Back to work today

Have gone back to work today, only for 4 hours, but it was enough! Completely whacked now, foot aching but at least it's not swollen that much.
You forget how hard it is to stand in virtually the same place for hours on end!! Will probably do the whole week at 4 hours a day just to ease myself back in.

Didn't make any more cards yesterday but I did paint some stamped images, Christmas stamps that I thought I'd better start on now for the craft fair in September. People will hopefully have Christmas on their minds on the 4th September!

I'm not really all that happy with colouring the stamped images, I've tried promarkers- too dark and bold, watercolour paints- ok, and also watercolour pencils, which are my favourite at the mo. I will persevere and show you the results soon I hope!

No craft things to show this time but this is a pic of our lovely lawn, lovingly tended aand grown by Ian. It's kind of like his baby at the moment, but it does look lovely, well worth all the effort!  Pity about the rest of the garden.....

Saturday with the family

Saturday is with us at last (ho hum, just another day with not much to do, me thinks), except shopping! Yay! 

Sainsburys on Saturday with the mother-in-law. What joy. Laura is out, Ben is at work, that means WE have to think of something to say!! 

Needless to say not much done on the crafting front today, or yesterday come to think of it.

I've just been on e-bay, putting all my old sugar craft stuff on, from when I used to make and sell wedding cakes with hand made sugar flowers. I found them in my wardrobe (!) when I was tidying the other day. 

The stuff goes like wildfire on e-bay, there must be a lot of frustrated cake makers! 

I'd only just listed one of the items and it got a bid straight away!

Because I haven't made anything for the last few days here's one I made earlier: it's using a Little Claire's die for the dog and Bazzill card with embossing from my gorgeous Cuttlebug. 

I think the dog, Shep, is quite sweet!

Sunday tomorrow, hopefully I'll get on with some more cards or other stuff for the craft fair.

Have to go to the Dr's on Monday, to see if I'm ready to return to work, I'll let you know!

What a day!

    Well what a day I've had! Woke up early after having had a terrible night's sleep, couldn't get to sleep last night at all. 
    
       So the first thing that comes into my head is 'must post the parcel for my e-bay customer'. I'd printed the postage label yesterday and had the intention of packing it up last night. Forgot. So must go to the post office today, this morning. Forgot.
    
        Take Ben to work at Lakeside as none of the trains are running. Come home. See parcel on table. Panic! Wrap parcel, take to nearest post office. Half day closing. Who closes for half day any more??
    
          Go to next post office. Closed for half day. Have to drive into town, pay £1.40 to park. Have to queue up for 20minutes. Observe man having a row with cashier. Community support are called. Lots of shouting.
    
      Finally get parcel in post box and my receipt stamped. Hurrah.
    
     Come  home and collapse totally worn out. But at least my e-bay customer will get their parcel!

      So consequently I haven't done much crafting today, but here are some of the bookmarks I made for the craft show. I think I might add a bead on the end of the ribbon for added wow!

   I've been practicing my photoshop programme  this week, I intend to try and make my own wedding stationery using the brushes on there. 
    Have watched some good you-tube demos on techniques. If you ever want to know how to something, there will be a you-tube video showing how!
   
I think I'll have another go at it, and learn how to print onto different sizes of card blanks. Wish me luck!

Wednesday blues

Good morning! Yet another day at home trying to think what to do next.
Ben has gone for a job interview today, it's in a video shop in Romford. If he gets it and if I ever get back to work I can take him to work! Yee haa. Better than having to drive to Lakeside at 10 o'clock at night to pick him up from there!

Yesterday I made my first easel card, here is the result:
Not a great picture but you get the general idea! Haven't added the sentiment yet.
Wasn't really a fan of these, but have seen more and more of them and think that people must like them, so I'd better get in on the act! I'm going to make some more with different designs and papers. 

I think I need to make more card designs for the men in our lives. It's such a difficult one, unless the men like drinking, fishing, cars and sailing, oh, and golf, tennis, snooker, all ball games and more beer! There isn't much else that is suitable for adult males. 
I've been researching on the internet for ideas, but mainly they just incorporate the above 'hobbies'! Have to think of something different... maybe!
Watch this space!

New card for today

 This is a card I've made today, based on a similar design I'd made previously. Once I'd got the shape right I made 3 more, all different colours, but all pink! It's completely made with Bazzill cardstock.  

I've embossed the background piece with a dotty folder similar to a Cuttlebug one, and the pram was embossed from a Cuttlebug set I got in the sale ages ago!
Ribbon and a pink gem complete the card.


Well I'm all on my own again, Ben's just gone off to work, he inadvertently went an hour too early, berk!  Laura and Ian are both at work too. Ho hum.
I'm fed up today, I feel well but know that as soon as I return to work my ankle will swell up again. 
I've been researching 'broken ankles' on the internet and it seems a common problem, and may well last for at least a year. 
I definitely can't stay off work that long!


Back to the cards now then, watch this space!

Sunday musings

      Sunday is with us again, a chance for more cards today!
           Ian and Ben went up to Newcastle yesterday to move his stuff into his new house for next term. It all went well, and they should be back home soon. Laura has gone to Lakeside to get her hair cut. She is hobbling today ( trying to copy me?)!
           
She went up to London with some American clients from work to show them the sights. Unfortunately she's come back with a huge blister underneath her foot and two on her toes!
            
             I've been colouring in some stamped images I did yesterday, I'm going to try some designs for cards with them today. Will post them soon!
          
              I've sold another card on e-bay, this time one of the wedding ones. It's really pleasing when you think someone likes your designs.

           

Well I've sat all morning with my foot up, with ice on it, so I think I'll risk a bit at the table with my cards now!

More stuff while recovering my broken ankle....

Well I'm off work for at least another 2 weeks! I went back to work on Monday but by the end of the 2nd day my foot had turned into a small barrage balloon. So back to the docs, another 2 weeks off at least. Oh dear.

So - time for more cards! I've booked a table at a craft fair in September, really excited as I've never done one before! So far I've made about 40 cards for it, and have many more in the pipe-line.

I've sold my first card on e-bay too, which was very exciting! Nothing sold on Folksy yet though. :-(

Here's one of my favourite cards: