Where did August go to?

Gosh it's hard to get back into a routine after seven weeks away. I think I left my Mojo somewhere en route .I did spend rather a long time constructing this concertina book/card. I had to enlist the aid of my husband as Chief Paper Engineer. We seriously modified the instructions I had in a magazine and I am VERY happy with the end result. It will make a good class I think but as I have all my classes sorted for the rest of 2011 it won't be happening until THE NEW YEAR!!! How scary is that and it will be here in no time at all. All things Christmas are crowding into my mind now and I can see last minute cards looming once again. I need to really get myself sorted and knuckle down to some serious crafting. Here's hoping for more post in September, Thanks for looking today.

What's happened to the weather???

Hello Everyone. We have been home almost a week and thank goodness the weather was kind to us last week. If it had been like it is today - white over - I think we would have stayed on the plane and headed to warmer climes. We have been in NZ for 39 years and it is the FIRST time we have EVER had snow in our garden. It takes me right back to my childhood days in the UK!! I don't do snow anymore I'm afraid. Still the children round about are having lots of fun and when I went off for my swim this morning there was a procession of assorted snowmen along the roadside. Cute. Anyway onto my pictures. All my goodies purchased on our trip. I have tried to sort them into groups to some degree. Picture 1 is Gold leaf, Perfect pearls eyelets,brads etc, fancy fabric and Glimmer Mist spray. Pic 2 Yummy embellishments by Sir Tim. Pic 3 Stamps. Pic 4 Various glues and tapes. Pic 5 Cuttlebug embossing folders, Nesties and EK border punches. Pic 6 Various ink pads, brushes, pens and special papers. Pic 7 Gorgeous 12 x 12 Christmas paper pad. Pic 8 2 Gorgeous 8 x 8 paper pads. In both the 12 x 12 and 8 x 8 pads half the papers are plain and half are glittered and ALL are double sided. I can see I will be spoilt for choice!! So now I need to settle down and use some of my lovely goodies. I am looking forward to it and to showing what I make to you ladies. I still have a few jobs to sort out before I can craft with a clear conscience though so it may be a little while yet. Nice to be back (despite the weather) and talking with you again. Thanks for staying with my Blog in my abscence and for looking today.

Nearly Time to Come Home

Hello Everyone - It is Friday morning here for me so for my NZ readers it will be Friday evening and the start of your weekend.  I hope you all have a good one.  Well our seven weeks holiday is almost at an end.  We fly home on Sunday getting back to NZ on Tuesday morning.  It has been great and we have had wonderful times with friends and family but we are ready for home now.  We have done something every day and it will be good to get back to something like normal.  Of course we miss our daughters and grandchildren too even though SKYPE helps to lessen that.  I have bought some lovely crafty things and will try to photograph and post them when I get settled back at home.  I hope my MOJO has benefitted from the holiday too = not always the case I might add.  I have seen some good ideas I am looking forward to trying them out and of course I'll post the results.  Until then take care and as always thanks for looking at my Blog.

It's nice to be on holiday

Hello Everyone from a rather rainy England today.  We have had some really lovely weather but today it has decided that the gardens need a drink.  We have been up in North Yorkshire for the last week in a pretty little town called Whitby.  Great connections with NZ for my NZ readers as it is where Captain James Cook sailed from on his discovery voyages to Australia and New Zealand.  Lots of history, lots of interesting places to visit and LOTS of hills and steps to walk up and down.  It has been lovely and we drove back down to Derbyshire today and will be based here now until our return home.  There was a great craft shop in Whitby and I got some good bargains on some lovely papers.  Trouble is  paper weighs so much!!!  Next Saurday we head up to Doncaster (which is also in Yorkshire) to a large craft expo.  I'll let you know how I get on.  Hope you are all enjoying your crafting days and thanks for checking in today.

I Finally Made It

Hello Everyone I am very pleased to upload this post and show you all that I DID get my last calendar made today in between Grandchildren and baby sitting the dog. It was another awful day for weather here in Upper Hutt so it was just the ticket for being cosy and warm and doing a bit of crafting in between playing Happy Families and Guess Who? The kids were good. The dog was good and so all in all it was a good day. I have just finished sticking the flowers onto the calendar and like the other one I just have to add the 2012 calendar pad when in the UK. So lucky to have such a wide range of gorgeous papers to choose from to create with. These are all Basic Grey as are the ones on the other calendar. Well it is late and time for bed. Early start tomorrow to get Trent and Tayla organised and over to Nana's house ASAP so that I have the rest of the day to vacuum up dog hairs etc and finally pack my suitcase before 3.30pm when our transport to the airport arrives. Once again I thank-you for looking today and I will be back crafting in mid August. Bye and take care.

another Calendar

Hello Everyone. It's very late here but I just wanted to post this quickly before heading off to bed. I have managed to squeeze a few minutes here and there between Trent, Tayla and the dog staying with us at the moment to finish it off. I just have the calendar for 2012 to add once I get to the UK and buy some!! I love making these. This one is for a friend who has 3 gorgeous granddaughters (and who loves chocolate!!!) I have another one partly made and hope to squeeze a few more minutes tomorrow to complete it. We went to see Diary of a Wimpy Kid 2 this afternoon followed by McDonalds for tea (the kids - not me!!!) It was very cold here today but we were quite happy, snug and warm inside playing games until it was time to go to the movies. Last day with T&T tomorrow and then we are away on Sunday afternoon. I'll try to post the other calendar which is for a friend with 2 grandsons and a granddaughter. If I don't manage it then I'll catch up with you all in August but who knows I might even send you a post to let you know what we're up to on our travels. Thanks so much for looking today. Stay safe and stay healthy

On a Roll

Hi Again. It's been a good day today what with my earlier post and now these three made this evening. Pretty obvious which is which but Together Forever is the engagement card. Edwin is for our Grandson Trent and Tilda is for our youngest grandchild Tayla. Always enjoy painting Tilda and Edwin with my Distress Inks so it was a fun evening. I have made a good start on one calendar too so I am off to bed now feeling well pleased with myself. It's off to the hairdresser in the morning for a cut and colour (or rather a colour and cut) and then on Wednesday I have a 2 hour pampering at a spa to look forward too. I am starting to feel holiday mood coming on!!! 'Night 'night sleep tight and thanks for stopping by.