Broadband Challenged!

Oh but I'm having SERIOUS issues with picking up a decent internet signal at the moment... It is SO fustrating.  I'm sure we've all experienced it... the little circle that continues to spin, and spin and spin and... you get the picture! In fustration we switch off altogether, only to log on again 2 minutes later in the hope that some miracle has occured to clear the way for a trouble free surfing fix!  I'm having no such luck, my circle has spun so much I'm positively dizzy, just looking at it.  Anyway enough of the rant... lookie here...

 

 

What do you think? My friend (yes I do have some... I don't spend all of my time on my laptop!), is feeling poorly.  I put this together this afternoon, but before I sent it off I photo'ed it to enter the following challenges (did I mention I've become a 'challenge addict'!). The inside read... "I'll be your umbrella"...

 

Fussy and Fancy Ch 74 - Anything goes

http://fussyandfancychallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/challenge-74-anything-goes.html

 

Paper Playtime Ch 87 - Anything goes

http://paperplaytime.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/ch-87-anything-goes.html

 

Amusing Challenges - Anything goes

http://stampedblessings.com/2012/10/amusing-challenges-anything-goes-4/

 

Twisted Tuesday Challenges - Anything goes

http://twistedtuesdaychallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/2tc30-5th-tuesday-free-for-all.html

 

Party Time Tuesday's #92 - Anything goes

http://partytimetuesdays.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/ptt92-anything-goes-dt-sponsor.html

 

 

 

 

Gotta go now... I've got chips to cook for the darts team... Go Moorlands!

 

 

 

Blah... blah... blah...

 

 

 

 

 

How Could I?

Does it only happen to me?

I wrote a post about thirty minutes ago, then accidently deleted half of it before I could actually post it! So in a temper, (I'm a leo... I have one) I stupidly deleted the rest of it as well, and stormed away from my laptop ranting at myself and anyone else unfortunate enough to cross my path (sorry daughter!). What an idiot... its taken me thirty minutes to get over it and start again!  Well, thirty minutes, some swearing, a bar of chocolate, a cup of tea and a few deep breaths!

 

Take Two...

I have discovered the crafting 'challenge'.  As you can see from the last few posts I've been entering challenges (well one, but I'm allowed three entries!)  The first challenge I entered awhile ago - I DIDN'T WIN! Shocking, I know. I didn't expect to win, but I secretly (like the rest of us) REALLY wanted to!  Now I've discovered the 'multiple' entry!  I have to say it seems to defeat the object to me.. but who am I to question the crafting Gods! You can enter ONE project in MULTIPLE challenges! WOW - time-saving, or what?

 

Now all I have to do is get this 'linking' business right (still don't think I have!) and I'll be away...

 

So... this is my third entry into the Creative Craft Challenge 2 - '3 Presents'

http://creativecraftchallenges2.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/our-third-blogoversary.html

 

 

Also... # 194 Chistmas is Coming - The Crafty Pad (great site, by the way)

http://thecraftypad.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/194-christmas-is-coming.html

 

 

And... One Stitch at a Time 137 - Make 1 for Christmas

http://onestitchatatimechallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/challenge-137-make-1-for-christmas.html

 

 

Finally... Ooh La La - C... Christmas

http://ooh-la-la-creationschallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/117-cchristmas.html

 

 

... and here it is...

 

I'm really into this fold at the moment, I think its called a 'joy' fold (not sure), but I think it looks great.  I used a christmas topped I've had forever matted it onto mirri card.  I also matted the gold spotted hunkydory foiled accent card I had in my stash onto mirri, three little present embelishments, the base was made with a sheet of cricut 'earthtones' textured cardstock, scored at 4" and 10"... and hey presto...

 

I'm sorry, this post isn't as good as the original, but what can you do???

 

 

 

Blah... blah... blah...

 

 

 

 

 

 

... and '3 Balloons'

Creative Craft Challenge 2 - 3rd Blogoversary... '3 Balloons'

http://creativecraftchallenges2.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/our-third-blogoversary.html

Blah... blah... blah...

 

 

Christmas is coming...

the goose is getting fat...

 

STARTED...

 

I thought I might enter this into a challenge... CREATIVE CRAFT CHALLENGE 2 (third blogoversary)... my problem? (yes I always have a problem!).  One of the rules is -  to link only my entry - not my entire blog????????????????????

 

Ain't got a clue!  I'll try entering anyway, if I'm disqualified, oops!

 

And my entry is... '3 Snowflakes'...

 

 

http://creativecraftchallenges2.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/our-third-blogoversary.html

 

 

 

Blah... blah... blah...

 

 



Hunkydory Do It AGAIN!

 

Beautiful kit was delivered... it is truely a work of art, after checking out all the gorgeous elements I couldn't resist puting these rocker cards together.  I'm not kidding you, they only took me 15 minutes ('onest injun!).  Now all I have to do is... stop gazing at the beauty of the cardstock and get on with crafting LOL!

 

 

'Dreams of Spring' Collection- -by Hunkydory

 

 

Blah... blah... blah...

 

 

 

 

OMG... OMG... OMG!!!

Ebay Update...

Did I get a bargain? Yes, I do believe I did.  I am now the proud owner of another cricut machine!

 

My little 'create' machine has been relegated to the occasional use, as its had to move over (darling) for the new (old, as in second-hand) 'expression'. Ohhhhh but its a work of art! Well no, its not going to win any prizes for beauty, but I think it is adorable! It crafts, need I say anymore? and besides they say beauty is in the eye of the beholder!

 

But I haven't got to the best bit... oh no, the cartridges that came with it! I have since hibernated in order to get better aquainted!  Believe it or not there were 14 of them, yes you heard me right F-O-U-R-T-E-E-N of them!  Wow!  There is even some Disney ones!!!  Maybe a bit complicated for me... but hey ho, I'll have a go.  Watch this space!

 

 

 

In the meantime... look at these two little cuties I did for my niece and nephew... yeah that is my lemsip in the background.  I have managed, however, to pass 'The Cold' onto others, although none of them seems to pleased with my generousity!  (apart from the tissue companies, of course).

 

 

Blah... blah... blah...

 

 

 

 

I'm Home!

 

 

No... It didn't take me that long to get home... I've been busy!

 

I did manage to fit in a couple of cards though!  Believe it or not my cold is STILL hangin' 'round (darn nusiance! I'm going through tissues like no tomorrow!).  I  thought I'd better have a go at some of my crafting kits (especially since Ive bought another one!).  Here I used 'Woodland Walk' Hunkydory toppers with 'Copper Leaves' accent-foiled card...

 

 

Outside...

 

 

I found some old (and I mean OLD - like 7 years old) A5 gold card blanks in my stash, so I stuck two together to form a tri-fold card... then stuck and embelished away!

Inner Outside...

 

 

Inside...

 

 

 

and with the leftovers...... and some green stickles

and voilà!

 

 

 

 



After doing a little work, I managed to sneek into my craftroom again and complete a quick mens card using a Kanban topper sheet - 'The Champion'...

 

  Nice and simple (I like simple!)

 

 

 

 

 

My daughter is working SO, SO hard at the moment, as well as being in her final year at university, I am so VERY proud of her.  But it is amazing how often she has run out of ink and can she just 'borrow your printer, mum'!.  Some years ago I discovered the beauty of a 'continuous ink system', for anyone who has invested (I say invested, because the initial outlay is probably three times what you would pay for a set of 'compatible' ink cartridges) you will know how wonderful the CIS is!  I, like most of us out there do not have an endless supply of money and so had to consider long and hard whether to invest in a CIS.  But not only was it a HUGE saving it is also alot less hassle.  I never, as my daughter has discovered, run out of ink!  When I replaced my printer, last year I again bought a CIS (although it was a slightly different version),  when everyone else is trawling ebay (or the like) to find the cheapest cartridges, I only have to stock up on bottles of ink (which are 10 times cheaper and last 100 times longer).  I would, seriously, recommend one to anyone... my daughter has not invested, however, because it's cheaper for her to come and see her mother!

 

 

Blah... blah... blah...

 

 

 

 

To Buy or Not to Buy... that is the question!

It is lovely, I'm sure you will agree, to 'get away from it all'.  Well I have, I'm still in Fishguard (well Goodwick, to be presise), and I am still relaxed and enjoying the view from the balcony, of the wide expanse of the Irish Sea.  The weather is being particularly kind, and the sun is out (I kid you, not!), and as I view the hussle and bustle of the arriving (and then departing) Stena Line Ferry I realised just how wonderful it is to be CONTENT.

 

Life has such a very annoying habit of getting in the way of our envisaged plans.  We know (when we are teenagers) that we will one day be rich; that we will have sucessful careers; that we will never have to diet; we will have precisely 2.4 children and have faithful loving spouses (after we have had an equally fabulous wedding with all the trimming).  Life truely has a lot to answer for!

 

Having experienced some of life myself (I am no spring chicken), I try very hard to rid my children of their rose-coloured glasses... I do this, not through any malice or feelings of injustice, but because I love them and want to prepare them for the (hopefully, only occassional) disappointment!  And then I SHUT-UP, because I realise that the joy of being young is looking at life through rose-coloured glasses.  The young don't want to be prepared for any upsets that may come their way... and so I just tell them... it is the bad times that make us realise what good times are!  And that "What doesn't kill you, only makes you stronger".

 

I think it is probably a good job I'm going home tomorrow, since I appear to have turned into some kind of philosopher! 

 

But for now I will content myself with surfing the internet and placing bids on EBay.  Which reminds me... I have just purchased a new (well someones OLD) cricut expression machine.  I only did it because... through my own ineptitude I thought I'd lost out on the bidding (not very computer savvy, me) and in that moment realise that I had missed out on the bargin of the century and the more I thought about my missed opportunity the more I wanted it!  I was umming and arhing, to buy or not to buy! Up until I thought I couldn't have it, and then all lifes focus was on how I so needed item # 2012477582023... So when I discovered that it was still up for auction, I naturally HAD to have it!  I'll let you know if I've wasted my hard earned cash... again!  Anyone who says they only MAKE money on EBay is a liar (or just very, very, very disciplined)!  I AM NOT!

 

Anyway... my biggest concern for today is going to be, which bottle of wine to open and whether to have pizza or chinese delivered... oh life is good... have a lovely weekend everyone, I hope you get more crafting done than me, which won't be hard...

 

 

Blah... blah... blah...

 

 

Hello?

 

Sorry, no crafting today! Having a little trip away with mummy!  We've gone to the seaside... yes we set off early this morning (well I say early, it was in fact after mum had had her hair done, and been to see the hearing aid lady, and after early morning coffee, and then after morning coffee!). Had a lovely leisurely drive through the beautiful Welsh countryside (it was raining... surprised?), and got to Fishguard in time for late morning coffee (we like coffee!).

 

We gazed across the balcony at the blue, blue sea underneath the grey grey skies (it's raining!), then promptly went back inside (and had coffee) and did nothing for the rest of the day except chatted.

 

Promptly at 5.30pm it was ready to get ready.  This having been done... we were now suitably primped and painted so we set off for Wolf's Castle (what a fabulous name... however there are no wolves and we didn't see a castle!).  Once there we wined and dined.

 

'A Welsh Night' at the Wolf's Castle Hotel... what a brilliant evening we had.  After a wine spritzer each and a lovely assortment of canapes (consisting of lots of leeks, sausage, laverbread, asparagus and cheese), we had our first course - baked leeks in Caerphilly cheese with a perfectly poached egg on top! Yummy scrummy!  However now we have a problem!  We have gazed at the menu before hand, and know that dessert consists of cinnamon ice-cream in a brandy snap basket, bara birth butter pudding AND gingered poached plums, we KNOW we want these delicious sweets... but we are already FULL.  What to do?  We did what all greedy pigs do and carried on eating!  We ploughed through the main course of lamb, creamed potatoes, spinach and leeks and sat back waiting our trio of desserts! And believe me they were terrific! By the time we got home we were both complaining of having eaten too much (REALLY, can't understand how!).  Usually we would roll in and put the kettle on for... yes you've guessed it, a cup of coffee, and an extremely large glass of liqueur.  Tonight however we couldn't manage to stuff anything else down our greed gullets!  If only I had my crafting supplies with me, I would naturally sit down, RIGHT NOW, and start crafting away - NOT! I'm off to bed, if I can waddle my great big fat belly up them there stairs...

 

Blah... blah... blag...

 

 

 

 

Having A Good Day?

I do hope you're having a good day.  Happiness is something we all thrive for... somtimes finding it, sometimes not.  But we'll leave the philosophical discussion for another day.  Back to the REALLY important thing in life... CRAFTING!

 

I managed to finish my 'project of the day' (I didn't say which day!) actually it is only a day late!  Well come on... I have got a really, really bad cold! I started this in the hope of entering a 'fantasy' competition, but tardiness cost me the opportunity! Never mind!

 

 

 

 

I also did a quick card for a friend's birthday using a hunkydory kit...

 

 

 

 

Blah... blah... blah...

well, bloody hell, will you look at that... It didn't work! Dots, apparently do NOT rule!

Dots Rule!

...



The need for the dots? If you look to your right, there is a list of previous posts.  The powers that be also show me a little tool icon underneath it (not visable to you mere mortals), this icon (supposedly!) is for me to format said list.  Me being me, got a little confused and is having trouble figuring out how to... only show the post 'heading' and not the 'heading' and the first line of the post! What can I say? I told you I was no expert! Hence the dots...

I made a mistake... a big one! I watched Create and Craft TV, what can I say... I was feeling poorly with this rotten cold and fancied a bit of a free crafting fix, as the remote was close to the sofa it somehow got into my hand, the 671 numbers were punched before I even knew it!

I know you can guess the rest... 

Blah... blah... blah... 

 

 

Just Call Me Mystic Meg!

 

As predicted the clubhouse is VERY quiet, well the weather is bad (rain... surprised?) and the darts team is away... good luck boys (we're gonna need it!).

 

Well I'm afraid the cold got the better of me and I didn't finish my card project of the day!  Unlike so many very, very talented people out there... I am not a never-ending font of inspiration, I do not reel out cards and/or projects like the proverbial machine gun.  I have SO much stuff (you know, crafting goodies so DESPERATELY needed at the time, but then promptly shoved out the way), that very often I forget what I've got - ever been there? - so I go trawling through it all... then (I have to say) get very distracted - I have a very short attention span, it would seem!

 

You would think that over the years of motherhood I would have gained a better developed grasp of the concentration needed for everyday life... but alas no!  Instead of children making me more aware of my surroundings, I fear they have managed to erode what little brain I had in the first place.  Wonderful, though it was, after bandaging the upteenth knee or kissing the millionth scrap; after trying to fathom long division and the need for trigonometry; and after trying to explain safe sex and how to use the washing machine, the stuff in my cranium appears to have given up some of its fight and simply accepted that it is, very often, better to just switch off and 'go with the flow'.  The result of which is that I do not accept that I have a short attention span due to my advancing age, oh no!  But because my delightful children have helped me establish a laid-back approach to life.

 

Just so you don't get too bored, listening to me ramble on... here's a card a made awhile ago, I used some free papers from a craft magazine, the fire was from a cricut cartridge and the face was a peachy keen stamp... cute init!

 

 

 

Gotta go, laptop is failing... it's just about run out of juice and I've gotta pour a few more pints...  nightie, night crafters...

 

 

Blah... blah... blah...

 

 

 



Good Morning, my little munchkins...

 

So how's it hanging?  I'm still sneezing, snuffling and generally mucus-ified (graphic!!), but hey ho... life is nothing if not interesting!

 

I was having a look at some of the crafting challenges about for halloween and thought I might have a go.  So I'm going to put this...

Welcome to Boo-ville

 

 

in the http://paperplaytime.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/ch-86-welcome-to-boo-ville.html challenge.

 

 

I'm just hoping that I've followed the rules correctly and done everything I'm supposed to... I wonder how long it takes to no longer question EVERYTHING I do on this blog (~sigh~).

 

I've got a few crafting items I'm selling on ebay at the moment, and I've just discovered that the postage is even higher than I thought, and I'm actually losing money on them! Sometimes I feel a REAL idiot!  Still we live and learn (I wonder why I always have to do it the hard way!).

 

I'd better get on with some crafting before I have to start work.  The club is open tonight, but the darts team is away, so it should be fairly quiet.

 

Looking at the preview of this blog post... it sound a bit depressing, sorry 'bout that... I think it must be this cold I've got!  I did think about changing it but... what the hell!  We all have off days, right?

 

Blah... blah... blah...

Hi there, crafting cuties...

I'm feeling pretty rubbish, but just couldn't stay out of the craft room, especially after a couple of hours kip!

I'm now watching old re-runs of Stargate SG1, snuggled up on the sofa with a lemsip!

Did just a quick 'friendship' card using some holographic card, mulberry paper, a sentiment topper and some ribbon... oh and that 'time' backing paper... here it is -

 

There is NO cure for the common cold!  But always remember FEED a cold, STARVE a fever (so glad I'm not feverish, those chocolate pretzels look yummie! Diet? What diet?).

Blah... blag... blah...

 

 

 

Woke Up This Morning Feeling Fine (NOT!)

 

Sore throat, headache, achy (is that even a word?), one nostril blocked (the other runny)... I think I have a cold!

 

Sent mum into town to get me Lemsips and throat sweets (ohh, she's a wonderful mother, it's funny how we always need our mum's - no matter how old we get - to make us feel better). Love you mum xxx

 

I'd better start today with an apology for my poor spelling and grammar - sorry about that (and any further cock-ups) but nobody's perfect, especially not me!

 

Now that's out the way (and I get the feeling I'm going to be apologising on a regular basis) we'll get down to some crafting!

 

I said I'd make something with that 'time' paper... well here it is...

 

 

 

Ooo... mum's back, Lemsip, here I come. 

 

Blah... blah... blah...

 

FIXED IT!!!

See... this is what happens when you're a complete novice to blogging!!! Fixed the time issue!  But now, no-one knows what  I was on about in previous blogs 'cause 'blogger' fixed it from the very beginning (yes - a very good place to start)!!! 

 

Oh well, so I sound like an idiot... so what!

 

For anyone else who is as ignorant as I WAS.  To fix the time, go to 'blogger.com' then to settings, then formating, find the right time (GMT-London), click - way we go!

 

Ideally YOU would have done this when your first started you blog, I wasn't quite so bright!

 

 

I do like this 'time' themed paper from the Crafter's Companion CD ROM - Men's Collection, I'll have to see what I can come up with...

 

 

 

~ when printing off the backing papers, I usually print onto thin card as I find it easier to work with.

 

In the Men's Collection there are also inserts, gift bags, toppers, envelopes, teabag papers...

 

Blah... blah... blah...

 

I'm Back!

(as Russell Casse said in Independence Day, or indeed good old Arnie in Terminator)

 

Just got back from a trip to see my big bro, now home again, home again - in rainy Wales (that's why its green, all the bloody rain!)

 

I thought I'd share a quick card with you... using some 'Hunkydory' cardstock I bought awhile ago.  All it is, is a panel of cardstock (blinged up); the corners rounded using a punch; then I glue it onto a card blank, added a sentiment and Bob's your uncle, Fanny's your aunt!

 

Easy, peasy, lemon squeezy!

 

 

Some other sayings and meanings...

 

SON OF A GUN After sailors had crossed the Atlantic to the West Indies, they would take the native women on board the ship and have their way with them in between the cannons. Some of the women the sailors left behind would have boys, who were called sons between the guns.

PATENT LEATHER After the Patten shoe which the young women wore in the buttery. When the cream spilled on their shoes, the fat would tend to make the leather shiny.

BEAT AROUND THE BUSH Game birds were scared out of their hiding places under bushes and then killed.

CUT THROUGH THE RED TAPE Solicitors kept their clients papers in a file folder tied with red ribbon to prevent the papers from falling out. Of course, when they wanted to get at the papers, they would have to cut through the red tape.


MINDING YOUR Ps & Qs Ale was served at local taverns out of a "tankard" ... you were charged by the angle of your elbow ... half-way up... you drank a pint, all the way up... you drank a quart. Since the Quart cost so much more than the Pint, you were warned to "Mind your Ps & Qs"
Comment from Bill Kling: "Minding one's p's and q's" is a typesetter's admonition. When you handle individual character type slugs, you need to be careful of how you store and retrieve the p's and q's, because they look so much alike.

 

 

Oh and by the way... the time is now 15:58 (and forty seconds)!

 

Blah... blah... blah...

 

 

CAN'T TELL THE TIME?

I just noticed my blog is displaying the wrong time! Wonder what I've done wrong NOW!!!

And more importantly how am I gonna fix it!

The time is now - one twenty nine and ten seconds; the time is now - one twenty nine and twenty seconds, the time is now - one twenty nine and thirty seconds, the time is now .....

Anyway (~sigh~) nightie, night, night...

sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs... blah blah blah

PARTY'S OVER!

 

Everyone had a great time... and so my work is done for another day! Did manage to boogie a bit to the disco - in between collecting glasses! People - danced, drank and stuffed their faces... there's peanuts and party poppers EVERYWHERE! So all in all, a good time was had by all!

 

Going to visit my brother in England tomorrow (sorry, make that later today), so I thought I'd shove a quick post in!

 

Yes, Echo Park AGAIN! Using up the scraps from the last two card (waste not, want not).

 

 

 

I'm off to bed (after a lovely cup of tea)... ready for the big clean up tomorrow.  We'll get the clubhouse cleaned then it's off to visit my brother, niece and nephew.

 

I'll be dreaming of... echo park; echo park; echo park...  blag... blag... blag



The floor's been buffed to perfection...! Now for a quick break, a meal replacement shake and my laptop...


Have YOU ever had paper pads that you LOVE... but only LOOK at? Take a look at this lovely paper pad...

 

 

... I mean SERIOUSLY, isn't it G.O.R.G.E.O.U.S!

 

I've had this Halloween themed paper pad -  Echo Park 'Apothecary Emporium', forever (well since last year anyway), and every now and again I get it out and gaze lovingly at the stunning papers.  Can I do them justice? Probably not, but here goes anyway...

 

 



 

 

 

Not bad, but I still don't think I've managed to do the beautiful papers justice! I'll see what else I can come up with...

 

Gotta go, my son's come to visit...

...false alarm, he only popped in to see the contents of my fridge! and since nothing appealled to him... he's gone again!  Now where were we? Oh yeah, let's try something different...

Yeah... I'm happier with this one, amazing what a difference inking the edges makes!

 

 

Now what to do with that new paper pad of

Echo Park 'This & That'... blah blah blah

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Morning peeps...

 

I woke up late then had to apologise to my boss (my mother) for not helping clean the clubhouse, only to find that she hadn't either!

 

We've got a big 30th birthday party on tonight, so the floor needs an extra polish, that means we'll be cleaning up AFTER the big guns have come out (the buffing machine!).

 

Anyway I saw this on "Loopy Lou's Loopy Thoughts" blog and thought how great it was, so I thought i'd share it with you. With Halloween just around the corner what an inexpensive way to liven it up!

 

http://loopylousloopythoughts.blogspot.co.uk/

 

 

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VmJQ1BtmVw0/UHHudyHpY7I/AAAAAAAAGes/vV3z00EIHds/s1600/witches+warts.jpg

 

 

I hope I've got this 'linking' business right... blah blah blah

 

 

Gotta get some work done now, talk soon!

 

Karen xxx

What a Twit...

 

I KNOW I'm not the only one to put things down and NEVER find them again... but, my bestest bone folder! My bestest crafting companion!  

 

 

 I LOVE my Martha Stewart (yes, I'm taking over the world) score board, it really is one of the best I've used.  I did have to give it a REALLY good clean before I took it's picture though! It was filthy...

 ... that glitter gets everywhere!  I went to see my mum the other day, I'd been there 5 minutes and I noticed she'd started to glint in the sunlight.  Who have YOU glittered up lately?

 

I Never found my bone folder, by the way, I've got to order another one!

 

But which one to get?  Blah blah blah...

 

Karen xxx

... thought I'd done it!

 

 

Made my very own blog, but no! Some weird stuff happening when i try to find my newly formed blogspot. 

 

Anyhow, it now has suddenly appeared!  Due to luck, I think, certainly not due to my limited knowledge of computer systems.  But mine is not to reason why, so I'll just post another 'card presentation' asap (before it asserts itself again and decides to disappear) and hope that it will present itself to the world!

 

 

 blah... blah... blah...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HERE I AM!!!

Ok, so hi. What to say? Well I think I’ll start at the very beginning... a very good place to start (if like me you’re already saying that last bit in a sing song voice... but can’t remember the song, don’t worry it’ll come back to you!).

 

I make cards, do the occasional scrapbooking and over the last few years have become a papercraft addict.  I LOVE looking at Ebay (for bargains, of course), Create and Craft TV (I only look though – can’t afford anything but the occasional pick of the week (POW) and gaze at countless blogs of other wonderful crafting peeps.

Then one day I wanted to enter a crafting challenge! Just so other like-minded people could look at my designs and ooh and arrh at how great they were.

PROBLEM? Yeah! I didn’t know how! I thought the hard work was doing the crafty bit... oh no, the hard work was figuring out how to post the blessed thing. I didn’t want to appear thick! So I left it and carried on for another few months thinking, my cards are as good as x, y, and z, and they really should be seeing how great I am!  I didn’t really think that, but I did think that I’d like to JOIN IN.

 I’d joined a couple of groups on facebook and they really motivated me to consider blogging.  They were just SO friendly, SO nice, SO encouraging, SO I bought a book! A book? Yes a book... one about blogging, so that I would have an URL (or at least know what one was).  Which apparently you needed if you were to enter any challenges, or so I thought.

URL – universal remot?... blah blah blah

 

So now I’ve read the book (well kindled it!).  And then went onto ‘BLOGGER’ and followed the instructions – easy-peasy – here I am!!!

 

Do i have URL?  Yes I DO!  DO I know what it is? No, I don't, i'll have to check!!!  But hey ho, I'm just beginning, so please forgive me, or not! Now I've just got to figure out what that 'link' button means...

 

Thanks for taking the time out to read my ramblings, there's plenty more where that came from!

Karen ...

 

This is the first card I sucessfully entered into a challenge (well I think I did anyway, LOL)...

 

 

... its from a Kanban POW from Create and Craft.  I used a blank cream card base; two of the toppers (matching the blue of the shirts) with some narrow blue ribbon; a blue button and sentiment.  I inkied all the edges first and used foam pads on the second topper and the 'happy birthday'.  Simple but effective!