Oh My!!!

I am happy to report that there has been activity of a crafty nature going on here at Manic Towers. No pics today though....sorry. The light is awful here at the moment so I am going to dig out my daylight lamp and try that tomorrow.
A lot of the cards are only quickies as I desperately need stock for the shop. I've gone through my unfinished cards and finished those off.....and packed them....go me....lol!!!
The money I got for Christmas has been well and truly spent on some fabulous crafty goodies. The XCut sewing themed dies are now awaiting a playing session as are the new Chronology paper stack and cogs dies. I also bought the latest Creativity magazine for the free stamp set to go with the paper and I have my eye on a few more things yet such as dies, fabric paper, stamps and buttons....like I need any more......lol!!!
Tomorrow I have the Doodle Bird for the day and it should be a good day as I have spent some time over the weekend cooking stuff for the freezer to pull out for meals. This means Ruby can have all of my attention....she hates me being in the kitchen. As soon as my apron goes on she is telling me to 'take it off ganma and come and sit down'. Well tomorrow I can do just that and she will be well chuffed.
Anyway.....I had best go and get some sleep.....although I am wide awake so it will be a reading session first.
Thanks for your visit.
Sheila-x-

All Is Calm!!!

I hope you are having a lovely Christmas.
All is calm at Manic Towers today. No visitors or visiting. Just a quiet relaxing day.
That will change tomorrow as we have Ruby Doodle here for the day as both mummy and daddy are working. I think I'll try and give her a quiet day as she has had lots of excitement for the last week or so with four visits from Santa due to not being able to get everyone together for Christmas Day. We have lots of new story books and films and a beautiful farm set to play with so we'll see how it goes.
Santa was very good to me with crafty things, smelly things and money to spend on yet more crafty things.
I'm just off to sit and watch a film with Mr Manic. TV is diabolical so I'll have to dig something out of our collection.
Thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-
 

.......And Breathe!!!

This last week or so I don't know if I've been on my head, my posterior (to put it politely), or my elbows. I've been here, there and everywhere doing stuff mostly for other people and haven't had a minute to myself. Consequently I am feeling rather stressed and not at all festive but hey ho it's here now and I can breathe a bit easier knowing that the shops are shut and what we haven't got we can do without. 
Having said that we are doing without quite a lot this year as I have been deeply touched by stories in the newspapers about people who have to resort to food banks to be able to feed their families. 
I decided to look at where I could make reductions in our Christmas food shopping and spend the saved money on food to donate to the collection point when it came to our local Tesco. 
This is something I would like to carry on in the new year and I'll be researching to see if we have a local bank I can contribute to regularly either with donations or voluntary work. 
I'm no 'do-gooder' but the stories I have read have broken my heart.

Anyway......I wish you all a very Happy Christmas. Hope Santa is good to you and you get your wishes.
Love from
Sheila-x-

House Gremlins And Stuff!!!

Well The Gathering was fabulous apart from the fact that I ended up with no hot water in the kitchen due to a busted mixer tap. I could only get cold water so was filling kettles to boil for the washing up.
Got a new tap in for the plumber to fit yesterday. He arrived before nine and as hubby was here DD and I went off to town with Miss Doodle to get a few bits and bobs. When we got back the plumber was still here so I knew something was wrong. He had discovered a problem with the whole water system for the house and was having problems getting the hot water flowing. He's sorted it for now but I think we are going to have a very expensive time ahead as we will need to get it fixed permanently.
Miss Doodle has been very good today....even around town. She was a little angel. This was my last day to have her now until later next week but I'll see her Saturday as we are off to Shugborough to see Santa and I am being treated to breakfast at Frankie and Bennys before we go. I am really going to enjoy the day.
Tomorrow DD and I are off out for the day to finish off the shopping but I will be avoiding town like the plague and visiting Bridgemere and Trentham instead.
Hope you are all on track with your festive preparations.
Bye for now.
Sheila-x-

The Gathering!!!

Today is our annual gathering of the clans (our family and DDILs').
I was up faffing about until 2am then had a quick sleep until 5am.
So far I have tidied the back room, baked some ginger cookies for the goody bags and wrapped the last of the presents.
Not much to do now apart from a last minute once over on the lounge, a shower make the crumble topped mince tarts for pudding and roast some potatoes. Hopefully then I will get to have a sit down and a natter instead of spending the day welded to the cooker.
Poor Mr Manic is at work and DD has to work tonight so they are missing out a bit but today was the only day we could organise it for.
Hope you all have a fab day whatever you are doing.
Tara for now.
Sheila-x-
 

No Christmas Today!!!

I really shouldn't try and take pics at night in this back room but hey ho......I think you can get the gist of it.
A last minute order late last night which needs delivering tomorrow so I thought I would give my new Sewing Room die an airing.
Papers....I haven't a clue as I just dragged them off the shelf and got to work.
The dies for the mirror are Go Kreate and XCut.
I cut the mannequin, spool and buttons from chipboard and used a Snow Cap Dabber on them.
I think I shall be making more of these for the shop.

Today has been rather frustrating. I finished Ruby's angel costume and took it down to try it on her for length etc and everything was perfect so I said to keep it there to show London grandma who was making a flying visit. Today Mr Manic picked it up to be washed and ironed and instead of going with my instincts and giving it a gentle handwash......I put it in the washing machine on a gentle cycle and the bloody voile on the wings has frayed and the lace has come away. So the evening I was going to spend playing with a couple of new Cricut cartridges will now be spent sewing the lace back on by hand....ooooooh I could spit. And once that's done I need to tidy the workroom and get all of my stuff out of the way of the little fingers that will be here early in the morning and make a lasagne for tea tomorrow. I need a wife I think......lol!!!
Anyhoo...best get to it.
Tara for now.
Sheila-x- 

Dark And Dreary!!!

Well.....I don't think the light has been any brighter than twilight today. Not a good day to try and take pics in here. The lights have been on all day and the fire has been lit since lunchtime. DD and I have been busy doing our own jobs......she laundry and me sewing.
The dress part of the angel costume is now done. Just the wings to go and that will be a job crossed off my list. The curtains for the cottage are nearly finished and I'll just need to find some time to go down over the weekend to fit them and make sure that the Doodle family will be a little bit warmer.
So two jobs down.....1,998 to go. You know how it is at this time of year.
Mr Manic is off for three days so I expect there will be a little more Christmas shopping to do before he goes back to work and some preparation to do for next weekends visit by the London family (DDIL's mum and dad and sister plus partner). There is no way I can do a sit down meal for ten of us due to lack of space so I shall be doing a carvery with roast meats and accompaniments to have in rolls and a couple of desserts and mince pies. I'll get a head start by making the apple sauce and stuffing to freeze this weekend.
Right....I had best go and see if the fabric for the wings has dried so I can crack on with those.
Tara for now.
Sheila-x-

Christmas No 24!!!

Well, my last Christmas card for 2012.
Wreath-Cricut December 25th
Paper-Basic Grey
Flowers-Punch
Pearls-MeiFlower
I know 24 designs doesn't seem like much but they are made in multiples of 6 or 12 and using different papers within each design.
My Christmas paper stash is at an all time low now....which was what I was aiming for. At the times of their release I used to go bonkers for the Basic Grey Christmas collections and I had loads of it. Now I doubt if I could make a card with more than one paper from each collection so I think it's time to clear out what's left into the paper bags I make up for the car boot sale and start again next year with new papers.
I still don't feel much in the mood for Christmas but I'm sure it will come when I go to see Ruby in her nativity play later in the month.
Also, there is still Winter Solstice to read as one of the books we got from Tesco did turn out to be rather good so I did finish it.
DD and I have watched Miracle On 34th Street tonight as I needed a night off after a full on day with Doodle Bird but even that didn't bring on the festive spirit. Having said that though I did keep drifting off so I probably missed half of it.....lol!!!
Another busy day tomorrow with Ruby here until about 2pm and then out comes the sewing machine for a few hours before Mr Manic gets home as I have all the stuff now for Ruby's costume.
Thanks for visiting today.
Tara for now.
Sheila-x-

Doodle Takeover!!!

Today has been a bit of a non starter in the craft department as far as my own stuff goes but boy have we been crafting up a storm for Miss Doodle.
We decided to make a stack of Christmas cards for her teachers and friends at pre-school. She was really good while she was doing it but I think the repetition got to her in the end and she went off to play with some diecuts. Then we made a start on her costume for the school play so we made her halo. Just a very simple wreath of wire covered in double sided tape then plain silver tinsel followed by a wrap of silver tinsel with stars.
Tomorrow we have to nip into Derby to pick up some white fabric for her dress. My sewing machine will be going into meltdown at this rate what with curtains and costumes.
Now I just need to catch up on a couple of housey jobs before I can retire for the night.
Thanks for stopping by.
Sheila-x-

Christmas No 23!!!

 

Another Cricut card. This time I have used Doodlecharms as the card is for a little boy and it has some very cute stuff on for kids cards.

Paper is Dovecraft Basics.

Holly is a punch and the berries are some dome shaped stickers from Papermania.

Letters are cut using the Winter Woodland cartridge.

I popped down to the cottage this morning to measure up for the curtains. Miss Doodle was in a fabulous mood and we had a fun half an hour before we had to leave. I had to borrow her daddys' tape measure so while we had it out we measured Ruby to see how tall she is. At two years and nine months she measures three feet and five inches. I think she is going to be a tall girl......not surprising as daddy is well over six feet and mummy is about five feet ten or so.

Last night I came over all DG (domestic goddess) and decided to try a recipe I had seen on Barefoot Contessa for Ultimate Ginger Cookies. Well I have to say that they are without doubt the most disgusting things I have ever tasted. I think the problem is the amount of cinnamon that's added.....2tsp. It is so overpowering. They would be nicer with it left out altogether I think so I may try it again sometime. Mr Manic doesn't seem to mind them though.

I'm so cold that I think I will have to go and have a hot shower. I don't think I have been warm all day despite a wonderful lunch cooked by hubby and a fire roaring up the chimney.

Last Christmas card post tomorrow so see you then.

Tara for now.

Sheila-x-

Christmas No 22!!!

I think I'm getting near the end of my Christmas card designs for this year now. There may be a couple left to post but then I shall be on to other things.
This one is just a simple vintage style with an image from the Dover Pictura Vintage Christmas Cards collection. The girl has been printed multiple times, cut out and decoupaged.
Snowflakes are....largest and smallest Sizzix and the medium one is a punch.

Nipped out to do a bit of shopping today and it is completely mad out there. I have never seen Byrkley Park so busy. The craft shop was packed as there was a demo going on. Luckily I knew exactly what I wanted and didn't need to browse so I was in and out in no time.
Back home now and we are just about to light the fire and snuggle down for the rest of the day....me in the workroom and Mr Manic in front of the telly. Poor DD has to work a nightshift tonight so there will be no snuggling for her.
Tomorrow I am off down to the cottage to measure up for some door curtains to try and eliminate some of the draughts for DS and family so the rest of the day will probably be spent sewing.
For now I have to try and find space for all the new cardstock that arrived today so I had best get to it.
Tara for now.
Sheila-x-

Christmas No 21!!!

 My card today is another using the December 25th Cricut cartridge. I have also used a Tim Holtz embossing folder, a Martha Stewart punch and a Paper Shapers punch.

I'm a bit later blogging today as I had housey jobs and shopping to do today. Not that I was much in the mood for either after a day with Miss Doodle poorly yesterday. The poor little mite had a bad tummy. She cried all day long and wouldn't let me out of her sight even to cook the tea so we had to have an' open the cupboard and see what falls out' kind of tea.
Today she is absolutely fine came for a flying visit at lunchtime, left a mess and went again.......lol..........that's our Ruby.
My new Cricut cartridge arrived today along with a Sizzix die and some Distress Stains. Tomorrow I am expecting a delivery of cardstock and there are a few other things on order that should arrive next week. I shall be all set then for cracking on with the Valentine's, Mother's Day, Easter cards and everyday cards.
Rightio.......I am off for a shower and then I shall snuggle up in my new dressing gown and carry on with a bit more preparation work while I watch something on the computer.
Tara for now.
Sheila-x-
 

Christmas No 20!!!

For my card today I have used the I Love Cocoa and Be Merry collections from Sweet Shoppe.
The papers, mug and tag are from I Love Cocoa and the candy cane is from  Be Merry.
Snowflakes are Marianne.
The cream on the cocoa has been embellished with Puffy Stuff sprinkled with glitter.
The lady I made it for was thrilled with it.

Miss Doodle is napping so I have just been doing a bit of online crafty shopping. Another Cricut cartridge, a Sizzix die and a couple of Distress Stains and maybe more to come.....depending on how long she sleeps for. She arrived in a bit of a mood this morning so I think she may nap for a while.
Thanks for your visit.
Sheila-x-

Christmas No 19!!!

This card is one of the special orders I had in.
I've used the Tim Holtz Caged Bird die, a Marianne Pine Branch die and a McGill foliage punch.
Sentiment is Woodware and the paper is Kanban.

Well we have sunshine today and I can see quite a bit of blue sky out there. It's still pretty chilly though so I think I'll light the fire when I have done my house jobs and then I can be all snuggly in my workroom later on.
Tara for now.
Sheila-x-

Christmas No 18!!!

My card for today is made using up more bits so that they don't have to be stored until next year.
The snowflakes have been punched out for about 3 years but they are all used up now.
The papers are offcuts from a My Minds Eye stack and the deer of course is a Tim Holtz one.
The circle I stamped the greeting on is a Paintbox Poppets one and the greeting itself is from a Woodware set.

Miss Doodle has gone for the day and dinner is over and done with as I had to cook early so that DS had meals to take home. There's just me to feed when I feel like it......I don't like Toad In The Hole which is what everyone else has had so I shall have egg on toast or something later.
Ruby isn't here tomorrow so now I have lots of playtime to rack up some cards for the shop.....yay!!!
Bye for now.....and thanks for your visit.
Sheila-x-

Christmas No 17!!!

A quick and easy card to use up some leftover bits of black glitter card and the beautiful silver card.
The paper is Pink Petticoat.
Snowflakes are Marianne and an unknown punch.

I have a few more Christmas cards to post but I am now officially done with Christmas for this year. Tonight I need to start a major cardmaking spree to build up stocks of everyday cards ready for when the Christmas cards come out of the shop at the end of next month.

So much for the upstairs playroom....lol!!! We've been up there for all of five minutes this morning and dragged down half the stuff that was up there as Doodle wanted to be downstairs. The kitchen and lounge look like a hurricane has blown through so I still get to have an hour cleaning up after she has gone tonight.
Ah well I suppose it keeps me out of mischief.
I'm off for a well earned cuppa before she wakes up from her nap.
Tara for now.
Sheila-x-

Christmas No 16!!!

One more for the Cricut Winter Woodland folder.
Super cute snowman done in sort of folky type colours.
I think the snowflake I used to stamp with was a Papermania one...not 100% sure on that though.
Paper is Dovecraft.

I've not got on in the craft room as much as I would have liked to today as I had to spend the morning tidying up bags and boxes of stuff we'd bought down from the spare room to be distibuted to it's rightful place. Boy did that take an age or what? This house is not overblessed with storage space but I think I nailed it in the end.....I just daren't open certain cupboards.......lol!!!
The big tidy up was in honour of Miss Doodle and her mummy who popped round for dinner. They didn't stay too long though as Ruby is going through a bit of a phase at the moment of being frightened of things. It started off with fireworks when we had a little bonfire party on November 5th. She was terrified and I had to bring her inside and put a film on so that she couldn't hear them. Now, as well fireworks, she is frightened of puddles, spiders, Christmas trees and the initial lighting of the fire when the sticks crackle. I didn't know about that and lit the fire after lunch and she started crying and wanted to go home. Poor little sausage. I hope it's a phase that passes quickly.

Well while the chilli is for tea tomorrow is bubbling away I am off for a shower and then I won't be long out of bed as Ruby will be here all day tomorrow so I shall need to be up early.
Thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-
 

Christmas No15!!!

Another simple card today. I must admit that I am running out of patience with Christmas cards now. Just have a couple more to make.
Anyhoo this one is made using the card feature on Winter Wonderland but I removed the back panel of the card and layered the front onto silver card with a circle die cut from the middle then a bit of a Blue Peter moment with some sticky backed glittery plastic for the background.
I've done quite a few of these in various colours as they were just so quick and easy.......and since taking the pics I did decide to add a greeting.

Well the spare room is now mucked out and extremely tidy. DD and I had just about finished up there when DDIL arrived for a visit with Doodle Bird who fetched all the toys out and made a right old mess. We had to set to and tidy up again after she had gone.
Just need to get some curtains up in there now and switch the radiator back on and it will be all nice and toasty for our play times.
The weather has turned very nasty here.....very windy and thrashing down with rain......so after tea it will be a hot shower and snuggly pj's I think.
Hope you're keeping warm where you are.
Tara for now.
Sheila-x-

Christmas No 14!!!

Just a very simple card using the Tim Holtz wreath die and die cut letters.
I'm nearly done with Christmas cards now thank goodness and am looking forward to a change in colours. Mind you with Valentine's Day not far off the red will be staying where I can get at it.
The workroom is a bit of a disaster area tonight so I shall go and get it tidied up before I start on anything else.
Tara for now.....thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-

Copped Out!!!

Today I copped out of doing the spare room as DD was in bed after her night shift and by the time she gets up it's hardly worth starting anything. Instead I have been crafting away on some filling up Christmas cards for the shop stand for next week. Unfortunately I have missed the light now for taking pics so I'll do those tomorrow when I get back from shopping.
It's been pretty grim outside today so I'm glad I didn't have to go anywhere. We've had rain and quite scary wind going on.
Inside is now all twinkly and festive as DD has put up the Christmas tree. I love the silver we have changed to this year but the teal is a little bit lost against the green of the tree. Nice but not quite the impact I had hoped for so I think next year it be all silver with some splashes of white.
Well Mr Manic will be home in an hour or so and I had best go and sort out something for tea. I haven't even given it a thought until now as to what we will have so whatever it is it will have to be quick and easy.
Tara for now.
Sheila-x-
 

Christmas No 13!!!

Another Cricut card. This time using the Theresa Collins December 25th cartridge.
Holly berries are Papermania and I used a fern punch for the foliage.

Gawd I am aching today. Yesterday I got the ceiling done. Our lounge isn't huge but it felt like acres. Once that was done I went straight into laying the new flooring in the kitchen which Mr Manic went and picked up while I was painting. The cooker and washing machine had to be taken out while I laid the floor so they couldn't go back without a good scrub round the sides and back. A quick tea from the chip shop and then I had to clean up the kitchen. I think I finally managed to sit down at about 9pm. I did have helpers during the day but it's funny how quickly they disappear when the word cleaning is mentioned.....lol!!!
Today I am taking it easy and doing some crafting. There are other jobs want doing but if I start chucking myself about for a second full day I just know I will struggle to walk tomorrow.
DD has been called in to work tonight and then when she gets up tomorrow we are going to tackle the pit that is called the spare bedroom, get it all organised and then I can get a bed to put in it for Miss Doodle and then she can also play up there which will hopefully keep my lounge, kitchen and back room a bit tidier when she is here.
Right......I will love you and leave you.
Tara for now.
Sheila-x-
 

Christmas No 12!!!

Just a quickie post this morning as I must get the ceiling done today.
Today my card has been made using a vintage image from my Vintage Christmas cards collection by Dover Pictura.
Simply layered onto silver card and embellished with snowflakes (Cricut) and large blue pearls.
The border of the teal card has been punched with an EK punch called Swiss Cheese.
Right.....I had best go and get my painting clothes on.....oh joy....lol!!!
Tara for now.
Sheila-x-

Christmas No 11!!!

My card for today is another one using the Winter Woodland Cricut cartridge.
The background has been simply stamped using the Papermania Home For Christmas six inch background stamp and Black Cherry StaZon.
The snowflake is a Marianne die embellished with a large red gem.
I think this is my favourite card this year.
Thanks for your visit.
Sheila-x-

Christmas No 10!!!

I love this Stampendous stamp so much!!!
Here I have stamped it onto smooth white card then used a very nifty trick to get the centre coloured without masking or having to stamp two images.
......and here is how I did it.......
Take a sheet of white fun foam and stamp two images in black StaZon. Allow to dry for a couple of minutes and then cut out the centre ovals around the second line in. Glue the two ovals together, printed sides facing and voila......the perfect stamp to add colour to the centre of the image.
The poinsettia is Tim Holtz Tattered Poinsettia.
Paper is Basic Grey.
I added a bit of twinkle with a blue glue pen and loose glitter.

It's been a fab day today here at Manic Towers although a tad cold.
I woke up to quite a heavy frost this morning which was very pretty but a bit nipsy on my toes.
The laundry is under control and I have done crafting and tidying so I am a happy bunny today.
Tomorrow I have a ceiling to paint which is one of the week off jobs I had forgotten about. Not looking forward to that with Mr Manic under my feet.....lol!!!
For now though I have to go and cook a meal. Having forgotten to eat lunch.....I shall be ready for it when it's done.
Tara for now.
Sheila-x-

Christmas No 9!!!

Today I have used my new Winter Woodland Cricut cartridge to cut the skates and the snowflakes.
The paper is Basic Grey and the image.....sorry I can't remember where it came from and it looks like I have lost it now after an over enthusiastic deleting session. If anyone knows where I can get hold of it again I'd love to know.
Sentiment is Papermania.

Today I have spent an obscene amount of time making embellishments for just one card. It is a special order but blimey it ain't going to make me rich that's for sure.
The order for seventy cards is done, dusted and delivered and now I just have to finish off the eight specials for the same customer. I was waiting until I had been to the NEC and bought some new stuff as I was really low on stocks of everything Christmas.
Tomorrow I have housey jobs to do but luckily it's mostly laundry so while it's swishing around I can be crafting and I'm not cooking a proper Sunday lunch as it's a pain up the proverbial with DD needing feeding at 5pm and then Mr Manic at 7pm who doesn't like roast potatoes warmed up so they have to be done fresh. I'm not in the mood for being stuck in the kitchen 'til nearly bedtime so I put me foot down and said that we will have our roast on Monday when we are all here to eat at the same time.
I'm going to have to fetch my Winter Solstice down to read I think. These new Christmas books just aren't doing it for me at all I'm afraid.
Right well I am in the mood for a milky coffee......naughty....but very nice.....so I will go and make myself one.
Tara for now.
Sheila-x-
 

Cut, Cut, Cut!!!

Well I have been putting my new Cricut Expression through it's paces over the last couple of days. I am mightily chuffed with it I must say. Not that I haven't used one before as I had a half share in one with Deb when I was at Monks Den but I am really getting to grips with it now.
Doodle Bird and I made some giant snowmen today and we had a whale of a time.
Can't wait for the weekend to get some of this cut stuff assembled and made into cards.
The housey list for next week has grown somewhat as there were one or two jobs that need doing which I forgot all about. Luckily DD is off with me so we should soon get them done.
Trying to get in the mood for Christmas with some festive books we picked up at Tesco over the last couple of weeks. They are not working yet.....lol!!! I think a lot of my total disinterest in the whole thing is due to the fact that DD, DS and some of DDIL's family will be working over Christmas so we don't have a family gathering to look forward to on the day itself. We are getting together the week before but it won't be the same as Mr Manic will be at work then.
My December highlight will be a visit to Shugborough Hall with DDIL to take Ruby to see Santa. I can't wait.
Ooooh look at the time. I had best go and get some sleep. Doodle Bird won't be here until later on today but having the morning free will mean I can get some crafting done before she comes.
Tara for now....and thanks for your visit.
Sheila-x-

Apologies.......!!!

........for the long break in blogging.
I just got to the point where I was sick of the sight of my blog and didn't feel like I had much to say about anything. I was even sick of crafting although I think that maybe had more to do with lack of time to do what I would like to do rather than had to do.
There was also a bit of stash hatred going on as I have been trying for months to use stuff up.......but no more....lol!!! For the last couple of weeks I have been spending like I won the lottery (I wish) and have so much new stuff I now don't know where to start.
There is a new Cricut machine and cartridges, lots of new dies (and more to come), masses of new cardstock, stamps, ink pads and sparkly stuff and I have spent the last couple of days tidying the workroom which had got in a bit of a state and now I am raring to go.
Next week should see me crafting to my hearts content as Ruby is off for week with mummy and daddy. No major jobs booked in apart from a clean up in the kitchen ready for the festive cooking and baking. I shall be one happy bunny.
DD and I had a day at the NEC on Friday. Oh my life it was mad. We managed to stick it out until 2pm and then we'd had enough of being elbowed and battered. I did manage to get near enough early on to buy some stuff though and did get most of the things on my list.
So onwards and upwards. Hopefully I shall have things to post by the weekend.
Tara for now.
Sheila-x-

Christmas No 8!!!

Today's card uses another paper printed from a Sweet Shoppe collection.....Christmas Past if I remember correctly.
The ornament is Spellbinders which has been embossed and glittered.
I'm just wondering whether to add some gems to the oval or a small snowflake.......can't make my mind up as I like it just as it is.
After a slow start yesterday with oversleeping I was up early this morning. I have tea sorted out and have done three loads of laundry so now have the afternoon free to be in the workroom. I shall have to have a good tidy up later as Doodle Bird and her mummy are coming for lunch tomorrow and Doodle does like getting her hands on my stuff. There are plans for keeping her occupied though. We are going to make a no sew tutu for her dressing up box. I got some lovely bright netting from Derby market last week so we'll see how it goes.
OK then......back to the Christmas cards.
Thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-

Christmas No 7!!!

The Tattered Poinsettia die has to be the best die ever released....it is just gorgeous.
For this card I have cut it from two Basic Grey distressed papers.
Background paper is also Basic Grey.
The poinsettia is mounted onto a circle (stamped with a Kaisercraft text stamp and StaZon-Olive Green) and a Sizzix Scallop Lace circle.
Had a lovely couple of hours out yesterday with Ruby and London grandma looking at Christmas decorations.....which I could do all day long and not get bored. This year I am finally changing the colour theme for our tree at home from the red and gold of the last thirty odd years to teal and silver. I am not buying all new baubles though. DD and I are going to have a bauble altering day using silver spray and silver leaf to create some new ones. We have bought some in teal though.
Need to do a bit of catching up on jobs now as I overslept this morning which is quite unusual for me. First job is to clean up the breakfast mess Mr Manic left this morning and then I have to make some Raspberry and White Chocolate Muffins.
Thanks for your visit.
Sheila-x-

Christmas No 6!!!

Another card at last.
Angel stamp is from Stampendous.
Greeting is from Inkadinkado.
Embellished with feathers and gems from stash.
Paper is printed from a Sweet Shoppe kit called Jack Frost.
I stamped the angel in Pearlescent Sky Blue Brilliance and embossed with clear EP then after cutting out I sprayed it with iridescent glitter spray.
The paper was printed onto pearlised white paper and looks stunning. I used a the text setting on my Epson printer as I didn't want the colour to be too strong.

Well after a morning pottering about in the peace and quiet I am off out for afternoon tea later. DD and I are picking up Doodle Bird and London grandma for a trip up to Byrkley for a couple of hours.
I have missed my little angel so much this week.

Very excited to read in our local paper that this shop is opening in a village near to us. I hope it opens before Christmas.
Thanks for dropping by today.
Sheila-x-

Hey Blog World!!!

The last few days have been fab. I have been crafting up a storm and have plenty of cards to take pics of now. I shall be doing that later today when we get back from lunch out. Mr Manic is treating us today so no cooking or washing up....yay!!!
DD gave a me a lovely surprise yesterday......she is ordering tickets to take me to the Hobbycraft show at Birmingham this year. I haven't been for years so I am pretty excited. We always used to go on a Sunday but we are going to try Friday this time for a change.
Well I had best go and get showered and changed....10am and I am still in pj's with bed hair.......not a good look for lunching out...lol!!!
Bye for now.
Sheila-x-

......And Breathe!!!

Ruby's last day with me for just over a week so I have a little time to catch up on stuff that doesn't get done while she is here......pretty much everything then....lol!!!
She is off down to London on Friday as mummy has a party to go to and then London grandma is coming back with them to spend a little quality time with the Doodle Bird until next weekend. I'll still see her a couple of times or so in the week as we will call down at the cottage to see if any shopping needs picking up. London grandma like me doesn't drive and I don't like to think of her being stuck at the cottage and short of anything.
I don't know if there will be much crafting tonight as I am absolutely shattered but I'll be on it first thing in the morning.
Bye for now.
Sheila-x-

A Quick Five Minutes!!!

......to myself is all the time I seem to have at the minute. We are just going through a 'having Ruby more than usual' phase for various reasons and she is keeping me on my toes for sure.
At the moment she has the attention span of a gnat and before we have even started doing something she is fed up of it and wants to go onto the next thing. I feel like I've been dragged behind the coal lorry.
She has just decided she wants a nap so I thought I'd just have five minutes before she wakes up again.
The bug has hit the Manic household again and the shower which was only fitted in May has had it. Apparently the water tank in it has burst. I phoned the shower manufacturer this morning and they said they would send an engineer out next Thursday. I explained that the shower was our only source of bathing and she managed to fit me in next Tuesday. I am not impressed.
My cardmaking has been on the back burner for the last couple of days but I hope to get some done on Saturday which is my only free day for about a fortnight. I even have Doodle Bird on Sunday this week as her mummy and daddy are taking grandad out to the races for his birthday treat and then I have to feed them all when they get back. Just now I would like to win The Lottery and go and live in a hotel by myself......lol!!!
Oh well I had best go and get on with some more evening meal preparation.....no rest for the wicked.
Thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-
 

Christmas No 5!!!

Still plodding away at the Christmas cards.
I do apologise for the picture. I have only just taken it and the light is pretty bad in here.
Dies used-:
Tree-Marianne
Deer-Sizzix
Star-Cricut
Paper is Paper Adventures....I think and the berries have been done with a Viva Gloss Gel pen.
Not too sure where the greeting was from as I have them for years. It was great to get some of them used as the card is pearlised and very hard to match to anything I have. I think it looks fab on this card.
I've had quite a busy day. Backwards and forwards from the kitchen to the workroom, cooking then cardmaking.
Today was ferret in the fridge day to use some excess veg. I found carrots, courgettes, celery, cherry tomatoes and some brocolli to which I added onion, garlic and chilli flakes. Simmered all of that together with some passata and stock and then pureed it before adding a couple of cans of Heinz Five Beans to make Chilli Bean Soup. I shouldn't say it myself but it is absolutely gorgeous. I did go a bit mad with the chilli flakes so added a little creme fraiche to cool it down a bit.
I also made some muffins which I have probably only ever made once before but they seem to have gone down well with the hungry hordes.
Miss Doodle will be here tomorrow. I haven't seen her for four days as she has been having a busy weekend at home. I've missed her so much and am so ready for some kisses and cuddles.......if she is in the mood.
Right-io.......back to the cardmaking for a couple of hours.
Thanks for stopping by.
Sheila-x-

My Princess!!!

Ruby trying out one of her many jewellery sets.
For this page I have used a kit from Sweet Shoppe called Sugar & Spice.
I have spent the evening digi scrapping after a quite traumatic visit to the nurse at our local surgery today. Details would just be too much information.....lol!!!.......but I feel totally wiped out by it.
I'm off for an early night.
Bye for now.
Sheila-x-

Oh Dear!!!

This cold is well and truly kicking my butt. Just when I think it may be on the verge of clearing up it just seems to get worse. Miss Ruby on the other hand is over hers and full of beans and cheekiness again. She has been quite a handful this week but very amusing as always.
I am slowly adding to the pile of Christmas cards but need to get my finger out as I have just had an order in from a customer for seventy eight cards. As today is a Ruby free day I think I may have to knuckle down and see what I can get done.
Bye for now.
Sheila-x-

Psychic!!!

I just knew that I would catch that cold from Ruby. I've been feeling a bit yuck in my nose and throat for a few days and it came out with all guns blazing yesterday. Last night was torture as I couldn't have a drink or suck anything to relieve my throat as I was having fasting blood tests today so I had a pretty rubbish nights sleep.
I've struggled to make the four cards I've done today so I think I will be kind to myself and take a night off with a hot shower and a veg on the sofa to watch a film with hubby.
Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day as I need to have a good clean through the house. We are having a dinner on Sunday to celebrate DDIL's promotion at work so I had best show willing....lol......even though the old body might protest.
Thanks for stopping by.
Sheila-x-

All In Green!!!

More like buried in a sea of green after a mammoth chutney making session today. I think meal choices for the next twelve months will be......."what would you like with your green tomato chutney today?"........lol!!!
We've hardly had any red tomatoes this year and there are still loads of green ones left so maybe Fried Green Tomatoes a la Whistlestop Cafe will be on the menu.
Miss Doodle has been in the house today in real messy mode. She left earlier than usual but I am still now picking up foam circles, glittery pom poms and flash cards in little nooks and crannies from the back room to through to the lounge. Poor little sausage has got a cold so I am betting I'll have picked it up from her.......I usually do.
Well all that chopping and stirring has left me with very achey shoulders so I think a quick blast under some hot water and then back to my least favourite job of cutting out images by hand with scissors for layering.
Bye for now and thanks for popping by.
Sheila-x-

The Boy!!!

Here's the little boy card to go with the one I posted yesterday. Exactly the same except I used a Spellbinder star die instead of a flower punch.
I can't believe I was up before the alarm this morning and raring to go. So glad it didn't rain as we had an amazing morning. I think I need to have another sort out before the next one we do in a fortnight.....weather permitting. I don't mind the cold but I draw the line at standing in a field in the rain.
Had to have a nap after lunch and woke up feeling a bit blurgh so a bit of gentle pottering tonight I think before an early night. Ruby is being dropped off at some ungodly hour tomorrow morning as her mummy has to catch an early train to London for a training day.
So that's me for today........hope you had a good weekend.
Thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-

Warning....Cute!!!

Sorry.....it just had to be done. I am in desperate need of baby cards for the shop stand.
Baby face and bottle are from Cricut-Doodlecharms and the flower is punched.
Sentiment is by Rubbadubbadoo.
I am secretly chuffed with how it turned out for saying I don't like making baby cards.......as you well know.
Today has been pretty productive on the housey front and we now have several jars of homemade jam in the store cupboard. There were some extremely bargainous strawberries at the veg shop in town yesterday......two large punnets for a pound and Mr Manic gathered some damsons for free today so I set about christening my jam kettles. Pretty scary stuff this jam making but the strawberry tastes divine. Slightly runnier than it should be but none the worse for it. The damson is gorgeous and I wish now that I had made more than the three jars I did.
Tomorrow DD and I are off to Moira again to do the car boot.....well depending on the weather when we get up. We are forecast rain so I shan't go if it is thrashing it down. Whatever we do the van has to be unloaded tomorrow as Mr Manic is back at work on Monday after a fortnight off. Luckily we don't have to lug it all up the garden steps and into the house as my kind hubby has cleared a huge space in the garden shed and we can park right in front of it.
I just have to tidy up this pit of a workroom and then I am off for a shower before I plonk myself on the sofa for a read. The book I am reading is just getting very tense and interesting after a slow start and I find myself reading bits of it whenever I can be doing something with one hand while I hold the book with my other hand. Thanks for stopping by.
Sheila-x-

Hobbling!!!

Well I am still hobbling about with this flippin' bad back.....although it's more in my hip now. I had thought it was on it's way but it jumps up and bites me in the bum.....literally.....when I least expect it.
There is activity in the workroom but several designs are at different stages and need finishing off so nothing to photograph at the minute. Hoping to get them finished tomorrow after DD and I have been up and done a final sort out and tidy in the old workroom. I need to get it sorted into a room for Ruby in the next week or two as there is a possibility that she will have to stay one night a week so that we can take her to pre school on a Friday morning. She is so excited about having her own room at ganmas house.
I've had one or two.........oh go on then......three......crafty deliveries this week so I need to get the started cards finished so that I can play with new things too.
I just want to recommend to anyone who loves vintage images, Dover Pictura  Oh my goodness me....it is fabulous. I love Dover Books but this goes one better and is a collection of downloadable images either in full book form or by the sheet. Most of the full books cost $7.99 which when I bought mine was £5.52 and one of the books contained over 500 images. How cool is that?
What really does it for me though is that whatever you buy is available on your account forever. So if you lose any of your collections you can just go back and download them again....awesome.
........and on that note I shall say goodnight and hobble off to do a bit more crafting before shower time.
Thanks for your visit today.
Sheila-x-
 

Little Crafter!!!

My gorgeous girl doing a bit of crafting on one of the days I had her before they took a few days off.
She was making a picture of her daddy. I hate to tell you how much glue ended up on it eventually.....lol.....he looked like he had some rather nasty skin condition.
It all looks very tidy and civilised in this pic but a few further on it became a different, messy, glittery matter altogether. It turns my few natural coloured hairs grey just looking at them.......lol!!!
 It was a tad nippy......well no actually......bloomin' freezing at the car boot first thing yesterday. Eventually though the sun came out and bought out the crowds with it and it got very busy. We had another good day and we will be there again next week. I am rather enjoying it to be honest although I was shattered when we got back yesterday and was so glad I had made the casserole on Saturday.
No crafting for me tonight as DDIL is visiting. She needs a natter and a cuppa so I had best go and tidy Doodles stuff away and run the hoover over.
Bye for now and thanks for your visit.
Sheila-x-

Christmas No 4!!!

I know Christmas No 4 doesn't seem as if I have made many cards but when you consider I am making these in multiples plus I am also making up some in older designs which you have already seen........ I ain't doing so bad.
This one is made using a Santa image from Kitschy Christmas available as a download at Sweet Shoppe Designs.
Papers are Dovecraft Christmas Basics Modern. Perfect for Retro cards.
Today has been just lovely. I sent Mr Manic off out to the butchers first thing to pick up some meat for a casserole for our lunch tomorrow which I have made today so that it's all ready to heat up when we get back from the car boot. Then he went out on a fact finding mission for the family tree which didn't yield an awful lot but he enjoyed himself and I enjoyed the peace just pottering about getting cards bagged up and doing some diecutting.
My back has eased a lot and I feel so much better now which is a good job as it's another 5am wake up in the morning.
We are going to be at Moira  again this week so fingers crossed for a good day.
Thanks for visiting today.
Sheila-x-

Frittering!!!

That is exactly what I have been doing today. Frittering away the whole flippin' day on Genes Reunited tracking down Mr Manics ancestors. It is so absorbing and I have unearthed a rather fascinating mystery which needs looking into.
I do have some cards to take pics of but not at this time of night so that will have to be a job for tomorrow.
My back is still giving me a lot of pain but come what may I shall be doing the car boot on Sunday in the hope that we get rid of enough stuff to be able to find enough space to store the leftovers. Mr Manic has been driving round all week with a van load of craft stuff. It's a good job he didn't want to pick anything up from anywhere.......lol!!!
Anyway I am off to do some Cricuting for an hour before bed.
Thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-

Christmas No 3!!!

Today we are going modern and using diecuts.
I love the turquoise and lime glitter card......it makes my mouth water just looking at this combination of colours.
Dies used-:
Sizzix for the larger circle and Quickutz for the smaller.
X-cut for the trees.
Tim Holtz Mover and Shaper die for the deer.
Sentiment tag is a blank from Craft Creations with a peeloff greeting.

In the wars a bit today. I offered to have Ruby for a few hours while DS and DDIL had a grown ups lunch by themselves. Well my back was feeling a bit delicate after the marathon bathroom clean the other day and it went with a bang when I was lifting Ruby off the loo earlier on. So I am hobbling about with a stick now. Hopefully it will put itself right sooner rather than later but it's spoilt the day out Mr Manic and I were going to have tomorrow. I am working on hubby's maternal family tree and we have found ancestors in Froghall, Staffordshire. We were going to have a trip there to look around but it won't be tomorrow as I can barely walk.
Ah well I had best go and find some crafting I can do sitting down.
Thanks for your visit.
Sheila-x-

Christmas No 2!!!

This is a bit of an allsorts card with every element from a different company.
I'll start at the back with the music which was a free download from the Dover newsletter.
Patterned paper is DCWV.
Ornament is stamped from the Urban Stamps Home For Christmas set.
Tree is an old Sizzix die trimmed and stamped with a flourish from a Viva stamp set.
Gems were leftovers from the table scatters at DS's wedding.
So that is one design down for the traditional lovers and lots more to go as checking my stocks I have found that I don't have many left.

I'll be spending a late night crafting tonight (our visitors didn't leave until 7pm) but that will be after a little online shopping spree for a few crafty things I am lusting after.
First I have to go and track down the open window which is causing the most awful draught in here.
Bye for now....and thanks for your visit.
Sheila-x-

Not So Smooth!!!

I'm in a bit of a grump today......miserable old sow that I am......lol!!!
I make plans....lots of plans of how I will spend my time. So today I had planned to have a day making cards, taking photographs of said cards before packing them and then I was going to spend the evening prepping some cards to put together in between other jobs tomorrow. How far did I get? I made some cards and carted all the car boot stuff back down to the van as it was making the kitchen look untidy. Then hubby decides he wants a bbq for our evening meal, then we get a phone call to say that we will be having visitors tomorrow which puts the kibosh on me finishing off the painting in the lounge. I have just spent nearly two hours cleaning the bathroom so it's nice and fresh for the visitors, my knees are screaming and I am totally p'd off. I wish I was a drinker as a large glass of something alcoholic would go down really nicely just now....lol!!! I think I'll have a cup of coffee instead and have half an hour trying to get into this new book I started which just isn't doing anything for me at the moment.
On that note I shall bid you goodnight and apologise for being a misery gutses. Hopefully I shall be back tomorrow with pics and in a better mood.
Sheila-x-

Sunday Booting!!!

What a fab day it's been today......despite the 5am alarm call.
Sold lots of stuff, bumped into an old school friend I haven't seen for years, ate the best bacon butty I have ever tasted in my life and came home to a Sunday roast cooked by Mr Manic.
In fact it was such a fab day that I shall be doing it again next week.
I've just finished emptying the van and condensing stuff down and now I have a date with some hot water and a bottle of Badedas shower gel.....mmm......mmm......mmm!!!
Oooooh I got some bargains too......two Tala jam kettles......one huge one I swapped for a punch and a stamp and a smaller one for £3, a beautiful glass footed trifle bowl and a huge box of dressmaking patterns for next to nothing. The patterns aren't all dated but they range from the 1950's to the early nineties. Some I can use and others will be used on fashion or sewing themed cards. Eeeeeeh, I were dead chuffed.
Right....water here I come.
Thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-

Pheweeeee!!!

Well the van is loaded and all I need now is some customers who like a bargain.
An early night for us tonight as we need to be up at 5am but I still have a few hours to do some crafting and it's back to the Christmas cards.
Best have some tea first as the old tummy is rumbling a bit.
Thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-

Ooooh Me Aching........!!!

Back, legs, arms.....you name it....it aches.
DD and I have spent all day today (and most of yesterday) bagging, labelling and putting into baskets all of the car boot stuff and lugging it all downstairs ready to pack the van tomorrow. We are whacked.
Still quite a bit of stuff to go but I think all the fiddly bits are done now like paper, ribbon and embellishment packs etc.
There are some serious bargains to be had so if you are in the area and fancy a look the car boot we are doing on Sunday 2nd September is at.........

Moira Furnace

Furnace Lane

Moira

Overseal

DE12 6AT

It's signposted off the A444
Link to the Moira Carboot website is the postcode

Stuff that's for sale.......

Hundreds of stamps

Colouring mediums

Crafting tools

Paper packs

Ribbon bags

Embellishments

Jewellery making

Dies

Embossing folders

and lots more.

Prices start at 50p

Hope to see you there.

Sheila-x-

Christmas 2012 Begins!!!

Look at this fella. Isn't he just the cutest? I am so in love with him.
The card is A5 so he is a big fella.
He's handcut but I have used a Sizzix die for the snowflake.
The sentiment is Papermania Urban Stamps- Home For Christmas (Baubles).
Paper is Dovecraft Back To Basics Christmas-Modern.....and I need more......the papers are gorgeous.

Well Miss Doodle has been a bit of a trial today but she has gone home now and I am going to craft to get my blood pressure back down to somewhere near normal. I don't have her now for over a week......although I am sure they will visit at some point during their week off.
The next couple of days DD and I will be moving all the car boot stuff downstairs ready to load the van on Saturday.
We have decided to do the one at Moira so it will an early start on Sunday morning..........blurgh....lol!!!
Right....crafting here I come.
Thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-

Circus...Sort Of!!!

Not something you see ever so often on my blog....cards for children but this is an order for a special little boy.
The card is 8x8.
Dies used-:
Lion-Sizzix
Scallop border-Sizzix Tim Holtz On The Edge
Ballons and stars-Sizzix Framelits
Number-Sizzlet Alphabet Round-a-bout
I used a free Craft Stamper stamp for the bunting
The lions stand is handcut.
I must say that I am pretty chuffed with it.

Ruby has just about run me ragged today so a nice gentle evening is in order. I may do some prep for making cards with later in the week.
Thanks for visiting me today.
Sheila-x-

Paris!!!

Another card from the order I have just done.
Backgrounds are some of my inky ones.
Stamps-:
Eiffel Tower- Stampers Anonymous.
Carte Postal-Kaisercraft
Sentiment-Personal Impressions.

I nipped up to Byrkley today as I needed some primary coloured card.......and once again I came out with enough stamps to stock a shop. I just had to have the Michael Powell Christmas stamps so had all four and then I fell in love with the new Urban Stamps-Home for Christmas so I ended up with three sets of them as well. Eeeeeeh what am I like?
Since then I have had my head down making. I was a bit stumped for a card for a little boy of two but that's all sorted now and I'll show you that tomorrow.
Mr Manic has lit a fire tonight as it is wet, windy and rather chilly so I think I will wind down now and go have a snuggle after my shower.......talking of which.......I still hate it and don't know if I will ever get to like it. I want me bath back!!!
Thanks for dropping in today.
Sheila-x-

Fashion!!!

One of the cards for the order I have been working on.
The papers are First Edition.
The lady image is by Stampendous and the fashion definition is Rubbadubbadoo.
Punched border is Martha Stewart.

Well it's been a fabulous day today. I spent the morning finishing off the order as there were no house jobs to do......I expect I could have found some but I didn't go looking....lol!!!
Then when DD got up she took me out for lunch and a wander around The Range where I bought some paper stacks for Christmas cards. Mr Manic was just having ham and salad for tea so I got that prepared and did him some new potatoes to go with it...and that was the extent of my domesticity today......it felt like I was on holiday.
No Ruby tomorrow as DDIL is off work so I just have her two days and then they are all off for a week.......plenty of jobs lined up for me so that won't be a holiday week for me.
I'm going to tidy up in here now and then start on some more cards that need finishing off.
Thanks for your visit.
Sheila-x-

Good Manic!!!

Sorry.....no cards to show today but I have been very good and tackled the dreaded housework. It's been a bit of a long job today as I have been sorting out Ruby's toys to go upstairs into her bedroom as I am getting pretty tired of spending half an hour....if not more....tidying up the contents of three boxes at night when she goes home. I wouldn't mind if she played with them but she just likes making a mess.....lol!!! We will just have to go up and choose something to bring down every day.
The day has not been without it's mishaps. I took a chunk out of my thumb end with a pipe cleaner while removing beads Ruby and I had threaded onto it, I have a scrape on my knee which hurts like bahoogery and I ended up with an indoor snowstorm when I emptied the polystyrene beads out of Ruby's bean bag. Then I had to wing it with the tea as the mince I was going to use didn't smell very nice so it went in the bin. The bacon, mushroom, pepper and tomato sauce I made with spaghetti was a bit of a hit though...thank goodness.
Now all is peaceful and I am in my workroom putting the finishing touches to a card order. Hopefully they will be totally finished tomorrow and then I can get some Christmas cards done. I need to get a shift on as we are having the builder in to do some work and he says October/November. This back room desperately needs the windows replacing. It has windows on three sides so we are going to be bricking up one window and reducing the sizes of the other windows by having some more brickwork put in so there will most likely be some days of roof props and tarpaulins....and yes I will have to move all the stuff I have only just got sorted in here....I must be mad.
Anyhoo....another hour in here I think and then a snuggle on the sofa with my book.
Thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-