I am blessed - I truly am

Yesterday a work colleague helped me turn a big corner in how I have been looking at life the last few weeks. She gave me a little "just a note" card - here is the inside.

I was moved to tears - what a beautiful gesture. In the midst of the turmoil my life has been the last few weeks this was just what I needed.

How blessed am I to be surrounded by kind, thoughtful and loving people?

This is day one of the new stronger and ready to face the world Janet.

First stop - Manchester - 2 days in a lovely hotel where I get to meet with folks I have never met before at the Stampin up Convention.

Its going to be Fab!

and to top it off I think the hotel rooms has  big bath in the en suite. We only have a shower at home so I will be having bubble baths twice a day just because i can !

best get my team swaps finished then hadnt I ???

Hope your day is feeling positive today.

Thanks for stopping by x

Janet

In the midst of upheaval a welcome bit of birthday crafting..............

 Today it is my beautiful Niece Rebeccas 8th Birthday so even though crafting is furthest from my mind, at the moment, I headed to the craft room to make something worthy of my youngest crafty fan and where better to start than with my Molly Blooms and a craftwork cards diorama card.

On opening it Rebecca was confused as to why it did not open but once I explained the 2 little girls were her and her best friend Ella she didnt mind a bit.

She was also thrilled with the Sizzix boutique I had bought her along with some embossing folders - this will work really well with her cuttlekids die cut machine so i am sure i will see some great crafty Christmas cards from her.

Its stamping club tomorrow so I will be playing with my crafty chums for a few hours. In the midst of the turmoil my life seems to be in this bit of normality will be a welcome break.

Thanks for stopping by at least some crafty project to view this time x

Janet x

I dont like being a grown up

And so the saga continues - unhappiness, solicitors, legal rights, who pays for what, who can claim what from the other. I cannot imagine why folks go through this more than once.  My stress levels this week have been through the roof - a rollercoaster of anger, hurt, sadness and despair. Which minute will find me in which emotion is unknown.
Amyone who knows me will also know this is driving me insane.  I like to plan, know whats ahead, I am flexible about the plan but I still like the security of it being there.
For the last 3 weeks there has been no plan. No certainty ahead except the passage of time.  Going to work is a welcome relief - at least I know what is happening there, I know the plan, the routine even, with all its moving to plan b,c, m, z at least its there.
I am still beavering away with the craft fair idea and am really grateful to my friend Barbara for taking the heaviest part of the load.  Our session on friday making cards went really well and it was a welcome relief to have mindless chatter about nothing inparticular to help sooth my overloaded brain.
Those ladies rock ! I felt cared about and loved - such welcome feelings amidst such negative ones.
One of my closest friends is ill in hospital and despite the horrors she is facing she sent her hubby to join us crafting too.  Its hard to keep sight of in these rollercoaster days but i am quite blessed - especially with the lovely folks who surround me and uphold me with their friendship.

Thanks for stopping by - sorry there is no cheery news to share.

Janet x

explaining ...........

The last 2 weeks have been horrid - the worst of my life - beaten only by the death of my father and brother 18/19 years ago.

My husband Tim, of 27 1/2 years, decided he wants us to separate.

 Tim had a breakdown 2 years ago which has changed him enormously - I suspect he is not yet recovered but he feels he is ready to make this big decision. No one to blame - no specific reason except he has changed. Its been awful.

This weekend we told our 3 children and other members of our family.  Its been very very difficult.

I suspect it will become more and more difficult over the coming weeks - so please expect a craft hiatus from me whilst I get myself together.

Janet x

Creative moments - Halloween/ anything goes

This challenge was perfect for me as I make a halloween decoration for my niece and nephew each year.  The stamps are a combination of my collection of halloween stamps and worked perfectly for this inchie type project.

The sparkly spider is from Asda a few years ago and the die cut bats are from the TH die.

Why not stop by and check out the dt projects for some more inspiration here at Creative moments

It also fits the challenge over at Little red wagon which is halloween

Thanks for popping in x

Janet

Something simple............

 I am needing simple in my life right now - so this little fella from an old stampin up set was perfect for a little simple card or two. Coloured with SU markers and gel pens its also got a bit of sparkle.

Quite a plain card from me who usually chucks everything on.

hope all is well in your corner of the world x Thanks for stopping by.

Big waves to Edna who managed to leave a comment via her Grandson xx

Janet x

Curve balls

Its been a tough week for one reason and another and although I have had 6 days off work I have had zilch mojo or concentration.

When I go into the craft room and nothing happens I find it so frustrating - i guess every crafter feels like that. When tidying up i found this image coloured possibly 18 months ago so I decided to turn it into a simple card just so I had done something.

 Image is of course forever friends by papermania - a cute little fella which reminds me of cold wintery days when a hot chocolate would just warm you up.

Papers by craftwork cards and red card stock from my scrapbox and now it looks like I did the whole thing on purpose not faffed around months nay years apart.

I have been featured in Novembers Creativity magazine as a talent spot - cant wait to see the article as I did love playing with the bits I was sent to make projects from.  Its due out on 1st November - something to look forward to x

Thanks for stopping by x

Janet

In memory of a very dear lady.......

On the 8th november 2012 a very dear lady from, my crafty circle of friends, passed away from Cancer.  She had fought tirelessly with the nasty disease and throughout was brave, kind, gentle and funny.  I will remember her always.

As a craft group we have chatted together about holding a crafty event, on the anniversary, as a tribute to our lovely friend who left such an imprint on our hearts. So the 8th November will be Maries crafty day.  Held at our local shop - Samuel Taylors, Embsay her crafty chums will gather to craft, laugh and be together - just as we used to when Marie was with us.  This time we will be making things together to sell at a craft fayre.

We would like to donate a bird table to the hospice where Marie spent so much of her last days - watching the birds and squirrels feed at the table just outside her window gave Marie more pleasure than I can say. It made her laugh out loud - you know the squirrels were soooooo cheeky and the daily vist from the robin how she loved his visits. So thats our aim - to raise money to buy a bird table with Maries name on it to help someone else who needs those cheeky squirrels and robin visits to help their days be bearable.

So I began this last summer

 at the Claxby craft retreat. A forlornly single tea cup longing to become useful again.  I added a cushion of material - stuffed with toy stuffing. I have sewn up the underneath and squashed it into the teacup.

 An old lace doily was sewn ontop with a crochet flower. I knew it needed some pearls so yesterday I added a pearl to the middle of the flower

then some pearls at the end of each point of lace. Its now a beautiful vintage pin cushion.  I hope to sell this at the craft fair along with some other bits and pieces I have made.

This is also my DT piece for Creative Moments - the midway inspiration for our lace challenge.

Do stop by as my team mates have some fabulous things to inspire you with.

I forgot to mention - we want to buy the bird table from another local charity who makes them - there are a few so I would be thrilled if we could buy more than one table to help more than one charity to help more than one person.  That would definately be a great tribute to Marie - she was a nurse - so helped many many folks who needed her care. She was one very special lady.............

Thanks for stopping by today x

Janet

Stamping club project........

 This is a sweet little project to give as a gift or instead of a card - and works just as beautifully for everyday as for Christmas.

The die is a discontinued one by cuttlebug - although why such a lovely die should be stopped i have no idea! Sentiment stamp inside the box and the birds are by stampendous - such beautiful stamps in detail and i love how easy they are to watercolour.

The image has been stamped onto mixed media board that my local craft shop sells in a pad - its a little thicker than card and gives a nice thickness to the jigsaw.

The round stamp is one of the stamps on creative stamping - I love round sentiment stamps and have quite a few.  i have also used the Merry and bright stamp from the free set on the jigsaw inside but you cannot see it in the picture.

I hope my stamping Club ladies enjoy making the project on friday!

I am entering this in the Everybody Art challenge which is Ribbon and Craft room challenge which is feathered friends

Thanks for stopping by x

Janet x

More Molly Blooms

and for something completely different - this is Meghans birthday card.  It folds flat but pops up like a box. great for a WOW factor. i saw this great card shape on the internet and just knew it would be a perfect Molly card !

 

As I always love playing with my Molly stamps Megs birthday was the perfect excuse to play. The first time my fab donkey has been inked - shame on me x

love the stamp at the back which enabled me to detail her 18th birthday - can't remember the make though so sorry about that.

Thanks for stopping by x Please say hello if  you have time x

Janet x

Woodware santa

Back to Woodware again - boy do they have some fab stamps out this year.

This little fella I think was released last year.  He is a dream to colour in and is such a happy chappie don'tcha think?

Again papers by dovecraft.

sentiment stamp is by papermania - a very old one.

And being a good gal - as they were pushed for time I made all the bows and stitched on a bell for each student.
This is perfect for Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas challenge which is anything thats a square. So I am entering this into challenge 146.

Thanks for dropping in x

Janet

From Santas Kitchen

The ladies love Molly blooms just as much as me so it made sense to make a Molly Blooms card.  This jolly fella is from the new release - I bought him at Port Sunlight.

Can you see the stamp to the right at the back? Thats one of the free gift stamps from Simply Homemade.  I cut the Santa off another set from Dovecraft.

The lush papers are by Echo Park - I bought them in the sale at the local samuel taylors - why on earth these didnt sell I dont know as they are fab.

Other stamps used - stitch stamp by blonde moments, Cooking stamp (bought from sir stampalot) and the sentiment is a SU old favourite - long since retired.

So what about the shaped card ? This is from Craftwork cards - a fab shaped stepper and a perfet size. In the gorgeous biscuity colour cardstock too.  Must buy some more as I used them all up on the class.

Hope you like - thanks for stopping by today x

Janet

Proud Rudolph

Although I have ust noticed the card i have photographed I forgot his red nose !

This is card number 3 i think ?

such a fab stamp by woodware - perfect for paper piecing which is a brilliant technique.

anyway he went down very well at the Christmas card day today.

Thanks for stopping by x

Janet

Cheeky little chappy !

Here is card number 3 for my Christmas card class. Those of you that followed my other blog may have seen this little fella before. He was my fav stamp last year - he is a pleasure to colour - no matter what medium - and was very popular at work in my chosing box.

Papers here by Dove Craft and he is coloured with promarkers.

Thanks for stopping by - hope you are not fed up with Christmas by now !

Janet x

Creative moments - Autumn and Owls

How neat that this fortnights challenge just fits my new stamp perfectly!

Yes the challenge over at Creative Moments is Autumn or to have an Owl on your project.

Here is my card using a woodware stamp.  He is certainly a lovely stamp to colour in.

This is the 2nd card for my Christmas card class. I try to do at least half of the cards as flat as possible for postage costs so the layers are all flat on this one.

My teamies have come up with some stunning cards for week 2 of inspiration so do stop by and find out all about Creative Moments Autumn and Owl Challenge x

Hope to share some more christmas inspiration with you tomorrow xx

Janet x

Christmas is coming............

Well to be honest it never left my heart !

I have been busy Christmas crafting all year, making gifts and cards - I just love it.

On Friday its the last of my Christmas card days.  I have held 3 this year where we have made 10 cards and another project in a days class.

This session is all cute cards.  Last year I did not make enough cute cards much to the disappointment of my work colleagues.

In November, at the team meeting day, I take in my box of ready made cards - they get to choose one.  Thats my Christmas card to them.  In a little twist however they get to send the card on to someone special should they so wish.

This works out really well and they look forward to the rummage in my box - but last year there were only a few cute so I have tried harder with cute variety this year. It also usually results in a few commissions or sales.  I personalise if they wish for free (I use peel offs!!!!) My boss, grumpy though he is, is also the best customer at this time of year.

This little fella was one of my fav new stamps last year - he was already an old one by the time I bought him and is designed by Lindsay Mason for personal impressions.

This is card Number 1 for the class.

Papers by Dovecraft they are bright and cheery - perfect for cute cards.

I will be using him much more this year too!

Hopefully more blog posts from me this week as I showcase the class makes. Tomorrow will also be my card for Creative Moments - With a favourite stamp from this year.

thanks for stopping by xx

Janet x

A Momentous day.........

 Today my baby girl had her 18th birthday party. She officially is 18 tomorrow but as she is at work all day we celebrated today.  18 ? Really? How on earth did that happen - I am now the proud Momma of 3 grown ups - heck thats a lot to take in.

Well my baby loves her horses so the theme of the cake was a no brainer really.  I bought the topper, flowers and bunting and the rest of the cake was made by her Godmother - complete with green glitter.

 The horse is a little cutie - I bet she keeps him for a while...........

 This was the tea party spread for family and friends.

 and of course we had the whole Happy Birthday routine.

Megs has gone off to celebrate with her friends now - guess this is the future as we know it!

 Mum and I were just sat having a cuppa before the mammoth tidy and wash up began so I took this little picture.  The tea set in the foreground I bought my Mum and Dad for their 20th wedding Anniversary.  In the background is a jug from another tea set Mum has from her parents.  She was telling me she remembered her Dad buying it for her Mum so she didnt have to borrow the tea set from the neighbour everytime they had visitors!

and this sweet little gift was for me.  When I went to the Ritz I drooled over the sugar tongs - Mum found a pair in the Oxfam shop and bought them just for me - now we can live it up as often as we like !

I'm feeling kinda wistful at the thought of having grown up children - it feels odd.  I am immensely proud of them all for being so individual and not just following the crowd. at their age I was definately a sheep - thats one thing they are not!

Hope she is having a fab time x

Happy Saturday x

Janet x

weekend catch up

Yesterday I went to Port Sunlight for the very first time - my reasons were not to buy crafty stuff (as I am going to GNPE next weekend) but to catch up with gorgeous people for a natter and hugs.

It was an amazing day - and Edna if you tune in - you made my day - I was utterly thrilled to meet you xxx

Big thanks to Linda, Siobhan, Liz and Anna for a fab day- my whole reson for going was to get hugs from these very special gals.

Jill and Ian for hugs and catch up with the Woodware projects.

and everyone else for helping the day be such a fab one.

It was also a personal first - I am not a hugely confident driver and my motorway experience is very limited but I managed to get there and back with no great problem so I was very pleased with myself !

 Today was another show - this time on the doorstep.  I live in a sleepy market town called Skipton where a number of festivals have been taking place over the last few years. Skipton is known for its woolly sheep (we have a pub with the same name and a day dedicated to sheep - imaginatively called sheep day!) in fact in days gone by it was known as sheep town.  The utterly perfect place for a massive festival of woollen goodness - This was Yarndale.  Look it up on facebook - so many pictures of gorgeous colours and fabulous projects - this was THE place to be for some woolly inspiration.  This was the knit and natter lounge area - what amazing creations!

I had a super time with the lovely Pam - where we were in awe of the talents surrounding us.

Then tonight - a birthday celebration with long standing friends at our favourite restaurant - the Bella Napoli.  Here is my pal Sarah celebrating Bella style with full music and silly hats.  We have laughed till we cried today - how amazing.  I am totally blessed to have such brilliant friends who have filled my weekend with love, laughter and so much joy - thanks folks xxx

Hope yours was filled with joy too x

Thanks for stopping by x

Janet

so very excited...............

After a six month break - yes it really has been that long - I am back teaching again. In reality I have not stopped as I have been running my stamping club and teaching there which is amongst friends - this is different, or so it feels,its teaching in a shop - Samuel Taylors in Harrogate and at Embsay store.

 When asked to come up with some samples and the shop is full of delicious goodies - where to start?

For me it just had to be Christmas.

These delightful vintage papers from Authentique were perfect to create a special vintage card to give to someone special or maybe keep at home as a decoration.

 This is my second version of the card using different images from the papers.  I love how they all come together.

 I can also see old styles and newer styles within the work of this - I very much enjoyed re-visiting pricking and stitching the papers which is a technique I learned at the beginning of my papercrafting journey. It makes the papers feel fabric like too.

This last sentiment has to sum up what Christmas means to me - and maybe why I love to Christmas plan all year - that bit of magic that appears in us all at Christmas.

This workshop is running at Harrogate on Saturday October 18th and at Embsay Sunday 19th at the Samuel Taylors stores. Tel Harrogate on 01423 522230 and Embsay 01756 700946 to book a place.

This is a project you will want to create again and again - not just for Christmas.

Hope to see you there x

Janet x

Creative moments - Frame it

Yep - Over at Creative moments we have been framing our projects - this just so happened to co-incide with a little play from the Molly Blooms summer Mag. I have followed instructions from the mag and just changed a little to suit my supplies.

I like how this "frame" card folds perfectly flat for postage but still looks great on a mantle piece! 

Made this for fellow DT member - Caroline - I am thrilled she likes it.

So are you going to join us in our frame it challenge this week - i do hope so.

Stop by the challenge blog for all the details and lots of inspiration from the DT.

Thanks for stopping by today - I really appreciate you taking the time to do that xx

Janet x

Exciting times...........

This has been a top secret crafty project with my lovely Niece Rebecca.  She wanted to make her Mummy something special for her 40th birthday so between us we decided she could learn a new skill and make Mummy something totally un expected.

 So she knuckled down and learned to knit ! She has worked tirelessly at each visit to do a few more rows each time and was rewarded by the growing piece. 

 Grandma found the perfect mug - Mummy likes a big cup of tea- and Rebecca then learned a second new skill of finger knitting to make the button loops.

Lastly Rebecca learned to sew on the buttons before finally finishing her project 3 days before Mummies birthday - what an absolute star!

Today Mummy will be opening this for the very first time and will see all the hard work Rebecca has put in just for her - such love and devotion from a 7 year old girl.  Well done Rebecca I am soooo proud of you and know Mummy and Daddy are too.

Oh and as this was not a pattern we followed this is an original mug hug or mug cosy - perfect for the wintery nights to come.

If you would like to leave Rebecca a message (it would be cool if you did) she will be stopping by to read it soon - as will her class mates and Teachers as she is including my blog in a presentation she is doing about someone who inspires her.  Bless her thinking of me xx 

She sure is a crafter now and I am sure will be all her life.

I didnt take pictures of her card but she made for Mummy used lots of stamping techniques - stamping and blending, colouring the stamp the huffing before stamping as well as adding her own artwork to the mix.

Watch out craft world !

Thanks for stopping by and leaving a little love for her

Janet

where did the week go.....

Back to work after a lovely 2 weeks off and my MoJo is still on hiatus. I think it happens around the same time every year mainly as I remember doing Halloween projects to get me moving again.

My craft stamper popped through the door last week - wow - some fab inspiration in there which I hoped would get me fired up but alas it hasnt happened..

So how am I filling my days ? been sorting a bit - sort of Autumn clear out I guess - I have a pile of craft goodies to sell (which may go on a certain auction site ) but also some other bits and pieces.  The main reason for the sort out is my boys are coming home for the weekend - and bringing mates too! Fab to have everyone together but like sardines in a tin LOL.

I have also been helping Megs focus on her studies. She was very disappointed in her AS results so i have been trying to help her make plans for better use of her time over the coming months.  The great thing is that when she had a meeting at school about said results all were a few points off the next level - so well within the scope of doing better next time.  This has boosted her no end.

Stamping club started back with a nice easy session - for me - colouring.  I remember so well getting frustrated with my own results which is where most of my ladies were at.  So we covered quite a few techniques - from promarkers, watercolour pencils, dye markers, distress markers, aqua markers and the like.  a common factor is we are all sucked into buying the latest product when we often have things at home that do the same job as well.  After some practise and lots of questions I was happy to see how many folks felt more confident by the end of the session.

The scrapbook has been completed - I have been doing a scrapbook, well 2 actually of my SILs life to 40.  I have to say its been hard work - and possibly one of the most expensive gifts I have ever given.  Scrapbooking is so much simpler if you are part of the memories the photographs evoke.  It has however made me want to restart the ones i have neglected of my own - so thats the plan! It has been well received and I hope the journalling has been fun for her too !

So whats the plan for the coming week? I need to do some workshop samples - I have been asked to teach at a new shop which is very exciting - especially as Mid October is great for Christmas projects too - I have an idea in the planning so watch this space.............

so hope you are all crafting far more than I and having creative fun too - thanks for stopping by and I hope I can bring more creativity to my blog soon xx

Janet

Creative Moments - Birthdays

 Over at Creative Moments this week the theme is birthdays - it so happens coming up this weekend is one of my Sons friends birthday - she is 21 (bet you couldn't guess that!)

Here is my first attempt at zentangling - encouraged by the lovely Rosemary Merry, this is a Woodware stamp - perfect for the job and great paper pieced too!

A simple but effective technique which I have used lots of times since then - usually in the fab Woodware stamps too!

Do stop by Creative Moments - where the variety of birthday inspiration is amazing !

Hope you are all fine and dandy this morning.  I am off to a workshop with Katy today - looking forward to playing with yet more Woodware stamps !

Thanks for stopping by x

Janet

The practice tea party.............

As I told you before - I hosted a practice tea party over the bank holiday weekend - to celebrate my birthday but also to raise money for Breast Cancer Care.

here are some pics taken by the official photographer - Pam Miller !

The spread

 the table

and us all together.

these ladies are just amazing - fabulous company and oozing talent.

Thanks for being part of the weekend gals - here's to March 2014 !

Today I finally finished a scrapbook marathon for my SIL. 60 pages of her life up to 40. It has been a labour of love - as its very hard to scrapbook someone elses memories and know what they may want to high light as a main feature.  It has also taken up lots of my time - hence the lack of projects - and I have not felt able to share the pages as they are not my photos to share - privacy and all that.  Hopefully I can now get on with my own crafting again and I am beginning by heading to Embsay on Wednesday for a class with the fabulous Katy Harrison. - I will share my makes later this week.

Thanks for stopping by x

I notice some folks are able to follow now but the main blog follower link is still missing - any advice greatly appreciated !

Happy Crafting x

Janet

Bucket trip.........

I could bore you to tears with photos to be honest so I think I will cherry pick my fav bits of my recent London trip.

As the name suggests it formed part of my bucket list. I have just turned 47 - the age Dad was when he died - so I felt the need to do something I had always wanted to do - namely have tea at The Ritz!

My Sister in Law Linda and I planned a mini break for the end of the holidays to include our Meghan - and also meet up with my Son James whilst down there.

We stayed in a travellers hotel in Paddington - rough, ready but clean, with comfy beds and a fab shower !

Our focus on day 1 was to see this show

 It was brilliant! Loved it all !

Next day we met up with my son James and headed for Trafalgar square

 To visit the National Gallery - helping our Megs along with her art studies. James has been a number of times so was able to give her a whistle stop tour!

 Next was my fav bit (aside being with my family)

 Yes we got there with time to spare for a little photo pose !

 Inside - we were speachless - such awesome surroundings........

 The tea room !

 Where our table was waiting

 and our menu ready to be chosen.

 dainty little sandwiches

 fresh scones and pastries - we couldnt manage all the other sugar laden things offered such as cakes and trifles !

 Time for a little photo of my youngest two - it felt odd not having our Tom there too.

 Our last day we did the tourist thing and boarded an open top bus for a live commentary tour - which we all loved. Look at that amazing blue sky - not a cloud to be seen!

 This was one of the many spendid views of the London eye.

 Couldnt resist this pic - extreme window cleaners !

 as we left the bus we saw this fab Sushi bar - megs loves Sushi so we need to go back so she can sample it - but the crafter in me loved all the lit up fish swimming in the window!

At the train station - Megs had noticed the pianos there for anyone to play and fancied a go herself.

Here she is playing Bellas Lullaby from Twilight - its was lovely watching her sit there and play so confidently. The lady watching in the left of the picture was mesmerised and came over to speak to Linda and I - she was overcome with emotion at Megs playing. She was from Brazil and was meeting her daughter at st Pancras.

There was another piano deeper in the station - this was also being played this time by a beat boxing pianist - it was wonderful seeing young people with so much talent just entertaining because they love it.

I had an amazing few days with amazing family - we met fabulous people, friendly, chatty people and had a wonderful time together - I am going to do it all again !!

Hope I have not bored you with pictures x

Thanks for stopping by x

Happy Sunday x

Janet x