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Monday 26 January 2009

Rough day today

A lady I had asked to be a guarantor for my 2nd place to live declined (which is okay) but means I probably won't get the bedsit now either as I feel sick to my stomach when I have to ask someone to stand as guarantor - and all because I am self employed

the council didn't tell me anything that i didn't already know

and I had to say goodbye to my beloved Nutmeg as she was taken away to be rehomed

So all in all, a rubbish day

Crafters Companion LOVE 2 CD wedding card

Made this for a couple getting married on Saturday. My mojo has gone walkabout today so I do hope its going to be okay.



Birthday card with Fred She Said medallion topper



I used a Fred She Said medallion topper sheet for this design and backed the card itself with some lilac angel hair and a mat of lilac handmade paper


Sunday 25 January 2009

Dunkers ATC swap - January - Hats

Seeing as I run the ATC swap on Sharon Duncan's forum, I thought I had best get a wriggle on actually make my 2 for this months swap. The theme was "HATS" and thank to you Bev for the sheets which I used as inspiration for my 2 ATCS.



I've been tagged by Hazel @ didodesigns

I have been tagged by Hazel at Dido's designs


and here is my 6th picture from the 6th file as described - this is my mum doing her impersonation of Captain Jack Sparrow LOL. It was a charity fund raising event a couple of summers ago and her great-grandson plonked the hat on her head - and she left it there.
The instructions are,

1. Navigate to where you keep your pictures, select the 6th folder, and the 6th picture in that folder.

2. Post the picture on your blog with an explanation about the picture.

3. Tag 6 others to do the same, and let them know they have been tagged!
So come on everyone with a blog - lets see your 6th pic
Off to tag people shortly xx



Friday 23 January 2009

Update on CPL & my cats

It upsets me to think about it so I shall make this quick.

The CPL have found proper permanent loving homes for 3 out my 4 cats and whilst it is going to be traumatic for me to see then go (I just hope I'm not actually in the house when they are taken), I am greatly relieved to know that they are going to loving homes.

Pickle and Nutmeg who are sisters and have been together since birth and are now approaching 16 are being homed together and Smudge is going to a good home too.

So that just leaves Salem and I know they will find her a good home too.

Art Deco Birthday card



This was made from a kandan concept card and attached to a larger A5 card. The front folds out to reveal a message. The backing sheet was one I have on my hard-drive.

Hope you like it and thank you for looking xx

Thursday 22 January 2009

Thank you Hazel & Louise xxx



The saying goes "when life throws you lemons - make lemonade" - well the amount of lemons that are being flung at me right now, I could put Schweppes out of business. But thank you to both Hazel and Louise for nominating me for this award xxx


Wednesday 21 January 2009

Lost the house but looked at another place yesterday

I looked at the place last night and my initial though as I was walking home in floods of tears was "how on earth did my life reach this point?" Then I pulled myself together and remembered some of my friends and the losses they have had to endure over the past few months and my situation pails into insignificance.

The place is basically an old fashioned bedsit, with a tiny kitchen that you would have to take the cooker out of to get a fridge and washing machine in (but then the cooker goes back in if you get my drift).There is a brand new shower cubical behind a proper closing door in one corner and a seperate self contained loo off the living area.Last night I was thinking that I could have a choice of taking a bed OR a sofa as I couldn't see any room for two but once I had gotten over the initial shock of "oh my god, its this or a B & B room somewhere" I thought that if I had a single bed I could put that in the alcove and at least use the space to the best of my abilities and create some sort of living area. I have looked into all the alternatives and looked into what help I can get and basically its not a lot as I am just a single woman so at the moment my decision is to see if I can get the place, make the most of it and use the time I am there to pay off what I owe so that maybe in a years time, I can look for something a bit better and in the meantime make the most of what I have.

Mind you, with my luck going the way it is, I shall ring housing benefit today to double check the figures they gave me yesterday before I ring the lettings agency and the figure will probably have changed again. But on the bright side, my son fiddled with the modems and boxes yesterday and got us back on-line so that was a bonus.But in all reality, I don't know how much more of this I can honestly take

Saturday 17 January 2009

Pics of the house I have been to look at

Fireplace in sitting room
View of lounge from doorway (alien in the picture is the estate agent lol)


Kitchen part 1
Kitchen part 2

Kitchen part 3




View of the garden from the main bedroom window (the overgrown bit would be mine lol and there's a shed at the end of it somewhere



Fitted wardrobes in the main bedroom



THE most important room of them all - the potential craft room


The main bedroom from the doorway


The newly fitted bathroom


The newly fitted bathroom part 2


On Friday, I went to look at a rental property as the house is now on the market in an effort to avoid repossession and therefore I need somewhere to live. I have checked with the housing department and I would be entitled to some help with the rent because of my earnings so have been looking for places to rent.
I went to look at a terraced cottage yesterday and felt at home as soon as I walked in. It has character and a warmth that I really liked so could everyone please keep their fingers crossed for me that everything goes well with the credit checks etc etc at the beginning of the week. If it all goes to plan (which would be nice for a change) then I could be moving within 2 to 3 weeks. There is no need for me to actually be in this house whilst it is being sold as the outcome will be the same whatever happens. I just need a bit of luck on my side for a change xxx












Monday 12 January 2009

Wet start to the week

Morning all from a wet Eastern Counties this morning. I haven't seen the weather report for the day so have no idea if its going to clear up or not, BUT on the plus side, its not cold anymore. Its relatively warm at the moment and I have the window open in the hobbit room as I type.
The packing up of the house started in earnest yesterday. I started on the lounge but don't appear to have made a dent at all, but then I am the eternal pessimist so its probably not as bad as it looks.
Sarah has been working very hard on the painting and its all coming together nicely so when people come to see the house, it will at least look clean and fresh. We are not going for the "TV" look where everything is perfectly in place and it looks like a show home - we still have to live here and we are in the real world, but that's not to say it has to be a mess either.
The garage will be bulging at the seams once we start taking all the storage boxes over there but at least we have the garage and as its away from the house, we will keep it on after "the move" as I have no idea where I shall end up short-term and whilst some people are saying "oh my god, where will you end up?" and worrying themselves sick, I am saying "its great adventure and lets see where the wind takes us".
I don't see this house as my home and haven't done for a long time - its just plasterboard and breeze block so I have no ties to it whatsoever.
I have spoken to a lady about the cats and putting them into a foster home when the time comes just until I get settled then I shall have them back so that is something less for me to worry about as I know they will be okay.
Anyway, I am off to get ready for work now so I shall love you and leave you for now.
Take care everyone and have a good day xxx

Friday 9 January 2009

Thank you Hazel xxx

I have been awarded this very pretty award by Hazel over at Dido Designs so a big thank you as I think is lovely xxxxx



Thursday 8 January 2009

Papertake weekly sketch challenge 05.01.09

Yippee - I can upload pictures this morning :-). I have made this card for my mums birthday next week and it also fits in with the challenge over on Papertake this week which is "dots and spots".
The decoupage is from Create and Craft and the backing papers are papermania collussus papers
Hope you like it and thank you for looking xxx

Tuesday 6 January 2009

I like the card now - teeny weeny revamp

After MUCH deliberation, I added just 3 little shiny dotty things - and really like it now



Monday 5 January 2009

Anniversary card (which I now don't like)

Its my niece's wedding anniversary on Sunday and so using the sketch from this weeks 2 Sketches 4u challenge, I came up with this - now I don't like it LOL



My birthday cards I received





I thought I would show you all the lovely array of cards I received for my birthday. Hey, I found out this morning that I share my birthday with Mini-Me - how cool is that LOL. ( I know his first name is Verne but forgive me as I don't know his last name)
The bottom picture shows the only 4 shop bought cards that I received as all the others are handmade so a big thank you to each and every one of you that took the trouble to make me a card - i really do appreciate it xxx
The card in the bottom photo of the kitten in the plant pot really made me laugh as the caption reads " for your birthday I grew you a cat".

Hello people's Did you miss me? xxx

I'd like to say I've had a good start to the year but those of you that know me know my luck doesn't run that smoothly lol.
At 7pm on New Years day, I suddenly felt very ill, went to bed and spent the next 8 hours making mercy dashes from my room to the bathroom. And then it just stopped - but it took all my strength and energy with it and I have barely moved around the house since.
BUT, you will be pleased to know, I am back fighting fit again and ready to start my week.

Sarah has been mega busy over the past couple of days having great fun putting together all the Kandab cards from a QVC kit I had and also some remaining Ideal World die cut kits and has made a start on the magapauge kit we ordered on Boxing day which arrived the very next Tuesday - so well done Ideal World for a quick delivery on that one.





My apologies for the quality of the photo's, but I hope you can see how much work she has done. They are all bagged and tagged and ready for the CPL.

Thursday 1 January 2009

1st card of the New Year

I have had this decoupage sheet since last April and thought it was appropriate for an anniversary card I wanted to make. I wanted to keep it very simple and understated so I hope I have achieved it
Hope you like it and thank you for looking xxx



Happy New Year everyone

And a Happy 48th birthday to me too LOL
May this year bring you closer to whatever your heart desires
Give you renewed strength to face whatever is coming your way
Help you choose the right path to take
And send you love and peace from all 4 corners of the earth xxx
Have a great New Year Everyone xxx