JOURNAL OF A SCRAPZOPHRENIC

La La La La Laces

2007-12-12T13:52:00.000Z

Super quick one from me today, and I really mean it!! A quick pic of the boots I have on today. The laces in them go on forever. They have to be the most comfy, warm, snug boots I have ever owned - you dont need to wear socks with them (in case you're thinking errr why - they tell you so in the box lol coz they have sheepskin inside)! Must dash folks coz I have tons to do (Christmas party yesterday was a bit of a nightmare but Ill tell ya about it when I have a bit more time), speak soon folks and have a great day!

Thanks for popping by,

Charli

Hit and Miss...

2007-12-11T09:47:00.000Z

...with me at the moment isnt it?

My time away paid off though - I did quite well with my assignment so I was chuffed to bits with that! It was a trickier one this time too. Got another to get under way with though so after my previous blogging performance whilst under pressure to get these assignments done to any reasonable standard, I fear I will be quite rubbish at blogging for a bit.

Just thought Id share this next LO with you first - its of me and my sis a couple of Christmases back, whilst I was preggers with young Shamus and ready to pop at any second. The green hippo remark is due to me wearing a green top, and feeling like a humongous hippo - I was huge when I was pregnant! A massive big and round belly, and I loved it. Isnt it mad how much you miss the bump when it goes (even with your new little baba lol)? Not helped at all by that horrible, feels worse than a blancmange stomach you end up left with. Anyway this LO has some of my first faffings with the sewing machine on - around the heart and on the ribbon. Must remember next time to try not to get adhesive on the needle, doesnt work as good after that lol. Have entered this for the House challenge over on UKS, the theme is Christmas past/present.

Did I show you this Christmas Journal I made? Trouble is Ive been that busy lately that it might turn into Christmas Journal 2008, I havent kept up with it as well as I should have!! I used the friendly felt for the covers and the tree, and some letter tiles from an old QVC set I got ages ago.

Here is my first proper make with my sewing machine - my little pin cushion!! Does anybody listen to Russell Brand on Radio 2? I think its radio 2 anyway, but I think that guy is so funny, really quick witted and clever. If only he didnt wear those tight trousers lol - point of that discussion was, that is where the 'pin pin' thing comes from. Now, the pin cushion is far from perfect, and I really could do to brush up on my hand sewing skills, because the finishing on it is not great. What stitch is best to close a cushion? Havent a clue so it looks a bit frankensteinish on that small section! I want to make another, but theres only so many pins you need - its full of them now. By the way - does anyone know of any good sites to get material from - reasonable money and decent quality?? Would love a link or some addresses please guys?

And now for the scarf. I have decided that it is done since doing this picture. I have crocheted a good few flowers to put on it (as per pattern) but thought that flowers really are not me, and that it might start to look 'antwacky' (as my ma would say) - so the flowers are staying off! Its lovely and warm, a bit on the itchy side yet but hopefully that might get a bit better with wear and a wash. So scrap that very very nearly done title. Done!

And finally for my moonlight picture. There wasnt a chance there was any moon about round our way this morning, it was cloudy so if it was there, it was well hidden!! So I borrowed someone elses moon - they said I could - and layered a pic of my window, taken today, on top of it. I know Im a big fat cheater, but it was the only way!! Ive been dying to get back in the thick of it - so sorry for cheating (i prefer improvising lol) guys!!

Right then, better go. Its Shaun Jr's Christmas party today, he gets to meet Santa (not sure what he will make of that) so will get lots of pics to put up. Got to be careful now though, with people being so funny about pics of their kids and all, with have to do a fair bit of Gaussian blurring and rubbing out!

Thanks for stopping by folks, will get by your blogs tonight - wish me luck at this Christmas party, I think Im going to need it!!

Charli

Oh Brother...

2007-12-06T14:30:00.000Z

See how rubbish I am? Its been a while. I have been so busy with the course and other little bits and bats - I just haven't had the chance to blog, and I have really missed doing it! Have really missed catching up with everyone too.

Here are some catch up pics from me then, I have missed chilly out though!! So I got cards and Christmas into this pic -this is my little crafty corner where I put all my little bits I make and receive - am waiting for Shaun Snr to create yet more shelves to store them all on. They're starting to take over a bit, and leaving less room for stash - not good!! Or maybe it is lol for the purse at least.

I have been really rubbish and haven't filled in my Christmas Journal for Shamus jr proper either, have wrote things down for each day though so just need to transfer it over - dont think that is the point though is it really? *Note to self must try harder* This next pic is my cosy pic - there's nothing as cosy as sitting on the couch cuddling my little man - I could sit for hours just cuddled up to him like this - he can manage 20 minutes, tops lol
Some more Christmas pics - Shaun was having a good ol root through the decs box and....well...decorated himself temporarily. As soon as he saw me with the camera out - he thought better of it and then took all the stuff off himself - he did have some tinsel wrapped round him at one point but I wasn't quick enough to catch him with it on! I wonder if he's catching on to the idea that all these photos will be coming out when he's older and brings his mates round lol
And rather than go for the conventional 'fairy on top of the Xmas tree' set up - we thought we would be slightly different this year and have 'the Xbox fairy'. Influenced by young Shamus, pulling the Christmas tree over, bending it and generally trying to destroy it - didn't think poor fairy would have a chance.
And finally this LO I recently did of my brother Jack's first day at school - I uploaded the pics I took of him to my blog a while back now and have only just got round to scrapping them. Really enjoyed doing this and messing about with the paint - it was for a challenge over on BTYD, the theme was celebrations.
And finally....I am lucky enough to have been blessed with a new brother!! At your age Charl, I hear you shout. But no, it is a brother of the sewing machine kind, and it is fab. If only I could figure out how to work the darn thing properly.....

Right folks, must dash, will try and get round your blogs tonight - thanks for popping by!!

Charli
xx

PS hope to see some of you at the HS:MS meet up?? T'would be grand!

Some grainy pics....

2007-11-21T15:53:00.000Z

Hello guys - have been absent for a couple of days due to OU caper. And this is a really quick one today you'll be pleased to hear - with much less rambling from me for a change!! First of all, thought Id share with you a LO I did for the latest challenge over on BTYD - a scraplift challenge. Apologies for the really annoying white spot due to bad lighting, and flash usage lol. Obviously of my little man, while we were out walking in our village a couple of weekends ago now - the one were the 'away' pic was from and the SOS ones I uploaded at weekend? And second and thirdly (?) my grainy pics for todays photo prompt over at HS:MS. The first is 'grain on grain' lol - apologies for the rather cacky close up shot of a grain of brown rice upon a slightly grubby, ready for washing chopping board.
And second - and prepare for 'sadness' guys, but this is the latest addition to our 'home corner' for Shaun and the other little people I look after. Its a wooden kitchen, and {I} he loves it!! Ive been dying to get some stuff like this for us to have a play with, and when we went into the ELC at weekend - to get his other bits and bats - there it was, and he was straight in there playing with all the wooden fruit and veg, and wooden pieces of toast and pans and all that stuff. So here it is now, in our front room and getting plenty of use already!! Only trouble is, its rather pink. It does have other colours, blue and yellow, but I think it should be a bit more neutral coloured - as cooking is not just for girls, as my good man found out when he met me lol.
Then these next two cards, the first I made for a fellow DT member and also used it as part of a challenge as it had all the requirements of it - for Shary's bows, buttons, and brads challenge a couple of Saturdays ago.
And this one, rather childlike, I know, but its for our postman Pete, who is retiring on Friday. Pete has been a great postman - i think I like him so much, not just because he is a lovely guy but also because he has brought me so many lovely crafting goodies over the past couple of years!! I have looked forward to him turning up many a day, stalking for my much awaited crafty bits n pieces. So I'll be sorry to see him go!! I asked him the other day 'do you drink Pete?' and he said 'why can you tell!!'. I meant so I could get him a little pressie lol but I did feel a bit of a pillock!!
Right guys, must dash, tea to sort and then its OU all the way tonight. I said yack to my OU course the other day - not because its rubbish but because I am - I have left things a bit late this time and am now in panic stations. But this has been the way I have worked all through Uni when I trained as a nurse, and did my degree modules!! Not good for stress levels but I must need the pressure to motivate me or something!! Weirdo.

And there was me saying less rambling.....have a good evening guys and thanks for popping by!

Charli

A quick show off...

2007-11-18T20:56:00.000Z

Helllloooooo. A very quick upload of my photos for today! Taken last weekend of my little man, two of the very few I got, where he was actually playing ball IYKWIM! You saw the 'away' pic the other day, well thats mainly what he was doing, trying to escape and evasively manoevre out of mine and the cameras way. But I love these pics of him!! I think I have somewhere in the region of 6000 photos on my puter, much more than 3/4 are of him! Is that sad/scary/weird? I have enough photos for a flicker pad of his life so far lol, but I just love having photos of him. I think it'll be great (mind you he probably wont think so for a while lol) for him when he's older, to see how much he has changed and to see himself at all the various stages of his life. We have had a quiet and chilled day today. He has been great - so well behaved and mischief making at the same time, but in a good way! I am going to get my Christmas shopping done this week, for my family. If I can get sorted it'll be great, and minimise the Christmas panic I get most years thinking - what on earth am I going to get for ......
I'll also upload a couple of things I popped (just had to go back and change popped from pooped - i keep doing that for some reason) over on the BTYD blog for my DT post for this week. The first, a little mini book, and the second, a felt frame using some friendly (and it is really friendly lol) felt. Its really easy to use, to pierce for stitching and to punch - stick it through your bind it all - get the crop a dile on the case etc - its great stuff!!

Right guys. OU stuff beckons. Yack. Not into it at all at the minute!! I think my studying days are over.

Thanks for reading - shall check out your blogs quick, and then get on with the OU stuff. Hows that for procrastinating eh? Lol TTFN

Charli

The mighty boosh...

2007-11-17T19:27:00.000Z

Beware!!!! Humongous gob approaching!!

So every Saturday on HS:MS, tis self portrait Saturday. And for a while I became quite sick at the sight of my smiling fromagey mush, which got me thinking about different things I could do - and this, lol, is what i have come up with for this week!! Big, aint it? Lol

We have been shopping for some of Shamus' christmas pressies today, and it was great! Until we had to put something that he had picked up back on the shelf. Ooh he didnt half kick up a right stink!! Im trying to find the Pinky ponk, tombli boos, and higgle piggle. Oh and the ponty pines. Has anyone seen any anywhere? I got Macca pakka and the Ninky nonk today, but the others were outta stock! Darn. They're characters out of 'In the night garden' by the way, in case you're wondering!!

We got him a little keyboard, complete with stand and stool too - he had a play on one they had out in the ELC today and he loved it!! He was banging on the keys like a good un and had a go with the mic too - cant wait to see him on Christmas day!! Thats our entertainment sorted lol and another one of his favourites - Postman Pat. Him and his van - think Jess is in there too.

Now Jonathan Ross wasnt on last night, was it, due to Children in need. I caught a bit of it - and saw the Spice Girls performance. What a load of sh***. I have, at times, felt sorry for Vicky Beckham, but lately there is something about her that really gets right up my nose!! That stooopid face she pulls, looks rather like she is constipated but I think she is trying to pull off sophisticated. And as for the rest of em, chancers now, in my opinion. They were alright once over, but they have well and truly had their day, I think. Take that - glad they're back, though I dont think its for good - ti ti boom (crikey). That rant about the spice girls said though - fair play to doing their bit for charity and all that. Wonder what they're getting out of it though?? Hmmm...

Right, better dash! Have a little something I need to get sorted before tomorrow for my Blog Til You Drop post. I am doing v.v.v. not good with the OU course now. I have two assignments due in in a couple of weeks. Havent even looked at it properly. I think I seriously underestimated the amount of time it would take to get the stuff done for it!! Oh well!! We live and learn.

Au revoir, mes amis, and see yall tomorrow! Shall have a quick peep at your sps's for today, have a fab rest of the weekend!! Its over far too quickly isnt it. Someone should write someone a letter about that, cant we have 3 days for weekend instead of just 2? A bit of collective action, mebbe? Lol TTFN

Charli x

The great escape, actually....

2007-11-16T18:02:00.000Z

Well and truly stumped for trying to get a fresh brand spanking new pic for today. So here is my little man, last Sunday, getting rather fed up of Mummy and camera, and deciding to throw a spanner in the works. No, mother, I will not pose for you, nor smile, nor do anything you ask of me, in fact! So there! Of course he didn't actually say this, only being 22 months of age, but I could so tell that that was what he was thinking! I did manage to get some good shots of him though, one of which I am planning to use on a LO for this weeks challenge over on BTYD.

Today has been a fraught day with the kiddies. Shaun has scratched t'other baba's face, as she was trying to pull his hat off, and pull his hair, and generally put her hands in his face etc. This does not excuse his behaviour, of course! But the whole shopping experience was hard work. The other day when I went into Lancaster - we went into the works bookshop. What a nightmare! The aisles are far too narrow for any decent sized pram to fit through - I think I would have struggled to get through with the Quinny anyway! But as I leaned over to look at something, I heard a crash, and thought, hmmm...what has he done now. So I turned round to see he had knocked a highish pile of stacked notelets over, and was reaching for a large pile of books on the shelf next to him. So I expertly (or so I thought) swung the pram round and managed to stop him from pulling them over, as I bent down to pick the mess he had made up. As I placed the last notelet on the pile, I heard another crash. Yup, he had pulled something else over. I could feel the eyes of the shop assistant burning lol so I quickly tidied up and then got the hell outta there.

Today has been a similar day! Bless him, he wanted me to give him the car park token to hold, like a good boy, today. Ha! Wont make that mistake again! The last time I did that, he pushed it into the teeniest gap in between the rear bumper of the car. That'll be £10 please love! Said the car park attendant. I don't think so love, its right there, says I. I managed to get it out by dislocating my wrist, and squeezing my gret big banana fingers through the gap, with the aid of said car park guy. Really uncomfortable times, with my hand brushing his frequently, and then the fear I had got my hand stuck. Oh what joy!! And, you have to laugh.

Ha, and there was me thinking I wasn't going to be doing much rambling today. Big liar, I am.

At the moment, I have a grown manchild, whinging about not being able to get a %*'@*#*&% Nintendo Wii as they have all sold out. I swear, if it gets mentioned again, a certain can of whoop ass will be shook vigorously, and then opened. So there you go, that is the long and short of it round our way today!!

Right, I shall skidaddle!! Have a great weekend people, whats going on tomorrow? Oh no!! Its SPS. Will try and get my thinking cap on to do something different, but I fear it shall be CHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESE! from me tomorrow!! Ne'er mind. There'll be the Jonathan Ross review to look forward to at least!! Lol

Take care cockles.

Mini Me.....

2007-11-15T15:18:00.000Z

I thought I would have no problem finding lots of cute mini items to capture today, but I was wrong! Initially I was looking for little bits of stuff around the house and having no joy, til I thought - I know a replica of something in a much smaller scale - or at least for now he's on a smaller scale anyway! My little man. 'Cept he is a new, and much improved version - of me!! I'm sure you've guessed that the first pic is me - I do think we look alike in these photos.

He has been full of mischief today - which isn't a bad thing in itself but he isn't responding that well to being told no - as a lot of kids don't I expect though? I mean, he's not quite two yet - I forget how little he is sometimes - he's so clever for a lad of his age, and he looks much older than he is because he is so tall! Sounds daft, that - how can I forget - I'm his Mum!! But I do.

I am excited. Because today, is Thursday. That means tomorrows Friday - catch on quick, don't I? And that means the whole weekend to spend with my boys. I really appreciate my weekends with them, its mad, you can spend a whole day milling around and going from place to place with the people in your life, but not really spend quality time with them. We get that at weekend though; some but its never enough!! We're getting some of Shaun's Christmas presents on Saturday - I cant wait!

Tonight, I will be doing a wee bit with the stuff in my DT kit. There are loads and loads of cool things in there - one is friendly felt - its great stuff and much stiffer than normal felt, so easier to cut and create with it. So shall see how that turns out!! I'm posting on Sunday, so pop over to Blog Til You Drop and have a looksee? There's great stuff being uploaded over there every day so its worth a pop over!

K guys, ta ra for now, and thanks for reading!

Will get round the blogs in a wee while, missed getting there last night as I was playing at being studious Charl, which Ill have to do a bit of again later. Why on earth do I sign up to these things, please someone remind me?????

Collect/hoard/acquire.....

2007-11-14T16:13:00.000Z

Collect is the word to describe what I do whenever I start a hobby. I try and collect/acquire/hoard as much stuff to do with it as possible!! Below is a collection of my alcohol inks. And a collection of my wool - this is just the top of the box, mind lol

And a few of my pens.......
And collect, is what happens to the leaves at our front door. And in the garden generally - its full of em at the minute, and no sooner you sweep them up - there they are again!! So its not us being lazy (much) lol

Well, yet again, I am behind with my course work for the OU degree I am doing. I have had a million and one other things to do, so it has taken a backseat for the most part. But tonight (I'm sure I said this last night...but I ended up blog hopping instead lol tut tut) I am definitely getting on with it. I have to now!! Anyway, quietish day today - went into Lancaster and got some gloss card and other matt card for stamping onto. Really cheap too - at Uptown Crafts in Lancaster - a fab shop and the girls that own it are lovely - Sandra and Mary. They run a crop there on the first Tuesday of every month - Ive been a few times and its great!! I'll put a link in here to their shop when I get a spare minute!

Right, I am going to beggar off now, finish feeding and watering the childer and be really really productive and get up to date with my course!! Thanks for stopping by, and have a great rest of the day!

Probably the most annoying scissors in the world...

2007-11-13T13:33:00.000Z

Good evening all! A bit later tonight. Was going to pop this up earlier but I thought I'd wait and let you have a peep at this latest CJ entry I have done. Its for the Another Stamp CJ hosted by 3DJean of UK scrappers. But anyway, first things first, back to the snip pic for today. These are my 'don't use if having a bad day' scissors. They wouldn't cut **** red hot. If anyone knows what I mean there :), don't know where the heck that saying comes from but there you go.

Busy day today - had playgroup this morning, which went pretty well - Shamus was incredibly well behaved! Twas t'other babe, who I look after who was 'tricky'. She was trying to show a small baby a shape cutter, but was getting a little too close to his head! Yikes.

Popped into Lancaster this avo to get some double sided sticky pads from the pound shop. A quid for 320 - you cant say fairer than that! Since I stopped working 'properly' (although I don't think I have ever worked so hard in my life lol) I have turned into Charl, the bargain hunter. Take a butchers at these shoes for example, on this entry I did in Monica's Shoes(passionflower over on UKS) CJ. 2 years BC (before child), when I was Charl, the weekend millionaire, I bought these shoes one night (about 4am actually, nothing like a bit of night shift delirium for getting me spending, I can tell you). Now I get them out, gaze at them lovingly and stroke them from time to time. I would never in a month of Sundays (?) consider spending so much on a pair of shoes. There's just no way. Just couldn't afford it!! So now I hunt around, and if I can save a good few quid, I'm there. I'm waffling and straying off the point probably lol but the pound shop has loads of good crafty bargains anyway, I think that was the moral of that story!Right a quick one before I beggar off then. This altered Circle Journal (CJ) I'm doing. I still don't know if my work is qualifying as altered but I'm giving it my best shot! I'm enjoying it because it is putting me out of my comfort zone, entirely. The stamp for this CJ, belonging to Veronica (or Godiva on UKS) is the fleur de lis stamp top left hand corner of the right page. I used the stamp around the edges of the page on the left too, to give a leafy type effect. The idea of this CJ is that you choose a stamp, and that stamp goes along with your CJ, to the 10 different people in your group, with you ending up with 10 different interpretations of the same stamp. I have seen the second entry in mine, by Annie, and it is absolutely fantastic. I cant wait to see it back with everyone's contributions in it! I can highly recommend having a blast at this CJ business - it is great. Anyway - here it is.......

Oky Doky then folks, TTFN and thanks for stopping by! Shall have a pop and see your blogs for a little bit, then I must get butt in gear and do some more course work, or it'll be coi-tuns fer me!

Not another bloomin scarf...

2007-11-12T14:15:00.000Z

Yup, I'm on with another scarf!! Now is it me, or do these scarves look fab in the book, then when you see your finished article, it never quite looks as good? lol, well that's how it is for me! It will probably look better when I have got all the other little bits finished and added to it - will update when its done. For those of you who read my blog regular-ish, I was going to give you another autumn watch update, of the empty branch with no leaf on it, but thought it might not make for interesting blogging!

So I said I would share a few of my other bits and bats I have been making - the sketch below is one I uploaded for my challenge last week, over on Blog Til You Drop.

And here is one of the LO's I did for it below, the other one is here if you fancy a peep! There's another fab challenge on the go, set by our Shary - have a looksee! Its buttons, bows and brads - her examples are lovely too.

An altered cigar tin below, used alcohol inks for the tin, which was a lovely shade of blue before, and used some vintage sarapapers from my DT kit, available at Crop Til You Drop.
And last but by no means least - my little man again! A LO with a pic of him from last Christmas - I cant wait for this year - just keeps getting better now we've got him to share it with!

Right, its rant time. What is it with technical support? I lost my t'internet connection last night, and phoned the guys at Netgear to help me out, as I was sure it couldn't be my broadband line. After about 30 minutes of 'press this' and 'do that', which I honestly didn't mind, as I mistakenly thought they were helping me lol, they said - change the adaptor to another power outlet. Now I can understand unplug, to reset etc., but change to another power outlet? What, like a different plug socket will make all the difference will it? Eejits - I don't think the woman helping me had a clue.

And another thing. My accent. I know its Northern. But I do speak fairly clearly when I'm on the phone, and I don't think that its that hard to understand me when I say 3, 4, 5, etc. I think they must have been taking the mick, personally, as I must have had to repeat myself about 6 times. Needless to say, technical support did not support me in any technical way, at all. And I was left to figure it out for myself, which thankfully, I managed today, hence me being here now typing this codswallop! Lol

So thanks for stopping by folks, and I am going to spend the next bit o time i have getting round the blogs, which I didn't manage last night. And all being well, I should get round them all - Ive missed seeing everyone's pics! Have a good day!

Forgive Me Bloggers....

2007-11-11T13:52:00.001Z

........for I have sinned. It has been 12 days since my last blog post!!

I was struck down by man flu on the night before our Halloween party, transforming me into Charl - the snot nosed witch (sorry). I have been so busy trying to get my OU course stuff done, that I haven't really had much time for anything else! Apart from taking lots of photos of course, always time for that.

So I apologise in advance for lots of photos, and lots of rambling!

I'll upload my SPS from yesterday first of all, then get on with the Halloween pics and share some from Bonfire night, if you're interested!!

Don't ask what is going on with the SPS pic, I just get so fed up of seeing my geeky smiling mush every week that I now try and think of something a bit different to do. And of course, pouting is not allowed is it, according to you know where lol, however, if I had a pout worthy of sharing, it would be thrust upon you like it or not!

So this was me (below that is, just to save any confusion lol), at our Halloween party! Half my makeup came off (believe it or not lol) due to me blowing my nose constantly. I even took the 'tooth wax' off (this cool black stuff you can stick to your teeth instead of actually colouring them in with something, as I was contemplating doing) eventually, because it was slowing down the scoffing/munching process. I made a pumpkin soup, which was lovely, and a pumpkin cake too! Now I was worried about how the cake would turn out, because of my problem cooker, but it worked!! And it was good - did some orange butter icing for it - yum. I was in a mad rush so didn't end up with my broom, left on my 'a bit high tech for a witch' digital watch, and also one hoop earring. I did make a mental note whilst I was doing my makeup and before I had put my witches outfit on, to remove the earring, because I was starting to look a bit like a pirate, but it slipped my mind! And the hat that I so loved. It wouldn't stay on my humongous head, complete with wig. I still think the scariest part of my outfit was my fringe.

Now, as you can see from these pictures below of me and my sis, we absolutely hate Halloween lol, this is us, getting into character.

And this is Shamus Snr. in his home made 'just been attacked' come 'one of the affected from 28 days later' outfit. His makeup was fantastic - he really looked like he had been hurt!! The cuts and bruises, bits of torn skin - ewwww - looked a little too real. Freaky bunch - aren't we? This is my Ma and Ray posing for a pic as Catwoman and Frankenstein - loved both their outfits! Young Shamus was a bit freaked out by Grandpa Ray's mask at first, but he got braver as the night went on.This is Shaun snr below, with his Mum and Dad, and my brother Jack, far left at the front. Note the ghoul that Shaun is holding onto at the back, created by his fair hand, to scare the local children coming for 'Tricks or Treats'. This year, I thought I'd mix things up a bit and get some plastic spiders and worms and stuff to put in amongst the sweets. I saw a few unimpressed faces, when some kids pulled out spiders instead of sweets!! TRICK mwuahahahahaha. Some kids don't really want tricking do they, they actually just want toffees or money. In fact most kids!! I read something on my sisters my space page which made me chuckle the other day - talking about swapping parts of outfits to maximise profits when out trick or treating.

Just have a look at my sisters face on this pic below. She was in character all night, and it was hilarious. Shaun Jr looks slightly worried I think - she looks like she is about to kidnap him!
And this is my little man in his skeleton outfit. Well part of it - he wouldn't wear the rest! He had a load of fun, and was mischief making and making the most of having two sets of grandparents around. My Dad should have made an appearance and didn't bother. Shame that, because he missed a really great night.
And the award for costume most likely to make you pee yourself with laughter goes to......Melissa, my sister. I swear, I was double over with laughter most of the night. She reminded me a bit of that granny of No 42 with the Kumars, and she does a mean impression of her too! Its the teeth that do it! But she was hilarious. There's something about being around my sis, that makes me feel like a giddy teenage girl again.

To the outside world, we all grow old. But not to brothers and sisters. We know each other as we always were. We know each others hearts. We share private family jokes. We remember family feuds and secrets, family griefs and joys. We live outside the touch of time. Clara OrtegaAnd here are some of my pics from our bonfire night last weekend. Having a play with shutter speeds and what not - here's my ma .....

...and here's me trying to get an impressive sparkler picture. Check the one after out. Can you see what I was trying to achieve, and failing a bit miserably?

I was trying to write my name in the pic below, but I ran out of space, and only managed 'Cha'. Ay dear... Have a look at our 'hard as nails' friendly neighborhood heron below! Never moved a muscle whilst these fireworks were going off! Might be because he is made of stone lol didn't even notice it when I was taking these pictures!

So there you go. That is it from me today (that's it?? lol), I have got a couple of crafty things I want to share with you but Ill pop them up tomorrow now!! A layout and a few other bits, and another scarf I should be finishing fairly soon too.

I'm really looking forward to catching up with you all - I had a peep at a few blogs last night, but I will get round them all by the end of today! Have a great rest of the day, and thanks for stopping by!

Ay eck...

2007-10-30T18:57:00.000Z

....can you guess what it is yet? Of course - its my head board! Converted to B & W -I think it looks better this way.

My hat arrived today - hooray! I'm really pleased with it, thought it was great value for money too! I'll give you a sneak peak, and show you the rest after tomorrow!

A couple of problems though. I have been wondering what else I can do to my mush, in order to become more witch like (save it people, I have already thought that - you dont need to do much Charlene etc etc lol). I have had some great ideas from my fellow DT buddies over at the ILHOTP forum!! So far, Im blackening teeth, warts and wrinkles, and white hair with bonus twigs and leaves!

So thats that problem sorted. However, now I have the problem of my big bushy barnet. The hat wont fit on it! So I may have to blow dry my hair straight. I really will look like a witch then - its been a while since I last did it so it could be frightful! Yay - mission accomplished then lol or at least, thats what I'll tell people!

Behold, the hat........

Love the colour of it!

Another short(ish) one from me - now I have handed in my assignment - I only have to start preparing for another one! How dare they! Swines...oh, and decorate the house ready for our Halloween bash tomorrow, and bake some pumpkin scary fairycakes, and finish this LO for my challenge over on BTYD on Saturday, and remove the brush from my butt after I have finished lol its a good job Im a woman isnt it? Lol - only joking - just in case there are any male readers out there today!

Thanks for stopping by folks and have a happy halloween! I might get chance for a quick post in the afternoon prior to our party, then it'll be thursday or friday before I upload the Halloween pics!

Windows.....

2007-10-29T14:38:00.000Z

...to my soul - ha! Like I am going to show you my not oft enough cleaned windows with all their decoration!! This is turning into how clean is your bloomin house - and I don't like it lol lol lol

So I went off to Preston today to hunt for my Halloween party outfit, and I am very chuffed with what I got - got it from the vintage oxfam shop in Preston. I'm telling you, that shop is fabulous!! The lady who works in there, is just amazing. The window display is brill - that's what prompted me to go there in the first place when we had a potter out to Preston at weekend to meet my Ma for a brew in the city centre. The stuff she has managed to come up with, with things that just turn up in the shop!! Talented lady. And she was so helpful - it makes a real nice change to be dealt with like that. I am so looking forward to our party on Wednesday! I haven't looked forward to Halloween for ages, since I was a kid, and just before it was 'uncool' to enjoy Halloween.

I'nt 'avin kids brillyant (said in a Paul whitehouse fashion...)? Lol - but it is! Getting excited about Christmas again and little things like that - I look so forward to it all now for our little man. I know I'll still be more excited than he is at this stage, but I cant wait!

Shaun's grandparents are coming dressed up too, so I will most definitely be posting lots and lots of Halloween photos. I'm making a pumpkin soup, and I'm going to try my hand at pumpkin pie, though I don't hold out much hope. My rubbish cooker (never did get round to asking Lloyd about that one) can just about manage making good fairy cakes, but chocolate brownies? Bigger than a fairy cake? TURKEY (the turkey is a sore point with me, as it takes longer than a hundred years to cook, I'm sure, and is never ready on time)??? No. But I'll give it a whirl!!

So now I have to beggar off, and get this assignment handed in. Int'internet brillyant....least I don't have to rush in to Uni like a mad woman, clutching said assignment as though it were the very holy grail, after having just finished it moments earlier. Now I can just upload, and go! Fabulous!

K folks, ta ta for now, and thanks for stopping by!

PS has anyone lost a pair of dark suitcases?? They seem to have left them underneath my eyes. Would you kindly collect them please - they 're getting rather heavy!!

Bleepin blogger.....

2007-10-28T11:18:00.000Z

I'm typing this, whilst I wait for the blogger to (hopefully) upload my pics again. Somehow - I don't think its going to be happening! I keep getting an error message :(

I'll give it one last try and upload the pics to photobucket if it still doesn't work, failing that I will have to ask for help!! Ah - its done it...

So the above photos were taken on my web cam, as I was suffering from cant-be-arsed-erenteritis, a common complaint I believe - and I therefore had no motivation to fanny about with my SLR - I mean, that would have actually involved going downstairs for it!!! Naaaaa...... anyway, the web cam didn't seem to be working properly. I kept clicking on the darn thing and nothing seemed to be working, until I heard a really loud noise that sounded like a gunshot (almost causing me to fall off my chair) because I had my speakers turned up far too loud. Apparently, the camera had a three second delay on it, and took three photos, one of me normalish, trying to figure out what I was doing wrong, one of me getting more confused, and the final one with me getting near peed off, because I couldn't fathom it out. If only it had took another, when the loud noise had happened - would have loved to have seen my scared mush! And on a brighter note, at least it isn't one of those annoying CHEESE!!!! pics that I usually do for Saturday lol
This next one is of my little man - I love it! He was pulling some really funny faces whilst trying to get the lid off his shampoo. I have a few others of him contorting his face into all sorts of expressions. You could be having the cackiest of days, and you just have to look at him and he'll flash you this gorgeous smile, and nothing seems to matter. Discovered yesterday that he is sensitive to something in tomato ketchup, and it cant be the tomatoes because he eats them like apples! Momos, he calls them. His little face came out in a red rash, so shall have to investigate further - it happens with a few other things too.

We went to see our friend's 8 day old baba yesterday - how cute!! He weighed 6 pounds at birth and was teeny, cute chubby little cheeks and he was sticking his bottom lip out!! I was slightly worried that I would get all broody, as us women often do in the presence of cute cuddly wee ones, but no! I mean, I would love loads of kids, but I still remember those early days, well. The ones where my boobs felt like they were going to drop off with the initial pain of breastfeeding and a very hungry baby, the exhaustion of sleepless nights, the pain of going for a simple wee etc. Mind you, it was a wonderful time and I loved it - NO STOP, no more babies for me just yet! Unfortunately, my Shaun is still in the 'getting to know softly' stage, so when he went to stroke the baby on the head, it ended up being more of a hard pat. He then proceeded to ransack the house, pulling off expensive model cars from a table and other mischievous tricks. What fun!

And this final pic, is some of my little man's artwork! He loves painting, getting it all over his face and hands. He ended up with a little streak of green paint under his eye, which ended up looking like eyeliner, with him resembling a young Russell Brand/Johnny Depp in pirates of the Caribbean, minus the facial hair of course - made me chuckle! Only trouble is now - its one of the first things he goes for in my craft room, shouting PAINT! PAINT! And attempting to squeeze it out of the bottles on the floor. Bless. So now, I better go, but not before mentioning its my turn to post over on Blog Til You Drop today - pop over and have a looksee? I'll be doing it shortly, hope the pic upload starts working soon!

Thanks for stopping by - I will catch up with your pics now, and then post my BTYD stuff! Have a good day folks!

I {heart} chalk and charcoal filter...

2007-10-26T18:31:00.000+01:00

You know why I use the chalk and charcoal filter for my self portraits in PSE?? Well, its the same reason its being used here - to hide a multitude of sins lol lol

And before you say - blimmin eck Charli - we know why you need all that slap - I keep my empty bottles because when I have six - I can take em back and get a free lipstick! I love Mac makeup - swear by it. If I use normal 'available at Boots' type makeup - I usually end up looking a nice shade of grey, slightly anaemic or if I am about to croak it - a lot of them just aren't made for my 'yellowy undertones' skin. There I go again with the probably unnecessary quotation marks. This is most definitely my favourite corner of my bathroom as it houses all my precious non-craft type items. Sometimes when I feel and look like hell, a good ol coat (lol lol what am I on about, two or three coats) of makeup does the trick, and 'spruces' me (as my sis would say!).

I was hoping for a kitchen pic today, because I got a cracker of my Shaun eating a chocolate biscuit with his uncle Jack. When I looked at them sat there I thought - this is definitely my most favourite bit about my kitchen today - my bro (and his pal too) and my boy, sat there smiling and laughing - cant ask for more than a happy bunch of kids! I'll post the pic another time.

I am finally getting there with the assignment. Just got the finishing touches and I'm done. I have a LO underway too, just cutting my title for it now. Slightly different to my usual - hooray!!

Right gotta go, would be real nice to finish this LO tonight - feels like ages since I last scrapped proper!!

Thanks for stopping by folks, and have a great weekend!! Oh no! Its SPS tomorrow. I feel a bit of C & C filter coming on....

My inspirations....

2007-10-25T10:30:00.000+01:00

A quick upload of one of my favourite things in my 'hallway' lol - laughing because it isnt really a hallway, more like an area of space in my front room that almost qualifies. We got this on a holiday in the Dominican Republic,, where we were ripped off by a few of the friendly locals, until we discovered what they were up to and did a little 'ripping off' of our own lol, nuff said.

This is the holiday on which I nearly drowned (twice - really wish I was a stronger swimmer), but saw some of the most beautiful places (also a few of the most dirty, dingy places, with people living in pretty poor conditions). We went to a place where the locals carved these sculptures and stood there after swanning around the Dominican, sunbathing and generally being lazy and soaking up the place, I was overcome by feelings of guilt! These people worked so hard and carved such beautiful pieces for very little money and I couldnt help feeling like I really shouldnt have been just stood there, watching them working.

Anyway.....

I have been blog stalking a number of people, and have been overwhelmed by the talent of people like Louise (my life most ordinary), and Cloclo (the art of teabag staining), Sharon's Fairy Dust Bag Blog and Looby's (Scrap Happy Lou) blog to name only a few!! They have really inspired me to do something different with my LOs/cards, which are getting a bit samey, and not very adventurous. So I am hoping to create something a bit more inspired! Fingers crossed anyway, I have a few ideas but will just have to see where they end up!

Sp I shall say au revoir, and hopefully I might have some good crafty bits to share with you soon! Have a nice day!

UFOs and exploding brains...

2007-10-24T14:50:00.000+01:00

A quick pop on to upload my pic for today! My favourite place in my lounge, the corner bit of the couch. Does everybody have a spot on their couch that just feels 'right'? Out of the whole thing, and its fairly big - this is the one place where I am really comfy! When I was pregnant though - I hated the couch! I had to have help to get me up from the darn thing, what with my humongous bump and the fact that you sink right into it. Up above is some of the gorgeous yarn I bought from The Yarn Yard - I'll be popping a link to them in my favourite shops section. Jaffa Merino, and its plush and bright! So starts my next UFO (unfinished object) - I now have two scarves on the go though because I recently received some yarns from Dragon Yarns - also a fab shop!!

I went to post my CJ on Monday and Shaun snr ended up taking the double buggy in his car, so this meant I had to walk to the shop with one child in a buggy and Shaun Jr on foot. The walking part was lovely!! However, when we got into the shop, Shaun decided to grab a sherbet dip bag, biting off the bottom end, and spilling the contents onto the floor, the proceeding to pull and grab at as many things as he could. At the same time the child safely contained in the buggy pulled off some dog food tins onto the floor - needless to say my blood pressure was higher than it was when I first went in there!! The lady serving in the shop was lovely, but you do get some slightly annoying people who look at you as if to say 'control your child, woman!'. These people obviously must forget what it is actually (I'm doing that 'actually' thing there Bobs, its catching!!) like to have young kids, in to everything and anything the can be.

Anyway, nuff ranting!! Sherman is back! Praise that great car God who deemed him fixable, because I have been lost without him! Trying to get two wriggly kiddies and their car seats in and out of a Celica is not good for the vertebrae, I can tell you.

Gotta go now, and I really really promise, I will get round the blogs tonight. Ive been so busy with this course and my impending assignment I just haven't had chance! My ol' brains are about ready to explode methinks!

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day - well, whats left of it anyway!

Pink to make the boys wink?

2007-10-23T08:20:00.001+01:00

Now I really dont do pink. There are 2 boys (+ 1 me) = 0 pink in my house. Never been a fan! Im just not a girly girl at all! So this is a layout I did of my brothers and sister from a little while back. I had a 'three little pigs' story sack, and they were very bored, so got out the stuff and posed for this pic for me. I love wolfy's (jack) expression and then little piggy to the right (spencer) who looks really worried!! I got the papers as part of a collection from club scrap - love their stuff!! The papers were also perfect for this 'race for life' layout.

I did this earlier this year, for my mum, who had skin cancer year before last. This was a scary time for all of us - I was scared that not only would I lose my Mum, but my very bestest pal in the whole world. It was a horrible time, but my Mum got through it - I was and am so proud of her, the way she has coped - she really is my inspiration. If ever I feel down or generally cack - she never fails in cheering me up. She's the best! So I dedicated my race for her - I scanned in my back sign from the race and included that on the LO. On my back sign, I put 'I race for my Mum' and put an arrow pointing to her place in the race beside me - I was so lucky to be able to do that because many of the people there had lost their loved ones. Myself included - my Mum raced for her Mum, my Nan, and my cousin who was there raced for my auntie. So stood amongst all those people, I realised how lucky I was.

So one day when I was really proud to wear pink. Hey, maybe pink aint so bad after all.....

PS if you read this Ma, when I was walking down to meet you at the race and saw you standing there, I was so choked up! I tried hard to not cry because I was grateful to have you there and didnt want to make you upset, but I love you so much. You mean the bloomin world to me.

K guys, I shall say TTFN, and thanks for stopping by - I will get round your blogs today or later on tonight - didnt get chance last night - was at another tutorial! Have a fab day!

It's only another stamp CJ!!

2007-10-22T08:53:00.000+01:00

So my purple for today, is the front cover of my CJ for the 'another stamp CJ' hosted by Jean, AKA nexjr3 AKA 3DJean of UKS! Crikey that was a mouthful!

But it was purplish, before I grubbed and dirtied and distressed it up a bit. Basically for this CJ, you choose an unmounted stamp, which goes along with your CJ, and what you get back are 10 entries, all using the same stamp somehow, but with 10 very different interpretations of it. How cool is that? Fab idea and really looking forward to getting it back next August. It's a quick one from me today folks because the children are calling, and they'll be swinging from the light fittings if I leave them any longer.

Cheers for stopping by and have a great day!

Oh Ive popped back, thought I might as well show you the innards! Now be gentle with me all you expert altering folk, it is my first bash at this, and by the end of this CJ group I should be on my way to being well versed in the altered world!

Show Off Sunday

2007-10-21T10:38:00.000+01:00

Howdi folks! Today I thought I would show off some of my pics from the One Big Weekend in Preston. This was inspired by Bobs' fab pics of Brian May from a couple of weeks back! Now these photos are definitely not technically correct in the least - I had had my DSLR for a few days and was just getting to grips with all the settings, and it was the first time I was actually trying to take photos on it without using the auto setting! And without using flash too - I wanted to try and capture the lighting as it was on the day. I had to crank the ISO settings up to 1600 though and so the pics are quite 'noisy'. I had to hold the camera above my head to take the pics to avoid all the heads in front of us so I was a bit wobbly and there was no way I would be avoiding camera shake!! So the guys above are The Fray - who I love. I liked em before one big weekend but seeing them there live was just amazing. Jo Wiley got on stage with them and played a bit of tambourine which was cool - I think she's a fantastic DJ and listen to her in the week on Radio One.
And above, the mighty Kasabian. Now, we had managed to squeeze and push and wriggle our way to almost the front at this point. But when these guys came on the crowd went slightly crazy, and started pushing in their droves - we nearly ended up on the floor, and with 500 quids worth of camera in my hands I was cacking it a bit, to say the least!! But it was brilliant! Me and my sis (who kindly invited me to go to this fab event when she won tickets - how chuffed was I???) departed at this point, because it was getting a bit much and we were getting trampled on. So we went into the next tent. So glad we did because we saw these guys!!

The Gossip - I am a big fan of theirs and Beth Ditto in partic - I think she has a fab attitude, although I'm not struck on the 'flashing her bits' routine. She didn't do this when we saw her thankfully, although she did nearly spill out of her dress a few times when she was dancing for her life on stage. And the mad woman actually climbed into the crowd - no mean feat for such a short lady. The pic above was her shortly before she 'connected' (her words) with the crowd.And then these guys above -one of my favourite groups of all time - Groove Armada. This pic reminds me so much of waiting there, at the very front of the stage, waiting for them to kick off, the crowd going crazy, and just thinking - wow - I'm so lucky to be here!!
And finally, how can I leave without showing off a picture of my boys? This was taken on a walk at Ingleton Falls. Now we didn't take a carrier for young Shamus, so his Dad carried him most of the way - up hill mostly, about 4.5 miles!! And Shamus is a good solid lad - so it was hard work! And he was fed up and kicking off but who could blame him. His Dad was knackered also - hence the sweaty head lol and bear in mind we hadn't even got a quarter of the way through the walk at this point!! But I still think he looks gorgeous, sweat and all. Poor Shamus is not up for looking at the camera, and is probably eyeing up his escape route.

So I shall say TTFN guys, weekend nearly over now, sob sob, enjoy the rest of it wont you?! Thanks for stopping by!

Chickening out again.

2007-10-20T17:08:00.000+01:00

Good evening folks! Well, I am late for posting this pic, was supposed to do it earlier but I was told off for messing about, and told to hurry up and get my butt out of the house, so I had to do as I was told (this once, of course)!! So much for me being brave and baring all after last weeks 'hiding behind the altering' discussion lol

So this is me today, with pores like potholes, and eyes squinting from the sun (and not giving someone evils, as it looks).

Today has been a great day so far, things have just 'gone right'. Dare I put those words in quotation marks, for fear of being added to the blog of unnecessary quotation marks?? Had a peep at that the other day - quite funny!!

I am trying my bestest to be productive in the ol crafting game but it hasnt been easy lately - it seems like no matter how much I do, I never seem to be getting much finished!! Never mind, keep plugging on.

Isn't it funny how your tastes change as you get older? Here comes my weekly Friday Night with Jonathan Ross review lol - Take That last night - love em love em love em all over again! Back in the day, I was a Mark Owen/Jason Orange kinda girl, my sis had a thing for Howard Donald!! I used to take the mick out of her but I think she picked the right guy in the end! Second in line to Gary of course - who I now think is lovely. Dont know what it is about him! But there you go.

So, I shall skidaddle now, and try and get some stuff done! Didnt get round the blogs yesterday - its just been mad busy. But I will do, promise!!

Thanks for reading and have a great rest of the weekend!!

Do you know what??? I nearly forgot! I have been nominated for the you make me smile award, by Hazel and Caroline! I should be nominating people now, so here goes, and in no particular order!!:

Suzy B
Bobs
Sharon
Fairycakes
Hazel
Angela
Ninnie
Mrs B - Mary ann
Louise Sampson
Pokettiger

I awarded you guys, some because I love reading your blogs, and they really make me smile and cheer me up on the dull and dreary days, and a few of my team buddies from UKS -who are just a talented, fab and supportive bunch of ladies!!

There are loads more of you who make me smile but I could only have ten! Actually, I was nominated twice, does that mean I get another ten??

I've said it once, and I'll say it again, thank {insert your own word} it's Friday!!

2007-10-19T19:04:00.000+01:00

Here are my 'blue' pics for today! The first is Shaun snr. I love his eyes. Well I love all of him lol but I think his eyes are gorgeous, and I was quite blown away by them when I first met him, as I still am today! And bless him, I said, I want to take a pic of your eye. What for, he asks, dubiously. For my blog I says, so he reluctantly agreed. And I stand there, camera at the ready, point and press - and nearly blind him with the flash!! Light aint good round our way at the moment so had to use it!

Second pic is of one of my sons humongous feet, with his cool blue sneakers on that his auntie Melly bought for him! Now Mel, if you read this, I hope you will accept sincerest apologies from your dork sister.

Today peeps, has been a bad day. I have been run ragged by the childer. I was supposed to meet my friend today, for a play date with the kids and her niece. On the way down to Preston on the phone to my Ma, I asked our Mel if she fancied coming to meet us and she said she would. We were going to a Wacky warehouse, get a brew and let them have a good play. But things didn't quite work out, when I got to my friends, her niece hadn't been dropped off.So she made a brew, and I duly started running around trying to prevent the kids from eating her flowers/cable card/carpet/DVDs/remote controls and generally anything else that was lying about. Needless to say, I haven't converted my pal over to the motherhood club. But my sis still went over to the wacky warehouse - and I completely forgot!!! I am a total scatter brain at the moment. Anybody who knows me reading this will probably be thinking - what are you on about Charl - at the moment???

It was really great seeing my pal Tammy today though and cheered me up! We've been friends since we were born I think (is that possible? lol) - we lived next door to each other for a while and then went through all of school together. I am so glad to see her happy and settled - she is a brilliant girl with a heart of gold, and we have been through so much together over the years.

I was greeted by my boys with this gorgeous bunch of flowers, on their return from doing the weekly shop. Another thing that has really made my day today. So although it has been a mad one - it has ended on a good note. And we're on curry tonight - what could be better??!!

Note to self: read through posts on threads and such like more, because sometimes things dont quite sound like you intended them too!! I wrote a post on UKS about Looby's latest challenge LO, but it looked as though I was there, bigging my own LO up and giving myself much praise *shakes head* - its the same with text messages, sometimes you realise too late that it doesnt sound at all like you intended it too! Can get you in trouble lol....

K folks, a rambling post from me, so I shall say au revoir and speak to yall soon!! Thanks for stopping by!

I love green, I do!

2007-10-18T09:43:00.000+01:00

Hooray!! Green is good for me today, because I finally finished the scarf I was making (I have a few loose ends I need to sort but as good as!!). I love green; along with black, yellow and red (lol) it's my favourite colour. Above is one of Shaun's bears, looking rather dashing in said scarf lol

Now I have a dilemma though - to embellish or not to embellish?? The pic below has a flower I made, the more I look at it the more I think I need to do a neater one. But what do you think? Should I put one on or leave it as is? Its a bit plain without, but plain is good sometimes!! I'm starting a hat for Shaun snr now these cold days are drawing in - I had my arctic weather coat and boots on this morning - along with the above unfinished scarf. Ive got a couple of LO's on the go and a card for my blog post over on Blog Til You Drop tomorrow, stop by and have a peep if you get chance folks! Right, thats all from me now guys, will be back after lunch to check out your green photos for today! Thanks for stopping by!

The winter blues

2007-10-17T10:17:00.000+01:00

Hello there folks! I think this cacky weather has well and truly put a dampener on my mood. I have felt quite rubbish, for the past few days now. I could do to hibernate all through winter but I dont think it's allowed, or considered 'normal' for us human beans, so I shall have to soldier on like everyone else lol

I did take my orange pic yesterday, just couldnt motivate myself top get on here and upload it! It was some veggie soup I made, looks a bit radioactive doesnt it? It tastes really good though! Add a bit of extra hot peri peri sauce and bingo - spicy soup heaven.

And this little fella is Eric. A friend bought him for me years ago - it's the little guy off the Levis advert from a while back - even brought a song out *shakes head, but did buy it*.

I shall depart folks, and hope I have something far more interesting to show and tell tomorrow.

Thanks for stopping by, and have a great day!

Another LO

2007-10-15T14:21:00.000+01:00

Another 12 by 12 LO that I made using papers and other bits from the October Club Scrap collection. It's my not so little brother (who went out on his first 'date' on Saturday!! Bless him!) with a then best pal, out on one of the many mammoth walks my ma does. This one is a 16 mile walk - they used to go at weekends, they'd do this walk one day, then go and do another big walk on the other!! Super fit or what!?! But I love the picture - they were both muddy as hell (I know I know, hell probably isnt muddy) and I love the male bonding going on there!

Check out the technique with the photo Sue - your tutorials for photoshop are fantastic - photoshop didnt want to play at first but I got there in the end lol. Sue's blog is here, if ever you want to know how to do something with photoshop, and get some fab effects (along with some fab blogging and cool pictures!), then this is the place you want to be checking out!!

Guilty guilty blogger - two posts in one day!!

Naughty Blogger

2007-10-15T10:46:00.000+01:00

Good morning folks! Naughty because I didnt get any photos on yesterday, or any blogging at all - tut tut. See, if they guys over at HS:MS aren't around - I start slacking. Terrible.

A quick pop on to upload my red photos for today, and also a 12x12 LO that I did for KTP's 'its only words' challenge over on Blog Til You Drop from last Saturday. The above is using the quote I mentioned from last Saturday's post. Before joining in with the HS:MS prompts - I very rarely scrapped photos of me. But now I have done two LO's in the past couple of weeks, so my book of me scrapbook is filling up quite nicely!! There is a new sketch challenge up from Saturday just passed by Looby here, and its fab - I'll hopefully be having a go at it later whilst the childer are napping. Dont forget - any non DT entries are eligible for our monthly DT competition (the DT can't enter coz we're judging it, and that wouldnt be very fair now, would it?? lol) - you could win a fabby prize! Pop over and have a look see what Rebecca Nash won for September!

This is the t-shirt I am wearing today. And of course, I never leave home without my big bushy red barnet now, do I? So lots of red. Not forgetting my baba's lovely red head too! He is kicking off, however, so I shall refrain from photo taking for now. He has removed the sky card, and folded it in half, chewed it, and now it works when it wants to!! Ay dear. I did have a bit of an excuse for not getting on yesterday - I felt like hell! Women's troubles - sheesh. They dont normally bother me, but they have been steadily getting more and more painful since I had young Shamus. Dont know what is going on there. BUT I DONT WANT TO GIVE YOU THAT!!!! (said in a Chris Tarrant style)

So I shall say good day! Thanks for stopping by, and I shall be popping over to your blogs in a short while!!

Yikes....

2007-10-13T16:54:00.000+01:00

.....its self-portrait Saturday again. Well, I have been less naughty this week and actually posted a clearer pic of me, devoid of weird and wonderful colours, shocking pink skin, wild blue hair and eyebrows, etc.

I know I'm not on my own when I say that I'm still not entirely comfortable with this self-portrait thing; I like to hide behind the freakishness of the over-altering I tend to do, to my pics of me. Why is it that it is so hard to take photos of ourselves? The weekly prompts are a good thing, and a real challenge for us I think!

I have received my next pack of DT stuff, and have to say that I am really really (10 reallys) chuffed with it!! Bev Todd of Crop Til You Drop, asked all the DT members to write a wish list, of stuff they would most like to see in their kits, and I can safely say that I got all things on that list, plus a whole lot more. Really looking forward to getting started with them, and I'm going to have a wee go tonight. We have friends coming over though, so I cant spend too long at it!!

We're having 'a drink', which usually means rather more than one drink, occasionally ending up with us singing for our lives on the 'singstar' game for the playstation. Hang on a minute, I think I have some film of Shaun and Mark singing.....just thought again - you wouldn't be able to hear it for my music on my blog would you? I'll have to root it out and get rid of my annoying music for a day or two. We have pizza, and nibbles, and wine and lager. Oh and most important of all - chocolate!! So I will have to get some pics of our shannanigans, and post tomorrow. I don't think they will be my SOS pics though lol

Ok folks, I shall skaramoosh (or whatever the heck it is that he says), and try and get some of this LO done before our mates arrive! Oh and dont forget to check out the Blog Til You Drop challenge, you'll be eligible for the monthly DT challenge competition!! Last months winner was Rebecca Nash, Rebecca regularly enters our challenges, her entries are fantastic - come on over and have yourself a go! There are fab prizes up for grabs!

Errrr....No, cant think of a title for today!

2007-10-12T09:45:00.000+01:00

First off, autumn watch - an update on the rapidly deteriorating leaf on the tree in the garden. I am sure by now the woman across the road thinks that I have completely lost the plot - photographing leaves and other things in the garden. Is she right? Probably! lol
And the first of the tongue pics. Trying to capture a photo of a moving child with his tongue stuck out is a little more difficult than I imagined!! I did take a photo of my own, pierced tongue, but it was awful! So I omitted that from today's offerings.
He looks so cheeky, doesn't he? He was dancing around in circles at this point, bless! What a day yesterday. It was fab! Saw Sherree Murphy - the girl who played Trisha in Emmerdale, wandering around with a cute little baby bump. I have seen John Thompson (cold feet, the fast show et al) in Selfridges there too, with his partner Sam. Would love to hear about who of the rich and famous you have seen whilst out and about!

The kids were a bit hard work yesterday - scrapping (and not of the good, paper type) with each other, inflicting scratches etc on each others faces. Look at his picture up there - you'd think butter wouldnt melt wouldnt you? Ha! Dont be fooled by this cute exterior - he is a mischeif maker of the most mischeivous kind!

I started again with the CJ covers. I havent finished them yet but I have started on my entry, which so far I am pleased with. It's totally different to how I usually work, and I really think this CJ group is going to get me working out of my comfort zone, which is great.

I shall depart now, because I am starting to waffle even more than usual, thanks for stopping by and I will get to everyones blogs after lunch, didnt get chance yesterday, I was pooped after a long day, shopping for my life!

Have a great day!

Brain Draining...

2007-10-11T10:17:00.000+01:00

A quick upload today cause we're off out to the Trafford Centre!!

My Nintendo DS Lite - I have the brain training games, and as Im sure you can tell, I havent been using them for a while lol....

Will be back later to check everyone elses out, and to show you what I come back with!!

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Going...going....

2007-10-10T08:53:00.000+01:00

....these could possibly be the best rum truffles in the whole wide universe. You see that one peeping cautiously from underneath the wrapper? It had a right to be cautious, it now ceases to exist - as the rest of the packet will do, in about 5 minutes or so!! Dreadful. Shaun brought them back from Somerfield last night - try em - they're delicious! And they're 2-4-1 - bargain basement!

My pic for today is from my garden, I thought I would show you the before and after. I really like the first one because of the reds and oranges in it, but love the effect that the cutout filter has given it in photoshop. I just played around with the edge effects a little til I was satisfied with the final result.

I am very sad to say, that I have now botched the front of my CJ cover completely, and will now have to start again. Frustrated? Uhhh yeah!

Now, apparently, Lloyd Grossman is in Garstang - a nearby village. He is trying to get into the Guinness Book Of World Records, for making the biggest Hotpot ever. Hmmm. I think I'm going to go and ask him which is better for cooking, electric, or gas. If neither, then why does my Christmas turkey never cook when its supposed to, despite having been in the oven for what seems like a hundred years. If its gas, then what can I do (other than get gas or not have turkey lol) to improve the finished bird. Any tips will be most welcome folks!!

I might have to go and check it out and see if I can get some photos for you to have a look at! Other than that, its some painting, then into Lancaster, then feeding ducks, lunch, then aaaaaaaaaaah a bit o peace for me when they have their afternoon nap. And not a playgroup in sight - YAY!

So I shall say au revoir for now folks, have a good day and thanks for reading - do come again!

Don't you just love it when....

2007-10-09T14:40:00.001+01:00

.....you 'get it'?

I am really enjoying life as a 'mature' (lol lol) student. The first time round, when I went to Uni - I was really unsure of myself - not confident at all. I would rarely speak up - unless forced into it by some lecturer - you know the ones who 'pick on' the ones who don't involve themselves!! Thank god for those lecturers. I always hate it when they say - so Charlene, tell us a little bit about yourself, and why you've chosen to do x, y or z. I hate being put in the spotlight like that. Now on here, as I'm sure you're aware, I can babble endlessly, but its so easy without an audience right there in front of you!

So last night was a tutorial for the social science course I'm doing. It was tricky at first - I have a spot of performance anxiety (probably the understatement of the year). But it got much easier as the night went on, and most importantly, I involved myself - a lot - and actually understood everything that was being said - hooray! It was such a great feeling to know that I had grasped everything so far. I think I'll really enjoy this course - I might eat those words later on lol but for now, I'm just going to make the most of it.

We went to playgroup this morning, and what a nightmare. Poor Shamus was busy ransacking the place, getting involved with everything - he's the kind of boy who loves to grab everything. They were making these pizzas for their snacks - and of course he's only 22 months old - I thought he did really well. But he was trying to grab the cheese off the pizzas and pick them up and all sorts. It was a bit hard work, because the little girl who I look after was also into everything - as all good kids should be!! And the playgroup leader said - can you just come and grab Shaun - she's lovely BTW - but I thought - aaaargh! I haven't got enough pairs of hands here, I need at least another five pairs lol, so I was mighty stressed by the time I left. Has anyone got any opinions on how often you should take kids to these things? Twice a week is more than enough for me!! But I'd love to know what people thought. I often feel a bit guilty because I don't get to more - but I do take them out plenty everyday. I think its probably all part of the - 'other mums seem to have it sussed much more than me' syndrome.

Well, I have nearly finished my CJ front cover - but me thinks its looking a bit cack, so I don't know what im going to do about that! I might post it up here when its finished and get some constructive (or any lol) criticism on it.

Sherman is still not well. He is going to be fixed - AGAIN, for the third time in 2 weeks. I miss the old reliable Sherman. This new, unreliable let down Sherman keeps deciding to say 'engine system service - urgent', which can't be good news. It smacks a little too much of expensive repairs to me. Yuk.

I have a painting that I must upload too, when it is dry - my Shamus did it for me today at another group we went to. This is one where I can relax with my friend Crystal, and have a brew and a danish, but still keep a good eye on him and let him have a good run about the place - at a wacky warehouse. It's my favourite of all the play places we visit! Also - they let parents go down the slide with the kids - its fabulous - Ill have to get some pictures of us next week for you to frown and tut at lol

Thanks for reading guys - I shall toddle off and get ready for round five with the kids! Have a nice, relaxing rest of the day!

Tis the season to 'fall' in love with - groan

2007-10-08T11:51:00.000+01:00

Top of the morning to ya! Ay up cockers, thought I'd share some of the pics of my leaf ridden garden. Honest - they do get swept up regularly - there's loads of trees in our garden though so no sooner than you have swept the leaves up - its full again! But I quite like it. I love the colours of autumn - they go well with the ol barnet lol

The first and second picture I took of the same leaf, just three days apart, and you can see from the pic that it is more 'autmuny' (?) in the second shot, the green is fading and the yellows and goldy browns are coming through much more. And check out the difference in the sky lol, yup, its here!

So today, I am going to get started on my LO for KTP's challenge over on Blog Til You Drop, posted Saturday. Get yourselves over and have a go - there are prizes up for grabs!! I'm using my SPS pic from Saturday - my OH Shaun thinks its incredibly freaky, which was even more reason to scrap it lol, as a permanent reminder of my freakishness.

Whenever I do that effect on my pics, I always end up with blue hair!! And blue eyebrows, as Chris pointed out!! Never noticed those lol, I'll have to pull the old socks up and do a proper photo next week, warts and all. We went to Beacon Fell yesterday for a wander, and a brew and cake - hmmmm, I had bakewell tart and it was lovely and fresh, not like the cake at Williamson park!

Here is a pic of Shaun, being a boy, and hitting the tree with part of another. He decided he couldnt be bothered walking at one point, and kept coming to me and his Dad to carry him, which is no mean feat - he's a solid lad! We thought we pretend to carry on walking, to see if he thought - 'oh well, I'd better start walking if they're going to leave me!' - but no. He sat there, stubborn as (his mother) a mule.

Well I shall skidaddle - Ive got a few minutes of peace whilst they're asleep, so I'd better get something done, hadn't I?

Thanks for reading guys, and ta ra for now! Have a great day!

Sunday Showoffery...

2007-10-07T10:21:00.000+01:00

Good morning! A quick pop on before we disappear out for the day, to share with you my SOS photos for this week. First and foremost, my beautiful boy. I took this in Silloth when we went to see my ma there a little earlier in the year - some other photos from the trip can be seen here, in my 'HSMS - Dog' post. I haven't had to alter this in any way - I thought the colour was great on it and didn't think it needed anything else! I love his expression on this photo - it reminds me of how much he loved playing there on the park with his Nana and grandpa. I have scrapped this pic too, here.The second picture, as you can probably tell, I have altered the saturation in the colours far too much - I am blaming my previous rubbish monitor, but truth be told, I think it's probably just me, getting a bit carried away. Its a common feature of photos from people who are 'new' to digital photography - oversharpening or oversaturation of images. But anyway - I was really pleased with it at first! I love this place - its the Ashton Memorial in Lancaster, within the grounds of Williamson Park. I think the place is beautiful, I really love bringing the kids here and having a potter around it. You can get a brew at the cafe, along with a stale piece of chocolate cake if you're into that sort of thing lol. The Memorial never fails to make me think - wow - whenever I see it.

'The Ashton Memorial was commissioned by Lord Ashton as a tribute to his late wife. Born in Lancaster, Lord Ashton became a millionaire producing oil cloth and linoleum which was exported from the port all over the world. It serves as reminder of the importance of Lancaster as a thriving commercial centre, not only in times past but now in the 21st century.'
taken from the website - linked above

So there you go, that's me for today! I'm going to have a go at this weeks challenge over on Blog Til You Drop a bit later on - have a look see!! I found a quote by Marilyn Monroe that I'm going to use for it - here it is:

'I'm selfish, impatient, and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I'm out of control, and at times hard to handle. But if you cant handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best.'

Good day to yall then folks - :( Monday tomorrow. And in the words of Bob Geldof.....

Thanks for reading!

PS I dont know if I mentioned it but I got some pictures of my Dad's brothers and sister who live in London!! I may or may not be popping them up here - just checking out that its OK with them first.

They call me 'Cop Out' Charl...

2007-10-06T18:47:00.000+01:00

Ello. Alas, I have opted for a 'in the style of Warhol' type picture, which helps to disguise the fact that I look rough as {insert your own word}. Spots a plenty - bags under't th'eyes and all sorts. So this is me today!!

Hooray!! I'm actually doing OK with my course now - managed to get loads done so am pleased finally!

So today, I'm driving along in Shaun Snr's car (i dint think I need to put the snr bit really do I, like my nearly two year old would have his own set of wheels tut tut) with my little man beside me - Shaun snr (look, I've done it again) was trying to fix Sherman for me as he is a bit poorly, so we ended up in his Celica. Lovely car, but guess what its not? PRACTICAL!!! I hate that word! But anyway, young Shamus and I were singing along to 'Hey there Delilah' by the Plain White T's - love that song! And I thought to myself - what can be better than this? My little man, happy beside me, singing and dancing away, giving me the sweetest smile - what a good boy I thought to myself - just perfect!

But then, something changed. I swear I saw a little glint appear in his eye, and Shamus the Mischievous was back in town. He then proceeded to try and open the car door, whilst we were driving at speed! I made some sound, I think it was a scream or something, and then slowed down as carefully as possible so the door didn't fling wide open and drop off its hinges. Unfortunately, because the car does not seem to be made for kids AT ALL - you cant turn the little thing that cars usually have to put the child lock on. So I proceeded with extra caution down the A6 to my Ma's house. Not content with trying to open the door, he decided to try and pull the car out of gear, and also destroyed some of Daddy's CDs. Whoops.

Is anyone having a do at the Cybercrop this weekend? I opted out this year, after the shananigans of the last one. People got a little crazy about the mystery kits and such, and some people weren't very helpful at all - it was my first one so I had a few questions, and the response I got from a minority was less than helpful, lets say!! Plus, Ive had that much on I couldn't have done it even if I had really really (10 reallys) wanted to. If you are having a crack at it - enjoy!! Some of the classes from the last one were really fab.

Right cockers, I shall depart, and have another look at this course, before going to make our curry for tonight. I wonder who is on Parky tonight? Harry Conick Jr was on last week - I didn't realise that was him!! Its the guy from Will and Grace isn't it? There is something about that man - very nice! And I must confess, I have a bit of a thing for Colin Firth. Don't know what that is all about. Al Murray, pub landlord, however - yak! Do not think he is funny in the slightest! If anyone one else does, I'd love to hear from you, maybe its just me!!

Thanks for reading guys, and TTFN! Have a fab rest of the day!

Thank {insert your own word} it's Friday!!

2007-10-05T10:08:00.000+01:00

Ay up! I am so glad it's Friday. A nice relaxing weekend for me (lol yeah right). After the week I have had - I actually put the lottery on on Wednesday, I have cleaned that much you know what up from these childer (you know what they say - muck for luck and all that).

It's my turn to post a project today over at Blog Til You Drop. I have done a layout today, pop over and have a look see!!

We're off into Lancaster in a minute or ten, so it's a short one from me today. I better not say anymore, or I'll be lowering the tone even further! Have a great day folks and thanks for coming over!

Blimey, Ive only been tagged again!

2007-10-04T20:15:00.000+01:00

Ay up, Ive been tagged again by Rach of Uniquards!

Here are the rules which you must abide by if you are tagged.

1. Link to your tagger and post these rules.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself: some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post and list their names (linking to them).
4. Let them know they've been tagged by leaving a comment at their blogs.

1. I really don't like pink. I was a tomboy, growing up, and hated anything girly including things of the pink variety!!

2. I'm a complete and utter nerd when it comes to gadgets and suchlike - love em, cant get enough of em, want more etc etc

3. I'm scared stiff of fairground rides. Think Pepsi Max, think - you must be ******* joking!!

4. We had a really bad house fire when we were kids, and if it wasn't for my marvellous super mum (who broke her thumb, and bent it right back - ewww) rescuing us, in more ways than one, I wouldn't be here typing this right now.

5. I have three brothers and two sisters - all younger than me, no I'm not bitter, jealous etc lol. One of my brothers once asked me 'Charl, when I'm 50, will you be dead?'

6. I am a home bird. I love nothing more than a cosy night in with the Shauns (or my family), glass of wine in one hand and bar of green n Blacks in the other. Boozy nights out and such? You can keep em (see hungover SPS pics and you will see why)!

7. I nearly drowned on holiday in the Dominican, when, some eejit driving the boat attached to the banana boat we were on, decided it was a good idea to turn sharp and tip us off. Shaun did not appreciate me also nearly drowning him, by clinging to him for dear life, forgetting that I was pulling him underneath the water lol but that's what partners are for isn't it?

Consider yourselves tagged guys:
Lou
Alix
Mary B
Fairycakes
Roo
Ruth
Ettey

Cheers Rach - I enjoyed this!

Stage 2 of Grandfather Saga

2007-10-04T13:18:00.000+01:00

Ok, first things first - my picture for today's HS:MS prompt. Actually - more important - I better start by apologising for not getting round to your blogs last night!! I got stuck into my Uni work proper, for once. And whilst I was on a roll, I didn't dare stop!! So I will get round everyones tonight, I promise - Scrapzo's honour. The pic above was taken in Gatorland, Florida, during my holiday there a few years back. This was a fantastic holiday, and I loved Gatorland. It wasn't until I got back and had my photos developed that I actually looked at things in a bit of a different way though. I felt sorry for that poor bear - he looks quite sad there, sat on his own. I apologise for this not being a 'today' picture, but as soon as I saw the prompt, I thought of this picture and had to put it up.

K, next step - grandfather saga. These are a few of the photos I sent via email, to Alex Lee - my uncle. It was weird receiving an email back from this man, with whom I share the same surname, same blood, and have never met. But I was so glad!! He goes to Costa Rica to live though, unfortunately for me (not him, the lucky so and so!!), so its not looking like I'll meet him anytime soon :( however, I might get to meet my grandad still, and other siblings of Alex (and my Dad)!! I wonder what they'll think of us?? I wonder if we look like them a bit? Hmmmm...lots of questions.
Above pic is me and my sis, making sandcastles in Looe, Cornwall, slightly drunk. Just looked at the pic again, and we must have been quite drunk - our sandcastles are rubbish!! But we look so proud. Ay dear.
This is my Dad holding me as a wee baba.
And this is my ma with me. Just thought I'd share em with you!!

And finally, I have been tagged today by Hazel! So here goes....

4 places I have worked:

1. Reilor Ltd, Preston - as label designer/customer service 'officer' (wooooooo)

2. Tokyo Joes Nightclub - brief stint as a dancer (not pole or lap I must stress lol)

3. Swansea Terrace Nursing Home - as Snr carer

4. Medium Secure Services, Preston - as a named nurse for patients (RMN)

4 places I have lived:

1. Preston

2. Inskip

3. Scorton

4. Nearly Nottingham lol

4 places I have visited:

1. Ibiza

2. Dominican Republic

3. America

4. Spain

4 favourite foods: (not at the same time lol)

1. Vindaloo (or hotter) curry or anything spicy

2. Chocolate

3. Fish

4. Homemade houmous

4. places I would rather be:

As long as Im with my family - I dont care where I am!

K guys, thanks for reading, and have a grand ol day!!

A funny old day...

2007-10-03T08:47:00.000+01:00

This is my tray! Its one of the ones for catching glitter/embossing powder etc, and it is covered in melted powder, as I am quite rubbish at triple embossing or whatever you call it. You know where you layer loads of powder to make it extra thick, then stamp in it and stuff? That! Has anyone got any tips for getting all the powder out of these trays - as it seems to stick to the bottom of it - hence the mess its in now!!

I have altered the hue in this photo - previously it was a lovely purple colour, but I much prefer this funky green!! So, projects for today are:

Finsh this intro chapter and workbook for course - priority numero uno
sort out my LO for my friday's post on Blog Til You Drop
do my CJ entry for the Another Stamp CJ

I've put those on here in the hope that it might be the kick up the butt I need to actually get this stuff done!

I loved the stuff everyone came up with for yesterdays 'card' prompt! My favourite has to be Bobs' though - that type of card features highly on my crafting supplies too! And Suzy's network card, because without that in my computer - I wouldnt be able to do all my secret internet stash shopping!

K guys better go, one son, kicking off and demanding my time - better go and give it! Have a great day, and thanks for stopping by!

Stands up - I'm Charl, and I'm a card-a-holic...

2007-10-02T08:26:00.000+01:00

Good morning, folks. This prompt has got me thinking, that maybe I have a small problemo, of the card and paper variety. You see, that pic below, isn't even the half of it. I have separate stacks for printed paper, and another pile for my card and paper kits and packs, and another for my 8x8's and another for my 8.5 x 11. And pizza boxes. And a filing cabinet. Oh dear. But!! On a brighter note - I have started getting into all of it. I read something that Anita Mundt had written once - basically saying to stop saving those papers for a rainy day, and to get them used! So since then I have recklessly (?!indeed...) torn into new paper packs and hacked away at them, throwing caution to the wind, and I have enjoyed it! I don't really (what a liar) buy paper and card anymore, because I have started using up all my (not very) old stash!!

And the other pic up there, is a card I made for my cousin, who has just had a beautiful baby girl. I am just developing my card making skills really, and by that I mean, actually coming up with my own ideas instead of 'borrowing' from other people. Not that there is anything wrong with that!! But I want to start coming up with some stuff worthy of borrowing myself, if I can!

Playgroup this morning - then my ma is coming up - I'm making soup and a chickpea, lime and coriander salad that she loves. Right, better skidaddle and sort these childer out!!

Thanks for reading guys, and I'll get back later to catch up with you all! Have a grand old day!

Meet Sherman!

2007-10-01T09:33:00.001+01:00

Meet my dirty, scratched, well worn, trusty wheel, belonging to Sherman, my Volvo. I've had a few different cars - prior to Sherman I had a Peugeot 206 coupe cabriolet - and I loved it! When I was a kid I always told myself - when I get a 'proper' job, I want a convertible car - I'll know I've made it then!! Lol how sad. But I got one, and loved it. When young Shamus came along though, it just wasn't - wait for it - 'practical'. So I kissed goodbye to it, and welcomed my trusty Volvo down the driveway. Its a monster compared with my last car - its huge, and faster, and it really 'hugs' the road. So when its ready for 'car heaven', I'll be getting another one!

This prompt got me thinking - two years ago I had a crash - I was pregnant with Shaun at the time, I think I only had six weeks to go or something. But luckily it wasnt serious - it was my fault though, which was a total bummer. Due to the frequent trips to the loo in the night, and still working shifts, some twelve hour ones, I was shattered and not paying attention really. The day was 30th November.

Two years earlier, on the exact same date, I had another crash - this was a bit more serious though, in bad weather conditions I skidded out of control, mounted the kerb, and then a hedge, and then a wall, sort of ending up suspended in these conifer trees! Shaun was behind me in his car, and drove past - he didnt see me in my little hidey hole, my car disguised by leaves and things! Unfortunately the hedge and wall and tree belonged to a total A*hole. After I had dropped onto the pavement from the passenger side door, I was greeted by - 'what the bloody hell do you think you're doing???'

Err, well what it was, I really fancied crashing today, so I thought I'd pick you!!

What an idiot. Didnt even ask me if I was OK! He's there, with his camera, taking pictures! Did much to reignite my faith in human kind!

Its funny now - but at the time it was a total nightmare - I wasnt seriously injured, luckily. I narrowly missed a lamp post. But anyway, the point of this story is - dont forget to remind me, to be extra careful on the 30th November!! I think I might stay in that day.

Have a great day folks! Thanks for reading!

It's Show Off Sunday Again!

2007-09-30T17:42:00.000+01:00

Good evening folks! Well I got my butt into gear slightly better than yesterday. We've been out vising the rents in law today, so I havent managed to get much done in the way of craftiness. Not only that - but I must get this course work well under way - I am slacking!

So a couple of photos to share with you today, the first taken near to Nicky Nook, Scorton, near to where we live. I love walking by this way - its near to where Shaun asked me to marry him (see bench pic with destructive graffiti c/o Shaun snr), and my Ma loves coming to walk here, so it has lots of lovely memories attached to it. I know now, from looking at this pic, that I increased the saturation far too much - I have reduced it prior to uploading it today though. I had a dodgy monitor at the time, and it literally took me hours to get it to this point - it was far too underexposed in the foreground so had to mess around lightening it and using gradient tools and allsorts. But anyway - we live and learn!

Second is a pic of Shaun I wanted to share - I love this pic and pressed the shutter button without looking through the viewfinder - I really like the angle of this shot, but most importantly - love the expression on Shaun's face, and his little chubby hand holding his Nanny's hat on!

Right guys, I'll skidaddle now, and get done some of what I should have been doing - this bloomin course! TTFN, and hope you've all had a great weekend! Thanks for reading!

Sexy socks...

2007-09-29T15:39:00.000+01:00

Hello guys. I am having one of the most uninspired, unmotivated days that I have had in a long while! I shant scare you with yet more pics of my miserable mush - couldnt face it today! So I shall share with you my favourite pair of really funky and 'with it' socks lol, that is a joke, of course. I think what attracted me to these was the similar combination of colours used in the 80's/early 90's ridiculous socks - you remember the ones where you used to wear one of each colour? I had a few pairs, and thought i was the bees knees in them as a youngster. Just one of my very many fashion faux pas as a child, another was the cycling shorts that I never had off (I did change them daily, just had many pairs lol). They did a text in on radio one for the worst outfit you had ever worn - and I texted in about my trusty cycling shorts, that I wore to a wedding!!! Needless to say they read that out on the radio!!

My Ma N Pa tried to get me to wear pretty things, dresses and skirts and such, but as I was a complete and utter tomboy, and as stubborn as a mule, I refused point blank. They did actually manage to get me to wear one once on holiday - I hated it! A flowery skirt and top, just not me at all! So when we got back - I stashed said skirt and top underneath the drawers in my room, never to be found again mwuahahahaha - I soon changed tactics though when I started trying to get into the pubs and clubs a little earlier than I should have been doing lol

Final thought - did anyone watch Jonathan Ross last night? I love that guy - he totally cracks me up. Love love love Jamie Foxx - very charismatic. But what do you think of Beth Ditto? She gets a lot of flack, but I think she is really pretty, and came across really well last night. And I love Peter Bjorn and John - that Young Folks song with the whistling - just fab! (Michael Ball ain't my cup of tea though, sorry!)

K guys, TTFN, have a great day, and, if anyone has seen my Mojo, can you tell it to get its a** home please?

Thanks for reading!

My favourite bit about halloween!

2007-09-28T11:55:00.000+01:00

My go at the prompt today - our cushion! Shaun loves these, he can sit and play with the fur on them for a good while, usually while he is watching 'In the night garden' before boboz. He finds his favourite spot on the couch and puts a cushion over his legs, and laughs and sings along to his favourite programme!

My favourite bit about halloween now, just like my favourite bit about Christmas, is Shaun Jr!! I hadnt really enjoyed Christmas proper for a long time, until he came along. Not that I didnt enjoy it at all, it's just that Christmas is hard work when your parents aren't together!! It's a time when you should all be together but usually, you end up having to spend one part of the day at one house and another part at another house, and it's horrible having to leave!! And of course we've got Shaun's (snr) parents too. But hopefully we'll get to spend some of this Christmas with us all together.

And halloween will be great too, to see his little face!! I love being a Mummy - a member of the best club in the world, in my humble opinion!! The grandparents - ma let me know when you read this lol - you've got to come to Shaun's halloween party dressed up!! Me and Shaun are, so its only fair that you and Grandpa do too lol

The first of these projects I made there, using the October Personal Shopper Kit was the LO of Shaun in his halloween outfit I got for him yesterday at Asda - he couldn't wait to get it on!! There he is, all kitted out (well kinda if you dont count his cute gingham jammies from Nanny lol), complete with Sparkling Ghost. And of course, he had to have the obligatory nibble at it, just to check it was 'OK'.

Second is this mini index book, made using stuff again from the kit. Am I right calling it an index book? With the little tabs on the sides of the pages? At school we had this English teacher - Mrs Smethurst. She has to be one of the most encouraging and inspiring teachers I have ever known, and I really hope my Shaun is lucky enough to meet at least one like her. But she had a real passion for poetry and I'll never forget her reciting John Keats' Ode to Autumn. She actually managed to get a bunch of 14 year olds interested in the stuff, and whatever else she taught. So when I made this 'Fall' book, I thought Id pop that poem in along with some of my pics from Fall this year, and other little bits and bats.

I cut Shaun Jr's hair last night. Hmmmm. Curly hair is not the easiest to cut AT ALL! Mum, I now understand the sheer hell you must have had whilst trying to cut mine and Mel's hair - we both had afro hair as kids and I tell you - it was a nightmare. I'll have to put a pic up of us for you to have a giggle at! Dont be fooled by that picture - we used to fight like.... I'll have to say cat and dog for now, cant think of anything more vicious off hand!

Trouble with our hair was, you could start cutting it, then comb it out and have to start all over again! Poor ma - I didnt have it that bad last night lol. Right guys, I'll skidaddle - I've waffled on long enough already and I'm sure you've heard enough - if you made it this far!!

Thanks for reading, and have a grand old day!!

HS:MS - Stamp

2007-09-27T13:33:00.000+01:00

Did I ever tell you that I love the stamp man? Well I do. I'm starting a new CJ towards the end of next month, hosted by 3D Jean of UKS and 3D Jean altered art supplies and have been on the lookout for the right stamp to use in her altered stamp CJ. I received my little consignment today, and I have to say the stamps are FABULOUS! So today's word is perfect for me - lots of stamps and stamping going on in my space today. Not to mention the stamps of my perpetual tantrum throwing gorgeous son, Shaun AKA Shamus.

We went to Asda this morning, and I bought him a halloween outfit!! I was so impressed with all the stuff they have in - its really inspired us for our party. Dont know what Ill be going as yet, probably a witch or something (less dressing up/makeup to apply etc lol). They have some skull goblets and candy bowls with hands that grab the kids as they go for a sweet lol lol how sick are we, really? There was this skeleton in a coffin, and when you press a button, it pops up, screaming and wailing quite convincingly I thought! Shaun wasn't really impressed, he tried to put on a brave face but then started making his 'rescue me mum, quick' noise, so we had to leave it. If we keep going back, maybe we'll desensitise him to it, either that or scar him for life! I love Asda now it's starting to become more like the Walmarts in America - there's nothing you cant get (is that a double negative? Sounds rubbish!!) from those shops!!

Final bit of news guys then I'll beggar off and stop boring you to tears!! Last night, my Dad came round - I have been comissioned with the task of taking some photos to send to my newly acquired grandad and family (see this post here and this one here for further info). It was a bit tricky really because it was late and it was dark, so I took some anyway and we're going to get together at weekend, in the day, and take some more to send to him. One of my Dad's 'new' brothers goes to live in Costa Rica at the beginning of October, so, he wants to get them to him before he goes. Costa Rica - mmmmmmm that'd be nice!! But here is one for you to have a peep at. So that's me, Shaun and Shaun Jr, My Dad and his partner, and my two brothers and sister.

K guys, I'll go now - have a great day, and thanks for reading. PS - its freeeeeeezing (well not actually freezing but you know what I mean) here!! Brrrrrr....

HS:MS - Jug

2007-09-26T09:15:00.000+01:00

One jug, inherited from MIL when we first moved in here...love those flowers on it!!

Is it me, or is jug one of those words that, the longer you look at it, the less it looks 'right'? I seem to remember someone saying that about sponge last night too!

This is going to be a quick one from me today folks - got to go into Lancaster for a few bits and bats - need to try and get back before the postie, just in case The Stamp Man has been super efficient and sent out my goodies yesterday! Hope you all have a fab day - I'll catch up with your posts later - when the kids are safely tucked up for their afternoon nap! Thanks for reading guys x

PS Thanks for your lovely comments for my little sponge yesterday - his phrase for today is 'hang on a minute!!'. Now I definitely know where he has got that from!!

My spongy parrot...

2007-09-25T19:00:00.001+01:00

The word for today is sponge!! Now I have loads of sponges around, but none as spongy (?) as this one! I call young Shamus my super spongy parrot, because he takes everything in, digests it, and then repeats it!! Therefore, the new swear word in our house is crikey!

Today, when he had spilled his drink on the table, he muttered 'oh god'. I think. Now this isn't something that I say, so where he has got it from I dont know.

He also says - do you wanna brew? And also sings along to the tune of 'in the night garden'. He quite likes The Gossip - on the way back from school today he was trying to sing along to 'standing in the way of control' - and doing pretty well, I think!!

My head is slightly mashed today - it has been one of those days where you dont seem to get anything done, despite being on the go and not stopping. And I have a ton of stuff to get through tonight - social science and society's fascination with crime. It's really interesting stuff (honest) but I am not up for it in the slightest! Might get a bit o scrapping done instead I think, I havent done any for a day - and am now having withdrawal symptoms!!

I have been rather naughty, and ordered myself some stuff from the stamp man. I am blaming this momentary lapse in my currently 'OK' spending habits, on the fact that I have had a cacky day, and therefore needed cheering up. There's nothing like a crafty parcel landing on your doorstep to brighten your day now, is there? But I promise, I wont be buying anything else for a while, scrapzo's honour!

Hope you've had a great day folks, will catch up with you all now, thanks for reading!!

Size does not matter after all, an inch is just fine!!

2007-09-24T12:40:00.001+01:00

This is another LO I did for my book of me (BOM), and was inspired by the weekly challenge over on UKS. But then after I posted my challenge on Blog Til You Drop, and I said that if someone could get a pocket on an inchie I would be well impressed - well this prompted Guv (Beverley Todd of Crop Til You Drop/Blog Til You Drop/ I Love Hot Off The Press) to challenge all DT members to get a pocket on an inchie - there it is, top left hand corner of my picture!! And I have to say - I know its not fabulous but I could quite get into making these inchies!! They're so cute!!

So this LO is about me (obviously - duh, i hear you shout), and basically about where I am at now in my life, what kind of person I am now etc. I think I have to follow it up with a few LO's with pics of me from when I was younger, to give folk a better idea of where I have come from too - my outlook on life has changed a fair old bit, as it does for a lot of people!! And also the dodgy photos that I have of me from when I was younger - the hair, the clothes - I look shocking - and therefore they just have to be scrapped!!

HS:MS - Dog

2007-09-24T08:35:00.000+01:00

This doggie - Ben, is my Mum's dog. There are no pet pooches in our house unfortunately (yet anyway, but thats another story...). These photos were taken in Silloth earlier this year. We had gone up to visit my ma when she was on holiday and we went down to the beach at Maryport; thought we'd have a game of baseball!! Check out my wicked baseball attire lol (Shaun snr said to me on the beach - 'loving your beach coat Charl'. Yeah, cheers mate).

But Ben (doggie) had other ideas!! He grabbed hold of the bat and would not let go!! This was probably the most exercise I had had in years, since before my Shaun was born!! I was a bit of a fitness freak in those days. And now, I think looking after the Shauns is exercise enough! So I called on the help of my younger bro, Jack, and still the dog would not let up. So final picture - dog, triumphant, running back to us, or rather round us, waving the bat in a 'come and have a go if you think you're hard enough' fashion.

Another pic below of us all together on the beach, courtesy of tripod!

And one of my favourite pics from Silloth, my mum and Shaun Jr - they love each other so much - how happy it makes me to see them together!! There were tears when we were leaving!! Today, I am off to find a halloween costume for young Shamus (shaun jr), we're thinking of having a little halloween party for him! And also, I absolutely must get some pics of him for these cute halloween papers from Crop Til You Drop, in the October 07 Personal Shopper Kit!! They are cool and I have created a layout already, its just sitting there, waiting for his pic!!

So I will say good day to yall folks, better go as Shaun is wrecking the place!!

Have a fab day and thanks for reading!

HS:MS - Show Off Sunday!

2007-09-23T12:02:00.000+01:00

Well first, I really should tell you that I should be ashamed of myself. Last night, I had a fight. Well I had three actually!! And I make no bones about it, I enjoyed it. I fought three men, and they were huge!! My Shaun (snr) was by my side cheering me on too, but he never stepped in to help me, I was doing fine by myself. Yes, you've guessed it, not IRL, but on EA Sports - Fight Night 3 on the Xbox 360!! You see, as I have now persuaded Shaun to have the occasional scrapping night with me, he has quite rightly said that I should get in there and do some of his 'man stuff' e.g. Xbox, fishing etc etc etc. Fair's fair!!This first pic above - I love to bits!! It was taken whilst we had gone to visit Shaun's grandad at the presidents day for the bowlers in Inskip. I think he looks so mischievous!
This pic above was taken during one of our experimental trips out with my (then) new DSLR - I was so impressed with the photos it was capable of - and this was taken on the portrait mode I must confess, cant take credit for the settings on this one Im afraid.

And this, another one from our Wales collection - I took loads, as I always do! I'm probably one of those extremely irritating folk, you know the ones who are always saying 'picture!!'. The thing is, I love life, and I love my family so much, whenever we're together or doing anything special - I dont want to miss a thing! I dont let my taking pics get in the way of my enjoyment of the actual experience as it unfolds or anything, Im not yet that bad!! But its all stuff to look back on when Im old and wrinklier (note the wrinklier, and not wrinkled lol). And thats where my love of scrapbooking comes in. Pictures are great, but when Im no longer here - who's going to tell all the little extra bits about the day? And that's why, when journalling, I usually tend to bare all on my LO's. In my recent challenge post on Blog Til You Drop, I call it a severe case of verbal emotional diarrhoea!! But thats me, Im quite an emotional person as it goes.

Anyway, I love the picture above, because I think, if Shaun didnt have that big ol plastic beaker there, to me it looks like he could have been found there, just living on the beach like some little castaway - my mum said the same thing!! Leaf has been strategically placed obviously to protect the innocent, and to protect me also, as I am already going to get enough grief from the boy when he is older. Shaun snr says that when Shaun jnr brings a girl to meet us for the first time, she'll have to move in for a few weeks so we can show her all the pics and crafty stuff with him in!

Right guys, enough waffle, I shall depart, and catch up with you and what you're up to now! Have a great day!

PS - Weather - grim.

It's A Boy!!! And another dodgy pic...

2007-09-22T18:46:00.000+01:00

Good evening all!! I'm a bit later than usual, I have been uploading my challenge over on the Blog Til You Drop Site, I'd love it if you stopped by and had a go!! There's a sneak peek over there on the left. There have been some brill challenges on there, well worth a peep. And all challenge entries from challenge #6 to #10 are entered into the mothly DT challenge competition!

Now, first things first, my self portrait for today. I used the chalk and charcoal filter in photoshop today, because, as my hormones are running riot, I am spotty as hell. Think pizza only with as many toppings as possible (yuk that makes me feel quite sick lol). And the photo is now a little more forgiving (only a little, mind lol) - I couldnt bear to subject you poor people to another week of dreadfully shocking S.P.S (not that they will vary much from week to week unfortunatley for you poor lot lol)!! The hangover one was bad enough last week - a few people said to me - cor you're brave aren't you, putting that up?? lol.

And secondly - I just want to get one thing straight, for anyone who isnt sure - my Shaun is a boy!! I know, I know, he has long hair - but I cant bear to cut it - its so cute and I love his little curls. He'll probably kick my butt when he's older - Mother, how could you, you weirdo, you have ruined my street cred etc etc? The amount of people who say - 'isnt she gorgeous??' lol lol - I dont dress him like a girl!! I guess it's different for me - to me he is a proper lad - as boisterous as they come, real rough and ready. He looks like a boy in the face, to me!! I would love to know what you think!! That's a pic there of him with his grandad (Shaun's Dad) when we went for a meal for his Nanna and Grandad's 30th Wedding Anniversary. Looking incredibly boyish to me lol

K guys, thats it for now, have a fab rest of the day and thanks for reading!!

Oh sugar - I nearly forgot, I cant leave without having my daily weather whinge!! I know how you all love it...lol - only joking ;o) but it has been much better today, round our neck of the woods. I swear Im solar powered, feel so much better when there's a spot of sunshine about!!

TTFN Guys

HS:MS - Stare

2007-09-21T09:05:00.000+01:00

This photo is of my Shaun. We had gone for a potter in our village, me armed with my new DSLR, pointing and clicking at pretty much anything, testing it out!! At this point I was still taking my photos on either auto or programme/shutter/aperture priority modes, and I was so impressed with these!! I was really impressed with the portrait mode on my SLR. But of course we were aiming to get similar effects without 'cheating'! So I started to experiment and use what I had learned in my course, and managed to take some good pics.

Now I know I have cheated, not taking a photo today, but I may be back later with another shot!!

It's my turn to set the challenge on Blog Til You Drop tomorrow - it goes live at 6pm, so come on over and have a peep if you get chance!!

Now we're off to toddle time this morning. It's our first time going to this one so we'll have to wait and see how it goes! I'm sure Shaun will love it either way, and that's all that matters really, isn't it?

So I shall hopefully be back later!! Thanks for reading guys, and have a good ol day. It's raining cats and dogs here!!

HS:MS - Break (the bank)!!

2007-09-20T12:44:00.000+01:00

Now how dedicated is this, Ive even broken a pencil especially!! Dedicated, or sad??? Lol

I have had a wee play about with photoshop and tried to make a really boring picture look slightly more interesting!! Comments please on if it's worked - I myself, am not convinced. It's a big improvement though!!

I am ending up with one cold neck, as the scarf is not progressing on as quick as I'd like!! Had to go to a meeting last night, and it was all women. Is this a recipe for disaster when you're trying to follow an agenda or what!?!? You could start off talking about rocket science and still end up talking about 'that Margaret around the corner who does this' or that 'Sharon around the corner who does that'!!

Not that Im not partial to a good old chin wag and gossip - but Id had no tea, and 'Torn' was on on ITV!! Anybody watch it? I thought it was fantastic. When she was following her daughter I just thought 'what are you doing, woman??!!' But I know that if I was in her shoes, I would have done exactly the same I think. What an awful situation to be in!! And I totally agree with what she said - if you were to lose a child at a young age, and you saw them years later, as a mother I think you'd know it was them!!

So still no finished scarf!!

I thought I'd upload a pic of me and my mate Elaine, from our recent holiday in Wales. I met Elaine whilst doing a CJ through UKS. Elaine posted on our CJ thread and we discovered we were going to the same place at the same time!! So it was great to get the chance to meet up. I think we're equally as mad about crafting!! Below is Shaun playing with Daniel and Emily, Elaine's two lovely children.

And I just sent off her CJ the other day - that's the end of it now!! All done and dusted - I received mine back and its lovely! My theme was 'If I knew then what I know now'. Some really fab stuff in there; loads of common ground!! It's really great to see everyone's interpretation of the theme.

Thats it there below, my cover and my entry in it. The heart front lifts up, as do the little paper flaps that say my shoulda could wouldas.

I have just joined another CJ group - Another Stamp CJ by 3D Jean. Really looking forward to this one - I remember thinking last time it was running - I'd love to be in that CJ group!! Well now I am! The art produced in the last one is pretty amazing!! So I will have to really up my game and hopefully produce some cool stuff.

And of course I have had to order some new stamps. I had a few lined up, I had it all planned out, and then Jean says - 'I have some unmounted stamps in my shop'. Bye bye money, maybe see you again sometime!!

Also we went into Lancaster today, and checked that the shoes that Shaun Jr was fitted with 2 months ago, still fit him properly, as recommended by Clarks shoes. They didnt!! So more money spent there - but well worth it - they are great shoes and he seems to love them (usually - today he was kicking off and threw one on the floor, saying 'Mum! Dropped it!!'. Luckily I spotted this and confiscated said shoe. If we had lost it I think I would have cried, having just bought them and all!! So that explains the break the bank title!! In case you were wondering ...

K guys thanks for reading (if you made it this far without nodding off lol, and have a great day!!

HS:MS - Quirky - the story of my life!

2007-09-19T10:32:00.001+01:00

This pic is of a t-shirt I bought when I was pregnant. I didn't actually know at the time that there are chickens on it!! I just thought it was a really interesting pattern at first glance!! So this is my interpretation of today's prompt, as I think it looks a little peculiar, and the chickens were unexpected lol

I am now furiously crocheting as if my life depended on it, as I dont like this cold much at all!! I tried to do a bit earlier whilst downstairs with the kids, but Shaun grabbed the scarf, and pout his fingers through one of the holes, and made it big!! Shant be doing that again!! I was being a bit optimistic I think when I said it wouldnt take me that long, I want it quite long ao it might take me a little more than a few days!! was worried I had forgotten the stitch when I got to it this morning, but that's the beauty of crochet - it's so easy.

I got a brilliant book - 'Stitch and bitch crochet - the happy hooker', by Debbie Stoller and it is fantastic! I found that the trouble with instructions on crocheting was the stitches varied depending on whether you're looking at English or American literature on it! The stitches have the same names but they're different, e.g. double crochet over here is single crochet over there and so on. But Debbie Stoller's book straightens it all out, and really makes you feel as though you're capable of creating something pretty fabulous! And the designs in her book are brill too. Wow, all that waffle on crocheting. I'll shut up now.

Thanks for stopping by - hope its warm and dry where you are!! Have a good day guys!

Crikey - it's cold!!

2007-09-18T09:24:00.001+01:00

K, first things first, HS:MS photo prompt for today is 'hang'. This is a charm bracelet I made a bit back, and I thought it would be perfect as there's loads of little bits hanging off it! I know it's a bit busy - but that's how I like my stuff - my cards and layouts usually have loads going on too - perhaps a bit too much sometimes!!

On our way out in the car this morning - it was soooooo cold! I have a jumper and a cardigan on still! I'm a bit of a softie though when it comes to cold - hate it! I started crocheting a scarf a while back, and put it to one side because the weather was quite fine - guess what I'm digging out tonight??!! Should have it finished in a day or two - it's a mesh scarf - I magicked the pattern up myself but it wasn't hard!! Just worked a mesh stitch in the desired width and length, but I was really pleased I had made it myself, without a pattern!! As soon as its done Ill post it here for you to have a peep of!

Have a great day folks, and hope your day isn't as cold as mine!!

HS:MS - Us

2007-09-17T08:04:00.000+01:00

This is my photo for the day - and no, of course I wasn't out on the boating lake first thing (i wish)!! This was from our weekend in Wales. We didnt stay like this for long though, as my OH got into a spot of bother down a narrow bit of the lake, and we had to swap - due to my fabulous rowing skills (ha, that is a joke about the skills lol but we did swap, we have discovered rowing is not his one of his strong points). Rowing us along was great - I only wish that we had a lake in the garden, as it kept our Shaun quiet and occupied for a good 40 minutes!! Dont think he was quite sure about it.

The LO on the right is my go at Alix's 'make it move!' challenge over on Blog til you drop, and entry for the house challenge over on UKS - on UKS the theme is summertime. It went a bit wrong however, I was trying to make some beach glass - which went reasonably well, until it came time to put some glitter in between the glass, which went terrible. In fact, looking at it now, I just cant leave it like that so Im getting it out of the album and putting it right if possible! Again, the photos in the LO are from our recent trip to Wales.

Thats it for now folks I think, I have a couple of projects on the go ready for Saturday - its my turn to set the challenge over on Blog Til You Drop, looking forward to it and hope you'll stop by for a peep! And if and when I put that hideous mess right, I'll update the pic on the right!!

HS:MS - Show Off Sunday!

2007-09-16T10:29:00.000+01:00

Im showing off my gorgeous baba again today! I know some of you might have already seen this pic in my post earlier in the week, for the prompt 'curious', but had to pop it up again. We just had this put on to canvas for Shaun's Mum and Dad for their 30th wedding anniversary and they love it to bits! It was taken on the beach in Wales, during our recent break there. I love it because when I look at it, it reminds me of how happy he was on that beach, and so innocent, running round with nothing on, totally uninhibited as kids should be! I can almost hear his little giggles and shrieks of excitement as he was going into the water. I love the way the sunlight highlights his hair.

I've seen a little bit of the world, lots in this country and a few in others, been to some scorching hot and beautiful like the Dominican, some fun and adventurous like Florida, but I have never had such a perfect day as I did the day this picture was taken. To see our son so happy and content like that, made it the best holiday ever for us.

And this one above was one I took in our garden - I put this in my panel for my Open Uni end of course assessment. I love Shaun's expression in this one, his big chocolatey brown eyes and again I love the light on his hair! I know he's dribbling a bit in it but I think he looks really cute!

Recovered at last!!

2007-09-15T17:43:00.000+01:00

Crikey, what a day. It took me ages to recover from my self inflicted hangover! I was quite sick. Serves you right I hear you cry!! And I agree. And I am never drinking again....lol

A few pics of us when we took Shaun to feed the ducks today - he was throwing another of his familiar wobblies. Hence the pained expression on my face as I had had to go and capture him, after he tried to make his escape. Not good when you feel like sh**! But hey ho... Not done much today, visited the rents, then an 'oh what fun!!' trip to Asda!! Im making a curry for us tonight, and I could eat a scabby donkey, as we say up North, so I cant wait!!

As promised - the card and LO I made using the HOTP personal shopper kit for October from Crop Til You Drop. I made both of these using the fall collection of papers. This kit comes with some really cool embellishments too - I really love the Mondays Metal self-adhesive squares, and there are self-adhesive baubles from Heidi Swapp in there too - you get plenty!!

HS:MS - Hungover....

2007-09-15T11:18:00.001+01:00

Sincerest apologies guys for an absolutely shocking photograph.

I am Charlene, and I am hungover. We went out last night for a few drinks in Garstang, and I am feeling very rough. So this is me, warts and all, no makeup apart from the mascara from last night - how terrible, didn't even take it off!! No hair done, nothing! Have the ol peepers closed because I couldn't quite cope with the light from the flash, and did not have the motivation to take this photo on Manual setting! Speak later maybe guys, shall upload a couple of projects I have done with the Hot Off the Press Personal Shopper kit from October, I'll pop a link in to it later.

HS:MS - Tweezers

2007-09-14T08:16:00.000+01:00

A quick upload of my photo for todays HS:MS prompt - my favourite pair of tweezers - the pair that try and tame my unruly eyebrows lol. Have loads for crafting but these are my most intersting pair; love the colour of them!

Have a wee trip over to Blog Til You Drop today guys, Im uploading my latest project for the October personal shopper kit over on the Crop Til You Drop webshop!! I'll be uploading a card and a LO using the gorgeous stuff from the kit!

Is it a bird??? Is it a plane??? No, my tyre is flat.

2007-09-13T13:00:00.000+01:00

What an eejit. This morning, on my way out in the car, I noticed a loud sound and I thought - what on earth is that?? I looked around for low flying aircraft and there didn't appear to be any nearby - I presumed it must have been out of sight! So a little later, some bloke stops me and says 'Oright love, do you know your back tyre is flat as a pancake?'. Hmmmm....No I didn't! So that's what the noise was then. If brains were made of elastic, I wouldn't have enough for a budgies garter, as my ma would say lol

A lovely man from LBT motors in Garstang came over and changed it for me, he must have seen my puzzled look whilst trying to get the space saver tyre out from underneath the boot thingy. My OH has made me lazy - I used to change my own car tyres and do all that caper, but since he came along I don't do any of it!! 'That's how it should be', he says, dragging his club and freshly caught wild boar behind him.

Just had to share that with you guys, so if, like me, you're a little clueless when it comes to cars, and you hear low flying aircraft - check your tyre isn't flat!!

Our weekend in Wales

2007-09-13T08:16:00.000+01:00

Howdi guys, these are a few of the photos taken from our weekend in Wales. The first one is of my son on the beach I thought it was perfect for today's HS:MS prompt!! He absolutely loved it on the beach, he was in and out of the water, and rolling about in the sand.

We had a ride on the Snowdon mountain railway, which was hilarious - it was an overcast day so we could see little on the way up, and hardly anything on the way back down! We were actually in the clouds on top of the mountain - when we got back on the train, our hair was covered with little water droplets! And it was pretty cold up there too!! But it was fun, and I'm really glad we went.

I can't believe just how many gorgeous beaches there are! And they weren't busy, lovely sand - just perfect!

We visited the lovely Port Merrion, gorgeous little place, there was a wedding going on at the hotel there, wouldn't mind that - overlooking the beach and mountains, just beautiful.

Anyway, enough of my rambling on, I could babble for ages about all the beautiful places we saw there!

HS:MS - Kiss

2007-09-12T22:39:00.001+01:00

A late night entry from the bad blogger (it's been a while) - a kiss from his Daddy who had just come home from work!! I'll be back with more photos and a few tales from Wales tomorrow!!

A couple of crafty projects

2007-09-05T22:02:00.000+01:00

This is the LO I did for Looby's challenge over on the blog til you drop website, there has been some more lovely stuff posted yesterday by KTP, and today by Alix, get yourself over and have a nosy!!

For this challenge I used only cardstock, a journalling stamp, and a teeny tiny bit of ink - didnt want anything to detract from my little man's pic!! This picture was taken in Silloth in August - we went up to see my ma there whilst she was on her hols, it was great - we had a fab time. The pic is of Shaun on a climbing frame, wreaking havoc!!

This second LO is my attempt at the UKS weekly challenge, and Ruth's challenge for last Saturday on the Blog til you drop website . It is of my Dad, and uncle Cecil, who died a couple of weeks ago. My dad is on the left, and my uncle Cecil on the right. Now for those of you who read the bit on my blog where I said I wanted to do a fun and bright LO to remember him how he was - I am going to - honest!! It's just, when I read the challenge over on UKS, one of the elements was to use a book title on your LO. I immediately thought of this book - 'after you'd gone' by Maggie O Farrell. It's an absolutely brilliant book, I read it in about a day - I couldn't put it down. But the title really made me think of how sometimes, we don't realise what we have until it isn't there anymore. Me and uncle Cec weren't really close, but it wasn't until I went to see him when he was so ill, and after he'd gone, that I actually realised all the time we had shared together, the laughs we had, and all the memories I had of him. I was worried that the last memories that I had of him would be him ill, looking nothing like the fit and healthy guy he once was. He was a marine in his younger years!! But thankfully loads of great and happy memories came. So guys, I apologise for fibbing a bit - there is a bright and happy LO of Uncle Cec in the post (pardon the pun)!! Had to do this LO - had to get these thoughts down on paper.

My blog will be neglected over the next few days - we're off to Wales - wahoo! Should have some lovely pics to show you on our return - always wanted to go to Wales, it looks so beautiful.

HS:MS - Hold

2007-09-05T16:04:00.000+01:00

A quick upload of today's HS:MS prompt - and I'll fill in the rest of the blanks later - including a crafty upload or two!! I'll upload a layout I did for Looby's sketch challenge on the blog til you drop website, and another Im doing for Ruth's challenge on the same site!

Brings back memories....

2007-09-04T18:02:00.000+01:00

I have to share with you these pics of my gorgeous little brother, Jack!! Or rather, not so little anymore lol

I thought I'd end up stumped for today's HS:MS photo prompt, 'thoughtful', but I went up to my Ma's today and took my camera to get some pictures of my little bro's first day at Secondary School. He's a natural in front of the camera - so relaxed!! And he looks great!! So I thought I'll grab my chance and get him to pose for one for me!!

I'm so chuffed with the photos I got of him today - we took some fun ones but I got some cracking shots of him - he looked so smart and grown up! He really enjoyed his first day there and said the food was excellent!!

Brings back memories of my time at school, which was not so excellent initially. A bit of bullying and nastiness from other kids about one thing or another - kids are sometimes the cruellest of the species aren't they? I still dont think that enough is done in schools to combat bullying - but what can teachers do? Their hands are tied I guess - it's getting harder and harder for teachers to discipline children. At school, one girl a few years below me committed suicide, after suffering at the hands of these bullies for a number of years - it was a wake up call for many of us at the time, but there was no lasting change, and I can't see a time when there will be....

On a brighter note lol...my brother is at a different school to the one I went to - teachers communicate much better with the parents there, and his first day was 'amazing' - you dont get many kids saying that on their first day now, do you? There's hope and light at the end of the tunnel after all.

HS:MS - Fall

2007-09-03T16:03:00.000+01:00

Hello there ladies and germs. Yes. I hold my hand up - I have cheated again. I didn't take these today, I took them a few months back at Ingleton Falls. I couldn't get anything else today!! I'll keep my eyes open for the rest of the day though lol

So the first pic has two falls in it - the waterfall, and that crazy young man jumping into the river that runs by it. You wouldn't catch me doing that, that is for sure!! And the second is at Ashton Memorial Park in Lancaster. Thanks for having a peep!!

Where do I start?!?!?

2007-09-03T08:23:00.000+01:00

I'll start by getting some of these projects up - this is all stuff I made for my Ma's 50th birthday. After seeing an idea in the Foof a La Autumn Leaves idea book, I bought a box frame and made this 'family tree' - thought it was a cool idea and different!

I also made a gatefold mini book - saw the idea in Scrapbook Inspirations ages ago, and thought it was perfect for Mum. Ive made her loads of stuff so I wanted something a little different. I trecked round the rellies getting photos of them with my ma from way back, and put them altogether in this book. The cool thing about this book is that you can have three pages on show at any one time, and if you're like me and you love busy projects with loads going on - it's perfect!!

Next stop - grandfather saga. Spoke with my Dad on the phone the other night; he has discovered that he has 3 sisters and 2 brothers!! His Dad sounds fit and well; they had a really good chat on the phone and they are arranging to meet real soon! I can't tell you how happy I am for my Dad - he hasnt seen his Dad since 1960, when he first came to this country, so it will be a real emotional meet up I bet. I just cant wait to see what he looks like! So now I'm sorting some photos of us out to send him - my Shaun is his first great grandchild! Wow. So it looks like there might be a happy ending there after all. Phew!

Mum's birthday Do was a huge success. And we managed to keep

it quiet, which was hard work!! We had a super stretch Limo come to pick Ma up- we told her the taxi couldn't make it and when she stepped out the front door and saw it she couldn't believe her eyes!! We went for a lovely meal at The Pines restaurant in Chorley. Everything was perfect! The food was absolutely fantastic, it's one of those '4 forks and knives beside the plate' places!! I dont know if I get it right or not, but the food ends up in my gob so I must be doing something right lol

There's a picture of me, my sister, my Ma and little brother there
too. What a fantastic night! In the limo on the way back home, there was a karaoke! My sis cracked me up - she was singing 'come back', but it was't the same song we were thinking of - but she had us all in stitches!! She's the life and soul of any party, my sis - she's so funny!

I have to show you another pic that really made me smile too. On the way out of the restaurant, we noticed a sign that said -

Charlene Lee - 50th birthday - sneak peek into the future maybe?!?!

So the final important thing I have to share with you guys is that I have just uploaded some of the stuff I have made with my DT kit. It's on the Blog Til You Drop Website, with some links of how to get hold of the fab kit it's made with. I've got something interesting lined up for my challenge week which is on the 22nd September, and there's new stuff posted every day on Blog Til You Drop, each from a different designer! Our challenges are on a Saturday and go live at 6pm - Ruth's challenge is a cracker and I'm going to use it to scrap a photo of my uncle, who recently passed away. I want a fun and bright page; one that makes me remember him just how he was - a great guy.

Right, ramble over, I shall speak to you soon guys - hopefully with a HS:MS photo very soon!!

HS:MS - Show Off Sunday!

2007-09-02T20:00:00.001+01:00

This is a photo that I was really chuffed with!! I used to look at photos like this and think - aaah i wish I could take photos like that!! Im not saying it's technically spot on or even near to spot on by a long shot!! But its one that I look at and think - it looks just how I see it when I'm sat watching it in the flesh, as it were lol

I love sunsetty type photos, I think the majority are peaceful and tranquil.

Now, off to finish off the project Im doing for the Blog Til You Drop Blog, which will be posted tomorrow - feel free to take a trip on over there, there's some cool stuff going on!! And a fab challenge posted last night by Ruth! Will update with the photos from last nights 'do', and also fill you in about the grandfather saga, just as soon as I get a spare minute or two!!

HS:MS Self Portrait Saturday

2007-09-01T10:52:00.000+01:00

Soemone made me very angry.................
Only joking - just wanted to make a boring photo a little more intersting lol, wont be around much today - mums birthday do tonight - so will have loads of pics to upload tomorrow!! See ya then X

PS dont i look scary!! I know i do usually, before you say it X

HS:MS CHEW

2007-08-31T09:47:00.000+01:00

How lucky was that? Saw this little fella sat on the bird box in the garden, just crying out to be snapped!!! Thank goodness for the zoom lens Shaun bought for me - or Id have had no chance of getting near him lol, wants to eat his breakfast in peace, doesn't he?

Busy day today - off sorting stuff for Mum's birthday 'event' tomorrow - lol, its all top secret, ssssssshhhhhhh.....

One of those days....

2007-08-30T17:53:00.000+01:00

Evening all...

Today was my uncle's funeral. Really sad day, but had lots of fond memories of him, and spent some time with family who I hadn't seen in ages - it was really good to get together with them all again. We said we have to start getting together for nothing, and not just when its a wedding/funeral/other churchy type event!! I really hope it happens, which kinda means I have to make it happen!! And then I found some other interesting information - I might be getting the chance to make contact with a grandfather I have never met!! But I'll have to keep you posted on that one, I have very little information about it as yet. Keep your fingers crossed for us xxxxx

My go at the HS:MS prompt was a quickie today - and its of one of those lurrvely and incredibly fashionable trifle-esque dishes - doesn't everyone have one of these stashed in some cupboard, somewhere?? Thought it might catch the light well, and then, my sons Scooby Do table in the back garden was crying out to be used for that gorgeous limey green colour - and this is the result lol.

Big White Fluffy Clouds.....

2007-08-29T13:17:00.001+01:00

HS:MS photo prompt for today is 'cloud'! Took a few but this is my favourite. Only altering I did was to bring out the foreground a little, as it was a bit underexposed - wanted to get all the detail in the clouds so exposed for them!!

Well, it wasnt my turn this month - JimJams is through to the final vote for the UKS House Challenge with her brilliant LO - bicycle country - well done Jemma!! Almost finished my Ma's 50th birthday stuff, will post ASAP, made a really cool pressie, inspired by the Foof A La ideas and inspiration brochure I won in the July House challenge - really chuffed with it - hope Ma likes it! Will probably be back later....

Oooh.... what a cheater!!

2007-08-28T21:42:00.000+01:00

Hello!! I am a late blogger....must try harder lol

Right. First things first. No apples. So, after my mate Mrs B's suggestion yesterday, of using a play on words, well, here I am doing it today. My apple - the apple of my eye of course!! No apples in this house today - only plums.

And finally, I must include something that my OH made for me - he calls it a star book! It is lovely, and we'd love your comments on it - I think he wants a bit of crafting exposure myself, and if Im honest - Im quaking in my DT boots!! This is all his own idea, and the journalling is very sweet. So here it is!

HS:MS - Sun

2007-08-27T20:28:00.001+01:00

I refused to be beat -lol. When I saw this morning's photo prompt I thought - uh oh - I may well be stuck here - not a scrap of sun in sight!! Chatting with Mrs B in the Charli's Angels UKS team thread - she suggested using a play on words and considering 'son', which was very nearly my photo. Then I saw the sun, escaping once again - even though it hasn't been out all day it was nice to see before boboz!! Better late than never - or at least that was what I used to say when I arrived at school and work every morning lol

Anyone for a challenge??

2007-08-27T10:17:00.000+01:00

Hello again! Any of you guys up for a challenge??

It is the turn of Charli's Angels scrapping team (UKS) to set the challenge for this week. The challenge is as follows:

As we are Charli's Angels we would like you to:

- use an angelic/demonic link/theme i.e. children/pets/us being little devils etc - 5 points

- use white paint somewhere on LO, to signify our purity and innocence - 5 points

- silver or gold, to signify our shiny and polished halos - 5 points

- feathers, to signify our wings - 5 points

Also, as it is the anniversary of Brian Epstein's (Beatles manager) death today, we would like you to:

- use a Beatles song - 10 points

The above pic is my attempt at it, and features all the members of Charli's Angels Team. Thought the song was perfect for their pic - they are a really supportive bunch and we all help each other through whatever life happens to throw at us (which lately has been a fair old bit!!).

If you're up for the challenge, have a go and leave a link to your work on this blog, or hop on over to UKS here. A few other Angels have had a go so you can see what they have come up with over there, and upload your stuff or leave a link - would love to see what you come up with!!

So far so good - on UKS i entered the August challenge and i think i might be through to the next round with JimJams - thats if they close the poll quick - aaargh!!! Wish me luck!! I won July's House Challenge with this LO here, so I didnt even dare think Id get this close to getting through to the second round again! I thought you guys would all be sick of the site of my village lol, which was the theme of my entry for this month - it's the ribbon n roll mini book I made - I have posted it in my blog somewhere!

So if you're reading this and you voted for me - thank you so much!

Thanks for reading if you didnt vote for me too though lol

Scary, scary, very very scary - she's very scary!!!

2007-08-26T16:05:00.000+01:00

What's all that about then? Well, Mary B over on UKS has just dared me to do a LO of reject photos of myself - I explained that I wouldnt have enough space on a quadruple LO for those lol, but I think it's a fab idea, and a great challenge - so I'll have to have a go!! Anyone else fancy scrapping some reject photos? Should be good for a laugh! Mary B's blog entry on the challenge is here, well worth a read, and Mary has some fab pics on there too!

You ain't seen me, right????

2007-08-26T08:43:00.000+01:00

What was all that about then, the secret scrapping male? It was Shaun - my OH. He came into my secret scrapping sanctuary last night to make me something - I'll post it here when he's finished! But he says to me - don't go telling folk that I've been up here doing this crafting - *cue evil laughter* - if only he knew!!

This is him here, for all to see!! Do you know, he's really good, and he comes up with some really good and original ideas - he's well excited about me getting this DT position; I think I'll be seeing a lot more of him in my craft space!

So, for the HS:MS prompt today we have to post a pic we're pleased with, or glad we captured. It's a bit hard to pick the right pic!! So I thought i might put on a couple that I put into my panel for my Open Uni photo assignment.

The first is called Nosy Cow, and the second one is of my son - you'll be seeing a lot more of him! He's usually the star of the show in everything I do, be that scrapping or photography.

The first image of the cow - I guess I was pleased with it because I didnt usually take pictures of this sort of stuff - usually all of my son! And I've never really been a fan of cows!! But when I saw it on my computer - I dont know what it is but I really liked something about it! It reminds me of that advert - ' tastes so good - the cows want it back', or something lol. The only altering I did to it was to crop off some of the right edge slightly, after some constructive feedback from my OU fellow students. Let me know what you think of it!!

Then this one. My gorgeous little baba lol. There isn't one picture of this little monkey I'm not proud of -yes, I know Im biased lol. But he's such a poser - for ages - and he's only 20 months old mind - he has had a special smile, which he reserves for when the camera is out - he closes his eyes tight and shows off all his gorgeous white peggies (is that a northern expression for teeth, or nationwide - hmmmm....I wonder...) !!

So I'd love some comments - let me know what you think of these pics - what do they say to you? I'd be really interested to know - when you take a picture, a lot of the time it has memories and emotions attached to it doesn't it? So the image doesnt necessarily 'speak' to other people in the same way - do you know what I mean? Or am I just talking drivel again lol.

SSSSSSSSSSSSShhhhhhhhhhhhhh..........

2007-08-25T22:40:00.001+01:00

Dont say owt, but I have a man scrapping here with me....

Aaaargh - it's self-portrait Saturday!!

2007-08-25T14:42:00.000+01:00

Hello hello, not bad going, three days blogging on the trot!! Well - I am well and truly stumped for inspiration at the moment - I have a couple of things I have to get sorted for my Ma's 50th birthday next week, and I could do with getting em done ASAP!! Will get one finished tonight I think - cant post it though until nearer the time in case she spies it!!

I have done the HS:MS photo prompt - today it's Self Portrait Saturday - aaargh! Took a few photos, and managed to look incredibly stooopid and cheesy in all - so apologies for the dodgy shot folks - photographing myself is definintely not on my top 100 favourite things to do list!! But it has forced me to work outside my comfort zone, which cant be bad can it???

There it is, yuk! Its going to be interesting to see what tomorrows is!

Entered this month's house challenge on UKS - the theme is Countryside/Harvest. The vote is real close - I was in joint first for a bit, then a small flurry of voters, and Im in second now, but hey ho!! Some fabulous entries, mine was a ribbon n roll book that I made with a kit from Scrapdragon - really enjoyed doing it and the kit was lovely - plenty with it, and a cool idea I hadnt seen or heard of before!!

The above is my ribbon and roll book - hope you like it! Instructions are on UKS and can be found in the summer crop section I think! I was just chatting with Mrs B over on UKS, in our Charli's Angels team thread - and we were talking about dreams. She had a strange dream with me in it, and I had a really weird dream too - there was a big hairy fruit eating mammoth in it. No, I am not on any prescription medication (yet) before you ask.

Have a little...patience....

2007-08-24T08:06:00.000+01:00

Last night, my son, Shaun, came into my craft room, generally ransacking the place as he always does when he gets chance. I had let him run round without his nappy on - unfortunately he had pulled out a load of chipboard words and quotes from a box, spilling loads onto the floor. And yes, of course, he decided to have a pee - ended up peeing on one - yes, only one, chipboard quote! What did this quote say when I turned it over? PATIENCE.

Thought it was hilarious - it might be one of those where you have to be there lol.....

Anyhoo, Im going to be a very busy bee - got all my stuff through from the open uni yesterday for my degree, quite a pile there! Then there's the DT stuff to do now too - cant wait!! And not forgetting my pals on UKS - Im team leader of Charli's Angels and love keeping up with what all the girls are up to - they keep me going, they are all a brilliant, talented and supportive bunch of ladies, and I dont know what I'd do without em!

We've just done our first challenge on UKS - which goes live on Monday the 27th of August - be sure to check it out in the inspiration and challenges forum on UKS - we think it's quite a challenge!! So that's what Im off to do now - email our challenge and the links to the girl's work for it. Maybe be back later...

My very first post, on my very first blog...

2007-08-23T19:12:00.000+01:00

Ello and welcome to my blog!

I will try and keep you updated as much as possible - can't promise I'll be a daily blogger but i'll try my bestest!!

I've been thinking about doing a blog for a while but wasn't sure whether I had enough interesting things to put on it lol, but I found out today that I've got a place on the Blog Til You Drop Design Team!! Tears came to my eyes when I read the email, I was so chuffed, then to read the lovely stuff the guys said about me on their site Blog Til You Drop, well, it really cheered me up. So now I think I might have some interesting stuff to put up here - and show you the cool stuff I get to make with all the fabulous goodies they'll be sending me!

Had some bad news today - my uncle died this morning. He had suffered with the dreaded big C, as my nan used to call it. He'll be missed by many - a great guy our Cec. So this DT news was a welcome buffer, and gave me something positive to think about. Thanks again guys. Now off to find my pals blog sites and get em listed! I may be back....

JOURNAL OF A SCRAPZOPHRENIC

La La La La Laces

Hit and Miss...

Oh Brother...

Some grainy pics....

A quick show off...

The mighty boosh...

The great escape, actually....

Mini Me.....

Collect/hoard/acquire.....

Probably the most annoying scissors in the world...

Not another bloomin scarf...

Forgive Me Bloggers....

Ay eck...

Windows.....

Bleepin blogger.....

I {heart} chalk and charcoal filter...

My inspirations....

UFOs and exploding brains...

Pink to make the boys wink?

It's only another stamp CJ!!

Show Off Sunday

Chickening out again.

I've said it once, and I'll say it again, thank {insert your own word} it's Friday!!

I love green, I do!

The winter blues

Another LO

Naughty Blogger

Yikes....

Errrr....No, cant think of a title for today!

Brain Draining...

Going...going....

Don't you just love it when....

Tis the season to 'fall' in love with - groan

Sunday Showoffery...

They call me 'Cop Out' Charl...

Thank {insert your own word} it's Friday!!

Blimey, Ive only been tagged again!

Stage 2 of Grandfather Saga

A funny old day...

*Stands up* - I'm Charl, and I'm a card-a-holic...

Meet Sherman!

It's Show Off Sunday Again!

Sexy socks...

My favourite bit about halloween!

HS:MS - Stamp

HS:MS - Jug

My spongy parrot...

Size does not matter after all, an inch is just fine!!

HS:MS - Dog

HS:MS - Show Off Sunday!

It's A Boy!!! And another dodgy pic...

HS:MS - Stare

HS:MS - Break (the bank)!!

HS:MS - Quirky - the story of my life!

Crikey - it's cold!!

HS:MS - Us

HS:MS - Show Off Sunday!

Recovered at last!!

HS:MS - Hungover....

HS:MS - Tweezers

Is it a bird??? Is it a plane??? No, my tyre is flat.

Our weekend in Wales

HS:MS - Kiss

A couple of crafty projects

HS:MS - Hold

Brings back memories....

HS:MS - Fall

Where do I start?!?!?

HS:MS - Show Off Sunday!

HS:MS Self Portrait Saturday

HS:MS CHEW

One of those days....

Big White Fluffy Clouds.....

Oooh.... what a cheater!!

HS:MS - Sun

Anyone for a challenge??

Scary, scary, very very scary - she's very scary!!!

You ain't seen me, right????

SSSSSSSSSSSSShhhhhhhhhhhhhh..........

Stands up - I'm Charl, and I'm a card-a-holic...