Gosh

Tuesday already, where does the time go?  The Cricut Design studio workshop went really well on Saturday @ Stamp Addicts despite it being quite difficult to gauge it for all levels but I'm hoping people got something from it.  Here are a few samples that I made for the day.

I got the floral border from here

You can download the backpack from here

and this Love album I designed myself.

I thought Saturday was going to be my last paid craft job however that doesn't now seem to be the case but will give more details soon.................

Spent a lot of time tidying again at the weekend and the craft room is now 99% complete.

Sunday we went to see Avatar in 3D...............WOW it was awsome and if you haven't you really must - and that's despite suffering with motion sickness when the film started!!!

More snow has been trying to fall but so far nothing of any signifigance, so fingers crossed we will get no more.

A busy week ahead - tomorrow a meeting about craft, Thursday I collect my new glasses (I'm giving bifocals a go) Friday is the 3 Jolly Scrappers Crop, Saturday is the Craftystash crop, Saturday evening I'm going to watch Mark perform in his barbershop concert and then Sunday is a day of Luv...............  Will have cards to share at the weekend showing some of the wonderful things you can do with Make the Cut.

Just a quickie

tonight - I haven't vanished just been busy prepping for tomorrows Design Studio workshop at Stamp Addicts - Looking forward to seeing some faces from the last workshop together with some new ones :-)  Will post pictures of some projects tomorrow - Haven't done many but it's really made me get to grips with the Design Studio software.  I hope to play more with my Cricut from now on as I now have the Make the Cut software and I LOVE it - so more on that soon..................

Have also started a major sort or our house ready for the summer car boots.  Whilst demoing haven't actually sorted much so a good clear out is well over due.  The Craft room is also going to be finished this weekend together with a planned trip to the pictures to see Avatar.

Who ever stops by here I would like to wish you a very Happy Weekend xxx

No need to worry

the Cricut workshop was an absolute joy and I met some lovely ladies, some of whom I knew or had met before :-)  Here are just a few of the samples I made to show.

Now to start thinking about the prep for the Design Studio workshop on the 6th Feb - there are still 2 places left if you are interested.  Some of the ladies that came on todays' workshop are coming so that's made it even more something to look forward to.

Tomorrow I'm off to the Crop held @ Southoe which I'm really looking forward to - just need to think about what I will do. I'll be back Monday with more pics.

Update about the Gypsy

For anyone on the workshop today - I've done some further research on the Gypsy and will be the first to admit I've got my take on it a little wrong!!!

Once you have loaded your carts onto the Gypsy you cannot then load them onto another Gypsy but you can still use them on all machines, I therefore apologise if I mislead anyone in any way.  The only thing you must be careful off is if you buy any carts 2nd hand that they haven't already been loaded onto a Gypsy if that is your intention.

As I am  a gadget person, maybe I need one afterall - latest news from CHA

Whittle knickers

that's me - A little while ago I was approached by Stamp Addicts at Kempston to run a beginners class on the Cricut, as I had once demonstrated it for them at their Stevenage Craft Show.  Well the day has finally come and I am running the workshop tomorrow morning for 12 ladies that I'm yet to meet and all week all I have done is worry.  I worry that what I am going to say and do is what they want.  That they will like the samples I've made - why oh why do I still worry so much about what people think?  I LOVE the cricut (having once given the Robo a go) and turn to it more and more when I craft.  I even upgraded from the create to the expression.  I use the design studio (as I love many of the carts), SCAL2 and have just purchased Make the Cut, which I have to say is fabulous.  Tomorrow I will post photos of some samples I've made (bag now packed and I was so anxious have forgotten to take photos!!)  Wish me luck xx

Procrastinate

v. t. - To put off till to-morrow, or from day to day; to defer; to postpone; to delay;

I do this word far to often so with that in mind I'll be back soon :-)

Yesterday

was the Craftystash crop @ Tempsford.  This month the projects were designed by Karola - there were 2 layouts, 1 mini book and a card - I only managed one layout!!  The day was made even more special as Lucy came with me.  She made the same layout but adapted it to her 8 x 8 style - it will be on her blog later.

It was a really busy crop and my lovely friend Sharon was also there.

No pictures

just my ramblings :-)

Have been at my job 3 months today and was told yesterday have passed my probation so am now a permanent member of staff.  Have really settled into this job despite the cold - haven't laughed so much for years.

I currently feel like a child in a sweet shop who only has 10p to spend!!! There are so many lovely workshops coming along in the next few months and I know I can't afford to go on them all (if we would like a family holiday) but which ones to choose???  I love being taught and being with people.

Donna Downey at Your Touch of Craft 17th to 18th April

Scrapping Angels Retreat - 24th to 25th April

Craftystash Workshop - 28th March

Art from the Heart - Fabby Dabby Weekend - 26th to 28th March

and I'm sure there are more but have stopped looking as I need to give all of these serious thought

Windows 7

Just wanted to say how pleased I am with my upgrade to Windows 7 - when I bought my desktop 2 years ago I had to have Vista as XP was no longer available - what a piece of tripe. My computer would hang, I'd be kicked off the Internet and I was getting totally fed up so I decided to bite the bullet and install windows 7 vista upgrade - well what can I say FABULOUS - I no longer have any of the problems I was getting before. The only downside some might consider is that you have to move over to windows live mail but even that has proven to be a delight so if you are having problems I can only suggest you upgrade to :-))

A Very Lucky Girl

I know I'm very lucky in lots of ways but last weekend was fabulous. Due to demo work and just a pure OCD as far as craft products are concerned my craft room for a long time has felt very uninviting and overcrowded, so last Saturday we had a family trip to IKEA and after a very long weekend below is the result :-) This is why Lucy and I have wanted to spend all this weekend crafting in our lovely new organised space. It's amazing what we found!!!! that I'd forgotten I had! lol Still have a few bits to find a home for so one more unit is required and then it will be so easy to keep tidy but also easy to find and get things out. Lots more crafting to come.

Look at what Lucy has just sent me by email :-)

Hello Mum,


Mums Are Something You Can't Live Without,

They Are Something To Cherish, Without A Doubt.

When The Day Comes You Move Away,

You Will Miss Your Mum, Everyday!


So Look After Them, When They Grow Old,

Like They Did To You When You Were Young.

Remember How Much They Did For You,

And Return All The Good Favors.


This Is Just A Little Reminder,

Of How Much I Love You.

And Whatever Life Throws At Us,

You Will Always Be My Mum.


Thank You, For Being My Mum! x

like a bus

nothing for ages then loads all at once - this is a layout I started at a demo I did for Your Touch of Craft back in Sept 2009

and another

this is the last Craftystash layout for today

More Craftystash Layouts

Am spending the day crafting again with Lucy :-) Here are the very first layouts I did at Craftystash Crop back in August 2009

back later with some more, I hope - have a fab Sunday

Lucy's Blog

My Lucy has made the decision to blog again and you can catch up with her latest news here

Happy New Year

Well it's better late than never!!!!!!!!! Hope everyone that reads this has had a good Christmas, I certainly enjoyed the break but am now ready for 2010.

I didn't make any resolutions this year as feeling really positive about 2010 and know things will happen when I am ready or when they are meant to. I would love to shed a few pounds but won't even try during this cold snap. I want to become more tolerant and more laid back but all I can do is try!

As it is so cold this weekend Lucy wanted to spend the time crafting together (that really makes me feel good :-) so I have spent the time finishing layouts that I started last year. I started attending the Craftystash Crop at Tempsford last August but very rarely finish the projects completely on the day so have spent today finishing some off so that they are now all away in my lovely American Craft Album (think I may have to buy some more of those soon)

September Layouts

October Layout
November Layout

December Layouts

I can't wait until next weeks crop as my daughter Lucy and my lovely friend Sharon are coming and we are doing projects designed by Karola

Just click on play to see my greeting - it's all perfectly safe I promise :-)

Make a Smilebox greeting

Not finished

but will update further next week as have photos to share from the Crop @ Tempsford on 5th Dec, Tracie Hudson workshop @ WCG on the 6th. Haven't done much in the way of a handmade Christmas as with the new job I get so cold at work (no heating and many layers of clothes) that I get nice and cosy in the evening and keep falling asleep!!

Would just like to share this craft project from the Tracie Hudson workshop as I am really really pleased with it :-) Will be doing some more of this style of work in the New Year.

Anyone for Tennis?

Back in July for Mark's birthday I bough him some tickets to see the Masters Tennis Tournament from The Royal Albert Hall. The day was great fun with even the weather behaving itself. We started of with Hot Chocolate @ Harrods - Mark had never been before and I know would have like to have stayed longer. Their Christmas window display this year is The Wizard of Oz and they have a giant pair of shoes coming from out of the shop.


I'm not really into tennis and thought the afternoon was going to be a long slog but I really enjoyed it. All the games were a lot of fun to watch and there were some really funny moments. It was great spending the day with Mark. Coming from London and not leaving it until I was 29 I hate going back but maybe distance has made the heart grow fonder and am already planning some family trips for next year.

and another

November saw my Lucy turn 12 (she has also now taken me over in height!!!) We took her and 4 friends to Frankie and Benny's and then they all had a sleepover - I think great fun was had by all. The Saturday evening was another sleepover but this time with her 2 cousins and she finished off the birthday weekend with a Sunday lunch cooked by my very lovely husband for the family.

Here's a not very good photo of the card I made for her