Bank Holiday Fun

Just a quick post to say having a great, but tiring time in London. Walked the kids from one end to the other & back of Hyde Park at sunset tonight. Got back to the hotel & they have both gone spark out.

I'm tired too, head about to hit the pillow.

Night x

First Outing.....

......they are off out to lunch today! :0)

Five Favourites For Friday

Today I am loving

and

both available from sarahraven.com

Also loving:

By Naughty Monkey - Can't find anyone who stocks them in the UK!!!!!  Not fair, so love the pink heels!

Wool by Rico - Creative Cotton, available from First For Yarns

Lovely Martha Stewart punch, available from Sarah's Cards Ltd:

Well thats all for today, hope to see you soon, Thanks for visiting

Hugs Can x

Card Challenge Entries

My first venture in to papercrafting was making cards.  I started this around 1997 and for many years I never brought a single card.  I hand made them all.  In 2003 I discovered scrapbooking and my card making was push aside for this new found love.  I have so much card making stash, that I feel I must put it to use.  I am entering this card in to the following challenges:

Just Magnolia - Use Sketch & Magnolia stamp

Totally Gorjuss - Use Bling - glitter on Tilda and glitter paper

Pixie Dust Studio - Use something round - button, jew drops, flower, patterned paper

Charisma Cardz - Use Circles - button, jew drops, flower, patterened paper

Creative Inspirations Challenge - Use die cuts or punches - Scolloped ovals

Everybody Art Challenge - Fairytale Theme - Princess

Stampavie & More - Birthday for a girl

Stampin' For the Weekend - Card to make someone smile or cheer them up

Stamp Something - 2 of something - 2 patterened papers


Products Used - Princess Tilda, Bazzil cardstock, We r memory keepers patterned paper, flower, button, DMC thread & jew drops

Thanks for looking  Hugs x

Spot The Difference With A Little Crafty Tip & A Tutorial Thrown In

Can't sleep again and was fed up with just lying in bed, not really in the mood for anything crafty and nothing of interest on TV (why do I pay for Sky when there is nothing to watch???)

Anyway, gone into photoshop with the intent of having a little play with my photo's to improve the quality.  First off I started with this:

Well can you spot the difference?

I must be getting tired as I sure can't lol.

The one on the left is the before and right is after I have 'improved' it.  mmmmm, so I went back and played some more.  Started with this:

Auto corrected it:

Looking better, but still had the bright light from the flash, admittedly not as bright.  Turned it sepia:

No, flash still there, but liking this effect.  I know:

If in doubt, crop it out!

Oh my I'm good, cracked this photo editing in one night.  Cracked it so well I am turning this post into a photo editing tutorial!

Tiredness is taking over, gone all delirious.

Should really give you that little crafty tip before I go.  Well you know the Jenni Bowlin Bingo cards.  When you look at the back of the packet there is a card with all six cards in the pack printed for you to see exactly what you are buying.  Don't waste them.  Great for mini books, that's what I used - Cheer, from Sport pack. 

Value for money, 12 bingo cards for the price of 6 - 6 mini and 6 teeny.  Bargain, bargain I say.

Off to bed I go.  Night all ;0)

New Stash!

Look what Mr Postie has just brought me:

Copic collection now looks like this (now got 74 ciao's):

All grouped together in colour gropus.  oh and before anyone asks yes those are my daughter's hairbands.  Must nicer than eleastic bands and far better on the fingers when they snap you.

If you have come to be via WOYWW, you can see my post for this week here.

Sorry to say but still having trouble commeting on certain blogs.  I am trying to visit you all but think we will again top the 100 mark, can't guarantee I will look at all the desks but I am doing as many as I can.

A Little Bit Of Good News

Doc has just rang & results are back from the tests.  Nothing to worry about regarding the mole I had removed on Monday.  Yay!  Was a little worried as had it removed within a week of seeing the Doctor, they seemed very eager for me to have it removed sooner rather than later.

Spent all day yesterday saying doesn't hurt, just itches.  Today I have changed my mind.....its hurting now.  Off to find some paracetamol, then sit down with nice cup of tea to look at the other WOYWWers.

Just need to sort out all the other health issues now.

Ps.  Where has the sun gone?

What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday?

Here goes with this week's snoop:

Front centre, Tilda's, coloured with first purchase of copics & glitter stickles.  Struggled with shading due to limited number, need to buy more:

Front middle - Copics - see I have added to them! Just need to put them to good use now:

My mini book.  Going to be all about me & my dreams.  Just covered the album so far and added some butterflies:

Today's view from the window:

New stash of magnolia stamps:

Thats it for this week folks, all short & sweet. Don't forget to pop over to Julia's blog to have a good old snoop at some other craft workspaces. 

Thanks for visiting, hugs x

Kids & The Things They Say......

Just been looking at my dashboard and catching up with Blogs I follow.  Liam has come down from bed, stood behind me and said 'Mommy can I be a blobber?'

Son, if you want but I much prefer Blogger!

Tuck In Tuesday - Chocolate Tiffin

Tuck In Tuesdays - home cooked food for busy working parents!

Chocolate Tiffin

Ingredients

1 pack of digestive biscuits (300g)
150g of Unsalted butter
3 tbsp Maple or Golden Syrup
4 tbsp of Cocoa
Marshmallows
150g chopped milk chocolate or chocolate buttons


This is one of those nice, simple recipes that the kids can make with very little supervision.  My two are aged 6 & 8 and have great fun making this.

Melt butter & syrup in a pan (adults)

Crush biscuits

 

Mix in cocoa

Pour in melted butter & syrup (adults)

Mix

Add marshmallows & chocolate

And mix

Pour in tin (unless you want it all over the floor, advised that adults do this part - I speak from experience!)

Press down with the back of a spoon and place in the fridge for at least an hour

Cut into slices

And end up looking like this!

Now TUCK IN & enjoy!

Lets Make Things Easy

This takes less than 15 minutes to make, even when you have two kids 'helping' or should that read fighting over who does what!

So I am pleased to say it doesn't come much easier than this.

Great for that simple pud, parties, lunch boxes (child & adult) and lovely pressie for Gran - whats better than home cooked sweet goodies that the kids have made themselves.

Meal Alternatives

Instead of marshmallows what about adding:

Crushed maltesers
Flaked coconut
Chopped nuts & glace cherries

Don't forget to come back next Tuesday for

Pork & Mushroom Cobler

Granny Squares

Thought I would show you what I have been doing over the past few days. Still resting at home on Doctors orders but I am one of these people who can't just sit and do nothing so I have been busy making Granny squares. This is how I have got on so far:

Picture is a little pale as the colours as so rich.  Not sure what colour to edge it with, think cream will be too pale in comparison to the rich colours and the teal I was going to use looks now like it clashes!  Will have to think about this while I complete the estimated 84 squares - 10 down another 74 to go.  Come to a halt now as I have used all of the 3 balls of wool I purchased.  This yarn is by Rowan and is extra fine Merino DK.  The wool is so amazing to use but I think this blanket will work out quite expensive as the wool is £4.95 a ball and I estimate I will need about 28 balls!  But just think how warm and snuggly it will be on a cold winters night all wrapped up in front of the fire!

Getting To Know You

Came across this blog a few days ago and thought I would join in.  What happens is every Sunday they list some questions, you copy and paste them in your post and give your answers.  Then you link your post on their blog.  Well here goes with this weeks questions:

1. Do you have a fetish?

     Does an obession with high heels count? lol

2. Do you sing in the shower?

     Nope

3. Who was your first crush?

     mmm, his name was Jason, having seen him recently I do wonder what on earth I was thinking of.  When it comes to men this is the story of my life really, enough said!

4. What do you think is the best manly trait a guy could have?

     Someone who makes me feel safe, protects me without overpowering and confining me.

5. Do you sleep naked?

     No

6. What do you do when (you think) no one is looking?

    

     Daydream

7. What's the first thing you do when you go online?

     If my Son has been on the laptop I reset the home page instead of some kids games site

8. Summer is.....?

     Too stuffy, don't mind the heat its just the 'close' feeling I don't like, oh & sunburn.  Like the sun just don't want to sit in it.  Lobster is so not my colour.

Hope that has given you a little insight to me!

Sunny Sunny Sunny

Oh wow, such great weather we are having.  Hope everyone is enjoying it.  We are having a lovely relaxing day.  Getting some crocheting done & looking on line to see about booking some Bank Holiday fun for next weekend. 

Come back later in the week to see if I have managed to bring all the plans together!

Five Favourites For Friday

Well, this weeks number one fav is these shoes which I now own!!!!! Just love them soooo much!

They did come up a little small, so may be worth visiting a shop & trying them on instead of ordering online

Scrapagogo June kit, just loving these papers, can't wait for the kit to come:

Midsummer Tilda, available from Glitter Pot

MME Jack & Jill Papers, had my eye of these before they can in the May Scrapagogo kit:

Our new addition, this little boy called Snowball:

Thanks for visiting, would love to hear what your Five favourites are this Friday

Mini Book Progress

Forgot to show you these pages of the kids mini books yesterday as i had not taken photos.  Here are the February pages for Freya's book:

Sorry about some of the glare from the photo, just couldn't get a decent picture!  Here is the cover for Liam's mini book, really boy papers - dinosaurs!

Have been working on a mini book for me.  This is one thing I have never done before.  I have never scrapped a LO about me, its always been about the kids.  Bit aprehensive about it but determined to do this book and record this part of my life.  I am doing a word book.  I have covered all of the pages and started to add a few embellishments.  Not sure what direction I am going with the book just yet but I'm sure with time I will get there.

Right off to bed now to see if I can get some must needed sleep.  Hugs x