Tagged, Clubs and Advent Calendars

Where to begin!!

Well I guess I'll start with the most recent. After MANY a conversation with my freind Sarah (more about her later!!) about us and the seemingly inability we both have to say the word NO when people are looking for help etc etc, I went ahead and said.........

suprise suprise ......

YES

- so you are now reading the blog of the new secretary to our local swimming club!!!

The club has been very down on committee membership of late, and was threatening to clos unless new members joined and in addition they needed a full team of officers too as the old ones were resigning for various reasons. SO last night I went to the AGM and duly offered my services if required and was voted in.

Goodness know what I have let myself in for!!

Before that there was the advent calendar saga!! And what a saga it was, you know when you have started something and its soooooooooooooooooooo boring and time consuming and you wish to goodness you hadn't started!!

Well after seeing a thread on UKs and the blog of Jen Hall http://jenhall.typepad.com/my_weblog/2007/11/just-loving-lif.html and her lovely altered advent calendar and a few other ideas, I went to Tesco last week to see the basic calendars that were on sale there which poeple were strting to use to alter - but it was £7.99 - how can I justify that, plus if I made one from scratch I could make three and they could all have a turn each day!!

So later I found instructions from Tracie Hudson on Bubbly Funk http://www.bubblyfunk.co.uk/article_info.php?articles_id=39 and thought I would make three calendars - the matchbox one for Sam, and two tree boxes for the girls.

Almost one week later - they are cut, and stuck together and the basic shapes are formed!

Here they are in their glory, although basic and ready to be adorned (but at least that the fun bit)

So thats my next job - titivation!!!

And so to the tag

Thanks to the said named friend Sarah - http://yoorcrafty.blogspot.com/ I have been tagged

Here are the rules

1. Link to your tagger and post these rules.

2. Share 7 facts about yourself some random some weird.

3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post and list their name (linking to them)

4. Let them know they've been tagged by leaving a comment on their blogs

Right, here goes....

1. My all time favourite film is "Grease"

2. I have a Kawasaki GPz 500S and an Austin Healey Sprite in my garage

3. I was once nearly bitten by a cow, and I was bitten by a pony

4. I was a Rose Queen attendant in 1977

5. My favourite dayof the week is Thursday

6. I once had a letter published in the Daily Express

7. Friday night is curry night

So, who to tag....

http://paperseaside.blogspot.com/ eleanor

http://jackiehunter.typepad.com/its_all_me/ jackie

http://scrapping-with-the-squirrels.blogspot.com/ jayne

http://stillscrapping.blogspot.com/ julie

http://lauralousblog.blogspot.com/ laura

http://kirsty262.blogspot.com/ kirsty

http://www.mandismadmusings.blogspot.com/ mandi-jane

have fun ladies

xx

Sad days and Halloween

Well I broke down on the main road this morning - broke down as blubbering like a baby.

My closest friend, in real life at least - well she is transferring with the police force and emigrating to Australia. This has been in the pipeline almost as long as my own move. Before the half term hols they got their visas rubber stamped, but couldn't go til their house was sold and the likes.

Well today she told me her hubby and the children have flights booked for 11th December, and she is leaving a few days later. I was absolutley floored to say the least and my emotions got the better of me I am afraid - so I have been quite subdued today.

On a lighter note, tonight was the first of the halloween parties - so this was Ab's as she set off this evening

Her costume is completely handmade - a tunic basic black dress embellished with buttons, a shiny starry medallion, a cloak with purple lining, a hat (yes even that was handmade by my goodself!! and lots of interfacing), and the broomstick was made by Gary from a branch and twigs from the garden - that was one of his tasks i set him last week whilst on leave - well the only task i set him actually!!!

Anyways she just got home and had a fab time - but she lost her ring!!!
Can't make her another of those before tomorrow!!!

bbl
xx

Who Do I Think I Am?

LOL

I have started another blog!! one that details my family tree aspect - a seperat ace to record my journey. http://humbugstree.blogspot.com/

Some bizarre things have happened this past week re tracing my family tree, following on from being contacted by a lady via Genes Reunited - the concidences are quite amazing!!!

SO a new blog, but I mustn't forget this one - I have been very busy - making Christmas presents for everyone - obviously cannot post pictures of most of them; making a Halloween costume for Abigial - she is the fabbiest witch ever, she has a party on tuesday, a brownie party on weds and the school disco on Friday - so we'll get our money's worth out of it for sure. It is all handmade right down the the hat and the broomstick!!!

Back to school tomorrow too!!!!

my new toy, my creations and other things

I took delivery of my new toy a couple of weeks ago - the new Bind It All machine.

I made a few things with it for now, firstly a box to fill with sweeties for my dad to take as a get well pressie.

Then I left it for a week, but my friend who is an absolute creative whizz got one and I just had to beat her, so I made an address book and some notebooks for the children for chrissie presents. If you know my children please do not tell them - its a secret!!!

And so I have been quite creative recently - so that makes a change!!

We have also been busy about the house. Me, in my general blitzing mode in an ever ending cycle to get rid of stuff we don't really need. Gary finally finished the bathroom this weekend. I don't have pics of that cos I figured that would be quite boring to see pics of the new bathroom from start to finish!! but maybe thats just me!!

Hopefully this will not be my only monthly post for October. So watch this space.

I am off to the Trafford centre on Friday is a bid to get christmas sorted, or the majority of it anyway!!! Again - watch this space!!!

What happened to September??

I mean where DID it go??

Last post was the first day of school, I seem to have been so busy since then but yet don't feel like I achieved much.

Georgia started back at school on Day 2, Sam never got the chickenpox in the end either which I am disappointed about.

Week 2 of school saw the start of all the after school activities - dancing and swimming on Mondays, more dancing for show rehearsal on Tuesday, rainbows and brownies on Wednesday; Thursday ended up not being as bad as I thought as clarinet practice is done in school time.

Mum and dad went on holiday, which those who know us well knows what that means for me and all my jobs etc etc involved with that and why.

Then suddenly its almost the end of September, they came home having had a great time, and now after what seems an eternity of waiting and deciding, quite suddenly dad is going into hospital - TODAY!!!

He is due the operation tomorrow for a new hip, and should be in for between five and ten days, so I need to try and be able to be there to help mum out as much as possible too. Trying not to worry, I know it needs doing to give him his active life back, and it isn't like nanna or anything following a fall, so hopefully it will be a full and quick recovery....

And thats it - September gone!!

God bless you Lisaxx

xx

Back to School - or not - as the case may be

Today is the first day back to school. Abigail was very excited about going back, I really do hope it lasts - I don't want a repitition of last year or the year before.

I spoke to the head teacher yesterday and we agreed to keep Georgia off until Thursday, so the usual smart photo was a mix of smart and normal!!

Although when I say smart it is a case of making do - truth be known Abigail's jumper is a bit too small, and Georgia's cardigan has seen better days. But if we are moving there seemed little in it to be buying new uniform for just a few months.
So Georgia is off with he spots - here's a pic for posterity!!!!

Last night I did some writing. I have recently been reading a book that was recomended to me.

Natalie Goldberg - Writing down the Bones http://www.amazon.co.uk/Writing-Down-Bones-Freeing-Classics/dp/1590303164

In it she says we must write every day - every day practice!! she has a few ideas for us, and the one I chose was the time we were most frightened. I wrote about what felt like a near death experience - quite literally at the time, and then when I had finished I tried to make it into a sort of poem. This was the result - although I hasten to say - I admit it's rubbish!! and it hasn't been re-drafted in anyway, but its a start.

Andy from Liverpool

Such a frightening experience
I hope never to be repeated.
Crashing through the breakers,
trying to scramble to safety
unable to fight against nature.

A paddle in the ocean,
Fierce and powerful currents below
Pull me swiftly out to sea
Unable to swim back to shore.

Fighting against nature
More tired with each attempt,
Crashing over with the breakers
Back out to sea, dragged and sent.

The tide is so strong and mighty,
A body weak and tired,
A mind of knowing,
A must to keep trying,
Mind fearful of being,
Expired.

One final try is needed
I pray, I beg, I plead.
Crashing over with the breakers,
A rescuer is seen,
My saviour on the beach.

There, I said it was rubbish, but I guess I have to practice!!

Not 100% sure if this will work or not, but here's to trying.

I have been spending a few weeks trying to track my family tree down.

I managed to get hold of Family Tree Maker and a free trial sub to ancestery.co.uk, which helped no end!

The tree I had to simplify and therefore starts with my granfather - my father's father, so as you can see I am as far back as my great great great grandfather - called Ayrton - how cool is that!!!

Now to see if this bit works ......

and the one I just completed

the prompt was ten favourite things

I used spring fling papers and green inks, and a few images and pics to match my favourite things

More pages of my book of me

"scrap your hands" was the next prompt

It didn't work out the way I wanted first time round, so I went to plan B or was it C.

I printed my handprints with yellow textile paint onto white cotton. I printed all of the text onto transfer paper and then ironed it over the top, then attached to red cardstock with the sewing machine. I tried to asscociate all the things of my hands onto the lo - from creative skills ie sewing, and ironing skills too!!!

well thats the way it worked out anyway it wasn't really planned that way

all about the What if's... was the next promt:

I have blurred out others cos I havn't asked their permission, in fact I wouldn't know where to find most of them any more, the picture was whilst I was on site in 1992 during my time at Lancashire County Council.

Its a simple lo showing my career path and how it might of changed with what if's I used a map background and red card and red and black inks. The black lines with defined paths show my life map (hence the ma) the red lines and handwritten undefined journalling show the what ifs

no regrets at the end though!!

Use the word Be on your layout was the prompt. I have missed one out right now, cos that took longer to come together.



I have sort of found myself in a rut now, looking the same or doing the same with card, so I want to have a play with patterned papers for a change. I used tinkering ink papers from a recent ish kit with co-ordinated cardstock letters and primas and gems.






I was taking some pics last night of this that and the other, and chanced taking one of Humbug. Abigail was trying to get his attention, and the result was pretty good-

I have the purrrrrfect embelishment for this one, so watch this space!!

As promised

"Can I used your robo thing to do some numbers" were the words Abigail asked.

so we cut out a number 42! and she stuck them to her card, put her art in the middle and wrote some words on the inside of the card.

Here were the results

Georgia was more traditional in her approach, she stuck her art to the front of her card, with some fancy wording: -

Sam put his best artists head on and drew a picture of a spaceship and an astronaut.

I used ribbon and paper to creat my card to Gary.

and chocolate and cherries for the cake!! It was a bit unusual, but the end effect was quite delicious

Mr Humbug's birthday

Today its Wednesday - and it's Gary's birthday

We all made him cards - the girls did some encaustic art on theirs - yes I let them loose with an iron!!!

I need to make a chocolate cake today - but filled with cherries ( ala Black forest gateau) as Abigail doesn't like butter cream and he wants chocolate cake!!!

I did another BoM layout last night, but I don't think I will post - it's kind of a bit heavy the journaling on it -I did upload it onto Uks and then changed my mind.

The next one is hands - and I know what I am doing with that one, so may have a play later.

Hoping to get the website finalised now too over the next couple of days - so watch this space.

bbl with pics of cards and cake!!

A Book of Me and Chickenpox

After my frenzy of scrapping, it continued with avengance.

My friend, Sarah, has been following the prompts on UKS provided by Kirsty and Roz, to create a Book of Me (BoM). I had fancied doing it and made a note of all the prompts, but it never seemed the right time.

Well now it is!!

I started the first one on my last post (I am) and then I continued with three more over the next couple of days

The next prompt was "One Day", for this layout lo I used sage green card stock , book images to create circle and title (cut with robo) and lots of writing!

The next prompt was "If I didn't". By this time I was being co-erced into doing a layout with a BoM that included a picture of me - this is what it's all about they kept telling me so..........

I used green paper and card and made a feature of the journalling and title as opposed to the photo - for obvious reasons!!!

Then today I completed the "You" prompt. We had to use the word You in the title or within our journalling, and also an extra challenge of using at least 4 patterned papers or gold somewhere on the lo.

I wrote another poem (???:lol:??) for this layout about why I love you (my children). I used basic grey urban couture and made it into a circular lo. I used three gold three eyelets - one for each of the children.

And then last night as I bathed the children, Georgia's top of her arms and neck were covered in small red pimply spots. I had ruled out chickenpox immediately as she had it as a tiny baby, after Abigail had had it. It could of been a reaction to the jumper she was wearing, or by today we decided it could be prickly heat -- uurrgghhhhhh I can't say those words without shivering !!

Anyway I booked her in at the doctor's and yes it does appear she has chickenpox!! The doctor said she must of had a mild dose when small and now its the full blown thing - her spots are everywhere now!!

So we have medicine and calamine lotion, she's ok within herself - watch this space.

So much for them going back to school though eh?

Right off to think about the next challenge :

an emotion and a colour

xx

So much for daily updates !!!

I had a bad week the week before last - a combination of three things I think:

- lost in limbo re moving house and stuff - we're no further on than we were twelve months ago really,
- also bad weather holiday blues
- and memories of twelve months ago

the three mixed together didn't make a happy humbug, but as the weather perked up last week I started to feel much better, and what a week we had!!!

On Monday we went to the swiming baths - a first for me to take all three into our local pool together - only because now Abigail is eight I am allowed to take two others under eight!!

On Tuesday we were going to go to Whitby, but once I realised I would use a full tank of petrol in my fuel guzzling jeep ( and a tank full costs at least £70) I decided it wasn't really practical, so we toyed with Blackpool and Fleetwood - going on the tram too!! Then I priced up getting there on the train, and decided that would be cheaper.

So we set off on the bus and then caught the train to Blackpool, wandered on the beach a while and then caught the tram into Fleetwood. We found the market and had a wander round and then found a chippy and sat and ate fish and chips by the sea. As Abigail said they were delicious!!!

We had a wander and then got the train back into Blackpool, went down some of the golden mile to look for buckets and spades!! - although the tide was in by this time!! We sat down with an ice-cream and then went back to the beach for donkey rides and to collect treasures - as you do!!

On Wednesday we went back to Blackpool, this time to the zoo. We took my mum and this time went in the car. It was a lovely day and we had a great time wandering round looking at the animals - including the new dinosaur park and the "eructing volcano".

I am not boring with you pics here cos I am going to make the trips into lo's so you'll see then!!!

On Saturday I went to the Leeds extravangza - a twelve hour crop from ten til ten!! - although I only stayed til just before 6pm. After a barren two months of no scrapping and to be honest very little enthusiam to even start - we were given four challenges - two were classes to make two lo's and a little bucket and a cotton bag to alter. I set myself a task of doing all four before 5pm - and I did it!!

and then my lo's - I did Georgia first and to be honest that is my favourite, the second class I used for Abigail was using Basic Grey (not my favourite anyway) and the papers (a maths sheet - I can't recall the range) didn't really suit the picture. Anyway they broke the block as you will see!!!

So that seemed to break the mould for me and yesterday afternoon, I did a dlo of Sam at Blackpool

I used coastal and chocolate bazzil - k and co ( i think) paper, brown jumbo rik rak and journalling stamps, also amm vellum stickers for the quote.

Following my new delivery of my new mag on a direct sub (at long last) I had an idea for a title; I had a go at making my own ghost letters - I used acetate cut on robo for the exploring bit of title and then I decorated with alcohol inks.
To stamp the word beach, I used some children's bath letters and brown ink.

Later that evening I decided to make a start on my book of me I have been thinking about for a while. On UKs there are monthly prompts on a challenge thread - the first one (about nine months ago !!) was "I am", so I decided last night in a spare hour to make a start.

The idea just came to me quite easily after a few first thoughts of what to do for "I am"

I decided to use my favourite picture of Gary on our wedding day, and I combined this mustard cardstock and scrapbook walls ( I think pp) - using blue and mustard to represent his wedding attire.

I used a blue flower - that I won in a game of pass the parcel at the Leeds crop!! - and a gold brad to represent our gold wedding rings

I wanted to write a few words about why I love my husband and what he means to me, but as I wrote it just seemed to flow out of my pen as a sort of poem really. So after a few adjustments here and there, this was the end result:

We fell in love together,
We were joined together,
We created four children,
together;
We lost a child together,
We have cried together,
We have laughed together,
We live life;
together.
I love you .... for ever
xx

So after a barren two months scrapping wise - I managed to complete the equivalent of five lo's - over a weekend!!!!

Long may it continue!!!!

I got tagged

yeah thanks jemm

I got tagged my Jemm last night http://scrapping-with-the-squirrels.blogspot.com/

- which makes me a Rockin' Girl Blogger - apparently!!

Now i need to tag five others so here goes:

http://kirsty262.blogspot.com/ - Kirsty from Leeds

http://cardboredkitty.blogspot.com/ - a good freind from Yorkshire

http://eatbreathesleepscrap.blogspot.com/ - Natalie from Leeds

http://jackiehunter.typepad.com/its_all_me/ - formerly crafymum1971 - a cj freind whom i make laugh!!!

http://melissalsmith.blogspot.com/ - my team leader and adoptee - tinker

so go ladies and put the blinkie in your blog and tag five!!!!

And so my exciting news about 4 days later than intended

Here it is - my new venture - with a lot of help

notlawcards - providing handmade cards and gifts - completely personalised if required - cards, pendants, bookmarks, works of art, clocks - if you want it - i will do it

and here it is live !!!!!!

http://www.notlawcards.co.uk

There is only a holding page at the moment, we need to work on the site content - but humbug is live!!!!!!

omg!!!

I was all set to recommence my daily blogs and I had some really exciting stuff to share and was just about to do all this on friday morning and finish my draft post re our days out last week when i had to rush Gary to A and E with his stomach cramps he'd been having since the weds.


So what a weekend it turned out to be - I myself have more or less lived at Royal Blackburn Hospital - or whatever its new name is now!!!

We never really found out whilst there what the problem was other than an inflamed bowel, but on discharge the sheet said diverticulitis (I think thats how it was spelt). He was treated with antibiotics and painkillers - which in the end he refused as they sent him "weird".

He eventually came home on Monday morning, had some dinner and fell asleep. I had to go back to the hospital to get his medicines to bring home.

At the moment he is being a good patient, which shows to me at least that he is still poorly
xx

A Day in the Wild

Yesterday we went to the Wild Boar Park. It is such good value - so reasomably priced and each year you see how the money has been utilised , there is always something new so you never feel ripped off.

As we were travelling, Abigail said she was going to feed ALL the animals, now she was eight - yeah right

And sure enough Georgia is feeding anything and everything, and Abigail and Sam are too scared, although Abigail did attempt the goats.


We then went on the little walk, searching for flowers and birds and the like.


Sam was a bit of a wuss again - "It's very dark - I don't like the dark mummy". He's really gonna have to toughen up somewhat!!!

So after our walk we found a picnic bench and had our dinner, which the children seemed to enjoy as always.

After lunch they went to try out their luck in the park for a while. Little Miss No Fear ? Well her fave item was the zip wire, time and time again she went on. Then they played on the swings and the tractor and the like.

We went another little walk where they had to look for signs with different animals on, right the way up to the top of the hill and then back down for a ride in the barrels followed by an ice cream!!!


Another play in the park whilst we had a brew and then time for home!!!


Wednesday

On Wednesday we went to the local park, it was my intention that the children would play whilst I sat and read Harry Potter, and that in itself worked quite well.

It was a difficult day though, the last time I had been to this particular park had been almost twelve months ago with Lisa and her children.

The girls remarked on this almost as soon as we arrived which didn't really help, but we stayed and enjoyed, so that has been laid to rest.
xx

It's been a while - but Humbug's back

It has been a while, I was going to start last time catching up with stuff but there has been so much to catch up with I didn't really know where to start - recording Abigail's birthday in June for goodness sake - her birthday was two months earlier LOL

Visit from Grandpa

So Gary's dad came to visit us in May - that was so fabulous to see him - it had been over two years - Sam had gone from being a a baby, to very mucch the little boy.

It was quite sad again to see George leave at the airport, I am never prepared for how I feel.

But we're hoping to get out to South Africa at Christmas pending our second house sale - so fingers crossed.

New Boat

Whilst George was here we sold the boat, and whilst he was here Gary bought a boat!!! Obsessive I think the word is !!!

This pic shows Gary and his dad doing a trial run of the inflation and testing the engine in the garden, unfortunatley they didn't have the same level of success when they took it to Windemere the following week!!

Leeds Paper Dolls

After life had returned to normal, I finally got to meet my freinds in Leeds - the Leeds Paper Dolls - I have been chatting to these guys on UKs for ages now, and they seem so nice, but I knew I would never get to meet them as they have their crops on a Saturday and our girls dance their way through most of Saturday.

But dancing finishes over the holidays, Abigail was away at Brownie Pack Holiday; so Georgia and I went "over the big hill to ther other side" and met everyone.

It was so lovely to put names to faces, and personalities too - we had a great day and I will scrap that day later and share.

STOP PRESS

My very exciting news - is my new business venture - I have kept very quiet about this up to now, but I have been selling my handmade cards, with much sucess. I have a friend who is shipping them out almost faster than I can make them, and I am currently being stocked in two shops. I have eveloved to the art side too including bookmarks and even jewellery.

I have been making pendants such as these, my own one which was the first I made is still my favourite, I will scan that later to show you.

My Clock

And then, I made a clock!! I got the idea from UKs on a thread that was talking about making gifts for the teachers, and one lady (forgot her name now - sorry) had altered a clock, and I thought that was a nice idea, so I bought a clock and altered it using those dreaded BG Urban Couture papers (they are lovely but I loathe working with them). Anyway I used it and a picture of each of the children and the one with the three of them and the poem that I wrote.

I used wet glue and I intend to mod podge it - but you may recall I hate using it - cos it always seems to spoil when it buckles, but I am more hopeful this time - just need to muster up some courage!!!!

So thanks to Jemm for the mod podge (you know who you are sweetie LOL)

There is a serious design fault on the clock, which has caused some amusement - but fortunatley I have rectified that now - on the picture at least - but you learn by your mistakes don't you? !!!

back later
xxx

Our eldest daughter is eight.... 8 - how time flies.....

Well here she is - eight years old!!

We got up and she opened her cards and presents. We had a quiet morning, and part of her gift from us was to be taken out for lunch. So we went to the local Brewer's Fayre, they have an outside playground there too. So the three of them played (mum came too - but she didn't play LOL) and then we went in to eat. I think they had chicken nuggets and Sam had fishfingers, and then came the puddings - Sam wanted ice cream, but both the girls had a chocolate fondue - it looked scrummy.

This was during the Easter holidays at school. Prior to her birthday we went to Kendal for the day, begging a lift from Gary. We had a lovely day out, wandering round, we went to the ruined castle, which they all enjoyed, we went to the park and then sat eating our dinner down by the river, and Gary came out too.

On the Sunday before going back to school we had abigail's party - much the same as Georgia's - a craft party. The girls painted plates and t-shirts, played some games and made some bling accessories for their bags - oh and they made their tea too - pizzas!!!

So we have Abigail painting her plate, all the t-shirts drying and my final masterpiece of the year !!!!