Getting Nowhere.....

It seems to be getting earlier and earlier this Christmas thing...I'm trying to loose weight...ha ha...and all I see in the shops is fancy sweets, biscuits and mince pies...and although I've avoided them so far, it's as bad as decorations being put up in November...the best bit I find of the Season is the giving of cards and presents, especially when hand made.. :)

I haven't done my cards yet, and there are so many things I want to try out...I have got some paper now...will have to set aside a day or two and get moving....I've choosen blue and pink with white, but as to how, I'm not sure....

I got the other card finished, and photo'd, together with some new bits for Ebay...so will try and download them off the camera this afternoon, and show you...and as ever, there are so many more idea's in my head, just not enough time....

I've been going to WeightWatchers for the last 8 weeks, and have managed to loose 4lb I think...I put on again this week...due I think to a big pizza... but by not writting it down I can't look back and 'see' where I went wrong...but yesterday I went to check in with the Doc, and she mention excersise and walking 10,000 steps...so I spent the money this morning and got a WW pedometer...I'm not doing well so far, not even reached 1000...may just have to walk the dogs...

Just how cold is it out there???...Joy..x.x

How Long...!!!.....

I really can't believe a month has passed already....I have been so busy the time has flown....

I did one of the Council run courses on how to improve your business back at the begining of the year....Chris had the invite but he had to go to Poole so I was encouraged to go....it was a good course and I took loads of notes :) ...

...it was there that they encouraged the use of the Internet...which is all well and good, but I must say I have found it harder than I thought to keep up dating this, and pop onto Facebook, and keep the Ebay shop up to date...whilst working too...and of course trying to keep Gareth calm enough to survive...it really is just as well I don't actually need to travel to get to the work place :D....

Quick note on Gareth... I also look after Tim on occaision, who is G's best friend (if I haven't mentioned it before) before and after school if his Mum is working....and a rough plan on who has him when is sorted at the begining of the week...this is great for G as he needs know what is happening....unfortunately things are changing, and although it was planned that T was round this morning and this evening......his Dad has dropped him off late this morning, and his girlfriend (Gill) is picking him up from school this afternoon...so now G won't be seeing him at all today....having spent the last three days saying, 'yes we have tim Thursday' now it's not happening...have just phoned school to see if they can help..!!!

So for the rest of the day I'll be worrying about tonight :}

On a good note I completed a card last so I shall photo and show you later....Joy x x

Good Morning.....

Well it would have been if Tim hadn't walked into the house and immediatly start demanding to get the post from his Mum's house....but he calmed and waited til Gareth had gone to school, so that was better....

Have had another busy weekend work wise, and the Halloween bits have been popular with the christmas items picking up too....I do need to update the photo's, although they are ok, some of the colours do change regularly...

I managed to get those wedding cards to Emma yesterday, as she popped round to wish me a Happy Birthday while her Chris was at football....has also asked for a couple of other birthday cards, which I'll add to the ones Mum asked me to do last week....

I'm a bit worried about our adopted Rabbit, Shadow...he has always been loosing patches of fur, and it regrowing, since we got him a year ago, but this weekend it looks as if he's been through a cheese grater and half his fur has come out...will give the cage a good clean today and brush what he has got left...

Well, Tim has just gone to school now, they have a trip to the cinema today, hope it does rain too much as I think they are walking :) ...

Oh So Busy.....

I have been unbelievably busy these last three weeks...I had my 40th Birthday Party on Saturday and I just haven't stopped....had a great time...took two days for my legs and knees to recover :)

Didn't have a cake, just savoury bits, including some of the Weight Watchers recipies which proved very popular....just my weight didn't, even with all the dancing I did...so other than my cake and perhaps a meal out on Sunday, I am going to be following the rules...might even get the bike out again....

Caught up with all my Ebay customers too....got busy there over the weekend too....had lots of little sparkly fairies to sort out, and a number of Witchy items required....people are looking at starting their Christmas cards too.....

I have a couple of cards to make this week too, one for a 90th birthday for a distant Great Uncle, and a White Witch Thank You card....Joy x x x

Pink Guitars...

Can't remember if I have already shown you these...but I'll show you again as they are so cute and Sparkly :)

I made them for a customer on request, and I got a bit carried away as I made around a dozen...so they are now included in the selections posted out....

I have also finished the party invites, but have found out my Baby Brother can't make it, so a little down...but Paula is trying hard to get the others together....it's an 80's theme, and yesterday we sorted out what Paula can wear, but we can't find much for me..I got a lovely dress from eBay the day, just needs an additional petticoat and some ribbon...do that later this week...hope it'll look good enough as I can't afford to get an evening gown....

Well...I've Camera Club tonight, and need to mount three photo's for a compitition tonight...see how it goes....but I won't hold my breath....see you soon...Joy xxx

Down On The Farm....

I seem to be having an animal week...the rare breed piggies have gone today, together with their pink friends...they are so cute :)

I'm also trying to complete 70 odd invites for my birthday party at the begining of October...I knew I should have got this sorted earlier...I'm panicking slightly :D...

We had a rather bad incident on Monday with the dogs, so have one with a lampshade and the other in a cage/bed...and a muzzle if she's out...Betsy is 'suffering' with a phantom pregnancy and has got agressive with it, although since monday has been asleep, not eaten and not interested in anything...Seka however has a 2inch gash down the side of her front leg, which noe has 5 staples in it...she is being very good though, but doesn't like the 'palatable' pills the Vet gave her....just the biscuit she gets at the same time...

Now I have to complete the invites and get some guinea pig food...better get a move on...Chris is still home at the mo, so I can pop out now...

Seasons.....

This weather is getting me down...so much wet and cold...my mind has headed towards the end of October with Halloween, rather than the begining of September as Summer finishes...not fair

It's definately getting a bit messy this season thing...it really shouldn't be this bad at the begining of September.....it's been raining really hard showers all day... most depressing weather..

I have this collection of Frankenstien Monster's...great for Halloween, as well as 'Fun Houses' and Haunted Houses...although if you take the 'bolts' off they could be boys too...

What I've put together today is some Witchy bits...the Cauldren, a Broom and a Hat...ready for invites and scrapbook pages....will go with the Ghosts and Tombstones, and also the Haunted Houses...I've also got some pumpkins to put together too...What I will definately do later is photograph them...Tomorrow is the F1 racing in the afternoon, so a couple of hours for that...

I also need to finish tidying after after the holiday...so much is still lingering, and I desperatley need to hoover through...Joy x x

Wings and Wishes....

Well we're back from Wales.....wet Wales with loads of problems on the roads....took us 8 hours to get back, instead of 6....Still, we've had a coffee and a sit down, and will soon be to bed...have a batch of washing to do and the mini sheep need cleaning out, if it stays dry tomorrow....

I have had an extremely busy fortnight on the eBay front, and the fairies remained popular, with a couple more sets going tonight...I really must re-take these photo's, they aren't very good, and don't show the sparkles at all well....

also the animals have been requested, with the giraffes and monkeys being enjoyed....

I have been looking at lots of different breeds of farm animals (as we stay at a farm) and also some sea creatures, as we visited Anglesey's Sea Zoo twice last week, well worth the money, and the staff were well trained, informed and friendly....as a result I've been looking at widening those groups of die cuts, as well as some more Chrstmas themes...I've got a number of dies I've not even used myself yet, so once the boy's are back at school I can have more time to play... :)

For now, I need to clear up a little and then to bed....it's tiring being driven home...x x

I Believe In Fairies...

Not the best of photo's....I always seem to remember to photo bits in the evening, so need the light on, but that leaves a shiney spot on one side....but you can see what they are.. :) ...

The fairy collections are proving popular this month so far....the toadstool and mistletoe ones inparticular....but I think a number of people are starting to prepare for that festive season with these Sugar Plum Fairies and the Snowflake Fairies also....

Am now starting to get ready to go up to Wales for a couple of weeks...Went shopping for a few items yesterday...but now have to see how much I can pack :) I always take to much though...

The 'difficulty' this year is we're taking the Duck, my Nissan Mistral, and we've not taken him before, so now nothing on capabilities...but I will be taking my craft stuff...Chris will be working around the farm and Gareth is ok wandering around and bouncing on the trampoline...I just hope it all fits in :D

Well I don't know what to do today...need to get loads of washing done, but also need to go to Library so Gareth can get some more books for the challenge, and also want to get my hair cut...at the same time, have another headache and would be quite happy snuggled up at home....x x

Tally....

This is Tally...and at the very grown up age of five....has had her ears pierced.....with NO tears at all....very impressed....Got the sparkly pink ones....really pleased with them...

Well so much for my good intententions.....However I still have that very good excuse of all the children here, and also a surprisingly (but nice) busy time on the work front.....

This week Emma has her step son, Luke with her, so yesterday we went to a Play Zone near us, and today we're off out to practice with the boy's bike...Tim has a bike, but not a lot of confidence, and Gareth has just up graded, so he's still a bit wobbly...Just hope it doesn't actually rain... x x

Snails.....

I am so slow.......I promised myself I would post every week, at least....and here I am two weeks out :( .....

My excuse is the kids breaking up for the summer holidays......why do the schools try and fit so many activities into the last three weeks of the term....

The photo is of a new set of die cuts I have put on Ebay tonight.....really sweet, I used different patterned papers for the shells and a cream textured card for their bodies....I thought they could be used for the gardeners, or even for scrapbook pages with the Giant African Snails that are popular pets...then I just thought they would be great for New Home cards too, or even retirement cards...whooo, I'm in the zone again...now where did I put the glue....

On the home front I have my young cousin coming to stay for the week tomorrow, she's only five, but would like her ears pierced and her mum can't cope with that...whimp that she is...Tally stayed with us last year too so I know she's good, but I also have Tim for the holidays this year, so for four of the days I will have three children in the house...I usually just have the one, and that's bad enough....have a few things planned, so should be ok....

Well...I'm off to finish tidying up and then to bed....I will endevour to post more regulary too....

Westies....

Westies, Westies, Westies.....got loads of westie toppers to do again....Lady used up all the ones I sent a couple of weeks ago already....not that I mind as a number of her friends have said they'll help her sell them, so I'm making up another set....this time with black, red and pink handbags...they look really smart...

Well, on the home front I got my kitchen in one piece...the only bit to do is strip all the wall paper off and put up some tiles...but that will have to wait as there are a couple of big bills coming up first....

Fresh Fruit....

Well what a busy weekend I'm having again...Chris came home and only had one job for work, so I suggested we did some more of the kitchen :) more fool me as the place is covered in dust and I've spent £100 on 'bits'

In the mean time I got a bit more of the Die Cutting done....The apples are a Sizzix Die, and I thought they would be great for thank you cards as the End of Year at school speedily arrives....never enough time I find...

Cut from a thick red card, with a slight mottle to it, and then a fresh green for the stalk and leaf....I used glitter pens in Red and Green to accent the apples, giving the effect a shiney red fruit...

As well as Teachers these could be used for Scrapbook Pages of new teeth, lost teeth and visit's to the Dentist...having picnic's, eating your Five-a-Day...The list could be endless...

Well I'm being called to help out...need to pass some screws and hold the wood...Joy x x

Tagged....

I've been tagged by my good friend Jac too, she actually tagged me last week but I am naughty and don't post often enough...so added a new post tonight and found this....plus I had to read Kirsti's Blog to find out what I was supposed to do ;)

So: What was happening 10 years ago? - I was on my own struggling with a 3 month old baby who hates the heat....
5 things to do today - Wasn't what I planned, but sort Gareth's room having Dad round yesterday to fix his bed ;) ...I also needed to do loads of washing, which all dried as it was sunny and windy down here in the South :)
Snacks I like - I love chocolate :D....but I need to loose weight...Banana sandwhiches are a favourite too, with a little sugar on top...but a nice quick cook is scones, or on the gridle is drop scones..depends if I have eggs or marg :)
What I would do if I was a millionaire - I really don't know, other than paying off my debts...I tend to spend as I recieve.....finish this house properly and get a maid though :D
Where have I lived - I was born in Southsea, Hampshire.....We moved within 6 months to a Naval Estate, Rowner in Gosport, Hampshire and from there to Alver Road in Gosport when I was 6 years old...I didn't leave there til I was 22 in 1991 when I married, and we came to Melville Road in Gosport....I haven't moved more than 5 miles (as the crow flies) from where I was born...I'm a home body:).....

Well you now have a little more history on me....Joy x x

Bitty Babies...

I had to sort Gareth's bedroom this weekend...not what I had planned...But I did find a cable so I could download the images from my camera. :)....

So here we have my Bitty Babies in their felt baby grows with co-ordinating brads as buttons...they have different expressions too...They are my latest Bitty's...but I have loads of other idea's...

I've got quite a few dies that I haven't touched yet, and I also keep getting more...why I ask myself?!?!...However, I have managed to help a Westie Rehoming Charity with a selection of bits to make up some to sell on-line...loved doing some different designs for them...

I also felt guilty during the week, at not going to the gym having got a reduced rate for the first 8 visits...I did the introduction about three weeks ago, at 2.30pm...it was fairly quiet then...Thursday I went at 11.45am...not going at that time again...way too many 'fit' people improving their fitness...I am 'not' fit....anyway, having been I have been struggling with my knee again, plus twinges in my back...

Well at least I can work without causing further damage...now for some tartan hearts...loving the colours...Joy x x

Photographs, photographs.....

How many photographs have I taken over the years, I dread to think, and with the introdution of the digital image it's got even worse.

Several years ago a group of us did an AS level in Art and Design (Photography) and this increased my awareness, both of how and what photography was about. Mum and I joined the local Camera Club, and we regularly enter images to be judged.

This is one of several images I took a couple of years ago, I enjoy taking close ups of things, not that it helps with winning competitions, but knowing my round the camera improved.

When I started Scrapbooking I started with ones of Gareth as a baby. Then I found all my photo's from my teens and others of when I first got married, of the house and garden, I've done a few in a little album. But I have loads of photo's and have found an extra outlet in producing pages that I wouldn't necessarily do myself, and that's a Circle Journal.

A group of us agree to post an album to the others, in turn, and produce a layout for it. The one I've just started is using my Club entries, which will allow me to record what I have entered and the story behind it.

I've re-read the above and wonder if it actually makes sense....

The other thing that keeps me away from the scrapbooking is doing the die cutting for eBay, I enjoy the challenge of producing different cuts, but I struggle to make a decision at the best of times, so finding papers, embellishments and card that goes with a photo/photo's for a layout takes me forever.

Gareth is away tonight, and tomorrow night, on his first residential trip with school. They are only seven or eight miles away at a outdoor centre based at Purbrook Fort, Portsdown Hill, but of course as 'Mum', it feels as if he's in the south of France.

Have a good day all, and I'll try and find the cable for my camera..Joy x x

Headaches....

I have had a horrible weekend....woke up with a headache on Friday, and it didn't fully go until this morning....I'm seeing the Doctor in the morning to get weighd any way, so will have a word with her...

So as a result I didn't get much done...although I did complete an order of Parrots....lovely bright colours, although it's also quite close work, so my eyes were hurting after a bit.....I would put a photo up, but there seems to be an 'internal error'....

Tonight, while Husband 'cleaned' my laptop, I did a load of big die die cutting...can't take them on holiday with me....well, not and still be married... :) ..

Have a good Tuesday all....Joy x x

Bicycle, bicycle...

I love that song.....not that you hear it that often on the radio these days...however, I have been making some of these big bikes this evening, but in slightly different colours...{I can't photo them though, as my camera has stopped working....not impressed it's only 8 months old....}....Orange, Red, Shiney Blue and Green...

I did a Survey Tasting Session this afternoon....six diffent types of microwavable rice...got another four to do tomorrow...not enough to count as a meal though....But, I did get a phone call while I was doing that, that say my 'Ducky' was allowed to come home....so nice to drive that again...

Over the weekend we had trouble with our cable service, so I'm up and waiting for them in the morning...any time between 8am and 12 noon....great....x x

Busy As.....

So busy this last week.....out and about doing all sorts, but don't seem to have got very far...

I did manage to get Alex's card done though...I put it on a big A5 card, like Peter's, but in Pink, with the greeting cut with the Sizzix 'Girls are Weird' set...I also trimmed the front by a centimeter, this allowed me to put three Heart Brads at the top, on the back....The paper used was one of the 6x6 paper packs, and I trimmed that to fit on the front, with a yellow bitty Ballerina...

I have also managed to get some new die cuts onto the Ebay shop....at the same time I am stocking up on the big die cuts as I won't be able to take them away with me on holiday...

I have managed to plant the tomato's that I collected from the allotment....two big pots with three plants in each...however I still have another half a dozen plus to find a home for....unfortuneatley I forgot to water them these last two days, and they looked a little 'faint' this morning.....

Also got a text from my engineer this evening to say that the car, 'Ducky', is hopefully ready for collection tomorrow....really happy with this, as the Volvo is actually painful to drive, for me...

Gareth had a good week at school, but today has come home in a foul mood and really upset....I think some of it is because Mum is away, but it may also be worry as the school are doing two sail training days at the end of the week...

Well it's time for bed... x.x

Organising....

These are proving quite popular at the moment...of course Father's Day is coming up soon....I've also done some more fishing rods and car bits....

I've been busy this weekend...getting some of the garden sorted, and moving some tomato and bean plants from the allotment...the snails at home appriciated them ;)...

The weather has been good in this part of the world, so got lots of washing done, and the guinea pigs and rabbits got out of their hutches again....plus some chard from the allotment...they love that...

Had a good weekend as far as the 'dieting' goes...ok we had Chinese tonight, but didn't get as much as I used to, so that's good....got the Doc on Tuesday...

Gareth has discovered the joy's of Fimo...to the point he's actually baking it on his own too...having spent a further £20 on the stuff over the half term...anyone know where I can get it a bit cheaper???....One thing it does do is keep him quiet for a couple of hours...

Well...school is open for the Summer Term tomorrow...8 weeks before the holidays....x x

Bitty Children.....

The photo is of the Bitty Ballerina's I finished last night...I had to make a few adjustments as I went along, but the little skirts turned out really well, that and the hair arrangements....I'm using a yellow one on the card for Alex (Alexandra) which I shall finish tonight...I shall...

I've also photo'ed the Bitty Workmen that I finished too...these are all in different colours too, and I've discovered they are just the right size to go with the Fishing set I have too..

Well I just have to mention the weather today...wet or what??!!!....Gareth doesn't 'do' rain...hates getting wet, to the point he will immediatley take the item off and change...so I used bribary to get him out so I could go to the bank, and we had lunch at Burger King...I've re-scheduled my appointment to the Doctors...We had Chinese over the weekend too....

We have also had some more bad news about the car, 'Ducky', who we've only had since th 5th...may not survive a whole month...it was probably not just the head gasket that went, it's more terminal than that....so the engineer is looking for a new engine....that or a new car...Gareth is not happy...

Chicken Round Up....

At last, images of the chickens I did the other day...they are the rare breeds, so different colours..but they are soo cute...

Today I've had visitors, so not a lot done, but need to finish some bitty people and that card...nope still not done it..

Had horrible rain here today, but it dried up during the morning....Gareth being bored with both Tim and Grandma away for the weekend...I didn't find out til the afternoon that Gareth had been using my mobile to call Grandma through out the weekend....I think my bill might be a bit higher this month....x x

Chickens....

Tonight I've been making up some farm, rare breed, hens for eBay.....a customer ordered 7 chickens and a rooster on Thursday night, for Sunday, luckily the postal service worked and they got there this morning....I love finding the different colours....And yes, I know that is not a picture of hens...as ever I couldn't find the one I was looking for...

I was hoping to get my car back today, the head gasket went at the begining of the month, and it's been getting fixed since, but I hate the car we got given as a courtesy...Gareth nick-named it 'the evil mean car'....now we have to wait til Tuesday....

The other thing I have been struggling with today is Sinus....the pills have made it ease nicely twice, but it's back with avengance tonight....so many things seem to set it off though, and years ago the Doctor said there's no point in testing as it's the basics, dust, pollen, perfumes, that are some of the triggers.....so with the other problems I have, I live with eucalyptus oils and the 'Vicks' inhaler (I have at least 3 in various handbags) and chest rub...

Watched the GP2 Race and F1 qualifying in Monaco this afternoon, poor Coulthard smashing into the wall...Race tomorrow...as I post this, it is now today..

Go Me....

Went to the Doctor's this morning and the weight has gone down by 2lb...feeling quite good with myself....had lunch out and everything I ate was less than 5%....aren't I a good girl...lol

Gareth had a reasonable day...spent too long on the computor and started getting stressed over it...glad when the holidays start, and he can relax again...

I completed this card last night...it's for my Mum's God Son, Peter, who really loves trains, cars and tractors....a train this time means I have two other themes as he gets older....Using the Sizzix Extended Train and Track Dies, with blue, red and gold card for the Trains and a dark textured brown for the Track...those are over a silken Green Ribbon and all on a large Brown A5 card, which I have inked in white all the way round....The Font is the Ellison 'Twang' in white card....looking like the steam from the funnel...I hope she likes it....

I have another card to make for Mum, with a ballet theme....will have to think some more on that one....

Baby Card....

I made this for Paula, to give to a young friend who, this month, had a little boy.... I wanted it to be something different and modern, without being frilly and over the top, so used a triangle folded card in silver, added some strippy Scrapbook paper on all three sides..I added a darker blue ribbon with silver edges, having tied the little teddy charm on...I used the Sizzix Baby Bottle Die with white and blue card, which is the same colour as the letters, the Font is Ellisons 'Twang', which the more I use the more I love......Paula was very pleased with what I achieved...

I have been busy tonight making another card, should have been two, but it took a bit longer than I thought...

I've also managed to sow the courgette seeds....they are covered and sat in the dining room warming up...I hope as the heating is not on...I've actually planted 37 seeds, so if they all take I'd better get the big freezer up and running again....

Take care all...Joy x

My Dogs....

I have two dogs now, a collie called Seka, and a Jack Russell x Lakeland Terrier called Betsy. Seka is now 4, while Betsy is not yet a year...and the way she's going she won't make it....

Got back this afternoon to find an ATC I made, lying on the dining room floor with significant teeth marks in it...to say I was not impressed is an understatement...I'm not able to replicate it, so I've had to make a completly different one...will have to show you later, the batteries are dead again...


Gareth is worrying about his school work, apperently he's done 20 pages of powerpoint on his project, but it all has to be finished by Friday...that and as it's getting towards the end of this half term, he's ready for the holidays....Just got a couple more DS games for him...Bit cheaper on Ebay, and he's not bothered if they've been used already...

Hope you've all had a good day....Joy x

Quiet Day

Evening Peeps...a quiet day today, went to the garden center and collect some compost, as I need to sow some courgettes, and also picked up some frames for the tomatoe plants...the ones I sowed all came up, so as well as the allotment, I'm having some in the garden, as is Mum and Paula...

I also got some post off, made some monkeys and penguins... and got two pages done for the Circle Journal, but I can't show them until we have all got our own back.. :) ...popped into one of the local charity shops too, and found a box of pony beads...partly used but still with a lot of the beads there, and in colours I don't have...can play a bit more with the scoubidous now...

I'm also trying to work out how to get a link to here on my eBay items, but not having a lot of luck.. ;)

Have a good Tuesday all....Joy

First Post...

Good Afternoon Peeps...nice to be finally here...

The aim of my blog is keeping you all up to date on what we are up to..

This week has been kidnapped by the garden, with lots of digging and trips to the tip...lots of green compost...

This first image is of the perfume bottle I designed for the CyberCrop UKScrappers held in April this year...Great Fun

Thank you for looking and see you again soon...Joy