Monday

DAY TWO HUNDRED AND TWENTY THREE - Anniversary card and Stampin' Up! In Color Sale

 

Good morning.  I have just read that we are going to have a very hot day in my neck of the woods, going up to 28 degrees, oopss.  Hopefully I will be spending my day in an air conditioned building, keeping my fingers crossed.  

We managed to get an hour or so out in the garden yesterday.  As the weather has been so very warm a lot of our plants have already gone past their best.  The sweet peas are usually in flower until late August even up to September but this year they had finished late July.  We let them continue for an extra couple of weeks so that we could collect the seed pods for next year but, it was time to take them out.  We swapped them with geraniums.  Lets hope they add a splash of colour soon.  

 These were the sweet peas

 

The new geraniums, looks a lot nicer 


I created the following card using a very old stamp set, in fact it was one of the very first I purchased at a jumble sale.  I have used the images individually on a few inserts but I thought it was perfect for my hubbys anniversary card.  The sentiment was generated on the computer, it was quite easy for me to do.  He loved it and that is all that mattered.


 Did you know that Stampin' Up! have a sale on at the moment?  The majority of all the In Color products are discounted by 15%.  If you click on the image below a new page will open up and take you to the sale products.

 


 If you would like to place an order with me directly, do get in touch.  Collection will be from The Craft Room as soon as your goodies arrive.  If you want to pop in for a cuppa, a browse and ask as many questions as you like, let me know and we can arrange this.

Well I had best go and get myself ready for my day out.  Thank you so much for having a read, enjoy your start to the week.  Tracey x 

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Sunday

DAY TWO HUNDRED AND TWENTY TWO - Kit night in The Craft Room

 


Good morning and what a lovely morning it is for a Sunday.  We have blue skies, warm weather and not a lot planned which is ideal for a Sunday.  I shall potter for the morning, hubby is cooking a Sunday roast for us to have late afternoon.  I do hope to get out into the garden for an hour this afternoon if it isnt too hot.  Changes are happening out there daily so we will try to stay on top of it (the royal we that is).
 
Lots happening with me but I am as healthy as I can be, I have Physiotherapy twice a month to help with the damage on my knee and I have been put forward for hydrotherapy as well as Tai Chi.  The monitoring of blood pressure is ongoing.  I have had to increase my blood pressure medication so that is a good thing as I do feel slightly better too.  The Lymphadema is getting easier but its when I go on holiday that its at its worse.  The next thing to help with that is diet....wish me luck.
 
The crafting is continuing and I dont think that will stop, why would it?  I love crafting, I am not always able to do it due to health issues but nobody would realise.  
 
Not so many events being organised as life has become increasingly busy with hospital appointments etc.  mum needing a little extra help, or dad does should I say.  Other committments and generally feeling as though I cant do it all so, I have cut back.  On the positive side, I am getting more 'early nights and late mornings', more fresh air and a little time to catch up with myself.   
 
On the social side, we do all like to get together and have a meet up.  This is what we got up to last Friday night.  It was Kit Night, Stampin' Up! sell the most adorable kits that are perfect for the well seasoned crafter as well as those that are new to crafting.  So as to make sure we get them made (there is a tendancy to hoard kits), I have a get together once a month where we meet up, drink (no alcoholic beverages I may add) and eat cake.  What could be better to kick start a weekend.  This is what we got up to last Friday.
 





 
Yes I know there are some photos of knitting but not everyone wants to make up kits every time.  It is such a wonderful social event and sometimes folk want a break from card making but still keep up with friends.  We laugh, we put the world to rights and we enjoy each others company.  I cant think of a better way to spend an evening. 
 
If you click on the image below, a new page will open up and you can have a browse at the kits that are on offer from Stampin' Up!  You can get them delivered direct to your home and, should you spend £20 or more, you can earn rewards toward a future order.  Do let me know if you would like a little more information as I am always happy to help. 
 

 Right off to start catching up.  Thank you so much for having a read, see you tomorrow.  Tracey x

 

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Tuesday

DAY - TWO HUNDRED AND EIGHT - Using up our Designer Series Paper

 


 

Good morning, I was up so very early this morning but that is the downside of going to be early too.  I have had enough sleep and will probably have a bit of snooze in the early afternoon, just because I can. 

I just dont seem to be able to keep up with anything at the moment, which is a little frustrating for me.  I am usually well planned, up to date and can be organised for up to 2 days in advance but feel as though I am failing a little.  Its all getting a little too much.  So I took the decision to do a little less in the craft room with friends that I have to prepare for,  reducing the number of times I say 'yes' I can organise that and saying no to the stuff that I dont like to do.  This is so that I can finish off lots of bits and pieces that I have been meaning to do, get some serious housework done and do some other things that I want to do without feeling pressurised.  I will let you know how I get on. 

My arthritis has been throwing a full-blown tantrum lately, it does tend to do that when I get a bit too ambitious with life. I've now started physiotherapy on my knees.  Do you remember that holiday mishap I told you about? Alexandros, with his dummy in backwards like he was auditioning for a toddler version of "Mission: Impossible," was about to launch himself onto some cushions. Naturally, my imagination went straight to A&E level thoughts.   I was sitting on the sofa, but in my heroic attempt to intercept him, I somehow ended up on the floor, straight down onto my knees. I managed to rescue the dummy (success), but then came the plot twist: I was stuck. Absolutely couldn't move.  Eventually, I clawed my way back onto the sofa but the damage was done, my knees turned into two swollen, bruised balloons. Walking? Forget it.  Who knew babysitting could be an extreme sport?

Mum also isnt brilliant and I am visiting more and more often.  Helping dad out when I can with his appointments and whist dad wont let me do much when I am with them, at least they know that I am there. 

One thing that is working is the new get togethers in the craft room where folk bring their own stash to use.  I dont have anything to prepare and its a little easier but we all still meet up, just a little less often. 

We all  have quite a bit of designer series papers in our stash of some kind or another. Well I really am trying to use up what I have as well as encourage folk to use theirs so yesterday afternoon we had a bit of a get together and made a few cards, using some of the said DSP (designer series paper).

Over a cuppa and some homemade chocolate cake, these are the creations that were taken home.




















Not bad for a couple of hours planning, a good clean up of the craft room and some templates that I have been wanting to make for a while.  So today its back in the craft room for me to have a tidy up and finish off my own cards which I shall share once they are finished.

I shall be in the Craft Room again, for visitors, queries etc. this Friday for a couple of hours in the morning and again in the afternoon.  The evening will be taken up with Festive Friday whoop whoop, do let me know if you would like to come along. 


 

Thank you so much for having a read today, I hope you. have a terrific Tuesday.  Tracey x
 

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Thursday

DAY - ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY ONE - Praire Grass by Stampin' Up!

 

Good morning.  We’re starting the day with beautiful bright sunshine. I was up quite early to get the house opened up, doors and windows wide (though not the front door, of course, as anyone could just walk in). It was only 14°C outside when I woke, while inside it was a warm 22°C. Letting in the cool morning air makes a big difference and the house cools down quickly.  Once the sun starts to come through, I shut everything up again and draw the curtains. It really does help keep things cool throughout the day.

After a couple of hectic weeks, I’ve decided to take a step back and cancel a number of  plans. Even though I try to stay organised, I’ve begun to feel a bit taken for granted and stretched too thin, so I’m trying a new approach. We’ll see how it goes.

Our “Try it Tuesday” with Signature Cards this week was absolutely lovely.






 

We had such a lovely time creating some beautiful backgrounds using our blending brushes. We started at the bottom of the card with Old Olive, gently blended upwards with Lost Lagoon and finished with Pretty Peacock at the top. It created the most gorgeous soft ombré effect.  Basic White Card is perfect for this technique, especially when paired with the Stampin’ Up! Blending Brushes.

Once our background was done, we stamped one of the smaller images from the Prairie Grass in Archival Black ink and added a sentiment to complete the design. Simple, but so effective.

For our second card, we masked off a section so the blending ran just down the left-hand side. It really gave it a different look.  Both versions turned out beautifully but I think the panelled one might be my favourite. What about you? I’d love to hear which one you prefer. You’ll find a list of everything we used at the end of this post.

As for today, I’m heading out for a coffee at the Pausa Café inside Dunelm. We’re having a little team catch-up there, though I’m not quite sure how many of us will make it. I’ll be there with my Annual Catalogue, some of my recent makes and of course, a good cup of coffee! Before that, I’m sneaking in a short stroll while the morning is still cool, just a few steps outside to enjoy the fresh air before the heat sets in.

Thank you so much for having a read today.  It would be wonderful if you could leave a comments, I cant tell you how much pleasure it give me reading them.  Enjoy your day.  Tracey x 

Stampin' Up! news and offers

Two brand new kits have hit the shelves and they are flying off fast.  Click on the images below to find out more.




Stampin' Up! have a wonderful sale on Two Tone Card.  Have you tried any of this yet?  If you would like to pop in and have a look at some, I shall be in the craft room tomorrow, 11th July.  Kettle will be on, come and see it in person.




You can flip through the new catalogue online by clicking on the image below or even download a copy to keep. 

If you would like to collect a proper copy from the Craft Room then get in touch

Click the image below to browse the full collection in the Online Exclusive range of products, look out for the "new" stickers to easily spot the latest additions.


 

There are still products available in the Last Chance section of the Stampin' Up! Website. If you click on the image below a new page will open up and you can have a browse.

 

 
 
 
Here is the latest Scrapbooking Brochure that was released in January.  At the moment it is only a digital brochure.  

 You can click on the image below and a new window will open up where you can have a browse through the shop. Please do get in touch with me if you would like any help.  My contact details are at the end of the post and I really am happy to help as much as I can.

If you would like to get in touch with me, here is where I can be found.  



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