CANDLES A GIRLS BEST FRIEND

CRAFTY DAY AT M'S HOUSE TACKLED MAKING LITTLE CUP CANDLES TRICKIER THAN IT LOOKS BUT HERE ARE MY PHOTOS.


CANDLE FLAKES MELTING IN PAN



I HAD TO WEIGH OUT THE FLAKES BUT STILL WAS SHORT OF WAX ONCE POURED INTO CUPS. SO HAD TO MELT SOME MORE. THE MESSY BIT WAS THE WICKS THAT HAD TO BE COVERED WITH HOT WAX AND THEN STUCK TO BOTTOM OF CUP WHICH IS TRICKY AS THEY WOULDNT STAY ATTACHED.


THE STICKY PADS WERE TO ATTACH THE WICK TO BUT DIDN'T QUITE WORK OUT LIKE THE INSTRUCTIONS STATE.

DOLLY PEGS DEFINITELTY CAME IN HANDY OUT WITH THE PADS IN WITH THE PEGS. I ADDED SCENT AND A PINK ROSE COLOURING WAX AND THEY CAME OUT A LOVELY PALE PINK AND A ROSE SCENT TOO. NOT SURE WHY BUT AS THEY SET THE TOP OF THE CANDLE HAS CRACKED MAYBE WILL HAVE TO BE XMAS PRESSIES RATHER THAN SELLING AT A CRAFT FAIR. ANYWAY FIRST TIME MAKING CUP CANDLES THINK THAT'S NOT A BAD EFFORT.

GARDEN NEWS

YESTERDAY ME AND D DUG UP THE PARSNIPS AND CARROTS BUT UNFORTUNATELY THE CARROTS WERE TINY AND DISEASE RIDDEN THE PARSNIPS TINY BUT AFTER A GOOD WASH AND PEEL ARE IN THE OVEN AS WE SPEAK. YUM!

I HAVE A FEW PEPPERS GROWING ON THE NEW PLANT FROM ALDI NOT VERY BIG BUT WILL TRY ONE ON MY SALAD TOMORROW. MY TOMATOES NEVER DID ANYTHING SO CHUCKED OUT. I ONLY KEPT ONE PLANT AND  NOW IN OCTOBER HAS TWO SMALL GREEN TOMATOES ON IT. DOUBT THEY WILL RIPEN ALTHOUGH YESTERDAY IT WAS 29 DEGREES SO YOU NEVER KNOW. ITS RAINING AGAIN TODAY THOUGH, GOOD FOR THE LAWN. MY D PLANTED CRESS AND SALAD LEAVES AND HAVE TO SAY THEY ARE DOING WELL.

 BYE FOR NOW.

SEPTEMBER BLUES

HI FOLKS

WELL AS THE TITLE SUGGESTS I'M HAVING A BLUE MOMENT BUT NOT A SAD BLUE MOMENT BUT THE COLOUR BLUE. HENSE I'VE BEEN TRYING TO CHANGE THE COLOURS, BACKGROUND ECT OF MY BLOG ITS TAKEN ALL AFTERNOON AND THE TITLE IS STILL NOT RIGHT NOT SURE HOW TO GET MY BLOG NAME INSIDE THE LOVELY HEADER FROM SHABBY.COM. ANY HELP OUT THERE I'D MUCH APPRECIATE IT.

SO WHAT'S HAPPENED SINCE AUGUST I HEAR YOU ASK WELL HERE GOES FASTEN YOUR SEAT BELTS AS IT'S BEEN A BUSY START TO THE NEW MONTH.

WE SPENT THE FIRST FEW DAYS OF SEPT IN SPAIN AND CAUGHT UP WITH FRIENDS AND THEIR TWO LOVELY BOYS OH AND THEIR CUTE DOG CALLED 'ALFIE.'
THEY LIVE NEAR GIB AND HAVE A FABULOUS HOME WITH A POOL TO DIE FOR.

ALFIE

SINCE BEEN BACK ON ENGLISH SOIL MY TO PRECIOUS ANGELS HAVE STARTED BACK AT SCHOOL. THE OLDEST NOW IN YEAR 9 AND THE YOUNGEST YEAR 7 FIRST YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL. ITS BEEN A TRAUMATIC FIRST WEEK OF TERM GETTING USE TO BUSES AND BIG KIDS BUT D IS GETTING THERE SLOWLY. IT WAS LOVELY TODAY TO SEE D POLISHING SCHOOL SHOES THAT'S A FIRST AND O ACTUALLY IRONING YES YOU HEARD CORRECTLY. I KNOW THEY GROW SO FAST.

WE WERE ON A FERRIS WHEEL I KNOW I WAS SMILING BUT I WAS SCARED S===LESS

WHOSE THAT HANDSOME CHAP I DEFINITELY NEED A BOOB JOB

STILL MY BABY EVEN IF SHE IS 11

WELL FIRST THEATRE TRIP THIS MONTH AND IT WAS TO SEE 'WE WILL ROCK YOU' ABSOLUTELY AMAZING THE WHOLE EXPERIENCE I'D HAD THE TICKET FOR MY BIRTHDAY LAST YEAR AND CONSEQUENTLY  LOST IT BUT MY DEAR FRIEND T GOT A REPLACEMENT. THE VERY NEXT DAY I FOUND IT IN THE DRAW PUT AWAY SAFELY HONEST. ANYWAY THE SHOW JUST BROUGHT BACK SO MANY LOVELY MEMORIES OF MY SINGING DAYS AT DSB AND OTHER CONCERTS AS THE SHOW WAS ALL QUEEN SONGS AND I JUST KEPT THINKING I'VE SUNG THAT ONE. I HAD GOOSEBUMPS THE SINGING WAS AMAZING THE DANCING WAS AMAZING AND AS EMMA BUNTON SAID TO ME AT DSB 'NO YOUR AMAZING' LOVED IT. WENT AND DROOLED OVER THE CAST SOME FIT GUYS CAME OUT OF THE STAGE DOOR I CAN TELL YOU HA! HA!

DIDN'T GET TICKETS TO RED OR BLACK WATCHED IT THOUGH ON TV IT WASN'T BAD NICE TO SEE PEOPLE WIN 1 MILLION POUND FOR JUST CHOOSING THEIR COLOUR.

X FACTOR IS BRILL AND AS USUAL I SCANNED THE EXTRA FACTOR NOT JUST TO DROOL OVER OLLY MURS BUT ALSO I SPOTTED MYSELF WAVING MY ARMS TO ANGELS SUNG BY AN OUT OF TUNED IRISH LAD BLESS HIM BUT I WAS CHUFFED AS SAW MYSELF AT LEAST THREE TIMES ON TV THIS IS GETTING A HABIT SHOULD CHARGE THEM FOR AN APPEARANCE FEE HA! HA! WILL HAVE TO JOIN MY FRIENDS CASTING AGENCY HEE!

I NEED TO PUT UP SOME PHOTOS SO HERE GOES ONE OF ME SCREAMING ON A FAIR RIDE IN TIVILO WORLD SPAIN I WAS SO SCARED O'S FAULT SHE TRICKED ME DIDN'T KNOW I WAS GOING TO GO UPSIDE DOWN

SOME BOY LOOKING AT ME SAYING STOP SCREAMING YOU MAD WOMAN.

WELL BEST GO AS KIDS NEED BATHING SCHOOL TOMORROW AND YIPPEE I MIGHT JUST GET CHANCE TO CRAFT .

OFF TO SUNNY SPAIN

Well its Friday 26th August start of the bank holiday weekend. I've packed and ready for an early start on Sunday we fly to spain at 6.20 am ready for a week in the sun. Hoping to do some crafting aswell as sunbathing and visiting friends. Then will be charged up ready for a new month of September which I know is going to be busy with theatre tickets to WE WILL ROCK YOU and hopefully a trip to wembley to see Ant and Dec's new show. Also my friend and I have started a new shop on facebook called Ruby'sTreasure which is in its infancy. Go over and take a look. We will be making more gorgeous lovelies to sell and maybe even a craft fair on the horizon. Well best get on ADIOS AMIGOS xx

OMG IT'S AUGUST

Well what can I say It's August and I've neglected my blog and my three followers oops. Well life has been extremely busy as usual and so I need to do a catch up so here goes.

27th -30th May 2011


Me singing with the singlive family 2011

 My family and I went up to northumberland as I had been invited to sing with my choir as the HOGWARTS CHOIR in ALNWICK CASTLE where HARRY POTTER was filmed. Had an absolutely lovely time. 


This is the cake I made for one of the rehersals yummy



dressed to impress slytherin house and gryfindor.

 5th June 2011
After Hogwarts we had a concert at the Liverpool Philimonic Hall called ' Magical Musicals' 

Another brilliant night singing with all my pals.

Unfortunately I lost my voice for about three weeks and couldn't sing along to Take That at their tour Progress at Manchester City ground on the 7th June 2011 but still had an amazing night.


My boys altogether again
 LIFE ONLY GETS BETTER WHEN YOU LIVE IT TO THE FULL.

24th JUNE

Holiday in Tenerife for a week to end a brilliant month.



My Lovely Family on our last night.

 JULY brought a lot of RAIN with it and my fundraising for the MS SOCIETY was nearly a complete washout but we had a GREAT DAY hubby played football against Radio Merseyside and we raised over £1200 so imagine if we had had sunshine.

BUT I had a very SUNNY DAY at the X FACTOR AUDITIONS as I HUGGED GARY BARLOW yes you heard correctly I HUGGED GARY BARLOW. AHHHHH! and still havent recovered.

My little girl has left primary school and im feeling where has the years gone.

Started slimming world this month i'm 12st 5 lb

3rd AUGUST

This month has started very well as its my 15th wedding anniversary today. I received lovely cards and a beautiful watch from my hubby. Its crystal for 15 yrs so he got one with little diamonds (not real ones) along the side and inside the watch well I dont think they are. I've had a lovely day out at Speke Hall and then a meal at the Bromborough Hotel.  

Well hope you enjoyed my news as much as I did remembering the lovely times I have had. I am sure I have more to come as its my birthday next week and then off to Spain end of August.

oh yeh! this week I was slimmer of the week and up to date lost 8lb yippee!

 I can hear you say slow down but

 LIFE IS TOO SHORT! SO GET UP! GET OUT! AND START LIVING! THATS AN ORDER HEE HEE!

April Bin and Gone!

Hi yes I know its Middle of May and I haven't blogged for over a month but i have been extremely busy crafting, singing and lunching with M. So no time to blog. 

April was a lovely month we had loads of sunshine and I got a lot of my bargain Aldi plants potted up and lawn mowed ect.
I have done a veg patch but nothing is happening here yet. Hoping for cucumber,carrot and parsnips. The whole set up cost (I imagine) more than the end product but its the satisfaction of growing my own which you can't put a price on.
I have also started tomatoes and salad but It was so windy yesterday that I thought my green house was going to blow down well its actually a plastic shelved construction that is not very sturdy.
I will post pics when they start to grow.

Well my friend and I went to a craft fair in the village today I love looking at everyones products and bought a flower punch, wedding cake embellishment and note embellishment, which I have used on a wedding card I made today looks lovely I will add a photo soon. There were loads of lovely handcrafted items some very reasonable My friend sees things and knows she could make it. I see things and just want to buy buy buy! Unfortunately I am pretty skint so need to curb my spending.

We have made a new blog between us and will start blog there soon. We have also opened a shop on folksy and etsy to place some of our items as we need to get our act together and start making some pennies to help pay for our expensive hobby CRAFTING and LUNCHING OUT!

Yesterday May 15th was crafting afternoon at my place and we used M's new cutting machine BIG SHOT lovely it is but its only taken M 5 months to open the box and start to use it. She has lovely key and flower dies. Had a great time decorating a wooden display cabinet with beautiful papers, flowers and keys. We are making them into key holders for the hall. 

Will come back soon!

March is Card Making Month



Well I've been really busy making cards for a lovely lady from D's school. She gives me a list of what she wants and then I make it to her specification. I don't usually make the same card twice and over the years have made some very unusual cards for different people.

I have decided to start taken photos of my card creations and post them in my blog as I often can't remember what I've done. So here goes hope you like them.




Cath Kidston Birthday Card





I used my CK material squares scanned them to make paper and then did a patchwork design background. White organza ribbon woven to make the grid and cut out a 40 with my number templates and used some papermania summer blossom papers. I used some petal punches to make the flowers it came out really pretty.



Mothers Day Card





Piglet Birthday Card



granddaughter inside



Peppa Pig 3rd Birthday Card









Princess 3D castle



Everton Balloons

Didn't I say some are unusual specifications Everton Balloons on a 25th Wedding card is the buyers choice not mine.

25th Wedding Anniversary

I also made dad an anniversary card and dropped it off earlier today. I've used my Martha Stewart Punch and some lovely wedding paper from papermania. Lovely effect.

Tomorrow I'm going to make some friendly plastic jewellery new craft not sure how that's going to go but worth a try. Having a craft morning with mate M and then we will have to take lunch but no cake as I'm on a quest to lose some pounds before a big calendar shoot on the 9th April 2011. I haven't got long yikes! Watch this space for photos, NO not of the calendar, of my creations Hee!!

February Already! What A Crafty Bonanza!

Well I have been so busy since my last blog I don't know where to start!
CRAFT :
I will just say our craft fair debut went brilliantly and money made was spent on Christmas presents. I did sell all 17 jars of damson jam they looked lovely as were wrapped in green gingham cloth with red ribbon and label made with Christmas craft CD. There were many highlights of the day and hope M and me might do another Christmas one next year but start early with makes as I was exhausted by the time the day came around.

On the subject of craft fairs, went to my first one in Manchester with M. that was brill, spent a lot but learnt a lot of new skills so the day was very fruitful.


We did a workshop on 'one stroke painting' with Stephanie Weightman (she is a brilliant designer and worked on Create and craft shopping channel) so you can imagine my excitement to meet her and Nancy Watt.  

Steph doing one touch painting she makes it look easy but its not.



all glitter and smiles

  Oh also saw Glitter Girls on their huge store didn't buy anything off them used my 10% discount buying Martha Stewart punches for M and me and yes I have used them since I got back. 


Nancy Watt taking a break
 (have I got food in my teeth hee hee)




Well craft side of things I've been quite busy!
M and Me decided to have our own craft day each week and make something.





 FIRST PATCHWORK QUILT
Made a fabulous bed quilt for D and looks great on her bed.


My D Patchwork Quilt

 So chuffed with it. MY own twist on it was I sewed her buttons/beads in each corner of the quilt to both stitch the layers together and look effective too!  

Can you see the button detail?


I have bought a gorgeous collection of fabric for the next project in quilting. I will keep this a secret as would like to make a friend a present.






FIRST BIG KNIT CUSHION

I made a grey/black knitted cushion using huge knitting needles and wool yarn. this came out great and is now on my sofa pride of place. The yarn was expensive so I need to think of recycling my old clothes to make my next big knit project which I think will be a rug for the side of the bed.



FIRST EVER KNITTED SCARF

D is very lucky as she has a handcrafted knitted pink scarf which looks fab and is very warm only ten stitches across. The yarn was from Lidl four balls think it cost me £2.49 took one evening and I am so made up with the result told you I'd been busy.
Want to make myself one but not so bright. Need to find some more yarn that has this special effect when knitted.



DECOPAPER
A new craft discovered at the Manchester CF. (Glossy Glue, decopaper and object to be covered)


This is my vase
 D's rose from last years Valentine Ahh!
oh and of course im a huge BETTY FAN

 D loved this and covered her heart I'd bought her from the fair. I went one better and RECYCLED a glass ketcup bottle covering it in decopaper and it as if by magic changed into a vase for the living room. I saved it from the bin so minus one carbon footprint hee hee for me!









YES I'm stroking a decopaper giraffe
how fabulous!

 I have done some embroidery too! So all in all I've been very busy.

This is a pressy for a special person in my life. I haven't finished it yet but should be complete by Mother's day.