Leaving card finished at last

I haven't posted all week as I have been very busy making this leaving card for someone at work.

It is a C4 size card, I have only made one this big before and I have never made a spinner card.

Pictures are a hamster, a squirrel and two lots of flying pigs.

The hamster photo shows the finished card front as I added a few bits after the first photos.

I stayed up late three nights running to perfect the card. The ric rac hides an edge, as I put two circles of card together and they weren't quite right.

The birthday card is the one already pictured but I added a butterfly which I think really makes it special.




The remaining cards all "thinking of you", were done with the help of a teenage helper, she didn't want to just stick mats on, but to offset them and add some stamping. I did the stamping. The grass and flower stamps were placed as directed by my helper!

My new Big Bite arrived yesterday, and sadly the case was smashed in the post, however the USA seller is going to replace it and wants me to check out the Big Bite to make sure that isn't damaged also.

What she did was take the Big Bite out of the packaging and placed it in the case to save me a lot of postage, even without the case it was cheaper than the one I bought over here, and it seems to be fine so far!

Cazzy's little helper or I recruited a new card making addict

I had visitors, my son and his girlfriend, and my youngest son's girlfriend. They were here for a couple of days, stayed for a BBQ, and some of us went to see Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull which was brilliant.

My Son's girlfriend V, offered to help me make some cards, it was fun doing it with two people, I was stamping and embossing and V was cutting mats, and sticking them and the toppers I wanted to use up.The result was 15 cards, which is strange as the toppers come in twos, I will have to look for an odd one.

Hopefully this will kick start me to use up the rest of the toppers and things I want to get through.

I also made this very quick card with a DoCrafts apeture card, backed with Dovecraft designer paper and topped with a Papermania die cut which was complete with gem.

Stamped and embossed greeting.

Here is a card that I cut on the Robo and V decorated for her Dad.

While this creativity was going on my Son was doing a life laundry job on my craft room, tidying up and clearing stuff out, taking stuff for V's sister who is also into card making!

May birthdays, weather and stuff

It is my Mum's birthday today. I gave her the Spring Showers card, and we have had showers today, also I bought her a food processor. She had no idea, thought it was a joke big box with a small present inside! (Can't think why she thought that).

I got a text saying she was speechless, so that was a result! She has given away her Kenwood Chef now she has the processor. Well I knew she would never get one if I didn't get it for her!

Sunday is Hubby's birthday and I have bought him a weed wand so he can go round burning stuff, his last one broke, a long handled weeding tool and a mini upright Dyson. I hope he likes it, well he will but it is a bit small so will require very frequent emptying but is very light which he will like!

Some people are so rude! Drivers I mean. I went to the farm shop earlier this week and as I drove out a people carrier was approaching me, it was clear she had no intention of backing up so I backed up quite a way to let her by. She swept by in her little bus without a glance at me let alone a thank you, nose in air, sunglasses on, child in front strapped in seat!

Well you would think she owned the place and I know she doesn't!

I like to say thanks to people who give way, even if it is at traffic calming - some don't bother to give way! It doesn't cost anything to do, and makes people feel a bit better for waiting for you!

I have ordered more stamps (have nearly filled the 5 new boxes already). I can't help it, my name is Cazzy and I am a stamp addict!

Well there were some cute bee stamps, then some Hero Arts tapestry stamps, and I think I need a Woodware cooks set, for my Son's card in June!

Ah well, I soon won't be able to get into my craft room- just need some more shelves for all the boxes!

I'm Back!

I spent the weekend away in Princes Risborough sleeping on a futon one night and a frequently deflating airbed the second. Neither were to be recommended!

It is really handy living in a High Street of a small town where you can walk from one supermarket to the other and take in all the little shops in between in about 15 minutes.

The building was interesting too, one part was really old with panelled ceilings, and a part hidden oak stair or floor, you could only see a little of a flat area then a step, then the floor which was on two levels. (None of the buildings in the photos are where I stayed by the way, just liked them!)

I found a little art shop that had Tuff boxes for 49p less each than I paid, and I paid postage for my 5 so could have saved over £6. Ah well, next time I want them I can put an order in with my son's girlfriend!

We went out for three meals, Indian - had delicious tandoori fish, Turkish - had sea bass, and a pub that sold African meat such as Zebra (not keen on that idea), I had fish again, the others had roast or steak. Steak was served on a hot rock and you cut it up and cooked it to taste on the hot rock!

I also managed to get my Mum a birthday present - a food processor. I was going to get it online but saw the shop and it was the same price with no messing with ordering, delivery and waiting hoping it would get there on time. So it is sitting here wrapped in two different papers, as I didn't have enough of one.

So back home and I thought I would sleep really well but I couldn't get off. I think I may be getting a cold, I got so cold at the weekend and again today while watching a fire putting out demo outside in the cold!

I must get on with the card I am making, need to try a few things out!

Also just to clarify as I have just realised there is a misunderstanding - the stash pictured in the post about me winning the challenge with my altered tub was not the prize! I bought the stash!

The prize was an embellishment tote by Papermania!

Dog disappeared!

I went to check if the postie had been yet, expecting some Tuff boxes and a prize from DoCrafts but they probably won't arrive today!

The dogs came with me, then they shot off after something, probably a cat! Disappeared round the back of next door's garage into the wilderness that is the hedge.

I called and called and eventually Alfie came back, he was getting a bit excited that Sooty wasn't coming back so I shut him in the house where he was threatening violence to Sooty and went back looking!

Called him and looked, no sign, I didn't know if he was round the other side - would have to get the key and see, or if he had broken through into a neighbour's garden.

Eventually he appeared looking sheepish and couldn't get back out of the hedge, and then limped convincingly on next doors gravel drive. He was very sorry, and rolled over and even let me brush and comb him with minimum theats.

Alfie did get him when I let him back in too, gave him a good telling off!

Blog candy got there safely

I heard from Nicola and she is thrilled with her blog candy and will post it on her blog soon!

I went into Tesco on Monday, and as it is the size of a small country, which I may have mentioned before, I was in there for an hour and spent £Cough Cough!

I picked up three blouses (which have all gone back today), I went looking for summer skirts - due to the hot weather and losing weight.

When I got to the checkout the woman was holding up the blouse looking at it from the front, then she said "some don't have them on" and began folding it to go in the bag! I said it has a tag on it - look! She went red and removed it.
Then she did exactly the same with the second one, but managed to find the tag on the last one.

So off I trot to the door and "beep, beep beep" security beeper went off! Security guard rushed over (perhaps rushed is exaggerating), wanted to see if I had clothes and checked them - not tags amazingly, so he said did you buy any razor blades? No but I bought toothbrush heads - found that and - you guessed it - wacking great tag on little pack, how could the woman miss it!

Had to produce my receipt and hang round like a nana while he went to get my tag removed!

I have tomorrow off now, but I have a lot to do as we are going to my Son's and his girlfriend's place for the weekend. This was very last minute and I have had to cancel an appointment.

We have sorted my son out for reluctant dog (and by default house sitting), but we are not sure if there is a suitable bed, or if we will be staying in a hotel!

I could have done without it really, but it will be nice to see them and offload his post! Also we are going to look at a house he is interested in buying, I said you could knock down the garage and build a proper extension, he said it doesn't have a garage only a carport, I said they clearly did have a garage and made it into a room, oh he said, I thought it was a dodgy extension - that makes more sense! Kids, so I think we better go and take a look!

Won a challenge

I have to point out I didn't win this stash for the tub, I bought it! The prize was a Papermania embellishment case/tote.

My altered brush pen tub won the DoCrafts challenge and I am to get a prize! It is chosen by random selection apparently!


The following stash was not a prize - I paid and with duty!

I had to go and collect a parcel from the PO and pay both duty and fees to the tune of £11. Ah well it had to happen sometime.

Here is what was in the parcel:

Fluffles stamps, wooden at the front and clear set behind. Gel-a-tins clear stamps of chocolates, and the jar is chocolate sented embossing powder - it really is gorgeous! (Primas were here already).


Now for the next parcel:

I got a corset stamp, shoe and sentiment, more fluffles,
but the Penny Black girl wasn't with this lot!
The stickers and tissue pack behind were all freebies from the sellers - Wasabi625 thanks guys!

I also got a Stampendous stamp tote, and I have ordered 5 more Tuff boxes, I feel another stamp reorganisation coming on!

Altered storage challenge

I made this for a challenge on DoCrafts, did it yesterday and I am so pleased I did.

It looks so much prettier altered, and I may alter another one now!

Before: Just a frozen yogurt tub.




















Afterwards, a really pretty pen tub that I can't stop looking at!

Not a virus any more!

Hooray - I'm not a virus any more! Now my mouse is playing up and working on it's own, been having probs with PC and mouse wasn't working, now it is working I have no sound again!

Time for a new PC?

Google thinks I am a virus

SO I can't visit any blogs, even my own apart from updating! I googled this strange occurance and found a few cases of it out there. Hopefully it will clear in a few hours!

This is the message:

We're sorry...

... but your query looks similar to automated requests from a computer virus or spyware application. To protect our users, we can't process your request right now.

We'll restore your access as quickly as possible, so try again soon. In the meantime, if you suspect that your computer or network has been infected, you might want to run a virus checker or spyware remover to make sure that your systems are free of viruses and other spurious software.

If you're continually receiving this error, you may be able to resolve the problem by deleting your Google cookie and revisiting Google. For browser-specific instructions, please consult your browser's online support center.

If your entire network is affected, more information is available in the Google Web Search Help Center.

We apologize for the inconvenience, and hope we'll see you again on Google.

Challenge card - Water Water Everywhere

This card is for a challenge on Crafts By Carolyn forum. The challenge is called Water Water Everywhere and had to have a water theme (obviously!).

I used a stamp of a rag doll (Azadi Earles which is no longer trading I think - from comments I found on Ebay) with umbrella, which I stamped with red ink and heat embossed with clear powder. I decoupaged the umbrella but it is hard to tell from the first photo so I have added another that shows it better. The umbrella was coloured with Sakura Gelly Roll pens. The sentiment is a Debbie Moore stamp.

The outer acrylic card has "rain drops" made with Diamond glaze and a puddle the doll is standing in.

I finished the card with some gingham ribbon and a ribbon tag (MM).

Now does anyone think I could give this card to my Mum for her birthday this month (May), or are we in Summer officially now?

When I started assembling this card and decided to use a ribbon tag I thought I would take some photos for a possible article for the next free e magazine from PCJ. I set up the tag curler in lots of stages and took the photos, and finished the card. Then I found out I hadn't got the memory card in my camera so didn't have any of the photos - silly me! Had to start again!

Junk mail card

I think it is safe to show this card now. I entered it for a competition in a magazine where you had to use junk mail to make a card. I started off with a quilled design, my first go at quilling but I ran out of steam and it didn't go anywhere.
Then I had some brilliant junk mail in the form of a chipboard leaflet that I die cut into the red and white flowers, I mounted them on an inside out brown envelope which was double, attached wire stems, and gem centres. The vase is bubble wrap coloured red with peel off pens, and with a frame cut from end of year accounts booklet. I used peel off waste for the greeting that I coloured in with brush markers.

Inside the card I stamped on the inside of envelopes and stamped with an image of the earth with children holding hands round the edge, two sentiments, one says "Save the Earth, its the only planet with chocolate" and "a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step" which is a Debbie Moore stamp.

As it is some months since the closing date and I haven't seen anything or heard anything I guess it didn't get anywhere!

Moving mountains at Midnight

Magazine mountains that is! I should have gone to bed at 11 p.m, (23:00), but at half past eleven I suddenly had the urge to sort out my ever growing magazine mountain.

I have been making cards since 2004 so had 4 years of nearly every magazine going stacked up in my craft room. By Midnight I had two large piles in the charity shop pile and we planned to take it all down this morning (which we did).

Since then I have sorted out another large pile to go, so you would think it was very tidy in here wouldn't you? No - I don't think anyone could tell the difference right now!

During the sort out I found 3 magazines still had the free gift attached, one was decoupage so it can stay attached!

I tore out a few pages, but not many, to keep, and I have a pile of mags that looked too interesting to ditch so I will have to go back to them.

This has given me ideas to move stuff round a bit, but I want to swap the small set of plastic drawers for the two magazine holders under the shelf, if I do this I have a problem as the brush marker pens are sitting in a paint brush organiser on top of the mini shelves as are two small sets of stamps!

I need more shelves everywhere!

I also have suffered with a migraine all day for going to bed late so have not cleaned and tidied ready for our visitors tomorrow and will have a mad rush to do it in the morning. So I am sitting here with the TV off and the lights dimmed, and will go to bed very soon!

Blog candy alert!

Susie has blog candy over on White Ribbon cards, which has been in my blog roll for a long time.

Pop over and see what you have to do to enter!

Raw Chicken

Here is a tantalising glimpse of the blog candy that is winging it's way to Nicola who won the guessing game. I hope she likes it, and it is the stuff in the basket, not the stuff round the basket on my messy work space!

Also I had a very thin box which was about A4 size and I managed to get everything in.

I made this card for the chocolate challenge on Crafts by Carolyn forum. It is one of my new stamps, mounted on some hand made paper, mounted on the English Paper Company paper. The card is chocolate brown, with an embossed scallop, and edged with Papermania sticky ribbon.
Hanging from the stamped image are two brass charms - knife and fork.
The Matching Birthday word is also Papermania but is not sticking well.
I inked the edges of the stamped image with pink ink and the pink waffle paper has a pink Crafts by Carolyn brad in each corner.

What a week (or two), we went out for a family meal to a new Indian restaurant that sounded promising. Starters were beautifully presented, my main meal was Tandoori Chicken which was on the bone, although it didn't mention this on the menu.

First of all it was later than everyone elses, and the rice and veg was all there. Then it arrived, and I ate a little but was finding it difficult to get any so started cutting it off the bone and it was completely raw in the middle, and I mean uncooked, not just pink.

That put me off my meal completely and I didn't eat another thing, they apologised profusely and gave me a bag of it to take home promising it was 100% cooked! I didn't eat it, and I will never go back. I am just thankful that I didn't get Salmonella poisoning.

Tagged by the lovely Debbee:

It is time I responded to this.

Here are the questions and answers:
1. If a movie was being made of your live who would you like to be case to play yourself and why?

I can never remember actors names, well not female film ones apart from Kiera Knightly who is not like me, maybe Dawn French would be more like me but she is funny, I am not!

2. You are spending a whole month on a desert island for charity, and you have to choose your favourite celebrity to spend the first two weeks with you and & your least favourite clebrity to spend the second two weeks with, who would they be and why?

I think Jonathon Ross would spend the first two weeks with me, he is very entertaining.

I don't want to spend the second two weeks with anyone I don't like!

3. What are your 3 favourite crafting products?

I would have to say card, stamps and ink right now.

4. If you could invent something what do you think it would be?

A robot cleaner to clean the bathrooms (oh no I forgot that is me!)

5. What are the last 3 books that you read?

Toast by Nigel Slater,
The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett,
Painted House by John Gresham

6, QVC or Create and Craft?

Neither - I try and avoid them both

7. What is your claim to fame?

George Baker (Inspector Wexford) once said Good Afternoon to me one lunchtime when I walking along trying to work out where I knew him from (didn't imagine it was the TV!) He was collecting his dry cleaning.

Now I need to tag some people:
So I am tagging some people on some great new blogs I have found:

Kim From my Stamp Room
Enfys and Going Buggy
Fae at Fae's Follies
Mary- It's all about the Journey
The world of Twiggy Pea Sticks