Working Wednesday!

Well it has been a hectic few days back at work but I think we are all getting back into the swing of the whole work/nursery routine again. I am pleased to say that Alex's mouth ulcers have cleared up and he is back to normal. As part of my normal weekly routine it is time to show you my desk again for WOYWW.  My desk is in the midst of a messy crafting session...I am covered in ink having been playing with my distress inks and an Adirondack colour wash. The other things you can see are various stamps, scraps of paper and my nice steaming hot mug of tea which I am very much enjoying!

Here is the completed tag which used 4 different stamps, some freehand drawing and the inked background.  I am entering this for the Simon says stamp and show 'torn/distressed edges' and TioT 'tag and butterfly' challenges.

I have also made a double page scrapbook layout following a recent sketch from the Nuts about sketches site. This also fits with the Lasting Memories 'create your own background using a punch' challenge (I used several different size circles and also stamped my background), the scrap and stamp 'men/boys in your life' (Alex!), The crazy challenge 'monochromatic', Spoon Full of Sugar 'splish, splash' and MTTC 'more than one image' and Aud Sentiment 'summertime' challenges.
That is all from me for now so have a nice rest of the week.
Love,
Caro
x

Staycation end!

I can't believe that nine days have passed since I started my 'staycation'. We actually had our final day of holiday trips yesterday when we went to a special diesel day at the Peak Railway.  Alex loves Diesels and was so excited to be going on a diesel train.  Our train was the first one of the day and as such it was a 'top and tailer' so we were able to watch the second diesel being coupled to the train. 

It just goes to show what looking cute and cheeky can do...by waving at the driver Alex was allowed to go in the cab of the engine much to his fascination and delight.

It was a lovely train ride through beautiful countryside past one picturesque station and a good final trip of the week for us. The only slight marr to the day and holiday is that Alex has come down with hand foot and mouth disease and has a mouth full of extremely painful ulcers so is struggling to eat and drink anything.

On many of our trips out we drove past Chatsworth House and I was hoping to get a good photo of it looking stunning in the lush green landscape, however, this was the view I had!  Not quite what I had in mind! Today we had the usual end of holiday day, washing, cleaning and food shopping, but no unpacking thanks to the joys of vacationing at home (as it is chucking it down with rain, I don't feel I have missed out on a days holiday either!). 

There was even some time for crafting for the first time in ages.  The first place I looked of course was the Less is More site!  I do love this challenge blog and have joined in every week since I discovered it on week 2.  This week the challenge was to frame it.  I masked out a square on my card and sponged tea bag and linen distress inks into the square, then stamped the heart in frayed burlap.  I then drew freehand round the square to create the frame and added the sentiment stamp (both stamps are Crafty Individuals which were free gifts). As the colour scheme is quite masculine I am also entering this card into SCSC 'male card' and Crazy4challenges 'masculine' challenges. Once again I would like to apologise to my fellow LIMettes and others...I am still finding it almost impossible to comment on anyones blog...I end up in a never ending circle of having to sign in again and again. I hope things will improve soon.

I have also made a Father's day card for my dad, and before you ask, No! He is not an alcoholic gambler!!  His favourite evenings pastime is a game of bridge with a glass of brandy hence the images on this card.  I followed this weeks Unscripted sketch and am entering this to The Crazy Challenge, Flourishes Timeless Tuesday, Delightful Challenges, Paper Play, Delicious Doodles, Sew Many cards, Speedy the cat's friends and Stamp, scrap and Doodle 'Father's Day' challenges and Stamp something 'punches' challenge. That is all from me for today...I am back to work tomorrow (boo hoo) providing Alex is well enough to go to nursery.  Have a great week everyone,
Love,
Caro
x

Staycation part 3!

We are continuing with our staycation with another few trips out. Yesterday saw us crossing the pennines to Manchester’s Old Trafford Centre and the LegoLand Discovery Centre. Alex was fascinated by the model of Buzz lightyear,

whereas Tim and I were really interested in the other models of places we know and loved the 4D cinema show (Alex found the 3D effects a bit too scary!).

And we all enjoyed building and testing lego racing cards down the different tracks.

Today we went to Twycross Zoo where we were lucky enough to see all the different animals that each of us wanted to, including the Amur Leopards,

Gibbons and monkeys

Chimpanzees,

orangutans that seem to like hiding under blankets,

And the sleepy, sunbathing snow leopard! It is sad to think that our staycation is nearly over, but we will hopefully manage at least one more trip out before I have to go back to work.

I have had very little time for crafting and have only managed to make postcards to send to our family using a compilation of photos from our holiday put together using photoshop elements. I printed them out onto card and the coated the card with sticky back plastic to protect the ink and to add strength to the postcards.

And a small tag for Tim's anniversary present. This uses silver and blue which was the colour scheme of our wedding, contains hearts and a dragon (because we both love fantasy books).  This little tag therefore fits with the Kaboodle Doodles 'mystical creatures', Pollycraft 'love and marriage', Simon says stamp and show 'a tag', creative card crew 'things with wings', The pixie cottage 'shape it up' and TioT 'wierd and wonderful' (not sure if a combination of dragons and anniversary is wierd enough!) challenges.
Have a great weekend everyone,
Love,
Caro
x

Staycation part 2!

Well our staycation is getting better and better! Yesterday we spent a lovely sunny day at Cleethorpes playing in the sand.

Alex quickly made friends with another little boy and they spent a happy hour or so digging a deep hole

and making sandcastles.

The weather was nice enough for a paddle in the sea

and then the game was to bury Mummy!

Today we went to the National Tramways Museum where we all enjoyed the rides on the trams and the opportunity to see so many old trams up close and personal.

Alex even got the chance to stand at the controls of one. 

As is traditional for an English holiday we did get rained on, but only briefly and it didn't stop our enjoyment of the day.

As we are holidaying at home this year I am able to show you my desk as part of WOYWW, but as I have had no time for crafting it is relatively empty, just a few things that need putting away including my brayer and a couple of stamps and a ribbon. At the back of my desk you can see the lovely play it forward present I received as part of the massive 2 year anniversary swap.

Here is a close up of it. Needless to say I love it and will be finding a place on my wall to put it. Thank you so much Sunshine Girl!

As my person should have received her PIF by now I thought it would finally be safe to share it with you.
It is a pull out/slider card with the WOYWW inside.

So here is a photo of it all opened up. I am entering this card into the Stampavie 'more than a fold', MTTC 'wildlife' (bird), Creative card crew 'wings' (bird), Cupcake craft challenges 'things with a tail' (bird again!) and papertake weekly 'anything goes' challenges.  That is all from me for today.  Please pray for us that our staycation continues to go well (Tim's health isn't the best at the moment). Have a great rest of the week everyone.
Love,
Caro
x

Staycation part 1!

Apparently what we are doing this year is having a 'staycation' and supposedly it is quite a trendy thing to do!  Basically it means we are having a holiday from home with lots of day trips out.  We started on Saturday with a trip to the outdoor play area (Sci-tek and Aqua-tek) at Magna. The weather was nice enough for Alex to run around in the water park

Where he had great fun, and even persuaded me to join in

Yes, I did get soaked and I enjoyed every minute of it!

We then went into the adventure playground for a picnic and to warm up in the sun.

On Sunday we went out to the Heights of Abraham where we all enjoyed the cable car ride (don't ask me why Alex insisted on putting his hood up)

and the caves, although Alex wasn't too sure about them switching the lights off!

That said we all enjoyed the light display in the main cave.

Alex then went on to a party for one of his friends where he was given these glasses which made us all laugh.

Today we went to Drayton Manor Park where Alex showed us how much he loves rollercoasters, although he hated the queueing! Poor Tim was exhausted and spent much of the time sat in a heap...we will have to do something more gentle tomorrow.

Crafting wise I have made my entry for this weeks Quirky Crafts challenge which is 'Under the sea'. We were given some very cute images from our sponsor to work with.  Pop on over and check out the rest of the DT entries and join in for a chance to win some digital stamps. I am also entering this into Meljen's theme of 'coastal fun' and Penny's challenge 'Here comes summer'.

I have also made a card for this weeks Less is More challenge, which was monochrome.  I chose shades of brown for my monochrome and used coredination card stock, embossed it using my cuttlebug and sandpapered the embossing to reveal the lighter core in the middle.  The stamp I used was free with the recent issue of Crafty Stamper. This card followed this weeks Unscripted sketch, and I am also entering this card into Delicious Doodles 'texture'. Have a great rest of the week everyone.
Love,
Caro
x 

Woo Hoo!

We are on holiday!  I am having a week off work and am so excited.  Before we start our holiday I had to make a birthday card for a little boy so used a Whiff of Joy digital stamp 'Spider Henry' which I coloured in with promarkers.  This card fits with the 'colours of your flag' challenge from Kaboodle Doodles (red, white and blue), Happy Birthday from Ooh La La, 'Its a guy thing' from Fresh Brewed, 'Masculine' from Simon Says stamp, 'Man or boy' from Fussy and Fancy and 'use a digital stamp' from Stamp something. That is all from me for now.  Have a great weekend everyone.
Love,
Caro
x

Wet bank holiday!

What a surprise...bank holiday Monday was sopping wet and the day we went back to work the sun was shining!  Alex was on good form though and we had a lot of fun with him dressing his teddies in caps and laughing at what they looked like. (I took this photo with my new phone!).

As it is Wednesday it is time for WOYWW and my desk is relatively neat as I am in the process of making a Wedding Anniversary card for Tim.  On the desk you can see my distress inks, my nearly empty mug of tea, the card I am working on and embossing powder which I am trying to add to the image using a Versamark pen (only having semi-success at the moment). Can my PIF person get in touch as I am unable to comment on blogger at the moment.

I did eventually get it to work so here is the final card which I am entering for Crafty Cardmakers 'love of the lasting kind' (we are celebrating 10 years of marriage), Simon says stamp and show 'your favourite stamp' (I love this Anita's stamp), Spoon Full of Sugar 'flower power', Stampin for the weekend 'blue, buttons (I used tiny ones) and bling and Pile it on 'sprinkles' (I used sprinkles of gem stones and embossing powder).  That is all from me for now. Have a great rest of the week.
Love,
Caro
x