Organic Salad

Just wanted to share a photo of our organic salad that we have been enjoying lately. This is just one patch of lettuce (the red one) and Dave picked us a whole bunch for dinner last night.

We only have lettuce and yummy radishes right now but eventually there will be spring onions. celery (first time we've tried growing that), cucumber, courgettes (lovely in a salad), beetroot (again lovely grated raw in a salad), carrots and several different kinds of tomato. Oh and I forgot the rocket, spinach and chard - I like a mixed leaf salad and I much prefer raw baby spinach to cooked.

This was what we took home yesterday. As the season moves on the baskets and containers get bigger and bigger - can't wait.

To finish off the evening yesterday I stewed some rhubarb from the plot and had it with a Cornish cream icecream - YUM - lucky me. There's reward for all the hard labour!

Escaping the Rat Race

Everyone has a hobby or some other way of escaping the 'rat race' right? Well this is one of ours - spending time down on the allotment, one to one with nature, being all organic, working the land, recycling - you know the whole allotment ethos. ....and we're not alone!

This is a quick glimpse of what greets us as we walk to our own plot. Doesn't it all look lush and green?

We have reached the time of year when we have to go down at least every other day if not a bit more and as much time in the evenings and on weekends is spent down here as possible.

This is our plot and while we still have a few areas we haven't planted in this year, we are expecting a few good bumper crops of the things we love.

This is our potato crop which actually stretches the whole width of the plot so there's more than meets the eye in this photo! We are growing a couple of varieties and growing the red 'smileys' again this year. They're so weird - all pinky red in colour and every single potato has a creamy flesh coloured smile somewhere. They were delicious last year so we're keeping our fingers crossed for a good crop this year too.

These are some of my 'babies' waiting to go in the ground. I am growing 'bush' green beans this year as the others are too stringy and tough for my liking unless you pick them just right. Some of them failed to launch so we had to pot up more seeds. The others are peas - we've never had much luck with these so we're having another go. Both of these will be ready to go in the ground this weekend so you know how Dave and Iare spending our Saturday morning this weekend.

This shot was taken especially for Amanda and Kay so they could see their empty water bottles (they kindly save them for us) being to put to good use. The plants just come on in leaps and bounds using these and right now these ones are protecting my calibrese.

Beyond these is our sweetcorn crop - yum, can't wait! We have to put in a lot of time and effort into it but it is soooooo worth it.

Time for Tea

I wanted to share a couple of pictures of the thank you gift that is on it's way stateside to my lovely mom-in-love for sending me my latest PTI stamps. Hope you like it mom.

I had seen the latest tutorial on Splitcoast (link in list at right) for a sweet little double pocket card and loved it. I knew I had some sachets of teabags just waiting for the right project. Then when I opened the customer appreciation stamp set and saw the cute little tea cups - well it was just meant to be - obviously!

This is the front of the card which closes with a tied ribbon. Can you believe I used the tail ends of the swirl design to add the steam to the cup? I love this alternative shape from the nestabilities too, makes a change from a circle or the obvious square.

This is the card opened up to reveal the 'green tea' teabags inside. I took my colour inspiration from the outer wrapper of the sachets because they were so bright and colourful - kinda summery.

Finally I decided to try being a bit 'arty' with my photograph and added a pretty doily and really sweet cup and saucer (actually mom got for me on one of her many trips here). I don't usually stage my photos too much but maybe I should?

For anyone who does already know I kinda collect strawberry stuff. I say 'kinda' cos I just don't have much room for any more - unless of course I just HAVE TO HAVE IT - and then I make room!

Mom - I posted first class this yesterday so I guess it should be with you sometime soon - ENJOY!

Something Nice Happened Today!

Ever get the feeling that something nice is coming your way? Well I didn't wake up feeling like that but somewhere between getting up and mid morning I started to.

OK so I knew PT Ink had sent me the freebie anniversary 'thank you' set cos mom e-mailed me to say she was surprised to get it (and real jealous too). I promise I'm gonna surprise you with a set of your own one of these times. She also wrote that she would forward it on but I never expected it to be so quick! Still I got a funny feelin something nice was coming my way today.

This is really freaky cos it's not the first time I've felt that way when one of mom's packages arrives whether I know it's comin or not - honest!

This is what Mr Postie shoved - and I DO mean SHOVED through my door at around 1 pm today. This is only one side mind you. PTI are always surprisingly generous with their anniversary sets.

This is the other side of the set. I just love, love, love the teacups and cupcakes, they're way cute. I really needed somethin nice cos my BP shot up for no reason today, kicking everything else off and I'm suddenly so tired I feel as if I've hit a brick wall. Shame cos getting them into the case was as much as I could do by mid afternoon.

I do have the perfect little project for a 'thank you' gift for mom in return. Just as soon as I get the energy to make it I'll post it here first before sending it.

For anyone who might be reading this and wondering what a 'thank you anniversary set' is I'll tell you.

If you purchase 12 sets of stamps from Papertrey Ink in the course of a year they send you an exclusive freebie set that money just can't buy. How cool is that? It's smart too cos it makes you buy that little bit more to qualify. I love to give sets as gifts at Christmas as well as buy for me so gettin 12 a year is easy peasy. Best of all if you buy 24 you get 2 free sets, 36 you get 3 free sets and so on...

Love, love, love PTI

Gettin Organised

Organised - I AM NOT - but I sure would love to be. If I could wave a magic wand and make it happen believe me - I would.

This is as much cleaning as I have done in my craft room so far this morning and by golly you'd think that 'I think' I deserve a medal! Isn't it nice to see them all neat and tidy though? Can't guarantee they'll stay that way for long.

Do you know how much restraint it takes for me to avoid the computer ( and the internet) on my day off? I usually fail miserably at some point in the day and if it's first thing in the morning then the battle is already lost. I'm not tellin who's winning the battle today but it sure ain't me!

I've made it as far as the second basket and just about made a start. My excuse was that I wanted nice labels on the computer instead of the temporary ones I've tacked on (bottom of photo). So the computer went on for the second time this morning.

I still have more dies to put away and then.......

...I've set myself the next challenge of sorting out about 4 baskets of punches. These things seem to quietly multiply and they get BIGGER too! So glad I started collecting nestabilities that all fit neatly into a CD case and then inside a CD box with a lid - now I don't seem to have any trouble keepin them organised so I think I've cracked that one.

Of course all this barely scratches the surface so I am off to recharge with tea and toast (couldn't find chocolate anywhere this morning) before getting back to it.

AND TURNING OFF THE COMPUTER - right after this post!

Yeah right! (there goes that phrase again - must be the theme for the day I guess)

I am SOOOOOOOO in trouble today.

Patchwork Cards

I promised to share a few more cards from the last demo Saturday and since today is my day off I'm taking some time this morning to get onto my blog and post.

I am supposed to be cleaning house and tidying up my craft room - yeah right! - like that's really gonna happen. Do you know how much stuff is in my craft room? I get overwhelmed just lookin at it!

Anyhow back to posting. I am showing this photo cos I wanted to show the lovely flower stand I got at a carboot sale a couple of weeks back. I paid just 10p for it can you believe!!!! Do you know how hard it was to contain my excitement so the guy didn't twig and charge me more!

If I'm gonna demo I wanted to have the table all set up nice like so I am keeping my eyes open for things like this. Even better was that the theme was flowers and patchwork so the wire flower fit right in - pefect. I dragged a couple of stands I used to use when teaching out too - have some more somewhere? Gotta clean my craft room so I know what I got!!!

(I love that I don't always have to spend a fortune on stuff so I can save pennies to spend on the bigger more expensive goodies)

I'm waffling - sorry

Here is another shot. Sure glad I had this - no more customers having to pick up the cards that get knocked over.

This was the first card I came up with - I never quite like the first one somehow. It did get me thinking about stitches, patchwork, old lace though which is right where I wanted to be.

I don't know the names of too many quilt designs except that I could remember the 'log cabin' one so I used it to create the background on this one.

While this one just used a simple '4 squared' background I like it because of the different shape nestability in the centre. Even this is a patchwork shape. I was going to use a round one but see how one idea gives birth to another. I knew this shape would fit the theme and how cool is it that it fit the stamped design too?

I had intended to add pastel brads and eyelets but didn't get time. If I was making these cards real vintage patchwork I would distress them a little, add real stitches, vintage lace, ribbon and old pearly buttons - how cool would that look. Hhhmmmmm ? Maybe when my craft room is clean, my course is finished (2 weeks and counting) and I come up for air - yeah right!

Did I say that already?

Another Demo Saturday

Last Saturday was another demo morning and after I had finished the table looked like this.

I had some lovely pastel papers and glittery flower embellishments to work with so a patchwork quilt theme came quickly and easily to mind. this is one way to fulfill my first love of sewing with my more current love of crafting. I seldom get to sew much at all these days but I love to add faux stitching details with pens or stamps and had great fun creating 'quilted' backgrounds.

I decided for a change I would make a couple of mini (8 x 8) scrapbook pages. I love scrapbooking and don't get to do nearly enough of it. This page uses a simple 4 squared patterne paper background, 1 photo, a die-cut leaf (Sizzix), a simple rub on text, glittered flower embellishments and a scrap of vintage looking lace. All it's missing is a couple of pastel brads and some pearly buttons.

This is a more recent photo of Maddy. This is a quilted background too but with 4 strips instead of squares. Add some scalloped edging, some yellow trim, a die-cut swirl (Sizzix), stencilled leaves and glittered flower embellishements again and there you have it.

What you can't see is the beautiful embossed detail on the cream coloured background page. Up close it looks just like lace!

Finally I'm sharing this little flower album I started. It has one of the new dies (Sizzix again!) that is a really cute flower tag with hanging loop. I added a rub on verse to the centre circle for a bit of fun. I have outlined the whole thing using a black fine liner pen and added leaves with each page so they layer up around the finished project.

Looking back at these just makes me wanna go make a 'Maddy' album!

I have a few more things to share but it's getting pretty late and I'm starting to yawn now so much as I'd love to keep going I'm gonna quit for now and will try to get a couple more posts done tomorrow. I have several updates to do on the computer so I will be back - promise!

Miss Maddy

Big Grandma - these pictures are just for you ok.

It took some doing to get Maddy to look at me while I clicked the camera between looking right, left, up, down - every which way except where I wanted her to look - but I did manage to get at least one good shot for you.

Isn't she growing just like a weed! She is now nearly 4 1/2 years old - where does the time go?

She is finally getting some lovely locks and now has enough hair to make a pretty pony tail although unlike her Papa and mummy - she has really thin fine hair - just like Grandma.

I can see we're gonna have sooooo much fun dressing her up in all the pretty summer clothes. It's just like having our very own real live baby doll.

I babysat her this weekend for a few hours and missed the chance to take more photos - shame cos she had the cutest blue denim pleated skirt on with a blue and white stripey top with red trim and adorable blue and white stripe pumps with red bows. I just love Maddy in denim with red but I have yet to capture it on film. I have the perfect paper and embellishments for a page too - if only I can get the photos to go with it!

Someday soon maybe?

Pretty In Pink

I wanted to make a gift and card for a friend who was celebrating her birthday. I knew if I made a bag or box I would then have to think of something to fill it with. Well I was running low on energy (and a bit short on time too) so when I spied this pretty pink box in WHSmith I decided it was perfect for decorating, filling and gift giving.

I decided to use a previous design that I had created using a couple of cheap and cheerful clear stamps since I liked the design so much. I knew the birthday girl approved too.

Here is the box all finished, in dotty wrap and tied together with a bright pink bow just waiting to be given.

This was the birthday card I made to go with the gift. I had been wanting to do a tall slim card using this design since I first created it so here it is.

This was the style of square card I made to go into the box.

And here is the birthday girl herself opening her gift. It was so lovely to see her smile as she tucked in! You just gotta love birthdays - kind of a shame we only get 1 a year really.

As a special treat Kay invited several of us crafting girlies to an evening of crafting in the upstairs classroom at YTOC. Notice all the chocolate goodies around the table (not to mention the b'day cake).

We not only had a great time (thanks Kay) but we had a real laugh and all got along great with each other. I always said crafters are some of the nicest people and this group are some of the nicest I've ever known.

Chocolate Delight

Well I had the most fun I've had in a long time the other evening at Crafty Women - making handmade CHOCOLATES! Delicious!

I knew when I put this one into the programme it would be popular and I got to take this class for a change as well.

Here is Natasha (my god-daughter) dipping her hand made confectionery to perfection.

We had a really good turnout for the evening too. Here are our popular 'mother - daughter' duo getting stuck in to some of the yummy fillings that were all homemade and used all natural ingredients.

It was lovely to see so many CW gals having a good time.

This shot must've been taken early in the evening. As time wore on we had all amassed a nice BIG pile of fillings ready to dip into choclate to finish.

YES I did share mine but they didn't last very long!

Pesto Pasta

I don't very often share recipes here on the blog but I just love this pasta salad.





It couldn't be simpler to make either. Just cook some bow pasta, drain and toss with rocket (or baby spinach), pine nuts, torn or shaven mozzarella (or parmesan), cherry tomatoes, a dash of olive oil and lashings of green pesto - YUM!

We had our first BBQ of the season a couple of weekends ago. I made this salad sinceit is a favourite of mine and my eldest daughter.

Next Demo

I came home from the last demo with some products to use for the next one and I am already inspired by them. There are such lovely pastel colours and since I made a 'quilt' effect panel at this week's demo I have a 'patchwork' theme in mind.

A 'patchwork' page (or two) a 'patchwork' mini chipboard album maybe and even a few 'patchwork cards - or at least a bit of colour blocking. I know spring is just about over but I still have spring photos that haven't been scrapped yet and I can make some pretty projects with this lot.

I'm always being asked how to do colour/pattern combinations and the easy answer is always to look for a range to mix and match and make it easy. I'm gonna enjoy crafting with these.

See you in a couple of weeks :-)

Pretty Stamps

We can all spend a small fortune on crafting right?

Well every now and then something comes along that costs pennies and the newest mini stamps in YTOC are just what I'm talking about. I have mentioned mini stamps before when they came out with some really cute designs with fun sayings (if you've been following along you'll have seen them here).

Sometimes you just know when you see something that there is a really cool idea just waiting to be brought to life (well I do anyhow) and this first card was exactly what I had in mind when I saw these latest mini stamps.

I love that it looks more involved than it actually is. That way the person receiving it is gonna think it's not only real pretty card but that you went to soooo much trouble over it when it only took 5-10 minutes - honest!

Start with a pre-patterned cardstock - this stuff is ALWAYS available at YTOC and makes the perfect quick card. I use it alot so it's worth having a whole bunch in stock especially for when you just don't have time to spend on creating a patterned background. It only comes in 3 or 4 colours but you can add black to any of them for a stunning colour combination.

To make this quick square card cut and score a square card blank then stamp the floral spray in opposite corners.

Next stamp the 'you're special stamp onto white card and cut and emboss using a square nestabilities die.

Cut several more layers using the plain and patterned cardstock in straight and scalloped squares and layer up adding 3D to some or all of layers as desired.

Add some ribbon around card and knot (much easier than a bow and trendy too) and add text block.

To finish add either glitter, pearls or diamantes in centre of flowers. There you have it - a super easy, super quick but classy looking card!

ALL for a couple of stamps that cost under £2 each. They give a really good clear image (providing your ink pad isn't old like mine) and they're clear stamps too which are easier to position where you want them.


This second card uses another one of the mini stamps that has been stamped onto white, stamped onto pink and a portion cut out and layered and then stamped onto white again and the text cut out and layered. The whole thing has then been cut and layered using the nestabilities dies and finally the card has been folded and cut using a nestability die too.

This one's even quicker than the first.

I'm gonna try doing this one in a long slim version and then the standard card size too. I have a really pretty text for the next one but someone got to the last 'bird swirl' stamp before I DID!

If you're reading this - You Know Who You Are! Good job Amanda's gonna try getting it in again and for anyone who would like to do a class in these we're considering it so let us know.

Demo Saturday

Yesterday was a demo Saturday - every 1st & 3rd of each month - and I was demonstrating the nestabilities dies (plus some pretty rubber stamps I will post later). Here are just a couple of the things I created.


I absolutely love papercrafting - maybe even more than card making and scrapbooking some days. This is a simple origami box (one that I've featured before on my blog) made out of plain paper but given a whole new look simply by adding plain and scalloped squares using the nestability dies. After layering up the squares I embellished with my favourite daisy die and the whole thing ties together with some really pretty Bo Bunny polka dot ribbon. I have been known to get a bit silly over 'polka dots' before now. Love, love, love em!
I am always amazed how a flat piece of cardstock or designer paper can be transformed into something so pretty and so creative. There are some fab ideas out there - check out the splitcoast stampers link in my blog list for a few more.



Ordinarily I would've added some buttons and maybe a b'day embellishment to this card but I ran out of time. Amanda has some really cute wooden embellishmentsin store. I'd add a couple of bright buttons hanging off the upper left corner of the text box plus a bright wooden embellishment hanging off the bottom right of the text box to finish this design off perfectly and to add a fun element to it too.

I was making it to demonstrate the nestabilities dies remember! Anyhow it's more of the Bo Bunny b'day paper range which is so bright and such fun. Again I have only scratched the surface with these papers - THERE JUST AREN'T ENOUGH HOURS IN MY DAY/WEEK/MONTH !!!! - I simply cannot do ALL the stuff I want to!

There was a bunch more stuff but you gotta be there to see em.

Simple at Heart

Just wanted to share a simple card I made using the nestabilities dies. Those of you who follow my blog will know that I seriously struggle to do 'simple' but when I was making this card it simply didn't need much more.

A few hearts in patterned paper, layered up with a few co-ordinating plain hearts using a combination of scalloped and plain edged hearts, a simple text and voila!

This same card could take on a whole new look simply by using different papers and colour combinations. I'm hoping Amanda will order the layered flower dies - how cute would that look.