....stormina(vintage)tcup.... Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much

AND NOW FOR SOME CRAFTY STUFF...

2012-01-26T22:34:00.005Z

Well some sneak peeks of some craft stuff...lol..I have exciting things going on here in the background at Tcup towers....lots of new things to come...can't wait!!

365+1...DAY 26...FREE CHOICE...

2012-01-26T20:19:00.002Z

DAY 26...FREE CHOICE...

Today's prompt over at 365+1 is 'free choice' so I chose to photograph the cakes I made today for my visitors this morning...a nice girly chat with tea and cake...what more could you ask for on a chilly Thursday morning!!!

365+1...DAY 25...MOTIONLESS

2012-01-26T20:15:00.003Z

DAY 25...MOTIONLESS

This is my lovely big red clock in the kitchen which is 'motionless' due to the battery having run out!!!...x

365+1...DAY 24...MOVEMENT...

2012-01-24T19:24:00.003Z

DAY 24...MOVEMENT...
Today's prompt over at 365+1 is movement and I know technically these are about a month old but I think they show movement quite well...This was at Pittodrie Stadium, home of Aberdeen FC...Morgan was playing at half time during a 1st team match...they were also taken with my old point and shoot camera as I couldn't be bothered dragging the big one with me...It was absolutely freezing as well and was snowing at one point!!!

365+1...DAY 23...HOT...

2012-01-23T19:04:00.002Z

DAY 23...HOT...
Just the thing for a freezing cold evening when the kids are in and out all evening with Brownies, Rainbows and dancing...some lovely hot homemade chicken soup!!!

365+1...DAY 22...GLOWING...

2012-01-23T18:55:00.003Z

DAY 22...GLOWING...

This is a little glass birdie that Ellie brought me home from her P6 ski trip last year...I have a set of fairy lights strung across my kitchen shelf and this just sits on the end...It's really rather sweet!!

365+1...DAY 21...FIRE...

2012-01-22T10:32:00.004Z

DAY 21...FIRE...

OK...I know this isn't very original but it's the best I could come up with for this one...I do love candles and there are usually some to be found burning most days in our house but the kids have this really bad habit of blowing them out when I put them on...lol...Have a fun Sunday...Snow here in Inverurie...not a lot though but I am sure there will be more on the way:o(...am now of to ponder the next prompt and will hopefully post later today...x

365+1...DAY 20...SIGN...

2012-01-22T10:26:00.003Z

DAY 20...SIGN...

Oops this is a sure fire sign that the dishwasher needs emptied!!! Morgan get up...it's your turn!! Naughty I know but sometimes you just can't be bothered...last night after tea I suddenly felt so sleepy and went upstairs, got into bed and was out like a light in no time and I slept til 9 this morning...must have needed it!!!

365+1...DAY 19...BAD FOR YOU...

2012-01-19T12:09:00.002Z

DAY 19...BAD FOR YOU...

And predictably I have gone for the 'bad for you' food option but only because my neighbour Clare popped through with these as we were leaving for school..yumm! I have resisted so far and will be 'good' and save them for the kids when they get back...I have been good today and walked a little bit further than normal and I am of to meet a friend for a cuppa at 2pm in the town centre so I am going to walk (provided the snow doesn't come on again like this mornings furious flurry which stopped as suddenly as it started at leaving time so we were able to walk after all!!)...xx

365+1...DAY 18...PLEASURABLE...

2012-01-19T12:02:00.003Z

DAY 18...PLEASURABLE...

Yesterday I decided that I was going to do some indoor exercise when I got back from the school run in the morning...I have been teasing the girls that when they are at school I get out the Wii Just Dance and have a boogie...they think this is hilarious so that's exactly what I did and it was fab..managed 38 minutes which was about 7 or 8 dances and boy can I feel it in my arms today(just need to work on getting my legs moving at the same time...been too busy this morning and heading out again soon but roll on tomorrow when I can have another go...much fun!!!

365+1...DAY 17..NAUGHTY

2012-01-19T11:53:00.003Z

DAY 17..NAUGHTY

Well here we are Day 19 and I am just posting Day 17...will stop apologising now for not posting everyday and just do it when I can...real life really does get in the way sometimes...lol...

This is Niamh (again!), this time in naughty mode...she is not very happy with herself as she is supposed to have done a 3d model in the Christmas hols but we didn't do it and I had looked out stuff so we could make a pyramid which she seemed happy enough about until we started doing it and then she kicked of that she didn't want to....she wanted to make a robot but we didn't have the necessary recycling to make one so she went in a right strop and after much persuasion she still wasn't having it so I said we just wouldn't make anything then...not a very happy child but they have to learn...xxx

365+1...DAY 16...SNACK...

2012-01-16T11:22:00.003Z

DAY 16...SNACK...

Today's prompt over at 365+1 is SNACK....I am not very sure why I decided to have this as my mid morning snack today..wishing I hadn't now...I de-iced the car and went down to Home Bargains for some juice, sweetcorn, nail clippers and eggs...but I ended up buying more than that...it's the sort of shop you go into and come out of with things you never even knew you needed till you saw them..lol..so these were on special offer and when I got back I was in need of a cuppa to warm me up and I ended up eating one of them..

This is the Old Newsprint feature on Paint Shop Pro.

Why not pop over and have a look at what everyone else is snacking on today....

365+1...DAY 15...GENEROUS...

2012-01-15T19:22:00.004Z

DAY 15...GENEROUS

A couple of weeks ago Sonja and I received what we thought were our 1st monthly Mixed Media Kits from Scarlet Lime which when I opened thought weren't very mixed media...ish. It wasn't until Sonja came over and we did a little online research that we realised we had been sent the wrong kits...I emailed Christy and explained and she quickly sorted it out and the proper ones along with this month's are now winging there way to us right now...when I asked about what to do with the ones that had been sent she replied 'just go ahead and keep those!', which we thought was very generous of her...

I used the time machine feature from Paint Shop Pro on this photo...I love the way it makes my wooden floor look...xxx

365+1...DAY 14...GUILTY PLEASURE

2012-01-15T19:07:00.003Z

DAY 14...GUILTY PLEASURE

Saturday's prompt was quite easy but I was having a bit of a bad day yesterday so didn't get around to it....

I have this bottle of Sloe Gin that I keep in my freezer(for emergencies only you understand and as you can see from this nearly empty bottle there has been quite a few of those lately..heehee)...I don't drink a great deal but I do like a nice sloe gin with fiery ginger beer, ice and lime...I am also quite partial to Pimms with lots of strawberries but do tend to keep that for the warm summer months....

If you have just started following me lately you can find lots more inspiring photographs over at Suzie 365...

365+1...DAYS 11-13

2012-01-13T11:01:00.006Z

I am a little behind what with one thing and another...namely running after the kids and sorting their schedules out now that all the after school activities have begun again with a vengeance...

365+1...Day 11...Clothing

This is my lovely sparkly grey beret...I love it but can't wear it everyday as sometimes I just can't get it to sit right so of it comes and another hat has to go on...I have to admit to a big love of hats..I used to wear them ALL the time now it's just in the winter...

365+1...Day 12...Translucent

This is some packaging that I received some crafty stuff in a while back...it's so cute...I kept it for that reason...now I wonder what I could do with it!!!

365+1...Day 13...Inside Your Fridge

Well these aren't inside my fridge anymore...they are baking in the oven in the shape of a Lemon Drizzle Cake and it smells delicious...this is a really quick and easy recipe...can't wait for a slice with my tea before I pick the kids up from school later...yummm!!!

So that's my lot for today...hopefully I will manage to keep up a bit better over the next few days abut real life does rather get in the way of fun...keep smiling:0)...x

365+1

2012-01-10T18:38:00.003Z

365+1... Day 10...Metal

So this is my photo for today...I had to perch on my table and lean my head against the wall to get this shot...it probably is nowhere near perfect photography but I quite like it...It is all the Jamie Oliver storage jars sitting in their rack...I use mine for buttons and I have 12 of them with different coloured lids...they are so pretty...

Today I feel like I have been chasing my tale since picking the kids up from school...dropped 2 of at dancing, been to the airport to drop Allan of which of course had to be at rush hour which took twice as long as it normally does, got back and made tea...dropped the next one of at dancing and now waiting for tea to cook...can't wait...it smells yummy...we are having Sweet and Spicy Bacon Wrapped Chicken...I found the recipe on Pinterest and if you haven't been over there....WHY NOT??? It's THE best site ever....xxx

365+1

2012-01-10T10:06:00.003Z

365+1...Day 9...WaterSorry folks am a day behind...first day back at school yesterday and it was a bit manic...catching up with chores and then a meeting with my lovely marketing guru for some exciting things coming soon....ssshhh..don't tell anyone...

Anyway this is my photo for the day...it is my aim to drink more of it and with a frozen slice of lime it certainly makes it easier to drink...

Will be back later(hopefully!) with today's photo....xx

365+1

2012-01-08T20:19:00.004Z

365+1...Day 8...Cosy

Today the word on the street is 'COSY'....my interpretation is the cosiness in the conservatory once the sun has gone down, the blinds are closed and the lamps have been turned on...9pm...Hawaii 5-O here I come..lol..

Speaking about the sun going down, this was the amazing sunset we were treated to here in Inverurie tonight...beautiful...looks like the sky is on fire!!!

Excuse the mess in my garden...not tidied up yet from the builders...my friend was round the other day and her little girl Eleanor said to me 'Do you know you washing thing has fallen down??'...lol..we had to move it to make way for the building...don't think it's going to fit in the space that's left over there and I don't want it where it is so I think it may become redundant...I am thinking I will get the lines that you can whizz in and out and a couple of poles...I miss my drying green of old(4 posts, 4 lines and a couple of poles..washing dried so much better):0(...

Well that's me for now apart from to say watch this space for some exciting news(clue... I have registered a domain name...eeek!!!)....xxx

365+1

2012-01-07T16:50:00.004Z

365+1...Day 7...Drink

Okay, today threw me a little since I had used a drink for yesterday's prompt...I didn't want to just do another one...My first pic was of the bird bath in the garden but it looked a little grey and dull given the weather and I was all set to use it til I picked up my camera and spotted my little vintage tea-set...I love the delicate little flowers and the gold edging..sadly there is not a full set, 5 tea-cups, 5 saucers, milk jug and sugar bowl but I still love it...the whole lot cost me the princely sum of just £5 from the charity shop..

Today I have been trying to make Lemon Meringue cupcakes...the cupcakes have turned out fine but I have not yet mastered the meringue...The second lot is away to be rinsed down the sink...I just cannot get them to peak!!! Oh well butter cream icing it will have to be...at least I can make that....x

365+1

2012-01-06T19:24:00.004Z

365+1...Day 6...FROST

Well my interpretation of frost today is the ice-cubes in the sloe gin and ginger beer I had with the coconut chicken curry we had for tea...delicious on both counts....

It's been quite hectic around here today...Sonja came over in the morning with Aaron for a visit and then it was lunchtime and then Camilla came over and cut the kids hair in the afternoon...far better than taking them all to the hairdresser and having to sit waiting for them...at least at home they get to do their own thing before their turn...

Just away to sit down and watch Coronation Street now with maybe another cheeky drink and one or two of my chocs that I have managed to keep hidden from the kids...

Looking forward to tomorrow's prompt!!

Kirsti xxx

365+1

2012-01-05T13:57:00.005Z

365+1...Day 5...EXCITEMENT

This is the haul we bought yesterday to paint my new craft room...we had planning permission granted 5 years ago, one year after we completed the last extension but the quotes we got at the time were astronomical in comparison to what had previously been done so we felt we couldn't justify it...but after a lot of humming and haaing this last year we decided to get some quotes and were pleasantly surprised so we decided to go ahead...

I thinking building started the week the planning ran out:0)...so it's all but finished apart from the radiators, electrics and the dreaded painting...I have decided to wait until the plumber puts in the radiators though because it's baltic in there...lol..can't wait to move in and have lots more space for everything...It will be so good to have all the tools, ie Cricut, sewing machine, paper cutter, all arranged so that I don't have to put them away to have something else out...

So that's me for today...I'm glad I'm actually (so far) being able to keep up!!

365+1

2012-01-04T15:43:00.004Z

365+1...Day 4...PRETTY

So today I have been experimenting with my camera using a homemade Bokeh, it's annoying me now and it's probably cos I don't understand enough about my camera, so I have resorted to taking a photo of one of my 'pretty' daughters, Niamh who is 6 which is probably a bit predictable...

Today we have been shopping for paint and lights, etc for my new craft room which I am really, really not looking forward to painting since it is bare plasterboard and will probably need more coats than normal and since the radiators haven't been fitted yet it will be freezing...why oh why didn't we build this in the summer...Can't wait to move in tho and have lots more space....

That's me for today...
Kirsti xx

365+1

2012-01-03T12:10:00.007Z

365+1...Days 1-3... I am behind but only because I joined late....

And the first word is, rather predictably, CELEBRATE...

A lovely gift wrapped treat for me and Allan from Jen...our favourite bottles of wine and a box of mints...

The second word is NEW...
Now technically this isn't new but it is to me...I acquired it from the freecycle site Freegle from a lovely lady in Keig and it was totally free...i am so in love with it...I was going to give it a distressed paint effect after the new year but it's kinda grown on me so I may just sand it down and re-wax it...

The third word is UGLY...

This is the scene that greeted us this morning, torrential rain mixed with snow and gale force winds and we did have plans to go to Haddo House today:0(...not a very pretty sight and I do believe it is set to carry on and get worse for a few days...

So that's me caught up now and hopefully I will be able to stay caught up!!!

AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT...

2012-01-02T22:11:00.004Z

This year I also want to start scrapbooking again...I have really let it go this last year to 18 months and the kids are all growing up and I want to capture them before it's too late!! So with this in mind I have also decided to join in with the 'and now for something completely different' challenge over on UKS....

Hopefully this will kickstart the scrapping again....

Kirsti xxx

365+1...

2012-01-02T16:36:00.004Z

So I have also decided to join in with the 365+1 Challenge hosted by Suzie...

Day one and two have been posted...with the prompts 'celebrate' and 'new'...since I am only starting today I didn't get day one and we have already taken down the tree, etc...will have a look around tomorrow in daylight...the photos I am taking are not great at this time of day so I will be playing catch up tomorrow(hopefully!)....

I would also like to take a photography course this year but they are quite pricey, even the ones at the college and I have been told that ILA are not redeemable against the photography courses:0((

So why not pop over and kick start your year of pictures with some friendly photographers...xx

HAPPY NEW YEAR.....

2012-01-02T13:53:00.004Z

There seems to be an on-going trend to start your blog with a quotation this year so I thought I would join in with this one...

Though no-one can go back and make a brand new START...

anyone can start from now and make a brand new ENDING!!!

Carl Bard

This one sits at the bottom of my blog and I have to keep reminding myself of it now and then...it's been a tough year with more lows than highs it seems but I think we as a family are looking forward to that 'brand new ending' this year....

I am looking forward to spending more quality time with my family,
building up my craft sales,
seeing more of my friends,
trying some new crafting techniques,
getting to know my new camera so I can have awesome photos,
spending less money(if that's possible in this climate where everything seems to be getting more expensive by the day),
getting fitter(I started running at the beginning of November but when my brother died I just stopped)
and keeping my house more organised and tidier...

So that's my aims for this year...what about you? I just want to wish all my followers and fellow bloggers a very Happy New Year....xxx

The Felt Fairy - A Monthly Make 2012...

2011-12-18T22:04:00.004Z

On a brighter note for a change I have put my name down for The Felt Fairy's 'A Monthly Make 2012'

If you fancy joining in just pop over here to sign up...Go on, you know you want to!!!

Kirsti xxx

RIP LITTLE BROTHER...

2011-12-04T12:02:00.002Z

Just over two weeks ago I got the most awful phonecall imaginable from my mum...the police had just arrived at her door to tell her that my brother Stuart had hung himself at home...I fell to pieces and I would like to share these word that are doing the rounds on Facebook at the moment...

Given the recent news about Gary Speed I just want to highlight again the reality that someone can be hurting very much without showing outward signs, so the next time you feel like judging or being nasty to someone, take a step back and ask yourself: Is that person struggling on the inside? More people have been there than you will ever know. Depression and Anxiety disorders ARE NOT a sign of weakness. They are signs that you've been trying to be strong for too long. Put this on your wall if you, or someone you know, suffers or has suffered. Most people will not due to the stigma attached, but stats show that 1 in 3 of us will suffer from this at some point in life....so judge now at your peril, because you reap what you sow!!!

RIP Stuart and I hope you are at peace now...I will miss you!!

ALMOST FORGOT...

2011-11-12T19:02:00.005Z

Almost forgot....this last week I was over at Simply Create teaching again....we plan on doing a canvas per season and this is winter...what do you think? The papers used are TPC Studio, Christmas Village and are available to purchase at the shop....

I used my Tim Holtz Tattered Florals die to do the flower and my new bowmaker to make the bow behind it...fab little invention cos I am rubbish at tying bows...lol...

Lots of lovely white and clear buttons used to make the simple but effective tree and some red flat backed pearls for that little extra bling!!

Not sure when the Spring one will be yet but please phone the shop on 01975 564010 to keep up to date or check out the blog or email on simply-create@btconnect.com..My next class is a white printers tray using very pretty Girls Paperie papers which can also be booked through the shop....

TTFN

Kirsti

xxx

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LIBBY...

2011-11-11T14:21:00.007Z

Happy 9th Birthday to our beautiful girl Libby....This is her at just a few hours old...

and this is her a couple of months ago on the photoshoot...

She has grown up to be a beautiful girl with lots of long, thick hair...and a lovely coothy nature and the ability to make us laugh..(she can still be a whine tho...haha!!)

Tonight they are doing a fashion show at school to raise funds and she is singing(not modeling-they were given the choice and she chose to sing)...both her sisters are in the show as well and it promises to be a great night!!!...

I can't believe she is 9 already - it just seems to have flown by and before we know it they will all be leaving home and embarking on their own adventures called life!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LIBBY!!!

VINTAGE AND CRAFT FAIR...

2011-11-08T20:49:00.004Z

On Sunday I attended the Vintage and Craft Fair organised by Janet Shek from iheartart in Aberdeen...

It was a very busy day with lots of sales....The music bunting went down very well which I was pleased about...
I sold the 2 wee hoosies that I had left and 4 of the birds, the gingerbread man and the silver angel wings...
Both the pirate door hangers went...
I also sold two of the canvases which I was pleased about...

There were loads of other stalls selling handmade wares and vintage goodies including Cushie Doo Vintage, Flourish, Katia, twentythreetwo, Emily Fraser, Camilla-Erika and Sugar Plum Crafts

Why not go and check them out...they have some gorgeous items for sale...

That's me for today...take care...

Kirsti xx

RIP GRANDAD COOK

2011-10-25T19:04:00.003+01:00

Last Thursday Allan's dad, the kids' grandad and my father-in-law died...he was 73 and had been ill for some time...I won't go into the ins and outs... Anyway I thought I would do a LO in his honour...This was pictures of him taken at Christmas 2005...Libby had gotten a Stephanie from Lazy Town outfit from Santa and she was trying the wig on grandad....

TFL
Kirsti xxx

ANOTHER CANVAS CLASS...

2011-10-06T14:24:00.005+01:00

A while ago I did the online She Art workshop with Christy Thomlinson and I loved it....and when Jacqui from Simply Create saw my first canvas she asked if I would have a go at teaching it in the shop which I did yesterday...this is the one the class was based around...

All the ladies went home really proud of themselves and so they should have been...they did a fantastic job....

Can't wait for the next class which is on Wednesday 9 November at 10.30am over at Simply Create in Alford...the theme for this one will be a winter wonderland...we are hoping that over the next year to do one for each of the seasons starting with winter next month...dates to be confirmed for the rest but if you pop over to Jacqui's blog I think she has a wee special offer on if you book all 4...The number to call to book your place on this or any other classes is 01975 564010...so what are you waiting for - spaces are limited!!!

That all from me today but hopefully over the next couple of weeks I will showing lots of photos as I have just ordered my first Digital SLR and it should be here tomorrow...can't wait!!!

Kirsti xxx

PHOTO SHOOT AND SOME NEW FAIR STUFF...

2011-10-02T18:50:00.006+01:00

A couple of weeks ago we did a mini photo shoot with the lovely Evy from ByEvy Photography on a farm close to where we live...I was a bit worried as the weather had been atrocious through the day (had been soaked through watching Morgan play football and quite a lot of games had been cancelled) but our time slot was 4.30pm and it was probably the nicest part of the day...the kids had a lovely time and I even have some photos of Morgan smiling...so all good...this is just a couple of the photos that I got on disc all beautifully packaged up from Evy yesterday!!! I would thoroughly recommend her....

Onto the Ladies Shopping Night in aid of funds for Strathburn Park 2s and Playgroup...once again a lot of ladies turned out for this very well supported event and spent lots of pennies, especially at my stall so thank you ladies....

This is a couple of canvases I made this week as I am trying to move on with the stall items and get some new and fresh ideas in... these were both inspired by cards that I had seen on Pinterest (which is just the most brilliant site ever and if you aren't a member - why not????)

This is a button chalkboard which started out as a magnetic chalkboard but about 8 coats of magnetic chalkboard paint later it still wasn't magnetic...lol.. so I gave up and gave it a couple of coats of Claudine's black acrylic paint which works brilliantly as chalkboard....the buttons were mostly from blog candy won from the Artful Splodger(remember the box I gave to Sonja for her birthday - it was full of buttons when I received it) and I hot glue gunned them on which took a few hours and a lot of swear words!!!!!

This is a tiny wee box that got the same treatment as the bigger one except I used a Stampin' Up stamp and punch along with some Hero Arts Digi butterflies to create the top...I glossy accented the butterflies to make them pop....

These Christmas Countdowns are made from 'upcycled' stamp blocks and the kids old building block...lots of paint to cover them...the papers used are Festive Signature from MyMindsEye...and I stamped and embossed using some new embossing enamel from Stampendous called Vintage Silver...It's lush!!!

And that's it from me for today...I now need to get cracking with some orders that I had from last night...

TTFN(as the kids say)

Kirsti xxx

THE A-Z OF ME....

2011-09-21T21:42:00.006+01:00

So this week seems to be the week for doing the A-Z of me and I had to join in...why not have a go yourself...lots of fun!!!

A. Age: 42

B. Bed size: Double usually to myself as hubby is away so often but I do end up sharing it with Niamh at least twice a week...

C. Chore that you hate: cleaning toilets...bathrooms in general

D. Dogs: Yeah...still missing my two love West Highland Terriers, Haggis and Charlie but hoping to get a Polish Lowland Sheepdog next year and maybe another Westie...the kids have already chosen the names...Alfie and Jackson!!!

E. Essential start to your day: Tea, bit of reading and a walk

F. Favorite color: Green at the moment - it was purple for years and years and years

G. Gold or Silver: Definitely Silver

H. Height: 5’6”

I. Instruments you play: Nothing I'm afraid...

J. Job title: CEO of our household...lol..

K. Kids: FOUR...one boy and three girls

L. Live: Inverurie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

M. Must haves: peace and quiet but that's more a would like than a must have...haha

N. Nicknames: Kirsticoo or KC...my friend's little boy(who is 26 now) used to call me Kissy....

O. Overnight hospital stays: 3 overnights when having the kids - 1 6 hour discharge...1 overnight with chest pains a couple of years ago...

P. Pet peeves: people who think they can park ANYWHERE they like...including disabled spots and parent and child spots when they have use for neither...bugs the crap outta me...Grrrrr

Q. Quote from a movie: Pretty Woman... [Vivian accidentally launches an escargot, which is deftly caught by the mâitre-d.] Vivian: Slippery little suckers. Mâitre-D: It happens all the time

Top Gun... Carole: Hey, Goose, you big stud! Goose: That's me, honey. Carole: Take me to bed or lose me forever. Goose: Show me the way home, honey....

R. Right or left handed: Right

S. Siblings: 2 brothers both younger

T. Tattoos: Not yet but watch this space

U. Underwear: Oh yes definitely...

V. Vegetable you hate: Easy...Brussell Spouts....UGH...don't even cook them at Christmas no matter how many other people like them...they stink!!!

W. What makes you run late: Kids!!!!!!!!! hate being late tho...

X. X-Rays you’ve had: wrist...fractured while arm wrestling in the pub with a bloke...ooops!! and teeth...also had one on my ankle when I fell out of a car after getting my leg caught in the strap of my bag(ballooned up to the size of a golf ball) and I was perfectly sober!!

Y. Yummy food that you make: Moroccan Meatballs discovered the other day...delicious and a hit with the kids so will definitely make again

Z. Zoo animal: Polar Bears...they are fab

So that's me, A thru to Z.
How about you? Are you taking part?

TTFN

Kirsti xxx

A BIT OF A BLOG HOP....

2011-09-17T08:00:00.003+01:00

So I don't know if you remember a while back I posted a link to Kirsty from Curiouser and Curiouser...basically she made these little embellishments which she sent out to everyone who posted a reply on her blog and I was one of them....I have never taken part in a blog hop before so lets hope it works ok...

I decided to use mine as an embellishment on one of my wee hoosies as I had had a slight malfunction with my Cricut, the mat wasn't sticky enough so the chipboard moved and ended up cutting the house shape a little shorter than normal...

I really love the embellishment, it's so sweet and dainty...and I really love making these houses...they always sell really well as I think people like how each one is different...

I was using the Dymo machine to do the 'sweet home' part but it's quite hard to get black tape without getting red and blue with it making it quite expensive so I had a bit of experimentation with some printing it out on card stock and some Ranger Crackle Accents which worked a treat...

So I am hoping that if all this has worked you should have come to me from Katy and I should be sending you on to Kate....I am out all day at a fair over in Finzean today so if you are in the area pop along and support the school while they try to raise find for new play equipment....and thanks for visiting on your way thru the blog hop....

This weekend it is my good friend Sonja's birthday(I won't tell which one...lol...) and I thought I would make her something...well that did not exactly go to plan as I was going to decorate a paper mache letter 'S' but after a couple of disastrous attempts I gave up and ended up doing this box which has been sitting on my desk filled with buttons since I won it in some blog candy from the Artful Splodger a while back...

This didn't exactly turn out the way I wanted it to either as I was just going to stamp the whole box but of course the first stamp I used didn't work properly (one of the words was slightly indented so missed half of it out) so it was onto plan b... The box is coated with Distress Stains and then I stamped the Stampin Up Hydrangea onto the lid using Stazon and added a couple of pearl brads with the legs removed(hope they stay stuck!)...

I cut some paper from a brilliant Lost and Found pad that I bought the other week(bargain@!) and used it to cover the outside using ModPodge to seal...

and did the inside with more distress stain and put in some of my vintage style buttons that I got over at Simply Create and a stamp that I had a pair of....

This is the bottom...

and this is her card....

I did take some piccies of her blowing out the candles on the cake I had made at the Old Post Office Tea Room in Chapel of Garioch (thank you Christine - it was divine) and anyone local who hasn't been up yet I would thoroughly recommend it...anyway my camera is being a funny thing at the mo and keeps losing photos...would so like a digital SLR but I think I will have to save really hard for one of those...

So that's me for today - I do hope you will join in with the blog hop and I hope it works as it should do....

TFL

Kirsti

xxx

A MIXTURE OF THINGS...

2011-09-13T09:38:00.003+01:00

Last Sunday it was my nephew's birthday and Niamh insisted on a new 'pretty' outfit for the party and if you know Niamh you know she doesn't do pretty so I was a bit reluctant to get anything as I had visions of her changing her mind at the last minute, however we are having a photoshoot on Sunday and I want all the girls in pretty dresses so I bought this outfit from Tesco for her...I also bought it for Libby but Ellie refused to have it so still need to get something for her.... On the same day it was the Fintray Sheltie Stakes(Shetland pony horse races!) and some of the girls from Evolution School of Dance were asked to come along and do some Highland dancing...Ellie is the second from the left...it was very short and very sweet but hey...they enjoyed it and we got a nice day for it so all good...

On Saturday I had a table at the Charity Day for Mistletoe Cancer over at Alford which was organised by Jacqui from Simply Create....as is my norm I forgot something and this time it was my camera so I have pinched these loverly photos from my good friend Judy's blog...she took the one of me and I love it and her friend Catriona from Blue Door Photography took the one of her and it is equally fab....it was a really good day and was good to catch up with some friends who had tables

I have another fair this Saturday over at Finzean Primary School so if you are in the are so please pop in from ...they are trying to raise fund for a new playground....

That's it for me...away to pop some washing in although there is no chance of getting it out as it's bucketing with rain...I am just waiting for it to go of a bit so I can get out for our morning walk with my neighbour Clare....

Kirsti xxx

BEEN THERE...DONE THAT...

2011-09-07T21:55:00.002+01:00

OK I can now officially say....been there...done that...got the t-shirt...

Today I taught my first class over at Simply Create in Alford.....and I had an absolute ball...thank you so much to everyone who came and I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did....

We did a version of this canvas which I did a while back while in an online chatroom with Darcy, Sonja and Rosie one Saturday night and drinking a bottle of rose...lol....was fun!!!

Anyways these are the ladies that took part in today's class and I think the next one (Wednesday 5th October at 10.30am) has a couple more...not sure if there are spaces but if you phone the shop on 01975 564010 they will be able to let you know...

Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity Jacqui and I hope I will be able to do more in the future...

Kirsti xxx

CRAFT FAIR AND CRAFT ALONG EVENT...

2011-09-06T22:21:00.002+01:00

This Saturday Jacqui from Simply Create is holding a craft fair and craft along event...this is what she has to say about it...

Why - In aid of Mistletoe for Cancer in Memory of Angela Kelman nee Harper a dear friend, sadly missed.

Where - Alford Village Hall, Greystone Road, Alford

When - Saturday 10th September 10:30 am thro' to 3 pm

Details - Are you sitting comfortably????? Then I will begin.....

So we have the most important Teas, Coffees and home bakes available for a little charge, loads of gorgeous handmade crafts available at numerous tables, a professional photographer to take gorgeous photos of your gorgeous kiddiewinks (booking required) and we have a raffle, tombola, games, all with superb prizes then we have pampering, glitter tattoos and a nail technician all available to make us look a million dollars! To top it all we will be opening for sale tickets to win BIG prizes just in time for (dare I say it) Christmas.

Now if that isn't enough then there is a craft along event running alongside this event where you can come along and knit, sew, scrapbook, make cards, chat whatever rings your bell, tea and coffee on tap and lunch all for £5! (Booking Required - call 01975564010 or email simply-create@btconnect.com), and you can still pop downstairs to shop, lots of games and fun guaranteed and as a special thank you for supporting this worthy cause you will receive a 20% off voucher to use in the shop this will be emailed to you on booking.

So if you would like to come to craft or take a table then phone or email me as soon as possible, or if you would like to pop along to shop, or just have a fly cup and fine piece then see you there.

Do please come along and support this very worthy charity...

Hope to see you on Saturday....
Thanks for reading today
Kirsti xxx

AUGUST MONTH IN NUMBERS...

2011-08-31T18:21:00.008+01:00

Well I can't believe it's the end of another month and already time to add my August Month in Numbers...If you don't know what I am on about pop over and see Julie's blog Notes on Paper to find out what it's all about....

So anyways here we go....

10plus.....days of rain this month up here in the NE of Scotland....I actually stopped counting after 10 because it was too depressing...the last couple of weeks of the kids holidays was awful...they were so bored!!!...never mind it was back to school 2 1/2 weeks ago and typical there first week back was actually quite nice (for me anyways!!)

8....is the number of books I have read this month...I am trying to beat last year's total of 52 and I am well on my way as I am at 48 already and it's only the end of August...I have resorted to buying them from Thainstone Sunday Market at the 2nd had book man as I was spending waaay too much money on them and as you know I do like to keep my books.

4...is the number of new school bags I had to buy for the start of this term and what with the 3 new lunchboxes for the girls that is another fortune...I did end up buying Morgan one too for his football for away games as apparently it's not cool to bring a pack lunch to the Academy...lol..

14-3(1) and 5-2(2)......the winning scores from Morgan's last two football matches...1st game of the season at home to Inverness Caly Thistle and he let in 1...2nd game was away against Raith Rovers and he let in both...always feel better when their other goalie lets in the same or more than him as then it's not just his fault especially if the lose...haha...

27.83...number of miles I have walked this month...mostly since the kids went back on the 18th...new keep fit push...determined to be a little fitter and lose some weight....we have also cycled 9.58 miles to Chapel of Garioch but there was an ulterior motive...a friend has opened up a team room called the Old Post Office Tea Room so coffee and cake was waiting for us at the other end of very hilly bike ride...the tea room is beautiful...still retaining loads of the original features of the post office it once was...will definitely be back again very soon...

2...how many geocaches we have found this month...when the kids' cousins came up to visit this month we all went trecking up to Bennachie treasure hunting....it was great fun and I think Megan and Jack enjoyed it...Bennachie has some stunning views over the countryside but it sure is a long treck to the top...and is very windy once you get there...

Well I think that is my post for this month regarding numbers...wonder what September will bring....

Kirsti xxx

1ST DAY OF TERM...

2011-08-28T19:51:00.005+01:00

That's the kids in Scotland been back to school for 2 weeks now...only 6 weeks til the tattie holidays...haha This year is Morgan's 1st year at the academy....and we got him a netbook for keeping up with his homework(saves him arguing with his sister about using hers and keeps him of my laptop!)...he was chuffed although he doesn't look it...lol...

And here are the girls ready to set of on their bikes...

Today I have been busy making cards like this to stock up my shop as I have my first event on 17th September....eeeek!!!

Finally I have a couple of things to share with you from two fab blogs.... The first is from Miss Smith at Curiouser and Curiouser...she is having a giveaway with a twist involving these little beauties...why not pop over and see what it's all about...

And my bloggy friend Darcy from Art and Sole has a downloadable freebie on offer over on her blog...these are fab and I can't wait to print them of and start using them...thanks Darcy for such a fab giveaway...you're a STAR!!!

Well that's me for today...I will try and be back before the end of the month with something else but not promising as I have caught a bit of an exercise bug this last week and am determined to keep it up...we walk about 14 miles and cycled 10miles(mostly up hill on the way but a tremendous rush downhill on the way home...lol.)...this will be weather permitting as today has been the worst day in such a long time - horrendous wind and rain...

TFL

Kirsti xxx

MY FIRST EASEL CARD...

2011-08-18T11:37:00.006+01:00

The other day I was flicking through the July issue of Craft Stamper looking for inspiration for a 40th birthday card for my next door neighbour Clare for her sister...Kate had done a card using the free stamp and it was an easel card...I have never made one of these before so I thought I would have a go...

I didn't make the base card the same way Kate did but from a tutorial found here and simple though it was I still managed to cock it up by putting the front on the wrong way round...back to the beginning..was easy once I looked again...

I used papers from a 6"x6" stack called Madeline by Prima Marketing...they are gorgeous papers...I stitched round the flowery piece in the middle before sticking it down so the stitching wouldn't be seen on the back...

The ribbon on the top is from Simply Create from my stash and the ribbon on the bottom is also from there and just bought on Tuesday....was searching through all my vast collection of ribbon looking for the perfect piece....you know the feeling right when you have the right colour but not the right type of ribbon or the right ribbon but not the colour you need...AAARGHHH...spent ages looking and then remembered the piece I bought that day and it's just perfect... I also added a diamante to the centre of each flower...

I added the little matt with the pearls to hold the card upright...and the 'Celebrate' was a stamp that I also bought on Tuesday in the Simply Create sale...

The chandelier(free stamp) is stamped onto the corner from one of the sheets in Timber Brown Stazon and it matches in perfect with the patterned paper...I matted it in dark brown and added a diamante...

Overall I was very pleased with the way it had turned out for a first attempt and fortunately so was Clare...I will definitely be doing some more of these in the future...

As I said on Tuesday I went over to Simply Create for a mooch around the sale with Kerry and Trish...bad influence...I had planned to wash the floors but they were going over and in the end we had coffee and scones at the Bistro, a rummage round the sale(if you fancy any of the canvas classes I am doing in the shop please phone the shop soon on 01975 564010 to book you place as I think they are filling up (excited.com and also verynervous.com!!!), we then went to the charity shop which was actually closed but the volunteers let us have a nose around...then it was back to Inverurie and of to Andersons for lunch...a totally indulgent day but then it was the first day of the new school term so I think it's allowed...lol...

I didn't buy much as I am still on my stash busting mission...but check out this glorious 100 buttons that I did buy...Lush or what??? The colours are so beautiful and vintage looking...There was a time when I used to go into raptures over new shoes and boots and now its buttons...heehee...

Will be back (hopefully) tomorrow (or maybe even later today) with some piccies of the kids first day back at school and Morgan's first day at the Academy!!!

TFL

Kirsti xxx

JULY - MONTH IN MUMBERS...

2011-08-09T16:11:00.003+01:00

After seeing Julie Kirk's project 'my month in numbers' last month I thought I would give it a go starting from July...

I have made mine into a scrapbook page using an old Kenner Road kit that I won waaaaay back when...lol...so this is also part of my stash busting drive too...

So I started of with the number FOUR...this being the number of books I have read this month(quite a slow one!) which is equal in this case to the total of ((1799)) pages... I have added myself to the Goodreads website and it's quite fun updating all the books I am reading or have currently read...Last year was a total of ((52)) books and so far this year I am on number ((43)) which I am very chuffed with....the problem I have is that I can NEVER give books away and if I lend them I have to GET THEM BACK with the result being that I have literary hundreds of books...

The papers/stickers/borders are from the Bliss collection by Crate Paper and in true Scottish fashion I have even cut out the middle of the back sheet before sticking the scalloped one on top...no sense in waste...lol...

The word NUMBERS is American Crafts Thickers 'Jewelry Box' and the tiny letter stickers are by the girls paperie by Margie 'Vintage Whimsy'...I also added loads of diamantes down this side for some added sparkle...

My second number is FOUR THOUSAND (at least) and is the number of times this month with us Scottish folk being on summer holidays that I have gone into either the conservatory or the living room and switched the tv of because no-one is in the room...kids huh!!!

My third number is THREE SQUILLION(about) and is about the sheer number of jelly fish that were stranded on the sand at Lossiemouth beach each time the tide went out...there were thousands of them and it made the kids a little wary of going barefoot...there was also an article in the paper that week(this isn't the actual article) about jelly fish and chips being on the menu...couldn't think of anything worse...yukkkkk

I added diamantes round all the labels as well...the stamped birdie and the felt flower embellishments are by Stampin Up... and I used some border stickers from the kit and folded it up and then sewed up and down then a couple of times to create a pleated effect....

So that's me for this month and hopefully I will have some more NUMBERS for you next month....

TFL...Kirsti xxx

UFO NO 3...

2011-07-31T11:48:00.003+01:00

Here is UFO Number 3....There are so many piccies of it that I decided to collage them instead of uploading them all and boring the pants of you all...haha...

This is another Rusty Pickle from the same class as the last one...It's called Candyland and its very bright and cheerful which I thought was just right for the photos from Niamh's Mad Hatter's Tea Party she had for her 5th Birthday last year...

As you can see I have used loads and loads of very colourful buttons and some lovely ribbons as well...

I love the little mini book that pops out from one of the pages and have filled it with photos of Niamh from the day...

I also used the tags for individual pictures of all her guests on the day...

And last but not lease is the POP up in the very back cover..very ingenious don't you think...

Well that's me for today...hope you enjoyed this as much as I have...am now of to find something else to finish...have a great day...xxx

CLASSES....

2011-07-29T15:04:00.004+01:00

Does anyone fancy coming along to Simply Create in Alford for some canvas classes with little old me....please?!? Jacqui and I thought we would maybe try out Wednesday mornings for these classes for those of you who maybe have children commitments at the weekends and evenings (like me!!)....

This is the first one....

Wednesday 7th September at 10.30am

The second one will be a version of this one...

Wednesday 5th October at 10.30am

and the last one will be a winter version of this one... Wednesday 9th November at 10.30

If you would be interested in any of these classes please phone Jacqui on 01975 564010 for further details and to book your place...go on...you know you want to!!

Hope you are all enjoying the summer holidays...

Kirsti xxx

UFO NUMBER 2...

2011-07-19T11:58:00.008+01:00

Well here is my UFO number 2 as promised...still on a roll...this is another picture heavy post sorry but I know how much us crafty peeps love to look at pictures...lol

This is a Rusty Pickle class kit called My Life Album that I started at a class with Lance himself over at Simply Create along with my lovely friends Erika, Emma and Kara...and OMG I can't believe that was March 2010...doesn't seem that long ago... Oops I almost forgot that the lovelry Judy and the equally loverly Lorraine were there too...

In keeping with the vintage grunginess of this one I changed all my photos to black and white or sepia and put them through the Time Machine feature on my Paint Shop program....Love how they turned out...

So that's my album finished...I am very pleased with it so now it's time to look out another UFO which may I think be the second album we did that night!!

Have a great day even if it is raining where you are....xx

MY GARDEN...

2011-07-17T22:00:00.004+01:00

Not got any crafting to show you today so I thought I would show you some photos of my garden and also proof that sometimes the sun does shine in Aberdeenshire...lol...

This is my gorgeous Willow which I grew from a baby from my neighbours...I love it and it has got so huge in such a short space of time but unfortunately it is probably going to have to come out as we are planning an extension which it will probably interfere with...boohoo...

These are all my gorgeous baskets and tubs that were planted up this year using bedding plants from Tesco that had been marked down to 75p per tray...I think I spent around 15.00 so not a bad display for such a small outlay....

Hope this little bit of colour and sunshine has cheered you up....take care....

Kirsti xxx

UFO NUMBER 1

2011-07-12T22:15:00.008+01:00

Right as part of mine and Sonja's stash busting/UFO finishing challenge this is a mini book that I started at a workshop at Simply Create quite a few months ago....

I was going to use a series of photos from a day out we had a Haughton Park in Alford with cousins, aunties, uncle and friends til I realised I only had about 5 pictures(forgot I was going to get some from Pete but never did) so I decided to make it a book about April 2011 instead and since it was Morgan and Ellie's 12th and 11th birthdays on the 14th...

It's a very picture heavy post so I wont bore you with the 'how it was put together' waffle, I will just let you enjoy the photos...

I love these flowers and my niece was round one night and her pearly necklace snapped all over the conservatory floor and I said I would string it back together for her but never did so i pinched them and used some for the insides of these gorgeous flowers on the front cover...

The very front cover is perspex so the flowers and the lovely swirly stamp are on the outside and when you open it you can see the full LO...

Morgan on his birthday...not looking very happy....

The terrible twosome - Niamh and Blair - they are either fighting like cat and dog or best of buds....a very love/hate relationship but they are very close cousins....

Ellie's friends on her birthday sleep-over...

Trying to light the candles outside was hilarious as it was quite a breezy day...we would no sooner have some lit than they would all start going out...gave up in the end!!!

Niamh lost her first tooth so was very excited....

One of my cherry blossoms in full bloom...

Mother's Day...not exactly what look Allan was aiming for here...lol...

And I love the label for the back...even tho it's Jacqui's design I have made it my own unique book with the photos used and the different page arrangements ....I am funny like that when I go to a class I am always trying to change things so they are not carbon copies of the whole class...

Anyhoos - Thanks for looking...

Kirsti

xxx

PS - Next on the list of UFOs is one of the Rusty Pickle books from his last workshhop - only got a couple of pages to finish in it...

BICYCLE, BICYCLE, BICYCLE...I WANT TO RIDE MY BICYCLE

2011-07-09T17:57:00.002+01:00

Not done a card for ages...this one is for my friend Julie's husband Blair who turned 40 today...He is really into biking and since it was his 40th I thought a trip down memory lane with all the old bikes from the Hero Arts Joy Ride set was just right...

I used a piece of vintage style jotter paper and stamped all the various bikes onto it and then used Versamark with clear embossing power to stamp the stars and circles...I painted a chipboard circle black and then crackle accented it, added the greeting and layered it up and stuck it on...

The 40 is done the same way as the chipboard circle...I added some coloured pearls to some of the centres of the wheels and a little Vintage Photo distress ink round the edges completed it...

I was very pleased with how it turned out and I hope Blair was too....
TFL

Kirsti xxx

MY MONTH IN NUMBERS

2011-07-05T12:26:00.003+01:00

So today I had a comment from Julie Kirk from Notes on Paper about her Months in Numbers challenge that I had looked at earlier so I thought I would start joining in as of this month...so if anyone else fancies joining me you can find all the details over here...

Kirsti xxx

A LAYOUT FROM ME....

2011-07-03T19:56:00.007+01:00

After seeing all Sonja's LOs lately she has put me to shame as I wouldn't actually like to say when the last time was that I completed a LO...we have also made a stash busting/finish online classes and UFOs pact so hopefully this will be the first of many and if I write it down for all to see it will have to be won't it...lol...

This is a LO out using the last Simply Create Design Team Kit which is sadly the last one...I have enjoyed my time on the DT and keeping the blog up to date so thank you Jacqui...

This is a pic that was in a post a couple of weeks ago when we went geocaching for the first time...

I started of with the plain cardstock which I sprayed with various inks..some places better than others...and oops I have just remembered that I used a sketch that Sonja had used earlier in the week which can be found below...

I cut out one of the big daisy like flowers from the pattern papers(Glitz Afternoon Muse Floral) and cut down into the petals and inked with Vintage Photo distress ink then added some glossy accents to the centre and filled with seed beads...

Family Fun is done with some chipboard letters painted with hazelnut paint dabber and coated with crackle accent and fun (from the Lost & Found Union Square Perfect stamps) is stamped in Timber Brown stazon...

Before inking I laid out the ribbon creating a mask and then used the 2 ribbons to tie the buttons and cut out a couple of leaves from the floral paper.

Found this giant tag in my stash box(along with 4 more) so I decided to do a little hidden journaling and finished it of with the last of the ribbons...

TFL

Kirsti xx

2011-06-27T15:07:00.003+01:00

Well here is my very late offering for this month's design team kit from Simply Create...sorry it took so long and all that....

I started with a blank canvasboard and added some dressmaking pattern using ModPodge(don't worry about the creases and crinkles too much, it just adds to the texture of the background) and then coloured it in green and blue paint....

I was going to cut the bunting flags(Glitz-Afternoon Muse Banner) from the 12x12 out individually until I realised that if I cut out just that bit of it fitted perfectly onto the canvas and I love the way the paper blends in with the painted background..I did cut round the bottom row and crumpled them a bit tho for a bit more of a layered look....

I used various stamps from the DT set of Lost and Found(Union Square 'Perfect') and a couple of Stampin Up rollers which I like as you don't get the whole image just bits of it to add interest to the background....I also splattered some Stampin Up All Purpose Ink in Frost White using a paintbrush...

I made various flowers which were duly crumpled and inked using cardstock and added buttons and ribbon and pearls for the centres and hand drew the stalks and leaves...I almost forgot I did the very bottom of the canvas with Ranger Distress Crackle Paint in Antique Linen and then added some more lovely shimmery ink from Stampin Up for some added shine..

I cut out the word SUMMER using Tim Holtz Vintage Market Die and added a few little drops of shimmer ink to that to...

Thanks for looking and have a great summer everyone...I have enjoyed my roll on the Design Team very much - it has definitely given me a little more confidence in myself....

Kirsti xxxx

PINTEREST....

2011-06-26T22:17:00.003+01:00

Just a quickie to let you know about this site called Pinterest that Sonja pointed me in the direction of a couple of months ago but I couldn't quite get to grips with...well I have now and it's fab...great for storing all those things you see online and don't want to forget about!!! Go check it out...I am sure you will become as addicted as me, Sonja and quite possible even Julie...lol....

Kirsti xxx

TAKE THAT AND A SPOT OF GEOCACHING....

2011-06-19T18:42:00.009+01:00

Hello again...well I just thot I would show you a 'few' photos of what I have been up to the last week or two...On Wednesday 8th June I went to see Take That in Manchester with my very good friend Liz and her mum Gill and her sister Jane...

We had a fabulous time despite the fact that it practically rained non-stop from when we got of the plane til we got up on the Thursday morning for our shopping day...

The boys and all the pitch fans must have been soaked to the skin cos I know we were by the time we walked back to our apartment...

Ooooh Howard....mmmmmh...

No this is Lizzie...hehee...that's Howard above!!!

We had a ball shopping the next day at the Arndale centre which was just a few minutes away from the City Warehouse Apartments where we were staying...lovely apartments and we even got upgraded to the penthouse...lol... I would definitely recommend them...very cheap too...

This is us being very silly trying on the headwear in Primark...not laughed so much like that for ages...there is something magical about laughing at silly things with friends...thank you girls for a lovely few days away from home...was fab...

GEOCACHING!!!

Today we decided we would try our first geocache...I have seen quite a few people I know talking about it on Facebook and had been thinking about giving it a go but to be honest the kids behaviour lately has meant that I haven't wanted to be around them very often but today since Ellie and Libby had 'finally' tidied their rooms we decided to give it a go....

We picked a Bennachie trail and got a wee bit lost and in the end we didn't find the cache but no worries the kids weren't too disappointed and they seemed to enjoy the lovely long walk around Bennachie with no-one grumbling that they were tired or had a stitch...lol...better luck next time...

Unfortunately we had a little mishap on the way home and ended up with a puncture and I would like to thank the two guys who were in front of us and obviously saw what happened and reversed back to help...took quite a while to get the spare tyre out of it's hiding place under the car and I don't think I could have managed that myself so THANK YOU VERY MUCH from all of us...

So that's another weekend over...judo done, tea scoffed and now away to get the kids in of the trampoline for bed...'just wait for the 'another 10 minutes pleeeeease'....

Oh I almost forgot the other good news this weekend is that Strathburn P7s won the Insch Football Tournament yesterday....well done boys!!!

WELL HELLO THERE....

2011-06-07T16:39:00.007+01:00

Sorry I know I said I would be a better Blogger this month and I have failed miserably....the reason being is that I have been busy doing a few fairs and trying to keep up with all the kids activities....

Anyhoos...Allan and I managed to get a weekend away together and decided to go to Edinburgh...I love Edinburgh..it feels like my 'spiritual home' as Allan put it...must be something to do with being born there...it's my favourite city ever...

We stayed at Malmaison in Leith courtesy of Allan's work(20 year service award...I also got a gorgeous silver Links of London bracelet as he didn't want anything out of the corporate brochure!)

Enjoying dinner in the Brasserie...lovely it was too....

Being silly with the camera...Allan's atmospheric shot of the crane....

I like like this one a little better...heehee...

The castle....

The Walter Scott Monument...It's a long time since I have been to the top...I think the last time would have been with my good friend Mandy when she came to visit...eeek...THAT was a LONG time ago....I think that's the last time I was at the top of Bennachie as well...ooops...going to remedy that this summer!!!

SPORTS DAY TODAY....

My proud little Niamh with her 1st - 2nd and 3rd badges....you should have seen her do the monkey crawl...won by a mile...lol...no photos of the bigger kids yet but should have some next week once Pete emails them to me(he has a MUCH better camera than me)....

Well that's the news for now...if you want to see any crafty photos you can look here on my Facebook page...I think this is why I haven't been doing blogging lately as I seem to just be uploading to there....

Will catch up next week...am of to Manchester tomorrow to see Take That...excited.com....will be back sometime on Friday and then of to Glasgow on Saturday to watch Morgan play Celtic...so next week I should be a little quieter and will be catching up with my Father's Day orders, etc...

Have a great week everyone....xx

I KNOW....

2011-05-09T09:57:00.003+01:00

Sorry guys...I know I need to update my VERY neglected blog but sometimes the truth is I can't muster up the enthusiasm to do it....I promise I will try very hard over the next week to do it....xxx

BLOG CANDY GIVEAWAY....

2011-04-05T10:01:00.004+01:00

If you fancy some of this.....get yourself over to The Artful Splodger.....she is having a shop opening giveaway and if you don't win you could always have a wee look in her new shop...

RANDOMS....FROM SARAH'S BLOG....I LIKE IT

2011-03-29T19:41:00.006+01:00

Was just having a browse on Sarah's blog a wee minute ago and thought this was a fun one to join in with...why not give it a go yourself!!!!

LISTENING TO Take That...can't wait to see them..10 weeks tomorrow(not that I am counting or anything..lol)

EATING nothing at the moment - not had any tea yet and wondering what there is to eat

DRINKING Schweppes Russian Tonic with lime...yumm

WEARING jeans, grey t-shirt, grey boyfriend cardigan with my big thick gray cardigan over the top(just been to pick the girls up from dancing) and a pink scarf

FEELING overwhelmed by life sometimes just now (4 kids does that to you sometimes!)

WEATHER was so so today but is now raining

WANTING a holiday in the sun

NEEDING a holiday in the sun!!!

THINKING this time last year we were in Tenerife!!

ENJOYING my kids being happy doing their football, dancing, etc

WONDERING if Allan REALLY will be home tomorrow(only been home for 12 days in the last 8 weeks!)

READING The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stiegg Larsson and thoroughly enjoying it - can't wait to start the 3rd one in the trilogy

PHOTO THAT MAKES ME SMILE

So there we have it...the last two I added in.....The whole thing made me smile...Thanks Sarah...x

SHE ART WORKSHOP...

2011-03-29T17:43:00.004+01:00

Not only have I been a very bad blogger these last few weeks I have also failed miserably with She Art....and only managed one canvas so far despite the fact that I have done six backgrounds...rubbish I know....I am hoping to rectify that this next week or so....

Lots of lovely random stamping and rub-ons...

Adding lace and ribbon for the touchy feely effect...love it!!!

Now has pride of place in the archway into the kitchen....hopefully get caught up soon....

Kirsti xx

THE BUNTING...

2011-03-08T14:24:00.005Z

Got the photos just before the rain came tipping down...OMG it's bucketing now...hope it doesn't turn to SNOW!!!!

This is some more of my blanks...covered 3 with Cath Kidston notepaper and two are painted red and some lovely antique white dots added....not much else to say really as it speaks for it's self...it's now in the shop...am considering doing personalised bunting...any thoughts greatly appreciated!!!

NEW THINGS IN THE SHOP

2011-03-08T11:10:00.005Z

Some new things in the shop this week....

These two little owl cards I found in an old copy of the CARDS magazine and I thought it was cute so I did one each way...The patterned paper is a border cut using the Cricut and stretched...

Trying to use up older blanks I have in my storage boxes....these are so wee and dinky...

More using up stash....and some machine stitching...I am definitely getting better at that...

This came from an idea from RedLead(love their style)...I used the Cricut to cut the house shape from a piece of mountboard...not easy as it doesn't cut right through even with the deepcut blade(I think mine is broken tho as it kept going veering of so I changed back to the normal blade and just used a scalpel to cut through...) I had to cheat with the E as I didn't have any left so it's actually an F with the 'dot' (which is a square) from an exclamation mark and taped it on and then covered with patterned paper...There is also some more machine stitching on this one - zig-zag this time...getting braver...lol and the flower is a left over from another project...lots of upcycled pieces in here...

That's it today...Got some bunting that I need to string together and photograph but it's a little windy outside for pics so might not get that done today...I heard there is snow forecast for tomorrow so maybe not then either:0(

NEW CHALLENGE...

2011-03-04T18:31:00.005Z

So there is a new Mood Board Challenge over at Simply Create.... Here's what Jacqui has to say... So for a long time I haven't had time to play but tonight's the night, I am in the mood for a challenge so I thought maybe you would be too, so you've guessed it another £100 of goodies up for grabs and maybe some little prizes thrown in too....make something using the colours from the inspiration board below and include a flower and a button in your project somewhere. So here's another one of those gorgeous inspiration boards: All I ask is that you leave a comment, become a member of the blog and link to the challenge on your side bar. I will announce the winner on the 30th March so have fun and can't wait to see all of your gorgeous creations. So why not pop over and have a go...you have to be 'in it to win it' as they say....

SHE ART WORKSHOP...

2011-03-02T11:48:00.003Z

On Monday the She Art Workshop started and I was so excited....I hummed and haaaed about signing up as I am really bad at doing this and then not following through with them but I REALLY liked the look of this one....Christy is doing another one sometime in April so why not check it out....

Anyway we started on Monday with painting up and layering backgrounds on canvases which I am loving and suddenly seem to have got the hang of...

This one is direct to canvas using a stencil and some spray inks and a little paint and some bubble wrap and sequin waist...I also used a roller stamp over it in places...

This one is another direct to canvas using one of the kids ABC stencils and some spray ink...I toned down the green edges by rubbing some antique white paint (which was almost dry) into it and then added a mask and some pink spray ink...and down below another mask with blue and some more of the roller stamps randomly done...

This one has some old book pages, music pages, the postage sticker that came on a parcel that morning and a doilly...then some blue paint with yellow added thru sequin waste and bubble wrap with a bit of blue reverse sequin waste thrown in for good measure and some more random stamping...I love the way the whole stamp doesn't show up because canvas pushes down when you stamp being a softer surface if that makes sense???

This I think is my favourite..I scoured every charity shop in Inverurie looking for old dressmaking patterns to no avail so ended up buy one from the sewing shop...I covered pretty much the whole canvas and left all the wrinkles and then splodged green and blue paint all over, then more sequin waste and stencils...I love this one!!

This one has patterned papers and a piece of one of the girls old t-shirts on the bottom left all glued on using Mod Podge, then stencilled and stamped and I have even added some Glittered Mod Podge which you can't see in the picture but looks great IRL...(I only have a point and shoot camera and even if I did have really good one I wouldn't know how to use it...lol..)The colours are also way more vibrant IRL...I added some flowers which I just used my finger and some paint to do circles and then doodled round with a pen but I did that after taking the pics...

and last of all is this one...the patterns on here are the waste ink from the reverse of the stencils (wast not want not!!)...some of it pooled so I blew on it really hard to spread it..I like it as its wee and dinky - only 4" x 4" and the stamp in the corner is one of my all time favourites....

That's me for today, once I have cleaned the floors and had my shower (been for a 6 mile walk this morning) I was hoping to get at least one girl done but I won't have time now before school so will have to wait til after kids are in bed...

BLOG AWARDS....

2011-02-20T12:45:00.002Z

I have been a very poor blogger this week...just haven't had the inclination...but here I am on Sunday filling in a bit of time before picking Libby up from extra dance practice (Modern exam coming up) and giving them a quick lunch before dropping Ellie of for her extra dance practice...

Last week I received THREE blog awards so I thought it was about time I passed them on...

The first two were from Sonja and Erika...

So I have to tell you 8 interesting facts about myself which may be tricky as I am not sure they are that interesting...

1. I took up crafting properly just over 9 years when I found out how much wedding invitations cost and decided to do my own

2. I used to be able to sit on my hair it was so long

3. I have been with Allan for 21 years at the end of March

4. Morgan and Ellie (my first two children) have the same birthday one year apart and there is only 9 minutes between their birth times

5. I love 'proper' coffee/cappuccino/latte, etc but the smell of instant coffee makes me want to throw up

6. I did the Moon Walk 4 years ago in 6 hours and 50 minutes

7. I went to see Bryan Adams in concert when I was 7 1/2 months pregnant and was right at the front

8. I wish i had more self confidence and belief in myself...

So that's that bit done...now i have to pass it on to 7 people who inspire me...

1. Christy Thomlinson 2. Ponderings 3. Red Lead 4. Unity Stamp Co 5. Paper Turtle 6. LilyBean's Paperie 7. ReVamp

I know most of these are commercial blogs but the do inspire me and that's what the award is all about...

The next one I received was from Susan...

and I am passing this one onto.....

Sonja...we have very similar taste in craft although there is a lot that I like but she doesn't and vice versa

Kath...I love her very inspired cards

Anne...her sewing skills are fabulous

Judy...her cards never cease to amaze me and for some reason we have this uncanny knack of coming up with the same ideas at the same time

Darcy...I like the fact she has her own style and isn't afraid to use it..Pencils through her ear springs to mind...lol

Kate...I wish I could lay down colour as good as she can...

So that's it for now...I do have some crafty stuff to show but not done photos yet as the light has been so poor these last few days (what am I talking about it's been the last few months!!!)...it has been constantly pouring with rain and dull and overcast...

Thank you to all the ladies who left me these awards....xxx

VINTAGE STYLE SEWING NOTEPAD

2011-02-11T16:18:00.004Z

A little altered shoppers notepad...I love taking these really cheap little boring notepads and making them into something a little bit special... The papers are by....I can't remember...but are the same ones I used to make my paper wreath which must have been pre-blogging days as I this is the only reference I can find to it!!! Think they might be Kay and Co (double sided)... The dressmakers form and sentiments are Hero Arts...

the seam bind is from Prairie Bird Boutique...I have just ordered the Marie Antoinette and the Victorian Beauty bundles as it's so lush...

I ventured into stitching it all together and am quite pleased with how it turned out...I can see the sewing machine being used a lot more in the future...anyway I have just added this to my Etsy shop...

Thanks for looking...
Kirsti xx

SIMPLY CREATE CHALLENGE...

2011-02-10T10:03:00.004Z

If you hop on over to Simply Create you will notice that they have a fab challenge going on at the moment with 100 pounds of stash up for grabs...and if you hurry you still have time to enter...closing date is 14th February...

This is my entry...
I used an SVG template from Dan99 for the Cricut and cut out this gorgeous wee house...it is actually a Christmas house in his description but I have made it a lovely Spring house for my project....

I used some cardstock from a pad by We R Memory Keepers that I picked up in TK MAXX last weekend for about 7 pounds...there are some gorgeous colours in it and it has a white core so is ideal for distressing...

I overstamped the house shape with the Tim Holtz brick stamp and then punched out some mini flowers and drew on the stems...

The roof is actually a piece of the blue cardstock but I coloured it with brown ink and then ran through the Big Shot with the woodgrain texture plate(borrowed from Sonja) and the eaves are made using the Scallop punch from Stampin' Up...

The butterfly is one I had left over from a couple of cards I made last week...It is a digi one from Hero Arts that I have had my eye on in the 'real life' set but wasn't so keen on the rest of the pack so bought this one instead...

Thanks for looking....

Kirsti xx

BIRTHDAY INVITATIONS...

2011-02-06T12:12:00.003Z

The other week my friend Gaynor asked me if I would do some invitations for Layton's 5th birthday using the photographs from the Christmas cards she had left over...

She wanted them done on the same card as I had used for Niamh's birthday invites last year but I didn't have any left so I dug into my precious Stampin' Up 12"x12" Kraft card that I have been stroking for about 8 months now...I was really annoyed with myself tho as I wasted about 4 or 5 sheets between a cutting error and my printer not playing nicely...was really not a happy bunny as I hate waste!!!

Anyway this is what I came up with and Gaynor was so pleased with them...I started by printing the wording out(very stressful!) and then I cropped the photo from the old Christmas cards and used an EK Success punch to edge the bottom of them. I rounded all the corners and used the Tim Holtz splatter type stamp round then edges in Chocolate Chip by Stampin' Up and then stuck the photo on...I was really pleased how they turned out(I have deleted the date and contact details for obvious reasons!)...

I am getting quite a few orders through word of mouth at the moment so I am pondering whether having the Etsy shop is a good idea just now...I keep adding bits and pieces but not really selling anything...I have also been considering changing to Folksy since it is a British forum and I do think people are put of with Etsy being in $s even tho you can view in your own currency...What do you think? Does it put you of buying?

That's all for today...
Kirsti xxx

SIMPLY CREATE CHALLENGE...

2011-02-03T09:50:00.002Z

Just a quick reminder to get yourself over to Simply Create to check out the challenge...100 pound voucher up for grabs...so why not have a go...

Sorry not been around for a while - had a really busy weekend and ALL my kids have had the sickness bug since Sunday so I have been cleaning up and tending sick kids all week...hopefully the last one will be back to school tomorrow so normal service can resume!!!

SHOP STUFF...

2011-01-27T16:20:00.008Z

Hello...today for want of anything else to show and since it seems to be all I am doing just now I thought I would show you some of the bits I have in my Etsy shop...and some of the custom cards I have made...I thought these were quite cute as they are so wee and dinky and I love that Unity sunflower...

And this one is part of my determination to use up the mountain of patterned papers I own so watch this space for more... Stampin' Up papers and bird stamp with a Unity sentiment...

This was one that was asked for by a friend...it's such a cute little stamp by Unity...I stamped directly onto the kraft card and then again onto patterned paper and cut out the house and trees and then added a beautiful button to the sun...

These ones I have on sale as singles and a pack of 3...I used more Unity for these...The tree is stamped with Stampin' Up's Old Olive and Close to Cocoa and then I stamped the tree part again and cut out the biggest butterfly which I then layer on top...

I think all the sentiments are Unity ones...

These cute little butterflies embellishments are made using the Cricut with an SVG from Dan99..I double layered cardstock and patterned papers and added some bling!!

As you can see I have had to take all my photos outside as the light has been so poor inside and that is a feat in itself what with the rain and the wind...

I have some birthday invitations that I have done for a friend but they will have to keep til they have been handed out...x

PS Forgot to say I have been appointed the Design Team Coordinator on the Simply Create blog...so get yourselves over there and see what we have been up to...hoping to have daily updates with little 'recipes' thrown in on how to make the gorgeous creations the team are coming up with and when the shop website is up and running(which hopefully won't be too long!) there will be links to all the products being used...exciting times ahead...Don't forget to scroll down the page for the latest post as the first one is a sticky...xxx

HERO ARTS AND SIMPLY CREATE SHOP RELAUNCH...

2011-01-24T22:43:00.004Z

So Saturday saw me, Sonja and Judy meeting up for lunch at the Bistro in Alford - if you haven't tried it...WHY NOT???? Gorgeous food and very reasonably priced... we all opted for the steak pie, chips, peas and gravy....mmmhh and pudding to finish - the sticky toffee pudding was fab!!! Afterwards it was a mooch across the road to Simply Create who were having a Hero Arts demo day and a relaunch of the new shop...and how fab it is...lots of lovely space with shelves full of lush products...what more could a crafty girl ask for...lol.... And here she is the Hero Arts Tart (as she has taken to calling herself!), Kath in full flow - although I have to say we didn't get near enough to see what she was actually up to due to the crowd that was surrounding here for most of the afternoon so we settled with browsing the shelves and sitting relaxing on the sofa with a cuppa....

Some of Kath's gorgeous creations....

A nice close up (well as close as I could get without having an elbow poked in my ribs!!!)

and another couple of lovlies...

I do love a nice relaxing Saturday afternoon with great friends...makes a change from running around after the kids for football and dancing...here's to the next lunch girls...:0)

ALMOST FORGOT...

2011-01-18T09:52:00.012Z

There is a new challenge up over at Simply Create...Pop over and check it out...

Using the inspiration board make something with paper or fabric reflecting the colours and what this board suggests to you. (I found this on a blog, who knows where all I can tell you it was a gorgeous blog and it was a wedding blog - and no I am already married so nothing to report). The best entry will be judged by my Mum and will win £100 of stash and this challenge is open to everyone, design team and staff. All I ask is that leave a comment, become a member of the blog and link to the challenge on your side bar. Happy Crafting!!!

Closing date 14th February 9 am GMT.

Have fun:0)

Also it you pop over to my Etsy Shop I have some new clean and simple (took me and Sonja ages to work out what everyone was going on about with CAS...haha) cards in...the shop isn't going as well as I would have liked by now but I am persevering and I have sold a few things by word of mouth through my Facebook Page so hopefully things will pick up...It would be great if you popped over and became a liker and then you can be kept up to date with what is going on in the shop as I often post things on here first so bypassing Etsy if you don't want to join...I also have a couple of dates for fairs booked - one in April and my first Christmas one so if you have any coming up and are looking for stallholders please do get in touch...my friend Emma from Wee Tooties is also available for fairs if you would like to get in touch with her...

That's it from me today...must go and clean the kitchen floor before going down to school to help out P1s with computers!!!...Toodleloo for noo...xx

PARIS MINIBOOK AND SUITCASE...

2011-01-11T22:22:00.013Z

This is my creations from this month's DT kit...Sonja got hers the day before me and as soon as she showed me it I knew I was going to do a Paris minibook and I still had the mini suitcase from the last kit so thot it would make a great little set... The papers are Glitz by Scarlet Lime and all available from Simply Create....

I painted the suitcase with black acrylic paint and then covered it (apart from the straps) with the Paris map paper which is gorgeous! I then made lots of little flowers from punches and spiral rolls...The Tim Holtz tickets are scrumpled, inked and covered with crackle accents...I wrapped the handle with the orange thread that came in the kit...took ages getting it lined up and then used some gold buff and rub that I found in Jacqui's shed at the Save the Children event she had last year - looks fab...I also did the whole of the inside of the suitcase with this...

I decided on a tag book for the inside and since I bought SCAL the other week I have been having much fun cutting out all manner of shaped...I cut one size for the background from the black cardstock and added some green too and then I cut a slightly smaller size out for the top layer...There are so many photographs I had to collage them in Picasa... Basically the book is about a trip to Paris that Allan and I went on in February 2008...I actually won it!! I was feeling sorry for myself one Saturday night and went to bed early with a Magnum Ice Lolly and my book...there was a code on the stick which you had to text in and since it was only 25p I thot I would have a go (you have to be in it to win it as they say) so imagine my surprise when I had a text back immediately saying I had won....Was so excited...I texted Allan (even tho he was downstairs) and I don't think he quite believed me til I had the email confirming I had won a weekend to either Paris, Barcelona, Reykjavik, Cannes or Rome...we chose Paris as we were allowed to fly from Aberdeen!! It also included all transport, hotel and 250.00 spending money!!!

Unfortunately I lost a lot of photos when my PC crashed and these were some of the best ones that were recovered but I really like my wee memento of this weekend and would love to go again...

Hero Arts Launch Party & Simply Create Official Relaunch

Come along to Simply Create in its new home 59 Main Street, Alford on the 22nd of January between 10:30 am and 3:30 pm for a fun filled day with Kath Stewart in the "Create Station" demoing our beloved Hero Arts stamps and have a play yourself with some of the new stamps from the 2011 catalogue.

And as if that wasn't enough receive 10% discount off ALL Hero Arts stamps purchased and ordered on the day.

Go on, you know you want to...(I really have to stop saying that...haha!)...it promises to be a fun packed day with Kath as she is such a laugh and such a talented lady!!!

I for one am hoping that Morgan's football matches don't start back for a few weeks yet... with him playing on a Saturday now it really scuppers my crafty weekend plans...lol...xxx

A-Z TAG CHALLENGE...

2011-01-09T16:10:00.004Z

I am doing the A-Z Photography Challenge over on UKS this year as well as Kate's Calendar Challenge(which I haven't started yet...ooops!!) and thought it might be fun to start a tag challenge based on the A-Z theme since it seems quite popular this year....so starting this week I will do a tag beginning with the letter 'A' and fortnightly there after...

The theme is 'YOU'...anything that is topical to you and yours...Sonja has said she will join me as well...so that's two of us...feel free to join in and if enough do I will (try to) add the Mister Linky thing so you can see what everyone else is up to!!! It can be in any style and any size you feel comfortable with...It's up to you - it's your tag!!! xxx

Edited....was thinking the 15th and the 30th of each month as the dates for for the tags!!!

WOYWW...5th January 2011

2011-01-05T09:47:00.009Z

It's that day of the week again....Hop on over to Julia at Stamping Ground to see what it's all about and catch up and have a nosy at some desks from around the world!!!

This week on my desk is my DT project that I am working on for Simply Create - gorgeous Scarlett papers by Glitz are the order of the day there...I love them...will show you the rest of the project when I have finished and uploaded to our DT blog!

I am also working on one of those brown cardboard/paper mache boxes that you get from Hobbycraft...I thought the style of the canvas I did in a previous post would look great on the lid of one of these boxes...I downloaded some images from a gorgeous shop I found on Etsy called Cemerony...go check her out - she has some beautiful images and is lovely to deal with too...can't ask for more than that...

So that's it from me today. The kids are of back to school and I have the house to tidy and then the shopping to do before going to watch Niamh perform her Nativity that was postponed due to the horrendous weather before the holidays!! Let's hope they still remember their lines..heehee....xx

GIVEAWAY TIME....

2011-01-02T18:00:00.005Z

Well not me(yet) but it is one of my very good friends who is having a blog giveaway when she reaches 100 followers so get yourself over here to Daisy Daydreams and have a wee peek...she also has a beautiful Etsy shop...

I met Mandy on holiday in Ibiza when Allan and I were about 22/23 and we have been firm friends ever since...don't see so much of her as she lives in Yorkshire and we live in the NE of Scotland...met up in the summer last year and it's like we had never been apart...we talked and talked and talked...lol...love her to bits!!!

She has also promised lots of exciting plans for 2011 with a new Etsy shop...check her out, you won't regret it!!

MY YEAR IN 365 CALENDAR PAGES

2010-12-31T13:22:00.008Z

A quick run down of all my 365 Calendar Challenge pages for 2010...I am so chuffed with myself for completing this project and well done to everyone else who finished it...I think my favourite one is September as I tried to copy how my blog looks....I have loved every minute of it.....So, who is doing it all over again next year????

We are having Allan's sisters and the kids round for a meal and then probably (quite a few) drinks afterwards - what are you up to??....

All that's left now in the final hours of 2010 is to wish all my friends, family and followers a very HAPPY NEW YEAR AND ALL THE BEST FOR 2011.....

A LITTLE CYBER CHAT AND A CANVAS...

2010-12-19T11:16:00.008Z

A couple of weeks ago Darcy asked me if I fancied joining in with her and a couple of friends for a little Cyber PJ Party....sounded like a great idea...so I thought while I was chatting I would make something as well and this tutorial popped into my inbox the other day from Scarlett Lime....I didn't follow the tutorial exactly, in fact I veered quite a bit off-course...Darcy's friend Rosie joined us and so did Sonja...Wine and chocolate mandatory...lol..we had a great chat about all sorts of stuff and had quite a few laughs as well...I had a great evening...thanks girls... I am really rubbish at remembering to take stage photos when I am making projects so this is the only one there is...for full instructions see the tutorial...I decided that I didn't want to do a Christmas Tree as I wanted to keep mine up all year round so I opted for a house theme...First of all I stuck down various papers with gel medium and then I used a couple of Tim Holtz masks(btw, does anyone know how to clean the back of these so they are sticky again...one of mine is all gunked up) and sprayed with Dylusions Sky Blue ink...I then used some white paint with my brayer and rolled it up from the bottom...I don't think the ink was quite dry tho as it smeared a little but I did like the effect this created...

Sorry that's where the stage photos stop...lol... I enlarged a couple of Dyan's Downloads house shapes and a few of the other little doodles that were round them..stuck them all on and then started adding rub-ons(I don't have many rub-ons that are not alphabets but I found these hearts and lines of squares which I thot were quite sweet...I also have a sheet of 'fuzzy' white ones which I think are fab...these were used on both of the roofs...

I printed out 'HOME IS THE PLACE TO BE..." using my dymo label maker...

I also stamped this little Glitz bird(from my Simply Create DT stash) onto tissue paper and adhered it so it goes of the from and down the sides of the canvas...I love this technique as it means you can 'stamp' anywhere...

I finished of with a line of glitter down the edges of the roofs but unfortunately you can't see this in the photo...I am very pleased with the end result and maybe I should drink a bottle of wine everytime I craft...lol..

DECEMBER 365 CALENDAR...YES YOU DID READ THAT RIGHT...

2010-12-02T16:46:00.005Z

Well who would have thought after just finishing November I would have had December all ready and waiting...but shock - horror - gasp - here they are!!! It's the last month of this fabulous challeng wich was started by Kate over at the Kathryn Wheel...why not start your own one since the New Year is just around the corner...it was great fun... These are quite straightforward pages this month - scraped on some Holly Berry acrylic paint and then scraped some gold over the white spaces that were left...I then used a piece of non-stick cooking mesh that I picked up in Poundland for...well a pound and sprayed though with some Pomegranit Dylusion Ink...gives a fab effect don't you think!!!

I had in my head that I wanted to use Christmas baubles for my days when I remembered I had a pack of Christmas Blonde Moments papers lurking in my paper store so I cut them out and arranged on the page (they are a little small so in hindsight I should have maybe scanned them and enlarged them)...I used another Blonde Moments sheet and cut out the santa, reindeer, snowman, trees and Christmas pud and edged them all with gold embossing...I think I am in need of a new Versamark pen and a new Stazon pad as both seem a little dry... The rosette in the corner was done using my new Hougie Board which is great for this...I was going to buy the Tim Holtz Rosette die but then I seen a YouTube video using the board and I thought that would be better as you could make different sized ones rather than just the one size from the die...it can also be used for loads of other things to so all in all I think it was a slightly better buy...

I stamped the numbers using Autumn Leaves Messy Dates and the words using MSE Multi Retro...

All done and ready to start next year!!!

WOYWW...1st DECEMBER 2010

2010-12-01T13:32:00.006Z

Well folks here we are at Wednesday again...it's been a b****y awful week weather wise here in the NE of Scotland and I think pretty much the whole of the UK has the dreaded white stuff to some degree...I have just been out and measured in the back garden and its up to 18"..WOW!!! (see my post of a couple days ago for piccies but it's much worse now, our kids have been of school since Friday and it's not looking good for going back tomorrow as it's been snowing quite heavily today on and of)... Anyway onto WOYWW...the little stars and gingerbread people are for a new friend Emma...go across and visit her wee_tootie shop selling allsorts of gorgeous hair accessories for your little ones and big ones alike!!! I also have some gold embossing powder and my heat gun out as I am working on my December pages for the 365 Calendar Challenge...It has been a great experience doing this and I fully 'intend' going on with it next year if anyone fancies joining me...

These are the pages on this desk - a work in progress - I am hoping to have these finished by the end of the day(hopefully!)...that's all from my desk today but why not pop over to Julia's blog and catch up with everyone elses...xxx

NOVEMBER 365 (and on time too!!)...

2010-11-30T15:37:00.009Z

This must be some kind of record on my part...lol...finished this month on time... I think there is about 5 layers of paint on here in my quest for the perfect colour of icy blue...wasn't happy with it but in the end but after scraping on some white paint with an old credit card it looked better...I then had the idea that I wanted to do sequin waste squares for my days but after cutting out a stencil from the Cricut and overlapping it with the sequin waste and daubing all over with my splodging tool and some distress ink this didn't pan out the way I had hoped so instead I cut out squares from a huge sheet of white tissue using my paper cutter (very slow and tedious) and glued them on instead and then I 'stitched' round them with a black pen...you can just still see the inked dots thru the tissue paper...

I added lost of swirls round the edge with Versamark at the top of both pages and embossed them with Kaleidoscope embossing powder but this didn't show up too well with the Versamark..

I used a Tim Holtz stamp on the inside edges and embossed in white and I also stamped and embossed various snowflakes in the same way...

November is stamped using black Stazon and the same kaleidoscope embossing powder and this shows up much more sparkly than with the versamark...I think I may need to get a re-inker for my stazon tho as the powder didn't sick very well to some parts...I borrowed these stamps from Sonja who got them when she visited NYC recently (lucky moo!!!) and I just love them..have been on ebay hoping to get myself some but to no avail...will have to keep looking...

This is a better view of the versamark/kaleidoscope stamping and embossing....as you can see from my squares the children have been very busy this month and I have been very busy running them around...lol...that's November finished then..have started prepping December pages and the question is will I finish them in time for tomorrow...Can't believe there is only one month left of this wonderful year long challenge by Kate over at The Kathryn Wheel...wonder who will carry it on into next year???

SNOW DAYS....

2010-11-26T12:32:00.005Z

Well it had to come sometime right???...couldn't it have held of another couple of weeks???...just wondering how long it will last???... This is the view from Niamh's bedroom window at 9.42am and there has been a lot more snow since then...

This is our cars in the drive...at the beginning of the year when we had snow for almost 5 weeks one of them didn't even move out of the drive and we were about 3 weeks late in getting it MOTd...
These are the peaks on the conservatory roof at 10.20am...

and these are them at 11.36am...so quite a bit of snow has fallen this morning...

Allan should be on his way back with the kids from school now (they will be delighted - they can go outside and have snow fights til they are so cold they will be coming in begging for hot chocolate!!) as it closed at 12.30pm today...at the moment in Aberdeenshire we have 107 school closures and dancing this afternoon is cancelled as is Morgan's football match tomorrow...The Fyvie School Christmas Fair is also cancelled but she has said that she is going to re-organise it as a Spring Fair so watch this space for further details...so wherever you are in the country I hope you are keeping warm and snug indoors..take care...xxx

WOYWW.....

2010-11-24T13:57:00.005Z

It's Wednesday again...yayyy...but I do not have anything crafty to show this week...think I am still burnt out from last week's last minute craft fair frenzy....all that is on my desk this week is a few buckshee practice tags, a clear stamp on an block that I have not put away and a pile of notes from school, Brownies and Rainbows that need my attention....Oh there is also another paper wreath like last weeks but using my leftovers from last month's Simply Create DT stash....

Not very impressive I know but what's a girl to do....lol...if you are wondering what the heck I am blethering on about have a jump over to Julia's blog Stamping Ground to find out and have a nosy at desks from around the world....

I have got a couple of sheets of Unity KOTMs to file away in my system of laminated sheets but it is quite time consuming and also quite tricky trying to fit the whole sheet onto an A4 piece of cardstock....So that's it from my desk this Wednesday...hopefully it will be more exciting next week...see ya...xxx

CRAFT FAIRS...

2010-11-22T11:24:00.004Z

Saturday was the Kintore Primary School Christmas Fair....Susan came along and helped me on the day...On the whole it wasn't too bad and although sales did get of to a slow start they did pick up and I was quite pleased with how much I sold on the day...

I was quite surprised at what sold and what didn't...I sold all of these tag garlands which although simple and effective take quite a lot of time to make...

I sold most of the plaques and hearts that I had but only a few tag sets and none of the mini cards... I did meet the lovely Emma and her Wee Tooties and she gave me some tips on selling on Facebook and have now added a StorminavintageTcup page to my personal page and I will be adding events and updates regularly (I hope!)...

So it will be onto the next one on Saturday which is at Fyvie Primary School from 1-4pm...why not pop along and say hello!!!Tomorrow night if you have nothing planned why not come over to Simply Create in Alford and have a go at making this stunning wreath which I am teaching...very simple and not at all complicated...If you would like give it a whirl please call Jacqui or Anne at Simply Create on 01975564010 to book your place...xx

ANOTHER POST - LIBBY'S BIRTHDAY (JUST FOR MANDY!!)...

2010-11-17T10:37:00.003Z

Last Thursday (11th November) it was Libby's birthday...now Libby being Libby couldn't decide what she wanted til the last minute so she still hasn't got her main present of a bike which is sitting at Tesco waiting to be collected and I can't go for it as I have to wait in today (between the hours of 8am and 6pm, don't these delivery people know we have lives to lead!!!) for some new furniture for her bedroom to be delivered.... Here she is first thing in the morning...
her new watch...

a little birthday treat for breakfast...

her birthday cake (excuse the mess of the tablecloth, they had tacos for dinner!)...

blowing out the candles...

On Saturday I took some of her friends to Simply Create in Alford for a crafting birthday party, would thoroughly recommend this as they had great fun and all came home with the book they had produced...

Here is Jacqui in action showing them how to peel the back of double-sided sticky tape...

Another birthday cake...

and last but not least the gorgeous (huge) scrapbooking kit she got from her friends Dasha and Alina...she got lots of lovely stuff from all her friends but I think this was her favourite...and no doubt I will the queen of double-sided sticky tape soon...lol...xxx

WOYWW.....

2010-11-17T10:10:00.003Z

What's this all about I hear you ask...pop over here to the Stamping Ground and find out....

I have been following other bloggers that I know doing this for a while now so thought I would join in this week....I have been working on this wreath since last night following a tutorial from The Little Blue House...I made it bigger than they suggested making each of my squares (cones) 10cm and I am not sure if you notice the compass on the bottom right...my Cricut is playing up and not cutting true shapes so went back to the old fashioned method for this...although the snowflake seemed to be okay shape wise so maybe it's sorted itself...

I also have a couple of pages laid aside for November's 365 Calendar Challenge which I hope to get started this week...and a music tuition form that I need to fill in for Libby now she has taken up the violin at school....

Swing round to my other desk and there is my Cricut, my box of glitters and some tags in the corner waiting to be buttoned and ribboned for my Etsy Shop...there is also a home magazine open at a page with some gorgeous wallpaper that I am coveting for the living room...that's me for today...thanks for looking....xx

OCTOBER CALENDAR PAGES (AT LAST!!!)...

2010-11-16T17:01:00.005Z

Well here we are more than half way through November and I am just finishing my October 365 Calendar pages...check out the challenge over here on Kate's blog.....can't believe there are only 2 months left...wonder how many from the original list are still keeping up and will finish at the end of the year!!! I started out with them at the 'beginning' of October (honest!) but I just couldn't get into the groove with them....I have re-painted and re-inked these so many times that I just ended up going for what was on the page yesterday after Sonja beat me to posting hers!!! I tried to use stencils and masks but nothing seemed to work...I splatted and sprayed with Dyan's new Dylusions Inks....

I cut and distressed the little squares and then skooshed with some ink (orange hands to contrast with the green that was still there from Sunday's outing to Simply Create, but that's another story!) and then used all the Halloween stamps I had and stamped each one with an image in Spiced Marmalade distress ink....

This is what it looks like before writing and the images show up really well....

The images are from Lisa's Altered Art which were downloaded last year, some of which I added crackle accents to (I am really liking this at the moment)...

The little witch is also from Lisa's Altered Images but I thought she looked a little lost sitting in mid air and then I remembered Judy had used Tim Holtz's wall stamp on one of her her cards the other week which works a treat-it's amazing what you have that you forget about til someone else uses it!!!....the bird frame is a Unity and I did the date with the Dymo label maker....Not my favourite one but still quite please with how it turned out...

Now I wonder if I have time to start November's pages or should I just get going with some more stuff for the craft fair at the weekend....Kintore Primary School, Kintore - 10-12.30pm...come along if you live in the area...it promises to be a busy event!!!!

NEW STOCK

2010-11-09T12:46:00.004Z

I have come to the conclusion that if I tidy up my desks every time I finish a project and don't have 2 or 3 different projects on my desk at the same time I am far more productive.... I did these tags yesterday for the craft fairs coming up...I should really put them in the Etsy store but have become a little discouraged as nothing is selling!!! Not sure what the answer is...

And today I made these mini cards using ancient Hero Arts Graphic Lines Trees and my new Inktense watercolour pencils which I love...they are so nice to use...Am also loving my Dreamkutz and my Stamp-a-ma-jig!!! Only problem I had was once I had finished the cards didn't fit in the envelopes...I assumed the little kraft ones were for the half A4/halved again size cards but no, I had to then go back and trim each one to fit the envelope so all that time I save using the Dreamkutz to cut the card was wasted...lol...

I tied each little bundle with some gold ribbon (which I seem to have a 50metre roll of for some reason!) rather than put them in cello bags as I thought it was prettier!

That's it for me today - am now of to help set up the book fair at school ready for the kids tomorrow...then it's dancing and shopping and more dancing and tea....enjoy the rest of your day whatever you are up to!!!

THE SIMPLE WOMAN'S DAYBOOK...

2010-10-30T16:38:00.005+01:00

Just been over to Gez's blog and she has entered into The Simple Woman's Daybook so I thot for want of anything else to blog I would join in (I have too much to do and not enough time to do it...lol...need to get of here and get on with it!!!)... The byline is

"Would you like to linger on the simple things...then join me and many others in taking a little look into the day plans and thoughts of those who are focusing on simplicity...beauty of the everyday moments. "

FOR TODAY

Outside my window...it is a nice crisp, sunny autumn day although there is a slight chill in the air

I am thinking...will Morgan be happy at Aberdeen Football Club after finally signing on the dotted line for them today!!

I am thankful for...my four beautiful, healthy children, love them to bits even tho they drive me up the wall

From the kitchen...lots of Jamie Oliver this last couple of weeks...Jools Pregnant Pasta, Chicken Pie, Chicken Tray Bake...yummmmm!!!

I am wearing...warm cosy clothes after being at Morgan's football match today

I am creating...Libby's birthday invitations(craft party at Simply Create), Dina's 103 Art Journal (well technically I haven't actually started yet!), Willowing and DT stuff for Simply Create...Oh and also stuff for the craft fairs that I have coming up (wasn't going to be doing any this year but friends twisted my arm to do theirs!)

I am going...to see Take That in concert (again) next year with one of my bestest/oldest friends Liz and her mum (who is 70) and her sister...can't wait!!

I am reading... the Harry Potter Series (again!) - 7th time round for me Gez...lol and yes I am in the Biff and Chip series for the fourth time too...

I am hoping...that my children at least try to behave this week

I am hearing...football commentary - well it is Saturday afternoon

Around the house...there is too much needing done

One of my favorite things...is my new Dylusions Ink Set by Dy at Art From The Heart

A few plans for the rest of the week...to get some of the craft commitments out the way...get my bedroom sorted out for decorating...go to Kath's class over at Simply Create

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...
So that's it for me for today - hopefully be back next week with some more crafty stuffy...take care and have a great week....xxx

BUSY BUT NOT A LOT TO SHOW...(AGAIN)...

2010-10-25T10:12:00.005+01:00

Well hello there...not been around much on the creative front lately...it's been the tattie holidays for the last two weeks here in Scotland so been busy doing bits and pieces with the kids...

Went up to Lossiemouth for 5 days to the caravan at the end of the first week beginning of the second...the weather was actually not too bad...was down on the beach most days (wrapped up)...the first day the kids decided they were paddling - it must have been freezing...they were soaked....

This was a gorgeous full rainbow that appeared during the rain when we were down one day (not got the best camera in the world so pics are pretty rubbish!)...the girls thought the end was down on the beach so this is them trying to find it!!!

Allan took Morgan back to Aberdeen for his football match on the Saturday and we went down to the beach again and the girls found loads of shells and stones which are now sitting in a plastic bag at my front door...Haven't been up there since last summer and I forgot how much we love it...

This is a card that I made 3 of to send out to some friends whose birthdays are past but I forgot to post...ooops!!!

And last but not least this is a wee sneak peek of one of my DT projects for Simply Create for this month...keep your eyes peeled for more to come!!! Jacqui is away at the moment but I am sure she will be uploading all my teamies stuff to the blog very soon...

Right I'm of...got two hamster cages to clean out and a bedroom to gut...oh and also have some Christmas cards to design for a local magician...not sure how that will turn out!!!

SEPTEMBER CALENDAR PAGES...AT LAST...

2010-10-11T13:57:00.005+01:00

Just a quick update on my September 2010 Calendar 365 Challenge over on Kate's blog...Hope everyone is managing to keep up - I am really enjoying it...only 3 months to go!!! Will definitely be carrying this on to next year...Will you? I used various gray paints to colour the background and then stamped with Unity Umbrellas and Raindrops (which the eagle eyed among you may notice are falling upside down!!)...The flowers and journal stamp are also from Unity as is the umbrella girl which were borrowed from Sonja... I went through all the raindrops with glossy accents to make them glisten like real rain which I don't think you can see from the photos...but I know it's there!!!

As you can see I didn't have a very exciting September but that's how some months go isn't it???

I love this little umbrella girl - the red dotty paper on her umbrella was also from Sonja....

PS - I was trying to make it like my blog background...cos Ithink it was a particularly rainy September (here anyway!!)..

DT PROJECTS AND CHICKEN PIE...

2010-10-07T13:50:00.006+01:00

Bet you thought I had forgotten all about these?!?...well not exactly..don't know what the matter is with me just now - just not been in the mood for crafting at all the last couple of weeks (did get some more stuff done for the table on Saturday but that's been about it!)... These are the bits I have done so far and I am in the middle of another project and have something in mind for the left overs...I have to say I struggled with this snowman stamp as he is just too cute and I don't really do cute but he looks kinda nice all grunged up!!!

It is also so long since I have really done any cards that I just thought simple would be better...

I printed of a 5"x5"ish photo which I altered with the time machine feature in my photo editing, I then distressed it er....slightly, well I couldn't not...lol...wrapped some twin around it and added a button. I cut a piece of the Merry Christmas paper from Echo Park and then er.....distressed the edges with my wee sharp Timmie tool and a Stampin Up border punch...

I used a cranberry paint dabber to er...distress the edges of the kraft cardstock and added the patterned paper and photo....Cut out the @ using the Cricut and it's actually had about 5 different effects on it and guess what? I ended up back at the original...always the way isn't it... For the Christmas Time I cut this out using the Cricut but had a brainwave before using the cut out letters and decided to use it as a stencil instead with a lettuce paint dabber...I like this very much, finished of with some bobble ribbon and buttons with twine (Kath's influence at work there). Will try and get the rest finished by this weekend and will also try to keep up in future!!! But in the meantime why not pop over to Simply Create and see what the rest of my teamies have been up to (much more productive than me!!) or better still why not pop over to Alford and take a look IRL....

Mmmmh Jamie Oliver Chicken Pie was definitely much better tasting than his Wonky Summer Pasta which was a disaster but to be fair I was trying to sort something important out on the phone at the same time as cooking...not a good idea!!!

THIS AND THAT...

2010-10-06T21:47:00.002+01:00

Ok Blogger is doing it backwards tonight, have more photos to upload but it won't let me..... These are some shots from the Scouts Ladies Night that I attended with my stuff on Saturday night...Elaine was there as well and I thought I had taken a photograph of her but obviously not...mind you Kerry and I did drink quite a bit of wine (thank you for the lift home Elaine) there and then came back to mine watched X-Factor and drank another bottle!!!

This is Trish who organised the whole thing - well done...I think it was a success!!!

This is Shona and Kerry...

Onto my previous night out...It was my sister-in-law Jen's 40th birthday on Monday and Pete really went to town...he hired a stretch Hummer which was fabulous and after a pose round Inverurie we were driven in style into Aberdeen to Malmaison for a gorgeous meal...the only downside was that Allan was in Ireland and couldn't make it...but hey there is always our 10th wedding anniversary in 2012 honey!!!

The Girls

The Hummer

The Girls in the Hummer

Jen and Pete

Me and my niece Kelly

Not sure why the first pics are so small but Pete emailed them to me and I can't get them any bigger....

Not sure I can be bothered fighting with Blogger anymore so I will do the other photos tomorrow!!!

GOOD DAY...BAD DAY...

2010-09-22T21:19:00.007+01:00

Today has been a good day and a bad day... Good because I finally sat down and figured out how to use my Bind-It-All and came up with these little beauties...

They are notepads based on the cards that I did earlier in the week and are filled with lots of lovely kraft paper to jot down all your little notes and random thoughts (or maybe that's just me!!!) that pop into your head from time to time...I was really pleased with how they turned out and they are now in my etsy shop (or at least one of them is at the mo...spent quite a bit of time today sorting out shipping profiles and trying to track down one of those fancy measuring thingies that the Post Office uses for calculating how much postage you need to pay!!!). These are my first and third attempts at using the Bind-It-All - not bad I thought - I only ruined two pieces of wire...lol... I have also finally started on my Simply Create Design Team stuff after much pondering, ideas being jotted down (not in my posh new notepads tho - only made them today!!)...I have been too busy shaking with nerves at the thought of teaching my first class over at Simply Create tomorrow night - I have to say I am 'bricking' it (Jacqui...lol..)...I am sure it will be fine once I get started but if I don't get asked back again you will know it all went pear shaped!!!

Bad day - my kids have been a total nightmare since picking them up from school...Aberdeen football training at Garthdee tonight - Asda shop I think - NO....thinks Ellie - she was a total pain and wouldn't go in the shop so it put me in a really bad mood - Niamh was howling for about 1 1/2 hours and I had said they could have McDonalds for tea after training but that didn't happen as I was totally stressed from all the crying and moaning so it was home for a quick tea and straight to bed!!!! Let's hope they all wake up in a better mood tomorrow.... Aunty Audrey is doing the football run and tea as I have my class...Good luck with that...they will probably be on their best behaviour for her...

Right of to bed now as I want to feel refreshed in the morning as I am getting my hair done 1st thing as horse riding is cancelled this week, then I will have to go get some shopping since we didn't get any tonight....x

MORE SHOP STUFF...

2010-09-20T21:26:00.004+01:00

This is the latest addition to my wee shop...got something else in mind using the same design that I have been mulling over for a couple of days...watch this space.... Not much else to report...Allan's sister came home from Kuala Lumpa (sp?) this weekend for a couple of weeks - had a family dinner last night with his family and all the kids were very well behaved (including Kelly...lol...). Got a busy week running in and out to Aberdeen with Morgan for his football (they won 16-0 on Saturday...yayyy) as Allan is away and the boy whose mum usually takes him on a Tuesday and Wednesday is away on his P7 trip this week so it's a bit of a scutter but it has to be done and I will cope!!!

JUDY'S CLASS AND SONJA'S BIRTHDAY...

2010-09-19T15:05:00.005+01:00

Yesterday afternoon was spent over at Simply Create doing a class with the very talented Judy...It was Sonja's birthday and the class was my treat to her...

These are the two cards that we made...not sure but I think I did better with the Scooter Boy...I think this is definitely something that with practice, practice, practice you could get much better at but the pencils are quite expensive and I am not sure I am willing to fork out for them for something that doesn't come easy to me....

This is the card I made for Sonja which was inspired by one of Elaine's samples that I seen at the SU party I was at the other week...The trees are from my Unity KOTM...I cut the hills from the Cricut and the lace is stripped from the matchbox I received in the swap a few months ago...it's so pretty, the buttons are from Jacqui's vintage stash and I printed out Happy Birthday using the Dymo label maker...x

SOME MORE STARS...

2010-09-15T13:32:00.003+01:00

Okay...I know, I know it's ages til Christmas yet but I am really trying to promote my wee etsy shop at the mo (I should be doing housework but this is much more fun...lol).

Why not pop over here and have a look for yourself???

Also...the postie arrived this morning with the first Simply Create Design Team stash...very exciting...will be getting stuck into that later....still got toilets to clean...lol....xx