Monday

Merry Monday again


A very Merry Monday to everyone reading this today.  I really do not like Mondays but always feel better on a Monday afternoon.

Here is a lovely Christmas card I received from Diane.
 
Thank you.

Today we are off to Primarks to get some bits and pieces for Christiana.  We shall only nip there and then come back as I am baking later as well.  Well, its the first 2016 Crafty Week this week and we have to start it off correctly.  The cards are all cut out and ready, the samples are all done so now its just the instructions, the raffle prizes and of course, the sweeties.  I am so excited about it especially as it is Sale A Bration too.  If you come along to crafty week, place an order for £45, you not only get a FREE sale a bration item, you get the night FREE as well.    There are two places available on Tuesday evening.

Paul has been around the craft room with his hammer and put me some more nails in the walls YIPEE.  That means that all the lovely hanging presents I got from Santa are hanging up now, thank you so much ladies, I really was spoilt.

I had best get a wiggle on and get into work.  Thanks for having a read and I hope you have a wonderful Merry Monday.

Sunday

Happy Birthday Lottie

What a difference a week makes to the weather.  11 degrees at 5.30am today, it was wonderful.  I know because I was outside in it, nipping in and out of the craft room.

Yes crafting before 6am as its crafty week this week as I am way behind.  Well its to be expected isnt it as Christiana is with me and we go out most days but that isnt a complaint.  Having bronchitis hasnt helped and do you know, it still hasn't gone away.  I am getting tired quicker, I am coughing at night and still have the painful ear and throat.  If this is getting old, I dont want to lol.

It was neice's daughters birthday yesterday and here is the card I made her.

I loved making this so I made a couple more the same (no name though).

As I mentioned, its Crafty week and I have 2 places on Tuesday evening if you fancy coming along.  It's for beginners as well as experienced crafters.  We all have a good old giggle and you will leave with 2 cards and a little box.  Just get in touch on 01332 721877 to book you place and I can give you more details.  The evening is held in Alvaston, Derby.

Thanks for having a read, I hope you have a lovely evening x

It snowed

I woke up this morning to snow, as did lots of others in the midlands today.  The difference for me was that Christiana was awake and she had been trying to get me up since 11.30pm last night.  She hasnt slept as she is so excited, not having seen snow for about 8 years.  She has taken so many photos and just cant get to sleep.


I am hoping she manages to get a few hours sleep this morning whilst I cook a roast chicken.

Here is a card I have made with some new masculine bits from Stampin' Up! 

This is just the start of playing with the new products, an embossing folder and the brayer.  I have quite a few birthdays next month so I thought I would get organised.

If there is anything that you would like from Stampin Up today, please do let me know.  I have a little order going in later this evening and I am happy to add your bits and pieces to this order. 

Got a busy crafty day today so I may as well go start my chores and get in the craft room a lot earlier than I thought.  Thanks for having a read and have a wonderful day x


Thursday

Happy Birthday Gail

Brr it has turned cold.  Christiana and I braved Dunelm today and she still didnt buy anything bless her.  She is now after a little sugar bowel with two handles and a nice cushion for her bed.  I think a trip to the Range will be in order early next week.

We have had a couple of birthdays this week, Gail, my sister law received this card that I made


I have another one very similar all ready to put together.  I had great fun making this.

Stampin' Up! have some new weekly deals for you. 


If there is anything that you would like, please let me know as I have a little order going to be submitted on Sunday evening.  There are a few new papers and ribbons that need to be ordered so I am happy to add to this order at 50p p+p collected from myself.

Off to put feet up for an hour and watch the TV with Paul and Christiana before getting ready for another day at the office.

Have a wonderful evening x




Tuesday

Thank You's on Tuesday

Good morning and it's only a quicky as I have to get myself into work today.

Here are the thank you cards that I made for January orders.  I have used one of the new stamp sets from the Sale a Bration and this one I thought was a big stamp with 5 flowers, silly me, it is 5 separate stamps tut tut.

 
Here I teamed it up with Blackberry Bliss and Wild Wasabi pens, a bit of colouring and some strips of Bohemiem designer papers and viola.  These will be given to everyone who has ordered from me and thank you so much for your patience during last week when I was too poorly.  I am really pleased to say that all parcels are ready phew.

I managed to do a little ironing yesterday but I cant believe how tired it made me.  I guess I am not quite 100% yet and will do a little more of the ironing today.  I hate it being in the basket but I shall aim to have it all done for the weekend.  Paul will be here for a couple of weeks so we shall be starting another little project, as well as continuing with the bathroom.

Speaking of bathroom, I had best get in that shower.  Thanks for having a read, I hope you like the cards, have a great day x



Monday

Merry Monday No. 3


Good morning and I do feel good today.   I think I am just about back to normal (well as normal as it is for me), only a little cough, sleeping well and its the last of my tablets so lets hope that this is all I have to put up with in 2016.  I will be back at work tomorrow.

The weather is getting cooler so Christiana is staying wrapped up and warm, as she should.  Her list of places to go, things to see, purchases to get is growing by the day.  At this rate she will still be here in June when we go over to Cyprus for Sophia's  graduation but thats great for me.

Here is week 3 of Merry Monday and this stunning card was made by Sally.
 
Thanks Sally, I hope you had a great Christmas with your young man.

So what do you do with all your hand made cards?  I keep mine as I know the time and love most people have put into  making the cards.  Some I use for inspiration next year when my mojo has slipped.  So they are all in a box which comes out each Christmas Card and Chatter evening speaking of which, we had a lovely evening last Friday.  I managed to make 16 tags, George did some stamping and colouring and Pam did lots of backgrounds.  It was a very theraputic evening, just what I needed.

We didnt do much yesterday but there is a stack of ironing ready to be steamed, yaks I hate that job.  But because it is there and needs doing I will do a little bit at a time until its all gone.  Paul returned and came back with more washing.....does it ever end?

Thanks for nipping in for a read and I hope you have a wonderful Monday x


Sunday

Birthday card and Blog Challenge

Yesterday was Millies birthday, she was 12 years old and I really dont know where the years have gone.  Here is the card that I made for her.
 and a bit of a close up



I loved sitting down to make this and it reminded me of why I like to make cards, especially cards like this using Penny Black Stamps, a bit of colouring, a bit of decoupage and then making it all personal with a pretty insert.  I thought I would enter this into the Penny Black Blog January Challenge, so here goes.

Yesterday I also caught up with lots of emails, some blog posts and generally a bit of an internet tidy up.  It does make me feel better when I am on top of things.

Today Paul is coming home so Christiana and I are going to cook Sunday lunch for tea time which means that I may get back into the craft room for an hourand that will lift my spirits no end.

Thanks for having a read and wishing you a wonderful Sunday.

Saturday

Happy New Year to me!!

Good morning and today I feel as though it could be good.  Another sleep 'all through the night' and starting to feel very human.  I have had this bug for so long that I had forgotten what it was like to wake up feeling positive but I did.  I think I will start my New Year from today.

A later start than normal but it is allowed.  I will be home pottering all day today with Christiana lending a hand and keeping me company.  We havent been able to do too much this last week but that's fine too.  We have spent quality time together and with lots of family visiting us too, it has been a good week.

I have another naughty little order going in this afternoon, that is one thing about being off work, you get to see lots of wonderful crafty creations that you want to have a go at so I must have a couple of bits.  If there is anything that you need (or want) from Stampin' Up! please let me know before tonight.

I would like to share this wonderful present I received at Christmas




Just look at all the attention that has been given to the little details, stunning.

It has been handmade, just for me by my talented friend Yvonne.  The photographs dont do it justice but it is now sitting in a very proud and prominent spot in my craft room.  Thank you so much.

Thanks for having a read today and I do hope you have a wonderful weekend.  Tracey x


Wednesday

Midweek Musing

I am not sure how I made it through work Monday but I did.  Came home to jacket potatoes and salad and just pottered for the rest of the day.  I will be so pleased when this cold just works it self out and lets me have a good, cough free night.

Did I tell you we had a new oven?  I cant believe the difference it has made.  Everything is cooked as it should be and I really do want to get back into baking but first, we have to eat up all the lovely Christmas treats that we have.

I went to the docs yesterday as the cold / cough is really giving me some jip so I hoped he could help and he did.  I have some very strong antibiotics as I have bronchitus.  No wonder I havent been very well, opps

Well  THE day arrived whoop whoop.  Stampin' Up! has released a whole new Spring / Summer Catalogue.  If you havent got a copy yet please do let me know and we can arrange for you to get one.  Here are a few highlights









If you click HERE it will take you to the on line catalogue and dont forget to check out the Sale a Bration Brochure and grab yourself a FREE stamp set.

If you have thought about joining or re joining the stampin up team then now is the ideal time to do this as for £99 you can get £160 worth of products.  To find out more please do get in touch.

A naughty little order will be placed later today with Stampin' Up! so if there is something that you just cant wait for, let me know.

Thanks for having a read *cough* *splutter* and lets hope I am feeling well again soon.

Monday

Merry Monday No. 2

Monday and back to work.  I am full of cold again / still and it is really getting me down as I am not sleeping at night, opps.

It is Merry Monday today and here are the home made stocking fillers that Christiana and I made for all the children in the family.




We used the top note die, some sparkly red noses and lots of circle hole punches.  The antlers are from the tree punch, I dont know what I would have done without it this year.

And here is another home made card that I was lucky enough to receive.


This has been made by Lesley.


I am sure that Christmas has become far too over complicated, we spend weeks getting ready for it.  The wonderful festive week is with us and then it takes an age trying to get sorted out and ready to commence the usual every day life.  Now can I make it easier next year?  I will certainly try.

It is Christmas Card and chatter club this Friday night.  If you plan on coming along could you let me know please so that I can make sure that the room is ready for us all.  We start around 6ish and end around 9ish and its just £1 for the evening.  You need to bring everything with you to make your own Christmas makes.  If you dont mind letting others borrow your stamps etc., that would be great so that we can get a right old selection of Christmas things ready for the end of 2016.

tomorrow is the start of the new Spring / Summer brochure and the Sale a Bration.  Exciting times ahead.  If you would to place an order for any of these items, do let me know and if you havent yet got a brochure, get in touch so that I can send one out to you.

Thank you so much for having a read today and I hope you have a wonderful day, whatever you are up to.  Tracey x



Friday

Day one of 2016



Not up till gone 9am, what a lovely way to start the New Year.

Voice is still croaky, still coughing and painful ears but I am taking lots of herbal remedies, eating lockets for the honey and wrapped up warm.   I managed to just about finish my annual accounts yesterday, just another hour on them then is off to get them all posted out so that I dont get a fine.  I have already put 12 events down in my diary for accounting days each month, lets hope I can stick to them this year.

Last night I cooked a family meal for us and my parents and we all sat around watching Mrs. Browns movie which had me in stitches.  It does the soul good to laugh.  We saw the New Year in chatting to the girls in Cyprus and eventually got to bed around 1am, tut tut.

So it is upwards and onwards and today we are off out once more on the bathroom hunt.  The bathroom is the next major project at home (although you will see quite a few discreet little changes that we have made over the festive season on your next visit). 

I also plan on getting in the craft room for a major tidy up later this afternoon, sort out the sales table and get prepared for the next couple of months with Stampin' Up!  There are some smashing new bits and pieces in the new spring summer catalogue and the Sale a Bration is just 5 days away, oh my.

I am really looking forward to spending lots of time with my crafting friends and of course, meeting lots of new friends this year too.  Well I had best get a wiggle on otherwise Paul will be deciding on bathrooms without me.

Wishing everyone reading this a wonderful 2016 for you and your families.  I am so looking forward to what this year has to bring and I shall be making sure, it brings a lot of what I want it to.