My very own Boaty MacBoatface!

Good morning and how are you today?
Another beautiful day with a little wind, perfect drying weather again.
A lovely walk along the beach this morning, it was busier today as we saw at least another half a dozen owners and dogs.  Most unusual!  Holly had a good play with her pals and I had a natter walk!

It's bake off day too.  Yippee.  You know what that means?  Time to bake.
It's biscuit week.  I better get my thinking cap on.  My kids favourite biscuit is chocolate chip cookies, what is yours?
I don't think I have a favourite, plain ones I quite like a malted milk or a bit of melt in the mouth shortbread.  As for fancy biscuits I don't tend to buy them much as my lot devour them in a day or two.
I don't think you can go far wrong with a jaffa cake but then I'll be starting up last week's argument as to whether it is a cake or a biscuit?  Who cares!  It's still yummy.

Back to today and more water colouring from me I'm afraid.  I am sticking with the seaside theme and have my very own Boaty MacBoatface!

The stamps are both from Papermania, the sentiment is from Stamping for him and the boat is from Ahoy there.  I have then mounted on corresponding card stock again.

I also had a secret purchase last week, Pen I believe you did too?  Have you played yet?
My new toy is still in the box.  I picked out the instruction booklet and it said to read the book before attempting to use the machine.  Hence mine is still in the box as I work my way through the instructions.  This is what it looks like.

I am expecting big things from this machine!
Nothing to do with the operator, of course.  LOL.
My old machine is about 25 years old and has minimum stitches, this one has loads and it threads it's self too.  I have promised myself a play once my orders are completed and the housework is up to date.  If I can wait that long!

That's all from me today, back to the drawing board, so to speak, or should I say the stamping board because that is what I seem to be spending more time on.
Enjoy your Wednesday.
More from me tomorrow after work.  

When losing a loved one.

Good afternoon all and how are you today?
A day off for me today but it started real early as my eldest has a viewing with a local University two hours drive away.  He had to be at school before 7 am.
Then it was back to school to drop my other boy off at 8 am, at which point I took the opportunity to do the weekly shop, which was bought, bagged, unpacked and in the cupboard by the usual time I head into town.
I now have a bit of housework under my belt and quite a bit of dead heading in the garden (of plants, I don't want you thinking I'm upto no good!)
Two lots of washing are out as it is a lovely day with the added bonus it's windy too, the perfect weather for getting things dried.
Before I make my lunch I thought I'd update my blog and then I am free for a couple of  hours to crack on with some more card orders for friends.

Today's card is for friends that we have lost touch with of late, we used to see them quite a lot when we first married and the children were small.  Unfortunately they've had a death of a family member last week and contacted us out of the blue to let us know.  It was great to hear from them but just such a pity of the circumstances.
This is the card that will be winging their way today.

This stamp was one I picked up when Gayle, Karen, Marlene and I went to Florida for a week to CHA in what seems like a lifetime ago.  It is made by Hampton art and if I remember rightly it was in a bargain bin in Jo-Ann's.  I have made some duck egg blue watercolour and added a background after stamping the image with Archival black ink.  The flowers have a yellow centre but I have added Glossy accents for the petals, I quite like the flower colour neutral.  I have finished the card by layering in coordinated card stock and adding three small clear acrylic embellishments.  

More again on the LIS style which is probably getting really boring for you but I am really enjoying this style at the moment.

That's all from me today, I'm away to make lunch, my tummy is rumbling having had an earlier breakfast today.  

Enjoy the rest of your Tuesday.  

Happy crafting!

Bring out the banner, well it is a Bank holiday.

Good afternoon, I was going to now add what a beautiful day it has been so far considering that it is indeed a bank holiday today.  It was lovely and sunny this morning when I was at work and now that I am home, it is more like traditional Scottish bank holiday weather.
It's phishing doon (a local term).
Bet you can guess what I mean?!   :)

I had a busy day in work with it being a bank holiday there wasn't many folk about and it felt more like a Sunday.  Still job done and home now, time to catch up on my blog before tea and then a few card orders for later.

Yesterday I was at my local crop for the afternoon and I took my watercolour paints with me.
It is this week's most favourite way to colour in cards.
I made a few different CAS cards on the same line as those projects shared last week.
It is so very relaxing.

Here is my card for today.

My birthday die is by Simon says stamps cut in red card.  The banners are stamps by Docrafts Ahoy there stamp set again coloured with my watercolour paints.  I have then mounted on corresponding cardstock and added a little bit of clear bling to finish.

We had a good giggle at the crop chatting about allsorts, all topics covered!
This was topped up with lovely cake and liquid refreshments, I can't think of a better way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

That's all from me today folks, more tomorrow.
Enjoy the rest of your Monday evening.

Hook, yarn and giggle.

Good morning and how are you this Saturday?
I am doing a morning shift at work today so have bookmarked this for you. 
It's the weekend, time for a little creative smile.
I have been working on my crochet blanket during the evenings, yes I managed to get more wool.
This week therefore has a bit of a crochet feel about it.

This first one made me really smile.  You so need the right size hook for a project.

As for this next one, every project needs chains!

Finally I wanted to point this next quote out.  Did you know that........

Now I know that doesn't sound very exciting or actually very scary/brave. 

But how many times have you caught yourself with a needle as you weave in your ends?

Have you also sat on your scissors or poked your eye with the crochet hook?

Who knew crocheting was so dangerous?

It can be touch and go and the pay is terrible!

It's the finished project that makes it all worth it.  Don't you agree?

That's all from me today. 

I didn't manage my ironing yesterday so no doubt I shall be doing some of that later again weather dependant. 

I have a new toy to play with too but I will tell you more about that another day. 

Enjoy your weekend folks whatever your plans, have a good one.

It's that time of the week again, dig out an oldie!

Good morning and how are you this Friday?
It has the beginnings of another beautiful day, a bit cloudy, but hopefully that will clear later.
I have a short shift at work today so I need to get moving and get everyone organised and away to school so I too can get ready.

You know the drill by now, each Friday I encourage you to join me, for fun, sharing a previously posted project on your blog or a project you made a long time ago and haven't blogged.  I will add a link below for you to join me and visit all who do.  It only remains for me to thank those of you who regularly play along, I do appreciate it and enjoy my visit to your place to see your chosen project.
Without further ado here is my project for this week.

For this card I have used:

Paper:  Tim Holtz Kraft resist 12" pad, American craft black textured card stock.

Stamps:  Andy Skinner Flight of Fancy and Word Up.

Inks:  Ranger distress inks Crushed olive, Vintage photo and Black Soot.

Spellbinder nestabilities:  Labels 14.

Embellishments:  Tim Holtz Tissue tape, Game spinner and Sprocket gears. 

Wool from stash.

This is not my usual style but I did enjoy getting all inky.  The beauty of this shaped card is that it is also 3D but folds flat in a C6 envelope, dependant on what embellishments you use of course.

That's all from me today, better go and get ready for work, then I have a job lot of ironing to do, weather depending.  I would say I should iron outside but I have tried that in the past, dead bugs R US on all the clothes.  I guess that's the joys of living in Scotland.  We don't suffer too bad with midges here but do occasionally get a bout of them, just no where near as bad as the west coast.

Enjoy your weekend folks and thanks for popping by.

An InLinkz Link-up

Oh I do like to be beside the seaside!

Good afternoon and another beautiful day in the North.  This weather isn't getting my housework done, although I did have a first today....I actually cleaned my windows wearing sunglasses!
Now I know I shouldn't clean windows when it is sunny but I have been putting it off for too long, I now need to get the window cleaner back to do the outside.

Today I enjoyed another lovely walk along the beach before another morning pottering with odd jobs here and there, then lunch in the garden.  Unfortunately my washing machine decided that all this washing I was doing was too much and decided to throw me an error report today.  Hubby as we speak is taking bits off and trying to get it back working.  He did sort it and get it all back together then it had a leak so he has had to go back to square one.  Fingers crossed he finds the source of the leak and plugs it.

Did you watch the bake off last night?
Oh I so want to have a go at making Jaffa cakes now.  My boys love them.
There was a mixed bag last night but I'm sure personalities will start to shine as the program develops.
In honour of the bake off we had strawberry tarts here and muffins for the boys.

Nomm, nomm.  I do love a strawberry tart.  ;)

Today I have had a wee play with my watercolour paints again.  I think I might just have found a new life for lots of my little stamps that I haven't used for a long time.

I have remade yesterday's entry to the Less is More challenge this week and added a second layer.  I do like that pop of colour in the background.
The bucket and spade is made by STAMP-IT and is an oldie but goodie that I haven't dusted off in a while.  The other stamps as mentioned yesterday are by Docrafts "Ahoy there!"
Did I mention clean and simple all the way seems to be my style just now?
Aye, on more than one occasion.  LOL.

That's all from me for now.
New wool arrived today so I can continue with my blanket again.  Phew I found the colours of wool online.
I've finally reached the halfway point with my blanket and am itching to get going again, I better get some ironing done first as I am in work again tomorrow and Saturday and I will need my uniform sorting.  Then I can play!

Anyone for sharing an oldie with me tomorrow?

Something exotic in the middle of the week, how naughty!

Good afternoon and what a day it has been.  Glorious is the only word that springs to mind.
Lots of washing done today on my day off.
A lovely walk with the dog along the beach first thing and then lunch with my BFF and a good natter. As we speak the boys have gone for a dook in the sea before coming back home for a BBQ in the sunshine.  That should just finish them off nicely, and me for certain.

I hope you have had a good day too?

We don't often get this glorious sunshine in the North of Scotland so when we do I down tools and make the most of it.
Today should have been housework day but I refused point blank to spoil such a warm day!
Instead I have pottered about outside having a bit of a tidy, enjoying the sunshine.
I also got my watercolour paints back out to have another quick dabble and join the lovely gang over at the Less is More challenge blog.
This week's challenge is "Exotic!"
Now I want you to bare in mind that I live in the North of Scotland and this sunshine this is as exotic as it gets.

I'm afraid I have done a very British exotic, a trip to the seaside on a nice sunny day!
The stamps I have used are by Docrafts "Ahoy there" and as I mentioned I have used watercolour paints on watercolour paper, then mounted onto card stock.  CAS all the way.
It is a snapshot of my trip to the beach this morning.

Thanks to all the guys over at Less is more for another great challenge.

One last thing before I go.....are you as excited as me?
Guess what is back?
The Great British Bake off.  Can't wait.
I saw this on Facebook and just had to share.

It was obviously doing the rounds yesterday, I didn't catch it till this morning.
I have baked, ready and waiting, I have dark chocolate and banana muffins and hope to make some strawberry tarts at tea-time too.
And I'd like to lose weight!
If only cake was slimming, I'd be like a rake!

Enjoy the rest of your evening and remember.............ready, steady, BAKE!

I'm jamming, won't you jam along too?

Good evening and how are you this Monday evening?
Did you have a good weekend?
I had a busy day at work on Saturday followed by a quiet evening and then Sunday I got all my ironing finished before starting to wash more, it's an endless cycle! 
Then I spent the evening relaxing and putting some more of my crochet blanket together.  I am so in need of new wool now.

On to today and I have had a busy wee shift at work followed by a jam making session. 
It's that time of year again! 
I always seem to make jam on a lovely warm day, made warmer by constantly staring in a big pan and checking the temperature.
I had hoped to go fruit picking with the boys but they don't seem to have any interest this year.  There only interest seems to be in quality control!  Funny that, don't you agree?
I might still go picking on my own, our local farm usually has some lovely large blackberries if I have missed the raspberries. 
Today I picked up the raspberries at work instead, cheating a little!

I'm now just waiting for it to cool and finish setting.  Fingers crossed!
I have only made half a dozen jars this year but that usually sees us through to next summer as we don't eat a lot of it, plus the kilner jars I have are slightly bigger than normal jam jars.

What have you been up to this Monday?

I think I am going to make a cuppa now and enjoy a little unwind with my crocheting. 
Enjoy the rest of your evening. 

It's the weekend, time for a bit of a yarn again.

Good morning and how are you this Saturday?
I hope you have lovely plans for the weekend.  As for me, I'm in work for an early start today and a busy day, followed by a relaxing evening and a quiet Sunday.

It has become the norm for me to share a few crafty quotes that caught my eye during the week in the hope that it adds a smile to your weekend.
So lets get cracking.

This first one is for you Kate after the comment you left on my blog earlier in the week.  I do hope you managed to get "it" sorted.  It is so not fair when your current project isn't going as planned.

We all know that feeling, no matter what the crafty project. 

It is always followed by.....will anyone else notice?  Can I get away with it?  Or the sheer guilt takes over and you spend as long taking out stitches as you did making them.

This next one is me today.  I'd much rather be home working on my blanket. 

Make a run for it heart whilst you have the chance, no one will notice you are missing. 

I'm sure of it!

Me, I'd not be quite as lucky. 

As for this final quote it did make me laugh.  It is so upstairs!

I do love my good yarn too.  That's what I remind myself when going into work at 6. 

It pays for my fine quality yarn.

Always looking to the positive.

That's all from me today, enjoy your weekend. 

I hope you find time to do something you enjoy.

I'm planning a little crafting on Sunday.  Something to look forwards to.

It's Friday time for an oldie, I name that tune in two!

Good morning and how are you this Friday?

It's that time of the week again.  Dig out your oldies and give them an airing with me.

On a Friday I encourage you to join me re-posting a previous project or post something that you have never blogged before.  Today I have a bit of a musical theme for you and you can see the original post here.

I have used Spellbinder dies Classic circles and Labels 25, plus Sizzix egg dies and SU tag punch, framelits dies & stamps.  I've distressed the edges with tea die and embellishments from my stash.

On the cards for me today is my man mountain of ironing, but I am not doing it if it is a beautiful day again.  The forecast is for the weather to change today so I have planned my day around that being the case. 
I think I have washed everything I can this week with the good weather and so the downside of that being I shall be climbing a slightly higher mountain, crampons at the ready!
As for the weekend, I have another early shift at work tomorrow.  I haven't started my new job as yet, as I expected to.  Unfortunately on the section I work we are one full time member and one part time member of staff down.  The jobs are advertised on the website but no takers.  I thought people wanted jobs?  Hay ho.  I can't move until we get someone to replace me and the my other colleague who moved to another store.  Oh the joys!  I wonder how long I shall have to wait?

Enough of my worries, enjoy your weekend folks and don't forget to link up below or leave a wee message.  I shall visit all who take part and thank you for doing so in advance.
I do so enjoy my wee hop on a weekend.  Have a good one!

An InLinkz Link-up

Let it snow! Just not yet.

Good afternoon and how are you this Thursday?
The weather today started off with thick mist and drizzle but that has now burnt off and the sun is out again.  Time to get outside and enjoy the sunshine before all change again for the weekend.

I have been looking at the LIS challenge blog over the last couple of weeks and have made a couple of cards but have not posted them in time.  This card today was for the textured challenge last week.
I had made the card in my head but just not got around to it in person.
On the upside I may have missed the challenge but it is my first Christmas card of the year!
Most unlike me in the middle of August, I'm usually just making the last post at Christmas.

I have used pearlescent black card, the sentiment is white embossed and by Kirsty Wiseman, Many Greetings.  The snowflake die is by Poppystamps inc and I have added a little bling to finish.
CAS all the way.
I would normally use white glitter card for the snowflake design but today I went for something a little different and used some sticky back flocking.  It has real strokable texture to it but is flat enough for posting, a must at Christmas time.

Well, that is all for me today, I'm off to enjoy my lunch in the sunshine and then maybe some gardening or more crocheting outside.  I am saving my housework for later when it cools down a bit.
Enjoy the rest of your Thursday, time again for an oldie tomorrow, where does the week go?

Fun in the sun.

Good afternoon and how the devil are you this week?
Well, I don't know about you but the summer has finally hit the North of Scotland, all three days of it.
Both yesterday and Monday I was working so today, a day off, I have been taking full advantage of the nice weather.

I am afraid when the weather comes so far north I down tools and crafty things and get out and soak in my dose of vitamin D before we go back to usual Scottish weather.  Isn't it just typical that the kids went back to school on Tuesday and the sun is now out shinning.  Why not a week ago?

So what have we been up to?
We had a BBQ on the beach Monday night, as it was the last day of the holidays.
We had the beach to ourselves, it was lovely.  Then we watched the sun go down as one of my pals went out sailing.

A lovely end to the school holidays but more days like that in the six weeks would have been nice.

This morning the dog and I enjoyed a longer than normal walk along the beach, without my fitbit, such a rebel!
It was such a lovely morning the sandals came off and we had a wee paddle together.

Proof that I did get my feet in the water, it was lovely and cool, no wonder the dog likes it on a hot day.
Walking barefoot across the sand and paddling in the sea made it feel like I was on my holidays.  It doesn't happen very often but I've done it everyday this week so far.
This was our view from where we were on the beach.

Before we walked all the way back, to the harbour then across the field, still barefoot.
At one with nature!

Hubby came home from work early too so we've been out on the boat to sea this afternoon.
We didn't catch any tea this time and unfortunately the dolphins were not playing.  I even took my camera to take a picture of  them for you.  It is as if they know when I take my camera, a little shy me thinks.
We did see a huge jellyfish, it was the size of a kitchen tray.  I've never seen one that big before.  It was moving so quickly too.  I thought they just drifted with the tide.
So today has been a good day for living by the sea and enjoying the sunshine.  I refuse point blank to be in the house doing housework or crafting when it is so nice.  As we speak I've just popped in for a cuppa and a cool down and to check I am not the shade of a cooked lobster.
More sunscreen required!
I hope you are enjoying the sunshine too and that all is well with you.
More from me when the weather changes later in the week.

Knit one purl one!

Good morning and how are you this Saturday morning?

Do you have something exciting planned this weekend?

I'm working today but plan finishing off any last minute school shopping, ironing and labelling on Sunday.

It has become a custom on my blog to share a few funny quotes that have made me smile during the week, with the hope that it will brighten your weekend or even your mood.  

It is the weekend after all!

Today's selection is in honour of all those knitters out there.  Kate and Karen I am thinking of you but I know others of you also are a whizz at this crafty pastime. 

I have made a couple of items in my youth when I had my mum to hand to keep me right.  I even managed to wear one of the tops I made, remember when the big needles were popular and large loopy tops? 

Back in the 80's when fashion meant anything goes, the more outrageous the better.  

Happy times with bright colours, shell suits and shoulder pads! LOL.

Anyway I am waffling so I shall start with the quotes....

Now even as a crocheter I know this feeling, the unknown excitement starting a new project, will I manage to follow the pattern?  Will it look like the picture provided?  How long will it take?

Will the recipient like it, will I like it?

Twenty questions!

Best just get on with it and find out then, don't you agree?

Now I am a bit of a dog lover but I know lots of you out there are cat lovers all the way, so this one is for you.

Bum, bum!

I don't do cats but this is one very cute kitten, by the look on it's face I think it is about to pounce and show you it's lovely sharp claws.  

My love of cats comes from years ago when I used to babysit for a family with a cat.  It would take great pleasure of sitting behind me on the sofa and gradually digging in it's claws until I would sit elsewhere in the room.  Then it would follow me and do the same again.  

This cat and I just didn't get on.

Moving on, I can't remember whether I have shown you this one before but it makes me giggle every time I see it.  Apologies if it is a repeat but it is worth it.

He deserved it then ladies, didn't he?

I have to say knitting needles would work so much better at creating maximum creative damage as opposed to a crochet hook.  Maybe I need to think about taking up knitting then?  

That's all from me today.  Enjoy your weekend.  I hope you get time for some crafty fun and or some sunshine.  (It has been notably absent from the North of Scotland this week.)

More from me on Monday.  

Spellbinding oldie time!

Good morning and how are you this Friday?

It's that time of the week again, dig out your oldies!

I encourage you each Friday to join me in reposting an old crafty project.  It can be anything you have posted previously or something you have never posted before, as long as you have made it yourself.  Please link up below so I can hop along to your blog, I will comment on all I visit.

Here is my oldie for today.

I have used Spellbinder dies nestabilites Decorative labels one and D-lites Medallion three.  The card is black and white pearlescent with ribbons and pearls from my stash.
I love making black and white combo cards letting the dies do all the work keeping the style simple.

It's nearly the weekend folks, a quiet day for me today.  I have the dog to walk and then need to pop to work for my new uniform and a quick meeting.  The rest of the day will be a mixture of housework and crafting.  Then another busy day at work tomorrow with the last of my really early starts.
No plans as yet for the weekend but I think it will mainly involve getting the boys sorted and organised for going back to school on Tuesday.
Enjoy your weekend.

An InLinkz Link-up

Emboss and conquer!

Good afternoon and how are you today?
I enjoyed a lovely morning walk along the beach with the dog earlier, the sun was out and it was warm too.  I had thrown caution to the wind and left my fitbit at home, but not only that, the sandals also came off as I walked barefoot along the sand.  A nice foot exfoliation in the process!
It almost felt like summer.  I say felt as now the clouds have arrived and it is spitting, the forecast doesn't look good for the rest of the day either.  Boo.

I didn't get around to a post yesterday after getting in from work.  I made my sympathy card and got some bits from work to pop around to my neighbours with later, then I sat down for a nice cup of tea.
Holly must have missed me, working an extra day, because she jumped on my lap and fell fast asleep.
That was me stuck!
I did enjoy my cuddle and I got to catch up on some of the Olympics #Rio2016.  Is it just me or is GB getting a lot of fourths and fifths this year?  I know it is a good thing to be doing so well but it must be sickening to be so close to a medal, don't you think?

Talking of medals, would you allow me a quick "proud Mummy moment?"
My eldest got his Higher results yesterday and managed an A in French, and B's in English, Maths, Biology and Chemistry.
He was very happy and I was chuffed he got good results as I was concerned he was spending more time than he should have on his electronic gadgets.  He obviously had everything under control!
He is ahead of me already as I didn't finish my A levels as I was offered full time work in Banking at his age so I left college.  The draw of financial independence was too great.
He has decided to stay on at school for 6th form and is going to study Advanced Higher French and Biology plus Higher Music.
After that he doesn't know what he wants to do.  From being two he always wanted to work with animals but now he is undecided.  I think he is keen to do something language based.

Back to crafting, I know my place.
Here is my sympathy card for my neighbour.

I have used Stamp set Fancy labels and Fancy tags by JustRite Cling together with Spellbinder die Labels 18 on pearlescent card stock.  I have embossed using Personal Impressions powder Pewter Shimmer and matte and layered with matching card stock.
Finally adding a satin bow to finish.
I did try a matching an embossed background but decided I preferred it plain.
I haven't embossed for a while and thoroughly enjoyed my wee play.  I never tire of the magic, watching the powder change with my heat gun.  It always makes me smile.  
I have been spending all my free-time of late working on my blanket so it was nice to get my hands on a bit of card instead.

That's all from me today I better go and get some lunch sorted for my men.  Enjoy the rest of your Wednesday.

Fudging water colouring!

Good afternoon and how was your weekend?
I had a super busy day at work on Saturday followed by a quiet night with my boys.  Did you get the thunderstorms where you are?  Wow.  We even had a power cut.
This picture was taken by Neil Hamilton from the coastline up here.

I think you'd agree that he got one hell of a shot.  It's amazing.
The house felt like it shook at one point and little Holly didn't know what to do with herself.
Then I was searching for matches and candles as the power went down.
No WIFI on a Saturday night!
It was all very exciting.

Sunday was very breezy, the dog walk along the beach was very fast one way and then a good sandblast the other, great for skin exfoliation!
I lost one of my garden pot wellies, luckily that seems to have been the worst of the damage for us.
It was funny watching hubby try to take the tent down from in the garden, I think at one point he nearly went flying.
Unfortunately we also had some sad new yesterday, one of our lovely neighbours had a massive heart attack and died suddenly.  Such a lovely fella too and I'd only spoken to him the day before.
It certainly makes you focus the mind on what is really important.  My thoughts go out to all of the family.  x

Today I was at work, it's cleaning day on a Monday.  Lots of scrubbing!  The joys.
On the upside when I got home I had a lovely cup of tea and my favourite treat of the moment. (Which I really shouldn't eat, but they are so yummy!)

 
If you like lemon desserts you will LOVE these.  Oh me, oh my, they disappeared as soon as I opened them.  It is a pity that all my lot like them too.  They really are lush!  It's the sort of thing that you really want to savour but I don't get the chance of that here.  It's more a case of whoosh and they're gone.

I also had a wee go at water colouring this weekend.  This poppy is by IndigoBlu and is about 5 x 6" big.  It's huge!

I don't really know much about water colouring other than what I have gleaned from youtube.  I think it is a case of back to the drawing board and practise a wee bit more.  I am not happy with it but then I always want to run before I can walk.
One of my crafty pals saw it and liked it.
I am always very critical of my own work.
I also made a few more squares for my crocheted blanket over the weekend.  I am now halfway through and just threading them together before starting again making more.
It's going to be a long haul.

That's all from me today, time to go and put the tea on and then I think tonight I will be making a sympathy card.
Another day in work tomorrow, then a couple of days to get the kids sorted before going back to school next week.
Enjoy the rest of your Monday.

It's the weekend time for a creative smile or two.

Good morning and how are you this Saturday?
I am much better after my chill out massage yesterday, just in time for going into work.
Today I have a mixed back of quotes for you.  I have to admit I am now finding it harder, and harder to find new creative giggles.

This first one is me all over.  I would love one of those incredibly tidy craft rooms from Pinterest where everything has it's place and you can find something instantly.

Mine resembles a room from one of the TV shows where the house is such a mess they've got a whole army of folk in to tidy it for them.  Now there's an idea!
At this point I'd like to add the rest of my house is much better, I'm just a crafting slob!

The next couple of quotes I have gone slightly off piste with.  I have reached that part of the school holidays where this becomes a regular occurrence!

It is usually followed by the words, "just do it!"

At which point this happens.......

Arh, can you tell it is week five of the school holidays!

Not long now.  

All the teachers are now complaining as the holidays are going too fast and all the parents are counting down the days when life can get back to normal.

Or is that just me?

I start my new job next week at work, I am going to be let loose on the customers, heaven help them or should that be me?!

Either way I shall be working double the hours I have been doing so it might be a bit of a shock to the system.  I think it will go one of two ways, I shall either be really good and be more organised because I have less time at home to do things or I shall just be more than a craft slob!

My blog may suffer a little to start with as I adjust to the new hours and getting the kids sorted to going back to school.  

I guess it shall be a case of watch this space.

Sharing an oldie this Friday.

Good morning folks, sorry not posting this week.  I'd like to say I have been having fun with the boys during the holidays, that was the plan.  Unfortunately that has not been the case.  I have been troubled with a sore head, be it headache or migraine this week.  This is day four!  I find it so frustrating because I have lots of things I can be doing and I've just been sat quiet or sleeping.  Such a waste of a week.  Anyway enough of my troubles, lets get back on track and share an old crafty project.
I encourage you to join me, the more the merrier!
You can post anything you have made yourself and previously blogged or something you've never blogged before.  Feel free to link up below and then I can visit you all and see what you have posted too, I will comment on all.

Today I must be feeling sorry for myself and have picked this card to share!

For this card I have used Spellbinder Grand Labels twenty three, Nestabilities Labels twenty five and Shapeabilities Lattice motifs.  The sentiment is Marion Emberson It's all in the words and I've used Distress ink Shaded Lilac.  The seam binding and pearls are from my own stash and the textured card is by American Craft.
I have used Labels twenty five to create a frame and layered Lattice motifs with different layers of 3d foam to create a curved effect too. 
This isn't picked up too well with the photograph but it had a definite curve to it!

That's all from me today, I'm off for a massage soon so hopefully that will help.  Can't wait.  It is one treat I always look forwards to.
Have a good weekend folks, I look forwards to seeing what you have posted too.
Catch you again tomorrow. 

An InLinkz Link-up

Where do you get your inspiration from?

Good evening and how are you today?
It has been a beautiful day here in the North of Scotland although it has turned colder now.
I  have a few jobs under my belt today and a quick visit to the doctors for a check up.
Homemade soap and malteser slice made for lunch time so I am cheating tonight and we are having a naughty takeaway.

In my title I asked you where you take your inspiration from.  Today's card was inspired by a plastic bag!

Our green food bags are no more, we now have these little black and white numbers and have had all this year.
I was asked to make a card for work, one of my colleagues this week reached the grand age of fifty
This is what I came up with.

I have used the ribbon to simulate the handle of the bag and gingham card to create the checkers.  The buttons are by Dress it up and are items we sell in the shop.  It is an 8" card, big enough for everyone to sign.
Gillian I hope you had a super day and that you like your card.

Today I also have been playing with a little water colouring.
What can I say?
I am not a natural and need more practise.  Back to the drawing board for another go I think and maybe a couple more you tube videos for direction.
I love the fact that if you need to know something today you can just google it.
The wonders of technology.

That's all from me today, I am hoping that my takeaway arrives very soon I am starting to feel a little peckish.
Back tomorrow with more crafting enjoy the rest of your evening.

Hook, yarn and counter again.

Good afternoon and how are you this Monday?
I'm just back from a short shift in work today with nothing crafty to show.  I have had some new stash arrive from America in the last week and some new watercolour paints, lots to play with, I just need to find the time and inclination.
I had a busy day at work on Saturday followed by a relaxing evening and a very chilled out Sunday.
There was lots I should have been doing but I was a little achy after Saturday so I was very naughty and chilled out, crocheted a wee bit more of my blanket.  I am now officially half way through it and running out of wool rapidly.
Rather than bore you with another photograph of the on going blanket I found this and it made me smile.  Now I normally only send smiles on a Saturday but I think on a Monday it is maybe needed that wee bit more.

Talking of free yarn I am away to see if I can find another supplier as the shop I was getting my wool from has stopped stocking my colours.  Wish me luck!
I better find some as I have my crochet head on just now.

Short and sweet today, time to think about tea and jobs then maybe a little crafty time later.
Enjoy the rest of your Monday.