Mr Spook and his Big Busk

Mr Spook (aka Robert) went to London on Saturday to take part in the Cultural Olympiad. He took part in the Big Busk outside The Royal Festival Hall which was lead by The baird of Barking Billy Bragg.
He had lots of fun the weather was fab and a good time was had by all, Among the tunes they played was Billy's New England (there are videos on You tube).
ANyway after some searching this morning I found a couple of pictures of him
So here is one (from the back) hes the one on the far right with no hair in both pictures.
Hes out at the moment and doesnt know I found them, I've put one of the pictures on the computer desktop to suprise him when he gets home.

Don't Worry Bee Happy

Another challenge I have decided to take part in, The Sunday Stampers challenge set again by Hels, her theme this week is bees.
A little difficult for me as I dont have a bee stamp, I did have a go at doing a sketch of a bee but it was too big and didnt look right on the house so I did a little doodle bee.
Here it is anyway...off to try and clean the ink off my fingers (butterscotch and terracotta).

My Little Big Girl

Started in Juniors, shes enjoying being back at school as she missed her friends.
She has lots more homework now but its not at the weekend which is good for us , especially as we go swimming every Saturday morning.
Here she is :)

My Big Girl

I know its a little late but I suppose it should mention my oldest daughter Kathryn who started Secondary school earlier this month.
She has settled in well, is getting used to lugging a heavy bag of books around and doing a lot more homework.
She's enjoying school dinners (she loves the salad bar) has made lots of new friends and looks so grown up in her uniform.
And here are the pictures :)

My first Pocket

I have joined in with Hel's pocket challenge this week, my first one.
Hel's theme was watches, easy for me as I have the Artistic Stampers Watch stamps from the last workshop at Ally Pally (where I met Hel's who was doing her first workshop).
I've gone blue and stuck a bit of silver on too (I embossed the watch front).
It's a long time since I used my heat gun, it was smelling like burning dust lol
Hopefully I will be joining in with some more challenges as I find them fun and of course challenging...Thanks Hels :)

Oriental Papercuts

I started to rumage through my craft stash after getting back from holidays and as always find things I forgot I had (I bet I am not the only crafter that does that! lol)
I have had a pack of chinese papercuts for at least 2 years and never used them before. Not something to use with the windows open on a windy day!
I used pergamano spray adhesive as the paper cuts are so delicate. I have also used some papermania oriental borders to keep with the theme and finished with a die cut sentiment and some ribbon.

A different type of house

And a template I have designed myself, it may need a little tweaking but I decided to try a lighthouse.
Aimee (age 7) likes it anyway lol.

Anniversary Card

Monday is our wedding anniversary, 18 years. I've checked and its our Porcelain anniversary lol
Here is the card I have made for Robert, I hope he likes it.
I've used the papermania secret garden paper and stamps. The owls have been colours in with watercolour pencils.

Christmas Card for a good cause

My first christmas card of the year on my blog, I have made quite a few so far with the kit I got from QVC (the one with the scrapbook and mini books and loads of chipabord and other goodies).
This one will be going next week off to Wightcat Crafts on the Isle of Wight, they are running a competition and the cards are all going to The Local British Heart Foundation shop to be sold.
Christmas cards aren't my most favorite things, I do find them very limiting and I cant get in the christmas mood.

Secret Garden House

After going swimming this morning I came home to some post, some rubber stamps from Mum. I wanted to get these while on holiday but they didn;t have them in the shop so Mum picked them up yesterday and posted them to me. They are the Papermania Secret Garden stamps. I had one more house to do for a swap so I decided to use my new stamps, here is the result.
Both of my girls wanted it so I will have to go and make one for each of them now.

Cards from a workshop

Spending 4 week on the Isle of Wight this summer, my Mum booked me in again to a workshop at Wightcat Crafts in Newport.
I had lots of fun with plenty of stash to play with and the best thing of all, Mindy also bought along her cuttlebug. I could have quite happily played all day if I could.
Anyway here are the cards I made.
If you are ever on the Isle of Wight I recommend you pay a visit to Wightcat crafts and if you can try a workshop they have a website too, I will add a link)

A Card for My Nan

My Nan (Mum's Mum) is 94 this month. I ever know what to put o her cards (last year it was her favorite singer Mario Lanza) so this year I got my inspiration from her home.
Years ago she used to work for Pears (the soap people) and she has in her front room a picture called Bubbles which was used as an advert (very vintagey looking), my Late Aunt Violet had brought it for her and it has pride of place above her chair.
So I downloaded an image and used that as the centrepiece of her card. Matted and layered with cream paper and gold mirror card. The backing paper was printed (free download from somewhere lol)
I hope she likes it.