Sue Ramsay~

Quick note

2010-10-16T17:14:00.002+01:00

To say I dont know if I will be blogging or crafting again. This last week has been the most awful
time of my life and I seriously dont know how Im going to deal with it. I shant even say watch this space.
Take care
Sue x

2010-09-19T19:21:00.006+01:00

I have no idea what happened but I couldnt upload any images for a while - hence the second post. I know the tag is in an earlier post but I cant delete it! The cream one is a deep box picture Ive made, the colours are creams and white but its not too easy to tell! The mirror started life as a 99p IKEA one. Some Tim Holtz inks and dyes, grungeboard butterflies I made and stamped and dyed, lace and handmade muslin roses later you have the finished product which is a cheer up present for my best friend who is having a bit of a rotten time lately - hope she likes it!

Take care

Sue x

Time flying by again.

2010-09-19T19:00:00.005+01:00

Well despite my good intentions of blogging more regularly time ran away with me again. In my defence I have been busy. Back to school /work again :-( means trying to fit in cooking, shopping, cleaning, ironing etc etc along with working - really is time for me to find a job that makes me want to get up in a morning and makes my heart sing.

A rare thing happened last weekend....I had a night away from home! On Saturday we stayed over at the Hilton Doubletree in Milton Keynes which was wonderful, then on Sunday drove into London to see The Jersey Boys musical in the West End. I didn't know much about the musical before we went (it wasnt my choice it was a surprise) but all the same it was a nice experience. It was lovely to be in London again, it must be 12 or 13 years since I was last there, and it was 4 or 5 years since I had a night away from home. It was about 2.30am when we finally arrived home and I was up for school the next morning! I think its taken me a week to get over it!!!

Those of you who know me will know that last October one of my cats went missing and never returned..............until yesterday! We heard noises in the back garden, when we looked out there was my Pepsi boy talking to Bella (the rescue cat we adopted after he left), however when Emily his sister came into the garden too it was obvious he recognised her...Emily, however, being the Queen of Hormone Dysfunction, decided to hiss at him. To cut a long story short he ran off again but came back a few times later on in the evening, we fed him outside ( he wouldnt come too close ) in the hopes that he would come in but he didnt. We spent the evening calling for him but to no avail. We are just keeping our fingers crossed that he comes back today.

I will leave you with a couple of things Ive been working on of late.....catch you soon.

A few bits and pieces as promised

2010-09-02T21:10:00.008+01:00

A few altered boxes and a tag.

Sorry for the quality of the pictures and the fact that one is upside down too!

I may redo them and actually start a brand new blog, its something Ive been thinking of doing for a while.

Sue x

I'm back !

2010-09-02T20:14:00.004+01:00

Phew......

I'm not going to state the other obvious and say 'where has the time gone' - it went. John Lennon famously said ' life is what happens when you're busy doing other things', he wasn't kidding but goodness know what I've been doing for so long - not blogging though that's for sure.

Lots of decorating has been taking place, including the craft room, oh boy what a revelation............where on earth did I get all that STUFF from? Anyhow, it's back to what passes for normal (in this house) and I'm hoping to make time to blog more regularly.

I wont bore you with the masses of photos I've taken but I will pop a few on here and there.

Here goes:

Playtime at last!

2010-04-08T01:06:00.017+01:00

Iwas determined to have some 'playtime' this Easter break, despite the living room being decorated and the house being upside down.

I've been using Kirsty Wisemans newest cd 'Colourful burst of fanciful things' this week and what problems I've had trying to decide which of the fabby papers to use. I dont know about you but I've often been disappointed in the past by some cd's but thats not the case with this one - there literally isnt a single item on it that I dont like! I was quite loathe to actually USE them, very very strokeable lol!! Ive also managed to complete two oval wooden boxes that Jordan liberated from his bedroom - yet again Ive forgotten to take a picture BEFORE I started them. Theyve had the Tim Holtz distress ink treatment along with glimmer mists, pearls, butterflies, flowers etc etc ! On the larger of the two I made up some muslin roses from scratch and was quite pleased with the outcome, I finished them off with a flower/pearl in the centre and a swipe across the ink pad! The smaller of the two I kept very simple, I quite like the contrast.

I've also managed to make a visit to Costco and IKEA over at Gateshead with a friend, meet three of the girls I worked with at another school a few years ago for lunch on Tuesday and today Ive visited my cousin and her husband who are over from Cyprus for a while - not bad eh!

Need to try and get my hair highlighted before going back to school on Monday :-(. would love to have a complete revamp but somehow it always ends up the same - oh well.

Bedtime I think - my book is calling me. Hopefully more crafting tomorrow. xxx

2010-03-21T00:12:00.003Z

We have a new addition to the family this week. Meet Bella.........Emily is wishing she hadn't met Bella but hey ho! After Pepsi went missing in October (Emily's brother) I wasn't sure if I would have another fur baby but I came across this one on a rescue website and I dont know why I rang but there you go, I did. They said in the write up about her (oh she WAS called Vera or V for short but come on.......Emily and Vera?????????sounds like two old ladies in the snug at the Rovers!) that she was a year old and had been rescued as a stray in the autumn, but theres no way this little thing is a year old. We reckon she is nine months old at the very most, bless her. She may be little but my word can she eat!! Emily has turned into a real hissy missy and has stopped sleeping on my bed since Bella arrived on the scene. Fingers crossed this is only a temporary thing, poor Bella follows her around everywhere just wanting to be her friend. I'm glad I managed to get a picture of her on this rug in the kitchen, it's one my (ex-mother in law) mum made for me last year. She makes these hooky rugs despite being in her 80's and absolutely crippled with arthritis. Years ago she had loads of these in the farmhouse made out of scraps of all our clothing, it was wonderful knowing there were bits of all of our past all bonded together in a rug. The Americans apparently pay a fortune for them but mum gives hers to the local cerebral palsy charity shop, she's a gem and I love her to bits. I've made rugs in the past but not from scratch like this, I may ask her to show me how to do it.

Other news this week, Declan turned 17 on Friday, how is that possible? Being Declan of course he had everything organised and in place ready to start driving on the big day, Jordan spent the day sitting in with him and from what I can gather they were all over the county, Keswick included. He has booked himself lessons and has a 3 hour one on Tuesday next week, on Thursday he has his theory test booked. Now this next part makes me feel really weird.............his Dad has my car in his business at the moment working on it and taking it for its MOT on Monday - I am going to be using Declans car to go to work etc!!!!!!!! No doubt I will have a million instructions before I set off about how to drive it lol.

Hoping to do some crafting tomorrow so fingers crossed I will have something to show you then.

and again.........

2010-03-14T01:39:00.005Z

Forgot to add one of the photo frames Ive altered etc., it started off as a very very bright shiny gold - it isnt any longer !!!

More tomorrow hopefully. x

Quickie................

2010-03-14T01:11:00.009Z

With the best intentions in the world I still dont find time to keep this blog up to date :-( perhaps I need a secretary lol!

Anyhow, been very very busy lately what with work, reading intervention training, staff meetings and juggling things at home, roll on the Easter holidays.

Last weekend I was determined to grab some time out, it didnt stop me feeling guilty though about the things I didnt get done around the house.

I always forget to take photos of the things I alter before I start, so, with that in mind Ive taken a couple of pictures of upcoming projects . I bought a load of different photo frames that were reduced to the ridiculous price of 49p, so even if they turn out rubbish it doesnt matter :-) The pail was a brilliant find too ( the mug is to show just how big it really is) not sure where Im going to put it yet, either in the bathroom for used towels or in the kitchen once its decorated next month, we shall see.

Today I made a card for one of the most important people in my life, my mum ( actually my ex-mother in law but still my mum ) the pictures a bit light and doesnt show it at its best but hey ho.

Right, am going to upload the pictures now and in my usual fashion heaven knows where or what order they will end up on here - wish me luck!

- forgot to say, it takes two minutes to make those roses on the mirror, Ive made them in every size and colour imaginable!!)

Back again.

2010-02-18T17:13:00.011Z

Right now, Im not even going to attempt to tidy this lot up because I wouldnt know where to begin, but at least Im honest about it !!

Theres a selection of cards, two rose brooch type things I made - thats the purple one and the silver one and two small pictures that Declan and I have decided to call Instant Ancestors lol!!

Im in the process of working on another mirror so hopefully I will have that to show you soon too, heaven knows how Im ever going to get these hands clean - Im off to make shepherds pie. Take care xxx

Photo heavy warning !

2010-02-18T16:48:00.005Z

What a week its been.

Half term..........should have known really!!

So in no particular order and as briefly as possible, here is as taster.

Finished the week at school nearly on my knees what with meetings, assessments and trying to fit in the Reading Intervention course work, it was cold, it was busy, it was a typical pre-half term week. Woke up Saturday with the start of a cold and it went rapidly downhill from there. Constant sneezing, eyes streaming, headache....dire. Fingers crossed and touch wood ( head ) it seems to be improving, Sunday the washing machine decided to throw a hissy fit and keep pausing itself for no reason other than it could. TODAY the engineer finally gets here, yes TODAY, and informs me 'hmmmmmmmm think it may not be economical to repair it' so now Im sat here waiting for him to ring back once hes been in touch with the insurance company. Monday the vacuum cleaner decided that what was good for the washing machine was also good for it and IT decided to die on me too. Im trying to locate Wilma from the Flintstones to see if I can loan that dinosaur she used to have clean her carpets. My car has developed three not one or two but three 'interesting verging on scary' noises and has developed a new way of braking - trip to ex husbands garage with a pleading expression was in order. Tuesday................bad day, should have been my silver wedding anniversary (had I not been divorced now that is) - best skip Tuesday me thinks. Yesterday I hid the sharp knives just in case. Today ( be thankful you are reading the brief version I can tell you - I had to live through the full version, and there was no popcorn either ), well today I made the decision to leave the Polkadoodles Design Team, I didnt really want to and am regretting it already but I wasnt being fair to Nikky. Ive hit a brick wall mojo wise and gone back to my comfort zone of altered art, which is a shame because Ive seen what shes putting on her new cd and its awesome :-( So there you go, now arent you glad I havent told you EVERYTHING lol !!!!!

Anyhow.........................my comfort zone, have a look and see what you think - its all thats kept me moderately sane this week I can tell you.

The wooden panel at the top ( I cant get used to adding pictures to this blog) started off life white and cost me £5 - Im pretty pleased with it and am going back to see if I can get some more, theyre pretty heavy and I havent a clue where to put it but hey ho.

Im going to publish this part so far and start afresh with the rest of the pictures, see if I can get things a bit more orderly.

2010-02-06T13:46:00.002Z

Apologies again, nothing to show yet but I AM working on something fantastic if and when I get the time- will show you soon, promise. Crafting has taken somewhat of a back seat of late thanks to the Reading Intervention training I'm busy with for school. I know that when I finish in May it will all be worth it but my goodness my heads like cabbage at the moment. Had another two full days of training yesterday and Thursday and it was concentration and work from the minute we started until we finished at 4.30. So much so that I woke up with a migraine this morning, heads still yucky.
Anyhow, just wanted to check in and let you know why theres been no blog or Polka Doodle DT activity of late, Id love to think I could get some crafting in this week but its another hectic one I think, Monday starts off with a big annual review meeting at 9 oclock, then teaching what Ive been learning, Tuesday slight reprieve as we are off to see Joseph with school - hope I dont fall asleep as I love Joseph, then all downhill from that point!!!!!!!!!
Catch you soon hopefully, dont think being on the laptops too good for my headache actually. Take care
xxxxx

New year - new challenge!

2010-01-08T14:09:00.003Z

We were asked to use the Back to Nature cd and a song title - not as easy as it sounds I can tell you! I settled for Love is like a butterfly by Dolly Parton and the gorgeous butterflies from the cd, I inked the edges of the card, added some decorative buttons and ribbon, the sentiment is one of masses from the cd too so a really quick and easy card that took no time.

The challenge is open until 12 noon GMT on Sunday 17th of January - the rules can be found here:

http://polkadoodle.blogspot.com/

Nikky has a brand new cd called Love Marriage and More, launching on Sunday 10th January at 11am on Sky channel 671, the design team have been working with the cd, I can honestly say I dont know how she does it! She surpasses herself with each new cd, you are in for such a treat.

Quick update

2009-12-14T00:44:00.002Z

Just to keep you in the picture, been busy throwing myself out of buses and down mountains, damaging the nerve endings in my finger and thumb and generally causing mayhem and havoc as per usual.
Not up to doing much at the moment but New Years Resolution is not to neglect my blog!
Catch up soon. x

Good morning

2009-10-30T08:07:00.002Z

Despite my good intentions to keep this blog up to date it's still ages since I last posted anything.

Don't know where the time goes to these days do you? I did think that this week I had nothing better to do than ignore the housework (it's Halloween anyhow so the cobwebs would look in place) but you know what they say about the best laid plans etc etc. Still haven't fully recovered from the rotten virus those delightful children at school shared with me - cheers kids, I know WHO you are! I did spend a little bit of time playing around in the craft room yesterday afternoon and one of the results was my DT card for the Polkadoodles challenge. Nikky asked us to use the fantastic Not For Girls cd, now the biggest problem with this cd is that there is just far too many things to choose from hmm, we also had to incorporate one of her fantastic stamps ( I chose the small doodle) and do a little bit of doodling of our own. I inked the edges with distress inks and that was that. Now all I need to find is the motivation to get started on this huge wedding stationery order Ive been commissioned for - not an easy one either typically! Perhaps Id feel a little more settled if Pepsi hadnt gone missing on Wednesday night, having lost a cat last year this is just a little bit too soon to go through again so please keep your fingers crossed he returns today, neither of them have been out overnight before. Declan comes home from Ayr today and he will be distraught if 'his' cat isnt here.

Happy Halloween to you all.

Somebody somewhere doesnt want me to craft!

2009-10-01T01:07:00.002+01:00

Cracked ribs arent enough, now Ive been sent home from school with a flu type virus.
Ive never been sent home from work before, it feels very strange I can tell you. Anyhow,
doubt there will be much crafting done in this household for a little while, am as weak as can
be and just want to sleep. Got so many half finished samples on my desk for Nikkys new cd
Not for Girls too - so unfair :-( What a treat everyone is in for when THAT hits Create and
Craft later this week I can tell you. Check it out on Friday 2nd October at 11.00am.
Take care
x

Ouch!

2009-09-27T13:24:00.002+01:00

Knew it was too good to be true! Just as I was getting organised and back into the swing of things again I end up with cracked ribs and wonderful multicoloured bruising and grazes ( must have a word with Tim Holtz, there are some LOVELY colour combinations going on there that would make some fabulous distress inks!).
Fingers crossed I will get some crafting done this week, Ive bought so many gorgeous things lately that I am so desperate to play with its just not fair! - Right thats my rant over, hope to catch up soon.
Take care.
x

Quick post

2009-09-18T17:38:00.004+01:00

Going to keep this fairly brief!

This week over at Polkadoodles our challenge was to make our own flowers and use them on a card or project, we could use any of the fantastic cd's from Nikky's range ( oh and you really MUST check out her new stamp range too - shes just too talented). The idea I had was so easy - in my head - getting it down on card and paper was just another matter, so I changed it entirely and made a bouquet of flowers for all my lovely team mates instead of a card! I used the Candy Doodles cd, wooden skewers, a ribbon some crystal drops and one of Nikkys sentiments,

Havent had the best of weeks, seem to have been running from one appointment or meeting to the next with hardly a moment to catch my breath. Was told this week that I needed to take medication for diabetes and other things and Im struggling to deal with it. Ive also had quite a nasty fall in the car park at school this afternoon and have possibly broken a rib or two along with skinned knees, hands and elbow and my dented pride I guess it was the perfect ending to a perfect week - just dont make me laugh IT HURTS!

Hope you all have a lovely weekend and hope to see some of your takes on our latest challenge.

Enjoy.

Sue x

2009-09-12T16:43:00.005+01:00

As the challenge over at Polkadoodles this week was to make Anything But A Card I tied it in with what I was making for some pupils at school - sticker reward books for achieving specific goals.

The hardest part of this challenge for me was actually deciding just WHICH papers etc to use from the Candy Doodles cd which is packed full of gorgeousness! So, a few ribbons, some distress ink and some crystal drops later - one book!

You really do have to check out the Polkadoodles blog in order to see what the rest of the design team came up with, you will be amazed.

Also, check out Create and Craft at 9.00am on September 15th when Nikky will be showcasing her brand new rubber stamps which complement the Jingle Jangle cd, I have seen them and you most definitely will not be disappointed.

Ive not blogged for a while, Ive had a lot of things happening in my personal life that have been difficult to deal with and blogging had to take a back seat. Ive also acquired another two retail outlets that wish to stock my cards so Ive been trying to make over 150 to add to the stock Ive given them - Im now just waiting for the cleaning fairies to come along and make sense of my craft room, they seem to have had problems with their sat nav as they havent turned up yet, hmmm.

Apologies

2009-08-15T00:25:00.010+01:00

I knew exactly what I wanted to create for this weeks DT challenge at Polkadoodles but unfortunately had some really sad news early in the week. The daughter of a friend of mine

passed away, she was only 22 - a year older than my eldest son Jordan ( hes 21 this Sunday actually). She had beaten cancer four times in her young life, overcame being drugged

and raped in Thailand and married five weeks ago. An awful lot to fill into such a short life butshe did it with courage and dignity and not a trace of self pity. My thoughts and prayers are with her parents, sister and brother

So............this week Ive been keeping a low profile of sorts, then Nikky came up with the ideal distraction - her new Jingle Jangle Christmas cd. Now to be honest I thought she couldnt improve on her Candy Doodles cd but OH MY WORD was I wrong! I have totally been blown away by this, so much so that I started to make some samples for the big debut on Create and Craft this Monday at 9am (just watch, you will see what I mean) and got so absorbed that I almost missed the post office! Check out the samples, see what you think.

Before I go please pop on by the Polkadoodles blog and see the fab cards the DT have made for the new challenge which is a card with at least two folds, theyre brilliant. You have until noon on Sunday 23rd August to submit yours, so plenty of time!

I will leave you with a sneaky peak from the Jingle Jangles CD
(one day soon I will work out how to get the pictures WHERE I want them!)

Take care

Sue x

New challenge

2009-08-09T00:02:00.007+01:00

This is the sketch Nikky gave us for this weeks challenge over at Polka Doodle, why not pop over and take a look at what the design team, including our three new team members, produced this week. It never ceases to amaze me how all the members manage to come up with something totally different from each other all the time. Hop on over to the Polka Doodle website and check out the requirements for this weeks challenge, Im looking forward to seeing everyones take on it.

I was a bit disappointed with the colours on my card, the cartridges on my printer were running out, the printer is a bit unreliable despite being brand new and you cant always believe what its telling you!

Im still finding my feet with this blogging lark, next thing I have to work out is how to get the pictures in the order to match up with the writing!! The pictures at the top are my take on the challenge. One day it will all fall into place hopefully, I look at other peoples blogs and cringe when I come back to mine.

I havent really done much this week in the way of crafting, Ive been keeping my friend Tracey company online while she suffers with swine flu and toothache ( as if one isnt bad enough on its own), poor thing shes really been suffering but thankfully is on the mend now.

One little project I did manage was some grunge flowers, I loved doing these and will probably be making more next week.

So to clarify.......the grunge flowers are the first lot of pictures and the Polka Doodles challenge pictures are the next lot - oh my days ! Any help with this picture placement problem I have would be MOST welcome lol.

Sue

Surprise and a broken blog

2009-07-29T03:34:00.002+01:00

Well, it was to me! I've looked at other peoples blogs for a long time now, seen that they've been awarded various commendations and thought ''Yes and how well deserved it is''. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would receive anything, I mean although I've been crafting since paper was papyrus (well according to my boys I have) I've only been blogging a relatively short time ( and even then it wasn't my idea!). So to say this came as a complete surprise is an understatement, there are much more deserving blogs than mine out there, but 'thank you' Tracey, so very very much. If you haven't visited her blog then you really should do, she has a style all of her own and I've watched her grow in talent and confidence right from the very begining and I know she will continue to do so. Now....................I have a problem - no not just one but this one Tracey's been trying to help me sort ALL NIGHT and I mean ALL NIGHT. At one point I was ready for throwing the laptop in the back of the car and driving the 300 and odd miles to hers to sort it out together!! I have broken my blog. Yes, it's true, it is well and truly broken. It could only happen to me and just goes to show NOTHING techy is safe in my hands - give me micro dots, glue, paper, scissors and I am fine - techy...........NOPE.
Trying to pass the award on wasn't as easy as I anticipated and we've worked on it all night to no avail so I am just going to have to do it the messy way by copying and pasting the new recipients of the award. So here goes:
1. http://www.limegreenbogiegirl.blogspot.com/ - I dont think I need explain why - she just rocks, as does her work, simple as.
2. http://www.dyan-reaveley.blogspot.com/ - Someone else whos work and spirit I admire sooooooo much, one day I WILL get to go play there!
3. http://kath-allthatglitter.blogspot.com/ - You really need to see the cards that Kath (and her glamorous assistant!) produce, truly wonderful.
4. http://cardsbyjulie.blogspot.com/ - Someone else whos blog I stalk whoops, read avidly. Julies cards are so elegant.
5. http://linniepink.blogspot.com/ - Just go and look - thats all I can say !! You will see why.
6. http://scrappymax.blogspot.com/ - Again, beautiful work, never ceases to amaze.
7. http://www.going-buggy.blogspot.com - There is always something fresh and different to see on Enfys' blog.
8. http://lusaro-snippers.blogspot.com/ - You can always rely on Saskia to come up with something you wish you had thought of yourself!
9. http://tiptoptoppers.blogspot.com/ - Not only is Ruth very talented her blog is very entertaining at times too!
10. If I could I would award this to Tracey again - even if it was just to say...........all these years Trace and we're still going strong lol !
10. http://lakulcards.blogspot.com/ -I admire the fresh feel to the cards that Kerry produces.
PHEW. Now that was NOT easy - Thanks Trace ! Seriously though, as Tracey knows today wasn't an easy day for me in my personal life, I wont bore you with the details but suffice to say this really cheered up what was really a very sad day.
I am now going to bed as it is breaking daylight - I kid you not.
Love and light
Sue x

Oh but before I go I guess Id better tell all these people about their award, might be a good idea to introduce myself to some of them too - Ive been stalking some of them for long enough lol!!!

New challenge!

2009-07-24T21:59:00.007+01:00

This week Nikky asked us to use the images from the new and hugely successful Candy Doodles cd and the sketch above. I used the Candy Doodle flower stitch background paper, along with the Candy Wings butterflies (which I love) and the sentiment from Doodle Wordy Bits - all on the same cd. I threaded some polka dot ribbon through holes I punched at the top of the card with my Cropodile Big Bite. Lastly I inked the edges with a dusky pink ink. The quality of the photo isnt brilliant so you cant really see the sentiment too well unfortunately.

Why not pop on over to the Polka Doodle Blog and see what the rest of the design team have been up to.

You have until twelve noon on Sunday 2nd August to get your entry in. Look forward to seeing it and have fun!

I knew there was something else !

2009-07-23T23:52:00.002+01:00

I wanted to share the wedding invitations Im working on and a couple of vintage style cards I made!

The invitation is actually a tall DL card but I dont think it shows up too well here.

2009-07-23T21:06:00.005+01:00

Where has this week gone, did someone borrow a couple of days and not tell me?

I've not done such a lot really but I have played around with the new Candy Doodles and have a couple of cards to show you. Hopefully will have more over the next couple of days.

Ive done some craft shopping, somehow or other quite a few things seemed to 'fall' into my basket...........odd that isnt it!

Anyhow, will leave you with some pictures for now and hopefully have more to show you later

Design team call

2009-07-16T01:40:00.001+01:00

What are you waiting for.............you know you want to !!!!!!!!

2009-07-16T01:28:00.006+01:00

Jordan wont thank me for this but as he doesnt read my blog then what he doesnt know wont harm him I reckon! I took this picture of him very early one morning when he was about 20months old and its been hanging around in a cupboard for years, so when I found this frame (under the bed along with a load of others !!!!) I knew immediately what I wanted to do with it. The frame itself was just an ordinary everyday pine but quite shiny so out came the distress paint grungeboard, inks, ribbons etc etc and the rest as you can see is history. This is really quite a big frame, the picture itself is A4 , thankfully I finish work for the holidays on Thursday afternoon so next on the list is one of Declan, watch this space!!!! Speaking of school finishing, I cant wait, Ive slept since I came home this afternoon, roll on tomorrow!

Catch you soon. Love Sue x

2009-07-14T17:46:00.004+01:00

Hows this - twice in one day! I wanted to share one of my latest projects with you before it disappears to its new owner. I spent some time playing with my favourite things i.e. alcohol inks, distress inks, grungeboard, mica, stamps and a whole host of other things messy and gorgeous! I wish the finish was easier to see as it has a really nice tone to it but never mind, you will get an idea. Ive just finished a large wooden frame that Ive distressed, I will try and grab a pic of it later and put it on for you to see. Really looking forward to getting my hands inky these next six weeks - very excited!!!!!

Sue x

2009-07-14T17:30:00.003+01:00

Seem to spend most of my time apologising lately, here goes another one :-( Sorry for not blogging for such a long time, sometimes life just gets in the way I guess. Its been really busy at school these past few weeks getting ready for the end of term etc., had courses to attend, house to run etc etc the list goes on as you well know. The main problem really has been tiredness, several years ago I was diagnosed with M.E. I had to take almost two years off work and then ease back into it - so normally around the end of term I tend to run out of energy quicker and

spend a fair bit of time sleeping which infuriates me no end. Anyhow, enough of that, I also appear to have picked up a virus or something on the laptop, there are some VERY strange things happening which has caused me to shut the lid and walk away before throwing it through the nearest window!

However..........I am hoping to blog at least 3 or 4 times a week from now on ( I cant believe I really said that!!)

Over at Polkadoodle things have been VERY busy, Nikky had her first show on Create and Craft and I was delighted to see several of my cards on there - very strange feeling that was I can tell you. Our latest challenge was to make a get well card that featured a bug - no thought had to go into what kind of bug being the butterfly lover that I am, also as a change from ribbon we had to use another option, could be string, raffia, paper etc - I chose a string of pearls. So there you are, my card..............using the gorgeous papers from Nikky's Sugar Birdie cd. Pop over to the Polkadoodle website and take a look at the other cards from the design team, theyre amazing. Also BIG NEWS, Nikky is looking for another member to join us on the design team, check it out while you are over there.

2009-06-14T02:44:00.000+01:00

I Im rubbish at gardening and also at remembering names of flowers BUT have excelled here and must show you these!

Rose, Peony, Clematis - hows that !!!!!!! The last little flower is of course Emily after her exhausting first day in the big world - bless !

2009-06-14T02:24:00.000+01:00

Sorry for not having blogged for a while, what with work and home and various problems at the moment there doesnt seem to have been a spare moment in the day. Yet when I go over each days events I couldnt tell you where the time has gone. Im on countdown now for the end of term - Im looking forward to having some breathing space to craft properly.

With all the fantastic weather we have had of late I decided it was probably time the kittens were allowed loose on the big bad world.........very scary ( for us- not them it seems)! The first week they were out in the fresh air on and off during the day, they were like exhausted toddlers!

They slept and slept and better slept - anywhere and everywhere, we kept finding them asleep in the oddest of places, literally just where they had stopped walking I think, bless them.

Familywise Declan has his last two GCSE's this week, he is so looking forward to Wednesday and them being over, Jordan is busy all hours getting his assignment ready to hand in to college on Tuesday also, when he isnt at work he is busy finalising his presentation and actually manufacturing the actual pieces. A few years ago Carlisle, which is about 12 miles from where we live, was very badly flooded, Jordan at the time had just set up his own engineering company with a friend and they were approached by the council to design and manufacture handrails for the new flood defence system - this is what he has been fine tuning to hand in on Tuesday. Got to say I dont understand a tenth of what he tells me regarding draughtsmanship and engineering but boy does it sound complicated lol!

As for crafting..............there hasnt been enough hours in the day to even try to craft and to be honest Ive struggled to tackle the Polkadoodle challenges and only JUST snuck in this week by the skin of my teeth - even then I wasnt happy with my submission, when I look at all the other D.T. submissions I am very much in awe of these ladies.

Anyhow...........enough of my ramblings. At the top of this post you should find this weeks challenge sketch. You MUST use a stamped (or digi stamp) image & you MUST use this FREEBIE HERE which you can use however you wish, ie you can change the colour if you want to,(nb:you will need to create an account to get the download but ignore the minimum order prompt, you can still checkout without any charges)....
(please also refer to the general rules for challenges, some of you are missing out by not following the rules!)

Catch you soon.

Sue

2009-05-29T23:13:00.000+01:00

This is my interpretation of the sketch. I'm really looking forward to seeing everyone elses too.

Challenge 2 !

2009-05-29T23:09:00.000+01:00

After a fantastic launch and overwhelming response to the first Polkadoodle challenge (winners can be seen on the Polkadoodle website)the second challenge is now up and running so get yourself over there and have a look - in the meantime here is this weeks challenge sketch.

Thought Id share some of my altered stuff with you too!

2009-05-25T23:58:00.000+01:00

2009-05-25T23:56:00.000+01:00

Pepsi - my boy - one cool dude

2009-05-25T23:54:00.000+01:00

Emily - aka the pink princess!

2009-05-25T23:39:00.000+01:00

Well thats Bank Holiday Monday gone it seems!
I spent yesterday over at IKEA in Gateshead getting yet more storage stuff for my craft
room - really I just need a bigger craft room. I do this every few months it seems and STILL
havent found the perfect solution - doubt Im the only one though so thats okay. Anyhow, bought yet another huge bookcase to go along with 3 others, 2 of which are hidden behind
doors thank goodness, I have had the mother of all clearouts so guess who is going to be
hitting ebay with a vengance this week, thankfully its half term so have no excuse.
Well after a lot of fretting and worrying the kittens finally went out on a big adventure
yesterday, we let them out into the big bad world ( er our garden and the allotments really
but it doesnt sound the same) I was on edge all the time thinking they wouldnt come back -
but they did, again and again and again lol ! Emily didnt actually leave the garden, she was much
too busy killing daisies, then of course there were all the dandelions to go at after that too, Pepsi
took himself off through the hedge a few times and even managed to scare a poor little baby sparrow out of its nest, it landed right at Emilys feet, she looked at it and jumped a mile bless her!!!! Anyhow, theyve been out most of the day today and are absolutely shattered tonight.
Will try and post some pics of them - how brave am I feeling eh!
Got to be up early in the morning to take Declan to the doctors for the results of his ECG, he keeps going dizzy and the circulation in his hands is dreadful - am very on edge about it, so keep your fingers crossed that everythings ok. After that its back into tidying the craft room and
HOPEFULLY crafting yaaay!!!!
Really looking forward to finally getting to play around with the papers etc now that Ive got
a new printer after last weeks escapades.
Well there you go, thats me up to date and if you are lucky I may get to put some pictures up too - just dont hold your breath lol
Catch you soon.
Sue x

Blog candy

2009-05-23T23:47:00.000+01:00

Forgot to mention - check out the blog candy whilst you are over there - wow !

2009-05-23T22:50:00.000+01:00

Well here it is - my first blog and I havent a flippin clue what to blog !
In the meantime why not pop over to http://polkadoodle.blogspot.com/
and check out the exciting things that are taking place over there .
Catch you soon!
Sue x

~~~~~~~~Sue Ramsay~~~~~~~~~

Quick note

Time flying by again.

A few bits and pieces as promised

I'm back !

Playtime at last!

and again.........

Quickie................

Back again.

Photo heavy warning !

New year - new challenge!

Quick update

Good morning

Somebody somewhere doesnt want me to craft!

Ouch!

Quick post

Apologies

New challenge

Surprise and a broken blog

New challenge!

I knew there was something else !

Design team call

Challenge 2 !

Thought Id share some of my altered stuff with you too!

Blog candy

Sue Ramsay~