Ta Da!

Here is my graduation acetate book! Its 6x6 and I think I need to add some ribbons and fibres to disguise the book rings a bit but here we go! Check me out with my best mate in the whole wide world Sir Trevor McDonald in picture4!

Mini book heaven! and more blog candy!

Yesterday was the start of the UKS Summer Sultry Stash Bash - yesterdays prject was to make a minibook, which suits me fine as I love my mini books at the moment, I find them more satisfying than a LO. So later I will show you my offering, as I have started it,but do need to get it finished!

I did manage to get my graduation mini book done last night, Im fairly happy with it but could do with some black and white blooms at the moment! Ive used some felt flowers on it but Im not happy with the results so may change it! Its the first time I have used acetate for a book so its not the best, but I will try and do another one soon that I can be a little more adventurous and leave more clear space! I would also like to try an acrylic book as they are a bit more robust than acetate, but it will do for a first attempt!

Michelles blogoversary round 3

Michelle has some delicous candy up for grabs as part of round 3 of her Blogoversary. So when you get chance nip over and pay her a visit, her cards are simply stunning.

Fancy a bit of blog candy????

For all those who fancy a bit of candy check out http://meholder.blogspot.com/
and Bev has some available still.

Pink Petticoat

Just ordered my first ever download from Pink Petticoat, I love the Lola Rose images and decided that it was about time I had some of my own! So I am off to have a play now!

Havent done very much today, got my white stazon for my acetate book, so going to go and ink the edges after playing with my new images!!!

Here are the recipe cards that I did for the latest swap!

The theme this month was recipes fot the BBQ!

Basingstoke Balloon Festival

We spent last night and today at the Basingstoke
Balloon Festival, the night glow wasnt as spectacular
as usual, there were only 2 balloons up as the weather wasn't spectacular! Still it was good fun. We went into Basingstoke for dinner and had a fabulous meal at the 'Red Lion Hotel' The food was very good and the hospitality fantastic! Will definatly visit again soon!


Today was the turn of the London Fire Brigade parachuters, they were pretty good, so it was worthwhile going today. There were no balloon launches because of the wind, but we managed to see a couple up throughout the day.

Here are some pictures from friday nights night glow, a bit pathetic after last years show, but worth the wait!

The one flaw in women!

Found this on one of the site I visit and reminded me what my life is like really!

The One Flaw In Women
By the time the Lord made woman, He was into his sixth day of working overtime. An angel appeared and said, 'Why are you spending so much time on this one?' And the Lord answered, 'Have you seen my spec sheet on her? She has to be completely washable, but not plastic, have over 200 movable parts, all replaceable and able to run on diet coke and leftovers, have a lap that can hold four children at one time, have a kiss that can cure anything from a scraped knee to a broken heart -and she will do everything with only two hands.'

The angel was astounded at the requirements. 'Only two hands!? No way! And that's just on the standard model? That's too much work for one day. Wait until tomorrow to finish.' 'But I won't, ' the Lord protested 'I am so close to finishing this creation that is so close to my own heart. She already heals herself when she is sick AND can work 18 hour days.' The angel moved closer and touched the woman. 'But you have made her so soft, Lord.' 'She is soft,' the Lord agreed, 'but I have also made her tough. You have no idea what she can endure or accomplish.' 'Will she be able to think?', asked the angel. The Lord replied, 'Not only will she be able to think, she will be able to reason and negotiate.'

The angel then noticed something, and reaching out, touched the woman's cheek. 'Oops, it looks like you have a leak in this model. I told you that you were trying to put too much into this one.' 'That's not a leak,' the Lord corrected, 'that's a tear!' 'What's the tear for?' the angel asked. The Lord said, 'The tear is her way of expressing her joy, her sorrow, her pain, her disappointment, her love, her loneliness, her grief and her pride.' The angel was impressed. 'You are a genius, Lord. You thought of every

Woman is truly amazing.' And she is! Women have strengths that amaze men. They bear hardships and they carry burdens, but they hold happiness, love and joy. They smile when they want to scream. They sing when they want to cry. They cry when they are happy and laugh when they are nervous. They fight for what they believe in. They stand up to injustice. They don't take 'no' for an answer when they believe there is a better solution. They go with out so their family can have. They go to the doctor with a frightened friend. They love unconditionally. They cry when their children excel and cheer when their friends get awards. They are happy when they hear about a birth or a wedding. Their hearts break when a friend dies. They grieve at the loss of a family member, yet they are strong when they think there is no strength left.

They know that a hug and a kiss can heal a broken heart. Women come in all shapes, sizes and colors. They'll drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you to show how much they care about you. The heart of a woman is what makes the world keep turning. They bring joy, hope and love. They have compassion and ideals. They give moral support to their family and friends.

Women have vital things to say and everything to give HOWEVER, IF THERE IS ONE TINY FLAW IN WOMEN, IT IS THAT THEY FORGET THEIR WORTH.

Bind-it-All here I come

I got my fee refund today from college and it was a little bit more than I reckoned it would be!!!! Soooooooooooooooooooo I am going to get myself a bind it all. I have been eyeing these up for the past few months and decided that I have to have one, so Im off to craft superstore to order one, they seem to have the best deal at the moment on them! Not sure what I will do with the rest of it, but Ill find something to spend it all on!

DD had her preschool jabs today, she was very good and didnt cry at all! So a chocolate lollipop and dora the explorer aquadraw set later and she's more than happy!!!!!!!

Right that nasty H****w**k needs doing, the house is a tip as I was feeling guilty that I had to take dd to get her jabs, I let her make loads of mess and now I regret it as I could use it for scrapping instead, on a good note though I did my other cj entry done this morning before dd got up, but I can't post it on here incase my group see it!

Ohhhhhhh, almost forgot, I got my cupcake recipe swap back today, mmmmmmmmmmmm Im going to be busy baking this week!!!!!!!!!!! Malteaser cupcakes, oreo cupcakes, lemon yoghurt muffins, mmmmmmmmmmmmm Im drooling now!!!! Im going to use my bind it all to make them into a mini book, but will fins a few more to add in before I put it together!

Cloudy, crafty and fed up watching cbeebies!

Well its really cloudy here, but the sun is still shining, we had a really quick shower but it lasted all of about 40 seconds! I am sure that there will be more to come though! I am so pleased that I managed to get my glasses sorted out yesterday, I really missed not having them. I am going to pop out later this week and order a spare set and some more sunnies as I have no idea where I have put mine, not doubt they will turn up as soon as I order a new pair, but there we are, Imay even treat myself to a pair of prescription goggles as I hate going swimming as I cant see a thing!

I'm fed up with cbeebies and channel 5 and its only day 3 of the school hols, what am I going to be like by week 4 of the hols let alone week 6! Today I have watched, Clifford the big red dog, The Mr Men, and lots of others, way tooooooooo many for my liking!

I have managed to finish my recipe journal and I'm quite pleased with it. I used papers from a personal shopper kit from Crop til you drop and I used Robbie to cut my title, about time too!!!! I finally worked out how it works, well I know the basic functions and thanks to UKS, I have managed to cut lots of things like some lace card stock and Little gift boxes! So on the 7th my recipe book starts its journey, fortunately its a hand delivered journey as some of the ladies at work are going to be joining me with theirs. By Xmas we should all end up with about 12-15 recipes, if all goes to plan!

New specs!

My glasses broke yesterday!!!!!!!!! Arghhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I had to go for hours without any and when you cant see past the end of your nose without them 12 hours is a very long time!!! Fortunatly Specsavers one last pair of frames in the same style as I have, so they whipped out the lenses and put them in the new frame and £50 later I have sparkly new specs! Thank you hubby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sunshine rocks!

Another beautiful day here today, Im off into town for some ribbons for my recipe journal as I finished the book off today, I now want some green and yellow ginghams, so need to pop to the market for those!

Going to pull the bbq out for later on and then the paddling pool out for dd, whilst she is playing in there then I can get on with weeding the patio and re sanding it as its looking a mess again! Oh the joys of summer!

Recipe journal

Well not a lot has been going on here, Im fed up with my college who still havent claimed my fees from student loans, but keep sending me letters telling me that the debt collectors will be paying me a visit!!!! So I spent an hour on the phone this evening after work trying to sort it out with college telling me they have done everything they can and just be patient - this has been going on since early June!!! Anyhow Rachel at student loans told me to have a barney with the college and to get the to phone a helpline and sort it, so thats exactly what I did. I will be phoning them tomorrow morning to ensure that thety have done it! Useless college!

We are starting a recipe journal at work and each of us has picked a theme for our recipes. We then have 2 week to create a layout, this continues then till we are bored of it! Bit like a circle journal really! Was trying to get mine started this evening but the printer wont work, so I have had to give up on it, but as its nearly time for the bill who cares!

I got my circle journal back the kids at work did today, its fab bearing in mind how old they are! I will post pics but not until I can get back on my computer, which isnt connected to the internet at the moment - dont ask, I dont understand all this computer jargon!

Over on the docrafts forum I have lost my identity! All my online maties know me as cardlynes, but over on docrafts at the moment I am showing as 'card mad joanne' I am certainly not card mad as you can see by my blog as its all scrapping these days with a tiny bit of card making, been trying to get it sorted out, but its not working!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Me, the graduate!

Yesterday was my graduation day at St Georges Cathederal. It cost us a fortune to be there for the day, just over £300! but it was well worth it.

I got to shake hands with the lovely Sir Trevor McDonald, he was so cool! He rose well to the occaision, hi-fiving and hugging students as he congratulated them, so i think a fab day was had by all who graduated at London South Bank University.

The reception was fab, it was in the grounds of the Imperial War Museum, and the strawberry tarts were to die for!

This is me and my mate from college Cara (Im sure that she wont mind me putting her piccie on here!)

Robbie Robo Has Landed!

Well after all the 'I am going to get one, it will arrive' Robbie finally made an appearance on thursday, I was working all day so didnt get a chance to open him up and have a play.

I got him second hand (he was much cheaper!) but when I went to set him up this morning, the lady hadnt put in the USB cable, so Im stuck here waiting for Hubby to shift himself out of bed to go find me one in the loft. I would go up and have a look myself, except there may be spiders and creatures that move up there, and I dont do things like that, and how could I play the helpless woman if no-one is awake to hear my distressed calls!

So I am sat here patiently typing away to my blog and anyone else that may read it! whilst finishing off my cupcake swap cards, - note to self - must go to Tesco's and pick up photos. I was way too tired yesterday - woke up at 4.13am and couldnt get back to sleep for toffee! This morning is just as bad. Hubby says make sure we wake up early car needs to be at the garage (his not mine!) for 8am! SO I duly set the button on my alarm clock and low and behold at 5.00am off it went! Thank you for playing with it DD, most appreicated! Fortunately I had slept in the spare room last night - well I was in bed at 8.30pm!!!! so I saved most of the house being woken up. Just the cat followed me downstairs to watch me tip out my button pot all over the floor in search of mini pink buttons for the recipe cards, which incedently I could only find 8 of the very tiny ones so some have bigger ones but look ok, just the same!

Cupcake Heaven!

Ok, so I bodged up the batch I made on wednesday by burning them, and todays attempt was horrific, they didnt rise and there was too much mixture in each cup for them not to rise, so I ended up with a tray covered in cake mix, they were disgusting!

So here I am third time lucky! And it really is third time lucky! I have now just got to fill them and pop in the frosting, which I keep dissapearing into the fridge to check on! Of course a spoon must come with me in order to make sure that it tastes the same each time!

Upstairs the study is covered in little cupcake scrapbook pages and papers from the new docrafts 'sweet nothings' range which fits just perfectly with the cupcake page swap Im doing! So there is glitter, buttons, blooms and strips of card and paper everywhere in my rush to make sure that all 11 (Im doing an extra for someone!) are ready for posting out next week. Im really pleased with them so far, but feel they need something else, will have a looky and see what I can see later!

So here is the recipe card, only the back though as Im not finished the front yet, will upload later when I have picked up the photographs from Tescos later!

I think that they are cute so I hope that the recipients do too!

Mmmmmmmmmmm baking!

Im busy baking today, Key Lime Cupcakes for the recipe swap that Im doing over on UKS. I love key lime pie so Im hoping that these are as good! I did a quick sainsburys trip this morning to get all the bits and bobs for them, so just got to pop them in the oven and Ill be sorted. They are full of calories and covered in frosting, mmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Off to my new job tomorrow morning for a few hours to have some induction training. My current job have refused point blank to allow me to reduce my hours, so Ive a few ideas up my sleeves. Not sure whether Ill be back in September or not, shame cos I actually love the job!

Picked up some of the docrafts layered stickers this morning I thought that I would give them a go and see what they are like, they may be worthwhile you never know!

I had to take my craft tote back to the shop today as the handle broke on it! Boo Hoo, I love my little tote, they didnt have one in the lilac colour so I have to wait till next week for them to order one in for me to replace it. Heaven knows what Ill do with all my junk till then.

ooooooooooohhhhhhhh! My big bite case came yesterday and there are some fabby grommlets in there. Ill take a piccie later I love my pink one! and I sooooo love all the big grommlets they are soooooo fab, better watch out fruitloops they will be all over the circle journals!

Sports Day!

Off to the preschools sports day in a mo, so will post piccies later, I am going to make a mini album for the preschool to keep of the event as I know that they will enjoy it.

Ive got to finish one of the kids circle journals this morning so Im hoping that DD will go to sleep when she gets back from sports day, I know that she is really excited about it and wants to win herself a medal, better hope that they all get one or there will be tantrums.

Challenge completed!

Spent last night having a little me time! I scrapped of course!!! I did the challenge over on UKS this week which was set by the SAS Scrappers :

10 pts for using the sketch

5 pts for circle

5 pts for use of boolean things((),*,&,^,"",{},[], AND, OR,)

5 pts for summer colours

5 pts for unusual journaling

Here is my layout

I got to use up some of those horrible papermania papers that I bought by the truckload when I first started scrapping (ive not too many left as Ive taken them into work for the kids circle journals, but hey ho Ive managed to get rid of more and it doesnt look too bad as far as layouts go either, well I am pleased with it!

I also thought that it was about time that I uploaded last weeks challenge which I completed but never put up on here! This was set by the Glitter Gossips and they wanted:

Use something American: 5 points

Stars or stripes: 5 points

Use glitter: 5 points

Use quotation marks: 5 points

Use the sketch: 10 pointsSo here is my layout, I finally got to scrap some of those disney pics from way back in 2002 which I have very few of and are not the best pics, can't believe that I went over to the states for 16 days and didnt take many pics except in disney! and they were pretty poor pics!!!

Pre school teachers pots!

Well I have finished most of the pots for the teachers at preschool as its the last week next week! ive only Ed's to do and Im not sure what Im going to put on the top of his but here they are, I hope they like them!

DD isnt happy because I didnt make her favourtie teachers pot pink and it should have been pink, but hey ho you can't please everyone can you! I think that she can take them on wednesday as they will have loads to take home on the very last day and as its party day it takes some of the fun out of the session with laods of kids giving pressies! We shall see though, she will probably want to take them all in on monday!

Circle Journal Mad!!!

We are still battling away with our circle journals, Ive 3 left to do and will finish one of those this morning, its complete madness at Kids Club this week where we have been passing them on a the rate of knotts!

I had a couple of treats yesterday, my creativity life kit was finally collected and there is some fabby paper in there that will be perfect for the cupcake recipe swap that Ive joined on UKS, I really must get on with them! My etsy order also arrived and I now have these fabby journalling spots to work with, arent they cute!

Happy Birthday Dear Grandad!

Today is Grandads birthday, so we have made a cake DD decided ont he colours and I just sat back and watched - weel thats not really true! I did put the icing on to fix the lettering. Do you know with all the cost of the icing this cost more to make than a shop bought one, but it did taste much better! I think that they always do though dont they!

We had many debates on what would go onto this cake, it could have been a car, or a train (neither of which I think that I could have made!) but in the end the trusy caterpillar won, she had already put a caterpillar on the birthday card, so seemed natural to continue with the theme.

When we were giving it grandad she was explaining what she had put on and said 'Grandad I putted a caterpillar on, catterpillars spin their coccoons and then they turn into a butterfly!' See that flippin song I sing to her 'Theres a tiny caterpillar on a leaf, wriggle, wriggle...' has been of use as she now understands the life cycle of a butterfly!!!! I swear sometimes she has too much knowledge!

Busy with CJ's!

Back to work this week, I enjoyed my week off and all the places we went to.

At the moment my kids at work have caught the circle journal fever, they are rapidly completing circle journals left right and centre so they each have a book to take away with them at the emd of the term, there are seven of us doing them, Ill post some piccies later, bearing in mind most of the kids are 8-11 years old, they are pretty good. I only hope they all come back in time for the end of term.

Today I registered for this, Shimelle's new online class. I am doing her 25th of the month project, but not getting very far with it. To many other things seem to take over my life on those days, however there is always this month to make sure that I start it properley!

Yesterday we went over to coral reef for a swim, DD had a great time and enjoyed herself loads.

No plans as yet for today, but it looks lovely again. lets hope the sunshine stays for the day.

Yay! I did it!

I got my 2:1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Im so chuffed, we celebrated with lunch at nandos and a yummy cake from a little patisserie we have been looking at every week after college. I had a raspberry Millfuille, which I should have taken a piccie of, but just wanted to demolish it!

We also bought some yummy choccies to celebrate too! i have a piccie of those though!

uh-oh its results day!!!

I get my degree grade today, Im really nervous as I wanted a 2:1 but my last grade left me borderline for 2:1/2:2 so I hav no idea what today will hold!

Because of this we arent doing anything today athough I may go out and celebrate tonight and take us all out for a meal just to signify the end of an era! No more studying! I thought that it would give me loads more time for scrapping but in fact it doesnt, I seem to spend more time surfing than scrapping!!!! Need to sort that one out i feel. Its difficult to get anything done this week as hubby is off and he hates me scrapping, can't stand the mess, he is going out on thursday evening though after work, so I will have a go then. Its my dads birthday soon so Ive a card and little pressie to get ready for him, not sure what though.

Right off now wil try and get back later to let you know my results, Im psyching myself up to get a 2:2 rather than a 2:1 as I think that is more likely!

Busy days!

We are off this week as my parents are away, so we went off to bournmouth yesterday, We visited the aquarium and had loads of fun walking throught he tunnel with all the sea creatures floating along above us!

Granny and Grandad made us a sand crocodile on the beach at DD's request as someone else had made a huge on, ours isn't quite as big though!

Today was legoland, we had great fun and the sun was glorious, but of course that means no scrapping again! Might try and do a bit tomorrow you never know!

Bungee fun!

We went to the sandhurst Donkey Derby today, Charley showed absolutely no interest in the donkeys but in the bungee jumping frame! She had fab fun, but guess what I forgot to take, yep the camera, so the only pics I have on my silly mobile and there is no point in trying to upload them here!

I finished my recipe swap cards and have posted them today, heres the pics!, I like them just hope the reciepients do!

A new job!

Well I havent posted for a couple of days because I have been snowed under with interviews. I got a post that I went for on wednesday as a TA in a school. Only problem is that when I told my line manager that I needed to reduce my hours he wasnt too impressed! Ah well he will have to get over it!

So I start september part time in year one, then hopefully after xmas full time in the nursery as a nursery nurse! Im soooo pleased.

the docrafts scrapbooking goody box comes out next week and looks to be reasonable value so Acre have put one aside for me to collect whenever I fancy! Yeah, its packed with yummy products that are not all by papermania for once! but also has basic grey and doodlebug in it too!

Little treats!

I had to buy something I was getting withdrawel sypmtoms from stash dieting, so I went to http://www.scrummystashcafe.co.uk/ and treated myself to some cute little clear stamps.

I had to have the owl one as Im about to scap some old photographs of me as a Brownie Leader!

This cool original art stamp for my circle journals!

and these little birdie and house stamps which will go brilliantly with my Heidi Grace 'Little Birds Tale'

oh and some blooms from rolicards! So I broke my stash diet and now feel quite happy!

Busy day!

Managed to paint my office in 2hours this morning, its now a nice shade of pale blue, might treat myself to a fake pot plant to finish it off!

Spent this afternoon reading government docs in preparation for my interview, I found this document really interesting but dont believe that we will achieve it all by 2020
http://www.dfes.gov.uk/publications/childrensplan/downloads/Childrens_Plan_Executive_Summary.pdf

Sunday, and Im up at silly o'clock!

Well 5.15am was my wake up time, so I spent it creating some more of my circle journal which I will photograph later and add. Went to town to get the paintbrushes and masking tape for painting my office at work and then some new cork boards to put up over the desk and in the entrance to tidy it up. Mad isnt it, here I am applying for new jobs and desperate for one on tuesday Im going for and actuallyI dont really want to leave what I am doing, I love it, its sooooo flexible and free from hassle, why would I want to leave...MONEY! If I had more hours it would be fine, but it doesn't so I guess that I have to make the descision to better my pay packet or we will never afford nice things like hoildays or such like. I hate scraping around the bottom of the barrel every month trying to find enough to survive on. Anyhow doom and gloom is hubbys line and not mine, mine is supposed to be positivity this year!

I found some yummy clear little stamps I had bought a few months ago today so Im going to go and find a layout to scraplift so that I can use them. Ive only got my layout on my cj to do and cant finish that till I get some piccies developed, so I fancy some proper scrapping! See you later!

Another circle journal!!!

Well I'm onto number three Circle Journal and this one is entitled guilty pleaseures. Im a bit dissappointed that I couldnt use the papers I wanted for it but money is tight at the moment, so I have used some scenic route providence papers that I bought a few months ago from Scrappydo's.

Here is a sneak peak, can't show you all of it as I would like some of it to be a surprise for my loopy team mates, so heres the front cover and sign in pages!

Hope you like it!

The weekend starts here!

Well its the weekend, I know I passed my management exam as I had no phonecall today to tell me otherwise, but its going to be the 3rd of July before I find out what mark I got for it!

Nothing much planned for this weekend, would like to get some scrapping done, but as I have lost al my mojo this week Ill not hold my breath!

I have some prep to do for tuesday also when I go for the job interview. I really want this job but dont think I have a chance in hell. Still Im going to go for it and see what happens.

Did my last exam invigilation this morning, thankfully, my feet are killing me still! Monday is inset day but Im going to paint my office, got some paint yesterday so it will be busy busy busy!

Gutted!

Well I am completely now as I just wrote this really long post and blogger went wrong and wouldnt publish it so I lost it all!

Well i only got 51% for my dissertation, to say i was disappointed was an understatement, but life goes on and i have a graduation ceremony to worry about now. Finally got round to ordering my gown and photos and sorting out childcare for the day so Im half way there!

Been shopping this morning to Farnbough, very uninteresting, we bought some toys for Uncle Steve and Auntie Gemmas kitten that they are hopefully getting on monday! and then spent some of kids club money on new footballs, sponge balls and tennis balls! I also bought a load of knex, so now my older children actually have some toys that suit their age!!!

uh oh, its results day!

Its results day for my dissertation today, I know I have passed, just dont know how well, guess Ill find out at 9.40am, be thinking of me won't you!

Wisdom, do I have it or not?

Not sure but my wisdom teeth are definatly rumbling at the moment. I ahve been in agony since friday and completely dosed up on paracetamol and ibuprofen cos Im such a scaredy cat and wont go to the dentist to get them checked, anyway I love pain, who doesnt?

We had a lovely fathers day, went picnicing over at Goldwater Lodge then onto the Mizens Railway where we had a ride on the minature trains. Charley loved Alice the little steam train. They have some lovely events there, each dad got a free ride on the train which was sweet! Next month they are having a teddy bears picnic and the children get a free ride and a jar of honey. Well worth a visit if you have kids!

Havent done much scrapping except the fathers day bits that I finished, - dads wallet card and grandad cd tin, similar to the one I did daddy earlier on the blog, I forgot to photograph them though so will have to steal them back at some point for a piccie!

I want, I need, I can't afford!!!!!!!!!

Poorness isnt something I like or enjoy, I want one of these little beauties:

A bind-it-all, to make lots and lots of little mini books, which I love doing at the moment! Only issue is that I have no overtime due until the summer months, so no money, so I can't afford it! Ive tried selling all my sizzix dies on that famous auction site, but still cant get rid of them all!!!!!! If I could then I could have it, but heyho will have to wait for september for my holiday pay!!!!!!

Am job hunting at the moment and got an interview for a job that I really, really want, but probably have no hope in getting, we shall see, lots more still to apply for though!

Right no more blogging till later as I have fathers day stuff to get ready, I need to finish it today, cant leave it any longer.

Sunshine makes me smile

Oh how sunny was it today, even caught a bit of sun! We had a fabby day, picnic in the park, fun and games with friends and plenty of smiles and laughter, will post some piccies tomorrow when Im on the desktop computer!

Im hoping that tomorrow is the same and we can go out again. Laura and Paul picked up the slide tonight so se are now baby garden toy free!!! Just a rocker, trampline and few pop up play houses now!!!! The joy of children.

Charley bear has given up her lunchtime sleeps now and it is fab! 7.20pm I went in to tell her to go to bed and she was laying there flat out and fast asleep in front of the Mr Men! Bless her, love her! Right my takeaway is here! Im off.....Night Night!

Still revising

After going inot college yesterday I am now seriously revising!!! The theory is the bit Im having the problems with, I can tell you how to project manage, I can tell you about budget setting (and the theory that goes with this actually!) but ask me about quality theorists and Ill freeze!

Revision time!

My exam is next wednesday, the 11th, and I soooo want it ot be over. Im finding revising really hard as I have sooo many projects to be getting on with. Next tuesday we are having a little summer fete at Kids Club to hopefully raise a little bit of money for new equipment, you never know it might happen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Right back to studying, Ill be back later!

Forgetful!

Im having a forgetful time at the moment, I forgot to update my blog yesterday and then forgot that my mate was coming over in the evening! Charley stayed at Grannies last night and I completely forgot that Em was coming!

She is getting married next year, thanks for telling me Em!!!! Only got engaged in November last year, where are we now, May! Oh well, better late than never, I'll have to get card making now.

I have made Steve's Fathers Day pressie today and am hoping he loves it, will post piccies in a bit! If anyone knows where to get more of these fabby little cd tins from please let me know!!!! I want more!!!!

I also made this the other day, Im fed up of having my ribbons shoved in a tin and never being able to find the one I want, so i altered this choccy tin using some K&Co papers, fabby american crafts ribbons which are a complete bargain at http://www.croptilyoudrop/!, my trusty cropadile and some eyelets! Oh and some Anitas clear gloss. Im pleased with it, now I just need to make a few more! I have way too many ribbons.

Had a little stash buy today, i got some PM boy brads for Steve's Fathers Day pressie, and a 6x6 Basic Grey Sultry paper pack, not much Im afraid, but money is tight at the moment and I wanted to treat myself. Ive managed to sell about £120 of my sizzix dies so Ive paid for quite a lot towards my robo now, only another £100 to raise and its paid for, Ive soooo many sizzix dies still though its unbelieveable, I must have spent a fortune on them when I was sizzix mad!

Heres a little card that I made using a DL craft tonic card, Basic Grey Sultry papers, PM buttons and Aunty Sarahs bloomers! I really like it and its very different from the usual Penny Blacks I make!

Sorry photo is a bit sqwiffy!

Right we have visitors tonight so Im off to get organised!

Peace, whats that???

Today I looked after some of the kids from work as there is no holiday club this week, it was quite good and we had some fun icing cakes despite the weather being grim!

Been making fathers day cards today, need to get charley making hers tomorrow, I like to be organised, Ill post piccies tomorrow, no idea where the camera is.

Im also working on a mini book for Steve's mum, she hasnt been well lately so I thought it would cheer her up to have a mini album of Charley, so i got lots of pics printed out and am putting that together now!

Right off to watch the F word, yes I know it was on last night but i also love The Apprentice and as they are on at the same time one had to be taped to be watched tonight!!!! F Word is tonights fest, I lurveeeeeeeeeee Gordon Ramsey, Im reading his 'Humble Pie' at the minute and have just read another of his, cant for the life of me think of the title.

Right F Word calls and tomorrow I AM going to start some revision for my management exam!!!!!!!!!

Neglectful blogger!

Its been a while since I last blogged, sorry! Ive been enjoying my free time since handing in my dissertation, I should really be studying and revising for my exam but Im not in the mood!

Sunday, Steve's uncle came over with his german friend, Bodo is so receptive to what is going on and sensed that at 8pm it was time to go so that Charley could go to bed! We did have a lovely afternoon with them and I was really pleased with the dinner I cooked, nothing special just a chicken chasseur with rice and veg and a lemon meringue pie, simple home cooking that went down a treat!

Yesterday my brother came over in the morning and did some painting with Charley, then a quick trip to tesco's, what fun!!!! We took Charley to Farnborough Leisure Centre in the afternoon to the jungle gym and she had such fun for an hour before it closed! Its great now she has gotten over her biting, we can actually sit and chat rather than chase round the whole time behind her.

We stopped at the Monkey Puzzle for tea and that was an experience. Steve and I both ordered exactly what we had the last time (smothered chicken for me and steak and ale pie for him!) When the food came out mine was perfect, his looked like it had stood for about 2 hours before they served it and the gravy was all congealed and yucky! He sent it back and the second one came out (after charley and I had finished out food!) dry and hard (overcooked this time!). Anyway after complaining they refunded the cost of his meal and gave us free puddings, chocolate fudge cake and profiteroles!!! Yum Yum, now I pigged out of course cos it was free, but really must go back on my diet, I did so well acouple of months back and now have piled it all back on and really do need to loose some, Im looking awful in photos, (thats why there are none of me on here!)

Right off to get everyone organised for the day, not sure what we will do but Im sure we will go somewhere!

Here are a couple of layouts Ive been working on!