Wednesday 31 August 2016

Family

The last few days for myself have been a bit of a dark wee patch
This happens with my moods and usually a few days and I am back to being me again, but sometimes it does last a lot longer and you have just got to plod on and hope it passes, having suffered with this for 17yrs I now have the confidence to know it is just a spell and it will pass but the first few times you plunge you do feel like their is never any light at the end of the tunnel and you wont ever get through that spell which isnt the case. 
So just taking things a day at a time and to be honest today I have actually slept for about 60% of it, the painkillers I take for my pain I normally only take 3 times a day morning lunchtime and bedtime but when I hurt my leg last week I had to up them to 4 times a day so they are making me really really drowsy and tired all the time. but I am just going with it and sleeping when I need to.

I got a message on facebook from one of my mums work friends (mum works part time in a hospice charity shop volunteering) she asked how my mum was as she had a wee "turn" last night, I told her I hadnt spoken to anyone and would phone over.
My mum had paramedics out last night as she had pain in her left arm, the paramedics done a few tests and took her to hospital with fears of a stroke as she had reduced strength in her left side.
She had a lot of tests done last night and they admitted her as they couldnt find anything that would cause it, they have done loads of tests today and we are still waiting on the results of some of them to come back. She is on a heparin drip as mum has an issue with her clotting factor and has had numerace DVT's in both her legs and her lungs and her blood was a wee bit high last night so they decided the drip was the best idea.
So told dad I would ring tomorrow at 11am (usually the ward rounds have been done by then) and get an update.
I am so angry though that no-one bothered to tell me or my brother, my sister and my niece both live at home with my parents so they could have easily have wrong or even PM'd one of us to let us know, but to be asked by her work colleague how she is and realise she knew more than us was embarrassing. I have spoke to my brother (well my SIL but my brother was in the background listening) and was really annoyed that they didnt know either, I am the first to admit my phone is rarely heard as I have it on silent with the LED flash alert because of my moods I tend to avoid non important calls and at times only answer to my mum, sis and Jordan because due to meds my speech can be a bit slurred. but Carol and Eugene have their phones next to them at all times and answer right away unless they are driving. and one of them would have messaged me. but nope, so I am waiting on my sister to get home from visiting and going to speak to her and get it off my chest, I might not live at home anymore but she is still our mum aswell and we all should be made aware of what is going on. 

Arghhh Families, today is also the anniversary of my Aunt Elizabeth's death she has been gone 4yrs today and I miss her loads x but her and my uncle Tam are looking over us all and that is a blessing to have to good and loyal people in your corner x 

Anyhoo time to sign out, be back tomorrow hopefully with some crafty goodness.

Love and hugs always Karen x 

Tuesday Ramblings

I know I am a day late (well not really just a few hours)
but I am still struggling a bit mentally just now the dark clouds are lingering a bit at the moment so trying to not dwell on things too much.

Last night I hosted an online Stampin' Up Party on Facebook
it was lovely to see some support from my friends I am very blessed.
I will be sending our invoices on Thursday for the items.

Otherwise I made the start on a card for my mums neighbour, he is 88 next month and mum wanted a card made for him, So hard to make a card for someone you dont really like it isnt very inspiring lol.
But I have gave it my best shot, mum said he loved cars and used to fly with the RAF in his youth. so these are the 2 options I have gave her.


Obviously there will be more embellishments added but that is the basics I personally prefer the car I think it has a more vintage feel to it, the plane was the only plane stamp I had. I embossed all the text and images on to white cardstock with black versafine ink and then used detailed clear embossing powder by stampendous and heat set them then went over them with brushed corduroy distress ink the white and brown paper is white cardstock with various brown shades of distress ink and various stamps I had. and the back layer is from the wild at heart First Editions paper pad, it is a rich wood grain which just frames the card beautifully. As I said it is extremely difficult to make a personal item for someone you dont really get along with, I dont wish the man any ill or anything like that, and my parents get on with him really well but when my eldest was a toddler 3/4yrs old he was forever giving him into trouble for opening and closing the driveway gates (his driveway is actually partly on my parents land but my mum and dad allowed him to use it since we moved in gosh 25+ years ago) so I being me went on a rant and told him if he didnt quit moaning at the wee one I would padlock the gate and he could fly his car out of his garage to the street.  Dad intervened and it was sorted but for about 10yrs he barely acknowledged my kids existed. So now I smile and walk by, Ian know tends his garden more as a favour to my parents than anything else, and the kids have been told to reply if he speaks to them and to be polite but not to go out their way to converse with him.

Sad really but I do tend to not hold grudges as such as thats so much wasted energy but I am more bite me once and we are done never again will I allow them that chance, and thats all it is I will put it behind me but I will not be on friendly terms again civil absolutely but nothing more.

Anyway that was my day yesterday no watercolour painting done cause if I am honest I am just not in the headspace for much at all just now but I did get a project done (well needs all stuck down when mum decided which she prefers) so another day where I have conquered my thoughts.
Go me - Karen 1 - Depression - 0 

Lots of love and Hugs Always Karen xx

Monday 29 August 2016

Day Breaks

Today has been a blah day defo a day when I needed to take the day a bit at a time
with my depression sometimes focusing on 12hrs till bedtime is too much so I just break it right down to manageable portions. Today was an meal time day get to breakfast time, get to lunch, get to teatime then bed time. certainly helps.

Tonight I have been doing some prep work for my online Stampin' Up party graphics with all the info on them and sorting out samples for each product so has been tedious but worth it, also we talking tonight on facebook with friends about books and I was reminded of a book I had been meaning to read so am downloading it as we speak also downloaded another few decent ones a few stephen king novellas was particularly wanting to read his version of shawshank redemption and also the green mile. and got John Grishams a time to kill I love the film and we all know books are a million times better so cant wait to read that x so much reading and not enough time, who am I kidding lol x I love nothing better than laying in bed with my ebook which is nice and light and offers a brilliant sized text and decent light too. Am currently on Harry Potter Deathly hallows just about page 150 so a long way to go ;) x 

Otherwise it has been a quiet day done a few more bits with my paints this morning nothing exciting just seeing how the colours mixed and blended and what colours they made etc x so yeah it was good but messy lol x Anyway a short check in today but hope you all have a fab week ahead x 
Lots of love and crafty hugs Karen xx 

Sunday 28 August 2016

Weekend Joys

What a weekend!!!
Woke up on Saturday morning at 3am (baring in mind my leg and not managing to stumble about with out pain) with my eldest son at the front door, he was supposed to be staying with a friend, so grudgingly woke Ian up to go and let him in, Ian was needing to be up at 7am for work, so he got up and ranted about the time, but let him in.
I was shattered but not due any more pain relief till 8am. So lay in bed reading harry potter and the half blood prince (am now on the deathly hallows).
Ian got up at 7am and went to work, about 10am Jordan stumbled into my room and I gave him a ticking off about waking us all up in the middle of the night, he apologised and said "I'll message you next time" so let it go.
Ian came home about 4pm to take Jayden over to my parents for church, I havent been out the house since a family friends funeral on 19th July so despite a very sore leg I doped up on pain relief and heat spray and braved the stairs.
and Ian drove me over to my parents and I was finally able to give them their anniversary gift.
I went and sat on their sofa and reclined up the foot rest heaven, when they all went to mass me and my sister sat and had a good blether. When mum came home she was making a fry up for dinner (traditional english breakfast) asked if I wanted any but I said just a piece (sandwich) and bacon 
it was delicious, then she brought me through a slice of honey dew melon and then asked if I wanted an ice lolly. She done the mother thing and fussed about me, god love her. 
Ian came in about 8pm and we headed home and I am sure he went out of his way to drive over every blooming speed bump in the roads between Paisley and Beith just for fun.
Got home and Jordan had left a note saying he was out with friends, 10.30pm he arrived home and said Im staying at Scott's his best mate, So I said remember if you are coming home make sure we are up otherwise stay at Scott's, no defo staying mum see you in the morning.

needless to say 4am the door went but Ian had a 6am start this morning so rather than wake him I went down and I am sure he would have rathered it was Ian, tired and sore mum doesnt make the best parent so he got a telling off the reason he came home!!! Scott fell asleep and I was bored, talk about red rag to a bull so was warned next time he tries it he will be on the step until one of us is actually getting up. 

On the positive side my order came from Curtis Ward, yesterday I made a swatch of the colours and just done a little bit of scribbling with them to get a feel for the colours and the pigments etc. 
By no means worthy of sharing but I will at the end of the blog, it is sometimes nice to just see the sketching and play stuff cause thats what it is meant to be for fun and relaxing not to sit and be looked at.

Also this weekend we have been looking at a new car, our meriva 56 plate (2006) is due its MOT next month and we fear due to a bit of chassis rust it might not pass so Ian has £2,500 in cash for a newer car, we when Ian first went self employed done deliveries for a chinese to try and up our income but in doing that we really did clock up substantial mileage on the clock so we are looking for a car with a lot less mileage but needs to be a similar style for him to fit all his equipment and have space for passengers and also be fit to use for days out and holidays etc. So we have seen 2 the same model as ours one is a year younger (2007) and the other one is 2008 with a higher engine so we are hoping to go view it tomorrow and get it checked over. 
I hate looking for new second hand cars it is such a minefield as you dont know how many of them are actually fit for the purpose, we know due to the fact a small mechanic who worked for himself done a bit of work on our car and put it through its MOT afterwards for us and it passed no problems a few months later Ian felt something wasnt right with the exhaust and stopped into a well known and reputable garage in Paisley and asked them to check it and part of the exhaust needed changed, so he told them to do it, then he asked them just out of curiosity to give it a quick once over as his own mechanic he was starting to have alarm bells about and the guys did that for him and their was 3 or 4 fails on it with numerace advisory notices Ian was fuming and immediately told them to do the repairs, speaking to the owner of the garage he told him about his mechanic and the MOT and he said a lot of mechanics have rather good ways of appeasing MOT certificates with business very hard to prove mind you. But that was Ian done we now only use this garage and have done for a number of years they dont give us bull and dont do work unless it really needs done, even when Ian would rather they did lol. So going to ring them in the morning and book in an appointment to see if they will give the new car a once over and check it out for us (that will be a condition of the sale) 
My brother is very good at buying and selling (he could sell ice to eskimos) is going to come with us and it also means if Ian takes it Eugene can drive the new car home for us (after a few phonecalls to tax and insure it) 

Anyway thats been my weekend so here is some of the quick play I done with my Cotman Watercolours. as I said they are just getting to know the new paints and see what they can do.

Enjoy and Happy Crafting
Love and Hugs Karen xx






Friday 26 August 2016

Accident Prone

This morning I was lying in bed reading my ebook
waiting for the alarm to go off at 7am to get Jayden up for school,
so lay there for a good 20 mins or so then when it went off I got up and went to walk through to the bathroom then wake up Jayden.
Some mornings my hips feel as though they lock they dont actually move the way I need them to or other times they just give way and I fall down, anyway this morning I walked around the foot of my bed as I sleep the opposite side of the door Ians nearest the door, and I just went to turn at the bottom of the bed to walk past Ians side when my hip just locked but my other leg was already midway through moving and I stumbled and went down very strangely at the time I oohhed and ahhhed and put it down to my usual clumsiness in the morning but after I do my business and work up jayden I came in the craftroom and checked my emails, facebook, youtube etc and dottered about looking at stuff and then made a wee box envelope for my mum and dad and coloured it also about 12ish I went to go to the loo and my leg just couldnt take any weight the pain was unreal, so I hobbled literally to the loo after that I woke Jordan up by yelling him from the hall he came out and helped me to my room where I lay in reasonable comfort.
I have more or less stayed there all day with the occasional hobble to the loo.
I can now weightbare on it just but it is my right bum cheek and hip that are in a lot of pain and down my upper thigh. To be fair I am sure it is only badly sprained as I have seen neck of femur fractures and they are unbearable so I know it isnt that x I am going to leave it tonight and if I am still in a lot of pain in the morning I will go to A&E early and get it checked, was going to go tonight but....
it is the last Friday of the month lots out drinking and partying and A&E tends to be rather busy at night so rather than sit for 3/4 hrs on a hard chair in pain and freaking out with my anxiety and agoraphobia we are leaving it till the morning.

Fingers Crossed it has eased I hate hospitals and the thought of anyone touching it right now I think I would likely have a reflex reaction to punch them in the nose.

and for a quick project share my envelope
a sheet of paper from J'Adore First Edition coloured with pearlised paints and then went over to brighten the colour with inktense pencils.
I really love it x



Otherwise I have done nothing all day apart from have a quick chat and catch up to my friend who came back from her lovely holiday, cant wait to get a proper chat and see the holiday pics :)
Nice to have her back she is fair missed.

Anyway I am signing out for now and hope you all have a lovely weekend ahead of you

Happy Crafting Love and Hugs Karen xx

Thursday 25 August 2016

Took the plunge

Today I finally after 3/4 days of adding them to a basket and removing them from my basket I bought a set of cotman watercolour 1/2 pan paints they were £27.98
(cheapest I could find in the UK)
I also bought the professional 1/2 pan of alizarin crimson as from the reviews I have read that is one of the student grade colours that just doesnt behave anywhere near the same as the professional so I bought that also and while I was there I got a faber castell sharpener (with my son Jayden they seem to grow legs) so this one will be getting hidden and finally I bought a water brush I have a few and never really used them properly so I am hoping that with doing the painting with real decent student paints I will get the proper effect out of the brush (we can but hope)
So my final bill including postage was £40.22 so I can't complain.
My eldest son Jordan actually gave me £20 to treat myself so I put it to good use (but had to keep it off facebook so Ian doesnt see, as he didnt give his dad any money lol) It is great to finally have some decent kind of bond with my eldest we have had a really rocky few years and he still has a way to go but the real him is showing through more and more and it is just lovely.

Infact to share with you all until he moved out the family home (he is now back with us thank goodness) at 16yrs old he was forever lifting money from my purse, his dads wallet any cash that was lying he would think nothing of just taking it.
Tonight he got a taste of his own medicine, Jayden had stolen £4 from his money box he had it counted as he was saving up and realised this evening that £4 was missing and although he was not going nuts he was angry and he asked Jayden who denied it anyway after about 30mins Jayden owned up that he took it and I told him off and kept him in for the rest of the evening and also told him that Jordan would get his £4 next Tuesday when Jayden gets his pocket money.
I have already paid Jordan the £4 tonight but I want to Jayden to actually realise his error and physically hand his brother back what he stole.
Later on after that was all dealt with Jordan came in for his wee blether with me, we tend to have wee chats at night before he goes out with his friends and he said "mum I am so sorry for all I stole from you and dad, I never actually realised I was costing you"  So I was really chuffed and said "its not nice is it to have money in your own home taken from you, so I am glad that in a way you have realised without it being a LOT of money because Jayden could have took a lot more I think he had £80-£90 so it was one of those nights where I felt disappointed with the wee one but on the flip side it was a good lesson for them both because now Jayden hopefully will know that it isnt acceptable and Jordan knows how it is from the otherside.

My mood today despite all the drama hasnt gotten worse, I am still plowing through the swamp 
but I am not stuck so I take everything as it comes.

done a few paintings this morning as I was awake really early and wanted to keep my mind occupied so I done these both were video tutorials by The Frugal Crafter

My version of the Lupines look nothing like Lindsay's but it was enjoyable to paint and actually get the colour on the paper. This is definitely one painting I was to try and improve on as I do love the vibrancy and the feel of it x


My shocking version of Hollyhocks the leaves are just horrid and I wish I could just fussy cut them out but I cant so it is one for the I tried pile and thats part of the learning process aint it.
The actual flowers and the buds I like and feel that they have some depth to them but they are definitely jumping off beginner points.
But I want to share them so that others can see we all start off somewhere.
I am my own worst critic and will say where I think I have went wrong before anyone else can critique me, although if it is a fair and honest critique then please do say, but dont just be nasty of the fun of it as it just isnt needed.

Anyway this is another late blog but I hope that you all have had a lovely Thursday
and hope tomorrow kick starts your weekend with a smile.

I am all smiles cause my "sidekick" haha private joke
is home tomorrow from her holiday and I have fair missed her bubbles.

Anyway till tomorrow

Karen xxx

Wednesday 24 August 2016

Challenges

Today I have made a card to enter into Jakki Douglass's Challenge on her blog (the link to Jakki's blog is on the right hand side)
it was to make a christmas card but NOT to use the colours red, green, gold or silver it is much harder than is sounds lol.
I did however eventually come up with one
it is all right but doesnt have that christmas sparkle we all love and associate with Christmas.
But the metallic blue helps to at least add a little bit of glitz.

My other challenge today was a few more water colour paintings
I done a rose which I am hmmm about, the rose itself colour wise I love it, but the shape is pants.
The leaves I like they are very near what I wanted.
but defo need to work more on the rose shape, think I need to do more sketching first instead of just heading in with the brush.



Tonight I am just chilling out and watching some TV which is rare for me, but occasionally I like to just zone out and need mundane to do that.

I have not really watched much youtube this week to be honest, I have been in a but of a slump mentally and when I get like that I need to step back for a few days and take some time then I am fine again, Depression is so wearing this last week it has really been bad and I have been so low and just fed up, but I am determined not to let it win so I have done some projects today in between sleeping and just resting in bed.
It is difficult to explain to anyone who hasnt been through it how difficult just getting out the bed each day is, but I do and make sure that I can hold something in my hand with todays date and say nope I bet depression that day.

Anyway nearly midnight and my meds are starting to take effect so I will bid you all a good night and hope that tomorrow brings you all love and light and lots of crafty thoughts x 

Karen xx

Tuesday 23 August 2016

Missed a Day & Watercolour Painting

Sorry for no blog yesterday but had a wee turn through the night that knocked me a bit
I went to bed on Sunday with no meal as I wasn't hungry, I woke up about 3am for the toilet and felt really sweaty and shaky just awful clicked immediately that I had not ate and it was likely my diabetes so went down stairs and got 2 ginger biscuits and a drink of juice one bite of the biscuit and I started to heave really badly but kept trying to eat the biscuit and finally it passed once I felt better I made a roll and cold meat and went back to bed. 
I got Jayden up for school and all was fine except I felt I had gone 10 rounds with Tyson I was shattered and spent about 90% of yesterday in bed. Today I haven't done much better to be honest but today is more down to my depression than anything else, but even on really bad days like today I need to make/create something to show that despite feeling crap I won over the depression as I didn't let it stop me. I know it sounds crazy but that's my rationality on bad days x I painted my first half decent watercolour painting just A6 size poinsettia but it wasn't bad considering I sketched it and painted it myself following tutorial from the frugal crafter x I have saved some of Lindsay's simple tutorials on to a playlist and will just attempt them as I go along x the paint I have is shocking defo need new decent paints but I'll get there soon I hope x 

As promised delayed addition of my first decent watercolour painting.



Anyway short one for today as I'm not at my best x but be happy
Lots of love and hugs always Karen x 
And happy crafting xx

Sunday 21 August 2016

Shadow Box Frame & Card

Written Tutorial with Photos for

Shadow Box Frame and Card


Youtube Video Tutorial



This is an image of the final project you will achieve.
It is really pretty and so versatile with what you can do with it.

So here goes

Get a sheet of cardstock or heavy weight paper and cut it down to 11" x 11" 

Then we are going to score it on all 4 sides


score at 3/4" - 1 1/2" - 2 1/4" - 3"


Then on the top and the bottom score also at

3 3/4" & 7 1/4" but only score from the top to the 2nd score line (the 1 1/2")

then we start cutting out I have a picture below to show exactly what you are cutting out


You should then end up with the image below


Next we fold and burnish all our score lines


Then we start to construct our frame



 Then construct your frame quickly without any adhesive as we are going to mark the area inside the frame we need our paper inside to cover.


Do a small mark on each of the 4 corners where they join so you end up with the panel looking like the image below. (I forgot to photograph the next step but you take a muted designer paper and cut it to 4" x 4" and glue it on to the base ensuring to cover the 4 pencil marks you have made as this makes sure that your base will be totally covered.


the picture below shows you where to add your glue or tape to 


Here is a closer image


you will see that I have shaded in the triangle areas above the glue or tape line
these also need a little adhesive as these are the part that hold the frame down


 We then roll the sides into themselves to create a pillar 
the adhesive part will be on the base of the frame


You will end up with the frame below it that is all you are wanting you are done, just decorate how you like. but if you want to make the frame into a card keep going


Next step is cut a piece of cardstock (I have used white 280gsm)
it needs to be 5" x 6"
then score this at 5" to create a small fold like below

 then using adhesive attach the small fold to the back of your frame to give you a card


Then take a 1" x 5" strip of designer paper that you trimmed off (if you used a 12"x12" sheet to start with) and this is going to be glued on to the small white fold that is on the back of frame just to make it look neater


Like so much more professional finished look.



and now it is totally done all you need to do it decorate
I have got 2 now 3 including this one to decorate so when they are complete I will add them in to this post. I hope you have a go and enjoy it as they are superb and once you have the basics done and in your head they are so simple to make x 

Enjoy and Happy Crafting xx



Sunday- my day of rest



Well today I was awoken at 5.30am with the dog grumbling (his sign that someone we know is outside the house) so I got up and checked the CCTV nope nothing there (it checks our backdoor and car) so went to the front door and could see shadows through the door window and asked before opening the door "who's there" - mum its me Eugene (my eldest son wanted to change his name to Eugene and has done to everyone else except direct family we still call him Jordan)
anyway he was supposed to be staying with friends after they had been out for a drink.
So I opened the door and let him and his friend Scott in (Scott is like an adopted son he stays here more often than not) and then I turned to walk straight back up to bed but low and behold I couldnt fall back over, I was awake, so I came into the craft room and watched a bit of tv nothing major, Fridays episode of Eastenders and a documentary.
Ian was up early for work so had a blether to him then went back to bed as my bones are sore today.
When jayden woke up he snuggled into bed with me and watched home alone (one of his favorite movies) not that I hear much of it, Jayden is a proper chatterbox, he talks and then talks some more about stuff thats totally irrelevant. 
But I just love that wee snuggle time it is really special so I cherish them all even when im exhausted and just want to sleep.

So my plans for the rest of the day is now eat some noodles for lunch
then attempt a card for make a card monday, my series on card making for my youtube channel.
Tonight we have the school routine make sure his uniform is ironed and shoes polished etc etc.
such a adventurist life I lead lol x

Anyway I hope you all have a wonderful sunday and
sending you all lost of love and hugs always Karen xx

Happy Crafting x 

Saturday 20 August 2016

Hedgehogs and Trolls

Wow Saturday already how did that happen lol
Anyway an early rise for us here today, Jayden has gone over to his nana and papa's for church
Ian is working over that way so he drops him in early and collects him when he finishes.

My sister put up this message on facebook

My poor boy, he is such an animal lover and loves all types so to find this will have really upset him, cant wait to give him a wee hug when he comes home tonight.

I have also been browsing and keeping check on facebook and blogs that have been targeting my friend and also me and a few others, and yet again despite the fact that my friend is in a cruise with her fabulous husband and gorgeous daughter with not a care in the world and isnt online.
This "person" is still commenting and hilariously it is about trolling!!! 
My blog, and my friends blog have no negativity (bar this one as I felt it only right to say)
There is no mention of dislike for anyone or anything in that nature yet!!! the person who is CLAIMING to being "victimised" trolled has numerace messages on their blog and various places online about being a victim and being bullied yet has not one viable piece of proof to substantiate the claim, I have nothing to reproach myself about as I know 100% that my IP addy, and my parents IP addy (the only two places I am EVER) are totally free of having sent any messages or derogatory posts so I can 100% swear that it is all a figment of their very vivid imagination.
That said I am recording and documenting everything negative posted in relation to the allegations as they have already believe it or not reported the "offence" to the police.
I honestly cannot for the life of me understand why people need to waste officers time on such petty and irrelevant (and non existent)  stories.
This person feeds on attention and the best type they can get is pity, I find it terribly sad that in such a wonderful community (crafting) that such negativity can be allowed to fester.

I have had disagreements in the past with people online, difference of opinion crossed words and I have simply unfriended/followed/subscribed and blocked them from my social media and moved on, I havent given the issue any further headroom as it then allows negativity and dislike into your thoughts and that to me is not worthwhile, I much prefer to have good thoughts and positive ideas in my mind, especially due to my mental health having depression I have enough negative thoughts to contend with in my "real" life without allowing my "online" life being plagued too.
I have made so many good and LIFELONG friends online and they know about me warts and all we share similar interests and can confide in each other and support each other without feeling you are burdening family or close friends who may also be struggling with the same issue.

I do have agoraphobia which is why I mentioned above about only 2 IP addy's I use EVER because that is the 2 places I go but that said I have not been over my front door (or backdoor) since 19th July 
almost 5 wks, when I feel like this I tend to retreat and stay couped up in my safe haven,
And usually that includes not even going downstairs, I go from my bedroom, craftroom and bathroom. I have my mobile phone which only a few people have that number as I get anxious having to answer and speak to people.
So being online and having the arms length contact with extended family and friends is fantastic as it helps me to feel that im not a recluse that I am still conversing with others and being able to have a common interest in crafts etc is just wonderful.

Anyway I will leave it here for today and can assure you that this topic is not one I like speaking about but I feel sometimes we need to express ourselves and let others see that their is 2 sides to every story (even if our side is we havent got a story lol) 
I would love for this person to MOVE ON with their life and allow us to do the same without having the same hurdles thrown in our path continually.

So sweeties I will speak to you all tomorrow :) 
Lots of love and hugs Always Karen 
Happy Crafting xxx



Friday 19 August 2016

Scrimpys Challenge and Class Dojo

Another late blog today sadly
I have been feeling a tad tired today so been in bed most of it reading, this week after reading Harry Potter and the Cursed Child last week I am rereading the Harry Potter Collection, I am 3/4 of the way through Order of the Phoenix it is a nice easy book to reread as the characters are already in your head and as you read you can almost hear their voices which is good.

I have filmed this tag as a process/tutorial in 3 sections, in my house getting peace to film one continual video is near on impossible so it is in 3 parts which for the actual look of the tag is a LONG time lol x but I do like to show warts and all helps people to see my thought process behind them x 

So here is the tag I have made and some close up pictures 


I have used papers from First Edition Rose Garden (Also the 2 small tags in the back are from the paper pad), I used Victorian Velvet Distress Ink Pad around the whole tag and on the small sentiment
All the laces and trims came from Scrimpy's Lace Closet of Zibbet
I have been a loyal customer of Amanda's for many years now and the main reasons are
Value for money, Amazing customer service, and Beautiful products I genuinely love,
I now also design for the store but I can 100% assure you that I do buy LOTS of Amanda's products so I can be honest and say that they are amazing quality.




Hope you like the tag and keep your eye on my youtube channel (link is on the side →)

Also I spoke the other day about my son's class now using an app/website for interacting with parents day to day so here is a wee picture of Jayden's week

I really like it that they have stipulated his positives and negatives and it believe it or not (yes only day 3 mind you) he is working hard to keep it up :) can not be a bad thing.
the comment at the bottom is just one of 10 each achievement good or bad is logged and it really does give you a good insight into everyday life for the kids in the classroom.

Videos last night I watched a few Caroline Withington had a spellbook journal (which I loved)
I am a big believer in natural healing and for lack of a better word Wicca / White Magic, I believe you get back what you put out, give out good and kind and you get that back.
Anyway the journal was really well made and VERY inspiring definitely something that I would be keen to try.
I watched Annemarie Collin's updated junk journal she has done so well with it and I really love that it is made from things that would most likely have been landfill. Amazing
 This morning I have been watching our Dee AKA Blackcatcrafts13
Now this woman is an absolute genius with mini albums she has just added a new video with 2 mini albums made for a lady who was having twins, she used graphic 45 precious moments paper line and my god stunning is not the word, honestly she is AMAZING I was literally speechless.
how a major paperline hasnt snapped her up for design team work is beyond me as she is just phenomenal.
Also watched Lindsay's newest video The Frugal Crafter which I think is fabulous for RAK's or as a wee extra for presents maybe work friends or neighbours etc.
Another favorite of mine is Stacey at Scrapbooking Made Simple
she is one of the sweetest people you could wish to meet, I wish I lived in California just to pop into the store and have a blether, she is just your average mom who is working hard in a job she loves.
her videos are weekly and they are usually about 1hr long but although she does product focus tutorials she drums home to you that you use what you have, save money where you can and the techniques she shares with us all is just unreal, she has her own line of dies and stamps etc and I do wish I was over there but shipping to the UK is just too expensive because her own products are just heavenly and the prices are better than anyone else on the market.
So if you havent checked out SMS please do I am sure you will love it just as much as me.

Anyway thats it for today, I am heading to post pictures of my tag over on scrimpys and remind people of the challenge and then I am going to go back to bed and lie down with my book :)
Until tomorrow be well x 
Love and Hugs Always Karen xx 




Thursday 18 August 2016

Housing and Shoutouts

Well I am late in posting today I have been sleeping a fair bit today I am really tired.
But other than that I have been making up a blog for a good friend of mine (who I will of course name once it is ready) but it is looking really clean and fresh she wanted something simplistic which I hope I have achieved for her.
I also printed off a new housing application, I applied for a house through a letting agency in June but someone elses application was successful (I dont agree with the way they let out their houses all the applicants apply then the landlord gets the applications and chooses a tenant, but.... the house is perfect for us) but yesterday when doing another search the house was back up for let (so the tenant obviously backed out) so I need to go back through the application process again.
It is not ideal but I do think the house is ideal for us, it has 4 bedrooms (one for me, one for my craftroom and a bedroom for the boys and a games room for the boys )
plus it is on a ground floor no stairs for me to climb, also means my dad can visit (he struggles with stairs and my bathroom is upstairs) their is a school literally 2mins walk from the house.
I am not pinning my hopes on it again but.... it would be great but I am continuing to look at other properties but only taking one which is better than where we are not going to take the first one available just to get away from here.
but I will keep you upto date with what happens.
Otherwise I have just been packing up some cards I have been making and stamping them with my personal handmade by stamp (think it just looks better)


Jayden came home from school yesterday with a new app/website that the school are part of now it is called Classdojo
and basically it is like a daily digest of how the classroom is doing and giving parents the chance to see how their kids are doing day to day without waiting for a report card or parents evening,
the teacher posts photos of what they are doing in class, like today they were learning about inventions and inventors who have made things for the home and asking the kids how important they were. so it gives you a chance to speak to the kids more about their school day which is fantastic because normally jaydens response when you ask him what did you do at school today? he replies "nothing" so I really like it. each parent has their own logging in details and a code so only you can access your childs personal progress (like behaviour and their achievements)
so it is very safe.

I highly recommend it to friends who are teachers or PTA members to discuss the use of it in their classes.

I have been watching some youtube videos yesterday and today so going to give a wee shout out to some of them and hopefully let you see some new talent or people who you might have forgotten about.
So here goes, Annemarie Collins has a fantastic new bag altered into a junk journal it is fabulous
such a good project and is very inspiring.
Melissa Hatten had a lovely new card tutorial up, using a stampin up set and embossing technique,
Mel is a very good friend of mine and is also a stampin up rep and has been showing the most amazing cards she is so talented and gives you lots of new ideas.
Kelly Donovan is another amazing crafter who I watched a lot of her videos yesterday (I have missed a lot recently) and also watched her daughters channel Emily Jo Donovan who is a lovely girl doing videos on skincare/beauty and make up etc (defo not my priority but she is a sweet kid who deserves all the encouragement in the world)
 lastly I love watercolour videos it is something I would absolutely love to perfect and for christmas this year I am going to get a student grade pallet to get me started properly, I do have some paints that were sent to me by the lovely Ann Chambers and I enjoy using them but they have a lot of fillers in them and dont give much info on the pigments used etc. 
I have looked at the cotman set of 45 half pans to learn on, with the option to then replace with artist quality half pans when I have money to do that.
Anyway waffling, but as always I love Lindsay The Frugal Crafter she is just amazing and such a fab energy and so passionate about the art of painting with what you have and can afford not telling you to go out and sell your home just so that you can paint with posh materials. which I love, and if Lindsay thinks cotman is good enough for her students then they will do me just fine ;)
I have also be watching The Spin Doctor he is more into the science of paint and gives much more details on how the paints do what they do which I find interesting, I did actually do art at school but not watercolour it was acrylic and I hated it mainly due to the fact that it was so boring still life painting not for me I love to paint from imagination or from references photos but use my own interpretation of the image. I loved a lot of the history side of art and always have done and even after I left school I would buy books on Monet (who is my personal favorite artist) Picasso, Da Vinci I am inspired by so many of them but Monet I love his colours and his interpretation of his work.
So to be able to get into watercolour and be able to create something decent will be fantastic, I have ordered some watercolour paper this evening (20 a4 sheets) which I will chop down to postcard size and a5 and start to "try" and do some painting.

Anyway I have rambled on long enough (bet you wish I had posted earlier lol) but hey gives you something to read ;)

Lots of Love and Hugs always Karen 

Wednesday 17 August 2016

Happy Together

Another VERY early rise for me it is 4.20am and I have been awake over 2hrs but am using the time wisely and being productive.

Yesterday I completed my parents ruby wedding anniversary canvas and I just LOVE IT
so pretty but not too overly decorated it has a nice balance to it,
Normally I upload all my pictures to facebook and instagram, twitter but this project is being posted exclusively here so my mum doesnt see it ;) 

The finished product x I have detailed close ups that I will describe in more depth.

I am the eldest daughter and then my sister Laura is 4yrs younger and my brother Eugene is 8yrs younger so the hearts signify us in sizes the small diamantes signify our kids (I have 2, Laura has 1 and Eugene has 2) all the hearts were painted and then coated with glamour dust glitter paint in sizzling red and coated with a layer of glossy accents.

The flowers are a mix of the colour tones used in the project Red's and White/Creams I have very lightly dabbed some glamour dust paint in the same red on to some of the red flowers it just gives a subtle hint when the light catches it. in between the flowers there is some bead spray, some crystal beads, and rhinestones tucked in here and there and also the word bead ALWAYS x 

The word love I got from The crafting Insomniac and I just love it x
treated the exact same way as the hearts x 
The butterflies I have embossed a silver filigree butterfly using tinsel red (by Papermania) and I gave it 2 coats and it worked out great, the silver it pretty but it didnt go with the rest of the canvas.
but I then felt the solitary butterfly was out of place so I dug out some smaller paper die cut butterflies that were sent to me by the beautiful Geraldine Reardon, who is littlesnippets1 on YouTube x I again used the embossing powder but it didnt work as well so I ended up painting them with 2 layers of the glamour dust paint and it worked a treat.

The words Happy Together again were from The Crafting Insomniac and I also painted them the same way as the hearts and the Love word but I didn't gloss over these words (to add some subtle textural differences)



The image is from my parents wedding day (im in my mummies tummy say helloooo)
but I had a heart template that I drew around and trimmed the photo to the heart shape, I then layered it on to red glitter card stock (handmade I may add ended up with a vinyl feel to it) and then using my eye (not the greatest) trimmed it to a nice border around the image.

I used a paper from the first edition J'adore which is so pretty and I have hoarded for a long time,
and to soften the Vibrant red glitters I chose to add cheesecloth/muslin behind many elements and again I think it worked perfectly, I added a cream pearl trim around the edge of the canvas to help disguise the harsh white canvas colour. I also dotted some diamantes here and there on the canvas to again just add a little bit of sparkle but defo not over done.
Muslin, pearls, and flowers and embellishments have been bought from Amanda Charlesworth at Scrimpy's Lace Closet x 

I know my Dad will love it Mum will too but like I have said she is not a sentimental person she is very functional.

Other news my baby starts Primary 6 today!!!!
I have no clue how he got so grown up, but he is looking forward to it,
by 3pm that will most certainly have worn off, Jayden is absolutely not an academic he is very hands on, loves being outdoors and learning about "real things" wish the UK education department would look into more outdoor education within the curriculum x As he learns very much so as a see learner than a read learner. but for now he just needs to grin and bare it ;)

Myself have got gum ache lol I have a small nerve problem where a tooth cracked and didnt come out in full so part of the tooth is still in my gum with the nerve being raw but it will die down ina  few days it always does x 

Right I am off got a few videos to upload x some links to the people mentioned in my post today

Lots of love and hugs Karen xxx