A Picnic By The Lake!!!

Yesterday was a perfect day. Dry and warm but not overly sunny so we decided to pack up a picnic and drive down to Sudbury Hall and let Ruby have a run around in the adventure playground in the woods. When she decided she was hungry we wandered over to the lake and spread out our picnic blanket. It was a very simple picnic of cocktail sausages, snack eggs and boxes of prepared fruit but in the beautiful surroundings and fresh air it tasted like a banquet.

We paid a visit to the Museum of Childhood which was lovely although I did think the admission charge was a bit steep.
DD at 38 was shocked to see some of the toys she remembers playing with in a museum....lol.

I really shouldn't have but I just had to try the Rhubarb Ripple ice cream on offer....man it was good.

Sudbury Hall has changed quite a bit since I worked there twenty years ago. It's more child friendly and it was absolutely heaving with people which was really good to see.

We must have tired our little munchkin out....she slept until 9am this morning which is very unlike her.

Today Ruby has gone to Trentham Gardens with Aunty DD for a last day out for this week as she is being picked up at 10:30 in the morning to spend the day with Mummy who is off on Saturday morning for an exciting weekend in Dublin.
Ruby will be back with us on Sunday for another couple of nights sleeping over so in the meantime I will probably get some more painting done.

Thanks for all your lovely comments on my last post.

Have a fabulous day.
Sheila-x-

Happy Days!!!

Well Miss Ruby is in the house and with her arriving early yesterday we were able to go out for a few hours....only to do some food shopping but it was lovely.
Pocket money from Grandad was spent on a couple of toys from the charity shop and I also got a couple of bargains....two brand new kilner jars for 99p each and a brand new cookie cup making pan for 99p which Ruby and I are going to be trying out tomorrow. It makes little cups which can be filled with ice cream and fruit or you can put two together with a little icing and hide surprises in them. I'm not sure I will use it a lot but it's a fun thing for us to do.

We had a snuggly night watching films and then she was asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.....and so was Ganma....lol.

Today she has gone for a little shufty into Derby with Aunty DD and I'm sure she will return thoroughly spoiled and happy.
While they are out I am catching up on a bit of laundry which didn't get done yesterday and some tidying up before I make a chicken curry for our evening meal.

Busy but very happy days and I love the change of routine when we have Ruby here. It's almost like having a holiday myself.

Hope you are all having a happy day today.
Sheila-x-

Time For A Breather!!!

Ganma is not needed for a couple of hours as Ruby is having some Aunty time with DD and they have gone out for a while so that Ruby can spend her pocket money from Grandad.
While they are out I will have a quick tidy up and put a load of little miss's laundry in to wash and hopefully get it on the line if the rain stays away. I do love to see her little clothes dancing on the line.
If she feels like it we may do some baking this afternoon as there are eggs that need using up.
Yesterday she layered up a lasagne for Grandads lunch and she made the most beautiful job of it.....much neater than Ganma....lol.

I can't believe we only have two days left before she has to go home but we are making Sunday a special day by meeting Mummy and Marlowe at the pub for lunch and then she will go home from there after a play on the bouncy castles if it's not too hot to sit out.

Talking of Marlowe.....DDIL spent some time the other day cooking vegetable purees and freezing them in ice cube trays ready to start weaning her. How on earth did we get to that stage already? Time is going by way to quick for my liking.

Anyway I had best go and make the most of everyone being out and get this tidying done.
Thanks for stopping by today.
Sheila-x-
 

A Bit Of Glam!!!

Ruby wanted to paint her nails today. We ended up with full on glam with holographic tips and super shiny gems. It didn't last long before the tips were picked off followed by the gems.
I hope Mummy has some polish remover when we pop by for a visit tomorrow evening.

I have been teaching her French Knitting today. We tried it last year but I think she was a bit young. This year she has cracked it as long as I hold the dolly. We are hoping to make coasters for Mummy and Daddy.

These days full of love, kisses cuddles and laughter are just what I need right now.

Thanks for popping by.
Sheila-x-

Girl In A Princess Dress!!!

As promised a photo of Ruby in her flower girl dress.
I'm sorry it is only a back view but I am unable to share pics of DD, DS, DDIL and the children due to their jobs.

 I can't wait to see her on Wednesday to hear all about her day.

So much for what I wanted to get done yesterday. I wasn't feeling totally top notch if I'm honest but then I got sideswiped by a very nasty bout of cystitis. Hubby has fetched me a course of oral solution this morning only for me to find that I am unable to use it because of other health issues so that was a waste of money.
Oh well........plenty of water and painkillers today and if it doesn't clear up I shall see if I can get in to see the doctor some time this week.

Tomorrow I will show you pics of a very unexpected transformation which took place in my garden yesterday. There was a general conversation about a choice to be made and the next thing I knew everything had been done.

Today will probably be spent mostly in the kitchen as hubby has requested a pan of onion gravy to be frozen in portions to go with some sausages he wants cooked for him to take as a meal to work, meatballs in gravy for tea and I have yet to make the apple pie so guess what gets shoved to the back burner as usual.....yes my sewing.... for today at least.

Well I am ready for a coffee and a read of my paper before I do anything else.
Catch you tomorrow.
Thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-

Early Birds!!!

Up at the crack of a sparrers doo dah this morning due to the fact that Ruby likes company when she sleeps. I was in bed by 10pm and up at 6:30am. Slept like a log and feel so much better for it.
We'd had a breakfast of eggs and toast by just after 7am and then we decided to get on with some of the crafting and make the wooden spoon character. Ruby did an amazing job with the cutting and the glue. I added the hair as we were using a glue gun and I didn't want to return her to her parents damaged in any way...lol.
We just have a safari collage to do now but Ruby has gone for a little trip out with DD as she  needs a new pair of shoes to keep here and she has pocket money to spend.
While they are gone I will tidy up, fold some laundry and put another lot in to wash. It will have to go into the dryer today as it's raining:(

I hope it's dry where you are.
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-

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-

This And That!!!

 The very gorgeous Miss Doodle enjoying a baking session with ganma. She is such a 'girl' that she was more interested in which bits she could wear as jewellery.......although we did make several pastry snakes and worms.

She absolutely floored me the other day when I was sitting with her while she ate her dinner. Chatting away she suddenly turned to me, put her hand on my face and said 'you're boofiful ganma'. How cute is that? I mean we all know I'm not boofiful but how precious that Ruby thinks I am. Love that little bean so much.

Today I have been doing one of those 'life's too short' type jobs. When DS got married I ordered two huge packs of four inch doilies from the catering suppliers which I have never really done anything with. So today I set about painting some of them with some of my huge stash of acrylic paints. They look fab but boy what a boring job that was.
Anyway I have made a few cards with them but didn't finish until the light had gone so I shall have to take pics tomorrow. I have an unexpected day to myself as darling DDIL is taking Mr Manic off out of my hair for the day. They are off to the races at Uttoxeter. It would be nice if he came back a rich man.....lol!!!

Well I am off to do some investigating of a pile of discs I have found with no inkling of their contents written anywhere on them.
Have a great weekend.
Sheila-x-

Party Time!!!

 Ooooh I am so glad these aren't real cakes. I have made 24 of them so that I have some to hand for personalised cards if I get any orders once they hit the shop.
Cake is hand cut and then embossed in the Cuttlebug, wrapped with ribbon which has then been dotted with Viva pearl pen and decorated with a tiny bouquet of flowers.

Yesterday was Miss Doodles second birthday and we had a party at the local village hall.
It was fabulous.
This is the only picture I have where you can see Ruby's face. She was on the go for the whole time and most of the pics ended up being either the back of her head or her bum as she crawled in and out of things.
I spent a lot of time crawling around on the floor as we had a roll of lining paper rolled out the length of the hall with crayons for all the kids to draw on it. DDIL is going to roll it up to tie with a ribbon for a keepsake......what a great idea.
There was a rather nice compliment from one of DDIL's work colleagues who was there with her little grandson........she thought I was DS's sister. Must be doing something right as that is twice in the last month that I have been told I don't look my age.
Well that's it from me......Dancing On Ice is just about to start and I need to bag my seat.
Thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-

PS...I have added a page to sell off some of my unused/unwanted craft stuff if anyone is interested,

Halloween Shenanigans!!!

Here's the cake I made for DDIL's birthday/halloween party. It went down a storm. The inside is a green sponge cake.....suitably disgusting I thought. In the Asda brochure they had used white marzipan but the thought of eating that made my teeth curl up to the top of my head so I used ready roll icing and rolled it over caster sugar which gave a fab texture to the bandages plus a little sparkle.
Thumbs up to Asda for great idea.
The weather spoilt the party a little as it started raining about half an hour before it started and all the food had to be moved inside. It didn't rain for long but enough to wet everything thoroughly so we stayed inside once the kiddies had done the treasure hunt.

A Doodle Pumpkin....just good enough to eat. Oh she did enjoy herself bless her. My costume lasted all of two minutes. Doodle kidnapped my spider necklace and all the spiders from my cobweb apron, my hat blew off walking up the garden. I never saw it again and the cobweb was driving me nuts so that had to come off as well.
Ah well it was a good fun day.

The workroom has been a hive of non activity for the last few days what with birthday shopping and cake making Friday, the party yesterday and food/home shopping today. The desk has been tidied a little and I have sorted out some of the new envelopes and bags but that's it. However Miss Doodle and her entourage are off on holibobs tomorrow so I should get some work done this week......I hope so as I have another wedding stationery order in and some orders for special cards still to finish.


Right.....time for disc three of the new Bones methinks.
Thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-

Traditional, Modern and Cheeky!!!

Traditional-:
Stamped holly with tartan.
Stamp is Magenta. Embossed in gold and painted with H2O's.
Berries are Card Candi
Using up......peeloffs.....yay not got many Christmas ones left now.

 Modern-:
Gorgeous pearl gold and silver card cut into tree shapes.
Using up ribbon offcuts and peeloffs.

Cheeky-:
Ruby's little face with a cheeky grin after she was bought a tumbler with a curly straw in it at the zoo yesterday. She has just learned how to drink through a straw and is sooooo chuffed with herself.

I've had a good day today......twelve of the tartan cards and eight of the tree cards plus nine others that just want finishing off tomorrow.
Must have worked off the migraine as it was gone by dinner time.
More cardmaking tomorrow but I will have to cook a roast dinner for Mr Manic when he gets in so I won't get quite so long upstairs.

Just off for a cuppa and a bit of Bones.
Tara for now.
Sheila-x-

It's All About The Birds!!!

 The first bird is a peacock.
Stamped and embossed in silver onto Basic Grey paper. I have then coloured areas with Tombow pens and added Stickles in Lime Green for a bit of twinkle.
After I had mounted it onto black card I felt it needed something else.....hence the diecut flourish.
I think the stamp may be Magenta but I'm not sure.

Next we have Doodle Bird snuggling up to an owl. Oh she did so love this carving. She kept kissing it and going shhhhh as if she was trying to make it go to sleep. So cute.

It was my day off today so I spent most of it upstairs and made twenty one cards. I did get a visit from Doodle this morning as she wanted to show me her new shoes and then again this evening while DS went to the docs.
A bit lost tonight as I have finished Bones. DD has given me another series to try but I'm not sure if I will like it. It's called In Plain Sight. I'll give it a go but if I don't like it I have Brokeback Mountain to fall back on.
Thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-

Miss Doodle!!!

My gorgeous Ruby enjoying the sunshine and a lovely cooling breeze at the park today.
We had been out for most of the morning and she fell asleep in the car on the way home. I had to sit in the car with her until she woke up which delayed our picnic at the little park near where we live. By the time we had been there for half an hour it began to rain but she had her little picnic and a kick around with a ball. She was tired out by the time daddy picked her up tonight......and a tad cranky but still adorable after her bath and snuggled into clean pyjamas.

No time for crafting tonight but I did get my desk cleared ready to start tomorrow once I get back from playgroup. I'm going with DDIL who has a day off. It's her first time so I said I would go and introduce her to everyone.

Bye for now and thanks for your visit.
Sheila-x-

Ball Games!!!

I thought I'd post some recent pics of Miss Doodle tonight......seeing as how I haven't made anything today.

This was taken at the play centre yesterday. She just loved the ball pool.

Just checking to make sure Grandma is OK. She looks for all the world like she's having a natter over the garden fence doesn't she?
Oh she is just too cute for words.

I've not made anything today as I have spent the day organising files and folders on my upstairs computer. A job that really needed doing. Then tonight I have watched a film with DD. We like to make the most of evenings together with her working permanent night shifts.

Well I am off to bed as Miss Doodle will be here in the morning and we are off out to the play centre and then the garden centre for lunch.

Thanks for dropping in.
Sheila-x-

Look What Grandma Did!!!

I don't know....Mummy delivers me to Grandma's house at 8:15am yesterday and by 9:00am I am in a right mess. Hopefully bathing in Weetabix will keep my skin looking beautiful....lol!!!

That photograph was taken with my new camera and is just as taken apart from the soft edges I added. I am so pleased with it.

Although I have been up in my workroom all day today I am afraid I have no finished projects as I have been doing prep work. I had a bag of one and a half inch squares of patterned paper from a Cosmo Cricket kit that I wanted to use up and have spent the day making up layers for the fronts of cards. With DD in bed all day and Mr Manic at work tomorrow I should have another full day of playing and get something made......once I have prepared a bolognese sauce for tea that is.

With all that goes on here now I have had to buy one of those family organiser calendars to keep track of us all so that's my job for this evening........filling it all in........oh joy.....lol!!!

Thanks for dropping by.

Sheila-x-

Ruby The Reindeer!!!

 My card today is another from the special order ones I have been doing. The paper and image are from The Clipart Fairy and were just perfect for a little boy's first Christmas.
No fancy techniques here...just cutting and layering.

Miss Doodle needed some fresh air yesterday so we took her for a ride to Byrkley Park Garden Centre where she just had to try out the seasonal accessories. The grumpy look on her face was because she had just woken up.

After she had gone home last night I went upstairs and between 5:30pm and midnight I made sixty cards.......yes you read that right....sixty!!! They were the thank you cards for DS and DDIL and I was determined to get them finished before bed time. Very simple I used the design from the cupcake boxes of just a band with a printed heart.

Today I have two invalids in the house. Ruby is still recovering from her cold and DD is snuggled up on the sofa with her cold just starting to come out. She is looking very sorry for herself so I am just off to feed her tomato soup and TLC.

Thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-

A Ruby Doodle Day!!!

We've had such a lovely day today here at Manic Towers.
Little Miss Doodle and her mummy came for lunch as daddy was at work until 6pm and she has had us in stitches all day.
She is now able to get about in a little walker thing that has a steering wheel and all sorts of buttons and noises on it and she absolutely loves it.
Being down at a lower level meant that she got a good look at Mr Smudge Dog and she was absolutely fascinated with him.
Here she is trying to eat his nose.........lol!!!........I hasten to add that her mouth wasn't actually touching his nose.

After a lunch of mashed cauliflower and carrot we had to have a quick wash and brush up, a change of clothes and a nap and we were back to playing.
Doesn't she look like a little angel here?

Need to get down to some serious work tomorrow to finalise the projects for the next all day workshop so I'll be back with something to show tomorrow.

Thanks for your visit.
Sheila-x-

Happy Saturday!!!

Well hello........long time no see.......how ya doin'?
Tonight I actually have things to show you. I managed to get a whole day up in my room today and made several cards using up bits and bobs.
This card is made with some papers that were free with a magazine as they went so well with the camper van image I had stamped onto some Basic Grey papers.
The surf boards are hand drawn and cut out. Letter stickers are Doodlebug.....I think and the greeting is a rub on.
The camper van is from a set of vehicle stamps by Kanban.
Now..........would you just look at this little madam.
Ruby has just started on solids and has taken to them like a duck to water.
Here she is covered in brocolli and potato which is then being washed down with yoghurt.
She looks so pleased with herself doesn't she? I need to get busy in the next week or so and start ordering stuff in for the wedding cake and reception. There is a list as long as my arm. DD is helping to organise the hen night. I shan't go to that. They don't want to have to drag an old biddy round all night and to be honest I'm not sure I could keep up. DS wasn't sure about taking his dad out on his stag do either so we are going to go out with DS and DDIL for a quiet meal instead.

DD has put the most horrible film on called Legion. I managed about half an hour 'til the scary bits started and then I hootfooted it into the back room where I am now going to watch something on IPlayer.

Tara for now and thanks for your visit.
Sheila

Beautiful!!!

This little face just begs to be covered in kisses doesn't it?
We had such a lovely time with Ruby staying over for the night on Saturday. She slept her usual twelve hours so obviously being away from home doesn't faze her one bit.
The t shirt she is wearing was bought especially by DDIL for her to wear on Sunday and says Lots of kisses and big hugs for Grandpa. Hubby was thrilled to bits over it.

Today has not been so good. I have felt pretty poorly all day although I couldn't tell you why. I think maybe it has been the heat.
Felt quite a bit better after I had a lie down by the open window and I did fall asleep for a while. Now I feel totally fine and am in the middle of having my head chemically enhanced......lol!!!

As you can imagine there hasn't been much crafting going on with the Princess in residence but I have managed some time for it today just going through my obscene pile of Christmas papers and making up card fronts ready to decorate.
I also got out my sewing machine and gave it a wipe down and a bit of a test run as I am thinking of making some things with another obscene pile.....of felt......and a less obscene pile.....of fabric.
I can't remember if it was last year or the year before but I bought some lovely fleecy throws from Ikea for the most ridiculously cheap price and I want to make Ruby a Christmas stocking in the blue and cream.

While DDIL and I were washing up after lunch yesterday we were discussing the colour scheme for the wedding. Ivory and black with a splash of red.....gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous. I am so glad it's not pastel colours.

Oooh best go.......I'm cooked according to the resident hairdresser.
Thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-