borrow the stuff I made for Mum at Crimbo to photograph). I'd also like to spend some time on my family tree as I've really neglected it lately - there just never seem to be enough hours in the day...

... oh and of course can't forget the darts is on the telly :D:D:D:D:D

Happy New Year

Can't believe the holidays have gone in so quickly - I've not even managed to catch up with anyone apart from family. Not sure what we're doing for Hogmanay yet - were going to stay in, then decided to go out, but now might stay in again because of the severe lack of taxis - really don't want a 45 min walk home in the peeing rain.

Hope all you bloggers had a great Christmas and that Santa was good to you. I got so many gorgeous things :D:D.

Here's wishing 2008 brings you everything you hope for!!

Toodles xoxo

Guess What Santa's Bringing??

Me and Stu are getting a Wii from Crimbo from Santa (well from overtime really!!). Have asked SW to see if he can get me a spare controller at Schipol tomorrow - if not there may well be tears on Christmas morning (and I feel sad if Stu cries!!).

Went to see Ocean Colour Scene at the Barrowland last night - they were absolutely fantastic (although i did nearly leave home without lifting the tickets until Stu asked if I had them - a recurring event for me and not one of my best character traits)

Fizzing mad at the Post Office - paid extra money on Friday afternoon to get a package from JillyBeads sent next day - it was possible too late to guarantee delivery yesterday, but guess what - still no delivery today. If it doesn't come tomorrow in in serious trouble as I have a lot to do before Crimbo.

Still made no personal Christmas cards and really cutting it fine now, so instead of stressing I'm off out to buy a nice box tomorrow lunchtime - life's just to short to stress over minor things like that!!

Toodles for now bloggy-types - Hopefully will have some piccies later in the week.

'Tis the season to be jolly...

tra la lala la lala la la. Finished my last batch of cards orders last night. Seriously thinking about not taking on any more now before Crimbo (apart from Mum, G and my own). Now I can spend time concentrating on my jewellery orders and playing with my Craft Fairies Design Team Kit - yippee.

Here are the final cards. It was actually an order of 5, but 2 of them were the stocking design I posted a couple of days ago.

I'm quite chuffed with this one. Papers are English Paper Co - really wish I had got a big batch of about half a dozen of the designs and not the bumper mix pack, as there are about 6 I really love and the rest I don't have a clue what to do with. Dies are Sizzix and a gorgeous Bosskut Rudolph I borrowed from the lovely Rhi last year. The diecut tree is part of I swap I received over at the Crafts by Carolyn forum.

This one uses one of the English Paper Co designs I don't really know what to do with, although I love the one with the stitched ribbon I've used on the bottom. Dies used are Sizzix and Quickutz, brad is from my stash and holly is made using Fimo in the Sculpey Kringle & Snowman mould.

This one is to be given to a little girl who has been in hosiptal for the last couple of weeks. I agreed with my customer that it might be nice to have a little bit of a Christmas theme (without being too Christmassy). Papers are yet again English Paper Co (another lot I don't really know what to do with as I find lilacs & pinks quite difficult to use for Christmas). Big tag is Sizzix, snowflakes are a mixture of a Zip-e-mate and some I received in the Crafts by Carolyn forum Christmas diecut swap; button is from my stash.

Thanks for looking xoxo

Rest of the Batch

A bit of delay in posting these I'm afraid, but you know how it is even at normal times of the year - the days just fly by so quickly - and at Crimbo everything seems to go at 4x speed.

Anyways, here are the remainder of the 5 cards I made for a colleague:

I did try to stick to traditional for all the cards in the batch, but I struggled a bit - I've been using English Paper Co papers this year, and some of them are just a tad too traditional - not really sure what I could do with them, so this one ended up with a bit of a modern squiggle tree twist (or should that be twist tree squiggle?). Dies used are Sizzix and Cuttlebug. Tree brads were from my stash and font is Not His Angel.

Back to the traditional look for this one. I actually quite like it , even though it is verging on frumpy. Yet again English Paper Co papers, Quickutz & Sizzix dies and brad from stash.

This one is for one of those tricky beasts (aka men!!). Yet again English Paper Co papers (plus a Christmas tree one I got from my local craft shop last year). Dies Sizzix and Quickutz and fon on label is Baby Bowser.

I'm now going to start on another batch of 5 for another colleague - at this rate all my friends and family will be getting cards from the garage!!

Sorry for not posting many comments on my favourite blogs lately - I have been looking, but sometimes have been sneaking a peak at lunchtime etc from work and can't post from there.

Speak to you all soon, bloggy-types xoxo

On the Second Day of Christmas (card making)

Yup, it's true folks, I've actually made my second Christmas card of the year (also for the guy I did the reindeer one for). Have stuck with the traditional theme for this one as well (perhaps that'll be a trend for me for the whole batch of them).

Stockings and holly are both Quickutz dies. Papers are English Paper Company and font is Courtney Dorkling. Want to get the order finished tonight, so I should have more to show tomorrow - thanks for looking.

On the home front, had the day off on Friday, so managed to get some Christmas shopping done. I also managed to get bedroom curtains - it only took me a year and a half, but got the Jeff Banks ones that match a set of my bedding (and even better - they were in the sale!). The Murder Dinner Party was a great success on Saturday night - felt slightly below the weather on Sunday though - don't know how much was alcohol-related and how much was just because I was shattered as I didn't stop all day Friday or Saturday. Got work's Christmas lunch on Friday, but I'm not going to drink at it as I have a retirement and another work's Christmas lunch the next 2 Fridays, so will wait til then, as getting my tree on Saturday, so want to be on top form and safe for driving etc for that.

Speak to you all soon, bloggy-types.

Toodles xoxo

DCM - Santa's Little Extra Helper No 7

Well, well, well, I must have psychic tendencies as I made this card last night then read the DCM Little Extra today:

It's Tuesday again so we have a midweek challenge for you to play with. Santa's Little Helper this week is themed "Buttons and Bows"Just in case you're one of those super-efficient types who've made all the cards they need already, you can still join in with a non-Christmas card for this one.I made this for someone at work to give to his daughter and boyfriend. I've got another 4 cards to make for him, so need to get a wriggle on. Diecuts are Sizzix, Quickutz and a mistletoe one I got in a swap. Font is Chopin Script. Tree brad and gold bow were just stuff I had lying around. Papers are from the English Paper Company - hope it's not cheating to use printed buttons & ribbon.

Thanks for looking.

Toodles xoxo

Love is in the Air

Stewart's sister and her boyfriend got engaged on holiday, so I made this card for them. I'm not going to post it as they're coming to my murder on Saturday anyway.

Paper and dark card are DCVW. Light gold card is Paper Cellar stuff I got in a mix box last year around this time. Dies used are Cuttlebug Circle Frames & Hearts. I printed the words in Missed Your Exit and chalked round the papers with a tan(ish) colour.

Tomorrow will be like Friday for me as it's my last day of work this week - in fact the way I've wangled my annual leave, last Friday was the last full Friday I'll work all year. Got to spend the day getting ready for the murder on Saturday - it seems to have gone from being weeks and weeks away to only being a couple of days away in the blink of an eye. Hopefully I'll spend some time getting organised Friday afternoon/Saturday during the day.

Thanks for looking

Toodles xoxo

Ahoy There Matey!!!

This is a card I did for a colleague who has someone in her department retiring on Friday - really quite pleased with this one (just cos the papers are so cool).

The chap retiring is one of the Assistant Harbourmasters, so I think this one is quite apt. All the papers are English Paper Company (it's such a shame they're closing down - need more decent Brit paper manufacturers), cricle frame is a Cuttlebug one and the text is printed using Boring Showers font (another current fave of mine). I chalked the edges of the ship circle with dark blue and used a light sky blue round the edges of the papers.

This is a necklace and simple earrings I made for a lady in our neighbourhood (actually, do we have neighbourhoods in Scotland or am I [SHOCK HORROR!!!] turning all Americanified?). I used 4mm & 6mm Swarovski bicone crystals in Clear & Jet. A 40mm Teardrop Pendant in Clear. Home-made pendant-bail-type-thingy is made using sterling silver wire and bicone beads. Toggle clasp is also sterling silver.

Thanks for looking. I'll be back with more things soon.

Toodles xoxo

Card Backlog

It's been a long long time since I've blogged craft stuff, so I've got a few things to show. Alos got some stuff I did at the tail end of last week, so I'll post that too in a bit.

These are the thank-you cards I did for Stewart and I to give to family and friends for the engagement presents we were given. I used pearlescant card in pale pistachio and bramble (not official colours - I just made em up!). The square background and frame are Cuttlebug as is the flower. I printed the "Thank You" using Baby Bowser font.

Some of you will already know I'm not much of a stamper, but I bought this one off someone on the Crafts by Carolyn forum last year (or perhaps the year before), so thought I'd better try it out. I stamped the image in black then painted a tiny bit of it with the mucho cheapo Twinkling H2O-type paints from The Works. I then chalked around the stamped image and mounted it on pearlescent black card. Again the text is printed using Baby Bowser font (loving this one atm).

This is the card I made for Mum's birthday (way back in September). I didn't have time to scan it when I made it (last-minute Lisa strikes again) but saw it in her house one time, so reclaimed it. The flower in the top corner sticks out from the top of the card, and if I was making one again I'd put it in a bigger envelope. Papers are Making Memories - Kate (really pretty papers) and the flowers are made using all 4 of the Bosskut Create-a-Flower dies in Wildflower. Lettering was done on cardstock in WordArt then hand cut.

Will be back soon with more - hope you can manage to stay awake, bloggy-types.

Toodles xoxo

LAX!!!

Nope, not the Californian airport, but me!!! It really doesn't seem like 2 weeks since I last blogged. Still not quite over the stomach bug I had when I came back from hols - now been to docs twice in 3 weeks (usually I'm only there twice a year for routine stuff). Anyways hopefully it's on the turn now (I'm not ill or anything now, just a little below par and sporadic stomach upsets etc).

Anyways, onto the happy stuff now. Had a lovely chilling weekend with Stu (well apart from me working on Saturday), watched the darts & movies. Finally saw the new Vinnie Jones one they gave away with one of the Sunday papers - was actually really good.

I now no longer have to work a full Friday for the rest of the year, as I'm away in the afternoons for xmas lunch on 2 of them and on annual leave days the other 3 - so happy cos I love being off on a Friday (even though it's a shorter day/longer lunch break etc).

Got my first DT kit from Craft Fairies and it's well gorgeous. Can't wait to get stuck in about it :D:D

Toodles for now xoxo

Weekend Catch-up

Had a pretty chilling weekend this week, which is just what I needed. Did the weekly shop on Friday for a change (I didn't like it as much as doing it on Sat mornings) and got 3 nice bottles of wine from Asda. Stu made dinner and we watched Shawn of the Dead, which was quite good.

On Sat J came round for lunch. I made crab cakes from a James Martine recipe, but to be honest next time I would use a different recipe as I felt they were too mushy (hence no photo) - they tasted ok though.

Sat night Stu made a lovely chicken dopiaza and rice using the red saffron we brought back from Egypt. Watched the remake of the Omen, which was pretty good for a remake, but still not as good as the original and little Damian wasn't half as cute.

On Sunday we went to visit Stu's grandparents - was nice to finally meet them. His uncle and little cousins were there too, so it was a bit of a houseful. Commandeered a wee shot of his cousin's Nintendo DS which was well fun. Stu made dinner again on Sunday night. Garlic mushrooms then pork chops with nice seasoning and mash followed by rhubarb crumble and custard - was well yummy, but I've had to be good today.

Got a couple of cards to make for Mum tonight and I need to dig out some beads as I have a necklace to make for someone too - need to give her a call tomorrow afternoon to find out exactly what she would like.

Will be back soon with the next installment of the Egypt trip.

Toodles xoxo

Four Things

I've been tagged by the lovely Rhi, so here's 4 things you may or may not already know about me:

4 Jobs I've had

I worked for an open cast coal company as admin/weighbridge operator

I ran a small office

Worked in a pub part-time

Secretary

4 Places I have visited

Egypt

Ibiza

Cyprus

Greece

4 Places I have lived

'fraid I've always lived in Falkirk, although I have lived in exactly 4 different houses

4 Favourite foods

Cherries

Venison

Duck

Percy Pigs

4 Places I would rather be

Lying on the beach

Seville (top of my wish list)

In a land where I have a cleaning fairy

In a hot bath

Bet the excitement of my lifes far has blown you all away!!!!

Toodles xoxo

Egypt - Day 2 - Friday

Edfu & Kom Ombo

After visiting the West Bank on Thursday, we then set sail for Edfu. Edfu Temple is dedicated to Horus (the falcon-headed god) and is one of my favourite temples.

After leaving Edfu we set sail straight away for Kom Ombo, which is quite a small temple, but very interesting as it has the first medical references and mummified crocodiles!!!

Then it was time to set sail for Aswan. Took until late evening to get there. Friday night was an Egyptian-themed night, so me and Stu were in full costume when he proposed - all very romantic under the moonlight :D so I thought I'd add a nice photo of an Egyptian sunset.

More to come soon - hope I'm not boring all you bloggy-types.

Toodles xoxo

The Ring

Well we finally managed to go ring shopping on Saturday, and both Stewart and I managed to get rings we absolutely love (although Stu's won't be here til Friday as it was too big).

This is mine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The photo doesn't do it justice - it's absolutely gorgeous - white gold with 6 diamonds and a perfect style for me.

I'm over the moon!!!!!!!!!!!

Egypt Trip - Day One

Collosei of Memnon, Valley of the Kings and Deir el-Bahri

The trip down from Edinburgh to Gatwick and then Gatwick to Luxor went smoothly and we arrived a bit earlier than scheduled. OMG Luxor Airport had changed a lot since my last visit - it now has a terminal and everything!!

Early start the first morning and a pretty full day. Started off with a quick visit to the Collosei of Memnon. These are 2 huge statues which have each been carved from one piece of stone. We didn't get long at them - about 20 mins or so as there is nothing else there apart from the 2 statues - we had a walk around them and took plenty of photos.

After that stop it was off to the Valley of the Kings. We visited 3 tombs; the first one was Tutmoses III, which had a LOT of steps - glad we did it first (see photo to right). After that we went to Ramses III (I think - neither Stewart nor I can quite remember), finishing off in Ramses IV. The only downside of the visit was that no photography is permitted inside the tombs, although we did buy a really nice set of photos. After the Valley of the Kings we went to an alabastor factory, but tbh it all seemed a bit false and most of the stuff they had for sale wasn't hand-made.

Then we moved onto Queen Hatshepsut's Temple at Deir el-Bahri and boy, was it getting warm by then. The temple was very different to the others we would be visiting on our trip, but very impressive. Another hefty step climb (we could certainly feel our legs for the next few days - even Stu who walks to work every day). The veiw from the top tier was fantastic and some of the statues and wall carvings were really lovely.

After the temple it was back to the boat for lunch then a free afternoon as we set sail for Edfu. Sunset is pretty early this time of year so we only managed about an hour and a half of relaxing in the sun in the afternoon. I've put a photo of some of the statues in Hetshepsut's Temple below:

I'm Back!!!!!

Yup, back from holidays with an extremely dodgy tummy (hence why I'm writing this during the day cos off work) and lots of good news.

Holiday was amazing. Visited lots of places and took loads of photos (well I took about 100 before my camera packed in, but Stewart took about 400 so I can share his). I'll post a day-by-day breakdown with photos when I'm feeling a bit better (luckily didn't start to feel ill until about 6 hrs after we landed at Gatwick so was only suffering on the flight back to Edinburgh, which only took 45 mins), as I don't want to post just a mishmash.

Good news time now - me and Stewart got engaged!!!!! Really happy and excited about it, although it's quite a lot to take in. We were going to go ring shopping at the weekend, but we've had to postpone it until next weekend, because of my dodgy tummy. We haven't set a date or anything yet - just going to chill until after crimbo then Stu will sell his flat and we'll start making plans then.

Also when I got home I discovered I had made it onto the Craft Fairies Design Team - my first ever DT, so all very exciting (and just a bit scary!!). Really looking forward to working with Lisa and the rest of the team to see what we all come up with :D:D

Ocean Colour Scene tix arrived when I was away as well - finally make up for not being able to get into the tent the last 2 times I've been at T in the Park.


...and finally I was thrilled to get this award from both Lynne and Rhi. I'd like to pass it on to Fee, Miss JP and Stu, who all make me smile every day.

See you all soon with holiday photos and stuff

Toodles xoxo

Beginning to return...

... to normal (or what passes as normal here!!) Mum got out of hospital today, and she's making good progress. G off work today and tomorrow to look after her, then I'll look after her at the weekend.

Ocean Colour Scene tix went on sale today - hope they have some left on Monday cos I'm too skint to get them until then :S

Not really got much else to report - have made nothing this past week, as I've been coming home from work, putting dishwasher/washing on then dashing out to the hosp.

Bedlam on the roads around here today apparently, as a lorry carrying chickens crashed at Haggs/Castlecary - chickens running around everywhere - I wonder if they'll ever head east and run into the recently elusive Mr Chicken on the road to the bridges (although I fear Mr Chicken may now be resting in someone's tummy.

On major countdown to the hols now. Only 3 working days to go!!!! Struggling to get someone to come back for us (cos we land at 08:00 on a working day) so booked a driver this morning - will probably work out cheaper than paying the extortionate Edinburgh Airport parking prices.

See you all soon bloggy-types xoxo

Card

The word at HS:MS for yesterday was...

Card
A Piece of thick, stiff paper. Find 'card' in your space today.

I did this card for a colleague to give to a little girl who has a brithday around Halloween (I actually did 2 the same with different names, as she wanted them for 2 girls who live 100s of miles apart).

Actually struggled with it a bit, as I felt everything just looked a bit plonked on, but the buyer really liked them and said the kids will love them.

Also got a card done for Fee and Lee but don't want to post it here until I've posted it through her door.

Only 2 weeks til the hols now - think I've got everything sorted apart from insurance and a pair of black trousers (and still plenty of time to sort those out).

Mum goes into hospital for her first knee replacement op - hope her recovery is ok, as her good knee is worse than her bad one atm - with any luck she'll get her other one done just after Christmas.

That's my update for today - must dash and put new tax disc on car as I've had it for a couple of weeks but keep forgetting to put it on!!!

Toodles xoxo