Christmas Present TIme - Lizzie Versus Nigella!!!!

What fun, I have had several days off work, (excluding today when the re run for Luton happened - and yes we go the right day this time!)

Anyway, we were away at the weekend in Presteigne and had a lovely time, I then went Christmas shopping Monday with my cousin and aunt and had a lovely day.  I was all inspired after popping into Lakeland what fab baking equipment they have.  Now for those who know me, you will know that I usually make some of my presents.

I am very sorry to say that I have done it again this year - don't panic though, other than the much loved chilli jam (which you have all ordered this year) I am only making pate and as a new addition to the gift list this year I have decided to have a go at making some Christmas fairy cakes and some truffles.

Now Debbie if you are reading this LOOK AWAY NOW!!! Ha Ha I know you will read it......

I have had a go at making some Christmas Pudding truffles.  I have NEVER made anything like this before in my life and I have to say I quite enjoyed the experience, not much cooking required, massive opportunities to lick the bowl, spoon, fingers, work top etc etc and the results taste fantastic, I am not even sure they will last long enough to give as gifts.....I may have to make more.

The original recepie for these is in a Nigella Christmas book, now mine look nothing like Nigellas, I think I need far more practice on the Chocolate dripping - but I think you will agree, not a bad job for someone who can't see past their nose!

I reckon a bit more practice with the white chocolate, and decorations and I will be there, of course I can not promise the same for the cup cakes!!!

xoxox

We won AGAIN

I seem to have hit a little patch of luck - I have had 3 wins on raffles and a quiz and am chuffed to bits, the prizes may only be small but it is the winning I am most pleased about.

My good friend Debbie has often said that if we are in a room and there is a prize draw she would sit next to me because she knows I will win - mostly she has been right, but I do share my prizes!

I hope I have not jinxed myself now!!!

xoxoxo

Funny Story

Well we went to Luton yesterdayy, it took us ages and ages to get there as the traffic was awful and guess what? - The meeting is next week!!!!!!

xoxoxo

Off to Sunny Luton

Even though my cold has come back to haunt me and I feel horrid (all together now......ahhh)  I can still muster up some excitement for my trip to Luton tomorrow.

No I am not excited about Luton, but I am excited about testing my new camera equipment. 

Thanks to James in our IT department I am all set to go, I have my laptop, my camera, my magnification software, and what is more it will all work now away from the BDC network!! Weyhey.

So the great news is I will be able to see the presentations from the back of the room on my lap top... how cool is that and what's more, I will probably see more of it than if I was sat at the front........

Let's just hope that it is not too icy in the morning for our trip, my boss Sue is picking me up at the very early hour of 7am!  EEEK that means  I have to get up extra early to get ready.

I had better be off to bed then as I do need my beauty sleep (OK you don't all have to agree!)

Oh almost forgot, I have spotted that the new Kit of the month is now available from Stampeezee, I will be ordering mine tomorrow (even though I have not done the other one yet, I will get round to it eventually LOL)  The December kit looks fantastic and I can not wait to get mine!

xx

A Bit of Digi Scrapping

It has been AGES since I did anything like this, and yes the page is just a tiny bit basic but I had to start somewhere.  I had forgotten just how much I loved digital scrapbooking.  Of course you could easily re create a page like this using real products.

The papers and embellishments are all part of some kits I downloaded way before I started having eye problems, but now I have some super duper software on my computer I can digi scrap again and actually see what I am doing.

I am really inspired now to create more - especially as Kate and Eamonn are expecting their first baby!  How exciting, I know what it is but I am not saying! 

 I hope you like it

Life Just Passes Us By

I know I said I would do some projects at the weekend but as the title of this blog goes - "Life Just Passes Us By"

I seem to spend all my time these days either working (which obviously we have to do to pay our way and keep our sanity) and sleeping, there seems to be no in between!  Don't get me wrong I love my job, I really do but I must make some time for me!

I was getting myself all worked up about my blog and the fact that I have not posted much recently, and then I thought STOP why put pressure on yourself.  Yes it is nice if people read it and yes it is nice to be able to share creative ideas and thoughts with others BUT I don't have to BLOG all the time and I should not worry if I have not done it for a while.

My dad asked me recently why I BLOG, the simple answer is that it makes me feel better.  I have kept a paper diary off and on for years and I truly believe that writing your thoughts and feelings down is a good thing.  I still keep a diary, all though these days I use a computerised version, mainly because my hand writing has got worse as my eyesight got worse and I write things in there I would never dare put on my public BLOG.  Even so I still like to do both, everyone should do it, it helps clear your head and put things in perspective!

Anyway enough waffle from me, have a lovely day.   Below is a little project I made a while ago, it makes me smile and makes me think of days gone by!  It is my nan, I still miss her dearly!  Everything used is available from www.stampeezee.co.uk

Bad Blogger!

I am such a bad blogger!  I feel awful as I got off to such a roaring start!

I promise to post some projects this weekend (honest!)

I have hardly been on line at all as I have been feeling so poorly and could not face looking at the computer in the evenings.  I have had the most awful cold and cough (no not swine flu, well at least I hope not)

Anyway, I am quite excited, I have ordered Debbies new kit of the month (http://www.stampeezee.co.uk/) and I can not wait for it to come!

Until the weekend!

xxx

Are We Mad ?

Well, I have a long (ish) weekend off from work.  I managed to book Monday off at short notice and originally we were going to go to Devon.  Of course not having any children we forgot it was half term!!  Several hours of frustrating calls later - we could find no where to stay (well not that we wanted to stay in, nor places that would take our dogs).

So we have decided to go local - yep we are trotting just a few miles up the road, doing a nice walk around Abberley ruins then spending the night at the Manor Inn, where apparently the food is good and we can take our dogs!  Below is a picture of the Mannor Inn (looks nice eh!)

The only trouble is  -  well have you looked outside?  It is pouring down, we are going to get soaked!!! Oh well never mind.

Wish us luck.

xx

My very first BLOG AWARD Woooohooo

I am so excited,  I have today received my very first BLOG AWARD from my wonderful friend Debbie.

I have never been given an award like this before, so thank you.  As some of you know I used to be a regular blogger BUT when I had a bit of a bad run last year and the year before so I stopped blogging for a while.   Thanks to Debbie and her lovely daughter Grace I am now back in the swing of it and even doing a bit of crafting too!  Now apparently the way this is supposed to work is that I now pass on this award to 5 other people, I would have passed it right back to Debbie but as she gave it to m I am not sure that I can so here goes:

I would like to pass this award onto:

Dancing Angel - Grace as she is a super blogger, excellent crafter and an inspiration as she is only 12!

Karen Lines - from KSL Creative, she is such an inspiration, forever cheerful and never short of an idea for crafting (come on Karen when are we ever going to get together for a bit of crafting!)

Sheena Douglas - My old (well not literally of coure) Particraft buddy, wow Sheena look at all the wonderful things you have done!

Sue- Who is now heading up Paricraft, she is fun, fabulous and is doing a much better job than I ever could have done in a million years, of course she is also super talented!

Last but not least I would like to award my good friend Paul Church, who whilst his website is not technically a blog, he does post on it to tell everyone what he is up to and where he will be, I honestly do not know where he finds the time - or energy, must be all of thoe jaffa cakes!!!

Thanks Debbie for being such a good friend to me and making me feel so loved!!

xx

Cup Cake Tag

I found the bits to make this cup cake tag whilst clearing out my old craft room (which is now a dining room and soon to be the spare bedroom again)!  I forgot just how much I love mini tags and little projects like this one.  In fact this tag cheers me up as the weather has been so awful today!  It is made with Printworks stamps but if you can't get them anymore there are stacks of other little stamps that are similar.  It is great as you can use up all sorts of little bits of left over ribbons etc.   Everything I used to make it came from stampeezee. 

I will hopefully have another project uploaded for you at the weekend and perhaps even some blog candy too!

A good pampering!

I am not normally one to go for all those faddy face powders and creams, what you see is what you get with me!  However yesterday on my way back from a course in Birmingham I was early so I decided to have a little wander around Redditch Town Centre.

I needed a few bits n bobs and was feeling a little down in the dumps so I took a trip into the body shop.  The lady in there was so lovely and helpful and not pushy at all.  She showed me loads of lovely things and I bought a little tester kit of seaweed face products. 

Well let me tell you they are fantatic, I used them last night and again this morning and then again tonight and the difference in the look and feel of my tired old (well 36 years old) skin is dramatic.  What is more they are all fair trade products and produced in an eco friendly way.

If you feel like treating yourself I can certainly vouch for them! 

xxx

Crazy Day

Do you ever get one of those days where you just wish you could start again?  Yep, well I certainly had one of those today!

I am not usually one to get down about things but today I really wanted to bury my head under the duvet and stay out of the way.  In fact it felt very much like Friday the 13th!

Oh well, on a more positive not, how about this for a bit of a relax, inky fingers and some satisfying crafting!

I love this card, I have made it for my dad for his birthday (whoops!  hope he does not read this, his birthday is not until December!!!)

I have used a mixture of masking, brayering and sponging to get the background and then a selection of Stamps from Particraft, all the ink (mostly addirondak) and the little brads and punched embellishments, card stock etc is from Stampeezee

Ahh I feel better already!  xxx

Project - Make Your Own Jewellery Stand

Hi All,

Well I realise that my posting here is somewhat sporadic but I am awake super early so thought I would post a little project for you.  I absolutely loved making this, I originally did it for a TV show on Ideal World but with Christmas fast approaching I thought now would be a good time to share it with you.

It is made from an old jewellery stand that had seen better days.  With today's economy why not dig some old items of household stuff and revamp them!  This will take you an afternoon to make but it is well worth it!

For this project you will need:

Old Jewellery Stand, Basic Craft Kit, Air Dry or some other clay, Gold Paint (if your clay is not gold), WS Designs Templates, Bodice and Fan Panel, Fantasy Film or shiny paper, Fancy paper of your choice for the skirts, ribbon roses, cream pearl card, red high tack tape, dries clear glue, Brilliance pearlescent beige ink pad, a favour net, cream ribbon and an afternoon.

Everything you need for this project can be purchased from my favourite craft shop Stampeezee

Step 1


Tidy up your jewellery stand with paint if needed, form a rough piece of padding for the middle with air dry clay, paint the clay if necessary and leave to dry.  If you have not got clay pad out with some firm sponge.  This will help give your finished stand some form and make your skirts puff out.







Step 2

Take an old loo roll centre and paint it gold, wrap it around you rough central piece tightly using double sided tape.  This helps give a solid point to stick to later

Step 3

Draw around the WS Designs Fan Panel Template onto your chosen fancy paper and onto some fantasy film to match your colour scheme.  You will need approx 15 to 20 panels in all, more if you want to make your finished skirt quite full.  To get the most out of your paper or film top and tail the panels, you dont need to draw the top circular piece on the fan.  Also when drawing on your film, use a permanent pen.  On some of your paper layers cut out the heart too so that the fantasy film will show through

Step 4

Draw around the WS Designs Bodice Template onto your chosen pearl card stock, you will need to do this twice as the stand has a back and a front.  Remember to follow the instructions on the template and to score and fold the top of each boddice.  If you have not used a textured card to start with then you can run the pearly card through an embossing machine like a cuttle bug or a sizzix.

Step 5

To add some interest to this gently run a pearlescent beige ink pad across just the raised parts of the bodice

Step 6

Place your finished bodice pieces onto the jewellery stand so that you an mark out where the bottom of the bodice comes to, actually you are looking to mark the three points of the bodice seen above so that you know where to start attaching your skirts

Step 7

Run high tack tape where your mark is and any where else you feel appropriate so that we can attach the favour net.  The favour net helps fluff out your skirts and adds interest at the bottom of the finished stand

Step 8

Attach your skirts in layers so that you can see the fantasy film through the heart shape.  You only need to attach the top of the skirts as you want the bottoms to stay loose.  You can attach either with some dries clear glue (not too much though) or I prefer to use red high tack tape

Step 9

Your highest layer should come above your earlier mark and you need to tape it all quite flat using a big strip of normal clear tape, you really want it to look like a waist and the tighter you tape it the better your under layers will puff out

Step 10

This next bit is really only cosmetic and you dont have to do it, I just thought it would be nice to see some of the lovely gold from the film through the bodices so I scrunched up a wadge of left overs and stuck them around the top of the skirts in a wad to create a sort of padded area.  The peg was there to hold it in place until the dries clear glue had dried

Step 11

Hold both of your bodices together and punch two or three small holes in each side, thread one side loosely with cream thin ribbon

Step 12

Attach the bodice to the stand by lacing up the other side of the bodice, finish off each side with a nice bow or leave the long ribbons

Step 13

Add some ribbon roses or paper roses in a complimentary colour, you can use silicone or dries clear, which ever you like

Step 14

Plump up your skirts, add a few gems if you want to and stand back and admire your handy work!

Can You Help?

This last week has really been a revelation to me!  I have been investigating the possibility of some help at work with equipment etc to help me see better and do my job.

I honestly did not think I would need it but these last few months I have been coming home with real head aches and my eyes have been so sore, the final straw was realising that I needed another change of glasses, someone at work kindly pointed me in the direction of access to work, so I phoned them.

They sent this fantastic chap out called Patrick Adams, who is blind himself, what an inspiration, It makes my tiny little problem pale into insignificance, anyway he suggested all sorts of stuff that might be of benefit to me.  Today the first company came out to demonstrate some of the equipment available and boy how fantastic, I can not believe how much easier things will be for me without me having to struggle to see properly.  Especially reading documents and when I have to go to training events.  It makes sense having this stuff as it will take a massive strain of my eyes and perhaps will help them stop getting any worse! (well we can live in hope)

I also can't believe that these products and services are not well known!  It is a crying shame that people could be helped and given tools to make their lives easier, and that there is money there to help people who need this sort of equipment, but no one suggests it!

For the last 18 monthsI have been backwards and forwards to the hospital, to the opticians and to low vision clinics and not once has anyone suggested any of this stuff, which would have been available.  Of course I knew about access to work, but it was not emphasised just how much they could help out with equipment, only really with travel. 

Apparently if we lived in France, the minute you are diagnosed with conditions that affect your sight and glasses are not always that effective, you are introduced this sort of equipment at the start.  After talking to the equipment company today, it is common place here that no one really suggests equipment and companies supplying that equipment that could help you.  He said that it is a massive problem and all they want to do is make peoples lives better.  He said that there is this huge pot of money which is under utilised!

I can not stand to think of others struggling on, especially those with much worse problems than mine, I am on a mission now to try and get knowledge of these products and services out there so others can benefit from them too.

If anyone can suggest a way to help me do this I am open to suggestions!

Lizzie

xxxxxxx

OK OK I can not settle

Sorry guys but I have changed my template again, I was having a bit of trouble with the other one getting things lined up and the right size, so until I can fix it I am back to basics!

You will notice though that I have managed to upload some pictures of card samples and I am hoping to get more projects on in the coming week. 

If you like any of the card samples, everything used is available from http://www.stampeezee.co.uk/

I am off to Ally Pally for the Big Stamp and Scrapbook show this weekend and I am really looking forward to it.  It will be the first show I have been to in ages, if you are going, stop by and say hi, I will be on the WS Designs stand.

Thanks also to Gracie, who is such a support to me and a major inspiration, she has a super blog called dancing angel and is a talented card maker, why not stop by her blog and check it out!

http://gracie-dancingangel.blogspot.com/

OK I am officially rubbish!

 I know I am officially rubbish at posting, it has been a really strange few weeks BUT I am on top of tings now and am HONESTLY going to make a real effort tonight to post some interesting bits and photots to my blog.  For starters, here is a mini book I did in a class for Debbie at Stameezee, absolutley everything used is available from http://www.stampezee.co.uk/ the stamps are one of my favourite sets from Unity Stamps (also available at Stampeezee.  I will hopefully update this post later on with full instruction on how to make this minibook!.

I have not forgotten

I just wanted to post a quick note to say that I have not forgotten about uploading projects!  To be honest I do not know where last weeken went and this week went in a blur of hospital visiting andworking.  Marks dad has had a new knee and well lets just say Mark and I have been run off our feet.  But I promise I will try really hard to get some bit uploaded this week.

Thanks for all your patience!

xxx

Good Morning All

I know that I keep changing my blog background BUT I am trying to come up with one I am really happy with an AT LAST I think I have got it!

Thank's to everyone who has emailed me so far to say ABOUT TIME you started blogging again, and for saying you missed me.  I really appreciate your support.  The good news is I have some time now (not to mention new glasses) so I can start uploading projects and information again for you.

I will be working through some of your favourite step by steps today and getting those on, then I will work on some new ones.

Don't forget to become a follower.

xxxxx

A fantastic Weekend

Don’t you just love a good night out? I know I do, in fact it was a full day and it was fantastic.I went to Stratford Races with a group of friends on a hen do. Rachel Hinks is getting married next year and decided to have her hen party whilst the weather was still good. We all got glammed up and totted off to the races. Everyone made a real effort and looked fantastic. 

Of course we had to take the official HEN mascot Roger More, he does like to get about a bit and rumour has it that he has now been invited to the wedding, which takes place in St Lucia in March 2010. All I can say is that I hope he does not wear his speedos!

Well we all behaved ourselves, but Roger made his TV debut on channel 4 racing and caused quite a stir at Ripples restaurant and night club. What worries me though is how much interest the men show in him!

Anyway, thanks so much to Mandy Jessop and to Katie who organised the whole affair. It was fab, I did not moon once (well I am not lying, I lost count after Sheila got on the coach after the races)

xxx

Thank Crunchie it is FRIDAY

What a wonderful thing to be able to say "Thank Crunchie it is FRIDAY!"

When I used to work for myself, and even when I worked at the NEC, I have always had a job working odd hours, long hours and weekends.

Now I work at the Council I have really started to get that Friday feeling.  I never got it before, but I do now.  I was so excited as 5pm got closer this afternoon as I knew the weekend was here and that I could have a lovely two days without thinking of work.

I am so lucky as I love my new job, but boy it is nice to have regular set days off.

This weekend I am off to a hen do at Stratford races, which I know will be really good fun.  I have never been to the races before.  I am sure we will all behave ourselves (not)  In fact we are borrowing a "prop" from my cousin Kates hen do, his name is Roger More!  (no he is not a real person, but I am sure he will provide entertainment!)

Anyway, what ever you are donig, have a good one.

xx

An Ode to IT

Our IT department are such a good bunch
They always help us out of a crunch

We raise a call and help arrives
Even when they are up to their eyes

I know the must get fed up of our calls
Probably thinking not them again, oh balls

But they never ever complain
Even though we ask for their help again and AGAIN

They are so well appreciated, I am sure everyone will agree
Thank you so much guys, from everyone and especially ME.

A Sunday dinner on a Monday!

Ohh the joys of a Sunday lunch, (yes I know it is Monday)! Mark my lovely hubby does not like the traditional Sunday roast too much, but every once in a while he gives in and enjoys one. To be honest I think he loves them really but has said he does not like them for so long, it is too late to go back!

Anyway, today I really fancied a roast and mmmmmm lovely crispy roast duck with orange sauce and fab veggies.... mmmmmmmmm. All that is left now is my home made rice pudding and the day will be complete. (Easilly pleased am I no?)

We have recently started shopping at a local farm shop and boy can you tell the difference in the flavour. The nice thing is that it is no dearer than the supermarket, in fact I think it is a tad cheaper.

I hope you have all had a wonderful Bank Holiday Monday, what a shame we have to return to work tomorrow.

xxx

Sunday's

Don't you just love Sunday's when it is a bank holiday Monday the next day?

I do, I think that there is nothing better than spending the day dossing around, then popping up the pub for a quick pint (or in my case half a pint) and not having to worry about getting up for work the next day!

lovely!