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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

I've been tagged...

Thanks Sue (NOT)...

Getting to know me

1. If you blog anonymously, are you happy doing it that way; if you are not anonymous do you wish you had started out anonymously so you could be anonymous now?

No I don't blog anonymously, but I do watch what I blog and what photos I put on (of others) as I respect other people...

2. Describe one incident that shows your inner stubborn side.

Not sure about the 'inner' in this question, but most recently I got stubborn when the social worker told the school Steven was going to a day centre that I had not even viewed, so TOLD the school he was NOT going there and then TOLD the social worker that too and he didn't.

3. What do you see when you really look at yourself in the face in the mirror?

At this precise moment, I see someone that is old, wrinkled and with bags under her eyes.

4. What is your favorite summer cold drink?

A whole lemon sliced, put in a jug of water and kept in the fridge, very refreshing...

5. When you take time for yourself, what do you do?

Fall asleep...

6. Is there something you still want to accomplish in your life? What is it?

Cannot think of anything I personally want to achieve, but would love to see both my children happy in their adult life, whatever that may be.

7. When you attended school, were you the class clown, the class overachiever, the class shy person, or always ditching school? Describe who you were if not one of these.

My reports always said 'if Maria concentrated on her own work instead of helping other, she would finsih her own work on time' I was just average, nothing special.

8. If you close your eyes and want to visualize a very poignant moment in your life, what do you see?

Standing between my mum and sister and holding my dads hand when he died, not that in a million years had I thought he was going to die. We were only laughing an hour earlier about Newcastle going down. I think that is what makes it special, it was as if he just fell asleep,

9. Is it easy for you to share your true self in your blog or are you more comfortable writing posts about other people or events?

It's mostly about me and my family, but it's not the whole 'me' I only disclose that to special people.

10. If you had the choice to sit and read or talk on the phone, which would you do and why?

It would have to be talk on the phone, as I can hold the phone with my shoulder and cook tea or do round around the garden on Steven toes, in other words can do two things at once, lol....

OK Sue, done. I now pass it onto to Carole and Gill