Last day of the holidays

Well that's the Christmas Holiday all done and dusted, time to go back to work tomorrow. Its been a lovely break, well needed and well deserved but I certainly dont want to get back into the office again tomorrow but how else do you pay a mortgage? Time for a job change I think.

Today we have to go out even though I am still full of cold, coughing away and tired, it might just do me a bit of good.


Here are a couple of cards from Christiana in Cyprus, didn't she do well? She made quite a few Christmas cards this year to give out. She is also making bits of jewellery and has sent me a great big list of some beads she wants.

Have a lovely day, whatever you are up to

TV for sale and some pretty 'In Colour' cards

Day one of the New Year didnt go quite as planned. The cough that I have had all week has now turned decided to turn into full blown cold/flu, I managed just 4 hours sleep New Years Eve and 5 hours last night as my nose is constantly running. I will be eternally grateful if anyone has a cure to stop a runny nose (apart from chopping it off) . I ached all over all day and was a right cow, snappy, tearful (which made my nose run more) and couldnt do anything right. On a plus side, everywhere I went got dettolled down due to all the sneezing, my hands are pure white, due to the excessive washing of them and my house has stayed clean as I have been stuck in one room (guess which one) and couldnt make a mess anywhere else.

To keep out my way, which is what is best when I am like this, Paul decided to take down the TV in our bedroom and replace it with the one that was in the living room before Christmas. A TV in the bedroom I hear some of you say well yes, this has been an indulgence of ours for quite a while, I love nothing more than going to bed early with a cuppa and watching telly for half an hour before I go to sleep, Paul on the otherhand loves to wake up and watch the news while he has his cuppa in a morning (now you all know that I take Paul a cup of tea most mornings, well he does deserve it).

That now leaves us with a 20" television, a freeview box and a television mount to sell. If anyone would like these for the sum of £20 and you can collect it, it's yours......

The said TV and stand that is looking for a new home

I promise to stay out of the way so I dont pass on the lurgy ,oh you will have to excuse the smell of dettol, as Paul tells me it smells quite strongly......I wouldnt know.

I did manage to make a couple of cards whilst I was holed up in the one room using the pocket silhoutte stamp set and the 'in colours'
We shall be using Pocket Silhouttes next weekend at my Stampin' Up! parties. There are still plenty of places left if you fancy a couple of hours of crafting.

Today I intended on staying in and staying warm, taking all my tablets and cough syrup and trying not to be such a cow. I have been persuaded to go out this evening to bingo with sis as she says it will do me good to get out, we shall see. I hope that anyone else that has this awful flu gets well soon, I hear that there are lots and lots of people with it.
Thanks for taking the time to have a read.

LOOK OUT 2011 - Happy New Year to everyone who pops by for a read

Who is popping in for a read today? Please do leave a comment so that I know you have been and I can come visit your blog too. Did everyone have a lovely time last night? Were you awake to see out the old and bring in the new? We went to my sisters house for a curry and a game of cards. I love playing cards and its the first and last time for 2010.

I thought I would share some lovely little surprises that were waiting for me this morning...this was outside, covered in rain and just poking through the leaves. When I saw it I thought of my friend Jackie who once told me to take time to smell the flowers....she was right, so Jackie, these photos were taken with you in mind (I just wish I was as good a photographer as you are)


I have never seen carnations appear so early in the year, not too sure if they will survive but I just had to capture them. Then surprise surprise, the plant I was throwing away last year until Lesley told me not to decided to open up this morning, my little orchid

These were taken just a few days ago

and just look at these beauties


It has to be a good sign for the new year

I have been asked about new year resolutions, I can name hundreds but will I stick to them, nope I dont think so but I will do something a little different for 2011.

After all the shopping I have done with Katerina and Andis I have decided that unless I need it, I am not going to buy it. Yes really, honestly, truthfully (who am I trying to convince, you or me?). For such a long time now I hate doing the supermarket shop so I am going to try and use all the local little shops every couple of days rather than buying for whole week. I am sure that I can manage that. Clothes I dont need, just a revamp of the wardrobe and a major clearout. Crafting items I have in abundance so its a case of using them all up. I am not sure how long this can last but I am going to give it my best shot and who knows, I may be able to save some money as well.
Wish me luck and I will keep you posted on how I get on. Have a lovely day and I cant wait to read your comments
Tracey x

Now you see it, now you dont

Thankfully I am feeling a lot better today especially as I had a really good sort out of cupboards and drawers yesterday. Sadly I didnt get into the craft room as time just ran away with me. I had lots of lovely visitors, a long time chatting on the phone and catching up with friends and before I knew it, it was time for bed, why do the days that you are off work go so quickly yet when you are at work, the time drags?

Here is another card that I made using the Sale A Bration set Punch Bunch and So Happy For You. Whilst I was making the card I got glue on my fingers, as you do but instead of getting up and washing my hands I carried on crafting.... as you do. What I didn't realise until I had finished the card was that there was a black gluey finger print on the top of the card. If you click on the photo you can make it out
I remembered that I recently purchased a "glue eraser" from Stampin' Up! that I discovered whilst browsing through the catalogue for the 1000th time (does anyone else do that? go through the catalogue and find something new although it was there all the time?) anyway, so out came the eraser to give it a try

Doesnt look much does it? But it works (fingers crossed that I put the pictures on the blog in the right order).

I shall be making quite a few of these birthday cards in various colours to pop into my emergency box. I have left lots of space on the front so that I can add a name as and when required, all you have to do is stamp or print out a name, use the oval punch with a scalloped oval border and bobs your uncle...not literally of course but you know what I mean.

Its the last day of 2010 and I am so looking forward to 2011, lots of exciting things to look forward to. Wishing everyone a VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR and hoping you dont wake up with sore heads in the morning.

Tracey x

Sale A Bration starts today

Yesterday I told you that I had some exciting news well, Stampin' Up! Sale A Bration starts today and runs until 28th February 2011. Sale A Bration is where you can get your hands on FREE limited edition stamp sets and there are 3 ways to get these stamp

• Place an order for £45 (excluding p+p) and choose 1 stamp set from the 4 sets on offer. For every £45 spent, you can get another stamp set.
• Hold a party and should you get £300 worth of orders (excluding p+p) you get yourself a free Sale A Bration stamp set on top of the hostess benefits
  
• Join me and my team and become a demonstrator during Sale A Bration. You not only get £230 worth of products for an amazing £119 but you also get another stamp set up to the value of £45.00. If you have been thinking about signing up then this is the ideal time.

Here are the 4 stamp sets.....I wonder which one will be your favourite.

You may need to click on the image to make it larger

Being a demonstrator I was lucky enough to be able to purchase these sets so that I could make some projects to show you. I instantly fell in love with Punch Bunch and here is just one of the cards I have made.....more to show you tomorrow.







I am taking party booking for the end of January and the whole of February and I shall be placing orders on a weekly basis so, if you would like to get your hands on one of these sets, please get in touch 01332 721877 or tracey.rossos2@hotmail.com

STAMPIN' UP! PARTY INVITATIONS

Lots of invitations have been sent out for Stampin' Up! parties on 7th and 8th January 2011. If you havent already received yours and would like to come along, please let me know.

Im leaving on a jet plane

well, I am not leaving but Katerina and Andis left yesterday on a big bird in the sky.

Here they are in the hotel waiting for Paul to bring the car round to load up

What a hectic week that was, shopping everyday except Christmas Day, getting dressed up everyday, eating out everyday wow, I am certainly going to miss them both. I am sure they enjoyed themselves and judging by the shopping they both did, they have gone home with some bargins (and I was lucky enough to find some too).
Today is going to be a day of rest for me, just chilling at home in a slouchy jumper and some jogging bottoms, pottering around and hopefully getting my craft room back.....bliss. I will be making telephone calls for thank yous, seeing how my poorly friend is and sorting out some emails.

Here is a photo of the table decorations I did for Christmas day using SU goodies, hope you like them.

Thanks for having a read and if you can come back tomorrow, there will be something exciting to tell you about.

Have a lovely day

A sweet Christmas

I am in Manchester today, catching the Man U tour that was missed at the end of last week. Fortunately Paul is a lot better, not 100% but better. I will be wrapped up warm and wandering around even more shops...phew.

Katerina and Andis are leaving tomorrow and it will be very sad to see them go. Didnt that week fly past? We went shopping on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and had a day off on Saturday. We hit the sales yesterday and I am sure that we shall visit a few shops today. Here are the shopaholics

Here is something else that I put together for Christmas presents, a sweet Christmas



These went out to all the BIG kids in the family, I do hope that they enjoyed them.

Thanks for having a read and have a lovely day.

All wrapped up

What a lovely day yesterday was. I managed to get everyone up and opening presents about half 8, I think I was more excited than they were. What presents I got WOW. matter, I got far too It was wonderful watching Katerina, Paul and Andis open their presents.
Lunch was prepared, cooked and cleared away and then I managed to look at presents properly. Cuppa was had and just about to make another cuppa and 2 neices with boyfriend, little son, parents, sis and bro in law arrived. We had a brilliant afternoon and evening. I did a buffet for everyone and then it was more presents.....spoilt or what.
I managed to speak to Christiana and Sophia quite a few times throughout the day which was so nice. Next year they have to be here with us.

As you know I have been busy making lots of little bits and pieces the last few weeks (must start earlier next year) but I couldnt share them with you as they have gone out as presents.

I was told about some candles in china cups and so off I went searching the net until I found some and wow, they were lovely. Okay that was it, I wanted to make my own. I started scouting the charity shops for my china cups and saucers until I had enough. Off I trundle to a shop to buy everything I needed. The morning that I wanted to go shopping I woke up to snow but hay, that wasnt going to put me off, I got lost in Nottingham, the shop assistant wasnt too helpful and I did get rather frustrated. But thanks to Jayne and Kev for getting me "unlost" and helping me find my way and thanks to a lovely lady in the shop I managed to purchase all that was required. I started making them and whilst it's time consuming, I really enjoyed it. Here are a few photos

All ready and setting. A little colour and a little perfume was added

I had to try them out didnt I, just in case they didnt burn

All wrapped up and ready for Santa

Thanks for having a read. Have a lovely day, whatever you are up to.

Tracey

Santa has been

Well I did it, I got the presents all wrapped, the cards all sent, my washing and ironing done, the house spic and span phew. I ask myself, was it all worth it and the answer is YES. Although its only for one day its a day I look forward to all year.
I think that I must have been a very good girl as Santa has been. Here is a photo of whats under our tree this morning.



I must admit that some of the presents were put there this morning whilst everyone is still sleeping because last night we sat down to watch Shrek 3 and guess what I did, fell asleep, oops.
Off to wake everyone up now as I want to see what santa has left me.

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas. I hope you have a lovely day.
Tracey

Change of Plans

This week is going too quickly, it wont be long and we shall be going back to Manchester to take Katerina to the airport.
Today we had planned on going to Manchester United to the tour around the stadium...again. Andis is a big Man U fan as is Katerina but Paul woke up rather ill and covered in a rash. He is full of cold and I just couldnt ask him to stand around at railway stations in this bitterly cold weather. After a family discussion we decided to give Manchester a miss until Monday so instead of wrapping up warm, chilling at home with feet up, we went to Nottingham (via Beeston to a model shop). We spent a lovely 6 hours around broadmarsh and Victoria Center. Andis was lucky in his shopping and found some brilliant bargins, Katerina came home with earings and a couple of new tops. Here is a photo of a strange gentleman we stumbled across
He was very good actually. Katerina and Andis had never seen anything like it. This was taken after we discovered that our favourite cafe in the Broadmarsh had gone. I have been taking the girls there for over 10 years. Both Katerina and I were rather upset that it had closed, it seems like an end of an era to us.
On our walk back to Victoria Centre we very quickly browsed a small market, it was quick as well as it was bitterly cold with a chilling wind blowing. We managed to get just the one photo in front of one of the rides.
Just 2 more sleeps until Santa arrives. I have to be up at the crack of dawn to get some fresh salad and fresh veg, a few chores and then the day is my own. Surprise surprise but Katerina and Andis want to go back to the Westfield Center to do MORE shopping. I think I will be dropping them off and leaving them to it for a few hours.

Thanks for having a read and I hope you manage to get everything done in time.
Tracey

Very Lucky

YEAH Katerina and Andis arrived safe and sound. Our trip to the airport was very uneventful, roads were good, no snow. There was an unusual amount of traffic though but we made it. They soon came through the arrivals door and it was hugs and tears all around. Paul decided to bring us home the pretty way, up and down the roads through Congleton, Leak, Ashbourne and into Derby....very nice. We did have to make a stop in Leak for a nature break. It was home to a roast dinner and and evening of catching up. At half past 8 there were two teenages fast asleep on the settee so it was a peaceful night. I managed to do some Christmas wrapping but there is still lots to do.
Woke up this morning to SNOW, we were so lucky to have made it to the airport and back without the white stuff yesterday, phew. Now this snow can stay for a couple of days and then it has to go again cause we have to go back to the airport next week.
Here is a card that was made by Sandra, a friend, neighbour and fellow crafter, a couple of months ago when we spent a night of crafting, getting ready for the papermax show. It has been made using the gifted stamp set....isnt it lovely. I shall be using this for my cards next year.

Last year I was given a beautiful orchid for Christmas. Once the flowers died I was going to "throw it away" as I thought that it wouldnt do anything else. Lesley told me not to, she gave me strict instructions on watering it, giving it daylight and said that it would flower again. mmmm okay, so patiently this last year I have been doing what I was told. Orchid lost a leaf or two but thats all, it hadnt done anything else except look like a twig in my kitchen window until recently. It has now grown another stem (is that the correct word) and da da

These have now appeared. I am keeping my fingers crossed that the flowers will open this week.
What an actioned packed day we have today starting with food shopping, (this will be done whilst the teenages are still in bed of course), a visit to a model shop (Andis is into racing model cars in a big way) then its Westfield. Home for half 3 as we have Robert (son) coming round with his other half and the 4 grandchildren for tea. Sometime in the evening I get to have an hours sanity with a friend who is coming to visit.
I hope you have a great day, whatever you are up to and be careful if you have to go out. Thanks for having a read
Tracey

Half a sleep to go

It is silly o'clock and I just cant sleep so I decided to nip downstairs, have a cuppa and a tab and then go back to bed again. Tomorrow (or later today) is the day that Katerina arrives.
I dont think that I will ever find anything in my craft room ever again. It is spic and span with everything put away in a home.... instead of my work table there is a bed and instead of my small tables and stool I have a hanging rail....mmm. The spare room is all made up and the house is looking lovely, just the ironing to do before we go and then I am just about ready for santa.

On Saturday we went off to Bluebells in Spondon, somewhere I hadnt been before and it was lovely. I shall be arranging another trip out there in the New Year so keep nipping back to have a look on my blog for dates.

I managed to take a few last minute photos and caught people unawares oooppps





Anne handed out a lovely little box with a surprise in it. Well its a surprise for me as I resisted the temptation to open it....others couldnt.

If all goes according to plan, Ilkeston Dabblers may be taking place on 21st January and Anne is going to show everyone how to make these boxes. We are just awaiting confirmation from the venue that its okay to use the room. Again, more details will be posted here, also on the Derby Dabblers Blog.

Off to get a few more hours sleep before we head out to Manchester Airport. Please keep your fingers crossed that the snow doesnt disrupt things for us.

Tracey x