Thursday 30 September 2010

One of those months...

Well you might remember I moaned about having such a boring week a few weeks back, well I take it all back as I've had a few weeks of fun and games, as not only our boiler broke down, but the business computer went bust too...

I was annoyed with the boiler as it was just over 4 years old, but when I looked into it, it only had a 3 year guarantee, we were not offered more and when phoning them up they wanted £268 plus VAT for looking at it, upfront.... So I got my local plumber to look at it free of charge, it was going to cost us £300 plus VAT, plus fitting, but also he noticed rust inside the boiler, but as it was not under guarantee, they still didn't want to know.


(took photo to show Clive)

So I had to make a decision, do I fight the boiler people as it should last longer than 4 years or do I put new parts into a rust bucket, anyway to cut a long story short we ended up with a new boiler being fitted (by our local plumber), as I could not do without hot water, showers, baths and heating especially with the winter coming thick and fast... But I think the icing on the cake that made my mind up, was that Steven was getting agitated with me having to put him in one room while I carried a kettle of water to the room that needed it, and with Clive being away, he was totally confused poor love......

Then when that was sorted, the business computer decided it would not start, I didn't panic as Clive was around this time as it was a Sunday, but it was a goner. So Clive had to go round Staples to get another one, we finished setting it up Monday morning at 2am and Steven was up at 4.30am...

Of course it meant poor Clive had to drive to Swindon half asleep and I had to try and work on the new computer while being half asleep, oh well it's all sent to try us and I keep saying to myself it's only money and not life threatening.

Then this week it seems one of our tortoise has parasites, (I only took them for their yearly check up), so I had to have them all treated and disinfect their sleeping quarters. They have to go back for another dose next week and then about 2 weeks later I have to take a sample of their p** all labelled who's is who's, lol. Then to top it all I sliced two of my fingers with the bread knife, so ended up having to have them dressed at the local drop-in surgery, (would show you a photo but the blood has seeped through the dressing again, lol) I have to go back tomorrow for a dressing change, so maybe take a photo of my finger then if they let me, lol...


So if I moan again about my week being boring, please give me a kick up the backside and tell me to shut up...

Like I said it's just money and it could be worse, I want to send some strong sparkles to a few friends who are having a really hard time of it at late, you know who you are, hugs...xxx

Saturday 25 September 2010

Am on a roll....

As I said in a previous post, sue and Alma set a challenge to see what and how much they could make out of some freebie papers from a magazine, well last night I finished using up the papers and this is what I ended up with...



So not only have I made my HOME book for Sam and Matt, but also 16 Christmas cards, 12 gift cards and 3 tags... not bad out of a few sheets of A4 paper...

Thanks Sue and Alma, I not only enjoyed this but managed to get my first Christmas present done, lol...

Check out Sue's and Alma's

Friday 24 September 2010

Jelly bean's

I'm having fun in my 'Arty Attic' as you can see I've made another card. For this one I actually used my promarkers for the first time to colour in the stamped image that my friend Susan sent me...

I first saw it on her card blog and commented that it would be great for Matt (my daughter fiancé) as he loves jelly beans, then a few days later I got some stamped images through my letter box, (thanks Susan, had fun colouring them all in)...

...anyway this is the card I came up with, I backed the image onto red card, clipped the corners with a punch and laid it on the card over some tartan ribbon, the saying is a rub on, then to finish it off I put Anita's 3d gloss over the jar, to highlight it...


I know it's plain and simple but think that's my type of cards... Matt loved it and was very impressed with the 3d gloss especially the way I went round the mice paws, as he thought it looked like real glass, lol...

Thursday 23 September 2010

Freebie papers

Not sure if you saw on Sue and Alma blogs but they set a challenge to see how much they could make out of a mag's freebie papers, they both did brilliantly, both blogs are well worth a visit.
Me on the other hand have only finished one project so far, which I chuffed to bits as have had the book months, lol...


I bought the book (do-crafts make) for Sam and Matt to celebrate their first home together, but could find the right papers for it, till I saw the freebie ones...


Below is a photo of them just after they pulled the cracker for the keys to fall out, as they didn't know we had got the house a few days earlier (was very hard keeping quiet about it, lol) their dreams had come true.


Here shows their first house and their first Christmas tree in their garden


and all the hard work we had all done to get the lounge, kitchen, bathroom and main bedroom all fitted, painted and decorated before they moved in.


So to them Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year, as they got their first home together...

Monday 20 September 2010

July and August ATC

I know they're a little late, but have only managed the odd bit of crafting with one thing and another at the moment...

This is the July ATC which theme was 'Favourite Holiday Destinations' and was set by Bev and I had to send to Bev, lol...
I chose the sea turtle with the hibiscus flower inside and the lovely clear blue water (which was paradise, lol), as it reminded me of 2 holidays that I loved and would love to go back to both places.


We visit Hawaii back in 2003 while doing a 3 week holiday to Orlando, San Francisco and finishing off with Hawaii (got some lovely photos of Steven in the surf) and we visited The Grand Cayman Island while on a Caribbean cruise back in 2006 and again got a lovely photo of Steven, this time with pirate, lol...

The ATC below was for August and was a 'Butterfly' theme and was set by Karen and I was to send to Susiej...



I used some bright velum for the background and colourful butterfly peel off's, the colours reminded me of a bright summer's day...

Saturday 18 September 2010

Cards

Managed to make a couple of quick cards the other night... The first was for my niece's husbands birthday... (the Happy Birthday peel off looks silver, but it was gold, honest)...



and the second was for my aunty and uncles Wedding Anniversary...

Wednesday 15 September 2010

Up to date.....

YIPPEE am up to date with my ATC, just need to find the details of who to send which one to and the get them in the post.... So cannot show you them just yet...

OK, not caught up with the blogs like I planned to do this evening, but hey you cannot have everything lol... Oh yes and my Arty Attic looks like a bomb has hit, but on a plus side I found a couple of Christmas projects I started a couple of years back and forgot about, so am going to try and get them finished by THIS Christmas, (so watch this space)...

Right had better think about getting to bed, as no Clive to remind me to do things in the morning, as he's now working away from Monday to Friday every week for the next 3 months...

Friday 10 September 2010

Snippets

Well, did you guess what they were? (Val did) a 'door plaque' for my very own craft room...I would like to thank Carol for the name on the first plaque... then the rest was my idea...why?...


... because I REALLY do see it as 'my little piece of paradise'

The main chipboard and string that was used were from a Cosmo Cricket kit, I've had for yonks and still untouched (until now, lol), in fact think I have another one somewhere. I used Papermania Colossal pastel paper pack to cover them all, as the colours go well with my craft room colours...


ARTY ATTIC was wrote with sizzlits sunset and the small buttons, scissors, rub ons and bits were from my stash....


I used Fluffy decorative strip for the words 'MY LITTLE', the birds and branches were also from a decorative strip,


Again Fluffy decorative strip was used for the writing 'PIECE OF', also the medium sizzlit flourish #4 and a thin cut flowers


and for PARADISE I used sizzlits Azure, sizzlit Hawaiian flowers #2, forever friends coloured sticker, rub on 'memories' and ice cream sticker from my stash and lastly the wooden buttons from button-it

Then I gave the whole lot a coat of sparkle Mod Podge to help it to stay clean...

Well this is the first item that was totally made up in my 'Arty Attic' hopefully the first of many, lol...

Thursday 9 September 2010

Snippets and spoilt

Have been doing the odd bit of crafting in my attic, but not 100% happy with it as I don't seem to have any mojo at the moment, but thought I would still share a few snippets of it...






Can you guess what I'm making?

As Steven was at Russets Monday night and I've got Clive home because his contract finished last Friday, we decided to go out for lunch to save me cooking in the evening. We went to the wine bar in Wickham that we saw when we were there on our Anniversary. For my starters I had Mediterranean Platter with Serrano Ham, Chorizo & Roasted Red Peppers, Hummus, Basque Chillies, Dressed Salad & Provençal Toast followed by Penne Pasta with Roast Mediterranean Vegetables & Mascarpone. It was very nice and we would go back there again, (but first there is another restaurant in Wickham that we want to try, lol)...

Also while I running around on Tuesday Clive phoned me on my mobile to say to meet him at staples, which I did to find he was buying me a new lappy, (as my little one does not stay charged any more, even with it plugged in), so I've been moaning and think the messages got through, (and no gina I didn't hit Clive over the head with the little lappy like you suggested, me moaning was enough, lol)... OK it was a belated Anniversary present as at the time I didn't want anything but said when my little lappy dies I would love another laptop but one I can store photos and watch DVD's on... which I now have, it's taking a little getting use to, as it's got keys where they were not before but am slowly getting there...


So am feeling a little spoilt at the moment, lol...

On a downside, Steven's carer let us down again today, she did text at 7.50, but it didn't come through to my phone till 9.35, after I had got Steven ready with his shoes on. It was quite hard explaining that there was a change of plan and he would not be going straight out, so I then let him choose a DVD while I got a few bits sorted and got ready to take him out myself.
We drove to Chichester to get a few bits from Lakeland for his sister (he likes it there as the ladies got to know him when they used to sell crafty stuff). And as a treat we got a pasty from the Cornish Pasty shop and a home made cupcake from the little bakery/coffee shop there, so think that made up for being stuck with mum, lol.
I've had (more) strong words with the people involved with his Thursday care and am given them one more chance as they have got someone permanent for Steven, so they are bringing him round to see me Monday afternoon, he already knows Steven from the play scheme which is a plus side, but watch this space...

Sunday 5 September 2010

Warning 'boring' post...

Sorry been an ordinary week here for me, so nothing really special to write about.

So what have I done, I had Steven home for an extra day as thought he was not well, but it turned out he was fine, (I have to watch for signs as cannot tell me when he is unwell)... Also had a visit from the community nurse, (for Steven's behaviour), who has left us some homework to do, I also emailed the homework the speech therapist left me a few weeks back to her. So like I said, just an ordinary week here, OH on the upside Steven was taken to the circus and seem to enjoy himself, (and while he was there I had the hairdressers to get my roots done, lol)...

Anyway I was thinking what could I post about, then remember while I was at Ikea the other month, I made another purchase. (when getting bits for my crafty room)... I got Steven a mirror door for he's new bedroom unit, as he loves looking at himself, he's very vain, lol... a typical 19 year old...

He was totally shocked when he waked into he's room for the first time, seeing himself looking back... which I managed to capture to scrap, lol...



(OK not sure how much Steven could see, as he had taken off his glasses before seeing the mirror)

Trouble is....

...now I have trouble getting him out of he's room in the morning, lol...