Mun-kee Update and Christmas Cards

Talked to DS tonight and he said that technically he no longer had the twins (i.e two of the triplets) as one was in Bristol with him and the other was in his room somewhere....I found him and that explains all the noise! He was in amongst the guitars (five at last count) and keyboards... he's now with the rest of the "family" downstairs where I can keep an eye on him!
Somehow I've promised DS a Christmas Mun-kee of his own (along with the tea bags...that's no hardship as OH and I don't drink tea!).

On a more serious (but not very) note ..here are the cards I made this morning at A Maze of Memories. We had great fun painting on acetate,matting and layering...for the first time in ages I actually enjoyed card making ..thanks Christina!

I also did the afternoon class with Pat and Jan but will post the result tomorrow as I have a finishing touch or two to add.
Needless to say I also did some stash buying...I managed to resist the new Basic Grey collections (by repeating "I do not need ANY MORE paper even if the new stuff is lush!)..but I did buy some promarkers and a circle scissor cutter...rather Christina had my money than the taxman..but that's another story.

Rocking My World Friday

First off an apology to all you Rockettes for the lack of a post last week. I'd intended to write my post Friday evening but things cropped up that left me feeling very upset and more than a little depressed - not good when one is counting one's blessings.

So onto this week - gosh, is it Friday already? That means a craft filled day tomorrow! All day!! Yay!! I will share the results next week.

First grateful is the Internet. Without this wonder of the modern world my cupboards would be bare and Christmas would be cancelled. Friends would never hear from me and my life would be oh so dull. My crafting would be pitiful. Sites that deserve a mention....ebay,Facebook,Amazon,Sainsbury's to You, WeScrap.

Friends have played a big part in my life this week (OH went up to Scotland on Weds. and has yet to return) whether taking me out for coffee and yummy cupcakes (Pat), feeding me, wine and Max, dog biscuits (Audrey),sending me funnies (Carole) or poking me (Gill)- I love you all.

Sky Plus which allowed me to record The Apprentice on Weds. so I could watch the football - why oh why did I bother? Watched The Apprentice last night - much better than the football.

Movies 24 which has started showing the odd Christmas film. I'm still not feeling very Christmassy but I've enjoyed having s'thing to watch in the desert that is daytime TV.

And finally Max -- for keeping me company, keeping me warm at night and all the cuddles.
Could have done without the barking at and fighting with the vacuum cleaner though!

Hope your weeks have been good ones.
Hugs,
Sue xx

Welcome Christmas Monkey!

This little chap arrived at our house this afternoon, looking very festive in his reindeer T-shirt.

Tonight he'll be settling in with his Dad (Sidekick), one of his older brothers (Chimp - he's a triplet but the other two have gone to Bristol) and Cristiano the Red. Just hope there's no wild partying tonight! Normally I'd join in but I'm shattered!lol

She's Got the Look.

This was a fun LO to do - it's for a colour challenge on WeScrap.
Bazzill cardstock,patterned papers by My Mind's Eye (Bella,Bella - French Fleamarket),flock alpha,Basic Grey brad,K&CO journal. tag, Prima flowers,button and ribbons from stash.

I found the photos at Dad's. I'd heard about my mother's "look" when she was a toddler as it  became a family joke when my cousin's youngest
 started doing it too. I hadn't realised that I'd also inherited it until I came across the old photo of me.
Don't know what had upset either of us...but we weren't happy!lol

A Wonderful Afternoon!

Had a wonderful afternoon at A Maze of Memories playing with alcohol inks etc. And no, I didn't get messy as gloves were provided - the messiness came later!
Today was a demo day with Lindsay Mason.
Lindsay showed us lots of techniques using alcohol inks and distress inks. Then Diane and I both did the Make and Take. I turned my card into a Christmas card when I got home..having bought some new stamps..and the sticky backing...my b'day season really is stash filled (I promise to do a post soon!).

We created the background and  dyed the flowers and the ribbon with alcohol inks. When I got home I stamped the tree and sentiment (using archival ink) and sprinkled glitter over dots of glossy accents. This is where it got messy - black ink and glitter is so not a good look on fingers!

Please check out Lindsay's blog, where she has lots of ideas and techniques...and a fabulous giveaway!

Rocking My World Friday

Yes, it's Friday again and time to reflect on the week just gone.
This week I'm grateful for being able to soak in the bath in warm scented water with a good book and the radio tuned to Absolute 80's . The 80's wasn't "my" decade so couldn't understand why I know so many of the songs - then it hit me - I used to listen to Chris Tarrant on Capital Radio while driving to work, either cross-country to Bletchley or down the M40 to Beaconsfield - happy days.
I'm also grateful for good books. This week I've been to Oslo with Jo Nesbo (Nemesis), Hawaii with Kathy Reichs (Mortal Remains) and Norfolk with Rachel Hore (Place of Secrets). I've been feeling unsettled in the evenings when it's got to the time I used to phone Dad so it's been lovely to snuggle down and be transported to other places.
I've been reading Kathy Reichs for years - it's her and her books that the series "Bones" is based on - word of warning - as good as the TV show is (esp. David Boreanaz)...it's nothing like the books.
The Rachel Hore book is one of the selections for Richard and Judy's Book Club - I picked it up in WH Smith as part of a BOGOF promotion. So pleased I did as it's gripping. This one will be going into a Charity bag (I only keep certain books now as we're running out of space) unless someone out there would like to read it and then pass it on to someone else - I'll happily post it to you.
A Maze of Memories where I spent a lovely Saturday morning doing an Autumn LO (result in previous post). It helped ease me back into crafting (as well as allowing me to meet up with friends) and I've managed some tags,25 Christmas cards ( with my Anna Griffin kit and some bling) and another LO which I'll put at the end of this post. Tomorrow I'll be going back for a demo day with Lindsay Mason - distress inks and alcohol inks - plus a Make and Take. Diane will be there too.:)

Photos from the 70's (note the mini skirts!) taken at my aunt's house. It's my mother's side of the family with Auntie Jean, Gran and my mother, my brother and my two cousins. Bitter sweet memories as three of the people in the photo have passed on - my Gran in 1984,my mother and my cousin Ann in 2002.

Off to link this up on Vrginia's site. Hope you've all had a great week.xx

Sue xx

p.s.The usual suspects have been supportive again this week ..and girls the b'day bouquet is still going strong!

Autumn Splendour

This is the LO I made on Saturday @ A Maze of Memories along with Pat,Jan and Diane.
It felt so good to be crafting again and of course I did some stash shopping for my "birthday season".
The LO was made using Bazzill cardstock, Basic Grey "Pyrus" papers,stamps and brads, EK Success and Woodare punches.
Title was cut  @ home using Cricut "Storybook" cart. and Tim Holtz/Sizzix "Vintage Market" die.
We also learnt a new technique - bleaching. You can see the result on the stamped pears.