Go-Go Greetings

My go-go greetings kits from http://www.scrapagogo.co.uk have been building up due to being so busy. But I'm trying to find time to play with them. Here's some cards made from the November kit from last year - there's so much in the kit it's difficult to stop!

I made over 19 cards with the kit, plus Kam made 7 and I'd already used some of the papers in a mini book I'd made and I still haven't used everything! It's a great value for money kit but great quality too. I've used some additional bits and pieces, such as some Stampin' Up! stamps and punches and lots of Papermania adhesive gems, oh and my ever faithful Hampton Art lady stamp, along with a message stamp from Crafter's Companion.

Crafting with Kamala

As I was up in the North East yesterday doing a demo day at Craft Central in Darlington (thank you to Lesley and her team for making me feel so welcome and to all the lovely ladies that came to see what I was up to), I stayed up to spend the day with Kam making cards.

What better way to spend a Sunday than crafting with a friend and getting fed great food too.
Kam will kill me for this but here she is busy making beautiful cards.

Here's the finished articles

The creative mess!!

Reminisce

How gorgeous is this range from Reminisce? Thank you to Debbie at Scrapdoodles for geting this range to me, it's delicious. I love the slight sheen the paper has and with a whole sheet of stickers that say "You're Invited" you really could use this to make wedding stationery. On top of that the other sticker sheet is ideal for that special card, mini books or scrapbooning.

Little Claires

This cute elephant stamp is from Little Claire Designs, it so suits new baby cards.





I have got another elephant stamp from Little Claires but as I've used it for a card for a magazine I can't share it with you just yet.

Baby Cards

I've had a lovely day making cards. I've had great fun with Fancy Pants paper from Hobby Horse Crafts and more Fancy Pants products, delicious felt and the mini pins from the lovely Jackie at Make The Moment Last.

Getting Creative

Woo hoo - I've found/made some time to be creative. A magazine deadline is a blessing in disguise for me as it gets me crafting. I had to cancel a weekend away in Scotlander with the lovely Jaffers (so glad I saw her yesterday though) as I had cards to make but I made the most of it and got my cards made and my copy written too. I can't share the cards with you just yet but here are a couple of sneak peeks ;)

A friendly gathering

Today was a lovely day. I got to meet up with a few of my friends. Bearing in mind one lives in Welwyn Garden City, another in Edinburgh and the other 3 in the North East to find them all in one place was quite amazing. We met at Pizza Hut at the Metro Centre and had a giggle or two or three over lunch.

Lyzzy and Andrea (who ventured out despite her bad back)

Me and Jafnetta Noo Noo - not a great photo but we couldn't stop giggling

Jean - who very kindly brought my April alter it kit with her

Gail - who thought she didn't do hugs - I didn't give the poor woman a chance!

Some other old bird we saw in the Metro Centre!!

It was lovely to see Tom and Beth too, Lyzzys better half and youngest daughter. Thank you everyone for a lovely day.

Spicy!

I'm so lucky. When I'm up at the office I get to stay with Kamala and her lovely husband - but don't tell him I said that. Originally from India Kam cooks the most amazing curries. I love staying there and I so enjoy watching her cook. I think my favourite so far is masala dosai (I hope I've spelt it right) - potato curry in rice flour pancakes, although her samosas are something very special too.

But what amuses me is her spice cupboard. This is a wall cupbaord filled to the brim with spices. To give you some idea of scale these jars are the medium and large size coffee jars!

Happy Days

I've been down to Bristol for a couple of meetings, which meant I got to go and see my wonderful friend Anna. I know how to be a good house guest, so arrived with a bottle of Veuve Clicquot and a butterscotch Green & Blacks eater egg. I hadn't noticed until now how well the two go together. Who said orange isn't a beautiful colour. As for the sad face - we'd finished the easter egg!!

And two chicks for two chicks - yellow marshmallow is an acquired taste.

I finished my day off with a trip to the local blood donor session - the things a girl will do for a biscuit and a cup of coffee!

My Birthday Continues

What a lucky girl I am. Some more birthday cards and gifts have arrived.

From the lovely Lyzzy I got this beautiful card and this gorgeous black and white set of notepads and a matching pen. I love matching stationery but very rarely treat myself so this was a perfect gift. Thank you Lyzzy x

And from Miss Jafnetta Noo Noo I got this funky yet handy purse/organiser. I love it lots and it is now in daily usage. It fits perfectly in both my new bags - anybody would think there was some kind of conspiracy going on!

Hobbycrafts

What a busy week it's been. It was the ICHF Sewing for Pleasure and Hobbycraft at the NEC in Birmingham. So with set up on the Wednesday and then the show from Thursday to Sunday it kept me really busy. I got to drive the van, so another first for me.

Another thing I discovered this week was, when someone says they're sending you one box ask them how big the box is! Oh and how easy it is to get from Stalybridge to Durham on the train.

We celebrated Simons birthday while we were there, great choice of cake by Kamala :)


And I can't forget that I missed being with my girls at the Altrincham Crop on Saturday. I know you had a fab time and can't wait to see you all next month.

Let the train take the strain

I took the train up to the office today. It's great as I can get a train from local station all the way direct to Durham or Darlington, where the lovely Kam picked me up. I usually drive but die to logistics of getting vans to the NEC later in the week it made sense for me to get the train. As it was so easy I think it definitely happen again.

Tomorrow will be the first day I've driven the van. So another new thing for me :)

Spring Swing Extravaganza

I've been away to Reading, to an amazing swing dancing weekend. As always the All Jazzed Up team put on a great event bringing over 2 brilliant teachers from the U.S. Bill Borgida and Julie Mertz. With so much great stuff to learn and absorb my little brain could only take so much and I had to sneak to odd nap!

Here's me with two of my favourite people, Jean and Swirls. Thank you for letting me come and play and especially for letting me be a dinner lady - another lifelong ambition acheived.




Shirley you're as mad as I am! Thank you for letting me stay with you and your gorgeous boys.




The utterly beautiful boys - Edward (Eddie) and Stanley



Dinner at the Harper household, one of the warmest most generous places in the world, a place that always stays in your heart.


Swirls, Big Pete, Pam and Linda (sorry Mrs Howland!), I'm not sure where Al (Mr Howland) is.





Julie, Tanya, Bill and Miss Jean

Richard (Ma Lord) and the real Jackie.

Sue and Brian ... Slussen!!

More Birthday Delights

This weekend I'm off to a dancing weekend in Reading but on my way I stopped to see my wonderful friend Gwyneth for a precious 10 minutes or so. The reason was to drop off the kits for the crop for next weekend as I'll be missing again as I'll be at the NEC working. So what a lovely surprise that she's made me this beautiful card and gave me this beautiful red leather handbag all the way from Italy for my birthday. Thank you Gwyneth xx

Isn't it a beautiful bag - it smells all leathery too.

Look - it's really from Italy