Saturday craft time

Well, I am supposed to be cleaning or some other boring thing, but it is just me and lucy at home today, billie and kayce are at Drayton Manor with the guides, hubby is at work. So we have been in the garden, we have played seasides, football tennis and even checked the herbs growing.. it has been a lazy Saturday and really enjoyable. 

Unfortunately, I am still suffering with this strep throat and it doesn't matter what I take it just won't go away.. my sleep is suffering, I am waking up probably 3 times an hour as my throat is swollen and I feel as though I am not breathing. But I am sitting sipping hot juice.. and although I am worried about taking more co-codomol I think I am going to have to. but enough bleating.. I tried to do some more crochet and I have resigned myself to be AWFUL at it hehehe. I have now collected 90% of my bits for my vintage love swop and will post pics once I know Jenn has received it in a few weeks time. 
I would really love to hear from you if you have a craft that you think I might enjoy exploring, also I would love to do some more tuts if anyone has any ideas?

Spring Mornings

I love mornings like this, even though I have to be at work at 10am I am still able to get the kids to school and get a wash out on the line. It must be a mum thing, wanting to behave like all the other women in the street and admire your fresh laundry out on a line! I like standing out in my back garden with the birds chirping and spending quiet time just pegging. It gives me time to think, I must admit my mind does wander to odd things but often I will think about crafting and today was such a day. I would like to know more about sewing. I would love to send whimsys, little pin cushions made with pretty delicate fabric. I would like to make a peg bag and also a lovely needle bag for my mum. I am going to hunt down some old fabric in the local charity shop. I shall try and get pics on here of my initial attempts and no laughing!

I also have joined a new swop, called the VINTAGE LOVE PACKAGE EXCHANGE. I had a wonderful time swopping with my last partner Angela and we have had a blast then and since. I look forward to gathering some nice vintage bits together for my swoppie across the pond this time. 

Anyway as I said, I have to be at work at 10 booo, so I need to log off for now. I hope to speak to you all soon and if you find some nice pics of pretty pin cushions then I would love to see them, even more than that I would love to see any you have made. Tata for now!

Life sometimes doesn't work right does it?

Ok, so I have neglected you all.. for that I am sorry... I have had the most horrendous few weeks!! No internet, no time and NO CRAFTING ARGHHHHHHHHH on top of that I have been quite ill, but I am NOT going to dwell on that at all... but I am back and I can't wait to start blogging again and letting you all know of the wonderful things I have been buying just lately.. speak to you soon..

My entry to the Simon Says Challenge

Ok so I have never done a challenge before and I was kind of thrown in at the deep end with this one!

but here are the rules we had to follow

This week the Design Team are all showcasing the Stampabilities range of stamps -
House Mouse, Happy Hoppers and Gruffies :-)We do realize that not all of you have any of these stamps so we have a Recipe for you all to follow :-)

3 TYPES OF EMBELLISHMENTS
2 PATTERNED PAPERS you can also use coordinating cardstock :-)
1 IMAGE

If you do have any Stampabilities stamps we would love to see them on your creations this week :-)

So I used Simply Fabulous Collection  - Maddi Embellishment papers I used polka dot and narrow stripe.

I also used a wooden stamp that I love with cats on.. called cat blocks (not sure who it is by to be honest)

I also used buttons recycled and collected from friends and some lovely crystals to add a bit of glitz! I love ribbon and although i would have liked some yellow ribbon all of mine is too thick so I settled with a nice cream ribbon to add my tag

I haven't put this as a particular card, as it is suitable for all ages and I have 3 girls so like to keep the sentiment open so I can adapt it. Also it means the girls can write what they like on the label and make it a bit more personal to them.

So here are the piccies!

Jack Frost

Ok, so this is supposed to be a crafty type of blog.. well I just found how to make a cocktail that I discovered in Frankie & Benny's! wohooo.. Jack Frost is the name and making me slightly tipsy is the game hehehe..

ok

take
1part jack daniels (or bourbon of any kind you have)
1part triple sec
2parts apple sours
top up with apple juice..

serve in a large tumbler with lots of ice and a sugar rim.. and yum yum.. be warned it is sour and it is very very nice hehehe..

I am enjoying having the girls home from school for the half term. We have visited Alton Towers, been to Frankie & Benny's (re above lol) and we want to go to the Sea Life Centre soon, ( we have merlin passes so use these to the max during holidays, courtesy of tesco vouchers). I hope you are all having a good week and I shall be back to blogging in ernest next week.. Cherrioooooooo

Valentine's Day

I am lucky in that my husband also despairs of the commercialism of Valentine's Day and understands my point black refusal of any gift for it! So it was as any other Sunday, we decided to go out to a car boot and then to our local truck cafe for breakfast, yummmy yummmy.

I have spent the afternoon clearing the kitchen/craft table and boxing things up( having 4 kids I will be interested to find out HOW long it will stay tidy) and trying to come up with an impressive idea for my sisters request for a snowflake wedding card.

I have also this weekend begun my swop project for the alice in wonderland theme and have made a few bits for my fellow swopper (shhhh, I can't say what they are in case she is reading hehehe). I am really pleased with one piece and I am sure she will love it.

At work tomorrow and I am really not sure if this new job is for me? Does anyone else feel bad if they aren't stretched at work? I hate not having enough to do.

I am going to get some card making done this week, even though it is half term and I have promised a trip to the park, the sealife centre, the swimming pool and Alton Towers lol.
Picked up some bits in Au Natural today (it is closing down) I picked up some snowman bath gels and a few trays to make some baskets up for kids for xmas. I also picked up a glass anniversary stop thingamajig.

So busy weekend and I hope you are all having a good one! Ta ta for now xx

Cooking

Ok guys as you can see by the side of this blog is a new bit! -------------------->

I have created my first recipe, Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Sauce and it is soooooo easy to make so please enjoy it. Tutorial on the Tiara is there too! Enjoy yum yum.

Wedding Card

I know I have promised a tutorial on the tiara, I am in town tomorrow picking up bits as I realised that I wanted to do some pictures of each stage to make it easier on the eye. I know I find it difficult myself to follow just written instructions and I do like to see what I am crafting, so I hope to get that sorted real soon.

I have been asked by my sister to create a wedding card for a friend for her, now I have been known to do some interesting cards, along the lines of puzzle cards, waterfall cards etc. But her spec is throwing me and I just can't find any ideas!

She wants the colour scheme to be Royal blue, gold and cream. She wants snowflakes(but not Christmasy) and possibly if I can, a halo moon!! Sighs... I just am not sure how I can come up with an original idea. Submit any ideas to 'i am confused.com' lol. But seriously if anyone has any ideas that they would be kind enough to give to me I would love them please. liesa_is_fab at yahoo.com. thanks guys! and tutorial coming soon xxx

Weekend Crafting

So I had my weekend planned out,
1.I have to start on my patches for my quilt.
2.I must find a box to put all the gifts I am making in.
3.Make a card for sis in laws birthday next Sunday ( already made the bracelet).
4.Take photo's of updated tiara ( decided to add some colour and give it to my girls to play with)


OH has other ideas lol, he gently reminded me that we have to go to London this weekend for a trade show for work... oh it is such a bind having to travel to London and go and see all the lovely sights!! I shall miss my crafting but I am looking forward to spending some time there, and hopefully visiting the swarovski bead shop!

I will put a picture up of the new looking tiara and I do hope to write up the instructions in the next day or two , to show you how YOU can do a tiara at a fraction of the cost of the shop ones. And trust me, if I can do it I KNOW you can!!

liesa
xx

A Couple of things that I have done!

Ok so the first one that I want to show you is a lovely bracelet I made. I used mainly clear and purple beads and worked my way from the centre to make sure that it wasn't too heavy on one side.

The second project I have done today is a very quick tiara. I did this to show to a friend that the prices paid in shops is ridiculous when you can create something yourself, if you just give yourself a little time.

I used a gold headband and 0.4mm gold plated copper wire. I selected about 40 beads and if anyone would like the instructions then please leave a comment and I shall put them up on the blog.

thanks!

Blog Tempates

It's quite difficult isn't it? Deciding on a blog outlook. I have surfed the net in vain to find a blog template that I like, I have finally settled on this one even though I am not sure I love it. Oh well, don't worry if you see different looks every few days, I am a woman who changes her mind all the time lol.

I have done some more crafting today, I managed to get some hand warmers done, I also did another bracelet for my present box. I shall be posting some pictures real soon.

Tomorrow I shall be posting my rocky road instructions, I have my able assistant taking pictures ( my 9 year old daughter, help us all for the quality lol). See you all tomorrow xx

Memory Wire Bracelet

Just a quick adnote.....

I have made a bracelet for my sis in law's birthday in February. I cannot claim that I came up with this idea, that was a fellow poster on Money Saving Forum, Crafting for Christmas 2010!
Poppy did a lovely bracelet using memory wire and lovely beads here is the link to the orginial inspiration. I was absolutely in love with it and loved doing my own take. I think next time I shall make it longer but for my first attempt I was really pleased.

I am very lucky I stumbled across a bead shop in Birmingham. It is in the custard factory, just down by digbeth and the prices ARE SO CHEAP!! Here is her website I do hope that those of you that live in the Birmingham area and love to actually 'touch' all the beads and maybe don't want to have to spend a fortune to get the ones you want will go visit her!

New Sewing Machine

Happy Times I have bought a Sewing Machine!

Wohooo it may be an old Frister & Rossmann 300, but to me its the beginning of my return to making cushion covers, quilts, clothes and being able to repair all those things around the house that have loose seams lol.

I am about to start on my cushion covers from the fabric I got as swatches from a fabric shop up the road. They gave me a big book and there are some really stunning fabrics in there. I shall post pics when I get them done. Does anyone prefer a particular method to their cushion making? folded or zipped? Also have seen some wonderful things around the web at the moment and I shall be putting a few recipes up this week that I love and I do hope that you will all send me some too.
till then happy crafting

My first Post!

Ok so I am not renowned for being the most tidy or consistant person on the planet but I would like to think that eventually I will get into my stride and blog what I am doing.

I am on a mission to enrich my life and the lives of others through craft. I would like to think that the skills I acquire as I go along will be worthwhile showing to others. My children are my first students and enjoy doing crafty things with me on a regular basis. I would also point out that I HATE buying new bits to craft with, I try to use recycled material as often as possible. Hence Mr Ghosty here lol. He is made from a baby grow and eyes from a dismembered teddy (see The Crafting for Christmas thread on Martins Moneysaving Expert for more info on my teddy episodes lol)

I have long been a card maker and I think I am pretty good at it too. I was told to go into business and sell them, but to be honest I craft because I enjoy it and its a wonderful hobby, I would hate it to turn into a chore I do to earn money!

So all I can say is watch this space, creative juices will begin and I shall post pictures and websites where I think you will enjoy copying other peoples crafty bits.