Happy New Year

HAPPY NEW YEAR PEEPS

Hope you all had a fab time last night.

Well now for my news that I'm so excited about..........we launched a new inspiration blog today called Alphabet Funk, check it out here

I was given the task of starting off the blog with the cover and first page design. There are going to be contributions from our other fab designers on Bubbly Funk and I hope you're going to join in with us.

Have a marvellous start to 2007 peeps!

Last day of 2006

Well hi peeps! More apologies called for, I just haven't had the time to blog and I've had a week off work...........tut tut!

We had a wonderful Christmas, very quiet, but relaxing and no stress.

Mum was down for the Saturday and Sunday before and we had a fab weekend, Tony went to footy on the Saturday and brought in a yummy Kentucky in the evening and Sunday was prezzie opening day. I got loads of crafty bits and pieces and couldn't wait to start playing.

On Christmas Day Tony and I went to our local social club for a couple of hours, it's always lovely there on Christmas Day because everyone is happy and it was great to catch up with friends that we hadn't seen in a while.

We went back home for a lovely 3 course dinner (well 2 courses actually, we were too full for the 3rd one) and we shared some fab prezzies. We'd bought more for each other than usual because we knew we were on our own for the day and our prezzie opening lasted right into early evening.

I bought Tony a camera and he seems pretty keen to get using it, it would be great if we were both interested in photography..............we'll see!

Boxing Day was a "do our own thing" day, Tony settled down to watch the footy and I got started on a very special project................can't say anything just yet, I'm waiting for the announcement but you guys will be the first to

know..............wink wink!

That's the reason I've not been around too much over the last week, I've had my nose stuck in piles of B.G. YES B.G. and I've been cutting it into pieces as well........OMG!!

New Years Resolutions to date have got to be to:

1/. Blog more, been very lapse of late!

2/. To get as creative as possible, I'm on a high at the mo and pleased with some of the stuff I've been doing of late.

3/. Keep in touch with friends more.........I was chatting to a pal last night and we both realised that we all lack doing that really!

I'll add more as I think of them, already done the giving up smoking thing, two years in January......woo hoo. I guess losing weight should be one of them but that's always on my list LOL, perhaps if I got of my fat a**e and did a bit more exercise then that one would come naturally.

Right me done for now, catch you peeps soon! Have a fabulous New Year tonight and to my Scottish friends ............ have a brilliant Hogmanay! Enjoy!

Christmas Tag

Thank Nat for the tag and, yes, I do love Christmas........how did you guess LOL!

Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate: Well I've never had Egg Nog so it's got to be Hot Chocolate. Funnily enough, although I'm not a huge fan of chocolate I do love a big mug of Hot Chocolate with whipped cream on top.

Coloured lights on the tree/house or white: White on the house but we've only got a strip of icicle lights out there that hang along the garage and porch. We've got 2 trees, on in the living room that has white and gold lights on it and another in the conservatory that has white and blue lights on it. I don't like the multi coloured lights much as I prefer to stick to a colour scheme.

Do you hang mistletoe: No, don't bother and never really thought to either.

When do you put your decorations up: As early in December as possible, I started putting them up on the 1st this year but they normally take about 3 days cos I'm soooooo slow at decorating.

What’s your fave holiday dish (excluding desserts): I haven't got a favourite, if we entertain we normally have turkey because it's the easiest for me to cook but it's just the 2 of us on Christmas Day this year so we're having beef. But we're especially looking forward to yorkshire puds, roast potatoes and stuffing because we rarely eat those during the year.

What’s your fave Christmas memory as a child: I have lots of fab memories, my mum and dad always made Christmas very special and exciting.

How and when did you learn the truth about Santa: Actually I can't remember when I learnt the truth about Santa. I guess deep down I like to think that he really does exist LOL!

Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve: No, unless it's after midnight, we have done that on a couple of occassions. This year we are having some prezzies on Christmas Eve because my mum is here but she's going home Christmas Eve evening so we'll have our Christmas Day with her a day earlier.

How do you decorate your Christmas Tree: I'm a real stickler for colour schemes and a huge passion for buying more (that we really don't need). The tree in the living room has lights and loads and loads of different baubles and hanging things, all in burgundy and gold but no tinsel. The tree in the conservatory is covered in blue and white and that one does have tinsel.

Snow! Love it or dread it: Love it if I can go and walk in it, but hate it when I have to drive in it.

Can you ice skate: I used to go ice skating as a child, I remember going loads of times but I never mastered it.

Do you remember your fave gift: No, I've been fortunate to have received lots of lovely gifts so I can't think of just one.

What’s the most important thing about Christmas for you: That everyone is happy and healthy and it's fab to ring round the family on Christmas morning.

What tops your tree: A ribbon shaped star thingy.

Which do you prefer, giving or receiving: Well, I'd be lying if I said I didn't like receiving but overall I guess I would prefer giving.

What is your fave Christmas song: Ooh lots of them, they drive Tony mad LOL! I can't think of any to name.

What’s your fave Christmas story: I love lots of Christmas stories, I thought The Snowman was brilliant, especially to that music, walking in the air, or whatever it was called.........isn't my memory just pants LOL!

Right, I'm going to tag Caroline, cos she lurves Christmas too.

Wooo Hoooo, getting there!!!

I know, I know, you all thought I disappeared of the face of the earth.....what a bad blogger....tut tut but I have just been sooooooo busy with the preparations for Christmas I just haven't had time to think.

Anyway, look what was delivered for us today...........a lovely, scrummy, delicious hamper with lots of lovely, scrummy delicious delights...........in fact all things that we don't normally buy because they are just too fattening but would love to have. Well except for the wine, we ALWAYS buy wine LOL!

This was a very generous gift from a customer of ours so we were obviously surprised and delighted.

I've pretty much finished putting up the decorations, the lights are up outside now too. Nothing too dramatic just a strip of icicle lights round the garage and porch. I've also got out my beloved Santa in his sleigh with his reindeer......more pics to show you (blogger has been good lately)! My Santa is my pride and joy, I've had him for about 5 years now and the candles are the original ones, I've never wanted to light them (plus the fact they were so damned expensive I don't want to use them)!!

I really must find some time to do a bit of blog hopping peeps, sorry I haven't been dropping by you all much. Once the big day has arrived things will be much calmer......phew.

Take care all.

A Box Full of Kisses

I read this in a little mag that is put through our door and I can't help but share it with you. I don't know the author to credit them unfortunately.

This story is about a man who, some years ago, punished his three year old daughter for wasting a roll of gold wrapping paper. Money was tight and he became infuriated when the child tried to decorate a box to put under the Christmas tree.

Nevertheless, the little girl brought the gift to her father the next morning and said: "This is for you, Daddy." He was embarrassed by his earlier overreaction, but his anger flared again when he found the box to be empty. He yelled at her: "Don't you know that when you give someone a present, there's supposed to be something inside it?"

The little girl looked up at him with tears in her eyes and said: "Oh, Daddy, it is not empty. I blew kesses into the box. All for you, Daddy."

The father was crushed. He put his arms around his little girl and he begged for her forgiveness.

It is told that the man kept that gold box by his bed for years and whenever he was discouraged, he would take out an imaginary kiss and remember the love of the child who had put it there.

In a very real sense, each of us have been given a gold container filled with unconditional love and kisses from our children, friends, or family. There is no more precious possession anyone could hold.

Yey, Christmas month is here!!

And here are a couple of pics of the tree in the living room. I borrowed a tripod from a friend and managed to get these shots.

The tree looks soooo pretty and I am just sooo excited about Christmas.

Had hardly any time to blog lately, I have been busying away with present making and inspiration planning on Bubbly Funk as well as circle journals and other things that seem to crop up in the Festive Season. I know I seem to have done an awful lot of trapesing round shops just recently, but doing well, we've nearly got all the prezzies and I actually bought SOME wrapping paper today. Still need more!

Right, that's it for now, seez you soon.

Been shoppin'

I just can't resist.....we went shopping for prezzies tonight, well late this afternoon and we were meant to be buying prezzies for Tony's Mum and Dad.

We did get some prezzies for them but I bumped into these little chaps and just couldn't resist their little rosy cheeks..........aren't they just gorgeous.

Of course earlier today I had to visit a customer right next door to a craft shop and found these little packets of Wintery embellies. I just lurved the little mittons and hats, and of course the little snowmen, well all of them actually so that was it!!!! I have already got a very good use for them but I can't say on here.....wink wink....promise to post a piccie after Christmas though.

It's been very hectic, work has been quite manic and I seem to have so many preparations to sort out for Christmas. I think the Bubbly Funk Christmas inspiration is finally sorted and I do just want to say thanks to Chris from B.F. she has been a huge help and taken over half of the organisation of it all so I'm VERY grateful. So please pop over and have a nosey at our inspirational ideas starting..............wait for it..............tomorrow..........EEK, I hope the first day goes ok at least!

Right that's it from me, I'm hopefully putting some dec's up Friday so I'll take a piccie or two.

URGH - smell of paint.

Sorry I haven't posted in nearly a week - TUT TUT!! No excuse for not posting during last week but I have had a VERY good excuse for not posting this weekend!!!

Our office was in dire need of a bit of a freshen up - paint the ceiling, walls, storage cupboard and paintwork etc etc!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Friday afternoon we emptied the office which means:
a/. No internet (EEK!) and
b/. No crafting space (ABSOLUTELY HUUUUUUGE EEK!)

Saturday spent painting (well Tony did) and sorting out paperwork (my job).

Sooooo NO internet or crafting on Friday or Saturday!!!!!!!!!!!

We did watch War of the Worlds on Saturday night, it's the first film I have watched in months and I actually quite enjoyed it - recommend to anyone who hasn't seen it yet!!

Sunday morning - started to get the office back to normal and actually useable by just after lunchtime. I'm happy now, got my internet back and access to my stash again except..........................it's Monday again tomorrow - YUK!!

Ooooh, just to let you know. The Bubbly Funk Christmas Inspirational countdown starts on Thursday 30th November so do take a looksy at B.F's forum. I sort of got involved in doing........well.............pretty much most of it!!

That's it from me for now :-)

Ha ha this is great!

Found this on Gayes blog, ha ha ha, loving the "Damp Sponge nicknamed Leaky" LOL!!

'What" will your obituary say?' at QuizGalaxy.com

Misty morning

We got up early to go for a walk this morning. We had to drive towards Chichester so we went up Bury Hill which isn't far from us. It was quite foggy but when we got to the top of the hill the landscape was amazing. We'd risen above the morning mist and I managed to get these shots, I think it must have been about 8.30ish this morning.

We had a fabulous walk for a couple of hours and then popped back to McDonalds. Now I haven't been to McD's for a long time, I'm not normally all that keen on their food but they've now brought in a range of deli foods and we had a beef and red onion relish roll. I have to admit it was absolutely delicious and has changed my way of thinking about McD's.

Now back home I'm settled into a spot of creativity, I really must finish the cj entry I started a few days ago and I have a whole host of things I want to get made and organized for Christmas and time is just passing me by way too quickly.

Seez you all later xx

Bubbly Funk at the NEC

Well, here we are, ha ha ha. From the left we have Mel, Caroline, Me, Rosie and Di.

We had a fabby, fabby day, none of us had met before and it was great to see each other for real.

Caroline got the T Shirts made AND guessed all our sizes correctly (especially Mel, as she needed XXXXXXXL). Not long to go now Mel!

A big, big fanks to Rosie for emailing the piccie over so I could put it on here.

First Christmas prezzie made!!!

Well I've finished my first Christmas Prezzie. This is a little tag book for Tony's mum. We took his parents away to Cornwall in June and, of course, I took loads of pics. We've given a set of pics to them already but I picked out 6 of the best ones and mounted them into a little tag book.

The cover paper is some of the fabby wrapping paper I buy for silly amounts of money in a local shop. It only gets used on special peeps so I guess Tony's mum is a special peep.

I've actually started making a card today for the Bubbly Funk Christmas card swap, thankfully I only have to make the one!! I'm quite pleased with the way it's going but I'm just not a fan of making cards these days.

No other news at the mo, except I am counting the days down to the 1st December, I am sooo excited about putting the decs up. We've already planned our menus over Christmas because we've now got confirmation of who's coming when. Once I've decided once and for all what my colour scheme is I'll be able to buy the co-ordinating wrapping paper - WOO HOO - can't wait.

Busy, busy, busy

Where has this last week just gone! In fact what is happening to November?

I've had a really good week, well the tail end of it was anyway.

Tony and I went to Birmingham on Thursday afternoon to meet Caroline and Rosie of Bubblyfunk at the travelodge we were all staying in.

There was a bit of a hiccup with telephone numbers but we got together in the end. It was so nice to meet them after all the cyber chatting we'd been doing.

We went off to the NEC on Friday, Caroline and Rosie had already been there on the Thursday, they were demoing the Xyron Personal Cutting System and myself, Di and Mel, also from the Bubblyfunk Design Team were meeting us there.

It was a fab day apart from the fact that my bottle went and there was no way I was going to do any demo's. Actually, I was all keen to have a go until I watched Rosie do a demo first. Well, she is a complete natural and, quite frankly, I would have looked like a total berk along side her so my confidence went down to zilch.

Anyway, it was great to meet all the girls and I'd love to meet up with them again sometime, Tony took pics of us all but our camera died just as we took ours so I'm hoping Caroline or Rosie will email theirs so I can get a piccie on here. And, the biggest surprise of all, I didn't spend any money there - phew, what a shock.

I thought I'd show you the latest additions to my Christmas collection, the Santas I bought in Scotland when we were up there and the little hanging signs I bought in a shop in town. Aren't they just fabaroo. I keep seeing those blasted brown baubles that are absolutely gorgeous, Tony even asked me how much it would set us back if I added yet another colours to my growing collection. But, I'm not going to buy them before Christmas, I'll wait and see whats in the sales. I've only used the burgundy and gold collection once so I think they should really come out again for a second year.

Look what I won!!!!!!!!

I'm so excited, do you remember the altered CD clock I put on here a few weeks ago. Well I entered into the Altered Art competition on Scrapstars and I won.

My prize came today and I'm sooooo chuffed, there is just so much stuff there, thank you so much to the Scrapstars team.

I can't wait to start playing, I've got canvas bags, boxes and a fabby tin to alter, coasters and a fabby 12" x 12" scrapbook cover and just loads of other things.

Off to start playing now :-)

November ATC's - Christmas

Well I had 9 ATC's to do for the Bubbly Funk November swap and the theme was Christmas. These are meant to be sort of Folk Art style and I really enjoyed making them. I didn't quite finish them last night, I still had a few threads to tie through the buttons. We went for a lovely walk this morning but my hands were cold when we got back and, boy, it was hard work tying those threads.

Talking of walks, I had hoped to capture a few "Autumnal" shots this morning but all the trees round here are still too green so I may have to wait a while longer.

Shimelles Christmas Class is up for sign ups, I'm soooo tempted but it's double the price of the last class. Mind you it is 37 daily prompts which is alot but I'm always so busy in December, I'll have a bit of a think!

Brainy and Curious - ha ha ha

Well, as you can see, my best attempt at looking brainy was to peer over the top of a dictionery ha ha ha!!

So the next 2 pages are done for Shimelles class, I enjoyed doing these to and really getting into this hidden journalling lark. On brainy, the page itself has been built up with thick card as I needed to disguise the steel hinges from the creative page but what I've done is made a recess under the photo and inserted a 3 fold mini book (yet to be decorated and journalled). The mounted photo has ribbon for hinges and a little piece of velcro to secure it.

For the curious page I have created a pocket at the bottom and put in a 4 page mini book (again yet to be decorated etc) and fitted eyelets and used ribbons and beads to hold it together.

The words Brainy and Curious are hand cut but in the same colour as the main card, I sought of felt I didn't want the word Brainy to be too bold. It gives an embossed feel to the pages.

I've got the whole day to myself today and the morning has just flown, why doesn't it go this quick during the week.

I received a rather natty jigsaw piece from Caroline at Bubbly Funk this morning, 9 of us have a piece each and we've been asked to decorate them in a Christmas theme and send back to Caroline. She'll then put them together and put a pic on Bubbly Funks site so pop over and take a look, the completed puzzle should be on there by the beginning of December. To give you an idea of size, the completed puzzle is 12" x 12" so they're pretty big, approx 4" x 4" each piece!!

Right well, time is precious and I can't sit around here chatting all day.

Whatever you're doing, have a fabaroony weekend, catch you all later.

Switched to Beta

Well "SLOW" I may be but I get there in the end and I have now switched to Beta.

I haven't had a chance to really see the difference yet but I was absolutely pulling my hair out just before I upgraded because I just COULD NOT get a picture to upload!!!

Anyway, moving off of my soapbox. One of my latest creations is this altered coaster, or beer mat in my case and I'll give you 3 guesses on the theme ha ha ha!!

I think it's okay but I must admit I seen some pretty darn good altered coasters in my time and this really doesn't make the grade, oh well!

Ooooh and while I remember, I am chuffed to pieces today because my pic of Knockan Crag that I put on here a while ago has made the last 20 of the UKS photo comp - thanks Nat for pushing me in the right direction there.

I don't expect to win because there are so many fab entries but I don't care, it's the first time I've made the top 20 and I'm grinning like a Cheshire Cat at the mo!

And while blogger is behaving here is a couple of quick pics of my entry in the rather fabby choc cj I received recently. Now I'm not a fan of chocolate at all really, although I have been known to politely nibble a piece of Galaxy or 2, so I wasn't really looking forward to doing my entry in this one. But, I must say, it did go well and I was pleased with the result, I just hope the owner thinks so too.

Relax and Creative!!

I really enjoyed doing these layouts in Shimelles class, I got alot more satisfaction out of these than I did with Angry and Sad.

Again I had to include some areas for hidden journalling and I'm keen to make all my pages completely different because I think my moods are all so different also!!

On the relax page I have created a little pocket with a top opening and inserted a tab complete with another, hopefully relaxed, picture of me.

On creative I decided to manipulate a couple of pics to try and emphasise my creative side (hope it works). I then added a couple of steel hinges so the photos flap out to reveal a space for more hidden journalling or maybe some more pics.

I now need to think about taking some more mood photos of me, back to the drawing board hey!!

On a normal day to day life in general note! I've had a really busy week but I think next week will be better so I'm hoping I'll be able to focus a little more on some of my crafty projects.

Ooh, and absolutely shock horror, I have to admit I BOUGHT some Christmas cards yesterday. They were on special offer and totally gorgeous and I got 18 for £6.40 so thats 18 less that I have to make - yippee!! I'll take a pic of them in the week and upload.

Right, off out soon, seez you later.

Angry and Sad

No, not literally, I rarely am, thank goodness but these are the next 2 pages that I have done for Shimelles class. (As usual, I finished the LO's after it had got dark outside so needless to say the photography is pants in artificial light).

I found them difficult, as I say, I'm rarely either and it was especially hard to have "Angry" inspiration.

The photos are black and white except for my eyes in both photos, they are my natural steely grey/green LOL!

Again, I want to add hidden journalling at a later date so I have added tabs to both LO's as shown in the bottom pics. I'm glad I settled down to these tonight, I've had a really busy day and I felt I was getting a little behind with Shimelles class so it was good to get 2 more moods done.

I have already sorted out pics for Creative and Relaxed, hopefully they will be a little easier to do!

No stunning news unfortunately, just far too much work on at the moment, I'll be glad when the end of the month comes (the bulk of it has to be done by then) so hopefully this time next week I'll have plenty of time to be creative.

Yesterdays crop

A quick post, off out in a bit.

I had an absolutely fabby day yesterday. I was soooo nervous when I got there, you know, the heart in your mouth type feeling!! but everyone was so friendly.

Emma showed us some layouts using multiple photos so I had a go at one of them yesterday. It was a great learning curve for me as the majority of my LO's are only single photos. I'll post a piccie up later. Vicky cooked up a fabulous soup for lunch (fortunately I'm in her recipe swap, so I'll be cooking some of it myself soon).

After lunch Emma showed us how to make a paper bag book, another first for me. I haven't decorated mine yet (such a slow coach that I am at scrapping) but when I have I'll stick a piccie on here.

I should have a bit more creative time later so I'll sort some pics out, I also need to make a Christmas card - yikes! for a card swap I'm in and I really want to get further on with Shimelles class, feeling a little behind now!!

Of course, that's only the tip of the iceberg on my creative "To Do" list but I'm getting there LOL!

Thanks for popping in Gems :-) I'll be doing a bit of blog hopping later to catch up with all of your news.