A Little Self Indulgence

Yours truly and Mario 

Checkout the new apron !

and we're off...

 

The ever so lovely Dyan Reaveley was in the house too !

Three and a half hours of lovely messy taggy fun 

Here's the front of mine - still more to do 

I loved the ruler binding - such a clever idea ...

I came away not only buzzing with ideas but had met some great

new friends too - can't be bad !

Not too much of a silly grin this time !

The excitement mounts ..

Here in Den's crafty world, the excitement is mounting as I am soooooo looking forward to Thursday when I will be partaking of a class with the legend who is Mr T Holtz
http://timholtz.com/uk-here-we-come/

hopefully, if I get a photo this time - I won't have such a stupid grin on my face ......

A lucky dog walk

Look what I found this afternoon, just looked down as the dogs were running around and there it was ......

Might buy a Euromillions ticket !

Christmas...... in August ??

I know,I know,it's really early-but I thought I'd share a couple of cards I made last week.
In the crafting world,Christmas products seem to get earlier,some people even start their cards in January !
It just so happened that I fancied making some cards the other evening and came up with these 

I used acetate as a wrap on the last one,not something i've used much before,but it kind of added a little something to it I thought..

So have any of you started on Christmas yet???

Also, I have a question,I want to change the font that I type in on here as the normal one is a bit small - can anyone tell me how to change it so the new one is the default? I'm getting fed up with highlighting it all and changing it every time! Thanks in advance if anyone does..

Simply a Moment

On the 15th of each month,Alexa suggests that we take time out and capture Simply a Moment.

Masterchef is muttering in the background and the rain is making lots of noise on the window, a strange calming cosy sound - I've always loved the sound of the rain.
Upstairs I can hear the shower and the quick spray of deodorant as one of the boys gets himself ready to go out.Down he comes, checks hair in the mirror, keys jangle and he's off....'see you later'.

 

These are all looking very neat and tidy but there are a LOT of ends to be sewn in....

I'm contemplating whether to carry on with a layout I need to get done or start to sew the ends in on the crocheted blankets I have sitting looking at me waiting to be finished or to try some more sewing ..then I remember a lovely afternoon yesterday spent in the company of a long time friend Deb, we caught up on all the news, discussed layouts,she helped me with the next step of patchwork I'm doing and we ate cake - smiling to myself and then Paul O'Grady's voice comes onto the tv with a new programme.

The tumble dryer clicks as it stops and I suppose I should get up and move myself but I do so love a little surf and read in the evenings.

It's nine o'clock so I think I should really get on with my layout or it will be too late. 

My quiet little moments are few and far between but I love 'em when they are here !

Time to put the kettle on,make tea and scrap.

A Place in Time

I've just made a page for May using the Graphic 45 A Place in Time papers.
Luckily there was a VERY nice happening for me in May - I heard that someone was looking for a home for a little Sheltie boy ..... things fell into place nicely and he is settling in very well and has fast become a member of the family.
You know when sometimes you make a page and you instantly 'love' it? Well this was one of them.
Mainly because of the subject, and the fact its my favourite colours - and I like the photo!

I used my Silhouette to cut the title and the big flowery circles - that's another reason why I like this layout, cos I finally got to grips with the silhouette!

Hope you like it and thanks for popping by

Picking my precious

Over at High in The Sky - Sian's lovely blog,she hosts a monthly feature -Storytelling Sunday every month- where currently the theme is 'picking my precious'.
My precious item is something that has always been there- it sat on my mum's little unit in her bedroom beside her little doll and photo of her beloved poodle,Benson.
So it's very special to me as it was so very special to her.

I grew up around mum smoking,not knowing any different. Now- this is not a morbid post, just explaining the memory for me- when I was 9,my brother was killed, he was 16, and I remember going into my mum and dads bedroom Christmas morning to open my presents in my pillow case,and my dad had bought my mum this musical lighter.I remember her having a tear in her eye as the music played but didnt really get it at the time. it was their fisrt Christmas without him...

My mum and dad religiously sold poppies every year, were very active with the British Legion and I also remember trapsing (?) it was to me then!! around the cold dark country lanes to knock on doors to sell poppies every year as I grew up.
My mum was recognised and given a special award and pin when she had completed 50 years of poppy selling.
She kept these in this little heart shaped box and it warms my heart when I see it and the contents - it gives me lovely thoughts and memories.

So there is one of the many things that are precious to me....there have been many over the past few years that I now have - things that were always there and part of home that now are passed down to be precious to me .

Do pop on over to Sian's blog to find many other lovely varied stories of precious things to others..x

Crafting Musketeers Challenge 4 and DT call

August has arrived,which means it's time for another challenge over at the Crafting Musketeers Challenge Blog

Some exciting news too...we have a Design Team Call...to apply you must enter the August challenge and make sure you add 'DT' to your name and tell us a little about yourself on your blog post. For the full details hop over to the

CRAFTING MUSKETEERS DESIGN TEAM CALL

We are a really friendly bunch and all love working together - it would be lovely to welcome a new member or two...

Now on to this month's challenge
The challenge this month is to follow the sketch below

The sponsor  is DELICIOUS DOODLES and the prize is four digital images of your choice

The team has been busy creating using the sketch and some chosen digi images -
Here's mine

I coloured her in with Spectrum Noir pens - if you pop over to the blog - you 'll see how everyone has interpreted the sketch and the images we were given to choose from - there are some lovely cards !

Thanks for popping by and if you enter - good luck !

Scavenger Hunt Update

I'm doing pretty well in Rinda's Summertime Photo Scavengerhunt so far.
I've been posting a lot of them vis Instagram - here's some of what I've found...

Number 19 A Fisherman
Conveniently fishing in the sea whilst we were in Lanzarote - not one but two !!

Goodness knows what was in the basket but it was fascinating watching the diver go down and bring it back for the man in the boat!

Number 6 - Someone or something taking a nap -nuff said !

Number 4 - Airplane

Not so difficult 

Number 10 - A bench that is outside 

This was as we were strolling along for our evening meal...

Number 15 - A fire truck or police car 

 

This was a bit tricky, I sneaked it on the way to work one morning- when the policeman saw me I had to pretend i was taking a photo of the shop over the road !

Number 9 - A photo with something or someone who is clearly out of place or doesn't belong...

A choice of two here

Us girlies - Karen Deb and me playing on the children's slide at our last crop.....

 Or my boss pretending to be a fishing gnome sitting on one of the ladies' desks- clearly not belonging in an accountants !! - he often does things like this and doesn't mind me posting photos- he did this a week or so ago and I couldn't resist !

On that silly note I will leave it there, I've got lots more to show you - will post them very soon.

I've got the cloud, a sunset, animal in a reserve or aquarium and somebody wearing an  item that symbolises my country to find .

Hope you've enjoyed my little recap - back soon with the rest.