So Guys can't wait to find out about CHA from little old moi?
Just got another post after this one then all will be revealed...so not much longer to wait.
If however, in true crafting style you can't wait.......drum roll please......why don't you pop over to Marlene's blog where she is giving...yep giving away stash candy from C H A !!!!!!!
Go on you know you want to!!

http://mar1ene.wordpress.com/2009/08/04/cha-candy-giveaway/#comments

Marlene I've just gone and done it!
Copic's are ordered...can you believe that they're cheaper here than in the US...isn't that unusual!

Before updating on CHA I thought I should post in order as I have a few pre-trip crafty items to share.
These were a couple of cards that I made for a relatively new friend Jim. He has helped me so much over the last month...so it was only fitting I make him cards for his daughters wedding, the theme being...can you tell?? Sweet peas.
Don't know whether he will catch this in "blog land" but I'm sure he knows how much he is appreciated...and I do hope he liked them.
It was nice to make Wedding cards out of my comfort box..with plenty of colour.
Jim I hope you got your speech sorted and the weekend was one to treasure. Oh and "I did it, enjoyed it and yep we got a meal"! But then you know that already don't you!!

Well guys that's me back from Florida and this years CHA craft trade fair.
What can I say about it?
Well I have never laughed so much in a long time. The company was fantastic, thanks girls. The food and drink just kept flowing. And as for the craft shopping well, we all had to pay extra shipping to get our cases home...I think that says it all!!
As for pictures...I hope to get them to you soon with lots of interesting news so watch this space....

Teachers gifts at the end of term.
This year I decided to do candles for my boys' teachers. The cards I made using the DCWV Grade school papers.
I think they liked them!

A first for me.
Bought beads, charms and handbag clips with a view to trying "handbag charms".
This is attempt 1.
Pat I hope you liked it, together with your present and card...sorry I couldn't be with you on this special birthday....I can't believe you've reached "that" age!
I won't spill the beans on here...but it doesn't seem that long ago we were in Newcastle shopping..trying on hats and shouting "MUM" over to see what she thought, LOL.
Have a great party.

I've been trying to up load another card for days now and it doesn't seem to want a viewing. Why? Well every time I upload it it rotates 90 degrees, never happened before and never with any other card, so work that one out? Answers on a postcard to.....!!! I've tried every combination and have come to the conclusion that the "puter says NO!"

As to this card...which I mentioned at the last crop in Aberdeen, that I was working on. When I was given the brief for it I thought "Yikes" but as with all requests a little thought and I was cracking on. Needless to say I was really happy with the end result and so was the client.
I hope you guys like it too.

Hello!
Haven't been on here much of late. Busy with school things...as the end of term looms and up here in Bonny Scotland we've been having a heat wave!
Now, as this is somewhat unusual, we have been making the most of it and have taken up temporary residence on the beach!
But just to keep you going here is a recent Christening card. This stamp I have had for years but it is still my favourite when it comes to a Christening card....I love it. I have coloured with prisma pencils my favourite colouring medium just now.
Anyway enjoy the sunshine as the kids break up Thursday, and we all know what that means?!
The weather will change!

Now I did mention that I'd been busy making a few bespoke cards for local folk in the village. The craft trend of more is more doesn't follow locally and still less is more...which is great as it keeps cost down. My list is getting shorter, hopefully I'll soon be seeing light at the end of the tunnel and I can get some stock made but then the kids break up soon...just in time for me to get on top of things...wishful thinking!

Still it's nice to do something that I enjoy doing....I would just like to petition for more hours in a day or more energy!! (Both would be better but don't want to come accross as being greedy!)

This it the card I made Jacqui to wish her all the best for her new business craft venture "Go Create" in Alford. The colour scheme inspired by the colours in the shop, which work really well. The shop is very classy and definitely girlie but very grown up girlie!
The stamp again is from the Ketto range...and I think I may be needing some more of them next time I'm through. I can see the start of another collection!!

A lot has happened in my little world since my last post. For a start I had a birthday, the big 40, still sat here waiting for my life to start....maybe in order to do that I need to get my bum off the chair!! (And I'm so comfortable)

I got a great camera from my hubby and have been having great fun playing with it.

It has also been my mum's birthday "Happy Birthday you"!!!

This was the card I made for her using my new stamps bought from Jacqui's beautiful new shop in Alford "Go Create". The stamps are from the Stampingbella Ketto range and are so sweet. I started with the orange and black Harley theme for the card but the gold naturally took over as I played. I think it smacks of the 1970's, however I have been told bold bright is all back in.

This was the final class at SU in Aberdeen and Diane took it. I love the 3d affect of this card and enjoyed putting it together.
Looking forwards to the next event later in the year. It's the first event I've been too and actually finished everything.
As fella crafter's know we have cupboards full of half finished items, especially from Holland. One day I'll get them all sorted! (Wishful thinking!)

This was Kara's class at the SU camp. I loved having a go at the stamping layers, very effective and as all SU stash co-ordinates beautiful the final effects are great. To finish it off we added very fine glitter to get that BLING feeling which unfortunately isn't clear in this picture.

Now back to the SU stamp class. This was Elaine's class and I have to say I love this colour combo, so much so when I saw Pam at the weekend she mentioned that I matched the card we'd made at SU camp in Aberdeen. Had a good giggle in this class also, thanks Elaine but then we always end up giggling about something! I loved the rollers and the mitered edges...which I need to practise. Oh my SU wish list gets bigger daily!

We seem to have a lot of birthdays in May.

My baby was 5 yesterday and shock horror got a bought birthday card! I know it's bad but he was much more interested in his party and decorating the house in an "animal" theme.

These are a couple of the cards I've made recently for birthdays. I've made very similar cards for the sisters across the road and the rugby themed card was for one of DS friends who is 10 today, Happy Birthday George!

SU Stamp camp in Aberdeen, as promised more pic's of what we made. This was Dawn's class. I love the colour scheme and the stamps. The internal section was made using the 3D sizzix cake die, which caused no end of innuendo's, giggles and snigger's. (You had to be there!!) It kept us amused throughout the day, will we ever look at the die in the same manner again?!

Today I have mostly been "playing with my blog". I know there are far more important things to be doing like housework, yep but I'm on strike and pottering on here instead.

I promised some pictures from the Stamp Camp in Aberdeen earlier in the month so to wet your appetite I have started with the make and takes which were quickly put together in the morning before lunch and afternoon classes commenced. I had a great day crafting and enjoyed the company of some new and old faces, you know who you are!!!
(And I haven't eaten the sweets yet, how good am I!!)

Now as I've been so bad keeping up on here lately I'm now going to post twice on one day.
All or nothing here I'm afraid.

My fella crafter's have heard my pleas of late for a doggy stamp to create a sympathy card. I was actually looking for a black collie but found nothing at all that I liked. I found this image and have tweaked it slightly. My pal who I made it for said it was just what she wanted so therefore I'm happy. Dare I mention the word decoupage without being slapped?!! Not only a bad crafter but a secret (not anymore) decoupager!!!

Guess what?

I've got batteries!!

Yippee....

Here are a couple of requests I've had recently.

One for a friend of a friend who has just passed her "Easy Jet" training

and the other for a retiring thespian.

I'm a bad, bad, bad blogger!
You know why?
I can't get off my bum and charge my batteries for my camera.


I'm not being a lazy crafter...I am busy making cards, honest. Do you believe me?
So guess you could say I'm being a lazy photographer!! (Maybe not photographer and more "point and shooter"!!)
Jo I'm in need of your services!!

I've been a bad blogger of late...but guess that means I'm busy, which isn't a bad thing...either that or lazy?!
I have been ticking over with cards but not taking pictures...trying to build up a wee bit of stock. I seem to have the speed of a tortoise just now, must be the Salsa and Spinning fitness I'm squeezing into the week. (That's my excuse)

As for the Easter holidays, DH and I took the boys to Center Parcs and then onto Legoland...and what a fab couple of weeks we had. My youngest most mornings since getting back asks if he can go back to Legoland again today! (He has no concept of how far away it is but was obviously was really impressed).

Anyway I hope all you crafters out there are finding time to play...I'm away to crack before, heaven forbid, I end up doing some housework, yikes!