Friends & Family

This week I have struggled a bit and some days I have literally been counting the minutes till bed time again but with amazing friends and family I am fighting to live another day.

This week was suicide prevention week and to be fair although suicide is something that is very real and never far from my thoughts but I have always said as long as my kids need me I will never leave them, at least not at my own hands.

Doesn't mean I dont struggle with it I do but my 2 boys keep me focused and keep me fighting on my worst days.

Otherwise this week I have been crafting as usual, and doing my best to keep busy, 

I have been doing a lot of card making and not much else to be fair 

as they are quickest and easiest for me at the moment to make and clear up quickly and not worry about lots of materials needed x 

So here are a few of this weeks makes

I also got some goodies this week, I needed glossy accents so Ian gave me £10 so that I could get free shipping from Sirstampalot

So I got my glossy accent, and crystal stickles which was running dreadfully low and lastly I got an amazing bargain of dreamweaver crackle paste it is normally between £8-£10 I got it for £4

super happy x 

Also got my order from Amanda for my SU stuff, 

Stitched Shapes Framelit Dies (swoon they are yummy)

I got Papillion Potpurri stamp set (which I love)

Itty Bitty Butterfly punch

I also got, acetate boxes, 2 rolls of bakers twine mini glue dots.

And last night I ordered a few last minute bits from Jo's Crafty Pad

because this will be my last week of buys for the year, until Spring time (except essentials like glue and things) 

This week Xanderous Crafty Stash has had a fab sale for christmas countdown, so amazing bargains.

So I have bought somethings from Naomi as well as her goodies are just gorgeous and again need to stock up for the winter lol.

Jordan got his indictment for his court dates in he is up on the 5th December for a pleading diet and then 19th December is his trial date. So I am fearing he may not be spending christmas with us, which is heartbreaking but he is fully aware of what he faces so we really need to hope that the judge takes in to consideration his age and that it is his first brush with the law and also the fact that the 3rd accomplice was a 38yr old man who has a record longer than anyone I know, so I am hoping they can see he has managed to entice them into doing the "jobs" with him for the little bit of cash.

Scary time for us all x his 18th Birthday is 17th December so we are taking him out for a family lunch just the 4 of us and make it also an early Christmas Day meal just incase things dont turn out well. But we just need to keep our fingers crossed, he has learnt his lesson and manages to realise that crime doesnt pay and that the cost is greater than a few quid.

Other news this week, is my wee santa letters are going well, I absolutely love doing them and enjoy knowing that the little ones get such a magical start to the festive season, it really is priceless x 

anyway until the next time ladies and gents x Happy Crafting

Love and hugs Karen xxx

Birthdays and Memories

This week was a rough one, a family friend who passed away in the summer it was her birthday on the 11th Nov and it was obviously our first without her here, Mum and her have been best friends for 25+yrs so it has been difficult. Then the day after was my niece Mirin's 15th Birthday

Mirin is honestly one of the most beautiful souls you could wish to meet, she sees the good in everyone even when there is very little good to see, she is a big girl for her age, towers over all of us lol but that makes her a target for bullying and for many years it really did play on her but she has finally managed to rise above them and ignore their dribble and has a lovely bunch of friends who she spends a lot of time with, it is just amazing how quickly the years pass x 

Mirin was weeks old here with me, I used to work in a chip shop and we all wore santa hats in December so snapped one with this wee cutie x

wee smiler was about 6months old

she was about 18months here 

about 3yrs old with Lauren (my sis in law Carol's younger sister)

On Blackpool beach about 6yrs old thats Mirin to a tee, honestly I took her and the boys down to a small bay we visit that is almost secluded only the occasional dog walker and the boys always paddle and play in the sand, not mirin, she was waist deep, with her trainers on then running about the sand OMG the colour of her and trying to clean her up to come home she had sand EVERYWHERE lol, the trainers went in the bin they were beyond fixing haha x but she had the best fun ever.

Mirin was 6 here, at Jordan's confirmation,

Mirin is holding my nephew Jack and Jordan has Jayden-Jack

Mirin's 7th Birthday

Her holy communion, with the kids and wee Mary, who was a family friend my Jayden absolutely doted on this lady, and was devastated when she passed away x she is very sadly missed.

Mirin at her primary school prom (aged 11)

Her 13th Birthday (honestly she is a BIG GIRL)

And with Jayden, this was took Summer 2014 

the bond these two have is brilliant they are so similar nature wise it is uncanny,

both of them are chatterboxes and always looking for fun.

She is just a beautiful young lady who has a bright future x 

Craft wise I have done a fair bit this week I have made a notebook charm as part of a swap on Scrimpys Swap Group (on Facebook)

I have made an altered box for a giveaway I done on Scrimpys I offered a lace kit and altered box which was won by Lin Tresdern, Amanda added £10 to the lace kit also so bump it up so it was a nice wee give away x 

My Altered Notebook, Adore this I used the floral muse papers and a fabric image to soften the look gorgeous x this wee notebook is too keep track of the swaps on scrimpys and make sure I know what is happening and when x 

The selection of cards from this week

Made using Peel off stickers sent to me from Rozalyn Parry as part of my swap, absolutely cute as can be so simple fab for kids class mates x

This one was a technique trial that failed lol x I stamped and clear embossed on blue paper the trees and then darkened the background with blue ink and then covered with vellum and added a moon of glitter card and a sentiment, its pretty but certainly not how I was picturing it in my head.

Loved this one using masking and blending ink for the background so pretty this is a future card tutorial.

This is a nitwit collections card from Christmas Romance 

I was on the Design Team for Nitwits last year and absolutely loved it, I adore their products and will always give them recognition for the most stunning digitals to work with.

These two are using papers from Stampin Up, and the sentiment is a dovecraft clear stamp, what actually pulled these together was the little dragonflies

I found them in one of my boxes of embellishments and thought "oh they are so cute" so started hunting through my papers for colours that matched I just adore how they worked out, the top one was doctored slightly as originally I stamped directly to the paper like the bottom one but the words were lost on the busy paper so stamped it on white cardstock, mounted it on a little bit of glitter card and stuck it over the top card saved ;) x

I also made this set of christmas tree ornaments (so far have made 6 but want nearer 20/25) and filmed a tutorial on them they are so pretty and cannot wait to put them on my tree this year.

Anyway thats it for now, I have got a special announcement coming soon so keep tuned ;) x 

Lots of love and hugs Always Karen x Happy Crafting

Sorry for being M.I.A. but lots going on..

My gosh a week has past since I last posted, where has the week gone?

I have been working hard this week despite ongoing issues with my health (pain management is a bit of a problem at the moment) but I have done my best to over come the hurdles best way I know how.

Anyway this week I worked on my project('s) from Xanderous Crafty Stash (I will share the other one here 21st November )

I also had to step in an make a bag charm mini notebook as part of a swap on Scrimpys Community and Swap Group, I agreed to be an angel swap which meant if anyone couldnt fulfill their swap for any reason, I would step in and take their place so NO-ONE would be left without a swap.

I also designed some small gift card holders which I did film a video on and I think they are so cute, perfect for birthdays or christmas.

This week also brought me a huge heartache that after all the turmoil and tribulations that my talented and wonderful friend Amanda has put up with over the past 3 yrs since she launched Scrimpys Lace Closet she has decided to stop selling lace and products as a general sale, she is now only going to be selling kits and occasional items when she sees fit, it really saddens me that this lovely lady has had to do this but I 100% understand and support her decision, and am fortunate enough to have gotten to know her before she launched Scrimpys and I will be there for many many years to come, she is just a beautiful person inside and out and I am so blessed to have her in my life and to call her a friend x 

The upside to her closing her wee shop is that she is now going to focus on Stampin Up and make that her top priority (craft wise) which is so exciting, baring in mind that 12months ago this lady couldn't craft with paper at all barely, so it is lovely to watch her flourish and to grow in confidence in her new venture.

Sad part for me is ever video she shows a new product I immediately think "I need that" not good haha x

But anyway back to the matter in hand and let you see my project for Xanderous Crafty Stash,

I chose to decorate a Small Letter Rack kindly gifted to Naomi from Lou at Fernli Designs to offer the design team to show case all her beautiful metal embellishments.

I absolutely loved making this project it just was so rewarding and helped loads with giving me ideas on how to best decorate it x

So I started out building the letter rack using just PVA glue it is always best to build first with these projects as the paper and paints etc can obstruct the pieces fitting together nicely.

I then added dark paper from my stash on all the surfaces to give it a vintage styled look, I then took my old gold inka gold and buffed it on all the sides and edges to give it that almost gilded worn look of old furniture. next I pulled out my goodies from Naomi and started to work out where I wanted things to go.

I knew instantly that one of the drawer handles was being added to the drawer.

I then chose the rounded filigree metal bits to bend over the edge and give it a look of a divider and it worked perfectly and exactly how I envisioned. I had to use round nose pliers to make sure that the folds were tight enough and then stuck them on the project using E600 adhesive, my go to adhesive when working with metal bits as it assures that they are not just going to fall off.

I then took my charm that says never never give up, which is so me, even on my worst days where my mental health is dragging me down I make sure that I achieve something that day even if it is just an ATC to show my depression that I won that day not it, may sound silly to people who havent suffered depression but for me it is my way of making sure that each day I make the day count.

I added that on the side of the organizer by punching a hole using my crop a dile and threading through a bit of brown and white bakers twine to attach the charm I needed the bakers twine for a reason.

I then took a dowling rod and cut it to around 5.5" and coloured it using Walnut Stain distress ink

and used the bakers twine to keep the rod stationery at the side and not let it slip about too much as I then added my bakers twine bobbin on to that dowel to have it handy on my craft desk.

lastly I wanted to add feet to give the letter rack just a little bit more height and more substance I had perfect feet in my stash that naomi has got in stock, but when adding them initially I realized that they were going to stop my drawer opening, so back to the drawing board as I tried to work out how to overcome that problem and I found the solution, I simply cut out tiny triangles of card and popped them on the feet where the underside of the rack was going so that the card gave that tiny slither of extra height and let the drawer open freely result.

So I added them with my E600 and was delighted with the final look, I have took lots of pictures at different angles for you to see it in all its glory.

I absolutely loved this project and am so pleased how it turned out with the goodies from Xanderous and the rack from Fernli it is just wonderful.

I also made a little altered tub which I decorated and then used the small 4mm bronze flatbacks from Xanderous to decorate and give me a little bit more storage on my rack. it is shown better in the video

Guest Design Team Project for Xanderous Crafty Stash Video

Bits I used from the store

ND022 Bronze wood feet 19x11mm

ND056 Swirled filigree

ND058 Never give up tag

ND009 Bronze tone curvy drawer pull

4mm Bronze Flatbacks (will add link once added to store)

and lastly here are the small gift card holders I designed

Top one is female and bottom is male steered design.

And then I made some small roses using dies I had in my stash after being inspired by Amanda

and lastly I made this card mug inspired by our lovely Mel, who is also on Pootles Design Team for this month please pop over to Mels Blog and check out her recent projects they are so good.

So hopefully be back soon with some more new projects to share with you all until then Happy Crafting xxx

Love Always Karen