Friday 31 December 2010

Creative Challenge

My friend, Michelle, and I have decided that we need to encourage each other to be more creative and make more this year, so every fortnight, we’re going to post on our blogs an item we’ve made, we’re not specifying theme, colour, materials or anything like that, so it will be a nice surprise every fortnight! The link to Michelle's blog is   http://theamethystangel.wordpress.com/
The first challenge will be posted on Tuesday the 4th January.
Check back then!

Thursday 30 December 2010

Green and Red Challenge Card

This is a card for Annabelle Stamps Blog
The stamp is Pressed Holly from Stampendous,
The greeting, inks, cardstock and DSP are
Old Olive and Real Red from Stampin Up.
Those colours just scream Christmas to me, so it had to be a Christmas card, I thought I had made all my cards for this year but hey ho it can always go in my Christmas box for next year, Tracey came up with the idea to make a Christmas card every Saturday so we are not rushing around just before Christmas, sounds like a plan really, hope we can keep it up!
Bye for now
Anne x

Tuesday 28 December 2010

Merry Christmas

Well what can I say it has been a strange year for us lots of downs but there has been some ups too, one of those is that I have a job, at last and I didn't even have to look for it, it came looking for me in the shape of my landlady Julia,
so I am now a letting consultant (sounds posher than it really is)
with Lets Express.
I have decided that I will update my blog every week as from now,
I know I keep promising it but I mean it this time, I think it will do me good,
I am always the one who likes to read what others are putting on theirs
and the first to moan when they haven't been updated.
I might even leave a few comments too.
 Meanwhile I have a couple of cards to show you.




Both have been made using SU cardstock but the paper is Anna Griffin from my 12x12 stash which I intend to use up this year before buying any new sheets, easier said than done I hear you say but think positive!

I am also going to be co-arranging the Ilkeston Dabblers with my good friend Lesley we hope to breathe a bit of life back into it so watch this space.
Another thing I want to try and do is take more pictures of anything and everything, I didn't get any pictures of this Christmas,
it hasn't really felt like Christmas to be honest but there is always next year!
Bye for now
Anne x

Saturday 27 November 2010

Bags

If you have arrived here from Tracey's blog and are interested in having a bag made for yourself or a gift for someone at Christmas then just either leave a comment here or email me on annemadeit75@yahoo.co.uk
I can make them any size or any colour (the price does depend on the size) just ask.
Thanks for your interest
Anne x

Monday 1 November 2010

Sheila's Craft Day At Spondon Village Hall.

Sheila's Christmas Craft Day.
This is the hall set out before the arrival of the guests.

This is a beautiful present full of choccies that everyone got on their tables.



Project One

Project Two

Project Three

and inside

Project Four

Project Five

and inside

Project Six
I didn't have time to finish it but I will post the finished project soon.

Project Seven

and last but not least Chief Witch (Sheila) and Diane (one of her many helpers on the day).

It was a great day and I was so busy I forgot to take photos of the food
 and lots of other things but I will be going again to the April one.
It really is a fun packed day and I slept like a baby that night.
Anne x










Monday 25 October 2010

Thought I'd better say hello

I can't believe it has been so long since I posted so I thought I had better just so you know I am still here.
Still out of work but I can't let that get me down.
Going to a craft day on Saturday at Spondon Village Hall which is being run
by Sheila from CraftyWays. I have been to a few now and I always enjoy them.
Then on the Sunday I am helping Tracey out at the PaperMax Show at Moorways,
so I am keeping busy, I don't think I have got time to work with everything I am doing!!
Here are a couple of things I did with a new colour from Stampin Up
Marina Mist and of course 2 old favourites Real Red and Old Olive, what else.
(Colour Coach is great)
Hope you like it.
Anne x









Thursday 12 August 2010

Blogoversary Candy over at Andrea's Stampin' moments

As the title suggest there is some lovely candy to be had over at
You should really go and have a look and even have a go at winning some great candy.
Happy Stamping
Anne x

Sunday 8 August 2010

A Challenge Card

I have heard about all these challenges about and I have finally decided to give another one a go.
Not sure how I feel about putting my cards on show but I suppose I have to start somewhere.
So here goes, the challenge is called   
 Say It In....Cream by Annabelle Stamps Blog.
I recently found this blog and just love it.
I have even ordered some of the stamps and can't wait for them to arrive.

I know I will have to learn how to take better photos but I hope you like it.
Here is a list of what I have used:
Cream pearlescent card
SU Chocolate Chip Card and Ink
SU Simply Said Stamp Set
SU Scallop Circle Punch ( for the flower)
Xcut Punch for the Leaves
and Paper from my stash.
Hopefully I will be entering some more soon.
Happy Stamping.
Anne x
I have also entered it in more challenges


Thursday 29 July 2010

Here is some Blog Candy

Here is some Blog Candy that you could win, 4 lots to be exact!
I am sooo jealous of Brenda at the moment I would just love to go to all those amazing places.
I'm sure that she is having a great time, Brenda where ever you are have fun.
Here is the link to the candy
Good luck everyone x

Friday 25 June 2010

My Toes are Famous....

.....so is my youngest son, James.
We treated ourselves to something completely different and got filmed doing it, how emarrasing!
my toes are the ones with the pink nail varnish.
Click the link to find out.

Monday 21 June 2010

I love Rhubarb

I got this rhubarb from my Mum's garden a few weeks ago as she is moving at the end of the year and this is what it looked like when I planted it in a tub when I got home.
It does look a bit bedraggled and I didn't hold out much hope of it ever growing.


But now look at it, i can't believe it has grown so much, I'm so surprised that it actually has, as I haven't fed or watered it at all it must be the compost I put it in and all the sunshine we have had. Won't be long before I am making Rhubarb Crumble at this rate, I'll have to post a picture when I do, I might even look into making some jam too.

Silver and Pearls

 
Not real silver and pearls but who cares they still look beautiful.
I bought the pearls from Reams as I just love those colours the darker one reminds
me of Stampin Up's Sage Shadow, which I will miss when it's gone.
 I will have to order some before I forget.
Anyway I threaded 3 pearls onto a jump ring then threaded that
jump ring onto a link in the chain, I did this about 120 times, but it was worth it.
I do hope you like it.
Anne

Thursday 3 June 2010

Nephew's Birthday Card

I wanted to show you the card I made for my Nephew's Birthday. I have taken the design from a card I made at one of Tracey's workshops ( which are great by the way ) I made it into a DL sized card and put a pocket on the inside so I could put some birthday money in and as it was a black card I decorated a white panel so I could write a greeting on it.

Hope you are all having a great day whatever you are doing I am having a day off as I have been busy this week just having the boys off school is tiring in itself, but on Tuesday I took James to Waterworld in Stoke-on-Trent I love going there, but it is sooo noisy. One tip if you do want to go buy your tickets online and get express service because you can just jump the queue and go straight in, perfect! and yesterday I took Robbie in to town for a coffee, wander and to make sure he had a hair cut which required some bribery but I suppose that is to be expected from a 12 year old boy!! It was a great day I love shopping with Robbie. I also got tickets to go and see Joseph at the Assembly Rooms next Friday, I am taking James with me but he doesn't know yet it will be a surprise for him. I might just put on another post yet just wait and see.



Thursday 20 May 2010

Sew Little Time

Still at home, no job, driving me crazy so I actually dusted my sewing machine off and decided to do some sewing, I made a good friend a bag for her birthday but I forgot to take a picture of it before I gave it her, I'll have to take one the next time I see her. I then saw a magazine for sale called Homestyle Sewing it had some free material and some bag handles so I treated myself to it and made the bag today it only took about 20 mins to do, easier than I thought it would be. So I thought I would post it on here I hope you like it, I love it that much I have even been and bought another copy of the magazine so I can make another bag in a different way.



Saturday 27 March 2010

Paper Circle Necklace


Last week I went to a workshop in Coventry and whilst there I saw a paper circles necklace it was amazing. I emailed the lady who made it for instructions but whilst waiting for a reply a thought I would give it a go and try to make it myself, so on Friday night at Ilkeston Dabblers the lovely Alyson and wonderful Jaqui punched hundreds of paper circles out for me using 3 SU circle punches sizes 1-1/4", 1" and 3/4"  and 3 different SU A4 card colours Perfect Plum, Pale Plum and Mellow Moss, the ribbon is also SU 1/4" Grosgrain in Elegant Eggplant. Then I spent the next few days trying to find the time to punch a hole in the middle of each one. When they were all finally done I threaded them onto Tiger Tail and made this necklace.

I'm not sure how many circles it took I'd have to count them but I love it and it is so light weight, just don't wear it whilst it's raining which is every day at the moment!! 

I was just so proud of it I thought I would share it with you all.

Bye for now

Anne x


Sunday 21 March 2010

Well I haven't gone to Tansley, carbooting this morning, even though I was up at 5:45am the weather was just too wet and at Tansley if it is wet it is very muddy and no fun at all. There is always next weekend.

I have put a few more things on ebay again and there will be some more things going on in the next couple of days. I am even going to put some of my jewellery on just to see how it goes. I hope you'll pop over and have a look for me. Here is a couple of pictures of one set that I have put on there.





Sunday 14 March 2010

Well I am still here just about, Time really does fly by, I had another birthday, I feel old now but I'm sure that will pass. I still don't have a job and have had to go to a Back to Work interview in the week and I was the only woman in a room of blokes, felt a bit out of place there.

Oscar is getting so big now it is hard to even picture him as small as he was when we brought him home and he is still growing but he is so well behaved I love him to bits.

One piece of exciting news I have is that I have got a few pieces of my jewellery in a shop. The shop is Maz's who is Karen's MIL and it is called Love,Heart,Home it is definately worth having a look. She does have some beautiful things.

I have also discovered the powers of  Ebay, I have put alot of my craft things on there, to try and make some room for more and am adding more things daily. I have also put some things on there for my Mum., she is moving to Gibraltor in September, I wish her lots of luck and will try to help where I can, even if that means getting up at 5.30am on a Sunday morning to go carbooting.

Bye for now

Anne x


Thursday 18 February 2010

Hello again people, I'm sorry I've not posted in ages, again!!

I'm not very good at this as time is just flying by. I suppose that for some people that is good cos it means the weekend comes around quicker but that also means it goes quicker too!

Anyway nothing interesting to tell you, Oscar is getting bigger by the day but is just as cute


He is so well behaved (at the moment!) it is a joy to have him around. Part of me hopes he'll never grow up! I'm still without a job but I'm glad of that this week as the kids are off. I have put a couple of things on Etsy it is a big learning curve as I have had to learn to take the photos and crop them etc.. It is so hard taking it all in, it feels like my head is going to explode but I can only get better at it (i hope!) If you can have a quick look and then let me know what you think any suggestions will be noted.

Bye for now

Anne x

Friday 29 January 2010

Has it been a week already, I can't believe it.

I'm still looking for work but I've decided that while I'm at home I would put some of the things I have made on Etsy as I have lots of jewellery and other crafty things, so I thought I would try and make some money or maybe some room for more crafty things!!!

As I type this, I haven't put anything on there yet but I have registered as a seller now so I have just got to list some items, I will do that in the next couple of days, I promise.

My Etsy shop name is annemadeit please go and visit it and tell me what you think.

Here is a sneaky peek at a couple of the things that are on there hope you like them.







Friday 22 January 2010

Here we go again!

You thought I'd forgotten to post didn't you! Well truth is I have had such a rubbish start to the year I nearly didn't but I'm here now to tell you the tale. You all know about what happened to Jake, well on the same day the car had to go to the garage to be fixed (luckily it turned out to be nothing major but still got me worried and it was £118!) and the Tuesday before that I was made redundant, it feels like I have lived a year already I am feeling so down that I didn't think I would be able to pick myself up yet again (why does it always seem to happen to me) but I think I may just have managed it again. What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger, well at this rate I'm going to look like the Hulk soon but not green, maybe purple! 

So anyway I am job hunting yet again there are jobs out there but I am not qualified for the majority of them and the others are either night shifts or too far away! Think positive, think positive, something will turn up just at the right time ( a lottery win wouldn't go amiss to tide us over, hint, hint!) I know there are people much worse off than me but I sometimes feel so alone even though I have a lovely Hubby and kids and of course Oscar to keep me busy, I'm sure you understand.

I've got to go now and get tea ready before the kids kill each other

See you soon

Anne x 

Saturday 16 January 2010

Happy news


Meet Oscar, he is our new addition to the household. He is only 10 weeks old and already part of the family. I forgot how hard it was having a puppy but it is worth it. I`ll keep you posted with his progress.

Bye for now

Anne x

Wednesday 13 January 2010

Sad news.


The sad news is we lost our dearly beloved Jake last week, it happened so quickly we went for a walk in the morning and when we got home I noticed his eyes were a touch yellow so I phoned the vets and got an appointment that morning at 10.20am. When we got there she said he was very ill and she would take some blood tests and do a scan of his belly, so I had to leave him there while she did those things. She rung about 1pm to tell me it was his Liver, the scan showed it was very swollen and the tests showed the enzymes in his blood were so high that she couldn`t get a proper indication how bad it was but the prognosis was bad, very bad and should consider what to do next. Anyway by 5.30pm I was beside myself what to do so I went to see the vet for advice, She said it was Cholangiohepititas and there was nothing they could do, they could keep him on his drip for a few days to see if he would improve and try and treat the condition but he was so ill she didn`t advise that and being at the surgery would have stressed him more than he should of been, she also said they could do a biopsy of his liver but he may not survive the anesthetic so I made the choice to let him go where he wouldn`t suffer any longer, it was so hard to do but I know it was for the best. R.I.P Jake we love you x

Wednesday 6 January 2010

Snow Fun!

Snow fun like fun in the snow.

I thought we would make the most of the snow today and my DS asked if he could have a sleigh so I thought why not make the most of it and it was so worth it. We went to a football field nearby and joined the rest of the kids sledging and parents standing around moaning about the cold, luckily there was more than one hill so there was no fighting about whose turn it was.

This is one of my New Years ''promises'' to myself, to take my camera out of the bag more often and use it! plus make some scrapbook pages this will be my first page of 2010. I`ll post it when I have done it. 


Judging by his face I would say it was a shut my eyes and hope for the best ride! especially when he was aiming for between the goalposts!!!! but he kept on smiling.

I even braved a go, I knew you wouldn`t believe it so I got DS to take a piccie and I quite like it, one of the few I do! It was fun, like being a kid again. Just goes to show you never truly grow up one of my favourite sayings is: You don`t stop playing because you grow old, you grow old because you stop playing! 

I even got DS to make a snow angel, his first one of 2010. May not even be his last if this weather continues.

I couldn`t resist taking one last piccie as we were leaving and it turned out OK.

Hope you all enjoy these piccies as much as we enjoyed doing them

See you soon

Anne x 


Sunday 3 January 2010

My first ever challenge!


Well Hello everyone and a Happy New Year to you all.

I am going to give it one last try this blogging and see what happens, New year, new start and all that,  you never know it might just not be for me! I want to thank my followers for sticking by my even though I hardly ever posted.

Anyway enough talking what I wanted to share with you is a challenge that Tracey told me about yesterday over on  In Love With Stamping. We had 4 different challenges to do, so here are the pictures of what I did. Hope you like them.

CHALLENGE 1: a sketch


I think this stamp is gorgeous but have not used it before now.

CHALLENGE 2: I want you to choose JUST ONE stamp set, ink and card stock and NO EMBELLIES.By that I mean no brads, no eyelets, no flowers, no ribbon, no buttons.You can use PunchesPiercing tools

This one was right up my street.

CHALLENGE 3: Is a COLOUR COMBO next and I am afraid you might not like me after this but I promise you is not that bad.
So I would like you to make a card/project using whatever embellishments/ stamp sets you wish as long as you stick to the following colours.
REGAL ROSE
CAMEO CORAL
PRETTY IN PINK
APRICOT APPEAL
OLD OLIVE
BASHFUL BLUE
You can add any NEUTRAL to this ie white, black, kraft, etc. plus YOU HAVE to use all those colours together

This one was hard as I only had 3 of the colours you had to use but they said I could use colours that were close to the required colours and that was a challenge in itself. I wasn`t sure what to do but they didn`t say I had to use alot of the colour itself!

CHALLENGE 4: This challenge is a bit of a combination challenge really.
The first part is masking, so make something that has some kind of masking element to it. And to give you an extra bit of a kick - try to "recycle" a regular household item into it somehow.
This can be clothes peg, safety pin, band-aid plaster, yoghurt cup, pringles container lid, fabric...... you get the idea

I just thought of the recycling bit and forgot the cardmaking! The hubby suggested a tin can and all I could think about was a pen holder.

Bye for now

Anne x