another corny card

It was also my Grandads birthday a couple of days ago, and using the same Pink Petticoat download (and the same glossy accents and sparky stuff) I made his card - very similar to my Nans but more masculine.

Corny birthday card

On Fathers Day it was also my Nans birthday. I normally cover / alter a notebook for part of her present (she uses notebooks like they are going out of fashion), but time was not on my side so this year there was not a notebook (or anything else altered)

I did make sure I made her a card though and here it is (and for once I didnt use my nesties .. but I did buy a new pink petticoat download - which I also used for the Fathers day cards)

Fathers day cards

Here are the cards I made for Fathers day this year ... not as many as last year because with working almost full time hours I haven't got enought time for any orders so I only made my own ..... maybe I'd better bear that in mind in the run up to Christmas (OMG!! I cannot believe I said the 'c' word in June!!!)

Images are Pink Petticoat and cut out with the nesties (how original am I?)

Birthday card for Callams school friend

Last week Callam went to a girls birthday party and along with some jewellery I had made, he also took this card.

The sparklies are swarovski diamantes and the font is 'font diner sparkly'

The image is from a Pink Petticoat download that I bought last year (and have only used twice previously) - diamond sparkles (psx) were added, along with glossy accents then the image was cut with the scalloped nestability die and 2 nestie frames were added.

The finished card is below.

Kerrys birthday card

On the 13th it is my friend Kerrys birthday.

Here is the card I have made for her -I have used one of the Holly and Maddison images that is already coloured and I have printed it straight onto the card. Glossy accents have been added.

Wedding Anniversary

Well today its 13 years since I married my wonderful Hubby and as per usual I left the card till the very last minute (it was finished at ten oclock last night) I had been wondering for a few days what to put on it and spent some time on the web late yesterday afternoon looking for inspiration and I finally found exactly what I was looking for on Charmed cards and Crafts - a Holly and Maddison download. It was more than I wanted to pay because I only wanted the one image but I am sure that the others will get used over time (like for one of my friends birthdays in a couple of weeks) As I had left it so late I ended up using the coloured version of the image rather than colouring it myself.

Below is the front of the card (I really hope it's not too girly) - the aperture is cut using a nestability die in the cuttlebug

Below is the inside (It took me a few minutes to line up the image with the aperture but it was worth it)

Below is the image at a different angle so you can see the glossy accents I have added - on the hair and on the straps - its also on the shoes but that piccie looked awful so its not on here.



Happy Anniversary Cliff. xxx

Thought I would edit this post and show you my outfit that I wore (we went to Akbars on Meadowbank Road, Rotherham - top Indian restaurant in my opinion)

Here are my lovely strappy sandals (and no we don't have some dodgy bizarre looking skirting boards or panelling, it is a chest of drawers behind them)

And heres my dress - it's a 'Star by Julien Macdonald' from debenhams (and the thing hanging off the bottom is the tag)

and finally my beautiful bouquet of flowers from Cliff - glad to see he's finally getting the hang of this florist malarky - its only taken almost 18 years (yes, this summer we have been together for half of my life...gulp)

Dianes birthday card

Here is the card I made for my Sisters birthday which is on Wednesday. The image is a Pink Petticoat image which was digitally coloured (using 'paint') and sparkly and glossy bits were added.

Below is the inside of the card (and after taking thses photos I turned the brads so they were all facing the same way)

Here is the cute handbag charm from carolyns although I have had it tucked away for a couple of years waiting for something to use it on

And finally (below) this is the box with the bracelet inside - I used the same ribbon and felt flowers as I used on the card.

Leannes leaving card

Well Leannes leaving card is finished and I am really pleased with it. I used some more of the lace I got in the 'group purchase' on
CBC

The silver oval was cut with the nestabilities in the cuttlebug and the holes around the edge were done with my crop a dile.

On the backing paper (making memories boho chic) I have used glossy accents to do the shiny dots.

2 of the cards on my list

Heres the start of 2 of the cards I have to make - printed and I have used the cuttlebug to cut them out and have used stickles and glossy accents on them.

Whilst they are drying I am going to have some lunch then hopefully get them finished.

I have looked at my blog and noticed there is a big gap here with nothing on and I cannot get rid of it grrrrrr on the preview (and the compose bit) it looks great without a big gap and then when I publish, bam, there it is, empty space .. . apologies.

Dianes bracelet

Well as mentioned in my previous post, my little jewellery package arrived ...and it was little - you don't get much for your money.

Here are the contents of my parcel (not including my chain)

and here they are out of the plastic packaging.

And the final product - it was so easy to assemble, and fast, wow its the quickest thing I have made .... well if you don't count all the coffees I make myself.

The photos don't do the bracelet justice, it is really pretty and very shiny, I just hope Diane likes it.

Now my next task is to make some cards: Dianes birthday, Leannes leaving, Kerrys birthday, Peter and Celinas new baby card and I was wondering about doing a photo album for Peter and Celina too ... or something with a teddy, but whatever I make has to be mailed to Germany so it doesnt really want to be too heavy (or too big) ... anyway its not gonna get done if I am sat here waffling on about it is it?

Oh it is our Wedding Anniversary on Monday too so that another card I need to make.

broken Tiffany

On Sunday night I broke my chain that holds my Tiffany heart and as it is a snake chain I woudn't even know where to start to repair it (or even if it can be done)

So on Monday whe nI was ordering the components to make Dianes bracelet I popped a new sterling silver chain into my basket too. The postie has just been and my tiffany is as good as new (well almost, if only the sterling silver jump rings didn't keep going a funny yellow colour ... but I suppose thats what you get if you don't take your jewellery off when you spray perfume)

spending ... just a little though

Well today I have ordered a couple of things off the web. It is my Sisters birthday at the beginning of June and have decided to make a charm bracelet as part of her present, so those goods have been ordered and paid for (hope they get here in time)
I have also been onto pink petticoat and ordered a new lola download to make her card (currently downloading as I am typing this) and the girl who is leaving (and who's job I am having) will also be getting a card made from this download - I will be making these either tomorrow or Wednesday .. so photos will be on really soon .. .well hopefully

wow, its been a bit hectic but here's my story

I can't beleive how long it is since I last posted - the time has flown by so quickly and Ive been exhausted - this could be a long one whilst I explain everything so I suggest if you are considering reading it all that a strong coffee might be in order (firstly so you have your 'cuppa' and secondly to probably keep you awake whilst I waffle on)

OK, I will start at the beginning:
When I had Callam I suffered with post natal depresison and had I gone to the docs sooner I probably could have saved myself a lot of trauma (Oh don't you just love hindsight?) but did I go to the docs as soon as I realised what it was? Of course I didnt, I did my ostritch impression and put my head in the sand hoping it would go away (all the while doing a bloody good job of hiding it from everybody - not the wisest thing to do)
When callam got to 6 months old I was really struggling to hide the depression and went onto seroxat, which worked for me (well kind of, at least I didn't sommit suicide which many on that particular drug have been known to do) for a while, then it stopped working and I changed medication - this happened quite a few times over the years.
When Callam started nursery I went back downhill and was a mess and didn't want to go out of the house, answering the telephone sent me into a panic and I spent the whole summer (pretty much) in the house and the anxiety set in (Oh fun times!!)
I eventually (with the help from my wonderful health visitor) got a CPN who has worked with me for the last few years (Callam is 10 now) and have slowly (Oh so very slowly) progressed - the mild agorophobia is almost (I did say almost because it is still lurking in the back of my mind) gone and I still suffer with anxiety and panic attacks but am completely off all my medication (at my very worst I was on diazepam alongside my antidepressant, reboxetine)
The wedding stationery has been a bit of a diversion, something to do, but meeting with brides was difficult because of the way my anxiety is I have no confidence with people I don't know when I am face to face (or on the telephone) - this obstacle has caused a few problems to the extent that I am unsure if I will do any more wedding stationery (I am keeping my website for the time being until I decided one way or the other)

Anyway my Husband (who has been wonderful throughout my illness) got me a voluntary position at his place of employment and after notifying the benefits agency (yes I have been on incapacity - but everything has been declared - I don't sleep particularly well most nights and if I was to do anything that is not allowed I would have even more anxiety) I have been doing a couple of short days in the office - admin work (filing, checking forms, etc - no telephone answering as I'm still not comfortable on the phone) for the last few weeks.

I have been offered a proper job with the company and I didn't have to have an interview (which was the only thing stopping me from applying for anything. The best way to explain it is to get you to think about how nervous you are for a job interview ... you got that feeling?? well that is how I feel on a trip to the supermarket - so unless you have anxiety you won't have experienced the shock to the system that an interview would do - everything is exhausting and the fact that I sleep so badly doesnt help - thats the short explanation.) .... anyway, back to the good news. I have been offered a proper job with good pay (more than I had dared to hope for) and I am starting properly in a couple of weeks time. I am expecting to be even more tired than I am just doing a few hours two or three times a week but I can't wait to come off the benefits.

You still reading this?? wow, well done to you and thanks for 'listening'

spooky

We are looking at getting our ensuite refitted and went to the local bathroom shop. The guy in there showed us some photos for ideas and some of the photos had 'orbs' on them and the man in the shop explained that they are spirits.

I came away and thinking about it remembered that when we were having some (lots) work done on our house I took some photos that had orbs on them when I had put them onto the pc (at the time I hadn't known what they were, right until the man in the bathroom shop told me).

Here they are ... make your own opinions (I have made mine and a quite freaked out about it - I do not rest easy when supernatural thoughts are in my head)

The first photo has them, very faintly on the fridge door and also (much more visible) on the cupboard door under the sink and on the drawer unit

Next they are on the cupboard door (under the microwave)
And next they are all around my beautiful boy (there are loads on this photo)

matching cards for my Nephews 1st Birthdays

My nephews were born within weeks of each other so I made matching cards with only a couple of differences - my mojo has taken a short (well I hope its short) holiday it seems and I'm really struggling with cards and stuff at the moment.

Easter cards

I only had to make 2 easter cards this year and luckily I got a free Pink Petticoat download which was perfect. I added sparkly bits and glossy accents were used too. I cut out with nesties (once again)

Bag Charms

A friend asked if I could make 3 bag charms (she loved the one I made for her so much).

I made the chains myself too.

30th Birthday card

This week saw the 30th Birthday of my Sister in Law and this is the card I made for her. Image is Pink Petticoat. I have used sparkles (diamond) and glossy accents on it. The numbers are sizzix pigeon toed charms and I have used scalloped oval nestabilities, then embossed with a cuttlebug folder. I rubbed a pink and then a gold coloured ink pad around the edges.