More crafting and some fun

Part of Maggies retirement present was a voucher for a "triple Whammy" at Magna in Rotherham. She finally booked a day and Helena and I went with her (obviously!) Basically she was harnessed and attached to a rope and then: Attached to a line a projected a hundred feet horizontally, attached to a rope and projected 100 feet vertically and attached to a rope and allowed to project herself 100 feet vertically!!! LOL She loved it. If you get a chance and have good health - you so have to go! :-)

This is Magna. (Maggie abseiled from the (inside) roof of this building.) It's a great place if you have children - probably between 5 and 11. Any younger and they don't "get" it, and older and they'll be bored, but of course it depends on the child. Not the Triple Whammy obvs - What Magna is about IS children....There are several sections such as earth, fire, water, wind. Each is an interactive explanation of the Elements. For example, in wind you can make music with wind blowing over the top of some tubes filled with liquid. I think adults probably get more out of it than the kids, but it it fun. It's in an old steel works - hence the Elements references.

Isn't this just the cutest thing??? I am a real "Bah! Humbug" until Christmas Eve normally, but this Santa sign is for the canal Trust boat for their Santa trips and I just love Santa's face. I'm going to have a go at cutting some on the Cricut for the windows of the boat, and maybe even a gnome or elf too. :-) 

Forgot to post this. It's from when we went away a few weeks ago - both dogs wanted to sit up with Rodge, so they did! We think Floss was just letting Alphie know that she'd let him up, but just remember who's boss and who's place this actually is...... But don't they look cute?

And finally some cards I made for no particular reason other than being in the mood to craft and wanted to make the most of it:

And why won't photo's go where I want them to go? There is always so much white space..... :-( 

Anyway! Two happy posts in a week, maybe things are looking up here! LOL Thanks for dropping by - do leave a comment and let me know what you think.

Back soon. xxx

Happier!!!

Feeling happier than last time I posted, but of course, it's my blog and if I want to rant and rave...... Been doing loads of crafting...... especially scrapbook pages for the "Document 2010" on UKS. I had got really behind because I ran out of printer ink, which is so blasted expensive! Anyway, I think I found a fairly cheap source of compatibles (don't ever go for the cheapest because they always turn out to be rubbish!). So I have been printing photos like mad and making scrapbook pages..... here's a small taster; I'm not going to put them all up! :-)



If you look carefully at the green page you can see that the word "May" is embossed. Iused Cuttlebug folders to do that (with my rolling pin 'cos I was too lazy to find all the plates for the Wizard! {shrugs} The red one is the focus page for June. I used the Cricut to cut out the word twice, glued them together - slighty off-centre, and them small foam pads to add them to the page.

Then collage pages for August and September.... I love texture, so when I go for walks - either for work or for me - I am always on the look-out for texture in nature. That's what this page is about. Septembers collage shows Jennies wedding. Had a real problem deciding on Septembers focus because I was sure it was going to be the wedding but then Philip came back with photos from LA..........

...... and suddenly there was competition for September. Sorry Jen and Al. Phil and Steph won!
That's it for now. May post some more later, but need to go and get ready for work. Thanks for looking. Please leave a comment to say you've visited?  Jude.x

I stink at blogging!!

So it's been EON'S since I last blogged. Had stuff going on that wasn't so good, but lots of good stuff too. Did I tell you we had a new puppy? Youngest Mr D named him (knew it was a mistake as soon as Rodge asked him......) Alpharius!! What! What sort of name is that Pip? Another mistake because, of course Pip gave me the explanation! Anyway, we're calling him Alphie. He's now about 12 weeks old.

 Look at that little face........

Dog on the sofa!!!! What's that all about? Rodge is what it's all about..... "He's cold/lonely/missing his mum........" Yeh! We have the excuses all ready! :-D
Anyway - he's been taking up a lot of time - mostly house training. He has cheered us up - well - maybe it's Florence's reaction to him that cheered us up. She tolerates him for so long; plays with him, but doesn't like sharing her toys for too long and when she's had enough we get this.........................

"It's my squeeky bone and when I say you aren't having it anymore, YOU AREN'T HAVING IT, RIGHT!" She put it in the bucket!!! hehehe
Then we have finally made a start on the kitchen, and got the new worktops in - soooo puuuuurdy.....


Obviously a work very much in progress but it's so much easier to work in than when we had it fitted when we moved here. We had B&Q design it because they'd done our last one and that had been great, but this had never been right. And I love the new bit on the other side - so useful for putting all those bits when cooking (guess I've no excuse not to cook now? :-D)






All the tiles will be off soon because I have some little 2 inch "mosaic" style ones and a couple of the Ikea splashbacks. The artex on the walls (seriously - who puts artex on walls? I mean - IN A KITCHEN?) is mostly coming off; I discovered that I can "sort" of plaster and if I practice a bit more where it won't be seen, I'm going to love this kitchen when it's finished!
I should add that the saying "couldn't swing a cat in the room" doesn't apply here - because you'd have trouble bending down to pick the blasted cat up!!! It's a small kitchen......

And then me and Pip went down to Eastleigh for a friends daughters (well, Pips friend) wedding. Yup! Another one (see March for the first!) J looked soooo happy. A is a lovely guy.

No, she hasn't worn sunglasses to her wedding - they are those reactalight ones.... :-D Ju and Pete are probably my best friends ever. I love them to bits. Ju was so stressed, but it was a beautiful day. J blossomed. Her dress was made by a little old lady that she knew and has a story attached that I won't repeat..............

And then the following day................... I took Pip to Heathrow and he flew to Los Angeles for three weeks!!!! Not only has he never been on a plane before he's never been away from home before on his own, due to his health issues. Soooo proud of you Pip.
Hope to have some crafting to show next time.
That's it for now. Except to say... If you do read this please leave a comment. I know people are looking and it would be great if you let me know what you think......
xx

I scrapped!!!

I finally managed to scrap! I have completed April and made a start on May for the Document 2010. I am soooo far behind, but determined to catch up. I have enjoyed it and that is the main thing. It relaxed me. I am usually stressed on Monday because, although it's my day off, it does mean that I start back at work the following day.... :-(

Anyway! Here is April:

I love the detail on this page. Cuttlebug folders and a rolling pin. Is that a new sort of technique, do you think? ;o)













Here's the lettering and the top flower in more detail:

The two photo pages: Washing on the line for the first time this year; daffodils - a sure sign of spring; clear skies - no planes because of the Icelandic volcano; and toes!!!!

The houses behind us - gong, going, gone.... leaves on the trees; planes finally return to the skies. Spring is lovely.

Final page this month: Mandy came up for Easter and brought Poppy. Her and Floss still tolerate each other - just. The looks on their faces at various times is so funny!














I got a new phone last week..... wooooohoooo. I'm loving it. A smartphone, without the iPhone price tag. Still crave an iPhone, but it's just silly money and this one links to the 'puter anyway!

Here she is..... sooooo pretty! She even makes phone calls.... lol! Gosh! When I think back to my first phone. Now that one DID make phone calls.... and nothing else.... because I didn't know anyone else that had a mobile so never sent any text messages. :-D I really did have that one for emergencies. AND it cost more - for the phone and per month, than this one did!

OK! Bedtime. Night night. Speak soon. xxxx

And Part Three......

So yesterday we had a 'Children's Art and Craft Activity Day'  I don't think any of us really minded that there were only, maybe, a dozen kids turn up!!!! :-D We had great fun! For obvious reasons I can't put photo's of the children on my blog, but here's some photos of the adults!!!!

That splash is Asker in the canal AGAIN! Graeme got a life jacket for her, and insists on showing everyone how it works..... Poor Ask.... she hates the water. Well! She did! I missed it, but about half an hour later when the duck started quacking at her again, she jumped in! And without the life jacket! Don't think Grae gets the life jacket purpose really.... but they do keep us amused!







Jill likes having her photo taken... ;-)

And here's Graeme being a teapot..........No more I can say really! :-D

This proves that Jill doesn't need to avoid the camera... She photos good! Matt came down to help as a volunteer - even though he can't have a paid job with us, he can come down as a volunteer for a children's event???? Ah well!? He did seem to enjoy it. Thanks Matt; just wish you'd been able to be paid, and helped to plan it with me.

And Maggie so enjoys winding him up....... great to see you Mags. Like all the team back together.... Lurch in the vc so we didn't need to worry too much about cover.....

And Helena shows off her little banner that she made. In the photo is Catherine, who has been on work experience with us, and Jill again.











Well three posts in one day is more than enough, so that's it for now.
Back soon - maybe... :-D
Jude.x

Part Two: I CRAFTED!!!!!!

It's been so long. I've actually started on Aprils Document 2010 - printer ran out of ink, and compatible cartridges are over £50 for the full set! Finally found some cheaper, that work, and have gone printing mad!
Anyway, here are some cards I was commissioned to make this weekend - short notice? Dom doesn't know the meaning of the word..... one day is plenty of time for him (and I was at work when he asked!). Anyway, here is what I made on Saturday night:

He wanted something different for a wedding.... thought this was amusing and he loved it.







Next was a birthday card for a 'girl' he knows who is a real girly girl, so I came up with this:

And finally a birthday card for another friend who loves the sea:












More to come..... Jude.x

Lots of stuff!!!

Last weekend we were away in the caravan again. Different site this time, but one we have been to before - just not our favourite. Anyway, here's some photo's:

The only photo I managed to get with Florence looking at the camera! As soon as I turn the camera on - she looks away!!!!

You had to be there; but this stile had me laughing out loud!!!! The little sign with the arrow says "Lift handle and push gate"...... Honestly! Really! I don't remember there being a gate in the three years we've been going to that site, and if there WAS, you think the Notts rangers would have removed the sign when they put the stile in? Or not!!!

The Red 'Sparrows' as Rodge calls them. It was Waddington Air Show this weekend. The camp site was packed with other people who were going to the show. We had seen the "City of Lincoln" Lancaster, on the Saturday, and then just as I was taking Floss for a walk on the Sunday, the Red Arrows flew over.

Lincoln Cathedral in the distance there. Very pretty at night, but I still haven't got the hang of taking photos in the dark, and the ones I did take haven't come out brilliantly.
That's it for this post, but more to come..
Jude.x