catching up!

Last day of the month so I really should post my May friendship card off to my Facebook partner!

Ive been playing a little with a fab resist technique detailed by the lovely Siobhan here

Ive used adirondack ink pads which dont work as well as the distress but I am pleased with the results.

Found the little flag picks in The Range - think they make fab embelishments.  Hope my card swap partner likes them too!

Happy Thursday Bloggers x

Janet

Sad and also exciting news

Today sees my very last ever post with Try it on Tuesday.

A sad day as Michelle and I started the challenge 3 years ago this month however life moves on and throws up new challenges and opportunities so we have had to prioritise our time for family and crafting.

Do stop by the blog to see our farewell post here

I do hope you will continue to play along with the exciting themes the team have planned starting next week.

So what am I up to?

Well Michelle and I have been busy teaching this year and one of the places is the Craft Range at Burnley.  An excellent teaching studio, so comfortable for tutors and students alike we have shared some lovely classes with some fabulous folks.

The Craft Range have (and we are a little excited about it) asked us to be part of their summer event on 23rd June - I am particularly excited to be able to meet Rosemary Merry.  As I began scrapbooking first with my papercrafting she was of course one of my first influences and I greatly admire her.

So do come along if you can, say hello and join in the fun.

 

Have a great Tuesday x

Janet

Rocking my world Friday

Wow its hot!

I know we Brits moan a lot about the weather but Skipton has been one of the hottest places in the Country 2 days on the trot! I am not a fan of heat - love it when there is a breeze but heat ahhhh.

So away from the moans what's my list of thankfuls for this week

Blue skies - always cheery and lift the mood.

Fizzy water - my fav in the heat drink!

My new distress pens - yup you heard me right distress pens - all mine :0)

To have the magazine deadline completed (well except for Michelle's write up and editing my long winded descriptions! but projects are done )

for 2 days off together to recharge boy did I need that!

For the joy my family brings me.

For having completed the prom shopping! Bargain dress but £60 shoes????

For the simple things in life - loved having cornflakes for breakfast this week!

For keeping in touch with friends

enjoying the banter

The orange flowers on the bush that's in the yard (Mums bush no idea what the plant is!)

an empty washing  basket

Charity work going on around me that I don't even know about!

( was asked to do a charity card making night for a local charity called bosom buddies - it gives money to families where cancer is touching their lives and making daily living even harder - didn't even know it existed till I was asked to do it  - wow all going on under my nose in my local area!)

No crafting to show again - too much hush hush going on..........

Do stop by the Queen of the Rockettes and let your heart be filled with grateful news at The Celtic House.

Have a great Friday x

Janet

a few cards from the retreat

Last weeks Stampin Up retreat was fab.  Emma and I had planned projects for the whole weekend based around the goodies everyone got in their stash bag.  We ordered all the stock during sale-a-bration so folks had a free stamp set and free papers to boost the stash.  I loved those papers sooooo much and think this stamp set is just amazing!

Here are a few cards I made for inspiration between classes.

 this shows off the main image of the sale-a-bration stamp set perfectly - I used the stampin write pens to colour the stamp, a little huff then stamp.  Crumb cake ink around the edges for a vintage style look.

 Similar again here but introducing different papers and the luscious seam binding that is sooo gorgeous - this colour is Pear Pizazz

A different stamp from the same stamp set and the beautiful crochet trim.  I don't suppose you have noticed those stunning vintage brads have you? They are gorgeous.

Fancy ordering some stampin up goodies? Sadly the papers and stamp sets are no longer available but the ribbon, seam binding, crochet trim and brads are all from the current catalogue. Drop Emma a line here. Super service and top quality a guarantee!

Have a great Sunday x

Janet

Rockin my world Friday

!) Family life and new beginnings - No 1 son is settled in his new Bangor life flitting between the Uni and his job and Manchester Uni to complete his Masters and also his hectic social life. I swell with pride at this direction his life has taken especially after seeing an old friend on Tuesday who lost her wonderfully talented and very handsome son to the terror that is depression last year. Our Tom too battled with this demon at the same age and thankfully won - I was filled with grief for my friend who was out with her family celebrating her sons life on the first anniversary of his death - how brave, what love, what sorrow.

Our James has found a house in Harrow - he and his fellow house mates have been searching for somewhere nice to live that they could afford and seem to have found just the right place. Nearer to London than Uxbridge and with a spare boxroom to be a teaching studio for  Christie and himself to teach in. Wow my cute little baby boy is now a Man with a house!!!

Today is our Megs last day as a school girl - she has been hyped up about her exams all week which continue through June - whoever thinks the exams are easier these days hasn't read what they have to achieve - wow Im amazed any 16 year old can sleep with all the pressure on them.  She has headed off to school with a spare shirt to get signed by her mates :0)

2) Friends new and old. - The craft weekend saw some wonderful new folks tiptoeing into my life - talented, funny and wonderfully friendly it was amazing getting to know them.  It was also special to see some old buddies and especially the gorgeous Emma, Joanne and Georgina.  In 3 weeks its our Claxby retreat - those weekends with my special friends are such luxury - I'm planning my projects now - they would expect nothing less - and a mini workshop to share with them . Cant wait.

Today is Stamping Club - our fortnightly get together with our close crafty buddies where we are making Mens cards.  Lots of ink and stamping for this one - cant wait.

Tomorrow is our inky workshop over at The Craft Range which will be more mens projects - we will get the ideas flowing for those chaps we find so tricky!

3) and now me.....

Yesterday I had an app with the dietician re my diabetes - the last couple of months I have not been as focussed but still not too bad.  I was thrilled my blood sugars are within normal range now and other levels have dropped dramatically.  Wow giving up chocolate and eating less meat has made a massive difference to my health and its been so easy! Just need to get back on the exercise routine to kick start my weightloss again.

Out last night with old friends - very old friends - where we pick up lives as if the years have just slipped by. Lots of laughter, reminiscing , flowing wine and a waiter called Gino.........Fabulous!

So it was supposed to be quick but its turned into a novel! so hope you are still awake :0)

Hope your week has been filled with joy and laughter, fun and friendship. Do stop by the Queen of the Rockettes for more positives and celebration of all those things good in our lives.

Thanks for stopping by

Janet x

Retreat pictures

 So just a few pics - wow we are a messy lot!

 but a busy bunch....

 Beryl and Val enjoyed playing with paper.

 Chatting

show and tell for Lou

and Seb

the fabulously girly Hev

Sally who bravely came alone only knowing Emma but fitted right in very quickly!

Vals makes

and Beryls - bet Beryl slept well on Sunday we worked her so hard....

the lovely Fionas bits - I love the adaptations to projects on Hev and Fionas way to go gals

I missed Vikkis and Margarets makes as they were busy packing up

The happy band of retreaters with the outrageous Seb in the middle - what a pose!

Fabulous to spend time with you folks - missing you lots this week!

So we have decided to do it all again next May - wonder if you will be there next time?

Thanks for stopping by x

Janet

2 weeks - really???

Cant believe I haven't posted for 2 whole weeks - my goodness someone must have stolen a few days surely???

I have been mega busy it has to be said with workshops, a hen party and a craft retreat oh and that little thing called a job the days have flown by.

I do have some pictures of projects we did at the weekend but I will save them for another day I do want to share some feedback though.  Emma and I worked hard to cover all eventualities this weekend and hoped that we had managed to do so after all folks were paying for their stay - with £100 worth of stampin up products in their goody bag they got off to a good start and the rest well we just had to hope it was fun and friendly.

Here is a blog post from one of the retreaters - someone I had never met before and definitely hope to meet again - the larger than life Sebastian.  Please stop by his blog and take a peep - he has just opened a digi store too with his own designs which are fab click on the shop link to take you there. 

Back tomorrow with some pictures of my own x

Hope you have a great day x

May atc swap at The Stamp Man

 so we have a new theme at The Stamp Man atc swap which is shabby chic or distressed.  I have used up lots of bits from other projects for mine following a layout I seem to use a lot for atcs.

It was fab to use up bits for a change I have so many "bits" I forget to go back to them when starting new projects .  How wasteful.

So it you want to see what my team mates have done do stop by here and for all the instructions how to join in.

Guest showcase over on Try it on Tuesday today so do stop by for a look.

Have a great day

Janet x