A littlebit of stuff

Black white and red (again ...)

2012-01-18T14:23:00.002Z

Arn't birthday cards for men difficult. Add into that the fact that I have so very few stamps, that I cant add in stamped images to the mix. So for this one I just went with dark colours, and paper layered to beat the band!!

Actually I like the end result. Its quite three D like in real life, as there are 12 layers of paper when you get to the very top of it!!

work in progress

2012-01-08T12:39:00.001Z

Can you tell what it is yet?

Electric ...... cake!

2012-01-06T20:38:00.002Z

I was asked to do a cake for a man's 21st. Be it cakes or cards, men are difficult to design for! The brief was simply that he is an electrician. So this is what I did.... its got all the right colours and a socket and plug to boot :-) he was very happy with the result and aparently would not cut it on the night of the party, insisting it be brought home so more people could see it. . .

Birthday card

2012-01-04T20:31:00.003Z

Just to prove I actually make stuff out of paper every now and again! Birthday card for my neice Tara, who turned 14.

I love this design have used it on a few cards now. Its adaptable for mens and womens cards.

I used a stamp to print the clock at the back, note its at 2 o clock, or 14.00 hours !! Subtle?

January 2nd and already..

2012-01-03T10:56:00.002Z

We have booked our first weekend away of the year! My parents are 50 years married this year, but are possitive they do NOT want a party. So we decided to bring them away for a night, we were going to just go out for a meal, my siblings and parents. My dad had major surgury last year for cancer, and is still finding he gets tired easier, so the meal out turned into a meal in a hotel with rooms booked. This way if he gets too tired he can take himself off to bed, and we will be meeting up again for breakfast! Winner....

Trying to be a bit creative this year, and use up kits I have gathered over the years. I got the kit for this chicken cushion many years ago at the knitting and stiching show in the rds. I would have to own up and say I probably have the kit about three years now. And one afternoon later .....

I have a chicken cushion, the wing is also a pocket so it could be handy for keeping the remote control in! Of course I can't find where I put the buttons I was going to use for the eyes .... so its a blind chicken at the moment.

Happy New Year ... new blog (?)

2012-01-01T18:59:00.004Z

Well maybe not a new blog ... but how about if I post stuff onto it on a somewhat regular basis? That might be nice.

For the first post of the year it has to be a catch up one...

Cupcakes for halloween - chocolate cupcakes with buttercream topping.

Birthday card for my nephew Liam - who was nine this year. It does not seem that long since he was a wee baby, but is growing up fast.

This years christmas cake. Rich fruit cake, with marzipan and rolled fondant covering. Ten inch round cake and its a good three almost four inches high. And so far its pretty much only me and Des eating it. And its almost gone :-( I will miss it when its gone.

Pumpkins - 2011

2011-11-08T10:10:00.004Z

As the local shop had pumpkins for only 2 euro each we each did one this year....

Des got all creative with his wood carving chisels (which we all figured was cheating somehow..) and did Yoda

Liadan spent most of the time deciding on what to do, and then produced this wonderfully scary one, which we all loved except Liadan!

Roisin's is a firey devil ...

And I was pleased with my own effort this year ....

Even if I did have to do some dental repair work with a cocktail stick .... ! :-)

Happy Girls ....

2011-11-06T11:38:00.003Z

We have not been able to have cats for a number of years as Liadan was alergic. She was also severely asmathic but has been off any medications for about three years now. So we really wanted to be able to have cats again.

Earlier this year I signed up with the DSPCA and became a foster 'mum' to an adult cat and too kittens, and we were able to test the waters with L, safe in the knowledge that we could give back the cats if need be!

The end result is that we now have two kittens :

Who are rapidly turning into cats! They are loving our garden now that they are settled enough to be let out ... although they did manage to get stuck up a tree!

And clearly Liadan seems to be ok !!

Last family wedding .....

2011-09-15T18:11:00.003+01:00

Des's youngest brother got married yesterday. I first met Keith way back in the day when he was a wee blond headed toddler of only two years..... so it was lovely to be there at his wedding to the beautiful Katie.

It was a wonderful day, the last of both families to be married, them both being the babies! It was the most planned out day I have ever attended. So much attention to detail.

I did the cake ... the flowers were not sugarpaste but fresh (which was a bit scary to be honest from a cake bakers point of view) but the bride is ALWAYS in charge when it comes to the final decision !!

It turned out looking quite nice and everyone seemed to love it but I was not a bit happy with that middle layer :-(.

The bottom layer was chocolate biscuit cake, the centre fruit and the top is red velvet - which is delish - so if you've never made it - away with you and try it out.

Or wait for an invite to mine some time.

Roisin Debs ....

2011-08-28T13:34:00.001+01:00

just some recent stuff !!

2011-08-07T13:11:00.003+01:00

On with the catching up of recent events within our little lives...

Róisin graduated from secondary school:

She is heading now next September to do a one year Portfolio preperation course - focusing on Fashion and Textile design. So she is one of the lucky ones not dependant on her leaving results later this month.

One recent windy monday lunchtime - one of my favourite trees was a casualty of the wind.

We had to get the rest of it cut down, and while we now have enough wood for the coming winter - I really miss that tree!

And Liadán turned 12. And the hormones have kicked in. Which is ............. nice?

Mammy-in-law's birthday

2011-07-31T20:24:00.002+01:00

My Mammy-in-law was 70 this week. And earlier this year - at my niece's communion - I jumped in and offered to make the cake. One of my sister-in-laws (I have seven of them) works in Superquinn ... who would want to have been her these past two weeks!! scary times for her, her daughter and my brother-in-law who have all been wondering about their jobs - but I digress ....

Anyhow - said sis-in-law usually gets the walshies birthday cakes - but not this time !! This time I got to play around a little.

I as per usual did not manage to get a good photo of the cake but it was terrific!

I used a decent (read a lot) of edible glitter and had a ball. Despite a disaster when baking the bottom layer when I completely forgot the recipie and had to throw out a large cake!! Thankfully I then remembered how to bake and away we went.

The top layer was chocolate - and delish - and the bottom was vanilla - and I got tired and didn't go ahead with the third layer!!

It was a major hit at the party and I have managed to already secure two further bookings on the foot of it!

A year has passed....

2011-07-30T20:21:00.004+01:00

.... since I entered anything onto my blog. And I have been thinking a lot lately that I should start to reblog.

So lets start by showing off Róisín's 18th birthday cake ...:

Pucci Handbag .... Cake

2010-06-28T10:23:00.002+01:00

My eldest daughter - Róisín is 17 today. Last year she was away for the weekend of her birthday, and we had a family wedding the day before, so it was a very low key affair.

Today she and I are heading off into temple bar for a bit of shopping and then we are meeting up with Des, Seán and Líadán for a meal out.

So I made a pucci inspired handbag cake, its chocolate orange cake on the inside ... so sod the diet and I shall be having some of this later (yum!!)

Snake Pie ...

2010-06-03T21:45:00.001+01:00

Well its not really a snake pie of course! It is a chocolate cake, baked in a ring, covered with nutella spread, chocolate flavoured sugarpaste, and some jelly snakes in the middle.

And - TaDa - you now have a snake pie cake.

Mosaic - better image?

2010-06-02T13:27:00.002+01:00

Hopefully this is a clearer image of the mosaic. Hopefully !! I wish my photography skills were better - was thinking this morning (as I had a lovely walk in the park) that come September and the evening classes are re-starting I may just join a photography class or club even.

Mosaic Work - redoing the splashback.

2010-06-01T16:41:00.003+01:00

I havent completly fallen off the radar - just been facebooking really. Mainly I have been cutting up bits of glass and stickin em onto bits of wood!

You may remember i did a splashback for the kitchen in Cavan last year ...see http://littlebit-alittlebitofstuff.blogspot.com/2009/07/kitchen-mosaic-and-why-it-needs-to-be.html and you may remember that I was not overly happy with it. Actually I was not a bit happy ..

So I have been redoing it - bigger and (I think) better :

This is it ... two out of the three panels ...

I like that its a bit busier than before ..

I am paying more attention to detail this time around too ... and have gone with small small pieces for the black background whereas I tried to do large the last time.

I love the little fairy at the corner of the 'garden'

Pirate Ship Cake ...

2010-05-08T10:38:00.002+01:00

Chocolate cake - covered in chocolate butter icing and then finished using roll out icing. Buttercream for the sea ... please note there be sharks in them ther waters !!

Cupcakes

2010-04-19T13:12:00.002+01:00

Everyone loves cupcakes. I love making them as they are so so easy and versitile. So i made some recently and decided to go one little step further...

And made some fancy paper cases for them !!

These were a littlebit eastery as i made them the easter weekend ...!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ingvar Visits ....

2010-04-19T10:42:00.003+01:00

Ingvar Kampard - who founded IKEA - visited the store last week ... boy was there excitement !! Not to mention the amount of hard work and preparation invovled in having someone as important as that visiting us. You could well be forgiven in thinking that it was the second coming !!

Some photos from the day ...

I managed to actually get a shot of 'Our Mary' - one of the hardest workers I have ever met. She hardly ever stops still ... will often forget that she is due a break and is like a little whorlwind in the department. Needless to say we all love her!!

This is Gary - going to be a pilot when he 'grows up'!!

Charlotte - originally from Sweeden herself - I think she is coming around to the Irish sense of humour and feeling more comfortable around us!! God help Her !!

Ann - working - on a day off !!

Manager Clare - we is afraid of her (not really ......................)

The Man himself - chatted away - bad mike - we couldn't quite make out what he was saying :-( ... so when he asked if there were any questions !! I think people were afraid to ask in case he had just told us the answer ....!!

Getting the group photo set up .... Ingvar is 83 now and he just popped down on the floor ready to go !! Hope I am able to do that at that age ...

It took a fair while to try and get everyone organised for a group shot ....

Its now official - EVERYONE in Ikea loves 'our Mary !!)

I had a chance for a little hug with a mulit-billionare myself !! So I took it.

Day out at Trim ...

2010-04-06T12:52:00.003+01:00

We headed out to trim for the hot air balloon festival. It was cold and windy on the day we picked to go .... so we got lots of grey dark photos!!

Liadan & Liam ... looking a bit on the cold side

Tara & Philllip ... look at that Lens !! Tara got lovely new glasses recently.

We did get to see one balloon being inflated - it was deflated pretty much immediately due to the wind :-(

Did I say it was a grey and cold day !??

Still at least there was candy floss - seemed to make most of us feel better!!

We went back to Lesley's place ... had a lovely curry and chat!

Liam raised a smile or two (nothing unusual there!!)

And he got his cousin Sean to help make a big line of dinos up the hall way ... Reminded us so much of when Sean was small - he loved to make lines of his toys across the floor...!!

All together now ....

Open the door - get on the floor - EVERYBODY WALK THE DINOSAUR !!

The kids thought we had made up that song - youtube to the rescue.

Liam ended up - literly - on the floor laughing!!

Superman ? - No just Des !!

This is why I HATE that nose piercing. He always looks like he is picking his nose - GRRRR

Lesley - looking lovley - as usual!!

I got new glasses too ..... Bifocals now!!

Guess I am old now.

Birthday Cards 2010

2010-03-16T13:49:00.002Z

From Helen Firefly

Trifold - From Vicky

From Isobel

From Cecilia

From Jackie M

From Des !

From Angela F.

From Breedeen

From Lisa

From Julie Frog

From Siobhan

From Mags

From Petra - sorry lost the bow.

From my Mum

From Lynda

From Linda B.

From Val

From Jan

From Jackie C

From Wendy

From Claire

From My Sister - Lesley

My Favourite ...

From my DD - Líadán

Mosiac ... take II

2010-02-27T18:24:00.000Z

Redoing the splash back :

Craft Space ...

2010-02-27T18:21:00.003Z

Moved a ton of stuff around in the house. And created a bit of space for me ...

Its small but it works

Plenty of shelf space ... and boxes

Still have to sort out the bottom but its getting there ...

Well almost anyway !!

Two Lucys and Two Cakes

2010-02-27T18:17:00.002Z

Lucy a teacher from the school retired recently.

And I made the cake.

And Lucy's Lounge - in Temple Bar

Turned One recently

And I got to make the cake..

Which I really went to town on and had some fun

Sneak peek at a circle journal ...

2010-02-13T12:48:00.001Z

Sneak peek at my entry into a circle journal done recently. About being glam.... which I generally am not !

kitchen window view ...

2010-02-08T12:31:00.000Z

One of the many visitors to our bird feeder .... could watch them all day.

Back in blog land ...

2010-02-06T12:45:00.003Z

Don't know why it would not let me log in for ages but lo and behold - here I am back.

Did anyone notice? Probably not !!

What have I been doing in January. Work is still an ongoing feature. Got through my probation period, so thats something!

Also won 'Value of the month' in work - bit like employee of the month - got a fandabby t-shirt - and a gift voucher for 50 euro (for Ikea!!).

Em .. what else is happening. Back to mosaic class, and am making great progress with the new improved splashback. Watch this space.

2010-01-10T18:14:00.002Z

Roisin made a gingerbread house. Ok so we cheated a wee bit - we got one in Ikea - they come flat packed !!

Des & I made a peace sign in the snow ...!!

The house continues to look pretty

As does the garden ...

LOL cats ...

2010-01-04T10:12:00.001Z

.... you gotta love 'em there is one for every occasion in life ...

I dream a dream...

2010-01-03T13:03:00.002Z

and it consists of me buying this ... ::

This house is on my road, and I was fortunate enough to get to know its previous owner and spend some time there. Its a beautiful listed building, which the current owners have negelected.

And should I ever win the lotto - which is what it would take - then I am going to buy it and restore it.

Snow again!

2010-01-02T11:07:00.009Z

Oh what fun they had .. snow fun

Liadan & her pal Shauna having fun in the snow at the royal canal

This beautiful view is looking down our road from the top. Reminds me of a fairytale somewhat.

Our own house in the snow. Pretty.

Royal Canal iced & snowed over.

Looking down the canal path...

The crossroads at the end of our road ...

looking down our road from the crossroads

The 14th lock ... Royal Canal

Jumping is such fun !!

Christmas ...........

2009-12-29T17:32:00.002Z

.............Decorations. Make for much less dusting and cleaning in the house. Which is nice.

there is no show like a snow show !

2009-12-22T10:12:00.002Z

Me ...... and the house in Cavan in the snow on sunday.!!

We drove up but could not make it up the hill...car slid backwards despite the brakes. So we walked the last bit to check on the little housie and all was well. If a tad cold.

turning the ordinary into ......

2009-12-22T09:26:00.006Z

If you take some simple things like ... a bar of chocolate, a couple of candy canes, some sweets, some chocolate biscuit cake ... and add some cardstock, polybags , paper and time...

And then pop them into a wee basket - wrap the lot in celepane and add a christmas bauble ...

You end up with a fab looking christmas gift for quite a small amount of money.

Stitched Card

2009-12-19T13:27:00.001Z

I really played around with this one, took out the sewing machine and all ! I am very pleased with the outcome anyway.

two random photos

2009-12-16T12:06:00.000Z

Birthday card for Mum.

2009-12-16T11:58:00.002Z

My mothers birthday card - she turned 70 in November.

Camera working again !!

2009-12-16T11:57:00.002Z

So will start updating this blog more often. Once in a blue moon really not cutting it.

Sean ....

2009-11-16T20:20:00.002Z

Her name was New York...

2009-11-11T13:43:00.004Z

... And she stole our hearts away.

The kids at rockefella centre

Night time view from 'Top of the Rock'

Me ! - In a photo - one I'm happy with too !!

Day time view from 'Top of the Rock'

My lovely new MAC make up ! (splurged a wee bit)

Guess where we are going ...

2009-11-01T20:09:00.002Z

Made this for Liadan as a travel journal using cardboard, paper and my bind-it-all ...

Halloween 2009

2009-11-01T20:03:00.001Z

This year I decided to join in...

OMG the internet and porn ...

2009-11-01T12:52:00.002Z

I was searching for vintage images on googleimages today .. you would think that just putting in vitage in the search box was fairly safe.

Bloomin ell the amount of porn images that come up is annoying. Just as well the child was not stood beside me ...

Knitting and Stitching........

2009-10-30T20:42:00.002Z

Just back from the knitting and stitching show in the RDS. We (my sister and I) had a wonderful day out, did not spend half as much as other years, I guess the internet helps ! We used to shop for Ireland.

We took in three workshops, braiding - beading - and kantha sewing. The sewing one was a deffinate hit with me, and the lady running the beading workshop was so lovely it was hard not to like it.

So have two projects to finish off tonight - will post up photos soon!

Five days to NYC

Halloween Treats

2009-10-20T19:37:00.002+01:00

Take an empty glass jar - these wee ones from Ikea (2.39 for 4) are perfect for the job ....

Cut out two 2.5 inch circles of patterened paper for the sides and a 1.5 inch circle for the top ...

add a plastic embellishment or two or perhaps some wee stickers ...

Fill generously with sweets - hit the euro shop ! - add in a small plastic halloween toy for effect

And finish off with a halloween mini gift tag ....

And you have the perfect little halloween treat ... can be stored on its side or bottom ...

Paperplay favourite embellishment

2009-10-20T19:25:00.002+01:00

I love to use flowers - and this is one of the musical ones I got from the scrapbook store many moons ago (well January ...)

Round Scrapbook layout

2009-10-10T22:01:00.003+01:00

paperplaying ..

2009-10-10T21:54:00.002+01:00

For this weeks paperplay I did a halloween card - for a change.

Mosiac - Sun and Moon

2009-09-22T15:23:00.002+01:00

Some time ago I posted this image of a glass sun I did ....

And recently I finished the glass Moon to go with it ...

And they go together in this metal frame ...

Which I have to say I am very very pleased with the finished result ... just have no idea where to put it now!!

Kit Killing time ......

2009-09-22T15:19:00.003+01:00

Using the remains of the kit from Annamaries workshop - and a 29c post it note stack from tesco - and with inspiration from a recent make of JulieM's (not to mention a small wooden pencil from a fairly well known sweedish company....)

I made this :

Annamarie's workshop layout

2009-09-22T15:12:00.002+01:00

Double page layout - which was started at Annamarie's September workshop in Whitehall - this is well worth coming to. The craic is only mighty - and halfway through the night you get served a cuppa and home-made cake!! And all for only 25 euro.

check out www.scrapbookstore.ie for more information.

Tag Card

2009-09-22T15:08:00.002+01:00

For paperplay challenages

For Kathryn....

2009-09-17T22:39:00.001+01:00

http://bubblyfunk.typepad.com/bubbly_scrumptious/july-09-kit-memo-block-by-kathy.html

Cause she is too lazy to search herself !! (ah no its cause I said I would ...)

Debs Photos ...

2009-09-11T14:52:00.003+01:00

How we are feeling this week ....

2009-09-02T21:10:00.002+01:00

Meet ..... Bruce

2009-08-26T20:44:00.003+01:00

We went up to our place in Cavan and found this cute wee guy in the bedroom. I felt sure it was half dead - we didn't know how long he had been there.

Thankfully when we took him outside he few around fine, so we can only assume he is going to make it.

So with any luck wee Bruce here is flying around the hills of cavan as we speak.

Caterday ....

2009-08-22T11:26:00.003+01:00

.... over on two peas message board they have a thing called caterday ..and I love it! The best this week :

you gotta love it!

Thanks Julie

2009-08-07T23:09:00.003+01:00

For this award. Ihave to pass it on to keep the circle going. But am going to have to come back to that ... will do so soon!

Petra's Trust

2009-08-06T20:31:00.001+01:00

I was lucky enought to meet the lovely Petra earlier this year. So if you get the chance please pop by the new blog and see what may be going on. Raising funds to send Petra to Germany please help and watch for updates.

Bloomin Cars ...

2009-08-04T09:30:00.001+01:00

The blasted car has cost us just over three thousand euro in a year with one thing and another. And now the timin belt has gone and its off the road again. So decisions to be made ..

Will it stay or will it go.

Sunshine - well paper & mosaic sunshine anyway!

2009-07-25T15:17:00.004+01:00

I had a wonderful evening of cutting and sewing at Annamaries evening crop last thursday and made this layout of the three lads in france ...

The photo is only a small polaroid snapshot - so it really got a dressing up here. I cut each of the rays out of different patterned paper, and the sky and grass are 12x12 cut on the diagonal.

>
Meanwhile all the glass sections have been stuck down for the top half of a table I am 'pimping!' ... its still to be grouted but wouldn't it make a nice door window? *note to self, perhaps try stained glass next?

Kitchen Mosaic ... and why it needs to be redone!

2009-07-23T10:06:00.002+01:00

So brought the completed - and grouted - mosaic panels up to cavan at the weekend. And as I suspected - they are too small!!

So I am going to have to redo them all. I want to make them 'busier' too - I dont feel there are enough flowers in them at all... so the next ones will be bigger and better !!

I enjoyed every minute of making these - so I can't say I am upset at all!

On a side note - doesn't the kitchen look great!

Paperplay - paper roses....

2009-07-07T17:08:00.003+01:00

There arn't any actual roses .... but plenty of paper flowers. I drew a few and stamped a few and punched a few. Cut the grass from scraps of basil, and added a fairy at the back.

Sisterly love layout ...

2009-07-07T16:59:00.002+01:00

Havent done half enough layouts lately. Keep falling into altering items, making mini albums and making cards ...lol.

So inspired by Jackie C .... I did this layout of the two girlies :

These photos dont actually show the finished layout - as later that day R. asked me to give her a shot of the sewing machine ---- and seeing as it was out I did a bit of stitching onto this layout ... but didn't retake the photos!!

Tagged ....

2009-07-05T15:30:00.002+01:00

.... have been tagged by the lovely Deirdra.. if you haven't already read her blog do so !!

Anyway I have to answer questions five about each subject so :

Five Favourite Songs :

1. Keep on Dancing - Jack Lukeman
2. Paradice by the Dashboard Light - Meatloaf
3. Past the point of rescue - Hal Kechum
4. The Dance - Garth Brooks
5. Elizabeth - by Des Walsh (!)

Five Films ;

1. Gone with the Wind
2. Cassablaca
3. Lost Boys
4. Willow
5. The Shining

Five ramdom things I like :

1. Marshmallows
2. Rain
3. Blue Flowers
4. Train rides
5. Diet Coke

Five books :

1. The Lovely Bones (just finished re-reading this again this week) by Alice Seabold
2. Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell
3. The Shining by Stephen King
4. The Boleyn Girl (amonst others) by Phillipa Gregory.
5. The Bible - various authors - I actally read this regularly (and have been known to quote it on occasion ...)

Five crushes ... :

Not sure you would call them that but in my time I have 'fancied' at least five other men ... the biggest one being Greg Hogan who I met on a train way back in 1978 and who would have been my main crush right up through secondary school. ....

So there ya go!!

I will pick five people to tag ... but will wait till tommorow to do so.

Paperplay - Sweet ....

2009-07-02T11:03:00.002+01:00

Too late to enter but this is what I did anyway ....

It was for Róisín's brithday ..... .. ... my baby girl is 16 now ... and never been kissed ??

Candle....

2009-06-29T16:28:00.002+01:00

Made a dozen of these for the wedding last week. I had intended to make an elaborate base for them, but ran out of time so just placed them on these wee glass trays. We also got a load of tea lights in wee glass holders and had them on the tables too. It looked nice. And people were fighting to get one to bring home at the end of the meal !! So they were a hit.

Family Wedding ....

2009-06-27T14:13:00.009+01:00

Des's brother Anthony got married yesterday to the lovely Cora. We had a brilliant day, the sun shone down for them for most of the day - no rain till around 9.30 and that only helped cool us all down a bit anyway!

Here are the happy couple just married in the registary office in the morning ... early cermony but sure there ya go....

This is how your assembled guests look when the groom says he will take her as his 'awfully' wedded wife instead of 'lawfully'!!!

Anthony & Cora

We went from the registary office to the church for a blessing .. . got some lovely photos in the grounds of the church...

Nana & her kids !! ..... x

Me & Him - self portrait.

Seán - Róisín - Líadán

Desmond & his brothers - his two brothers-in-law - and of course Uncle Ben, his dad's identical twin brother (Des's father passed away 12 years ago)

Me & 3 of my 6 sister-in-laws & my neice Sophie.

Craft fairs - the death of ... (yay)

2009-06-22T07:52:00.002+01:00

I did a craft room at my youngest daughters school yesterday ... and thanks to getting a part time job recently I am very very glad to be able to only do them by choice now !!

Its so much work getting stock built up, and at times having to make stuff takes the joy out of it. Then the actual day is hard work, and so much of it depends on other people ... its just hard.

The location yesterday was pants too .... *rolls eyes* .... and that was something beyond my control too ...

So rant over - and on with the week.

Circle journal ....

2009-06-16T17:13:00.001+01:00

Yes folks - its circle journal time !! Giving this another shot ... glutton for punishment. Anyhoo here is a sneak peek of my cover.

Paperplay - Sketch.

2009-06-06T14:53:00.003+01:00

Paperplay this week is this sketch set by Sandie ...

And this is what I came up with and was to be my entry for it this week...

I made the flower out of the mishapen circles cut with the Slice ! Used the versamark and chalk to emboss the scrolls across the back and the letters are rub-ons.

After I had finished that I did the card below... and when I stood back and looked at it I realised it too was the sketch. Slightly inverted but its there nevertheless....

Altered Notebook

2009-06-04T17:09:00.003+01:00

One of the items I started for paperplay buttons last week. Then I re-read the 'rules' and realised it called for more than one button. .... I love this - I spent the evening looking at it when it was finished (*note to self - get a life*)

Ikea ......

2009-06-02T22:48:00.001+01:00

Well .... I got offered a job in Ikea today. And while the interview was not quite like the above - it wasn't far off!!

I am delighted - they seem a good company to work for - its only 10-15 minutes drive from me - and its 20 hours a week.

So they are getting in touch with my reference's and then we are all systems go.

Paperplay buttons ....

2009-05-30T20:10:00.003+01:00

Poor scan .... but its a card with buttons !!

I went down to my desk three times with the intention of doing something with buttons, but the other two times it evovled into something completly different!!

Birthday Photos

2009-05-26T11:55:00.006+01:00

Líadán turned 10 at the weekend. Big birthday - I remember being chuffed to be 10 and into double figures! It's a bit of a milestone.

So there was a cake -

Of course a card -

In the morning - actually for most of the day Saturday - she had a gymnastics competition - and won another medal and a certificate -

Then there was a disco party - so we got one of these -

There was some dance moves - and some glow stick necklaces as props -

And some responsible use of the trampoline -

Happy Birthday

2009-05-24T10:54:00.000+01:00

To Líadán .... 10 years old today !!

My home - random photos...

2009-05-22T15:02:00.005+01:00

Ramdom photos from my house ....

This is our bag lady - she is not used as much now as we all have those cloth reusable bags. But at one stage she was in regular usage ... still we like her.

This is my very small collection of glow in the dark Mary's and one little plastic Jesus (every home should have at least one ....) My mother in law brought the Mary's home from Lourdes for me. She hasn't gone in a few years so its a small collection.

This corner of the kitchen is starting to be filled up with art work. As the kitchen was repainted a few weeks ago - we are only starting to fill it up again. Its a bit bare at the moment.

One of the girls made this. You would think if I was any sort of a good mother I would remember which one (there are only two of them to choose from .....)

I learnt how to make origami cranes .... I have a plan for them ya know. It involves string ...

Paperplay week 17 - fonts.

2009-05-19T14:36:00.002+01:00

This week on paperplay the challenage is :

to use lettering as a strong feature of your work. Feel free to do anything else, use images, embellies, whatever - just make sure the sentiment or title stands out!

So as I had a 50th birthday card to make for my brother-in-law I did this :

Using a tabalbum from Kelly Papercrafts & basic grey Granola papers ....

Basic grey week 34.

2009-05-18T15:27:00.004+01:00

Using the above sketch ---- I came out with the card below.

Used basic grey ganola papers - and my new hero arts background stamp.

All together now ....

2009-05-15T17:20:00.003+01:00

Why does stuff always come together?

Like next weekend - I was skipping the crop in donneycarney as it was Liadan's birthday on the sunday and we were having the party on the saturday night. Seventeen little girls in my sitting room for a 'disco party' ! And my sister-in-law-to-be is having her hen's night on the self same saturday night.

So now Liadan's gymnastics are having a competition on that Saturday afternoon - so we will be tied up with that from 2-4 and her party starts at home at 5....

Extra gym training scheduled for the sunday morning too...

Our schedule from today - Liadan at cookery lesson today, gymnastics training tommorow, sponsered walk for her school sunday afternoon, mosaic class monday, car in for a new clutch tuesday, art class for L. tuesday, wednesday nothing (so far), thursday second interview for me (yay !), friday retirement do , saturday - mad day - gym competition, disco party, hens night and then gym again on the sunday and a family day out for Liadan's 10th birthday while we are at it ....

And somewhere in all that there will be baking to be done....

Paperplay week ... 16 ... flying high!

2009-05-09T10:58:00.002+01:00

"The challenge is to use Wings on your project, Birds, butterflies, fairies whatever you like as long as it has wings "

I have used the papers and images I won a week or two ago, and have made two very girlie cards .....

Basic Grey (& black ...and .......

2009-05-06T14:14:00.003+01:00

Basic Grey week 33 ... challenage :
Black + Grey + 1

Now you may be asking what does the +1 mean, well this means that you can choose the third colour for your creation :), sounds like fun doesn't it :), now don't forget that you must also use at least 1 item from basicgrey somewhere on your creation, so have fun and we can wait to see your wonderful creations and what third colour you have chosen :)

Well I went with RED ...

Used : GREY cardstock - versamarked and chalked to add the swirls - BLACK ribbon - and RED from Basic Grey Cupcake papers ...

The image is one I won from Paperplay and I used pencils (5B, HB & 3H) to colour it ...

Nutstown !!!!!

2009-05-05T14:24:00.012+01:00

My lovely friend Dee (lucy's lounge ... link on sidebar) held the annual Nutstown Talent competition yesterday.

What a laugh we all had - great fun - great company - and excellent food with thanks to Rory for the lovely Indian fare.

We all tried our best to be a bit talented - and I have to say the kids were all brilliant. They sang, showed off stop motion movies they made, did ribbon dances, magic tricks, and played guitars. There was a craft section too - so we had wonderful cross-stitch, sketches, mosaic, felt cushions, and even a portrait of the host family made out of toys!

The lovely Dee dressed up for the occasion - first as Mary (?) and secondly as the beautiful Elisa Doolittle (well thats what it reminded me of anyway ...)

These three ladies spent ages making viking boats out of paper - and won this very apt prize!!

Head chef Rory took time out to introduce his new mucical purchase! He & Conrad rightly won the prize - as with only one hours tuition (via youtube) they stole the show ...

The crowd wait in anticipation for Stephen's project - on stick insects - which was most interesting ...

btw - don't ya love the walpaper!

Ellen - aged 15 - sang and played for us - a Missy Higgins number if I am correct.

I hope I have this guys name right - Rory? age 14 - he was wonderful - did a great version of the Beatles Blackbird - not an easy one to tackle. I thought he was great

Liadan did a ribbon dance for us ...

Later Stephen was good enough to introduce the stick insects to Liadan. Guess what she wants now?

My mosaic ....

I also did a demo of how to decorate a candle using a stamp, tissue, and some paper.... it went down well...

And the main thing ------ I won this wonderful trophy ........ !!!!

Which as anyone who attended can testify - I accepted with modesty and decorum (well if holding it above your head and doing a lap of honour counts as modest then I did !!)

Roll on next year ....... :-)

I love this - its so true !

2009-05-03T19:43:00.001+01:00

Yep ..... that's me!

First time lucky ....

2009-05-02T17:37:00.001+01:00

DS decided to try his hand at the euromillions as a first shot at winning the lotto. He won ...... €9 !!

Well - he's pleased anyway.

Random recent photos ...

2009-04-25T20:35:00.007+01:00

First off ... a christening cake for a girl...

My glass mosaic panels are almost done ...

Then just some shots of the garden... the apple and cherry blossoms are out

Paperplay week 13 - X4.

2009-04-20T20:31:00.004+01:00

This weeks challenge is set by Sandie ..

TIMES 4. ..... X4 your creation.. whether it's a layout, card or altered item.. times 4 it! 4 pictures, 4 buttons, 4 flowers, 4 of whatever you want!!"

So I decided to do a layout ... and decided it had to be of Sean somehow - as I dont often do one with him in it.

I have used 4 photos here - and as it happenes I have also used 4 stars ...

Birthday Cards - X 2

2009-04-19T12:53:00.004+01:00

The first is being posted out tomorrow and the second is for ... well guess who?!?

Two Cakes !! One Day ....

2009-04-17T16:12:00.005+01:00

The first is for my friend Sheila (she won an I.F.T.A. ... dont ya know)!! Its her birthday party tommorow night. The party is in Christ Church Crypt ... so so looking forward to that!

the second cake is for a little boy who likes Ben 10 ...

I will admit I had to make use of google image for this one as I have never seen Ben 10 and have no idea what it is...

So I can only hope I have it right...

Paperplay Week 12 - texture

2009-04-16T20:25:00.004+01:00

I did a very touchy feely layout of my DD1 (in the glasses) and her friend ... when you want photos of your teenagers the best way seems to be let them have your camera for a while. Of course it always helps if you are aware they have a lend of your camera (but that's another story.....)

Desmond fixed my sewing machine - big big cheer for my own personal Mr Fix It - so I was able to get the machine out and stitch the fabric down the side. Your really feel very artistic when your mucking around with a sewing machine!

The blue patterned strip is fabric ... then there is a 'ribbon' of fabric flowers across the sides...

And I cut the shaped title out from a Theresa Collins paper

And as the brief did state there must be ribbon on there somewhere ... I did add some at the end! You can just about see it here !

Hair ......

2009-04-12T10:53:00.005+01:00

Des & Liadan have been playing with their hair lately ....

I will leave it to you to decide which is best !

Annamarie's workshop layout

2009-04-11T20:50:00.001+01:00

Which is held on my mothers wall by - thumb tacks.

The photo is of my mother and her elder sister - taken somewhere in Dublin - in 1942. My mum would have been 3 and her sister 4. My mum is therefore the little one!

Elaine & Ed's Cake ......

2009-04-08T10:14:00.002+01:00

I made this cake last week for Lainey and her husband's joint 40th Birthday .....

Its only the second time I have made cakes for one of my 'crafty friends' ... and its way harder to do when you know the person you make them for is creative!!

I was very pleased with the way the liverpool crest turned out - its handpainted onto the cake using food colouring and a steady hand!!

Lucy's Lounge ....

2009-04-04T22:33:00.002+01:00

My friend Dee has a terrific sence of style and loves clothes. I would give anything to have even half her style - do check out her blog.

Roisin droped into her shop today

-

And is still raving about it hours later!!

As we said to each other this evening Dee is someone who makes you really glad you know her!! Roll on the 4th of May! Getting my singing voice warmed up now.

New Stamp ...

2009-04-04T13:44:00.001+01:00

Got a delivery yesterday afternoon from Paperartsy!! Had a small play yesterday.

Liadan's win

2009-04-03T12:50:00.002+01:00

Easter competion within her school. She won with this 'spring' photo.

Paperplay week 10.

2009-03-29T11:53:00.002+01:00

Versamark stamped the background, then rubbed over it with chalk, versamarked and embossed the 'love'. Then triple embossed the wings and heart. Stamped some swirls on the grey and there ya go.....

Wonderful Work by Holly ....

2009-03-25T20:40:00.002Z

You have to check out Holly's blog, some amazing work in felt.

I have done some workshops with this gang, and have been tempted to join their coven. But this latest stuff would lure anyone!!

Mothers Day ....

2009-03-25T20:08:00.004Z

Did two mothers day cards and gifts ... for some reason only took photos of one set *blush* So can only show off the ones I did for my Mother in Law!!

Used some of the remaining paper from Annamarie's class. Beautiful paper.

And then for the card I followed the brief on Paperplay Challenages - Week 10

This week's challenge has been set by Kate..

"Ok so I've had my thinking cap on ......
Make a card/Lo whatever for mothers day but no flowers allowed. I don't know about anyone else but I'm always tempted to put flowers on, so this will be a challenge for me anyway, LOL

Actually now that I look at the layout - they both qualify!!