My favourite room is back in action

Half way through the weekend and what a lovely busy one it is. Yesterday we managed to get the craftroom put back together but not everything is in there just yet. I thought I would show you something that you may not see again for quite a few months





Clean, tidy and bare. It was just screaming out to be used so I spent the day cutting everything out for my craft classes in a couple of weeks.




For the wedding I wanted to bake some cupcakes for the buffet in the evening. Everyone was telling me that I wouldn't have time but I thought I would. Two fantastic friends, Alyson and Paula offered to make them for me and thank goodness they did as I really wouldn't have had the time. I have had so many comments from guests saying how wonderful they were and could they have the receipe. I didnt get any photographs of the cakes on the stands but here are a couple of pictures for you, they really were very scrummy.


Christiana and Panayiotis had their first outing on Friday, going on a bus to Manchester to visit Panis cousin. They stayed overnight in a hotel and came back yesterday full of themselves. They really enjoyed it but its lovely having them home again.

Off for a play in the craftroom (after a quick clean up) whilst everyone is still asleep in bed.

Thanks for having a read today and I hope that you have a lovely day.

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Friday - nearly the weekend

Fingers crossed that the weather stays warm for the weekend, nothing better to lighten the soul that some good weather.
The last week has been a whirlwind, we had the wedding, lunches out, shopping, shopping and a bit more shopping with a picnic thrown in as well, not to mention that I have returned to work. Wednesday we went to Manchester to take the girls to the airport, so sad. Here we are at checkin
My craft room is in the process of becoming a craftroom again, YEAH but last night I just couldnt wait so I nipped in and made this little pillow box gift
Please excuse the photograph but nowhere to take a decent one at this time of the morning.
I have used the pillow box die from SU with some of the scrummy Springtime Vintage Designer Papers topped off with seam binding ribbon. I have some little bars of soap all wrapped up in tissue inside them. They are so simple to make and hopefully I will be making a few more over the weekend.

I am placing an order today so if there is anything that you would like, please let me know before 2.00p.m.

Do you use facebook? I have just started a Stampin' Up! page, if you put Stampin' Up! Stamperettes in the search facility, it should take you straight there. It would be great if you would nip over, have a look and let me know what you think.

And finally, before I get myself ready for the daytime job, there are a few places left on Thursday 11th August card class evening, more details can be found on the events page (if you click on events at the top of the page, it should take you there).

Thanks for having a read and thank you for all your wonderful comments. Have a lovely weekend.

UPDATED - I have just realised that I have another follower, thank you to you all for following my blog, especially during the trying time of having no access to blog.com, internet problems on an old computer and for just being there, it is really appreciated.

Mr and Mrs

Here are the first photos of our big day, they arent the best of pictures but it's a taste of what we all did. Thanks to the photographers, the girls, my husband and everyone else who managed to grab my camera and take pictures.

The day started with breakfast at 8.00a.m. with our children and grandchildren. I can tell you that the girls were a little grumpy to start the day as I woke them up so early. I knew that it would be hectic all day long so I wanted us to be able to sit and talk as a family, the only chance we would get.

Robert and Natalie (my son and daughter in law) with
the grandchildren who were angels all day long

Christiana, Panayiotis, Paul, Sophia and Katerina

Paul and myself, ready for the happy event

This is us girlies off to the hairdressers, we had champagne, orange juice and chocolate in that big green bag. Kim did a wonderful job and we only had once hitch, Fifi came into the salon. This is the first time that the girls had seen a transvestite and they couldnt control their laughter (sorry). Living in Cyprus they hadnt seen a man dressed as a woman before and I had to take Sophia outside as she had a fit of giggles. Katerina was in the chair having her hair done and saw Fifi arrive in the mirror and burst into laughter, poor Kim.

Paul and Robert, waiting for my arrival
My husband and I with our children
with our parents
The cutting of the wonderful cake, such a shame to cut it, but we did
It was a wonderful day from start to finish

The big day has arrived

I am sure that I will be forgiven for the lack of posts recently (fingers crossed) but I have been rather busy getting everything ready, for today.
Tuesday we caught the train to London to collect Christiana, Panayiotis, Sophia and Katerina but they didnt know that we were going to meet them. I do love London, especially the tube

and to make it even more special, we met up with my nephew for dinner in a lovely little cafe. Despite the rain we had a wonderful time.

Wednesday morning we set off to Heathrow and I didnt know it would take us over an hour to get there opps. The girls were so surprised to see us so after breakfast at the airport we came home by train.
Sophia arrived minus her suitecase which had her wedding outfit, all the underwear and shoes in it, this was our first major hiccup. We made lots of calls and discovered that it never got on the plane with them but just after 10.00 on Thursday, it turned up.

Since then it has been all rush, a few problems but nothing major. Yesterday we spent a few hours at the wedding venue and I have a few photos to show you what we did
We decorated the tables for the wedding breakfast

And the cake was all put together

A close up of the flowers

The red carpet arrived in time and this is where I shall be walking at 4.00p.m. today

I have left everyone asleep in bed and grabbing half an hour to myself before the mayhem starts. We are meeting up with Paul's son, his wife and the grandchildren in an hour and having a family breakfast together as I imagine that this is the only time today that we shall be able to sit and chat to our children. The nerves and the excitement have all kicked in and I have been told to savour every moment as it goes in a flash.

Thanks for having a read and I will be back again in a few days

5 sleeps to go

Gone are the days when Mum goes to the wedding with a big handbag and a plastic bag to put any cards or presents you may get into them. I have been suitable advised that you need a card box, i.e. a box that people can put their cards into upon arrival. This apparently sits on a little table at the entrance of your wedding reception, well we all learn something new each day. So off I went and purchased what I thought was a lovely box which matches the colours of the day.


Well, when I opened it I discovered that it was rather flimsy and something was missing, that was me then, on a mission, thinking 'outside the box'. SU came to the rescue, all those 12 x 12 wonderful designer papers come with a sturdy strong piece of card so I set to, trimmed a little off each side and stuck them into my 'wedding card' box.

Next came the ribbon and it took me ages to get the bow right, ummm, it is right, isnt it? And then the best bit, sticking SU diamontes on the top but I dont really think that the photograph picks them all up. So Viola, my pretty box.

And who is going to know that SU is with me on my wedding day? If you dont mention it, I wont.
Thanks for having a read and have a lovely Monday

6 sleeps to go

I only have 6 sleeps before I become a Mrs. Yes the big day is next Saturday and I am still not really in a panic. I have been told that it is a really stressful time, rushing around and things going wrong so I am ready and waiting for all the mishaps. I just checked the weather forecast and whilst I ordered the sunshine, it has given out showers, oopps, especially as we have got giant dominos, giant skittles, giant jenga, giant connect four, hoola hoops, footballs and a few more games for the children to play on the lawn. They will just have to bring their wellies and raincoats lol.

Christiana, Sophia, Katerina and Panayiotis arrive from Cyprus on Wednesday and that's something else I am really looking forward to. Their rooms are ready and of course, there will be a little something waiting for them on their beds, once I make them up later today.

I was going to post a photo of my wedding invites and I have just discovered, I havent photographed them so the camera is on charge and I will get some pictures taken later today. I do have a picture of my Thank You cards though.

Here they are all stamped out and drying

I have used silver ink and a nice shiny rhinestone from SU on the Elegant Thank you stamp

and here is a close up

We now have a brand new shiny computer to work on YEAH. It is so fast and easy to use and I have to start my bookmark list all over again. It means that I can start blogging and catching up on all I missed and most importantly, answering emails knowing that they will be received.

Thanks for having a read, have a lovely Sunday and thanks for bearing with my blog during all the hic cups with my old computer.

Manic Monday

Yesterday I did it, the craft room became a bedroom and it is so sad. I have made sure that I have access to everything and today I am going to clear the dining room table as I still have the seat plan to make. The exciting bit will be to put my craft room back with Christiana and she can see everything that I have and hopefully we will get lots of crafting time together. She is desperate to join in a few crafting sessions whilst she is here so, if anyone has anything organised that we can gatecrash please please let me know.

I promised to show you what was in the little bags on the table at my Hen Night, well apart from the obvious Hen night sash I got busy and made a few things

Thank you cards using the Cheers to you stamp set from Stampin'
Up! This set is so versatile...
An envelope to put all the little thank you cards in. Again, all SU
products, the new dies (envelope and butterfly emboslits) and
Pocket Silhoutte stamp set
Then came the kisses, well you just have to have a kiss or two
on a Hen Night dont you. I dont know if you can read this
little ditti I made up (yes I do poetry as well). You may have
to click on the picture to make it larger. I used the SU punch to get
the shape for the ditti
Using the Top Note Die (SU again), I made little sweetie bags
for the kisses.....they looked lovely

Then for the bags, I made these tags which were coated in glitter,
everyone shone on the night.

Due to spending most of my day upstairs yesterday, I have to clean downstairs today and find homes for lots of little bits and pieces as well as try and do another 101 little jobs so that I can tick them off my never ending list.

I am still using the old computer so not able to visit your blog as often as I wish but I promise, as soon as the new computer is installed, I have a little more time and manage to transfer all my favourites over...I will be visiting.

Thanks for having a read

The countdown is on...

It's now less than 2 weeks until my wedding day and I am getting so excited. I know I still have lots and lots of things to do but I will get them done in the end, I am sure.

Well the wedding celebrations started on Friday with a Hen night that my best friend organised at my favourite restaurant in Derby. We had a fantastic night out but the time just flew by. I didnt get chance to sit and talk to everyone. sorry but I am pleased to report, no one fell over and showed their knickers YEAH, although one or two people were expecting this, it didnt happen.

We had an amazing meal, a few glasses of wine and a couple of games that made us all laugh. Jayne did a lovely job of arranging it all, thank you Jayne, and for a few photos

This is me and Sandra just about to be taken into town

Here are a few of everyone after the second game........can you guess what it was? The night couldnt go by without a little paper crafting could it?





A lovely photo of my in laws to be, mum, aunty and sister in law

And here is Jayne....how many did she drink?

This is me and the wonderful veil that I wore all night, with flashing lights, I told everyone it would be the only thing I was flashing that night.

I had lots of wonderful advise for a happy marriage, lots of fantastic little pressies and best of all, lots of memories that I shall treasure forever, of my hen night.

Now you may be wondering, what was in all those little bags on the table? What bags? I can see you going back to the photos now to have another little peek.... more on this tomorrow.

Thanks for having a read

Tuesdays Twitterings

Not up quite so early today but then I have to go to work. Just 15 days to go and my daughters will arrive, such an exciting time for us all. It does mean that on Sunday my craft room has to be a bedroom again so I am busy putting everything away and I cant believe that I have so much crafting stuff, it just keeps growing and growing.

I know I must be mad but last week, in between getting all the bits and pieces done for the wedding, returning to work and prepping for my August Stampin' Up! events, I took myself off to a cake decorating class. I met some wonderful ladies and had 3 hours of decorating cup cakes. This is what I came home with

My favourite was this one with a shoe on it
I took them to the Dabblers last Friday for everyone to eat/share and it was so lovely to see that some people at the cake but not the decoration as they took that home, wow. So who knows, will I be making some more for the Crafty Week? I will try.

I would like to say a big thank you to all my followers, I cant believe that I have 32 of you. Its really appreciated to know that my blog is read. Have a lovely day

Derby Dabblers Parliament

I didnt know that a group of owls was called a Parliament, did you? I also learnt that a group of crows is called a murder....its amazing what you learn at Derby Dabblers and that's where I was on Friday night. I showed everyone how to make these cute little owls, all from a pillow box die and some oddments of circles and hearts, everything Stampin' Up! of course....we had a great time.

I wanted to show you these yesterday but Mr. Blogger decided to throw his dummy out of the pram and not play ball.....Today he is behaving so far.

What a lovely warm day we have had but I hear its rain from tomorrow night. Running around with wedding bits and pieces today. I have got the sashes for the Hen night, plus another little something, more garden games for the big day and something for my table at the Papermax show later in September. Now its off to finish some thank you cards and get the ironing board out, oh well it has to be done.

Thanks for having a ready and hopefully, I can show you something new tomorrow. Have a lovely evening

Naughty Mr. Blogger

Up before the larks today silly me but its so hot and stuffy. I wanted to share some photos of what I have been up to this last week but Mr. Blogger just doesnt want to play ball which is frustrating but I know that lots of other people are in the same boat. I will try to download them later .

I have updated the events side of my blog with dates for crafty nights and some saturday crafting events though, ohhh its going to be a busy Summer with lots of crafting with lots of friends, I cant wait.

Until later ....

A day to remember

1st July is always a sad little day for me, I lost my dad 33 years ago and it always on 1st July it seems as though it was yesterday. I am sure that most people who will be reading this will understand. Not a lot of that Friday feeling but it is nearly the weekend.

My weekend will start in about 5 hours and what a busy one it will be, starting with the Derby Dabblers get together tonight and then running around for last minute bits for the wedding which will take place 3 weeks tomorrow YEAH. I am also hoping to get the bathroom painted on Sunday.

I have been having a play with my trendy trees stamp set, it doesnt get used too often but we used it at Sues last Friday so I have a few cards to share with you but one at a time.

Here I cut out some small tags with a punch and made a template, used blues and greens for a background and then just stamped. I am really pleased with the way it turned out.

I had a Virgin Vie party a couple of weeks ago and I am pleased to say that the goodies have arrived so I will be going to work with some lovely looking lips today.

Thanks for having a read and I hope your Friday is wonderful.