Merry Christmas to you all

I haven't been in blogland very much lately, Had some catching up to do, getting Christmas shopping done after being stuck indoors for which seemed like forever. Well finally got it all done, and even managed to find time to go back to work after 6 weeks off sick. Yea I know a stupid time to go back the week before Christmas, and to top it all off I've developed a terrible cough feels like my chest is gonna cave in. I think it's got to have been a customer that's passed it on, I should have stayed at home till New Year.

My phone line was out for at least 4 days and so therefore the internet too, so have been trying to get around to everyones blogs this morning, I hope I've managed to comment on each one, but if I missed anyone out I appologise.

I just wanted to say a very big

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR to all my friends atCraft Den

I've already decided to make a new year resolution of more crafting and blogging. Hmmm we'll have to wait and see. I once made a resolution to not swear few years ago, but it didn't last too long as I stubbed my toe the very next morning and that put paid to that.

And now a special message to my favourite crafting sister...... Next year is going to be YOUR year. A NEW START, with plenty of YOU time. I love you very much, and I know it's not going to be easy these next few days, but you have your favourite sister very close by.

With love to everyone . Bye for now. xoxox Ann

And more snow

I've been blog hopping earlier and enjoyed looking at all the pictures you've been posting I thought I'd share a few photo's of our winter wonderland called Norton Lees, although it looks pretty it's all come to a standtill,and ajust listening to weather forcast looks like there's more to come, It's been a long time since we've had snow this bad, I bet Sue wonders where she's moved to,don't worry it's not like this every year, I'm glad I'm not at work, although now my sick note has run out and I'm due back to work Friday, it looks like i'll be walking, hmmmm can't wait.

I sent the old man outside earlier to clear snow away from bird feeders, they were just full of snow, I had to laugh as he went sliding down into the garden, the snow so deep it went over the top of his wellies, wish i'd taken a picture of that.... but at least the birds are able to get some nice seeds.... Ivan is now playing on the wii game of Mario galaxy, if any of you have ever met my hubby he looks a little like Mario, well, a cross between Mario and Manuelle from faulty towers..... it's that moustache that does it...

Anyway to more important things,I've been colouring in images ready for Christmas cards and I've been making a few cards for birthdays, when I can get the photo's off my mobile i'll blog them, my Daughter-in-law on friday and her mum today, hope the postman managed to deliver them ok.... I haven't seen our postie all day.

My new car is playing hide and seek in the snow at the moment,you can just see her as that neighbour passes by, but Ivan managed to get a photo before she disappears altogether..

I think some of the photo's will make some good scrapbook pages...

I hope you are all okay, and that this snow stops soon and we can all get back to that place we all love The Craft Den

Lotsalove Ann xoxox

Just a quick post...

Well here it is, MY new car, not exactly the porsche I wanted but nevertheless it's mine ALL mine. It looks better sat on my drive than here at the car dealers, not got the sticker on the front... I've not been at home since I got it,so clocking up a few miles... it's had the seal of approval from Ivan, and my kids like it too, I decided on another fiesta as I think they're so easy to drive, and although I was very sad to see my other car go (Freddie the Fiesta) this one is a little more powerful, I always called him Freddie as the man who sold him to me is called Fred..... original eh... he had a stroke and can't drive anymore, so it was a stroke of luck for me.... oh dear what a bad pun. I'm fond of giving cars a name, and this one is called Freda... I will bring her to The Craft den soon, not sure about parking her on drive (some of you may understand that one) !!!!!!! least said, the better...

Birthday wishes

Here are the cards I got for my birthday and a picture my Grandson Owen painted for me, This is my third attempt at this post, so hopefully it will work this time. The first picture from left to right cards from Sue, Jill, Sarah and Ann. Second picture again left to right two cards from my sister Sandra and a card from Chanelle, Third picture card from Kerry, all lovely ladies from The Craft den .The fourth picture I'm sure you can tell it's a firework scene, all that lovely coloured glitter, oh dear made my husband cringe, he doesn't like glitter but seeing it's from Owen he propped it up for a photo shoot....

I'm also hoping that the last picture appears on this post as on my last attempt it didn't on the preview . It's a photo of Owen and Dylan on holiday, Dylan 3 on the left and Owen 5 on the right. Well here goes i'm going to attempt uploading these pictures.... fingers crossed... and toes...

Once again Thank you for all the lovely birthday cards, I love them all.... each one is unique and they will be saved along with all my other precious cards, paintings etc....

CRASH BANG WALLOP

On the lookout for a new car, I'd like one of these

Oh dear....... It seems like i've lost my beloved green fiesta in a collision with an idiot male driver, still not heard if it's off life support so am assuming it's a gonna...
. At least everyone involved was ok, no injuries to anyone. It was a hair-raising ordeal, and i'm not quite over it yet, in fact i'm a nervous wreck. I've got a hire car, but it's just adding to my nervousness as it's a NEW corsa, although I learnt in a corsa, this one has so many new fangled gadgets I'm still getting used to them all.



I know that some of my lovely friends at Craft Den heard about the accident,and were concerned, so i thought i'd let you all know both my dear sister and me are ok. I just hope i've not put her off going in a car with me, we'll soon see on Wednesday when she phones me to say, (I'll see ya at Craft Den i'm catchin the bus)

Sandra was holding on to my craft box containing my scissors , craft knife, pokey tool, etc. and when we hit the other car with (did I mention it was an idiot MALE driver) the lid of the box flew off and crafting tools went everywhere. Also the small syringe that i use for the silicon glue was just laying on the floor, and with the police attending i suppose i was lucky i wasn't arrested for having drugs in the car, lol. Another lucky thing for me was it was attended by an ex traffic cop, and he was very keen, he soon spotted the other driver (MALE) had bald tyres, and think he gonna get done now for that as well as careless driving. Even though the police at the time said it was clear it wasn't my fault, until it was all sorted, I had to be cautioned, I felt like I was in an episode of The Bill, apparently I had the right to remain silent, Yea right, just try keeping me quiet eh.... Don't all answer that at once.

Well what with work last week, and now this accident, I've not had a good time, so crafting is the best therapy a girl could have, trouble is.... I have to be at work soon so i'm not going to get any crafting done today.....

Wot a week

My god it's been the week from Hell at work, we've literally been working on a building site, I wish i'd been allowed to take pictures for proof.

Once we finished last Sunday the builders came straight in and demolished the inside of the shop, by Tuesday they'd only got 4 rows of shelving in. We thought we'd be going in and getting the shelves re-stocked easily but it's been a nightmare. Give me back my checkout anyday, I now have nothing but admiration for our shelf fillers, I will never again imagine it's an easy task to open a few boxes and put contents in their rightful place........... Oh no not a chance.

Everything, yes everything has moved. Our regular shoppers will not recognise it. but bit by bit we've got it all back on. I just hope not many customers ask me where things are. I think it's a miracle it's going to be finished, but I think it will be, the Store Manager says it's opening Monday at 8 am no matter what, so I think it'll be done. It's been a mammoth task but all hands were on deck I feel quite proud of what we've achieved.

Well I've got a day off at last, and I'm off to spend it with my little Grandsons. and next week i'm gonna spend some time crafting.... Oh yes....

Sunny Blackpool

We've just spent a couple days in Blackpool, and it's rained most of the time, wasn't fit for much apart from going down to the boozer and having few pints..... It was one step forward and three back.... Although this is not a photo we took, it's quite apt... we decided we'd had enough and came back a day early, well at least I can spend time doing some crafting eh...... Since we've been back home the sun has come out and alls right with the world.. Blackpool is not one of my favourite places, but we had some vouchers for Barcelo Hotels needed using and my beloved Ivan thought it be nice to go to the seaside. Oh well his heart's in the right place...... We stuffed our faces with full cooked breakfast and chucked our stuff in the car and came back to Sheffield.... We still off work so no worries, we off to Cambridge on Friday and we've checked weather forcast and it looks good, so hopefully holiday not ruined completely. Back to my favourite place on Thursday for scrapbooking at The Craft Den see ya then xoxo Ann

Scrapbooking

This is the layout from Thursday nights scrapbooking class over with Lynne and Co at The Craft Den Was another enjoyable evening, This is a definite first for me to blog three times in a week. I forgot to take my photo's with me, which is not the best idea when scrapbooking, but when i got home i found some photo's i think go nicely with the lovely papers, I'm not sure what they are called,but I just love the colours.... and the flower is made up from 6 hearts. I've just added a couple of pins with extra beads ... and extra spots between the pics....
This photo was taken a few years ago at Chatsworth, my cousin Damaris came over from Canada and she loves Derbyshire, she is the one with long dark hair on the far end on the 3rd photo along, she's a lovely lady, a devout christian who would do anything for anyone. We don't get to see our cousins from Vancouver Island very often so it's a time when all the family get together,
although thats not all of us on these photo's.From left to right on the 3rd photo, is.......
Brother-in-law Malcolm, Me, My beloved Ivan, Cousin John, Stewart, Amy on the fence, My eldest sister Pauline, My little sister(who towers above the rest of us) Sandra, Daniel, And Damaris.... don't we just look a Motely Crew.... .

Oooops

Pressed wrong button and just published heading, I was just going to say It's me again and this is a first for me blogging two days in a row....

My friend at work has just become a Grandmother, a lovely little boy called Oliver. Shes's not been able to take the smile off her face yet, and she thinks it's great to have joined the best club in the world.. She's got a lovely photo on her mobile phone which she's enjoying showing everyone and anyone.

I wanted to make her a card as most of my friwnds have had girls and it was nice to do something blue for a change.....

The stamp belongs to one of my favourite sisters (you know which one you are) and it's such a lovely image. Oooooh er... ,i've just noticed it's wrong way round.... but as you can see it's a lovely image.... I've just added some lovely flowers and pins and a ribbon all of which can be bought from my favourite place The Craft den except the fancy pin head with blue beads, the pin is from hobby house and the beads from the new bead shop on Leopold Street.

Hope to see everyone later at scrapbooking class, Lotsalove xoxo Ann

Me again

Anniversary...

It was my 36th wedding anniversary yesterday, and me being me, leaving the card making to the last minute, so had a bit of a rush job, but I thought as I haven't blogged for oooh er can't even remember how long,I'd like to share it with you... who else can I share my hobby with except some very good friends I've made at craft den.. I've had this Sarah Kay stamp for ages and not got around to using it, so thought it would make a cute little card, as Ivan and me met when we were both 15 I thought this image would fit the theme as childhood sweethearts....

Anyhow he loved it so a job well done eh. It was taken on my mobile so it's not the best photo.

I wrote a poem for Ivan a couple of years back, which i usually put inside, just to give him a reminder of the way I feel about him, and.... if I share it with you, it will fill some space on my new post.... here goes....

I was a young girl of 15 when we first met

And you stole my heart away

Over the years that we've been together

I've loved you more with each passing day

Childhood sweethearts but still we knew

We'd be together our whole lives through

You said you'd be mine forever and that in my heart I hold dear

What started out as puppy love has grown stronger year by year

The path of love doesn't always run smooth

And at times that has been true

But we've weathered the storms and just like the sun

Our love has always shone through

So each Anniversary I'd like you to know

You've given me the best years of my life

For that I thank you from the bottom of my heart

My love to you from your devoted wife

Oh dear it's enough to get the old sick bucket out ............ but I suppose he must mean a great deal to me as We've stuck together all this time....

My first blog award.

Thank you sis for sending me my first blog award, I didn't know how to retrieve it til now................Phew wasn't sure that would work..I'm still learning....... er............ now i've got to send it to 12 people, ooooh dear not sure if I have 12 friends to pass it onto I'll have a look in my blogs I love to follow... here goes..

Sandra
Lynne
Ann
Sue
Kathyrn
Chanelle
Pat
Jo
Kerry
Gez
Janiel
Jacque
These are some of the lovely people's blogs i've been following. Thank you for the inspiration I'll be watching for more lovely ideas for cards scrapbooking pages etc....

Card for Daniel

Here's a rare type of card for me, as I don't particularly like making mens cards, I love the girly girly cutie type. I like flowers and bling, men don't always appreciate them. so have tried to make it bit more masculine but just a row od sparklies on the bottom... He's a lovely young man and appreciates someone taking time to make cards. He's gonna climb killamanjaro (probably not spelt right) and I wish him well, he's collected above and beyond his original target money and I know he'll give it his all..... Good luck Dan, love you loads ..... Made card for his dad Stewart for his birthday,just like my hubby Ivan he's a golfer so went with that theme in mind but didn't think it was very good, well I made two, the other one I made for my daughter Helen to give him, so thought i'd pop them on this post also. Just sat here lokking at some lovely blogs while Ivan is doing a great job in the garden, I let him have few mins rest with a cuppa and sent him back to finish off..lol don't know what we're going to do for rest of this bank holiday monday as the sun is nowhere to be seen, We spent a lovely day with Helen yesterday, my son and grandkids are in Oxford visiting their other Grandma for few days, hopefully they be back later. Oh well I suppose I better go tell Ivan (you're doing a grand job my love) cos it seems to have gone bit quiet out there, I've already let him have one break, signing off now to go get that whip....

My ATC and kids artwork

The top image is my ATC, our lovely Lynne at http://www.craftden.co.uk/ shamed me into making it, It's only my second attempt, I enjoyed making it and look forward to having another go next month...... so thanks Lynne for the gentle push. My little grandson Dylan helped me make one similar for his Mum, he said it was going on the fridge at home, which got me to thinking perhaps i should show the artwork my Grandsons have made for me, the second is known as Owen's masterpiece he made it when he was 2 he's now nearly 5 The last image is Dylan's Flower, isn't it lovely when they give you something they've made themselves. I shall treasure them forever. Some of the images are not brilliant as they've only been taken on my phone but I thought it would be nice to share them with you.

New laptop Do you like it.

I've finally got my new laptop up and running, well I should say I'm trying to get to grips with it. It's very different to my old one.( That... nearly got thrown through the window) as soon as it got fired up, it crashed, without even doing anything. Hopefully i can get down to some blogging, oooh it's got very nice keys, I still need some lessons on it for quite a few things, at the moment i'm using google chrome to get onto internet instead of usual internet explorer, I could do with my daughter Helen's boyfriend Charlie to help me he works with computers,how does he do that without slitting his wrists, but hey i'm trying, yea yea I know i'm very trying,most people tell me so... i'm struggling a little to look at blogs as every time i click off one to go to another I have to go back to dashboard as it doesn't work same as old dell laptop. He's been wiped clean and restored by Charlie for Ivan my hubby to use. He works nights and has just gone to bed, poor thing in all this heat, so i'm trying to do this without any help at all with usb's etc.. Woah even uploading pics from my phone is different. I'm never going to be a computer wizard, so please be patient with me, while I learn more, Think it's time to invtite Charlie to tea, I've got to get ready for a trip to Meadowhell with Helen, need to get an outfit for nephews wedding in few weeks time, been putting it off as hoped to lose some weight first, haha haha haha haha, oh dear now i'm having fits of laughter as nnot only have i not lost weight, i think i've gained few more pounds.......... oh well i'm sure we can fit some chocolate therapy in the day. Anyway, i may surprise you and put another blog on either later or tomorrow.. lol As my last laptop was at one time loving called Dell after Delboy in fools and horses,plus a few other un-repeatable names . X*****X this one is called Tosh, yea it's just short for Toshiba.. Hope to see ya all soon,

Pardo beads

I've been wanting to make these beads for such a long time ever since my sister Sandra made some at a Saturday class, I never seem to get the chance to go to Saturday classes because
Tesco don't let me have time off they chain me to the checkouts every Saturday 7 - 4 how mean can you get eh..... they just don't understand a crafters needs.... Well I'm on holiday now for a whole 12 days, which means I can go to the next all day scrapbooking Sat. 27th March, sooooo looking forward to that at the best place in town to hang out.. http://www.craftden.co.uk/

Well this picture doesn't do the beads any justice as it was taken on my mobile phone.... but I had such a great time making them I just had to blog them..... adding the silver beads and spaces to give a finishing touch...

Mo's birthday

Had a lovely time last night at http://www.craftden.co.uk/ It was Mo's birthday here is the card I made for her with DaisyBucket papers, posh posies and whimsical ladies designs, the stamp is from Nikki & friends pretty in purple and the sentiment is also from Daisy Bucket, I love the font on this stamp, then i finished it off with a butterfly a design I learned at http://www.craftden.co.uk/ some time ago at one of our great scrapbooking nights..... We had cakes made by (flutterby) Ann, a chocolate cake for Mo and a white chocolate cheesecake for my lovely sister Sandra whose birthday was few weeks ago..... they were to die for you can see these cakes on Lynne's blog they tasted fabulous, I've piled a few pounds on already... mouthwatering calorie adding works of art.....

Nearly forgot

I'm still new to blogging and i'm doing this without the aid of a safety net... (my sister Sandra) I noticed she hasn't blogged her birthday cards so i thought i'd let you see the one i made for her..She likes the Miss Anya collection, and I tried out one of my new Martha Stewart punches and although I got this one from qvc , Lynne at Craft den stocks a wide range of these fab punches.. Hoping to see our good friend Ann at the studio this next week.......( if you're feeling up to it), we've all been missing you very much ...

Catching up

Since my last post things have been bit hectic, work seems to have taken up far too much of my time, gets in the way of crafting and enjoying myself, such as going to see Elvis in concert at Sheffield Arena ... WOW he was brilliant, does so well for a guy who's been dead for 32 years, but Elvis lives in my heart, his music is played at our house all the time and in my car, i have a dancing Elvis in my car. I took this picture at the beginninhg of the concert..

Long time no see

Hello it's the crazy crafter here, it's been a long time since the only post i put on my blogg, but i've got my own personal tutor sat beside me to help... my lovely sister Sandra, it's her birthday today and she's taken time to come round to helpme with this blogging , how nice is that, well here goes............. Here is a card i made for a friend a while ago and sndra is going to show me how to put this on my blogg....