Dear oh dear

Despite all that's going on, the swap csrds for November on Crafts by Carolyn needed to be done - and try as I might I just couldn't come up with an idea for 'bright and funky', which is the reason why these were left till the last minute. In desperation I've made these four cards, but to say I'm unhappy with them is to put it mildly. But suppose everyone has times when inspiration and creativity just fail to respond to the urgency of the task! These cards weren't even my first attempt - I wouldn't dare show those - my young grandchildren would be able to produce much better.

I was hoping that perhaps the photos might make the cards look better, but, no, they look just as bad as they do irl.

Perhaps inspiration and creativity will return soon so that normal service can be resumed (although with the chaos atm I'm not too sure when that will be).

The flowers and leaves are stamped with cat's eye chalk in pads direct to paper and quickly embossed with gold detail (which admittedly does actually show up better irl than on the photos) - the edging was done the same way.

Snowmen and Snowflakes

These ATCs are for the November swap on Tanda Stamps (oh, why did I leave them till the last minute? We didn't expect the rest of the decorating to be done till after Christmas, so all of this happening suddenly has thrown everything into chaos).

I nearly gave these a miss - try as I might, I just couldn't get into thinking what to do, probably because I wanted to achieve something different to the norm, but inspiration wouldn't come.

So here is what I did, using Whispers stamps and embossing - the background is the same small stamp used again and again (embossing in between so not to smudge):

HS:MS soft

Today's prompt on HS:MS is 'soft'. Here's mine:

HS:MS bristles

'Bristles or spikey textures ain't always a nice feeling - but we all have them in our space. Show us yours.'

Mine is a stiff brush that is part of a brush-and-dustpan set - it's in a bit of a state, so here it is, just as it comes:





If a year ago someone had told me I'd be taking photos of a brush and putting them on the internet, I would have laughed! And here I am doing just that!

We've just come back from having lunch out for mum's birthday. She managed to get out after all, which is good, because this is the first time of going out since her last fall. I think she enjoyed her lunch. She's now gone back to have a tea party at her sheltered accommodation (we couldn't go to that because we had to get back because the decorators are here. It looks as if the decorators are going to be able to come back after the weekend to do some of the rest of the work that needs doing, the hall etc. and then we have to arrange for the carpet people to do their bit. Did anyone say that it's getting a bit near Christmas? Help!!

We've just agreed with mum that this year we'll go over to her and I'll cook lunch etc there because we don't know what state we'll be in - and mum reacts to the smell of paint. The trouble is that if you have painting done at this time of year the smell lingers on longer because you can't have the windows open so much. I can't stand it myself, but just have to put up with it.

Sorry, this is has got nothing to do with crafting and this is meant to be 'My Crafty Outlook', so enough!!

Mum's birthday card

It's mum's birthday tomorrow. A few days ago I had an idea of making her a card on the robo, using a template kindly Shirley Anne on UKS. I had a trial go and intended to make a better version today. The way things are going, time is going to run out (getting ready for the onslaught of the decorators tomorrow - and various other things I need to get done while I'm able, except that my back is hurting and I'm tired, because I didn't sleep at all well last night - in fact from about 3.00 am I was watching the recording of Holby City because I couldn't sleep).

Anyway, back to mum's card - I've decided in the end to use the 'trial' one, with a few flowers and Poundland bling added.

Why is it that it's always difficult to make cards for those nearet and dearest? I think it's because we want them to be extra special and somehow mine never seem to turn out like that.

Tomorrow is tinged with sadness, because it will be four years ago since dad died.

Some crafting to show at last

I was asked by a friend (Diane, if you see this, I hope you like them!) to make Christmas cards for two of her grandchildren. Diane had seen my card I did for my brother and SIL's anniverary and asked if I'd do something along those lines, so here are the folded cards. Of course, when they are folded up, everything is the right way up, but when laid out like this some of the squares look upside down (and I haven't got time to take individual shots because we're trying to get sorted ready for the decorators to start tomorrow).

Jade's card was to include fairies (which aren't very clear on these photos):





Reece's card was to include Spiderman:

HS:MS smooth

'Lots of us have a super smooth surface in our space, question is - where's yours?'

I thought this one would be easy, but in reality I was a bit stumped as to what to do. Then I found this:



and this is what it says on the back:



so I think it qualifies!

Help!!!!

I need to make a list of all the crafty things that are outstanding and need to be done (nevermind my own Christmas cards to be written etc).

Earlier this afternoon we had a call from our decorators to say that they could start on the lounge on Thursday if we'd like them to - they can slot it in Thursday, Friday and Monday (we had said they could call us at short notice but that it probably would be after Christmas).

So we have spent time this afternoon moving things around and I now have piles of videos, CDs, DVDs etc on the worktop in my new craft room.

The funny thing is that I was just about to take some photos soon of my room, having almost organised everything - ha ha - no photos yet now, not with all the 'extras' in here.

I'll have to make sure I can still get into my chair to do some crafting (got to do some of the urgent things on the list).

Hey ho - and it's mum's birthday on Thursday and we're hoping she's going to feel able to go out to lunch - at least it will get us out of the chaos.

We have a very heavy old-style TV that we're going to replace with a flat screen one - we are in process of juggling what we do when - and we have carpet on order, so don't know now whether perhaps it will be done before Christmas.

One day we will be straight! And we've only just got rid of the paint smell from having this room and the bedroom done and now we'll be going all through it again in the lounge (and we only have the one lounge/dining room, so nowhere else to escape to).

We must be mad!!

HS:MS rough

'Have you got a bit of rough in your space?'

Yes, too much on my feet (and no, I'm not showing you my feet!), which is why I need this (and ought to use it more often - then my feet wouldn't be so rough!):

HS:MS wet

'Starting a week of Textures, go and find soemthing wet in your space.'

Josey's nose - wet and healthy: