Happy Brand Spankin New Year

Hello Everyone

I hope you are well, and enjoyed the first week of this new year. It's flown by hasn't it?

Today I'm going to show you the Happy New Year card and gift I am sending to my friend. She came to see us just before Christmas, and we hadn't seen much of each other last year - it was so lovely to see her. Well I'm not much of a coffee drinker so, when I told my friend we only have Lidl coffee and I don't know what it's like, she decided to bring her own Cappucino LOL! She even brought one for Richard, and made them while she was here - cripes, that makes me sound like a useless hostess! After she'd left I found her little tub of Chocolate Topping Sprinkles, so I decided I'd send them back to her, but in a little keyring so she shouldn't leave them behind again! I have to say this is not my idea at all - I saw these keyrings on Tabbycrafts blog - then I found a pattern on the internet and my clever sister made a few up for me. I just cannot crochet, and my sister has crocheted some gorgeous things - I am envious! These keyrings are perfect for holding lipsalve or USB sticks.



Now onto my card - just a simple card. The image is a stamp from a set which was free with Crafts Beautiful, and the papers were also a freebie with the magazine sometime last year. I paper pieced the bird. The sentiment was also a freebie, from TLC Creations. Paulette creates some beautiful word art and graphics, many of which are offered free - you really should pop over to her blog.

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

Craft Your Days Away - New Beginnings
CES Challenges - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp - New Something
Card Crafters Circle - Make It Colourful

Now for an update on Eleri - she is still suffering with tummy pains, and sometimes says she feels sick. I took her to the doctor again today. The doctor today gave her a pretty thorough examination, during which she started to have a giggling fit (a bit embarassing when I have requested an urgent appointment because I was worried about her - she certainly wasn't acting ill in the doctor's room today!). The doctor then said that children of Eleri's age do sometimes present with symptoms like irritable bowel, and the cause is never discovered. He did not feel that it was worth doing tests such as blood tests or stool sample because he really feels that they would not show anything. He also said that she might have these symptoms for 2-3 months. :( The doctor wants us to go back again if she is no better in about a month, but to go back sooner if she does become more ill (eg if she starts being sick). He said that it is OK to give Calpol if she is in pain, or to use a hot water bottle or something - I am trying not to give Calpol every night, and we have been using a little cuddly hottie (a wheat bag which can be warmed in the microwave, and which fits into a special cuddly bunny) - that does give her some comfort. If she becomes constipated again, I am to contact the doctor for something to ease that. I have accepted what the doctor has said because, apart from the pain and the slightly weird toileting things, Eleri does seem well most of the time and she is eating and sleeping normally.

Woohoo! I have been swimming this evening - I have decided that I really need to start doing some regular exercise, which I haven't been doing for about 18 months (and it really shows with the weight I have put on and the size of my tummy). I nearly didn't go because my legs are in a very hairy state at the moment (not a pleasant sight LOL!) but I decided if I didn't go tonight I would never get around to it. Anyway I did enjoy it - swam 16 lengths - I had planned on 10, so that was good. Only problem was I wanted to eat when I came home - that chocolate and orange muffin has been shouting to me :) - but I have resisted, and ate a clementine instead.

Sorry I've waffled - hope I haven't bored you to tears. I'll go now.

Love, Andrea xx

First Creation of 2012

Hello Fellow Bloggers

Back to work for me tomorrow :( We have done absolutely nothing during the holidays and I'm not totally sure whether that's a good thing or a bad thing!

I have made my first creation of 2012 - this is a Get Well card for my friend and colleague who had an operation just before Christmas.



The image is a Whiff of Joy stamp, and I've paper pieced the little elephant. The papers are Do Crafts Hanoverian. The swirls are a new Sizzlits die I've had from Stampin Up, and so is that gorgeous antique brad in the middle of the flower. The embossing folder was a freebie out of one of the Do Crafts magazines - but dopey me didn't check which way up it was and I debossed instead of embossed - oopsie! - but I decided to leave it as it is because it looks quite good really LOL!

I followed this week's Papertake Weekly sketch, but I couldn't make text fit so left it off. The text will just be inside the card.

I would also like to enter the following challenges:

Card Crafters Circle
Simon Says Stamp
Secret Crafter
which are all Anything Goes.

Eleri seems to be a little better today - she has managed to go to bed without Calpol and without her Hottie teddy being warmed to rest on her tummy. So I'm hoping things are on the up - but I'm still a little nervous about the results to come from the doctor tomorrow.

*** Update on 3.1.12 - Thankfully, Eleri's results were clear. She is still complaining of tummy pains though so I'm keeping a close eye on her. ***

Anyway, I'll love you and leave you with that. I do have to create a birthday card and present for one of Eleri's friends so should be back again soon. See you then.

Love, Andrea xx

Time for Reflection and Some Favourite Makes

Hello Everyone

It's New Years Eve and I'm at home blogging, whilst Richard is sleeping in the chair LOL! I haven't even had a drink - as you may have read in my last post, my little girl Eleri is not 100% at the moment, and I'm still worrying that she's going to end up being very ill and have a trip to hospital. We're not sure what's wrong but she is still suffering with tummy pains, also in her back and tops of her legs - caused by constipation the doctors think - she hasn't 'been' now for 9 days - the powders from the doctor haven't kicked in yet. We had to take a 3rd urine sample to the doctors yesterday (she has traces of blood in her urine, but nothing specific showed up in the lab for her last sample). I'm not sleeping too well (though Eleri is!) - I'm just worrying and dreaming all sorts of horrid things!

*** Update on 1.1.12 - a motion has been passed LOL! I hope this means that Eleri is on the mend but I am still keeping a close eye on her. Just waiting for the results from the doctor on Tuesday now. ***

**** Update on 3.1.12 - Eleri's results were clear - she is still complaining of tummy pains but the doctor thinks she will do until everything settles down - she is to continue with the powders for a few more days - and I'm still keeping a close eye on her. ****

Anyway, enough of that. Lots of people have been blogging about their favourite creations of 2011, so I thought I would join in. On looking back at my blog, not all my favourites are cards.

My first choice is the thank you card I sent to the hospital staff who looked after my MIL up until she passed away in December 2010. I have missed her very much this year.



Next up, the card I made for my cousin's 30th birthday. We had a lovely big family get together for her before she returned to New Zealand in January.





I made some gorgeous cake pops for Eleri's classmates when it was her birthday in February. They went down a storm with the children. I really should make them again.



Next up the card I became a Top Five Passionista with at Passion for Promarkers.



It's midnight! Happy New Year to everyone! Just seen fireworks coming out of Big Ben on TV (the fireworks display in London). Wwooowww! That was amazing, but it must have cost a fffooortune!

Back to my post.

A simple, but bright and cheerful card for my Mum for Mother's Day.



Now for some male cards:

I had to put this one in because my Dad made me laugh so much when he opened it upside down, and thought it said 'Pep' then wondered if I was giving him a pep pill! ha ha!







I discovered the Jewellery Maker channel on TV this year, and started making jewellery. This bracelet was shown on the TV show, full screen on telly (wow, that was so exciting!)



Now for a baby card. I love my handmade flowers on this one:



Some teacher gifts:





My Aunty's 50th birthday card:



And, finally, the Christmas decoration I made at a craft class. It is currently on our mantle piece:



Well, looking back, it's a good job I'm not entering this post in any challenges because I could not cut it down to 5 or 10 makes!

So, do you have any plans or wishes for 2012? I hope that Eleri is going to get better quickly. I really want to make more regular contact with friends who I have not seen enough of in 2011. I have got to get into a regular exercise routine.

And, lastly, I wish all my friends, family, colleagues, and everyone in blogland a peaceful, healthy and happy 2012.

Well that was a long post - if you've got through it all - thank you so much!

I'll love you and leave you now!

Lots of love, Andrea xx

I Hope You're Having a Good One!

Hello everyone, and compliments of the season to you all. I hope you're having a good Christmas.

We had a lovely day yesterday - the children are happy with their presents, I was spoiled rotten, and Richard's Dad came over to spend some time with us.

Unfortunately, my Mum and Dad are poorly at the moment, though my Mum is on the mend. They both have a nasty cold that is going around - Dad went back to bed yesterday afternoon, and was not very well when we were there this afternoon. It seems that one of them is always ill on Christmas Day. My Mum has had four Christmases on the trot now when she has been unwell!

I also have a friend in hospital at the moment - she had an operation on 22nd December - so I have been thinking of her a lot.

And Eleri is not particularly well at the moment - she's been complaining of tummy pains for over a fortnight, had three trips to the doctor so far, and will be going again when they open on Wednesday if she's still complaining tomorrow. She's not in agony, doesn't have a temperature, and she is sleeping well, her urine sample was clear so she doesn't have a water infection, but I am really worried about her. I just don't know what is going on. She is fine some of the time, then she starts complaining that her tummy hurts, and when I say that she seems to have been OK all day, she says that it has been hurting all day too. It seems as though she is unable to cope with it so much when she is tired, and was complaining most in the evenings, but the last couple of days she has been complaining at different times throughout the day.

Anyway, the real reason I came on here today was to show the gifts I made for people this year - I hope they all liked them!

I made a door hanger for my niece. This is the front:



The image is a Wags n Whiskers digi, which I used because she looks a little like Caitlyn, my niece. I coloured her with Promarkers. The papers are downloaded from Raspberry Road Designs - Fight Like a Girl, I think.

This is the back:



This image is Prima Ballerina Nora digi from Whiff of Joy.

I made a matching photo hanger for her bedroom:



I would like to enter the above gift set into this week's Charisma Cardz Challenge which is Anything Goes.

I made jewellery for some other friends and for teachers at school, and one for Eleri:















I also made a macrame bracelet for my nephew, and I knitted a scarf and flower brooch for my Mum, but heck I forgot to take photos before I wrapped them - der!!

Sorry this post was so long, but I hope you managed to stay to the end and thank you if you did!

I'm not sure when I'll have something else to post, but I hope I can call to see some of your blogs over the next few days.

Love, Andrea xx

Two Simple Cards

Hello Everyone

Well, this is my last day of leave from work - I have managed to get some things sorted for Christmas - made 7 gifts so far, plan on making another 2 tonight. The presents left to get now are the 'difficult' ones I'm stuck on, such as my Mum who says she doesn't want anything - she would rather see us spend our money on ourselves! What do you do in a situation like that 'cos she really means it? Do I make a piece of jewellery she'll never wear, or a photo calendar she'll never put up??? I'm really stuck!

Anyway, Eleri went to a disco party yesterday for two of her classmates - I think they all had a wonderful time! So I made two similar cards for the girls:





Because I was making two cards, and needed to do them in one evening, I went for a simple layout. But I think it looks very effective - probably looked better in real life than in the photos.

The image is Wags 'n Whiskers Snuzzle Love digi which I bought from Bunny Zoe's. I've coloured her with Promarkers, of course. The mat for the image was embossed with a Cuttlebug Daisy folder - the gingham paper was printed from a Crafters Companion CD onto pearlescent paper. The border punch I used is X-cut Doily Dots. And some added gem stones and stickles - et voila!

Did you notice the little 'boo boo' I made on the yellow card? When I cut the legs out, I started to cut from the wrong angle, so cut into the circle - burk!!! - never mind, I just made the same cut on the other side so it's not too noticeable!

I'm entering these cards in the following challenges:

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - Borders and Flowers
I Love Promarkers - Anything Goes

Well that's it from me - a bit more checking for present ideas on the internet I think.

See you soon, and have a fab week.

Love, Andrea xx

My Goddaughter's Birthday Gift

Hello Folks

I hope you've had a good weekend - there's another one flown by!

It was my Goddaughter's birthday on Friday, so I had to make her a card and gift, and here they are:



My favourite image again, coloured with Promarkers. I followed this week's Sweet Sketch Wednesday sketch. The papers are K and Co - except the handmade red paper with the dotty pattern on it - I have no idea where I got that from but I found it in my paper stash - I had two small squares of it. Then just added some die cut flowers, adhesive pearls and stickles, and that's about it. The photo doesn't do it justice though - it was taken on a very dull morning!

Here's the gift I made - jewellery of course - a stretchy bracelent and earrings set



My Goddaughter loved them, especially the dangly earrings - well, she seemed to love them anyway! (I always find it nerveracking if someone opens their present in front of me - I thinks it's best not to be there when they open their present in case you see that they don't really like what you're giving - but then that's probably just my lack of confidence coming through LOL!). The gemstones this time are sodalite, black labradorite and jade. Again, a pretty bad photo - no sunshine!

That's probably enough from me. I'm really hoping to have some time off work this week - I had booked a week off from this coming Wednesday, but already I've had to change it, I've got to go back in to work on Tuesday 29th November, and it's possible I'll have to go back sooner! I want to get on with some Christmas shopping and gift making, and I'll have to really pull my socks up and get shifting, because it's possible I'll have to work 5 days a week when I do return to work, right up until Christmas, and maybe beyond that too - things are very much 'up in the air' at work at the moment! And, if I am working 5 days a week it doesn't leave me much time for shopping without the children - I think there's only one weekend left before Christmas that Richard won't be working!

Bye for now - have a great week!

Love, Andrea xx

50th Birthday

Well hello everyone - sorry I haven't posted for a while, but I just haven't made anything for a while.

It's my Aunty's 50th birthday today, and she had a lovely family party yesterday.

So, I'll show you the card I made for her. I've taken a few photos because of the style of card I made - a stepper card. I followed a tutorial on Splitcoaststampers for this card - it was very easy to make. I have to say, I was really pleased with this card.









The image is a Miss Anya from the Greeting Farm - coloured with promarkers. The papers are from Do Crafts of Papermania (I'll correct the information when I can be bothered to hunt the pad out of the cupboard LOL!).

I would like to enter the card in the following challenges:

Cute Card Thursday - which is red or remembrance.
Truly Scrumptious - a Bingo challenge - I used Gems, Flowers and Punch/Die Cuts

So, can you guess what I gave as a present? - yep, that's right - I made a piece of jewellery.



A simple stretchy bracelet made with real lilac coloured pearls and haematite.

I hope my Aunty liked her gift and card! I'd love to know what you think.

I do have a couple more things which I really need to make this week, so I hope it won't be so long before I share something with you again.

See you soon.

Love, Andrea xx