I'm making a list, checking it twice!

I love lists!, they make me feel like I'm organised (which I'm not!), they give a feeling of control over the uncontrollable.  How funny is it that as Christmas fast approaches and there seem to be millions of things to do and so little time to create the miracles the season demands, unless you are Nigella of course (I would love yo be Nigella, well at Christmas I would anyway), sorry back on track - 

it's 

funny that a piece of paper and a pen  are all that are needed to 

create that long (very long!) list that means-'I know what is required, I have it down here and I'm gonna do it!'  Now I hardly check that list again, but hey I made it, I thought about what needed doing and it helped - weird eh?!........... Probably just me then!!  On the subject of Nigella am I the only one who thinks it's strange that there is never anyone else in that house - other than the dinner guests that is!  We could all be domestic goddesses surely if we could sashay around our enormous kitchens brandishing our blowtorches while stroking our kitchenaid mixer..........I wish!!!! No kids attached to our fluffy Bunny slippers or men walking in saying ' how much longer are you gonna be there and when is tea - and where's my clean socks???!!'  Aaahhhhh a huge house of festive loveliness all to ourselves with a basement wine cellar and multiple freezers - we could all be Nigella then - actually I would need a compresser for the boobs but I'd be almost there and a face lift.........maybe I should make a list??!!!

I'd had a Charity Raffle going on for CM since October and did the draw last week, the prize was a fab 8x8 Album, Pages, Papers and Stickers and I used 'Random Org' to select the winner which was no 41.  It was won by Rich KD my neighbours Son-In-Law and I managed to raise £40 for Children's Hospice South West.  The charity was chosen as this years company charity in memory of a little boy called Joe Way, who sadly passed away at the age of four after being diagnosed with 2 different syndromes that made life very difficult for both little Joe and his family.  The family live in Cornwall and had to travel to Devon to a children's hospice when Joe was able to, however toward the end of his life this was not possible, as he could not travel that far and Claire and Matt, Joe's parents had to manage at home.  The money raised to build this Hospice will make such a difference to so many families like the Way family and would give children who have short and difficult lives a change of scenery and some smiles and fun, that can be hard to come by in their normal home environments!  It can give parents some breathing space and a chance for a little 'normality' for the siblings of terminally ill children.  I was in bits a long with many others when I watched the short film that introduced us to the charity that CM would support this year at our September Roadshow in Leicester.  The film talked about Joe's short life that was full of the love of his family, including his big sister Megan and his meeting his new baby brother Finn just before he sadly passed away in May!  His Parent's Matt and Claire are such courageous people and they have found comfort in the fund raising that they have organised for the Hospice in Joe's memory!   I guess the thought of giving other families support when going through such a difficult time helps to heal, and during such sadness a focus can help to find away through when there is the need to reconcile that question - WHY? The full story of Joe's courage and that of the whole family! is on their website www.joeway.com  - warning you will need a box of tissues for sure!!!!!!! If you are as moved as we all were then there is a link to donate from the website, it's a fantastic cause.

Couple of cards to get back to the christmas thing oh and since I started this entry this morning , I have been out and managed to get my mitts on Nigella's booky, wook yeahey praise the Lord!!! 

Chrissy shopping almost finished.........I think...........must check that list!!!!!!!

Belinda x

Fab Party with Sian!

Well I had a busy day on Saturday, Christmas Sale in the afternoon, that I enjoyed.  Didn't sell masses but it was lovely, it was the School that Sam used to attend before he went to High School and it was such a nice school then and it still is.  They have a new Head there who I met on Saturday, who is such a lovely guy and knows all the children by their christian name and is so lovely with them all.  

Followed by a trip over to Bathampton for my Unit Leader Sian's party, to celebrate her becoming a Director with Creative Memories.  The party was fab and we all had a great time, there was an inspired idea by Sian to have this amazing dress-up area with a photo booth.  It was craaaaaaaaazzzzyyyyy!  We all got into the booth (obviously not all of us together!) and had a blast!!  It was crazy and there were some very, very funny shots.

When the light is better I will post the couple I brought home, soooooo funny!!!  Food was fabby too care of Waitrose very posh and very yummy!!  All in all it was a great celebration for a great lady Sian is a very inspirational person and there were many emotional tributes on the night and several of us could have taken shares in kleenex, blub, blub!!

My little Livvy woke up  last night at about 1:30 am and was up for a while and managed to disturb Sam who starts his GCSE Mocks today.  His first one is his weakest subject - basically he just doesn't enjoy it!  He went off to school at 7:30am extremely tired and not looking forward to things!!  Poor kid!!

Belinda x

More Makes for Saturday

Couple more of the cards for the Christmas Sale.

Like a Candle in the Wind!

Well I've been trying some new bits for this Saturday's Christmas Sale, including some Candles and here they are!  I must say thanks to Mum for lending me her new stamps the beautiful Snowman one is from a set I recently got on her behalf from Dies to Die for, Mum's not into on-line purchasing ....yet!  The stamps are by a company called Darcie's and they stamp so beautifully I love em (don't worry Mum you'll get em back.......eventually!!) they come in a plastic DVD size clear storage case with some illustrated designs on there for inspiration!  I hope I have some pennies for Crimbo to order some of the other brill designs Tracy has in her shop, oh and if you've never ordered from there the service is amazing, I received my stamps next day......so quick!!!!  Other stamps on the candles are Bella  - Snowbunnybella, a teddy with flowers (not sure who makes this!!), Sugar Nellie - Maggie with dottie scarf (one in pastels & one bright!).  All coloured in with Promarkers and a touch of stickles here and there for good measure!!!

Here we go again!

Well I am doing another Christmas Fair on Saturday, so busy, busy, busy again...........  This time i've got some candles too, I did one for the first time last Christmas and I was fairly pleased with it, so..... I thought I'd go for it and purchased some nice candles on my visit to Ikea last week.  I have stamped the images and am in the process of adding colour and glitter and will attach with the heat-gun once Livvy is in bed this evening.  Neil is out for dinner with some old work colleagues tonight so it'll be go, go, go! (sounds like a rocket launch or something!!!!!!!)

I am soooooo behind with the Crimbo gift shopping this year, though this is nothing new, however, we had agreed that this year we would be more organised and get it all done much earlier - That was before we got the horrible buggy thing that lasts..........forever!!

My eldest Sam has his GCSE mocks starting next week so it's a bit of a war zone here, me expecting a tad more effort in the revision and research area, him thinking more xbox 360 than education argghhhhh!!!  Maybe I should just refuse to feed him unless he works harder (he has an appetite!) - would that be evidence of child cruelty and be likely to involve a call to Childline, and a possible holiday at the pleasure of Her Majesty??!!  Could this mean I won't have to cook Christmas lunch this year............. ummm let me weigh this up!!!!!!

Belinda x

Christmas Fete and a week with the Lurrgy!!!

Well me and my big ideas, I found out last Sunday that I could get a table at a local school Christmas Sale on the 29th and decided that it would be good experience, and a chance to get some feedback on my stuff and maybe make a few pennies too!  

Neil agreed to help out with Livvy more, so as to free me up to get all my ideas to become reality............... that was before Livvy took a nose-dive in the health department  -  again!! Don't know what it is with this 'cold virus' going around, both Livvy and 

me have had it on and off for weeks, I've felt like cr*p too, but she has been real poorly - runny nose, horrid cough, not eating (she's a poor eater anyway!) crying loads! and not sleeping at night - which obviously means I've been hanging!  Not sure why my children never do the lie on the sofa with a blanket kind of ill, just the hanging on my legs rubbing snot into them and crying sort of ill.............!  Neil tried hard with her trying when she was at her least miserable to take her out in the car all bundled up cosy to try to prevent her leech impersonation upon my person!!!  By Thursday evening however he had come down with serious man-flu, so, that was that, leech permanently attached again.  I swear if I have to wipe anymore snot or hear much more coughing I'll book myself into the funny farm. 

Got to the school and  it wasn't a 'Fete' it was to be precise a 'Bazaar', now I wasn't sure what the difference was, but it appeared that there were loads of Tombola, Lucky Dip, Spin the Arrow win a prize kind of things???!!! 

Anyways..........it was ok, my first experience of such so - can't make much of a comparison.  The Lady on the next table seems to do lots of events like these and she was not very busy at all.  As I was late in booking I was also in the room furthest from the entrance, but there were lots of people there, so a good turnout!  

A couple of things that I planned didn't pan out too well  - Didn't get the candles done and  a little lesson learned was never look at things on the net and plan around using them til you see them in real life!  My Ikea mugs that I had planned for 'Snowman Soup' IRL were teeny, tiny!!!!!!!!!  Time for plan B.  Ikea had brill tall patterned paper cups and so these were my plan B. this also made the whole thing cheaper to create & so less expensive for selling!!

Lastly here is a pic of Livvy who during one of her better moments this week decided that this storage box for her toys was a bath!  Aawww bless! 

Snowman Soup

Well I am hanging my head in shame - new to the blogging world and at the point where I should be full of enthusiasm and drive in this new endeavour, and I haven't posted for a week!!!!!!!! 

I have been crafting, but not a huge amount to show for it as most of the cards I made this week were given to recipients straight away and the light has been awful as well as the fact I had forgotten to take pics when the light wasn't so naff.

My OH Neil was in a state of paralysis after his eldest Sophie turned 18 yesterday - he just mumbled constantly 'where has the time gone, it seems like yesterday............!'  I guess that's the definition of feeling old then!  

I did some planning this week for some hand crafted gifts that I am going to make for family and friends this year.  Watched lots of tutorials, bought lots of ingredients to make one of gifts that I'm duplicating for sooooo many people, as I think it's a fab pressie for all sorts of peeps!  I am going to have to to lots of taste testing though cos I've found a site with a recipe for a luxury hot chocolate drink aka 'Snowman Soup', but there are loads of reviewers suggesting different quantities to the original and also little additions that enhance the flavour!!!!! 

So I have sourced the following:

Mugs - Ikea lovely smoked glass come in 4 shades 79p each

Marshmallows - tiny mini ones from Whittards large bag should do 10 mugs £3.50

Luxury Chocolate drink -  Made by Whittards bought in Morrisons on offer saving £1  - £1.99

Mint Chocolate Stirring Sticks - M&S on offer buy one get one half price £2.99 each

There are other ingredients but I'd bought those already.  I have seen this idea on lots of blogs but the Snowman Soup name I must credit to Angie Kennedy Juda (aka chic'n'scratch).  There is a label with a poem on Angie's version, I have used poetic licence on mine so it differs a little.

I will post a picture when these are done!  

As I said there are some other things in the pipeline too.  It's so inspiring when you look at all the ideas out there, and I have to do something to reduce the stockpile of paper and card that I will soon be buried under!!!!! I won't buy anymore honest!!!! (Neil reads my blog now so that's for him!)

I have a great craft area that Neil built for me at the bottom off the lower stairs, next to the utility and garage - so no natural light! (We live in a Town house)  We got some tall narrow Billy bookcases from Ikea and with the rest of the space he cleverly built with matching contiboard shelving and went as high as poss. Great but fairly shallow depth!  The desk also from Ikea was white top with separate tubular legs with wheels.  I really wanted the Alex drawer set to store my 12x12 papers, that I have also seen in many other craft areas on many blogs, but space was tight so...... we found one of the shoe cabinets in white the pull down type with 4 sections and my 12x12 papers are mainly in there with the Christmas ones in a Paper Mania storage case under the desk.

It all looked lovely when I first got everything sorted into my new space, then............... I began my Creative Memories experience and had to fit my tote, tools and stock in the space too!  Big squash!  

My biggest problem at the mo, apart from being a really messy worker is - losing things and I have tried re-organising a few things and that hasn't helped much as now l can't even find the things I used to!!!!  Labeling is the key I'm sure and that's my goal - when I have time!

Will clean up and do photos to share I promise.

I've rambled - sorry, time to stop!

Belinda x

Some New Crimbo Cards (about time!!)

Well I have made a start on some cards, not what you would call traditional though - but I wanted to experiment a little!  

The majority of papers used are the new Pink Petticoat 'Tis the Season' Download.  I can't recommend Liz's downloads enough!  I bought last years and this years and you can mix and match both sets.  This year however Liz has been super clever and created 4 different palettes for the patterned paper, that should suit everyone's taste. The palettes are 'Playful',' Contemporary', 'Victorian', & 'Traditional' and all are stunning, in addition there are all the colours of Liz's usual palette as plain and patterned co-ordinating papers and fab animal image stamps including Owls, Donkeys, Robins to name just a few, maybe you can tell I am a huge fan??????? A few scalloped edges cut with scallop edge scissors - not easy as they seem to rip as much as cut!!!  Some ribbon from various places, though the red with white stitching was bought at John Lewis this week from their Christmas dept designed for gift wrapping 3yrds on a card with 3 yrds of red pom,poms on a cord, that will be used really soon all for £1.99.

Have been jazzing up some chipboard while Livvy napped this afternoon, so hope to use this asap!  Also I've been planning some gifts that I've been doing my  best magpie collecting for - will post these as I make them.

There is sooooooo much inspiration out there in Blogland and I am so excited about joining such a caring and idea sharing group from all four corners of the Globe.  I have been particularly inspired by Chic 'n' scratch what a clever lady!  and  Dawns stamping thoughts she too is amazing, creative and very generous sharing all she does! These two ladies have so many wonderful ideas that I would take  forever to try them all!!

Belinda x

More from the Workshop

No favouritism honestly!, here are a couple of other great LO's from Saturday these are by Kirstin and Jodie and both 12x12. I am hoping to pop all the LO's from Saturday on my Creative Memories Blog over the next few days.  History of these LO's  -  Jodie has just returned from a trip to Cyprus where she got Married and it was the most beautiful ceremony and she looked amazing, as did little Hollie her gorgeous little girl.  Jodie's projects at the moment involve making pages of her recent Holiday snaps!  Kirstin's current LO's are Family photos that she has had a while, including a few before her 3rd child Riley (now one) was born.  She was having a feeling of guilt adding titles to her page involving My Family etc as Riley wasn't there, so we came up with a logo using the initials B R  - Before Riley!!!!! well if BC works then why not!!!!! Her journalling explained the logo - it worked really well!

Workshop News!

Well.....................!  I enjoyed my first one, and it wasn't stressful, mind you would have been a tad easier without the stinker of a headache that I woke up with!

Lower numbers than I had hoped for, with one of my expecteds working later than she'd hoped and not making it and another who was having a Memorial for her Husband the following day and had got behind after taking loads of phone calls from friends and relatives on Saturday morning. Both totally understandable!

Anyway we had a bit more space and with one very messy scrapper on board ( no not me I wasn't scrapping with them!!) no names you know who you are Kirstin............whoops it slipped out!!, the largish table was full with stash and off they went.

I offered 2 tutorials and ended up switching them around as it seemed more sensible to do the one about using sketches and templates first.  After we'd gone through the principles and uses then Anne (Kirstin's Mum), did an amazing LO with photos of a Cathedral she had recently visited and as she is working in an 8X8 format for her current album, one of the sketches was perfect for the photos she had with her. This LO for me was one of the best of the day!  She also made full use of what she had learned in Tutorial 2 with the adding of journalling around her photo matt and some creative doodling to set the whole thing off -  it was truly beautiful!!!

The original sketch was from Scrapbook Inspirations, I love that mag so badly I have 'had' to subscribe and with me being bargain hunter extraordinaire got an offer for my first three for £3 - yes that's £1 each woo hoo!! 

If you have a family member that you are stuck for a Chrissie Pressie for,  Magazine Subscriptions make brilliant gifts - imagine a pressie every month not just on the 25th December, how brill.

Belinda x

My First Workshop!

I am busy getting ready for my first workshop tomorrow afternoon that I'm holding at my house for my Creative Memories customers.  Goodie bags to prepare, handouts to print and samples to finish! I must say I am really looking forward to it though.

I have a small group coming as I didn't want to be overwhelmed first time around.  I started with CM in the beginning of June this year and the format for their parties is 'class based' , the Hostess gets together 5 or 6 friends who each bring 5 or 6 photos and I (being the consultant woo hoo!!) help them make their first Scrapbook page.  First ever 'Class' and I had 9 ladies including the Hostess Arghhhhhhh helpppppp!! It was chaotic but fun, I made mistakes but hey, that's how we learn!

Now we are talking very basic stuff here, which for some of the ladies is all they require, others are a little more creative and want to adapt and develop their own style.  This is where the Workshops come in. This Workshop I will have 2 tutorials available if the ladies wish to join me at the tutorial table (in the lounge)  if not they can beaver on in their own way in the crop room (my kitchen).  The tutorials are 1. Doodles for your pages and 2. Inspiration with Sketches.

There will be a tool table somewhere!!!! -  as you can see this a work in progress!  CM tools are my favourites in Scrapbooking terms.  I love their cutting system it's the best I have and I have many..............!  I have bought several and until I got my CM starter kit I believed that cutting perfect circles was pretty much hit and miss!  The company has just introduced another set of templates Circles and Rectangles and these are my next purchase for my tool kit for definate!!!

The 12" Wavy cutting tool with 2 waves,  a fab Tearing tool a lovely Tag maker I had to have them all obviously.  Commission spent and Craft Room full I am awaiting what will hopefully be a great afternoon - the first of many!!

I will take some pictures tomorrow and post them to show what we did, and I will update on whether my optimism was misplaced !!

Belinda x

Another Baby Card

Well I did say I loved these Stamps.  I have included a piccie of these stamps on this post and I ordered mine from 'Capture the Magic' excellent service from these guys they arrived in a flash, as I am not the most patient when I have wanted them for ever...........I was really happy!  They came on an A4 poly sheet all ready to whole punch and pop in my folder so double fab!  Did this card last night and I was so pleased with it, it's one of my all time favourites!!  I used a patchwork idea that I have used before but this time instead of using all squares (punched using HobbyCraft punch, various papers) I did some pieces that are double size of the square and added these in. I can't take the credit for this idea as I've seen it several times before, but I love the effect.  I then did various doodle stitches, used my baby vest stamp (again!!) on some patterned paper from a 'Paper Cellar' paper pad, cut out and placed this with foam pads on a punched black circle. Doodled white dots and a white ribbon and sentiment and Voila.......!

The second thing to show is the first attempt at using my Bind It All.  I did this a few months ago and again the BIA was a must have purchase for me, I do love it, but I am very naughty and haven't used it since.  Mental note...........again blow off the cobwebs and get cracking with the BIA nowwwww!!!  Used K and Co paper pad Hannah Stamp and Papermania flower.

One last piccie on an older post I mentioned some fab paper in various colour palettes from a local value store here is the red colour way and so cheap under a pound, double sided and white core.  I use them often as a paper pierced border, I used the beige this way on my other vest card on my last post with white gel pen stitches to good effect I think!

Inspiration from Kristina!

Hi again

I love, love, love Kristina Werner's Blog she is soooo talented.  Make a card Monday is a must every week for me and now Finally Friday too so double helpings yeah!! 

Here is a card that I 'cased' from a MACM episode a couple of months ago - it took me forever to find the stamps they are called 'Cute as a button"  and are by a company called 'Technique Tuesday'  but they are going to get a lot of use (funny really thats how I justify most of my new stamp purchases!!!!!!!!) Anyways............. Do you love this stamp like I do?????

BOO! Halloween Fun!

Here are some cards I made for Halloween and also for the new Dinky Dots Den Challenge!  I altered my Magnolia stamps one I turned into a spidery witch and the other started off all angelic sat on her cloud with her little wings and pigtails, and then I turned her into a proper little devil................!!!!  Spider and Bats papers were Pink Petticoat downloads and are really fun.

Hope you like em?!

Belinda x

Here come the girls!

Well I feel alive again, I'm out from under the duvet and I have one new card and two older ones to share. The new one is for a new Baby featuring a photo of my Daughter taken by her photography mad Father when she was about 6 months old.  The paper is from one of the Dots Downloads from Pink Petticoat I printed 4 images to one A4 sheet making it more suited to my card this works well for paper piecing too!  The 'So Sweet' stamp was 99p by Studio G. Faux Buttons are peel offs and available in lots of colours bought them last week and I love em!! Was quite pleased at how it turned out.

The other two cards I made a while ago, the Magnolia card has one of my favourite Magnolia images those little welly boots are sooo cute.  I paper pieced them and I also love the pink and brown colour scheme!  The flower is by Papermania with a little punched flower and brown brad, cuttlebug 'swiss dots' embossing folder background, and more dots on the paper, there seems to be a pattern forming........pardon the pun!!!

The other card again using Pink Petticoat Image (one of my favourite crafting resources) I love all their stuff if you haven't seen the new Christmas range  -  you must view them here 

This was made quite a while ago and is in my stash pile!

Belinda x

Tagged by Poppy

I have been given the honour of being tagged by Poppy

Here are the rules:

1. Link your tagger and list the rules on your blog.

2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.

3. Tag 7 people at the end of the post by leaving their names as well s links to their blogs.

4. Let them know that they have been tagged, by leaving a comment on their blog

5, Link your tagger and list the rules on your blog.

FACTS about me:

1. I have a 13 year age gap between my two children.

2. I live directly behind a famous Bristol Landmark ( The Dower House)  it's the big yellow house on the hill above the M32.

3. I used to live right next to 'Big Pit Mining Museum' in Wales when I was a child, although it was then a disused pit.

4. When my daughter was due we hadn't agreed  names though we had a shortlist for boys and girls names.  I went into labour and she was born 2 days later on 'World Peace Day' (21st September) hence her name Olivia the meaning ' bringer of the olive branch, symbol of peace'.

5. Many years ago I had my Tarot Cards read and I was told that I would meet a man who would work on contracts and that I would have another child, neither of which I thought would ever be the case all those years ago.......... it came to pass.......spooky!!

6. I love mash potato sandwiches especially with salad cream........yum!!

7. I have an eye condition known as 'Keratoconus' this means that my corneas are irregular shaped and bumpy causing distortion and blurring of vision.  I was diagnosed about 3 years ago.

I will do my tagging tomorrow as I am full of cold and need to get some sleep asap.

Night, Night

Belindax

Added Saturday -  I'd like to pass the tag to:

1.  Lainy

2 . Kim

3. Emma

4. Clair

5. Linda

6. Deb

7. Alison

Hope you can play girls!!

Belinda xxx

Some little treat bags made from cellophane bags and tied with ribbon.  Tags which by the way I love are from SU from the US.  Love this set I bought from a seller in the US, they sell retired sets and with the dollar/pound exchange so good they work out really good even with the shipping.  Two sets fit in one of the international shipping envelope that they use and I think that the shipping worked out at about $13 for each envelope, really affordable.  

This set works with the SU small tag punch, and has a variety of different tags including Easter bunny, lovely blossom thank you, ribbon striped valentine and a gorgeous Christmas bauble one!

You will see more of SU sets I have purchased from this seller, and if anyone would like the details then email me and I will let you have them!

Slacking already, shame on me!

I'm ashamed that I've been very slack and cannot give any relevant excuses other than I was a little like this with my 5 year diary that could have lasted me.........um 8 years when I was a child. Though I'm quite enjoying popping things here that I know at the moment aren't really looked at by many!  That sounds a bit like a saddo I think, but as I haven't given links to this blog to people that I need to yet,  I want to get in the swing and try to sound at least a tad interesting!!!!

Anyway a few projects:  I thought maybe doing some challenges would be a good way to kick off and I enjoyed this one it was for 'A Spoonful of Sugar Challenge' , didn't enter it as again that might mean peeps looking -  doh!!

Sugar Nellie stamp she is so pretty!  DP from a 12x12 pad bought ages ago by Dena, flowers from Silly Monkey Crafts, Ribbon from Hobbycraft, Letter stickers from a page kit from my local cheap shop (Rajani's), green card also used for SU punched scallop from DCWV paper stack and black swirls from American Crafts rub on book ( I love these but they were tricky to apply to this DP), am I the only one who has issues with rub ons??!!

A few things to share, firstly  a card using a stamp from the Sugar Nellies range.  A luggage tag has the image mounted on it bought in a pack from WH Smith, papers from a stack of male designs name escapes me, stamped name using Karen Foster Snap Stamps (love these) and lastly Skittle-Dee-Doo Sizzix Decorative Strip for the 'U Rock' sentiment, brilliant investment, I got mine for about £12.

Second a picture of Livvy the other day, looking like she was living in Siberia, we were seeing Grandma who likes to see Livvy 'wrapped up warm' . Livvy does have a tendency to get wheezy when she has a cold, so when we see Grandma we bundle her up a bit so we don't get told off!

The weather here today was lovely and fingers crossed the forecast says the same again for us in our little corner of world tomorrow.  

Must just plug a few places in Bristol that have some great bargain craft items, the first is called Rajani (in Fishponds) and it is a huge store selling everything imaginable, a huge range of candles and masses of picture frames, my fave purchases are packs of shaded card in varying sizes, suitable for card making and at 89p a pack they are a steal.  I will upload a photo of these tomorrow. Today I bought Red shades and Purple shades, but don't tell Neil.  They also do sweets and choccies branded and un-branded for bargain prices, great for all those lovely treat boxes and bags that I am seeing on all the clever crafters blogs at the moment.  They do have a large stationery and craft section, in my opinion some of this can be a bit cheap looking, but worth a rummage!  Another note to self -do not give him this blog address until this post is at least on page 3, he'll never read past page 2!  

There is a lovely Craft shop in Kingswood called 'Hooked on Crafts', with a very friendly and helpful owner, their stickles are the cheapest I've found locally.  Nice selection of stuff that isn't available at places like Hobbycraft including easymount.

Will add some more local bargain plugs soon!

Belinda x

Hello Mum!!

I must start this post with a shout out to my Mum (Joy).  I gave her the info over the phone of the Blog address, but...............when I arrived at hers the following day, she informed me that my Blog didn't exist!  Mum is fairly new to computers and my Brother set her and Dad up earlier this year with a Mac, wow , great I hear you say - ummmmm yes, well!!!!! Turns out that she had been popping a space in between the words in the blog address, ahhhhhh bless!!  It's not just the over 60's though, Neil had to rescue his Brother on Tuesday who had been trying to use a portable internet device on his PC for 2 days insisting that he couldn't get on the internet with it and it was 'rubbish' , however when Neil checked he had been typing in www.goggle .co.uk!!  When Neil had stopped rolling around the floor in hysterics he told Chris what he was doing wrong!!!  So middle aged and senior aged (I'm being tactful here because she's reading this!) we can all have a bit of technical difficulty from time to time!

Christmas Cards, don't be fooled!!

Well as promised here are some cards to share.  

The Halloween Card I made last night is a Download from  www.dinkydotscrafts.co.uk  

she is called Lulu Witch and I think she's fab!!!  The image comes in three sizes on the download and there is a Wizard available too, that is equally as cute! Picture is a little dark, the weather in Bristol today - PANTS!! 

I've coloured her with Promarkers and used SU Dimensionals to give her a little space to wiggle her broomstick!!  Black Paper doodled  with White Signo Gel Pen, Orange self adhesive paper from DCWV matt stack Autumn, Ribbon from Hobbycraft.  Little black jewels in corners to look like brads! 

I don't usually make cards this big (folded A4) but wanted to try the larger image first!

Now you may be fooled into thinking that like other card makers in blogland that I am super efficient and have been designing and creating my Christmas cards for several months,...........uh noooooo!  These are last years and I am as usual chasing my tail, and need to get my metaphorical finger out!!!!!!!

As I have quite a few past creations to share, it seems only fair that on each post that I add these oldies I also have to add a new one made that day or within the previous few days.  

So this is my note to self - 'get organised and get your blooming finger out!'

Belinda x

Family Fun with Thomas

Today Neil and I took Livvy (just turned two) to see her current TV favourite - Thomas the Tank Engine at Bitton Railway Station.  The Fat Controller for those less sizist -  Sir Topham Hat shook her hand and she pretended to be coy!!!!!!! She's so loud normally that anyone who knows her can see through her little ploy!  In fact if they had seen her a 1/2 hr later yelling at the top of her voice in the shop when I wrenched the Thomas umbrella from her grasp, they would know the truth!!!  Anyways she loved our steam train journey as did we highly recommended!

Over the next week or so I plan to share some of my past stuff here and see what you think!!  I will also share some stuff about what's happening in life with me and mine!!  I also hope to set up an area of my blog that will be for the customers present and future of my Creative Memories Business.  This will let my customers know when I have offers and about Workshops, Open House Events and all things Scrapbooking relating to my Business, so watch this space!

Belinda x

Time to be out there!!

I have been reading and viewing all the fantastic blogs out there for such a very long time, the inspiration and smiles that these have given me have brightened many a British 'Summer' and long chilly Winter Night!

I had this crazy idea that just maybe I might be able to have some interesting things to share!!! Well I guess that remains to be seen....................!

So for now welcome to my little space and I hope that you can find something to stop you falling asleep in front of your keyboard!!

Belinda