Oh Brother...

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....

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

x

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

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!

Recovered at last!!

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!!