Poundland Beer Crate Makeover!!!

I like it too much to use it to store washing up stuff on the kitchen window sill so I have snaffled it for my sewing tools.

A close up of the tissue paper decoupage.

I started off by giving the whole piece two coats of Craig & Rose Chalky Emulsion in Morris Blue then used a sanding block to knock the paint back and distress it.
Next I used Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Old Paper to go around the edges and let it dry.
The tissue was applied with Mod Podge and allowed to dry thoroughly before I gave the crate a coat of wax and buffed it.
The Craig & Rose paint was an absolute dream to work with and the coverage was excellent. The sample pot I used cost about £2.50 and the two coats used less than a quarter of the pot so plenty left for other projects.
I really enjoyed doing this project and I wish I could find some more of these crates as I can see uses for them all over the house.

What would you class as 'early afternoon' ?
We were told the carpet fitters would be here early afternoon and they haven't arrived yet.
I'm sat here like a numpty not being able to have the washing machine on or anything else that makes a noise as I wouldn't hear them knock at the door if I did........must remind hubby to pick up a doorbell this week.
I hope they don't arrive too late as I really need to go out tonight and get a few things for hubbys' birthday tomorrow.

No Miss Doodle for tea today. She is coming tomorrow instead as DS wants to take her out after school today to buy her a treat as she has been such a good girl lately both at school and at home. Today is his only day off so he asked if we could swap. 
Apparently she is having some shoes with wheels in..........and I want some too. I just think they are so cool.

I think I might get the other crate out and give it a coat of paint while I'm waiting for the carpet fitters to arrive.

Hope you are all having a good day.
Sheila-x-



 

 

One Down!!!

Hi there........and a Happy New Year to you all.
I've spent today putting the finishing touches to the table plan I was supposed to finish on Boxing Day but didn't quite get finished. Too much distraction by domestic things.
It is actually quite huge. Those snowflakes are eight inches across and are cut and glittered by hand. I now have a blister the size of Staffordshire on my cutting finger.
I'm pretty chuffed with it and I hope the bride is too.
Just one more wedding to do now.

Oooh hey up......Mr Manic is calling me to go and watch a film with him and I had better obey as he has been good enough to cook and wash up today while I got on upstairs.

Thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-

All Is Calm!!!

and all is very, very bright in the box containing the thirty snowflake napkin rings all done and dusted. I am glad they are done but will be sorry to see their twinkliness gone when they are delivered to the bride tomorrow. Also in the box are the table names. The table plan will be done on Boxing Day when I am home alone due to Mr Manic having to return to work at 6am and DD will mostly be in bed due to returning to work on a nightshift.
So now all is calm. There are no more orders and I can concentrate on getting ready for the Manic Towers Christmas Bash on Christmas Day.
This morning I have made a start on the winter warmer bags for everyone. Hot chocolate, candy canes, marshmallows, gingerbread men and snowflake biscuits. This year I have gone a bit posh and bought the ready to decorate white bags with handles and used Basic Grey papers to decorate them. They will be going on the table so I wanted something that would stand up. I'll take a pic when they are finished.
Christmas cards are nearly written on and I am just about to spend a couple of hours in the kitchen baking and making my final shopping list for the food.....bliss!!!
Woke up to a good old snow storm this morning but it was just the filthy slushy stuff and now all that's left is a sprinkling on the shed roof and lawn. It seems to be freezing over though so the garden steps are slightly treacherous until I can find the bag of grit Mr Manic bought.....and obviously hid.
Well I'm off to soak up some Christmassy smells in the kitchen.
Bye for now and thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-

It's All About The Snow!!!

 

There are still snowflakes coming out of my ears. Today I am going to be finishing off the napkin rings above. I set myself a right old job with these I can tell you. I'm not a fan of diecut glitter card as I usually find that diecutting it leaves a dull edge around the shape so these have been cut from cream card, sprayed with Stick an Stay adhesive and covered with Glamour Dust. I did assemble the two together first.......not being quite mad enough to do them individually.....lol!!!

The tartan napkin is just for display for the photograph I think there will be cream ones at the wedding and they should look fab.

The snowflakes are from the Spellbinders Snowflake Pendant set.

.........and just as I started to write this post it started snowing outside. Lovely big fat flakes which lasted all of two minutes...bah!!! I got so excited too.

Well it's a bit chilly down here in the back room so I am off up to the workroom and I am going to put the heater on and craft the day away......and keep checking the window for snowfall.

Thanks for your visit.

Sheila-x-

Me Drawers!!!

You see the two stacked drawer sets in this photograph from when I moved upstairs. Well I have three sets and I have had them for years and have always intended to do something to pretty them up a bit..........and I have finally got around to doing it...........
Ta da.....................

I have used papers from a stack by My Minds Eye and all it took was two sheets of each pattern. The carcasses need a coat of cream paint and a bit of a shabby treatment and I am going to make some label holders for the fronts of the drawers so that I can find everything. Once the adhesive is dry I will give the fronts a coat of varnish to protect the papers. I think they look gorgeous and go so well with the pink chairs.
Just a couple of corners to finish off and the floor to hoover and then I am done for today.
Thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-

Well...That's That Then!!!

I know we say it every year but.......blimey all that hard work and then it's gone in a flash.

We had a fantastic afternoon on Christmas day with our house full of guests. There was Mr Manic and myself, DD and her boyfriend, DDIL, DS and Ruby and DDIL's Mum, Stepdad, sister and her partner. Lots of laughter and merriment and hopefully the start of a combined family tradition.

This is one of the winter warmers I made to pop in with everyone's gifts. I drew heavily on inspiration from the fabulous Helen over at Fiddle Fart. They went down very well.

.......and here is a card I made yesterday. Very simple and using some of my Basic Grey stash which I want to wade through and get rid of now. The stamped image is Magenta. The last few weeks have been so 'full on' that it was lovely to have a nice relaxing day.I tidied away all of the wrapping paper that had taken over the workroom and just sat peacefully and quietly stamping....utter bliss.

The picture is taken with my new digital camera which Santa delivered along with lots of crafting goodies and Sanctuary smellies.
Miss Doodle was thoroughly spoiled and although she had had a very busy day she was still in a lovely mood when she got to us. I really had expected her to be crotchety but no she was smiley and chatty until nearly 8pm when she went to sleep like a little angel.

I hope you all had the Christmas that you hoped for.
Thanks for stopping by.
Sheila-x-

Happy Inky Fingers!!!

I fell in love with this project in the latest Craft Stamper magazine and just had to give it a go.
I changed the colours and style slightly using Distress Inks in Pumice Stone, Crushed Olive and Forest Moss with Desert Moon Cactus Gold Moon Glow spray.
The stamped pattern is from a flourish set by Artemio.
The shrink plastic embellishment was inked with Antique Linen and Vintage Photo before being stamped with chalk inks and finished with Antique Linen Distress Stickles.
I added wire handles and a poinsettia from Wild Orchid Crafts.
I also changed the box inside by making a box rather than using another of the diecut shapes as I didn't think it was quite big enough.

Had a fun day out with Miss Doodle and her mummy today. Boy that little girl can shop......lol!!! Toys R Us, Mothercare, Boots, Sainsburys. I've never been in a toy shop or Mothercare for over twenty years........lol!!!
Anyway we got the car seat and a gorgeous pushchair which I can't wait to test drive.
We didn't get home until gone 3pm and I was dying to get up in my room and do inky things. Was going to finish the one I started yesterday and decided that I didn't like the colours so did a green one instead.

Hubby and I have a night on our own as DD has gone to her boyfriends so we are having fish and chips and watching X Factor.....bliss.

Thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-

Back Again!!!

Ooo'er......picture is a bit blurrier than it looked on the upstairs computer but as the picture of a card I made looked even worse I am going with this one. ETA....pic now replaced with a slightly less blurry one.
The paper is a bit past it's sell by date for me but I thought it made quite a pretty tote bag. Inside are six C6 cards which at the moment only have their paper layers on but I felt the urge to do something I didn't 'have' to do before I started on the job list.
So paper and flowers are Papermania and the flower is finished with a Card Candy circle touched up with a bit of Tea Dye Distress Stickles.
The card I will post tomorrow after I retake the photo.

One job done from the wedding list today. I printed off all of the hearts for the top of the boxes. It's a good job I hadn't done them all as DDIL decided she wanted her full name on them and not the shortened version so I redid that in Digital Scrapbook Artist. It took forever to print them as the printer didn't like the card I was using. It had to have a gentle shove to help it through and it kept feeding straight through. Took about four attempts for each sheet and I was getting quite stressed by the time I'd done. Never mind....all done now and just need cutting out which I will start later after a bath while I watch something on IPlayer.

Mr Manic is taking me out on Saturday to buy a new computer for downstairs. I really dislike this laptop or maybe it's the Vista I don't like but whatever it is I won't have to put up with it much longer...yay!!!

Righty Ho........a nice hot bath is calling me so I'll get off.
Thanks for dropping in.
Sheila-x-

Little Boxes



Option 1



Option 2

Option 3

Tonight I have rushed home from work knowing that there would be a parcel of goodies for the cupcakes I am making for the wedding cake and that I had better get my finger out and design the boxes that will hold the said cupcakes on the day.
They need to be quick and easy to make which I have tackled but I am not sure which of the embellishments I like best at the moment.
The box itself needs a very slight adjustment and once I have that sorted and my mind made up about the embellishment I shall go into production........I have to make 150....ish. Wish me luck......lol!!!
I am pretty chuffed with the heart which I designed in Digital Scrapbook Artist. It looks really dimensional but is actually just a flat piece of card as the boxes will probably have to be stacked.
I am so glad that I am not starting them now. After a day of cutting stuff up at the shop for thirteen people on the class tomorrow I think I would have cried if I had to cut them all out tonight.
The cupcakes will be plain sponge with vanilla frosting which will be sprinkled with silver dust and decorated with a claret sugarpaste heart.......and yes I have to make all the hearts for that too.......I must be mad.

Anyhoo....I am off for a mooch around Blogland before I chuck myself in bed. Better have an early night and get my strength up for tomorrow.

Bye for now and thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-

A Mixed Bag!!!

Today's stamped project is a gift bag made from an A4 manilla envelope.
The striped card is quite a stark white so it has been toned down with Distress Inks and overstamped with an Artemio image.
Pinecone image is from the same set and has been stamped in Stazon Saddle Brown and then the green was added with a Marvy Le Plume pen.
Finished off with some Frosted Lace Stickles.
Here is a very blurred side view........lol!!!

My other make today was this very simple page of Ruby in Digital Scrapbook Artist.

I think this is my most favourite style.

Back at work tomorrow for a rest......lol!!! I'm not sure how busy it will be as the annual statutes fair has taken over the streets of Ashby at the moment and apparently we have a Waltzer about two feet from our front door. Lucky for me tomorrow is the last day and the rides won't actually spark up until about 3:30pm so I will only have to listen to it for a half hour.

Need to go and do some reading of tutorials now for DSA. I am finding it so fascinating.

Thanks for dropping by.

Sheila-x-

All Sorts Of Stuff!!!

Been having some more fun with the Serif Digital Scrapbook Artist programme. It's so brilliant I've decided I will buy the full version later this week.
Today I have made a page with one of the free kits. The lettering is Cafe Rojo.......a font I have been dying to use on something for ages. Also.......as this is a rubber stamping blog.......lol!!! A couple of projects I have done the last day or so.
Paper is My Minds Eye and stamped images are Inkadinkado
The little tote holds 4x4 envelopes with slightly smaller cards.
The circles for this card were cut with the Quickutz Cookie Cutter set.
All stamping is done using Ancient Page-Chocolate. This was the only brown ink pad I had that went with the dark brown card used for layering.

Well.......I am most surprised to be saying that..........after just a small mishap the Green Tomato Chutney turned out beautifully and we have just had some for tea. I wish I had known how nice it was.........just think of all those wasted years without that on my ham sandwich......lol!!!

I've been fair busy today. Had to nip into town this morning to pick up a couple of things and then back to bake........chocolate orange cupcakes and apricot scones.......yum. Had lunch then went up and finished off my projects and the scrapbook page, designed a heart shaped label to print and cut out for the favour bags for the wedding then tidied up some stuff on the computer.

Now it's feet up time........X Factor followed by copious amounts of Law and Order......bliss!!!

Tara for now.....and thanks for visiting.

Sheila-x-

It's........Kerrrrrrrrristmas!!!

This is a Christmas version of the wall hanging I made HERE
Slight difference in that all of the patterned paper is hand inked and stamped using Distress Inks and a combination of two Artemio Christmas stamp sets.
It measures seven and a half inches square.
Just need a suitably lush piece of something to make the hanger now.
Well the wind has been a howling around Manic Towers the last couple of days and I am sad to say that our gazebo is no more. I was looking out of the window yesterday and the flippin' thing just up and took off. I raced out and dismantled it......with some difficulty but I hadn't seen that it had bashed against the apricot tree and got ripped.
Mr Manic has a new one on his shopping list but will we have any more summer for it to be worth buying one this year.

Still busy........and still not a scrap of paper on the stairs wall. It won't get done tomorrow as we are having a visit from HRH Ruby Doodle along with her mummy and daddy and DDIL's sister who we are meeting for the first time. In a fortnight we shall also meet her mum and stepdad. We thought it would be a bit strange to meet for the first time at the wedding......lol!!!
We had planned on a barbecue for tomorrow but having looked at the weather forecast.........I don't think so. So it will be a buffet tea meaning a day in the kitchen for me. Not that I mind at all. I loves me a good cooking session.

I'm off for a browse around some fabric websites now for a bit. Looking for suitable stuff to make some of the projects in my Tone Finnanger books........when I have the time of course......lol!!!

Thanks for stopping by.
Sheila-x-

Paris Nights!!!

This is a wall hanging that I have made using papers from the gcd Studios range Paris Nights.
The large scalloped square has been cut using a template.
Swirls, flowers, scalloped circle and larger plain circle are Sizzix dies and the smaller circles are Quickutz.
Stamped image is from a clear stamp set by Inkadinkado.

Well today I was going to set about the kitchen and give it a right good cleaning but I am not in the mood. Instead I am up in my room......and actually stamping for a change.
Hubby will be cranking up the barbecue at teatime so I don't have to cook today.
I need to nip to Tamworth in the morning to pick up a couple of bits but other than that I am free until Monday evening to do what I want.....yay!!!

Thanks for your visit today.
Sheila-x-

Works In Progress!!!

Today I have been having a 'Play Day' and have thoroughly enjoyed myself messing about with inks, paints and various other stuff.
Faux leather bookmarks made from Grungeboard up above. They need finishing off with something but that will have to wait now until Sunday.
Down below we have a Crushed Foil panel made from nine 2x2 squares awaiting inspiration for something to finish that off too.

Need to get off to bed now as I have to be up at six to leave the house at seven. Hubby has an interview tomorrow at 9am and also has to get me up to Ashby. Obviously I get the raw deal and have to leave two hours earlier than necessary so that he can get back into town. This happens to me quite often and I bloomin' well hate it, hate it, hate it!!!...........With knobs on.......lol!!!
Night night then.......and thanks for your visit.
Sheila-x-

A Thingamyjig!!!

Not quite sure what this is called...............but it was fun to make.This pretty box opens to reveal................

.........little drawers which would be great for storing embellishments or a small sewing kit.

The drawers are an origami box folded out of a single piece of paper as is the lid.

I have strengthened the drawers with a piece of card and used a wet glue to assemble them into the box rather than DST.

The paper is Graphic 45.

Wasn't it nice to see the sun today?

My thoughts turned immediately to the garden and I started planning a few jobs for hubby to keep him occupied.......lol!!!

This year we are going to dig up one half of the garden and make some raised beds to grow some veg. Really looking forward to that.

When I go shopping tomorrow I think I shall buy a pot of something cheerful for the kitchen window ledge. I quite fancy a pot of miniature daffs.

The sun has to be good for my health because as soon as it shows it's face I go in to salad mode and had the most delicious chicken salad with hubby's home made bread for tea.........he's quite fancies himself as a bit of a 'Hairy Baker'.......lol!!!

For the first time in a very long time I am feeling like my old self. Cheerful, smiley and full of beans. I think the workshop ladies found me quite scary today.......lol!!!

I can't tell you just how wonderful it is. I thought I was lost forever.

Well on that note I shall get off and go and have a bit of a troll around Blogland.

Thanks so much for your visit.

Sheila-x-

Note Cards In A Holder!!!

One of my favourite card and project makers is Laurie at Just Give Me Stamps and recently she posted a beautiful project of a note card holder which I fell in love with and needed to have a go at.
Here are the results............................ I have used a variety of Basic Grey papers for the backgrounds and a set of clear stamps by Penny Black for the images.

There are five cards and envelopes in the folder.

I was really pleased with how it turned out thanks to Laurie's excellent instructions.

If you pay a visit I would make sure you have tea and biscuits to hand as you will be there for a while.

Well I have had a lovely day today.

My cold is just about gone and I have spent all day up in my room apart from an hour or so this morning when I made a chocolate fudge cake for tea. You may be thinking whoa........bad thing for a diabetic to be making but I have been trying out a half sugar/half sweetener concoction and it's not too bad. Obviously I still have to watch how much of it I eat but at least I can try a tiny slice which is better than nothing.

Off to watch Dancing On Ice now.......my fave part of the week.

Thanks for dropping by.

Sheila-x-

Black, White and Red!!!

I was going to post this last night but was slightly wiped out by this flippin' cold and fell asleep.
It's on it's way out now though so with a bit of luck next week should see me pretty well nearly back to normal.......or as normal as can be for me.......lol!!!
Today I am posting a project I made last week. A box and matching cards made with Papermania papers and stamps.
I love how it turned out in the black and white with red accents.

It's proper misty and miserable here in Staffordshire today so I am making a lovely warming casserole for our evening meal and while that is simmering away I have been baking to fill up the cake tins for lunch boxes etc.
This afternoon I am hoping to escape upstairs and do some crafting.

Hope you have a nice day too.
Thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-

Notebooks!!!

Hi there
Sorry I haven't blogged for a few days. I've just been taking it easy and enjoying some time with hubby and DD, pottering about in the kitchen cooking meals and doing some baking and snatching the odd half hour up in my room to play.....although I am still not getting the mojo for making cards.
I have a drawer unit in my room which I would like to get rid of. It's only used for storing things like Bind It All wires, sanding pads and other odds and ends. Well I haven't used the BIA for ages so I thought I would use up some Basic Grey papers and some wires to make some notebooks.
These are DL size and the alphabet I have used is Slim Jim by Ellison.

Tonight I will get a couple of hours on my own for the first time in a month. Hubby has gone out to his retirement 'do'. He took voluntary redundancy/early retirement and finished when he broke up for Christmas. I must say it is nice having him at home all of the time.
DD is off to work later so I might watch a film.

Thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-

Paper Patchwork!!!

Eeeeeeh........did ya think I'd left the country?
Sorry I have just been busy and we have had all sorts going on at home this last week.
Been trying to finish up the present shopping but still have a couple of things I need to buy and get wrapped.
The shop closes on Wednesday and I will be there until then so I will cook the ham for our Christmas Eve tea on Wednesday evening rather than leaving it until Thursday. That will be the best way to make sure it's cold............I can't bear warm ham....yuck!!!

Not much in the mood for cardmaking at the moment but I did make the card and bag up above for a class on Saturday.
The card is half inch strips of co-ordinating papers arranged around a central square to look like patchwork.
The bag is one of those that has a box in the bottom.
Papers are Basic Grey.
Butterfly stamp is Inkadinkado.

Still waiting for the snow we were promised. I think everyone has got it but us...lol!!!
I looked out the window this morning and thought I saw about three tiny flakes....slight exaggeration there were a few more than that but if you'd have blinked you would have missed them.
We did get some up at Ashby last week but I think I would rather be snowed in at home and not have to go to work.......not the other way round.....lol!!!

Anyway I am off to chuck my sorry carcass on the sofa where I am going to read for a while and then I am having an early night.

Thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-

Tall Gift Bag & Card!!!

A tall gift bag made from a 12x12 sheet of card and a matching card.
The band around the bag is made from a strip of silver card embossed with a Quickutz 12" embossing folder and the tag is embossed with the Quickutz Snowflake folder.

I'm still getting Christmas card orders coming in so can't put away all my festive crafting stuff yet although I would love to so that I can get on with other things.

Feeling proper off it today which is just about right when I manage to get a whole day upstairs. I hope I'm not coming down with a cold because I just don't need it at the minute.

Right.....I shall go and get on with this new order so I can deliver it in the morning.

Bye for now......and thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-