Taking a Break

It is with a heavy heart that I am taking a break from crafting to a schedule on Design Teams.

I have some issues with my health that I need to concentrate on and my crafty mojo has completely disappeared. It is unfair to keep the teams I am on dangling on a string so I have taken the decision to stand down. My health is my ultimate priority and I am hoping that I may be tempted into my craft room of my own volition and not feel the pressure of looming deadlines.

I've got a little room full of crafty stuff so I will be back :)

I want to take this opportunity to thank the following people for bearing with me over the last month

Choccy at OSAAT

Kris at Imagine That!

Janey at Janey's Digi Designs

and Jules at Daisy Doodles

I will still be the Sponsor Co-Ordinator at Stitchy Bear Digi Outlet so if there are any challenges looking for sponsorship for 2014 please get in touch with me at mandy(at)cruxton(dot)net

250 Followers and a CDAC Win

Well today is a good day already and it is only 8am.

I have reached a momentus milestone of 250 followers. Thankyou Asmah for being lucky number 250. When I started blogging my cards I never thought that anyone would be remotely interested in what little old me had to say. It was merely a way of keeping a catalogue of the cards I made and back when I started in 2007 it was quite a new thing. Not being afraid of technology I thought I would have a go.

Little did I know that it would open up a massive world of challenges, so much inspiration, many connections with people from all over the world but most of all making friends.

As I went through some of the darkest times with my re-occurrence of depression following my Mother's death I realised that there were a lot of people who were in the same situation so I talked about it on my blog. After 2 years of seeing an amazing counsellor I am literally on top of the world, enjoying my life with a passion and feel like this huge weight has been lifted.

Blogging and entering challenges was a big part of my recovery as the positive comments about my projects really helped to boost my non-existent self confidence. As a DT member myself I try very hard to write something personal for each entry I comment on, it is daunting especially when it is an "anything goes" challenge with lots of entries but you can easily tell which comments are personal or just cut and paste.

I want to say thankyou to each and every one of you that has popped by my blog, liked what they saw and followed me. I also wish to thank anyone who has left me positive comments, each one of you has helped rebuild me when I was a very broken person.

It also seems quite befitting that I found out today that I was the winner of the Easy as 123 challenge at the CDAC with a card I made using an Ike's Art image Spring Fairy.

I remember my fabulously talented friend Janey asking if that was me skipping through the daisies and you know it really is. The joy I feel each and every day is a million miles away from the deep darkness that was inside me for a very, very long time. I am thoroughly enjoying where I am at and long may it continue. 

More importantly I feel that I am much more aware of myself and the motives of other people. I self analyse and adjust where my mind is to regain my balance and composure. My stress tipping points are not at the same level as they once were and I have better coping mechanisms to right myself when things go wrong (as they inevitably do....)

I am thankful that I have got back together with my Sister after many years of estrangement and I am now able to see my Nieces and Nephew who have welcomed me with open arms back into their lives.

I have discovered I have a very spiritual side that I didn't know was there. This part of me is very in touch with nature and is fed by the little wonders that happen every day. I am lucky that in my garden we are visited by lots of little birds and squirrels and I love to watch them. I love to colour, I love to craft, they feed my soul and keep the child inside happy.

Sorry for the long post but I wanted you all to know how much each of you has the power to touch another person's life. The world can be a cruel place, people can be so cruel to one another but I like to think our little crafting world is a better place filled with lovely people. I am very fortunate to have some of them as my friends. (Yes I mean you, yes you reading this!!)

Happy Birthday to Me :)

Today is a huge day, it's my 40th birthday and it is also my 10th wedding anniversary.

They say life begins at 40. My life didn't really begin until I met Paul, that was Phase 1 at 17 years old. I met this wonderful man whilst sitting next to him at a concert, had a whirlwind romance and started living together about 6 months later. 

He has been there with me through my darkest times, and also through the many happy ones. We are team Cruxton, he has his faults, I have mine but together we make a strong team.

I wanted my 40th birthday to be a starting point for Phase 2 of my life. Without telling anyone I stopped taking my anti-depressants a month ago, I was scared but felt ready to try. They have done a great job at holding back a lot of the hurt and pain that I have gone through for the last 11 months but I wanted the numbness to go away. You don't know how easy it is to walk again until they take your crutches away do you?

Anyway, I did have a very shaky couple of weeks where I honestly wondered if I was doing the right thing but then suddenly I was enjoying the little things in life again, but almost enjoying it like I had never experienced it before. I was in the garden weeding and a robin kept me company for nearly 3 hours, it was amazing how this tiny little thing made me so happy. I am trying so hard to look at things in a different light and my counsellor is doing an amazing job in that respect, helping me see the positives in myself once more. I've still got a way to go, but I know I can do it.

Hubby noticed this weekend that there is a big change in me and when I told him I wasn't taking the tablets any more he was delighted. He said I seemed more animated and happier.

I can't promise I won't have bad days but feel more able to approach them with a better frame of mind.  Happiness is a choice and I have a lot to be happy about.

Here's to life beginning at 40 :)

Blog Re-organisation

Yay, at long last I have finally worked out how to get the pages bit to work on Blogger so I am having a bit of a re-organisation. In the meantime I apologise for the less than aesthetic look to my blog at the moment. I hope to get my happy rainbows back ASAP

P.S. Dont you just love that You can find any image you want on the tinterweb these days?

Sir Tim Berners-Lee is an absolute genius (for those that don't know he was the man who invented the internet in the format we know today, he is a legend and to be worshipped!!)

AWOL

Been a bit AWOL lately. Have been on holiday and had a fantastic time and then of course you have the post holiday blues and lots of catching up to do.

We had a fantastic time on a cruise around the Canary Islands with two fantastic people who showed us the ropes of cruise etiquette. Paul took lots and lots of photos which he is still sorting out, that'll teach him for taking so many. Hoping to get access to them soon so I can upload a few.

Have had absolutely no chance to do any crafting since before I went away, still don't feel like I have got back to 'normal' yet. Work has been totally hectic since I got back and that has taken up a lot of my time and energy. We had a container full of blinds and poles come from China yesterday and it all has to be unloaded by hand within 2 hours. I ache so much today and have got some really nasty bruises, especially on my arms.

Going to an airshow tomorrow at RAF Cosford, never been to one there before so really looking forward to it.

Sorry, I've been MIA......

I have been a very bad blogger. I've had very little enthusiasm for crafting and when I have made cards I haven't blogged them. I even missed out on making a card for Crafty Cardmakers because I went away for the weekend for an emergency chillout before I went loopy. Work has been hard on me recently and with the bad weather I was just getting more and more down and finding it hard to stay buoyant. I am hoping that I am over the worst and I am able to bounce back and be my normal cheerful self.

I'd been really looking forward to a crafty session with some of my forum buddies and then I really nosedived after that. It took me a while to realise that I'd had something nice to look forward to and that had kept me going mentally and then all of a sudden I didn't have anything to look forward to any more. Now that I have realised this I am making a more concerted effort to book things up and organise weekends and basically enjoy my life more and make it more fun.

So, I've got a lot to catch up on blogwise so there will be a flurry of new posts and I'm hoping to be back to little old me ASAP

Few Days Away :)

It was Mum's funeral on Monday the 16th so to say goodbye to her in my own way Paul and I went to Whitby for a few days.

We set off last Saturday at about lunchtime and there had been accidents on the M42 and the M1, Paul had checked on his Iphone, good job he did. We re-routed but it was going to take us another 1.5 hours, going via Manchester, Leeds and then York. It was really strange to be driving around all the places I went to as a child being a Yorkshire lass born and bred. The view over the Pennines was spectacular, to be honest I wished I wasn't driving so I could enjoy it better! The rain was absolutely appalling and I kept driving in and out of it, it was so heavy at time the motorway was flooding and you were driving through puddles. I've driven in wet weather before but this was the absolute heaviest I have known it and the spray from the lorries was nearly as high as my likkle car. We pulled into some services for a rest and a spot of lunch and the car park was like a pond.

As we reached the Yorkshire Moors it was getting much darker, I mean with all the rain it was really murky all day but it starting getting dark and I was driving on really windy roads with steep banks and you could have easily toppled off the edge as there were no barriers, but the views were amazing and I kept wanting to pull over and stop, but was starting to get tired and just wanted to get there. There were some really steep roads getting down into Whitby with gradients of 20% and the roads were so windy and remote it was like driving in a Top Gear segment, Paul loved it.

The rain had stopped when we got to Whitby, but it was extremely windy. Our B&B was only 2 streets away from the seafront and we ended up parking there, the sea was so rough and I could see the Abbey and the whalebone arch and was so excited to be there. Last time I went I was 13 and it really hadn't changed very much which was lovely to see.

The B&B was lovely. All the rooms were en-suite and were individually decorated. Ours was cream walls and carpet with everything else black and turquoise and was really nice. We unpacked our stuff, had a cup of tea and a lie down to rest for a bit and then went out in search of fish and chips. Obviously this time of year is out of season for most places but a lot of the B & B's were full and many of the shops and restaurants were open. We had a lovely meal of fish and chips in a restaurant, the haddock was so fresh and tasty and Paul's plaice was yummy too. I love the fish at the seaside :)

I'd intended that on Sunday we should go to Flamborough head and Bridlington but realised we could go there on the way back home so decided to go to York instead. I researched where the Papermill shop was of course, got to have a bit of crafty goodies LOL

York was just magical. It took me a while to get my bearings as I hadn't been for so long. Paul's Iphone was invaluable. I know I tease him about being welded to it but the apps were so useful and the GPS maps were fairly accurate so we could search for places and get around quite well. The river was very swollen, almost right to the top and we were glad it didn't rain as our car was parked underground not far from the river, it could have been messy......

We went to the Minster and went inside. I'm not religious but I did light a candle for Mum and wrote a little prayer on a card which they read out at daily services. I had a little cry outside and Paul was fantastic and comforted me. We went to a street called The Shambles where all the houses are wonky and the upper floor juts out into the the street so opposite houses are close enough that people could shake hands. It was still as fascinating as it was when I was a child. Paul loved seeing the castle walls everywhere too. I am so glad he liked it as it is one of my most favourite places and I would like to take him there for a few days next time so we can see more.

We went back to Whitby and I started writing my letter to Mum. I thought it it would have been easier to do, it really took some getting out of me. I opened a bottle of wine, that helped :) I was emotionally drained and had a nap afterwards. We ended up not having an evening meal so was starving the next morning.

The day of the funeral the weather was awful, really windy and rainy and I was very concerned that I wouldn't be able to execute my plan of setting light to the letter at the end of the pier and scattering the ashes into the sea. The weather was just so relentless and I was getting more upset the closer the time got. At about 11am the rain turned to spitting so we took our chance. When we got the end I read the words I had written the night before and it made me cry, it surprised me how much more emotional I felt than when I had written it the night before. We went down some steps to a concreted fishing area underneath the pier and set alight to it and then put the ashes into the sea. Paul was comforting me and just holding me, he has been the most amazingly supportive person and very sensitive.

Then the most amazing thing happened, almost like in a movie it was so strange. There was faint rainbow over the sea and the sun was trying to poke out of the clouds and it just got brighter and the dark clouds blew out to sea and the blue sky was getting bluer and it was like all the bad stuff had gone and I could look forward to a brighter future. It honestly was weird how it happened and the timing was amazing. The rainbow to me capped it off because when I had my nervous breakdown and had art therapy with a psychiatrist I'd drawn a rainbow then and she said to me it was a symbol of hope and happiness after sorrow, completely befitting for how I felt on Monday.

The rest of Monday was spent mooching around Whitby. We went to a great outdoors shop and I got a coat for camping and some breathable t-shirts and zip-off trousers. The prices were brilliant. I had my new favourite sandwich, bacon and brie panini, absolutely yummy. We went into the arcade and played on the 2p machines. Paul won me 2 little teddy bear figurines holding purple hearts and then we had a lovely meal at the world famous Magpie Cafe. Paul had a gorgeous fish pie and I had fish and chips with the most gorgeous knicker bocker glory for dessert. It was made with loads of fresh fruit in a coulis and just was so tasty. It is honestly worth driving all that way just for that I promise you! And they serve proper Yorkshire Tea in a teapot, with tea leaves and a tea strainer. The water up north definetely makes tea taste better :)

We had intended to light a chinese lantern but it was just too windy. The lantern was almost ripping whilst we were trying to light it and the fuel block wouldn't light so we gave up. Paul seemed more bothered than I was. It would have been nice to light it there and watch it float up but we can do that at home when the bad weather has settled down so it's not the end of the world.

The following morning after breakfast we headed off towards the lighthouse at Flamborough head and stopped off in Scarborough on the way. We drove right up to the castle and then into the bay at the other side. Paul took some photos on his Iphone and it puts a pin in a map when you do. so his new obsession is to collect map pins now..... guess who's driving? When we got to Flamborough head we seemed to be driving for ages until we got to the lighthouse. As soon as I saw it I was smiling so much. I just love being there. As it is on a peninsular the coastline is amazing all around you and there are lots of little paths that I went scuttling along to get to the edges. Paul said it was amazing to watch me running around like an excite mad thing. The lighthouse itself you couldn't go to the top as it is out of season and was probably too windy and dangerous. I have always loved lighthouses and I'm sure a lot of that is because of going to Flamborough so many times as a kid. We used to stop at the Haven Primrose Valley holiday camp or in a B & B in Bridlington and there are coastal paths from both of these that we used to walk along with Mum and Dad. They were some of my happiest family times. Holidays were always good as they spent more time with us and everyone is happier on holiday aren't they?

We popped into Bridlington as our last stop and had a pub meal. I wasn't very hungry and just had a tuna melt baguette. It was awful...... the bread was stale, couldn't make my mind up if it was a part baked one that hadn't been baked again or if it was just stale and then to top it all off I found a long blond hair in it....... needless to say I didn't enjoy it. Paul's scampi was much nicer :)

The journey home was pretty good, managed to do it without stopping as I had college at 6pm and didn't want to be late. Had enough time for a cup of tea and a sit down before I went. It was the last practice before the exam next week so it was important not to miss it.

Had a brilliant 4 days. It has been very emotional, but very uplifting at the same time. I feel I have been able to say goodbye to Mum, but also create some happy memories with Paul.

Have been very tired since coming back, not been on my computer and have got 245 emails to trawl through..... I may be some time LOL

Bad News

Unfortunately I had the bad news on Thursday night that my Mum had passed away during the early hours of the morning and it has made me very upset.

I am having difficulties dealing with my emotions at the moment. Sometimes I am very down and feel tears pricking, feel very confused and over emotional. I have a lot to process and my relationship with my family was complicated which isn't helping matters.

I have had some marvellous love and support from some very special people. I want to thank each and every one of you. I have a feeling the next couple of weeks are going to be very up and down whilst I deal with it and hope I will be able to get some closure and get back to normal.

2009 has been an awful year for me in many respects but I am hoping I will be able to rise from it all like a phoenix from the ashes.

Featured on Liz Crafts!

Just been going through my inbox and I have been featured on a list of Crafty Blogs in a new section of the site at Liz Crafts which is an online craft store but they have also got a lot more craft links on there and looks like it will get bigger over time. I have actually purchased from this store before as their Stickles glue is only £1.75. They have got loads of bargains on there and card making ideas.

What an honour to be included in something like that, lil ol me !!!

Reflex - Clubbin 80's Styleee

Had a fabulous night out last night with my best friend Julie to celebrate her 40th birthday.

We started off the night having a couple of drinks in some bars on Broad Street. I was introduced to flavoured Sambuca. We had a red one which was pomegranate flavour, it was REALLY nice. We also had a green one which was spiced apple but I wasn't so keen on that one. It tasted a bit too much like a mouthwash to me.

We went to Reflex nightclub and it only plays 80's music so we were singing and boogying all night and had a brilliant time. We both love 80's music so much, Depeche Mode is our favourite band and we are going to see them in concert together in December. We even dislike a lot of the same songs and artists. It's quite weird really how similar we are.

There were loads of people invited bit it was a shame as it clashed with a wedding and it ended up being just the 2 of us but we still had a fabulous time. I have only been there once before and I have really enjoyed going both times. My feet are killing me today though with all that dancing :)

It was nice to go out for a change but I think I must be getting old as I'm knackered today .... LOL

Busy Birthday Week

Sorry for being a bad blogger but I have had the most amazingly busy birthday week, a lot of it involving being taken out :)

Last Friday me and my boss went to Pizza Hut at Star City for a buffet lunch with pizza and salad, it was really nice and the 1st time I had been for the buffet. Brilliant value really. We had a friend over on Friday night and Paul suggested I pop to the chippie for tea. I had a mini fish and chips and boy was that a mistake. I reacted really badly to something and had terrible tummy trouble for the rest of the night. I went to bed at 8.30 as I felt so awful, really cold and shivery and literally all the colour drained from my face when I was on the loo. I a haven't felt so awful in a long time but fortunately felt much better on Saturday morning.

On Saturday night we went to our favourite indian restaurant with Paul's Sister and her new hubby. They had never been there before and really enjoyed the food. Steve drove so I was able to have a few drinkies and I ended up having nearly a whole bottle of Rose. I'm not used to drinking so much any more and I was a bit tipsy, but nice tipsy :)

Sunday we celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary. We got married on my 30th birthday in Las Vegas so we always celebrate our anniversary just before. We had a lovely meal at home and we lit our candle that we lit during he wedding ceremony. We have still got about another 8 years worth of wax left...... we're making it last.

On Monday, the birthday itself I had loads of handmade cards from my forum buddies. There was lots of oohing and aahing. I had gorgeous cards from my hubby and some lovely pressies. He bought me a new mouse for my computer which lovely and dinky, has lots of configurable buttons, cordless and doesn't speak the same language as Paul's so we don't end up trying to se the same cordless signal (that was so irritating!) he bought me some more Kylie Minogue Sweet Darling perfume as he loves the smell and it had just ran out. He also bought me the last of the Twilight books (I am already reading it, it's got over 700 pages!) I have a £20 voucher to spend at Amazon from Grandad and Uncle Roy and am now the proud owner of the new Promarker colours as he my fantabulous, wonderful, gorgeous scrummy hubby organised the family into putting together to buy me them. How marvellous to get a pressie I REALLY wanted and everyone was really pleased as it made it easy for them too :) I am so accomodating LOL

We went out on Monday night with Paul's Mom and Grandma as they were upset they weren't invited ton Saturday night but we didn't think they would want to go for a curry and it was nice to spend time with Jill and Steve as people we get on with rather than it being a family get together. As I was dropping Mom home the car was making an awful noise and it sounded like the exhaust so we popped in to our friends house and he had a look at it. He said I needed a clip replacing that holds the exhaust together but it wasn't urgent and I could get it done on Saturday. I was having to go to Coventry on Tuesday and Wednesday so needed to be sure the car would be OK.

Tuesday I had college. It was really frustrating as the 1st hour was just sorting out the people who sill couldn't log on t the computers. All last week's was a bit of a washout so I was a bit annoyed that so much of this week's was as well. When people have paid a lot of money for a course you expect to actually get taught something. I hope it is better next week.

On Wednesday the exhaust came apart on the motorway between Birmingham and Coventry and it made so much noise. I sounded like a boy racer and boy was I glad to get it fixed. The lovely man at Kwik Fit only charged £36.95 to replace a pipe and a clip so I was REALLY pleased and was able to drive back to Birmingham safely. I am just so glad that Paul was working with me that day and was with me in the car when it happened as I think I would have pooed my pants.

Thursday Paul woke up feeling really rough with a cold and needed lots of TLC and a home made chilli. I went to bed early to read my book :)

Friday my boss took us out for my birthday and we had a lovely meal at a steakhouse. We all really enjoyed it and it was nice to spend some time outside of work with him and his girlfriend.

So as you can see it has been a busy week, a bit up and down but lots more ups :)

Today is World Card Making day so after watching the F1 Quallies I am looking forward to having a day of crafting and just chilling. Might have to it the heating on today as it has started to get cold and it is so windy. Definitely Autumnul :)

Crafty Meet Up Gloucestershire

Had a fabulous day out yesterday in a small village called Ripple which is in Gloucestershire.

My very good friend, the Promarker Queen Lisa organised it for our forum and some of the girls were able to make it. I have met most of them before but there were also some new faces and that's always nice to meet new people.

The 1st picture was taken just before we set off back home by Alison's hubby Joe. From the left we have Christine, Maggi, myself, Alison, Helen, Lisa and Hannah.

We were all very industrious and made lots of cards in between gossipping and eating a yummy chocolate cake that Helen made. She also brought the travelling QVC outlet to the hall and she'd picked up some fabulous bargains for us all.

It was a gloriously sunny day and the village hall overlooks some gorgeous countryside. It was so quiet and peaceful and was a great way to spend a fabulous Saturday. The location was brilliant as it was so convenient for the motorway connections and it only took 50 minutes to get back home.

We all had a fabulous day and are looking forward to the next meet up.

New Stash!!!

Once upon a time there was a blogger called Mandy who used to make loads of cards and take part in challenges...... that was back in the days when I didn't used to have a job, and holidays, and family stuff. Boy it has been busy lately but enjoyable. I have loads to update you with but I'll chop it up into chunks .

First things first, just look at my lovely new stash !!! I got paid on the 20th (1st wage since January) and the taxman has been kind to me for a change. I was a bit naughty as I ordered it just before I went camping and picked it up from the post office on Wednesday morning. I have, ever since I saw it lusted, yes you heard correct, LUSTED after the Basic Grey Lime Rickey paper. I just love the bright colours and even like the green (anyone who knows me well knows that is a very strange statement for me to to make!) I also bought the Lemonade pad too. I love the 6x6 pads as the patterns are scaled down better for cards and love the thickness of the BG papers. I am now the proud owner of 3 pads and a 12" paper pack. I am trying not to be obsessive as they are quite pricy but they have brought out another 2 gorgeous collections. Trouble is I have more paper than I will probably ever use so I kinda wish they would stop bringing them out. I really wanted the Bittersweet one but they didn't have that on the Glitterpot website, probably a good thing :)

I also bought the 8x8" Smirk Christmas pack. I have tons and tons of Christmas stuff so am trying not to buy much this year but I love the fun images in the Smirk range and they are really cute. They have also got glitter and foiling so really appeal to the blingy nature of Christmas.

I have finally tracked down a Cuttlebug Owl embossing folder!!! I have been looking for ages and they have been sold out and I was absolutely delighted that the GP had them in stock. Last but not least, taking full advantage of the money spent up to carriage charge level I bought some Craftwork Cards candy in some brighter colours. I love them as they are so easy to use and unlike brads, do not weigh much or cost a fortune but when I looked at the colours I had thought I needed some brighter ones to go with my new paper :)

I have already used some of my new stash but it was to make my DT card for the 3rd challenge at Crafty Cardmakers which will be revealed on Monday. I do hope that you will join us over there for the next one.

By the way, have you seen the new colours that are coming out in the Promarkers? I was looking at the brilliant offer on Joanna Sheen's website and have sent a link to my hubby as it is my birthday at the end of the month and people are always asking what to get me. I was going to order some from Letraset who make them but they are much more expensive to buy from them, even with a 15% discount voucher that I have from my last purchase.

Get Well Soon Roy

Unfortunately life has got a little more complicated.

Paul's uncle Roy is wheelchair bound with Muscular Dystrophy and he was rushed to hospital yesterday morning as his carers couldn't wake him up and his pulse an heart rate were minimal. He'd had a massive heart attack and had to have an operation as some of his arteries had collapsed. The next 48 hours are critical as there is a high chance that his kidney could fail so keeping everything crossed that he will pull through.

Poor Grandad is so upset. He's trying to get better himself from his long stint in hospital and he feels that this has been bad for Roy and caused his heart attack.

I don't pray but I truly hope he pulls through and I'm keeping everything crossed for him.

Gone a bit AWOL

Hello Peeps, remember me? I used to make cards until Formula 1 and dogsitting got in the way LOL

Came back from Silverstone on Monday afternoon having had the most marvellous, but very tiring few days. As we had general admission tickets we had no reserved seats and had to sit alongside the track. On Sunday it opened at 5am and we got there at 6.30. Seriously, you would not believe how many people were already there at that time. The threatened rain held off but it was extremely windy around the track. We all used sunscreen but still got sunburnt as the wind battered you as well. I woke up Tuesday morning with over 17 coldsores and more developing. By yesterday virtually the whole of my top lip was one massive coldsore. I'd used factor 50 special lip sunscreen so I don't think there was much else I could have done to prevent it. The pain was particularly bad Tuesday and my lips were REALLY swollen. I went shopping in Asda and scared an innocent man who had bent down to get some bread, only to come back up faced with something from a medical programme. His face said it all really.... wasn't good for my self confidence. It's getting a bit better but I think it will be a while before it completely heals. I've always been prone to them and fortunately not had one for a while, but this looks awful. I've been taking photos for posterity but won't put them on here as they are just disgusting to be honest.

On a happier note I am dogsitting for my mother in law :) She went on holiday to Torquay yesterday afternoon and I am looking after her Yorkshire Terrier Ellie. She's never been left on her own overnight so I said I'd feed her 3 times a day and do walkies and sleep there at night. It's very weird and I feel like I'm torn between our house and Mom's. There's been a lot of to-ing and fro-ing for me but she couldn't afford to put her in kennels and Paul won't let the dog stop at our house as he doesn't like animals and we've had new non-dog friendly carpets which she is liable to mess if she gets upset. I love animals so I get to be a dog owner for a week and give her back.

However, she likes fussing and a lot of attention so cardmaking probably won't mix. I did some decoupage cutting out last night whilst watching programmes on my laptop and that was about as much as she would stand for. Mind you, I did tire her out when we went walkies. If I can get myself organised I may be able to get together some projects like I did for the Warrington crafty meeting, otherwise I'm not taking loads and loads of supplies up the road.

So I may be a bit sporadic for the next week and will have to see whether I can get any crafting done or not... watch this space.

Silverstone here we come :)

Oh yes, the day we have been waiting for for over a year is finally here.

We're off to Silverstone to see the F1......... I am so blooming excited it will be very difficult to sleep tonight.

We are setting off about lunchtime on Thursday to the campsite which is walking distance to the track. We are camping Thursday night to Sunday night and coming home Monday lunchtime so we don't miss a damn thing!

We'll be there for all the practice races Friday, qualifying on Saturday and the main events on Sunday. There is a party on Sunday and all of us (Me, Paul, Gaz and Hazel) have said we want to see everything.

I've been shopping today for the last bits and pieces. We'll have brekkie, pack the car and skedaddle down the motorway. It's only about 90 minutes drive so that's quite cool. We'll get there, get the tent up, have a few bevvies and get into the serious business of relaxing and having a brilliant time. With a bit of luck the weather will be good, if not we are prepared for rain so it doesn't really matter. A wet race is always good and we've got waterproofs and big brollies :)

Can't actually believe it has finally come, it is so long ago that we paid for the tickets.

And another good thing, whilst we are there I will be celebrating having passed my driving test 2 years ago so I will no longer be on probation and will be a fully fledged driver. I've not had an alcoholic beverage since Easter but I think that deserves a bit of a celebration.

COTW at 365 Cards

I've had some fabulous news today. The card I made for Day 94 at 365 Cards was voted as one of the 3 Cards of the Week out of 235 cards made!!!! I get to have a special blinkie on my blog too :)

I am really chuffed as there are so many REALLY talented cardmakers out there and I never think I am as good as a lot of them. It has made my day, don't care that I'm bunged up with a nasty cold 'cos I'm walking on Cloud 9... YAY !!

New Challenge Blog Pile It On

The wonderful Vickilyn who is a fellow 365'er is on the DT of a new challenge blog starting on Sunday 5th June called Pile It On.

The goal of this blog is to follow the current challenge they have set, but also to incorporate as many other challenges as possible.

They have even provided a link on their sidebar to other challenge sites, how thoroughly civilised of them!!

I like to try an combine as many challenges in one card as possible, why make 5 when you can fit 5 in one card ?

Vickilyn has recently managed to fit 10 challengesinto one card, how cool is that?

Also I find sketches and challenges help me focus me in my cardmaking and drive me to complete a specific project.

I find this much more inspiring than just sitting down in front if my stash.

The 365 Cards blog especially has such a diverse set of challenges that it really inspires me to think outside the box and also use my stash.

So if you get chance, pop over to Pile It On, sign up for the blog candy and I'll meet you there on Sunday :)

Fantastic Day Yesterday

We had a wonderful day yesterday. We spend time at my Sister In law's house as it was her birthday on Saturday. The weather was glorious on Saturady and expected to be on Sunday as well so the original plan of going out for a meal for her birthday was amended to a BBQ and it was a brilliant day. We all caught the sun and chatted and ate and it was a great day.

Then, the moment we had been waiting for...... we went to the Jean Michel Jarre concert at the NIA in Birmingham. When I booked the tickets last year it said that it was an immersive experience specially tailored for indoor arena's - they were not wrong !!

The upper tier of the auditorium had been closed off and were covered with black fabric. I suspected this would be used as a projection area for lazers. When we took our seats I had forgotten how close we were to the stage so that was a really nice surprise. We were literally on the first row of the elevated section to the left of the stage so had a brilliant view of the master at work. The lazers were brilliant but were only projected to the back, at the sides the curtains were covering up speakers as you were fully immersed into a surround sound experience, just a tad better than the surround sound we have at home.... LOL

I took a couple of photos using my mobile phone which I need to get off later. I hope they have come out well in particular the synthesiser laser harp. We saw that when he was at the NEC years ago and it is still spectacular to see it . On the way back to the car we we guessing at his age as he kept jumping around energetically like a Duracell bunny and I guessed around late 40's to early 50's. I have just learnt today that he is 60 years old..... he honestly doesn't look like it and he certainly had a lot of energy last night, very impressive indeed.

Then when we got home we watched the F1 from Monaco and Jenson Button won again!! It's an awful shame about Lewis Hamilton, he's got a rubbish car and is having an appalling season but the Brawn cars, and in particular the driving from Jenson has been spectacular this year. It's great to see a Brit consistently winning. Only got Turkey to go and then the next race is Silverstone AND WE'RE GOING TO WATCH IT !!!! Got tickets for the whole weekend and we're camping with our very good friends Garry and Hazel, can't wait, can't wait :)

Beautiful Marigolds

An amazing thing has happened today, I've been gardening..... and I enjoyed it !!!

Anyone who knows me well knows I don't DO gardening. I can appreciate a lovely garden but have always said I'm not old enough to make a good garden myself. Some people are just naturally good gardeners, some people have grown up being taught how to garden and become good at it, I am neither. I kill everything I grow, sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly, but they always die. I don't enjoy gardening but I did today.

What has suddenly changed I hear you ask ? Well, I took Paul's Grandma and Mom to Homebase yesterday because Grandma wanted some Begonias and for the first time EVER I bought a tray of flowers !!!! Paul nearly fainted when he saw them, it is a sight he has never witnessed from me. I got 30 marigolds for £3.99 and they are in assorted colours of yellow and oranges - happy colours :)

We were really very lucky when we moved into our house. the previous owners didn't garden and we found stacks of old terracotta pots at the bottom of the garden. A lot had broken but may were able to be used. Being a crafter and nothing goes to waste I kept them and today had a brilliant time sitting in the sun and potting them up. I even re-potted a plant from the kitchen that had overgrown it's pot. Maybe there is hope for me? I've got a massive garden, the top 2 layers being patio, the bottom needs serious hard work as it all needs to be dug up. I have a dream of having lots of pots of brightly coloured flowers and growing my own vegetables. We did have some success with some beans a couple of years ago, my onions didn't grow very big and the chives didn't seem to grow at all (then we found out the little girl from next door kept coming over and eating them!!)

I enjoyed being out on the garden for a few hours, it was nice to get a bit of sunshine and perhaps this is the start of me being green fingered. Perhaps at the ripe old age of 37 I am old enough to be a gardener...... Watch this space