NOWT GOING ON

BUT THIS HORRENDOUS WEATHER

How can it be July and we are having torrential rain!  There is something seriously wrong with the British weather at the moment.  I so hope it improves for when the kids finish school for the summer holidays, as they are going to be so bored!!!!

I can't believe we are half way into the year and looking back over June it went by so quickly.  I'm sure as I'm getting older, the days, weeks and months go by quicker.

I haven't been very creative these past few weeks, hence me not blogging for a while.  But we bought a new shiny printer last week which I was so chuffed to get (I know, how lame am I) that now at least I can start printing things.

FROG IN MY THROAT

Ok not really and saying that I don't have a sore throat either. Just thought it was a good title for this post.

Haven't really been up to much this past few weeks - just plodding along with life, kids and work!  This past week its been glorious weather and low and behold its coming up to the kids half term and the Jubilee and the weather has changed once again to cloudy with a hint of rain in the air.  I'm hoping that it will change back to the warm sunny weather that we have had as I'm also on holiday next week (which I'm in desperate need of).

This morning whilst sat waiting for the washing machine to finish I got out some of my felt bits and bobs and had a little go at re-creating this little frog thing that my youngest sketched a few weeks back.  I was thinking of the post that I put on here a while back regarding a very talented lady who makes toys from the illustrations that kids do.  Don't get me wrong this is one of the easiest things I've made but I'm happy with the little critter because I think it looks like her drawing.

Goofy little critter :-)

As you can see from her drawing, which she literally doodled whilst sat at the dining room table that it was a very simple idea.  But I loved the goofy teeth and refused to throw away the doodle.

She is at school at the moment and I hope when she comes home she will love her new little friend.

LITTLE THINGS

Not been very creative this past few weeks with other things taking priority, any crafting has been pushed back in my mind.

Have had a little play though this weekend with some socks and came up with this Little Pig which was in the book Stray Sock Sewing.

I used baby socks 0 - 3 months size I think they were, so this little piggy is small compared to the other stuff I have made.

I did add the little tale to his behind as the instructions in the book didn't say anything about adding a tail.

Also last week whilst having some time to myself I altered another photo frame and mirror - but at the moment I haven't actually decorated them - and I do think they are missing some sort of decoration.

I actually went to my local craft shop that I haven't been to in over a year and found the paper that I just loved and knew that I wanted to use it for a frame and mirror.  I ran out of Mod Podge so had to use PVA glue instead but I also sprayed them with a clear lacquer to give them some protection.

PAPER FLOWER POWER

I've had a lovely chilled weekend with Anthony with a little bit of crafting thrown in for good measure and even Anthony had a go.

Sat and made the flowers last night whilst watching The Voice and then today sat and altered 2 frames.  I do love the paper I used and I'm not looking forward to running out of it :(.

And here is Anthony's crafting creation that he did whilst sat watching the football today.  He got the pattern and inspiration from Stray Sock Sewing then added a little stripy top to it.

I think he did an excellent job and he was so happy with the little bunny.

HAPPY FRIDAY

At last Friday is here and the sun is all big and shiny - yippeeeeeee! Its been a long week even though I only worked 2 days - but at last its the weekend.

I managed to alter another frame during the past few days and I really do love this one.

The frame was in a sale and I got it half price for £2.50 - which to me is still expensive seeing that the frames I usually alter only cost me £1.00.  But I thought it was a great shape with plenty of space around the edge to alter.



I made the flowers from pages out of an old book that I've had laying around for ages.  I used different sized punches to create the circles and then just layered them on top of each other.  I inked the edges with a dark brown ink pad and then went over the petals with a lighter shade of brown to age the paper a bit.

Thanks for looking and I hope everyone has a great weekend. Byeeeeeeeeee!

LOVE THE LITTLE ORANGE GUY

Just love this new advert from EDF Energy - THE ORANGE GUY is just soooooo cute!!!

I was so determined to try and make one.

Check out the link: http://youtu.be/s2BwOMBlato

And I'm so happy with the way he turned out - and on the plus side aswell I love the music.

Happy days!

HI PEOPLE

Sorry for not posting for a few days but I've had some chill time with Anthony.  I have managed to do some crafting, but nothing too hard or taxing for my brain haha.

Had another go at using Mod Podge and came up with a covered mirror and picture frame to match.  They are for Anthony's mum as she loves the colours blue and green, and she did ask me to make something just for her.

The mirror frame was from Ikea (£1.25-bargain) and was just plain untreated pine.  I treated the frame to a couple coats of MP and placed the paper over the top.  I've had this paper for years in my paper stash and lucky I had 2 sheets of it - the mirror frame is nearly 12in x 12in so one sheet was used just for that.

I placed a few small glass bead type things that I got ages ago just to give the paper some dimension as it seemed very flat.  I'm happy with the end result and I know she will love it.

I had some paper left from the other frame that I made the other day so I made another set.  The ink I used for round the edges is darker than the last one I used as my trusty little chocolate ink pad dried up - gutted!  But I have to say I prefer this set to my first.

So thank you for visiting and I will be back soon with hopefully more crafty blogging.

I'M BACK AND NOT A SOCK IN SIGHT

Sorry for not blogging for a while, but I've been back at work and the tiredness bug set in.  I think hitting the big 40 in December is really having its affect on me.

The past couple of days I decided I needed a break from socks and turned my 'creative side' to picture frames.

I bought a couple of cheap frames from our local Poundland as I didn't want to spend too much money just in case they never turned out right.  I'm really chuffed with the way this one turned out, that I went and bought coasters so that I could make a gift set.

This frame was a plain cherry wood colour and was really boring so out came the Mod Podge and some scrap book papers that I've had for ages.  I covered the frame in 2 coats of MP then covered it with the paper.  I used a small nail file to file away at the edges to distress it and then edged it with a chocolate colour ink pad to give it an aged look.  I let the ink dry then gave it 2 more coats of MP.  I cut out some flowers from the paper that was left over to decorate the corners.

I think it turned out great and would make a great gift set for someone.

This next one was actually my first attempt.  The frame is made from a very pale bleached wood and using the chocolate ink pad really gave it a great aged look.  I don't know the name of the paper but I wish I had more of it - but maybe when time permits and money, I will get around to searching for some more papers like this one.





Oh... I've had such a lovely week off so far and the weather has been good too.  I really had great expectations to get a lot of crafting done but sadly only made a couple of things.

First up is a little Owl named Nancy.

Made from some small pieces of fabric bought from the local market and also little bits of left over socks.  The pattern for the owl came from the Fiskars website which I stumbled across by accident.  There are some great ideas on their site.

Then I had another little go at making another little fishy, and I just had to make it female.  It was a lot quicker to make than the first one as I knew exactly what I was going to do with it.

Yesterday I had a lovely day with Anthony's mum who came to visit us.  We went out for a little drive just us girls and had a great time chatting and laughing.  His parents live in Wales and we don't get to see them very often so it was nice that they came visiting.



A LITTLE FISHY

Well this started out as something completely different (yeah I know... a sock) and ended up as a fish.

I was trying to make a small sock thingy out of a baby sock and sort of cut too much off at the beginning.  So in the end I was left with a small ball.  Which I left for a couple of hours as I didn't have any idea of what to make.

So after a lot of time looking at the little ball I came up with the idea of a little fishy and I LOVE IT!  The fins were a little hard to do as they were so fiddly, but they turned out fine.

And finally here is my little frog from the other day that I couldn't upload the photos.  I think they make a great couple - Philip & Lily!

OH YES ITS FRIDAY!!!!

What a long week it's been!  Its been so busy at work that I'm really looking forward to being off till the 26th March and I am determined to get some crafting done.


Around 2 o'clock yesterday I was sat bored waiting for the kids to get home from school that I got some socks out and even persuaded Anthony to have a go at making one of the frogs.  He has been signed off work for another 2 weeks and he is ready to hit his head of the walls he is so fed up.


So we got started making the little frogs.  But with me having to go to work I never got mine finished but Anthony plodded away and made Philip.

And he even made little shorts for the fella.  I think he did an amazing job!

I finished mine last night when I got in from work but for some reason I can't upload any more photos as it keeps freezing my screen.  So will give it a try later.

Hope everyone has a great day and will catch up with a few blogs later x

SORRY... NOTHING TO SHARE

Hello on this dull and cold Tuesday morning.  Sorry to say I have nothing to show you as I've had a little break from making sock things.

I was off work last week - yep another holiday I hear you cry and I have to say I didnt make anything.  Just needed some time to spend with my fella who isnt feeling too good at the moment.

I've got loads of ideas floating around in my head of things to make and its finding the time too make them - so hopefully soon - maybe next week when I'm off work again that I will get my ideas sorted and get making.

So, hope you all have a great Tuesday as I'm about to get ready for work (oh the joys) and I will blog ya later x

A LIGHTER SHADE OF ERMMM.... PURPLE

After getting the washing done and the ironing and also doing smoe blog hopping etc.... I had some time to myself today (bliss).  I enjoyed making Freddy the other night that I thought I would make him a partner.

So out came the £2 socks from Asda and I settled on using a lighter shade of Purple.

Here she is........

PAULA THE PURPLE FROG

I made her slightly smaller (not as much stuffing) and I'm happy with the way she turned out.

WISH I COULD DO THIS!

Been having a little look around some blogs etc and came across this site and was amazed!!

http://childsown.wordpress.com/

I really wouldn't know where to start with something like this.  There are some seriously amazing items on her site - all created from the imagination of children.

My eldest likes to draw some weird and strange things - so maybe will have a go at trying something from them. Or get my youngest to draw something for me!

PURPLE FROGS - Ribbit, Ribbit, Ribbit

HELLO SPRING

OMG... what a beautiful morning its been! Gorgeous sunshine and blue sky. Hope this is finally the start of the good weather! Saying that, its still very cold in the shade but in the sunshine its quite warm - big smiley face! Its great to get washing hung out on the line for a change, instead of it drying in the house.

Introducing
FREDDY THE FROG

Made this little critter last night whilst watching the telly - very easy and quick to make - and low and behold the longest part was finding buttons for the eyes! I seriously need to get some buttons that I can use for eyes.



I nipped into Asda yesterday to get some shopping and seen these socks. Four pairs for £2.00 - bargain. I have bought loads of socks recently and none that were plain - bought loads of stripes, patterned but none just plain. And when I saw these ones I knew I would be able to make the frog.



The mouth was made using the heel off a white sock - which curled up when placed on the frogs face to give it a smiley face. Really loved the fact that this was so quick and easy to make.



Here are some photos of Annabelle taken in the sunshine - glad to say that they are better than the ones I took the other night. I still don't think she is finished yet - maybe a pair of shoes will make it look complete. Maybe that will give me something to do later.

Hope you all have a lovely Monday - Think I'm gona sit here and check out a few blogs that I haven't visited for ages. Bye!

ACHOOOOO!

Sorry for the absence but been busy with work, a wedding and full of a stinking cold.

Last Friday me and my partner went to a friends wedding in Darwen (congratulations Becky & Tom) and we had such a lovely time away. We stayed in a beautiful hotel called the Astley Bank which to Anthony's delight had a Jacuzzi Bath in the room - which he promptly filled with water and dived in! He was like a child with a new toy. The weekend was then just spent having 2 very lazy days not doing anything - and I mean not doing anything which was total bliss!

But back to work it was on Monday - and the start of a cold emerging! And I've had it all week now and its getting on my nerves. But on the up side I'm off work again for a week - yippee! I had a few days to take and my manager booked me next week off so it was a nice surprise. So I'm off next week, in work for a week then off again for a week - oh happy days!

Last night I sat down with the intentions off making a rag doll with my youngest and ended making it myself. I grabbed some of her old vests that were way too small for her and used the template out of the book 'Made By Me' by Jane Bull. I had tried the other week to buy some calico when I went to town but couldn't find any - so that's where her vests came in handy. So I cut out the body bits and started sewing! But for some unknown reason (ok my bad sewing) when I turned the fabric the correct way i found that the head was slightly mishapen so I ended up making the doll with hair.

Meet Annabelle

I only just took the photos of her and the lighting is pretty rubbish - but hopefully will get better shots tomorrow.

END OF THE HOLIDAY

Well my week off is over and its back to work today.
The holiday has gone way too fast!!!
But its been a great week especially spending it with Anthony, Calum, Ellie, Caitlyn, Joe & Avie.

We have been quite lucky really with the weather even though some days were very cold. But its been to nice to get out and do a bit of walking even though I feel like I've shrunk a few inches.

This is the most recent photo of me and my partner Anthony (love this man) at Williamson Park on Sunday. Caitlyn took around 6 photos and this is my favourite one of us together, even though the sun was in our eyes and we are squinting. She took some great photos and I think I have a budding photographer in the making.



Left to right - Avie, Calum, Joe, Ellie & Caitlyn - This was taken on the Stone Jetty last Monday when we went out for a walk and its the first time that we have managed to get a photo of them all together.



So I'm going to go and get sorted for work (really don't want to go back) and hopefully might have something to show you during the week if I get the chance to craft.

TWIT WOO

Forgot to post the pictures for this little Owl that I made on Tuesday night. I'm not 100% happy with this one as I had problems getting the eyebrow shapes on the head the same thickness and then again I didn't have any decent buttons for the eyes. But at least I gave it a try.



The instructions in the book mentioned scraps of brown socks which I didn't have, so I had to once again resort to felt. A very quick little project to do and I think maybe next time I try something like this one again I will certainly practice on the eyebrow bits.

FEW DAYS OUT & ABOUT

Had a few days off from making stuff and decided to have a few days out & about with the kids.

On Wednesday we went to Leighton Moss RSPB reserve. Only a half hour drive away but worth it. Such a peaceful place and great birdwatching. We ended up joining the RSPB as we enjoyed it that much. I didn't seem to get any photos of any birds apart from the ducks but the kids and Anthony got some great shots. I have to say I love this shot I got looking across one of the lakes.



On Friday we went to the Manchester Science & Industry Museum. We had a great time and the kids enjoyed it. Have to say this is my favourite shot of the day of Caitlyn. The end of the day was spent at the Trafford Centre where we had our dinner and the only shopping bought was Gummy Bears, a few boxes of Nerds and Reeses sweets. The nerds were so expensive and I'm sure when I was younger I didn't spend £2.49 a box and that was with 20% off - but they were nice.



Today, after having a very lazy morning we went for a drive to Williamson Park in Lancaster. It was mine and Anthonys first time up there and we were amazed with the views from the Ashton Memorial. Its sad to think I have lived in the area for nearly 36 years and its my first time there.



Caitlyn took this photo of me, Anthony and Avie and I love it. We didnt know she was taking the picture and there were a few more but this one is my favourite.



This photo was taken on Monday looking from the Stone Jetty to Morecambe Sea Front. We dragged the kids and the dogs out for a walk as it was such a lovely day but very very cold. The tall structure in the middle of the photo is The Polo Tower left over from Morecambe Pleasure Beach. The fairground shut many years ago but the structure is still there as the council decided to let mobile companies use it as a mobile phone mast (sad).