The Tattoine Incident

We managed to actually go Geo-caching again today after what felt like a long break. Our cache of choice was at Tatton Park, was in three parts and was thoroughly enjoyable (The Beecherlings would love this one with it's huge playground and ice cream van at the start and finish of the 2 mile walk). The sun was out as were the deer but unfortunately they were just a bit too far away to take any pictures, normally I would have ventured closer but the wind was biting so I didn't bother. With it being Show off Sunday over at HS:MS I am going to Show Off some of the pictures taken this afternoon.

.

A brief moment of peace when we lost the kids, just look how worried we are. The camera was on timer.
.

Pete panicking because the log he was sat on was rolling backwards.

.

Matt actually finding a cache, he usually gives up looking for anything that isn't in full view.

We found and took this Travel bug that was inside - it's mission is to collect 1000 autographs and travel far and wide.

And finally another card that I made on Friday.
I'm beginning to enjoy this stamping lark.

.

Note for Mima and Sue - You wouldn't believe how many full stops were used on this one!!!

No picture today.

I did plan to do a self portrait today but my idea fell through so then I couldn't be arsed. I had to go into work this morning (how weird does that feel) for my induction which was basically a lot of form filling in and to get my uniform and name badge. So my picture was going to be me holding my name badge in front of me with great DOF so that I was all fuzzy in the background, lots of thought went into it I promise. When I got to work (still feels weird) the uniform was there but no badge and I am NOT taking my picture in a uniform as I look like I'm going to a school reunion so no SPS picture from me today. I also got my first weeks work hours and I start at 7am on 2 of the days, 7AM how the hell am I going to manage that? Talk about a shock to the system! On the plus side my shifts are only 4 hour ones so I will be home just after 11am which is brilliant.

Instead of my Self portrait I will share this card I made yesterday, she's wearing my wellies so it is sort of an SPS.

.

Sugar Nellie Stamp, Two Scoops paper by Basic Grey, Scrap bits of fibre and card stock.

I have to wind up now I am being called as I am required to go and watch Die Hard 4.0 - don't you all wish that you lived in a house full of men like me. I think my laptop could be coming out in a minute so that I can sit in the corner and play whilst still looking suitably interested and impressed by good old Bruce.

I spend my life ....

...in a state of confusion so I had lots to choose from for my photograph today. I went with my work table after I had been stamping for the very first time. Which card should I stamp on? Which Ink should I use? What medium should I use to colour it with? Which papers should I use? How do I cut it straight? Arrrgghhh how can something so simple be so confusing??

confused - lacking order and difficult to understand

After a quick visit to my local craft shop to ask some questions I was sorted AND I didn't spend a penny there. So here it is my first ever attempt at stamping.

Insert Drumroll here!!

Credits: Stamp "For You Fairy" from Willow Designs (thanks Sharon), basic grey papers, making memories cheeky flat clip, American Crafts ribbon.

.

I'm not happy with the pink flower so I am going to change it for an orange one later on but other than that I'm quite pleased with myself and it also fits in with the DCM challenge - Oh So Juicy.

Shhhhhhh Don't tell Pete

There are strict rules in our house for the dogs. They are not allowed upstairs - ever, they are not allowed on the furniture - ever and they are not allowed in the Living Room - ever or until I need a photo for HS:MS that is. Twig had sneaked into the Living Room this morning to bask in the sunshine, he looked so cosy in there I really didn't want to move him. ** Post Man Alert ** Arrgghh I have a stamp to play with. ** Thank you Sharon, thank you, thank you she is gorgeous ** I just hope I can do her justice. Anyway, back to Twig and him being my subject for today's word on HS:MS - cosy. Just see that guilty look on his face.

I had a request from one of my Mum's friends to make an 80th birthday card for her Mum which was sloppy, flowery had her name, date of birth, shoes, a handbag and Happy 80th Birthday Mum written on it. Here is what I came up with yesterday.

.

Here is the one I have just made for my Aunts birthday next week which is based on a similar one that I made last year for my sister in law of sorts.

.

Did anyone else see the comedy drama on BBC3 last night called "Being Human" about 3 house mates who are a werewolf, a vampire and a ghost? We all loved it. BBC3 are doing a batch of one off, one hour dramas over the coming weeks. I'm just hoping that they decide to make last nights into a new series as there is a serious lack of good TV at the moment. Just done some research and the 6, one hour long dramas are all pilots, this one was written by the writers of Torchwood and Dr Who so that explains why we loved it!

Right I'm off now to play with a fairy ........

DCM - TEXT MESSAGE & FIRST EVER LAYOUT

The photograph of this is pretty naff but this is my first every layout. I have been meaning to try scrap booking for about 3 years now, that's how old the frame is, but never got round to it. The other night provided the ideal opportunity to start when my Aunt suggested we did a photo collage for my Gran for her birthday showing our day out on the canal. In the past I have always started to get the bits and pieces out to make a page/picture and then given up as I never know where to start. I have loads of bags under the stairs with ticket stubs, bottle caps, paper bags, pins and all sorts of other junk in for various layouts that I have thought of and it all just sits there day after day desperate for attention. Hopefully now that I have managed the first scary layout, in a fit of panic, I will be able to improve my techniques and manage to give these lost and lonely items some love and attention. Lol

The top right of the picture reads birthday girl as Georgie was thrilled with the Pink Birthday Girl banner and balloons that we put up on the inside of the boat. Hence the pink theme and the flowers tied in to the Pink Lei (not sure if that's how you spell it) that we gave her to wear all day.

TEXT MESSAGE

Well, this week the Design Team have come up with this idea for you to play with, we hope you'll enjoy it.

TEXT...
definition... the main body of matter in a book or manuscript. the actual wording of anything written or printed, short passage of scripture, etc

We'd like you to somehow incorporate text into your cards this week - not just one word.. but a portion of TEXT... like a poem, or newspaper print, Calligraphy, Even rip up an old text book and use some of the paper from it, there are masses of possibilities here, so let your imaginations run riot and let us see you texting to your heart's content!

a

Here's my take on this weeks challenge. Sorry I don't know what the papers are as they were stuffed at the back of my draw. I used a birthday definition stamp with pink ink, a dream designs flower and some machine sewing (I don't do hand it's too slow and I always prick myself) Lol

Rach

x

CPS #19

I'm on a roll today! I know it won't last long so I am making the most of it while it lasts. I liked the latest CPS sketch so thought I would double up and make my sister in law's birthday card at the same time. Just hope she doesn't read my blog before her birthday!




I used basic grey papers (as usual), American crafts ribbon, dusky pink card stock and some pink and white inks. The writing round the centre of the flower reads "have a very happy birthday Maire!"

Me thinks I need to stop know and tidy up (I must be the worlds messiest crafter) before the In laws arrive.

Rach
x

Yay!

I have just run 2 miles - and now I'm knackered! I've not done any running for over a week and boy can I tell. I thought I would share my herb crusted haddock recipe while I get my breath back, have a cup of tea and try not to drip sweat onto my keyboard. I have calculated the weight watchers points for the ingredients I use.

HERB CRUSTED HADDOCK
Serves 4

Weight watchers points per serving : 2.5

Start to Finish: 25 minutes

1 tbsp olive oil

4 haddock fillets, skinned

3 tbsp extra low fat mayonnaise (I use Helmans)

1 clove garlic

100g breadcrumbs (I use weight watchers)

1/2 lemon, zest & juice

2 handfuls of parsley

Cherry tomatoes

Heat the oven to 220c. Oil a baking tray and lay the haddock in it and add the tomatoes. Mix the mayonnaise and garlic and then spread it on top of the fish.

In a blender blitz the bread and parsley together into breadcrumbs (don't use the crust). Mix in the lemon zest, juice and some pepper to taste. Top the fish with this breadcrumb mixture.

Drizzle the 1tbsp olive oil over the fish and tomatoes, then bake for 15 minutes or until the fish flakes slightly and the crust is golden and crunchy.

Breath is now back so I am off to find something furry, that isn't Twig or Bilbo, to snap for today's HS:MS photograph and then have a much needed shower.

FURRY

Something that is covered in fur or has a fur like appearance.

His : They are not mine - they were hidden in the back of the fridge!

Hers : This is who we share our bed with the dog was a gift and the moose we got when we visited Canada.

I'm on a roll today - must be the early morning running! Just made a card for the first Bitten By The Bug challenge and the latest Sketch This Challenge.

I am so excited as I have just had a phone call to say that my first order of 12 x 12 papers to put in my shop should arrive here tomorrow - can't wait for the posty to come! Even more excitement I have just pre ordered the brand new range from Basic Grey called Infusion which is absolutely gorgeous and should be in my shop by the end of June and some 7gypsies ATC matchbox and cards which when made up look stunning.

Rach
x

Football is good for something...

it keeps them out of my hair while I create!!!

Ingredients:

C5 Card Blank
Papers - Basic Grey
Green Card Stock
Dark Pink Button
White Flower from Bety
Green Flower - Prima
Stamp - Autumn Leaves Flourish

Methods:

Machine sewing, stamping, printing and inking. I used typewriter font for the writing.

Rach

x

Flowers

Not had much chance to craft as I am still trying to get everything on to my shop. I have hopefully got a new supplier lined up and should be able to sell the 12 x 12 papers and the flowers that I use to make cards in the near future so watch that space! Here is the only card I made this week which was for my friends birthday on Saturday.


Ingredients:
130mm square White plain Card Blank
Papers - Basic Grey
Pink Card Stock
Prima Flowers
Brads from Stash


Methods:
Machine sewing, doodling and inking.

Rach
x

Happy Birthday Mum!

It's my Mum's birthday today so I made her this card.

Ingredients:

C6 Cream Linen Card Blank
Papers - Cratepaper "Twig" double sided 12x12
Linen Dark Brown Card
Cricut die cut flowers
Buttons (as before)
Cricut Lettering

Method:
I cut the flowery paper "Twig" to the size I required and inked it round the edge with a brown ink pad and then glued the two bands of green (also Twig) on and trimmed them to size. This was then glued to the brown card which was in turn trimmed to size using a trimmer. At this stage I pratted with the sewing machine until I managed to thread it with brown cotton which was eventually used to stitch round the edge of the card. I cut three flowers out of different shades of brown card on my Cricut and placed a smaller flower in the centre of each which was then topped off with complimentary buttons before being stuck into place on the card. The lettering was cut on the cricut machine normally and then as a shadow and the two were layered together.

Rach

x

Tigger!

Well the blood transfusion certainly worked as predicted. Pete woke up this morning positively bouncing!! I had ice blocks down my back at 7.30am, Kyle had already lost his temper with him by this stage! When I asked him how he felt I got "Sexy Better" as a reply, God only knows what that means!! I must admit though I do prefer this annoying Pete much more than Zombie Pete and we could put that extra blood to good use if he plays his cards right........ ;-)


A quicky for my friends birthday today.

Ingredients:
105mm x 105mm cream hammered card
Flowers - Wyvale Garden Centre
Button - Craft Obsessions
Fibre - Free from Craft Obsessions
Papers - Cratepaper "Twig" double sided 12x12
Lettering - Old rub on sheet in back of drawer

Techniques: Inking

CPS #8

Ingredients:

C6 Ivory White Hammered Card
American Crafts Ribbon
Dovecraft Brads
Flowers bought off Ebay
Patterened Paper ?

Techniques:
Inking, Pencil crayon sketching.

This is my first ever attempt at a card challenge - CPS#8. I needed to make a card for my Mum to send to her friend so I thought I would give it a go.

Rach

x