Santa and Sleigh.

I've been inspired today by QVC having a CHRISTMAS CRAFT DAY! I was so excited!! I decided to use my fab papers that I bought from Craft Creations and used the Joys to the Season Cricut cartridge. It took me about 2 hours to create this card!! Cutting the parts to the Santa, and trying to work out what bit went where. I still have some bits left over, but I can't work out where they go, lol. I love how the card turned out.

Click on the above picture, it looks so much better!!

My dad is holidaying in Austria at the moment. I'm jealous! He had a cruise on a lake yesterday along Zell Am See, and today he had a train ride along the picturesque mountains and has also gone up a mountain by cable car... lovely... I want to go!

2nd card today! Stamptacular challenge card.

The challenge over at Stamptacular is to create a 3-D card. I have 3-D'd (??) the ovals and the reindeer, and layered up the snowflakes.
I used the Cuttlebug embossing dots folder and used Sprinkles Star Dust glitter on some of them too. The reindeer is from the Joy to the Season's Cricut cartridge, as were the snowflakes, the ovals were using the Plantin Schoolbook Cricut cartridge. The sentiment is from the papers that came with the Daisy stamp paper set from the earlier post today.



I'm such an idiot... the clue is in the blog title!!! I haven't used a stamped image!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Daisy pops in again.

I really love this little Daisy Christmas stamp. I got her from the Creativity magazine, but I'm sure you must be able to buy her from a Do Crafts shop as well.
I decided to sit up in my craft room today to make a card. My lovely Justin had bought me an RF modulator... ok, why did I need one? Well I'd got an old perfectly working order colour telly in there, but it didn't have a scart socket. I also had a Freeview box that wasn't being used but you need a scart socket for Freeview to work. I came home from work on Saturday and Justin had got it up and running for me... awww, he's such a darling! So I thought I'd sit in my little room and make a Christmas card whilst watching Create and Craft.

I used the Daisy paper pad and also I created the dotty embossing with an embossing folder in my Sizzix.

Christmas sampler update and veggies.

Here's my update for my sampler this week. I've stitched the alphabet and border, and started on the kitten patchwork on the left. I stitched a lot of this at dads this week.



Below are some photos of how the tomatoes have grown and the runner beans. The tomatoe have already been chopped back once, and they've taken over the bench again. I have lots more tomatoes growing alongside the fence. They are the most gorgeous tasting tomatoes and I have had and are due to have, so many! I seem to be picking around 8 a day. The runner beans are lovely providing I cut them when the beans inside are tiny and the runner is around 4 inches, otherwise they're really tough and horrible. I have no idea why that is... do you? Most people can let theirs grow really long and they're lovely... not mine... sniff.

Christmas sampler update.

I have been stitching for so many hours this week and have made quite a bit of progress as you can see on my lovely sampler. Well considering I only started it last Saturday night I've made amazing progress, lol.
I had a disaster at work with touching my eye and then transferring black eyeliner onto the aida!! I tried various substances to remove this at home, but what you can see at the top of the picture is a wet patch where I've cleaned it. I think I've got it all off. I shall remember in the future not to touch my eyes and then the aida, lol.

Darryl is at a movie convention again this weekend in London with his friend Tom. He went last year and I wrote about it on this blog. He loves going to them and comes back loaded with free gifts.
I shall get back to work on this sampler after it's dry but I also need to make an anniversary card for Cheryl this week, she's been married for 29 years next weekend.

Humphrey update and a visitor.

Here's an update of Humphrey. I stitched this weekend during my breaks at work and this is how far along he is!! I've been stitching my Christmas sampler yesterday and today, it's really coming along!! I'm not going to update that one though until I upload onto the Stitch A Long blog on the right. I'm really enjoying the Christmas one. I think I'll stitch Humphrey again this weekend at work.





We had a visitor on a dying sunflower today. I've searched the spider up on the net and I think it's a crab spider... feel free to correct me though in the comments if I'm wrong.

Christmas Sampler by Donna Kooler.

As well as the gorgeous Humphrey, I've also started the Christmas Sampler by Donna Kooler. This can be found in her book 555 Christmas Cross-Stitch Designs. I have loved this picture for so long!! So I've now sewn the aida to the new lap frame and sorted out the threads - I'm missing three so need to get them on Monday, one just had to be the Christmas red shade, lol, typical!
I also worked some more on Humprey, so he's coming along nicely too.
Just a word about lap frames, SO much better than floor stands! Wish I'd bought one ages ago.



This is how far I've got... just a tiny bit so far tonight. I can't see me getting bored with it because it has so many different little designs. Hopefully I'll get back onto the stitch a long blog.

Humphrey's Corner - In Dad's Shoes.

Now that I've finished all the Wedding Anniversary pictures/card I had to do, I'm free to get on with my little ellie. I actually started it on Wednesday at dad's, but of course still had to finish the Silver Wedding picture so didn't get very far.
Ok, so this is the kit I'm now stitching.



This is how far I've got. I'm enjoying this kit. It's lots of colour changes but in blocks. I hate doing them where you get the odd stitch here and there in millions of colours, and I hate doing them that are big massive blocks of colours... I'm hard to please, lol.
I got this kit, along with another Humphrey kit for subscribing to either Cross Stitch Crazy, or Cross Stitch Card Shop, I can't remember which one, but the other kits for subscribing to whichever magazine was a Winnie the Pooh kit, and an Eeyore kit... although not the Winnie that was advertised... oh well, it's still cute.

I'll keep you updating with my progress!

Me and Matthew are off to the library this afternoon. I think I'm going to look for some cross stitch books for some Christmas charts. I have all the DMC colour threads as I bought them in batches on Ebay - much cheaper than in the high street.

Silver Wedding Stitches...

I have been making two Silver Wedding Anniversary cross stitched pictures for Cheryl to give to friends. I still making the second one, but thought I'd post a picture of the first completed framed one... mainly coz Dad was moaning about the lack of updates on my blog this week, lol.
I have stitched the writing in silver thread, it's clearer in real life, but I hate stitching with the metallic threads as they don't run evenly together through the aida. Oh well, almost done now, and then I can carry on with my Humphrey elephant picture.




I haven't had any time to do anything else this week other than the stitching for the above and it's twin. Maybe next week...

I am waiting the arrival of a lap frame to work cross stitch on. I have had 4 floor stands altogether. One where the frame was part of the stand, a mahogany colour and it was a lovely looking stand as well. The next one was one that clamped hold of your frame for you, I can't think what happened to that one... and two of the Stitchmaster one that have two arms that hold your frame, and you can attach the halogen lamp and magnifier, and the chart holder. This is my favourite stand, but the last one just fell apart and the wood split! Hopefully I can at least attach the chart holder to this new lap one... we'll see.

Getting into Christmas.... lol.

Here is a Christmas card made using a different fold. Details of which can be found here. Our swap on my card group next month is to make a card with a different fold to the usual, and this is the fold I've used, but not the card.

The photo below I was trying to show the gorgeous Daisy stamp but with his gorgeous Stickles glittered hat that I've used on the scrapbook page.




And this is my scrapbook page which is about our decorations at Christmas and the atmosphere they create. Inside the little red envelope at the bottom are more photos of the decorations/tree. I tend to take so many photos I don't have enough room!

Flowers??

I keep thinking about not having enough paper flowers... although I do have 3 long tubs of Prima flowers and a organza bag packed with tiny flowers, of course I still don't have enough. Then I wondered why on earth I worried about the "lack" of papers flowers I have when I can quill them??!

Below is a photo of the first bouquet I made of quilled flowers. I made it about 4 years ago.



Below is another bouquet mounted on some spirelli.

Hey Daisy!

I made a Christmas card today! I should be cross stitching a Silver Wedding picture to be framed though... I've got to make two, and I've less than two weeks left to do them... and that's putting me off!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyway. I'd tried to get this months Do Crafts Creativity magazine this week and was unable to, but my friendly Coleman's shop emailed the other shops, and got one in for me and I picked it up this morning. The magazine is SO worth the cover price of £2.50 because I got this gorgeous Daisy cuddly stamp, complete with the tag greetings stamp as well, as a free gift! How fab is that?!
So I used some of last years Christmas papers for the layering and matting. I stamped Daisy in a dark brown Tom Holtz distress ink so that I could just water brush over her for the colouring. I added glitter to her Christmas hat, and I red Stickles glittered the red roses, and hung a little Christmas tree charm off of the tag. Such a cute stamp.

This card suits the challenge on Fab's Big Christmas Card Challenge perfectly. So I've entered this cute and square card there. Thanks Avril for the pointer x.

Just lazing around Tilda.

Wow, two cards in one day!! (See post below for the first card of today). This card I made using the fab papers that I bought with my £30 vouchers I received from the cross stitch mag.
I used my chalks as well! They've not seen the light of day for a couple of years now, and I really enjoyed edging both the oval and the edge of the card itself. I'm definitely loving my craft room, and so is Matthew - he's been up there colouring in as well.
I glittered the tiny butterflies with stardust Stickles, and the centres of the daisies I glittered with a lovely yellow stickles.

Forever Friends and new papers.

This morning I received my scrummy scrapbook papers/cardstock from Craft Creations Ltd. I had ordered them using the money that I'd won from appearing in Cross Stitch Card Shop as the star letter in issue 67. These papers are gorgeous!!! You can't see the print too well on the photos, but one of them has a daisy pattern and is soooo pretty.

I used one of my Forever Friends images that I'd stamped and coloured in ages ago. I added ink to the edges and crystal laquers to the hearts and a sprinkle of glamour dust.
I used a cream crocheted edging, and an assortment of flowers.

An interesting News Report.
A number of incidents were reported at Lake Baikal, the deepest lake in the world, including powerful lights and objects coming out from the water, Russia Today said.

In one case in 1982, military divers training at the lake said they spotted a group of humanoid creatures dressed in silver suits at a depth of 50 metres.
They tried to catch the visitors but three of the seven men died in the process, while four others were severely injured in the incident, according to the records.

On another occasion, a nuclear submarine on a combat mission in the Pacific Ocean detected six unknown objects. The captain of the vessel ordered the crew to bring it to the surface after failing to shake off the pursuers. The objects followed them up before flying away into the sky, the newly published files claimed.

Further mysterious events happened in the Bermuda Triangle area, including instruments on ships and submarines breaking down for no apparent reason.
Former navy officer Rear Admiral Yury Beketov said deliberate disruption from UFOs, which were detected "moving at incredible speed", could have been to blame.
He said: "It was like the objects defied the laws of physics. There's only one explanation: the creatures who built them far surpass us in development."

The records, which date back to Soviet times, were compiled by a special navy group tasked with collecting reports of unexplained incidents from submarines and military ships.

Taken from Sky News online.

Christmas in Craft World.

... starts in January, so I'm late getting started!!
I belong to an ATC group which I've been very lapse with for well over a year, that's bad though coz I part run/own it! So anyway, I thought I'd check the up and coming ATC themes and saw, amongst others, Christmas.
I decided to make these on acetate and I really love them! I enjoyed making them today.
I've been in my craft room, along with Matthew, twice today! I made my unusual card fold card that is the theme for my Card swap group (we've not swapped in months, so new start!), better not upload that here though yet, and Matthew made two Christmas cards with scary Santa eyes! Not meant to be, but he coloured the eyes in and now they're scary.
Later we went back to the craft room to make some ATC's. Matthew made one great Christmas themed one, and these are my two for the December swap on the ATC group. I ran around the outside edge in Stardust Stickles glitter glue.
Click on image for a better view.

Something for Cheryl's grandson.

Door plate for Leo.
I made this with my Cricut Expressions machine and the Disney and Friends cartridge. I made him for Cheryl's grandson who's just turned one. He has his new room in a new house.
I'd not sent him a birthday card and said I'd make him something instead. Matthew now wants one, lol. He is cute though, I wouldn't mind a "Justin and Roz's room" one!

I've only been in my craft room 3 times since the desk went in and I could use the room. Mainly coz of Justin being off for the week and we've been busy with other things. In those three times I've made Darryl and Abby a New Home card, and also an Engagement card, and now tonight this Mickey Mouse. I don't suppose I shall use the room much until the school summer holidays are over in September, but I do love being in there.

An hour by the river.

Today we went to dad's for dinner, and as Justin has this week off he came with us for our walk over the river. Dad stayed at home peeling the veg!

Me and Justin.




A bridge crossing one of the weir's.




My back garden... I wish!

Matthew and Justin on a bridge crossing a small weir.

A smiling Justin!

Me!

Me and our lovely Matthew.

Stitched Ruby Wedding Anniversary Card.

I stitched this card for my cousin Carol and her husband Terry. I was their bridesmaid 40 years ago when I was just three... awwwww, lol. Their daughter, Melanie, who's children go to the same school as Matthew asked me to stitch them a card. I like how it turned out.
Below is a pic of me as that bridesmaid! Bless eh?!

My craft room!!

So here's my craft room!! This was Matthew's tiny room up until a week ago... see the Winnie the Pooh wallpaper??! LOL!
You can't see by the pic but I've got tubs underneath the desk. There's my old trolley thingy under the telly. I have set out my wonderful Cricut Expressions machine on the desk, along with a basket with essential bits like double sided tape, scissors etc. On the windowsill are my glitters and my little paint pots... what are they called???? My Prismacolour pencils are in pencil cases... everything's tidy.



This next photo is my canvas shelf cupboard - it hasn't been as tidy as this in about a year! I had a good clear out as well and chucked some stuff.

Just a close up of my desk. It took Justin about an hour and a half last night, but well worth it! Thanks Justin xxx

Wooohooooooooo Matthew!!

Here is Matthew FINALLY riding his bike. (Click the triangle on the video dad!) He got SO frustrated over Christmas because he just couldn't do it, so gave up, and didn't like his bike very much. Today, Justin and Matthew went out to the garage and saw that the back tyre was flat, so Justin pumped it up and then Matthew walked around with his bike. He then got on it without us looking (well he didn't see me up at the bedroom window) and just got on it and rode it! I later went out and took this little video of him. I wish I sounded a bit posher, lol.

Darryl and Abby seem happy in their new home. It's still a tip, lol, but Darryl's bedroom here is now clear and Justin is busy painting the bottom half of the wall as Matthew can't wait to get in there.
We didn't finish taking Darryl's possessions round his new house until this afternoon, so it's been a busy few days and I'm glad I had the weekend off!