Card Class Corruption!

I can't believe I've been absent for so long AGAIN but I have had Blogger's Block as well as it being another hectic week. The work night out was a good laugh although with my digestion still in a delicate state, it didn't take much food to fill me up and I literally felt fit to burst by the end of the night, even though not a drop of alcohol was consumed. Plus I have successfully managed to spread my lurgy throughout my colleagues, including the manager - ooerrr!! Well, I am the main suspect anyway, not a dodgy fajita.

My two classes for April were "launched", and there were some immediate bookings, which gives me quite a buzz. Now I'm under pressure to come up with some great items that will not disappoint. There were plans afoot to sabotage my Irish cohort's class descriptions before publication; with her loopy handwriting, her class "featuring fairies" could easily have been misread as "festering fairies", which doesn't have quite the same appeal! But I'm not that evil :o)

Corrie has been unwell this week, as a result of an amorous encounter with a block of feta cheese. I really ought to learn not to leave such things out on the kitchen worktop! Sigh.

Some cards have been made:

The top two were made with batches in mind, the other two were for specific occasions and feature my colour scheme of the moment. I have decided to use a weekly colour challenge blog as part of my inspiration: this week it's tangerine and two shades of blue which is certainly "interesting"!

Tonight I'm off to the cinema for a girlie chick flick with my dog-owning friend. Quite looking forward to it, I feel the need to chill out after a busy day at work yesterday (28 boxes of delivery to unpack and check!!) and the added pressure of flat-hunting. An afternoon of cardmaking awaits, but first I'm off for a cup of "char" and some carrot cake....

Yum!

Spring is Sprung!

Hi folks, no pics today, just an update. Up until a couple of days ago I was still feeling fairly icky after my vom-fest, and the appetite is only just returning to normal. About time too, so I have been plying myself with health-giving smoothies and, er, chocolate. Well, I don't want to waste away do I?

There has been some pleasant, springlike weather recently, and on Saturday we went for a lengthy walk in a nearby country park, which, apart from the neighbouring sewage works (and accompanying delightful odour) and the yobs setting fire to the picnic area, afforded us some picturesque views and a plethora of photo opportunities (guess who didn't have her camera with her?? When will I learn???!!?). I am determined to get out and about into the "fresh" air a lot more this year, and to discover all the local walking routes. Cycling too, would be good, except for the fact that my bike hasn't seen the light of day for about 8 years, and I don't "do" hills.

Work has been busy, with the wedding season upon us and my ongoing preparation for two classes I'm teaching in April. Today I devised the wording to go on the class list we will print for our customers; my colleague and I were vying for the title of Most Enticing Descriptive Paragraph to draw the punters in, with hilarious results. We really are wasted as mere shop workers.

Well, I'm pretty tired tonight so no crafting for me :o( Tomorrow is the work "christmas" night out at a Mexican eaterie and I'm quite looking forward to it, assuming I can actually eat something and I'm not yawning into my chimichungas by 9pm.

See you soon! (With some cards and photos hopefully!)

Whined and Dined

Gosh, it never rains but it pours, eh? Lots been going on around here lately; I'm undergoing a lifestyle overhaul that is destined to make my head explode, but I'm bearing up and feeling quite positive about the future. After all, that which does not kill you makes you stronger, isn't that what they say?

A slight setback yesterday in that I was confined to bed with a nasty stomach bug thingy, which has left me unable to eat for 24 hours and severely lacking in energy. Oh, and I had to take a day off work, which was a pain as I was actually, foolishly, LOOKING FORWARD to going in! Enjoyment of one's work? Surely an unheard of concept! On Sunday, before illness struck, I was counting my blessings and had an extremely productive day as a result. Cards were made:

I chose a particular colour scheme for the latter two and another one which I can't show yet as it's for someone :o) I also did some work on the class I'm planning for the "Sweet" range, which I'm quite excited about.

And I had a lovely Valentine's Day; first lunch with my parents then a 3-course dinner cooked for me and a dozen red roses courtesy of Himself:

I am a lucky girl really :o)

Return From AWOLness

Can't believe I've been absent from blogland for a week but happenings in Real Life have interfered with creativity, sadly. More snow fell but I have overcome my phobia of the stuff somewhat; in fact I think I'm even developing a soft spot for it (!!). Maybe.

Last weekend was spent in front of the telly, watching Scotland play Wales at Rugby (I don't understand the game at all I'm afraid, despite the best efforts of Himself to explain it, but the injuries are always interesting). I also watched the movie Forrest Gump for the first time (I am of the rare breed who never seems to watch the "big" films when they first come out - I didn't see ET until I was about 25!) and blubbed pathetically into my big woolly throw. I must have just been feeling extra "sensitive" or something. Ahem.

The week began with me becoming Public Enemy Number One of the cats. Not only did I take it upon myself to perform the much-hated nail-clipping routine, to which they protested mightily (but I easily subdued THAT, har har!), but they were also carted off to the vets for their yearly boosters, which deeply interfered with their routine of eating and sleeping. I also "discovered" that they are still overweight, sigh. I do my best but food is their life. Other than that they were given a clean bill of health, phew. I wouldn't want to be without the wee souls.

Us, fat? Never! (pic courtesy of One's Dad)

Sadly, I've barely got near my craft room, except to make one or two cards in the style of Stampin'Up:

I'm quite liking the results. I've made batches of them, and plan to add a few more designs and assemble gift sets of cards, just in case I ever open my shop. I wouldn't hold your breath though. Procrastination is my middle name.

Well, I'm off; some finishing touches to make to a Valentine's Card ( a pop-up one, no less, if I can make the darn thing work) and then, I think, some food. See you next time!

Stampin'Up a storm! (I hope)

Hi there!

Day off today, unusual for a Friday, but I intend to make the most of it! It's been chucking down the dreaded white stuff on and off all week, but today, with the sun shining, I have to concede that the wintery landscape is rather lovely. I've no photos of it to share, though, because I'm too lazy to go out into the freezingness at the moment!

Great day at work on Wednesday, it was really busy in the shop - and our Stampin'Up goodies arrived!!

I think almost all of us have purchased the fabby scallop circle and border punches and tonight's our group Card-Making Night so much productivity is planned with these items. If the evening's a success it may become a regular thing so fingers crossed we don't get too distracted playing with the host's cute and fluffy puppy and cats!!

Talking of cats, here's an amusing shot of one of my cat-owning friend's big fluffy boys, taken by her whilst we were munching our haggis pizza at her place the other night:

I don't think he realised his tail was sticking out!

Had lunch with the Parents yesterday, we went to our favourite garden centre cafe and I stuffed my face with macaroni cheese. It was delish and the conversation was enjoyable also. In the evening I ate well again - a successful egg pilau rice, made from scratch and supplying me with enough non-meat protein to keep me alive for another week!

Right, I'm off; on my agenda an afternoon of shopping and a coffee date, yay!

Moaning Minnie

At the risk of sounding like a spoilsport - I HATE SNOW!!! Sorry, but I do. It's pretty to look at but driving in it turns me into a gibbering wreck. My wheels got stuck as I approached my driveway this evening but luckily the old "cat litter scattered under the tyres" trick worked a treat - phew! There is a blizzard raging outside at the moment. Sob. I wonder if anyone would miss me if I didn't go to work tomorrow??!

On a less anxiety-provoking note, the Stampin'Up party was a great success and much cash departed our bank accounts as a result. We can't wait for our purchases to arrive now and the girls at work and I are planning to have regular "card-making" nights so that we can motivate and inspire each other. I blooming well need to be motivated and inspired these days. Only one measly creation has left my desk recently:

It's a commissioned card for someone graduating in the medical field. The embellishments are hand-drawn as I didn't have anything suitable in my stash. I think it works OK.

I have no excuse for lack of mojo really, only laziness. Not when I have delights such as these at my disposal:

These are purloined from work, part of a delicious new "Sweet" range of papers and embellishments. I am planning to use them in a class very soon. But rather than actually trying to create something with them, I prefer to look at them and stroke them lovingly. Sigh. It's a hard life.

Couple of disasters this evening. My spring onion and mushroom omelette went horribly wrong and had to be hurriedly turned into scrambled eggs (bleh!) and my rotund feline Corrie broke into a bag of mini muffins I'd been savouring and scoffed most of them!! Arrrggghhh!!! I'm going to roll her into a giant snowball and propel her down the nearest slope! (Note to animal-lovers: I'm not really going to do that.)