WOYWW II

Week Two & I've realised WOYWW is a great way to keep track of the days! While Luke got ready for school today I felt the urge to make a pair of earrings. I sat on my bed and made these and then wanted to make another pair. I knew I'd probably make us late if I did, so I left everything out for when I got home & it's all still there.... untouched.....

Pimp it Up!

I bought these notebooks & memo boxes in a closing down sale for 75p a pop. I'd love to say this is my first foray into altered art, but it's really a jolly pimp up! Easy I know, but it's important for my confidence to make anything & above all, to enjoy it. Liking the end result is a big plus!

A WOYWW first!

While dusting my blogland passport off I've enjoyed hopping over to WOYWW. So here's mine from earlier today. I've been recycling cards while I struggle to create again. This is a topper taken off a used card, a Papermania blank bought in a sale & never used &... a packet of Mentos! I think I'll keep it simple & just add torn vellum, ribbon & a few gems. I'd love some ideas for sentiments as it's always my sticking point.

Whatever Happened To.....

.... last week? Oh to be back at primary school when playtime was a regular occurrence! Well, today I decided I deserved a break & made this card for mum for Mothers' Day using the Papermania "Chatsworth Collection" I bought when it came out -and never used. I even bought the stamps & almost managed not to smudge them!

By Kind Permission....

...of Lulu. In the interests of economy (single mum & all that) & recycling (makes me sound less stingy!) I've looked at mum's old cards. I found one from a few years ago, by Lou, that I felt a stir to make-over. I wish I'd taken a picture of the original, but too late now......

Trial and Error

I've never crafted without fear of it going "wrong". Trying to overcome the block that hit when dad died I chose to let myself "get it wrong". I began with a printed base I bought reduced, but have never liked -fickle me & sales! I avoid stamping, so I made myself do that too. I couldn't fail because I had no expectations! I don't like the result, but I've realised it doesn't matter!

Ta Dah!!!

For those of you who don't know, the night dad died, I sat up making cards waiting for the phone call that I knew would come at about 4.00am. I have been unable to craft anything since then, although I have wanted to I just haven't been able to touch all the beautiful bitz and bobz.
Thanks to the support of many people on here, my fingers have been tingling for a few weeks, until this evening I came home to an empty house and heard my boxes of bitz softly calling to me.
This is the first card I have made in 15 months. It took me a ridiculous 3 hours, but it was a mindless and very relaxing time. I literally jumped up and down for joy when I held the finished object up to admire!

What do you say?

When you've got nothing to say? It's been a week since my last post and I have nothing to say. I really want to post something, but I can think of nothing, nichts, rien, niente, nada. zilch. So, I'll just go visiting you all and wish everyone health and happiness with all my love xxx

Closing My Eyes

Well, this is what you call turning a blind eye! I'm not going to Weight Watchers today. I have stuffed myself all week and feel bloated and queasy. I have fallen into a pattern of making myself weigh-in then rewarding myself by pigging out for the rest of the day. And then carrying on until I realise with horror that it's Monday and I'm more than half way through the next week :S

So, I'm actually hoping to break a pattern by NOT going to weigh-in. I ate reasonably -ish yesterday and hope to stay in that mode by not interrupting it..... Well, that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it! 

The Streets of London

I love my Saturdays just wandering through London while Luke is dancing. I spotted this piece of window art in a shop down a sidestreet this week:

You have more freedom than you are using!

What with that motto and "Can you do more than you did before?" from last week, I am collecting positive maxims thick and fast. I think I should start a little note-book. Now, where could I go to buy a nice one lol!

Just a Bit of Marge!

Yesterday, I got the email offering me the part of Margery Mungo in "Maurice Dancing". It's the role that I wanted, so I am delighted :D Margery decides to leave her control freak husband following a phone-in with a marriage counsellor on the radio and is manically making lists dividing up the joint possessions. No acting there then!!!

Just a Quickie!

I just have to post this before I go to bed, no matter if I am half asleep. I went to Weight Watchers this morning and (*drum roll) had lost another 2lbs. That now makes 35lbs lost since I joined at the end of July last year. To say I am delighted to have reached the half-way point is an understatement.

Oh, and last night's audition went well. We'll get the emails on Saturday -that feels like forever to be doubting yourself :S

On the Up

Well things are definitely on the up...... but that includes my weight :(

1) Meeting Sarah yesterday was epically awesome. We sat and ate and talked (*whispers: and drank) for three hours until we almost got thrown out of the restaurant! We got on so well together, as if we'd known each other for ages -which I suppose we have! Life is on the up when you can count people like Sarah as a true friend. So, my mood was high, especially as I also bagged a bag in a charity shop that was unused and perfectly "me" for......... £1.50!

2) And Norwich City could be on the up too. After an amazing 93rd minute goal this evening to beat Millwall, we are hanging on in second. Going up to the Premiership next year is beginning to feel like a real possibility. It's worth freezing your face off for a result like that!

3) So after yesterday and today, I'm buzzing. Seriously I was feeling so good -so why did I sit and eat 5 packets of Walker's crisps during the night as I sat and caught up with assignment reports and emails? Actually, writing that. I realise it's probably because after two such wonderful days I feel like the world is mine to enjoy and in seeking pleasure, I temporarily forgot that I'd vowed to indulge in moderation.

Tomorrow, damage limitation!!! Pick myself back up and start again!

The Shape of Things To Come?

Amazing what happens when you begin to think positively! I handed in my first job report yesterday and woke up to a score of 13 out of 10! Then my next assignment dropped into my email and a bit later a two for one meal voucher that can be used in the same town dropped in. So, I can finally meet Sarah over lunch as the job is a bus ride from where she lives and... lunch will be "free" using the voucher and the petty fee for the assignment :D


I have also been selected as one of the parents to meet with the OFSTED inspection team when they visit Luke's school next month! It's sad, but I actually enjoy that sort of role. I don't know whether it's the school that has suggested me or the inspectors on the basis of my answers to the pre-inspection questionnaire. Whichever, it is confirmation that I do in fact exist and have thoughts that people consider worthy of sharing. So I count it a privilege to be asked to contribute :D


And last, but by no means least, I dragged myself back to Weight Watchers this morning having managed to avoid going since 23rd December. As I got on the scales, I said to the leader "Please don't comment -at least I'm here!". She wanted to know what on earth I meant -I'd lost 2lbs over the Christmas period!!!


So watch out world -this is the shape of things to come!

Dusting Myself Off But...

.....where to start? Delete my posts to date? Tempting, but that's who I was and part of who I am! Thank you to all my friends who have passed by and hoped that I would return. You've made it possible for me to start again.

So, I'm now living in Norfolk with my elderly mum and my 15 year old son. I'm unemployed and overweight. I know my mum, my son and my sister and her family who live nearby and that is it. Having waited since 2004 (the year of my 40th birthday) for my life to turn around, I'm now determined that 2011 will finally be my year. I'm positive and open-minded -and a bit more than a little bit scared!

However, I hit 2011 running yesterday with an interesting little job which paid expenses only, but did get me out of the house and to a historical spot in Norfolk that I'd never visited. I took advantage of being there by googling craft shops and grabbed a breath of fresh air (2 Weight Watchers pedometer points!) and a rummage ( £7.20 spent on craft stash :S ) I wonder how many days before I make something.... Any guesses???

Woke up today and had an email about yesterday's "operation" -I scored 13 out of 10 for my assignment ?!?!?!?!

Hugs to you all,

S xxx

Up, up and Away!

Just to let you all know that tomorrow I'm flying to Switzerland for the week to see Luke play Boy George in "The Wedding Singer" in Geneva & Ben play in the East of France rugby final in Valence. I won't be able to craft while I am away.

Look Out -Here Comes Audrey II !!!

I can't believe I've not blogged in over a week -nor made a card! I've been doing long days & evenings in the theatre on "Little Shop of Horrors". The show has had standing ovations every night & the feeling's fantastic. Anyway for those of you who have been asking, here are a couple of shots of the man-eating plant!

Time to Make-Up!

Here's my card for the Crafty Muse Black & White plus One challenge. I upped the stakes in the challenge by refusing to allow myself to use red, pink or purple as the plus one! The sentiment is actually green & very sparkly, just like the new eyeliner I bought yesterday. Maybe the card has been inspired by my make-up!

Oh Baby, Baby,.. how was I supposed to know?

...something wasn't right! Seems commenting on my blog ain't easy atm. Thanks for telling me! Here's my Funky Fairy baby card. It's simple cos all my brainspace is taken up with creating that %&*$ giant man-eating plant! I've used the FF "Seeing Spots" papers that I won last week -woooHoooO! See here for the full range of fabby FF papers.

Let's have Another One...

...just like the other ones! I know I have a fixation with sympathy cards at the moment, but they were seriously lacking from my stock & I'm trying to redress the balance. I've heard it's difficult to comment on my blog at the moment. If anyone can advise me on how to make it easier -I will!

On Man-eating Plants and the Such!

Today I've been making a giant man-eating plant from chicken wire & velvet curtains -eat your heart out LuLu! The brute swallows 3 teenagers & I suffered in rehearsal as I saw their death throes. As I've said, I'm on a mission to produce desirable sympathy cards & I dedicate this to the victims of "The Little Shop of Horrors"!

I See a Little Silhoutte-o of a Dog!

Rainbow Lady wants a silhouette & black & white this week. Well -there's definitely a silhouette here, greyscale & a stamp which is... red! The Guernsey craft shop owner's birthday is today & she keeps her dachshund in the shop. I saw this image & thought I'd turn it into a card for her as she's so helpful.

Polka Doodle-Doo

Polka Doodles is launched with a wonderful doodle. Here's my take on it. I was told recently that it's not easy to find tasteful, but unusual sympathy cards so I am a girl on a mission at the moment to redress that.

What a Knit!

I nearly forgot... thanks Beryl for reminding me about the new C.R.A.F.T challenge blog. Appropriately for the very first challenge they want to see something NEW. So I've used the Lili of the Valley template by Jo to inspire this card for a newborn.

Third Time Lucky!

Da dah! At last -the legal Funky Fairy circles & buttons card you have all (well some of you LOL!) been waiting for!!! Using free FF Doodlementals BP's which can be found here. Hope it was worth the wait! Stop press: I won... wooohoooo!

A Bit Sketchy!

I tried to follow the gorgeous sketch at Simon Says, but sketches aren't my forte! Here's my card -a combination of the sketch & the materials I own. BTW Crafty Muse has a black & white + one challenge with digistamps up for grabs! I was lucky enough to win the May Day challenge -WoooHooooo!

Wedding Belle

Love and Marriage is the theme at My Time to Craft. Here is my card which I feel would make a suitable Silver Wedding Anniversary card. Many of my friends seem to be reaching this stage in their relationships.

Play it Again, Sam!

Last night I enjoyed one too many glasses of wine. To avoid watching Casualty I made a second -this time legal- card for the Funky Fairy circles & buttons challenge. Not! Under the affluence of inkahalc I forgot to use the FF papers I bought especially for the challenge! The + side-I get to play it again!

And the Winner is...

... Jem! With £230 raised for Cancer Research I decided to draw a second prize which goes to... Alison! Please both send your postal addresses to buttonzandbradz@hotmail.com and I'll post your candy ASAP! Thanks to everyone who participated!

100% Authentic!

This card is made from the bits I cut off a new pair of jeans -amazing where inspiration seems to come from! This is all the crafting I've managed yesterday & today as I've been giving the voice a good old workout & trying to learn a monologue about how to catch a dragon -don't ask!

When it's Spring again, I'll...

sing again! I've just enquired about a 2 year Performing Arts course. I'll be auditioning for them in the next 2 weeks so I'm singing like a canary atm & will probably lose my voice by audition day! Appropriately for Spring it's Pink & Green over at Created by Hand. Here's a very simple card, but I do like Papermania printed card blanks.

Pink, Green and Blue...

...is the challenge over at Lili of the Valley this week. I've said before -I always try and hedge my bets on gender when making a baby card. I get asked to make baby cards more than anything else and this way they can be unisex & made in my own time rather than in a hurry when the baby's born.

Hey Ho a Golden Lining!

For Sketch Saturday 51 I wanted a 70's album feel & hope the hearts look like thought bubbles for an absent love. As I kept singing David Essex's Silver Lining while making it -even tho it's gold- I've posted it for the DCM Music challenge & I'm cheeky enough to send it "illegally" for Funky Fairy's circles & buttons challenge while I buy myself time to make a law-abiding one LOL! Thanks to Anesha for the RAK.

Let's hear it for the Boyz!

Thanks to everyone who's sent cards for the Race for Life for Cancer Research. The candy's up for grabs until 24th May so there's still time to join in! (see above for update & individual thanks) Somehow in all this I've stumbled on Simon Says -will the guilty party own up? Anyway, here's my card for their One for the Boys challenge using Basic Grey Archaics range.

Gardener's don't grow old...

...they just go to seed! I owe a debt of thanks to Debbie as I spotted this sentiment on her blog this morning & loved it so much I just had to use it immediately!

Two for One

I made a card for ICS 16 & didn't like it at all (the baby card below), so I made another (the Congratulations above) which I much prefer. I found the tiny tree motif at the haberdashers on Norwich market. Isn't it amazing how different the same sketch looks with different colours & contexts?

How to Avoid Ironing!

This is my card for Funky Fairy Flowers & Bling using the free swirls BP download (available here). I'm supposed to be ironing -I usually allow myself 30 minutes blogging for each shirt ironed! But this challenge was so absorbing I couldn't wait to get started... on the crafting NOT on the ironing!

Forever Footballing!

This is my entry for the Cupcake Craft card for a man or a boy challenge. The one below is equally appropriate. And the fish below that!!! By chance last week I decided that I didn't have enough male cards so I have been making mainly those for the last couple of days.

Dino Trax

This card was made with help from BasicGrey. I saw a display with dinosaurs on & just had to have it to make a card for my nephew who's at that "dinosaur stage" of life! It's for the PTW Animal Antics challenge & I just realised it also fits the Cupcake Craft card for a man or boy challenge.

Sweet Lips

How much do I love core'dinations? On this Raspberry Ribbons challenge card I've sanded the red then crumpled & sanded the pink core'dinations. I've seen rosette tutorials in magazines so I decided to have a go to highlight the ribbon band. I'm amazed how easy & effective it was! I've just realised this card also fits the Cupcake Craft card for a man or boy challenge.

Choc-a-licious

It's scallops, pink & chocolate at Card-a-licious this week. Unfortunately the watermark butterfly on the chocolate panel does not show in the photograph, but it is there. BTW is chocolate the new brown?!?!

Mayday, Mayday, Mayday...

...is the Crafty Muse challenge. Actually I think it's May Day! This card evokes the May Day feast day of times of yore with it's Olde Worlde decoupaged lily, juxtaposed with what modern May Day means to me: fresh colours, awakening shades of green & carefree feelings as my birthday approaches. I really wanted to do a ribbon Maypole, but Sarah snaffled that so my green ribbon represents that tradition. The stripes also fit the Lots to Do challenge like the one below.

You've Been Framed!

As I'm making Race for Life cards (see above) I set myself the task of NOT using pink or blue for Rainbow Lady's frame challenge. One flower is very dark blue, but it's a colour I 've never used before so it doesn't count! Out bloghopping I also saw that it fits this week's Lots to Do stripes challenge.

Funky Me!

I've never made a Get Well Soon card & so I particularly want to thank Lulu & Anesha for encouraging me to join in the Funky Fairy Get Well Soon challenge this week. Having chosen the refreshing & vibrant p0ink Simply Swirly free BP download from Funky Fairy, I really wanted a sentiment along the lines of "To Brighten Up Your Day", but didn't know how to achieve it! I hope you like it anyway.

Not on your Nelly...

...did I ever think I would post 2 cards in a day! But I stumbled on this elephant decoupage sticker while searching through a box for a brush & thought I'd whip up a second card for Rainbow Lady's Four Legged Friends challenge.

Dancing Queen

I started cross stiching this unlikely ballerina for my niece, Jorja, who is a Norfolk Ballet Scholar. Needless to say, I didn't finish it in time for her birthday, but I have managed to finish it in time for Rainbow Lady's Four Legged Friends challenge.

Post Men

Such a busy bank holiday weekend that I'm posting my men!




Luke (13) interprets the abused & lonely apprentice in a darkly atmospheric Peter Grimes -Grand Theatre de Geneve. Luke hates sport & had to be taught to kick a ball to stop it rolling into the orchestra pit! In contrast Ben (16, 6ft3, highest in the lineout in red) represents Switzerland in the European Rugby Championships. Both last month. Thanks for visiting!

Spots 'n' Dots

Sorry for the poor quality photo, but the batteries were failing and I was lucky to capture anything! At least the Dots 'n' Spots show up so it's perfect for Sarah's Challenge which you can find at Crafty Muse.

A Little Gem

I certainly know when I am at mum's -it's all baby and Ruby Wedding cards. Here's the latest using birds I recycled from a Christmas card!

A Labour of Love

I've always wanted to try ribbon weaving & finally I've got round to it. I can't tell you how much I enjoyed making this -& I WON'T tell you how long it took!!!

B is for...

baby. B is Rainbow Lady's challenge this week. I hunted out mum's old typewriter for the lettering. I can't stick it down because I can't find a glue stick & it's Sunday so the village shop is shut! I'm disappointed the lilac & lemon aren't clear.

Home from Home

I keep a crafty box at mum & dad's for when I'm feeling "itsy". Here's today's make. There won't be one tomorrow as I'm umpiring a netball tournament at my sister's school -I haven't played since I was at university!

Flying High!

Tonight I fly to the UK to spend a few days with mum and dad having spent the Easter holiday with my boys in Switzerland -so this card is most appropriate for Rainbow Lady's Transport Challenge!

Seriously Sweet Candy

Seriously sweet candy on offer by Debbie http://passionforcrafts.blogspot.com/2009/04/blogoversary-candy.html Good luck! Quite obviously, I'm back at last -but sadly no longer SammieJay, just simple Sammie!