Back from the dead (figuratively speaking)

Well hello anyone passing by. I'ts been a tad long since I was here, I am sorry but I've had a good excuse honestly. Just ask my mum, she'll write me a sick note to explain lol.

Seriously though I have been quite poorly. I've had so many different medications and treatments I've lost count. None have really helped except regular infusions of a type of Chemo. Some have made me so ill I honestly felt like I was dying. That sounds a little dramatic maybe but if you've never been there just pray you never do.

Now I promise you this isn't a post to get pity and people feeling sorry for me and leaving sympathetic messages, believe me after two and a half years of feeling utterly crap I'm so over it.  Sometimes you just need to get things out of your head and write them down. I don't feel sorry for myself, well not often anyway. I don't deny I have my moments, but on the whole I get on with what I can with a happy heart.  Between the Lupus and medications I started losing my hair and in March last year I had to accept that it had gone too far and I shaved my head of what was left. I have the biggest collection of hats and scarves you've ever seen lol. I will tell you though that I hate it, but it is what it is and no amount of worrying or wishing is going to change it.

I know there will be those among you readers that have illnesses that you cope with like me, there are so many different diseases out there with no cure, little understanding and woefully underfunded for research. Many fall prey to depression and I know only too well how that feels, but I'm lucky, I made a conscious decision back in 1999/2000 when I was diagnosed that I would do everything in my power to not go there, not get that bad and so far I've managed to resist the pull of the dark nightmare.  Yes, I have days when I feel down and sorry for myself, I wouldn't be human if I didn't, but I've always been strong enough to pull myself out of it and get back to enjoying what I can. For me life is way to short to waste it pitying myself. It doesn't do any good, and it eventually turns you into a miserable bitter person and that's not for me, no way no how.  My family have been very good, my close friends and of course Colin my long suffering partner. I don't think any of them will ever know just how much help they are to me, especially in the bad times. I'm so thankful to them for their love and support, and a couple of them that continuously go way above the norm. These people are angels pure and simple, and my debt and gratitude to them could never be paid in this lifetime.

So there you have it. The reason for me being quiet and abandoning my blog. Some people find blogging helps them, but for me it was just something else to try and fit in, something to concentrate on when I had no concentration or focus. When you are struggling to just get through the day doing the bare basics then blogging really isn't high on your priority list.  I am going to try blogging regularly again though. I cant promise that I will stick to it but I can promise to try. After all, I have a couple of years worth of crafty makes to catch up on. If you are among my friends on Facebook then you will likely have seen most of what I post for quite a while, I will be filtering in any new makes though so it may be worth checking now and again.

Talking of crafty things here are a couple of projects for you. They are all Claritystamp samples using Clarity stencils and stamps. I hope you like them.

 Spritzers, stencils and stamps.

 Stencils and ink

Stencils, stamps and glitter embossing paste.

That's it for now, hopefully I will be back soon and not in two years time!!!

Well look at me, two tutorials in a row. This time its pen storage, so all you penholics this is for you. It's another make for Studio 12 so you'll have to hop over to the Studio12 Blog for the instructions on how to make it. Its a great little box, you can fix several together this way up or lay it on it's side and stack more on top, perfect for your desk and making it easy to select and use your pens.

I used papers from the Polkadoodles Studio12 Picnix collection 1 CD and Studio12 Stamps

Have you visited the Polkadoodles shop recently, there is a fab new collection of cute characters, Work and Play collection 1.  There will be more to follow too so eventually there will be something for everyone and every occasion.  What more could you ask for?

If you like entering challenges don't forget the Polkadoodles Challenge Blog with a new challenge every Friday, and the Digi Choosday blog with a new challenge every Tuesday. 

Here are a couple of Cards I've made recently using papers from Heartfelt Creations. The pads are so beautiful you really don't want to use them unless you have a duplicate you can keep and stroke. It brought tears to eyes just pulling the sheets out the pad, and when I started cutting them .......... well you can imagine how I felt if you like me are a paper hoarder. Still it's done now, there really isn't any point in buying them if I'm never going to use them, right?

That's it for now. I shall return at some point in the not too distant with more papercraft makes for you to see.

Ta Dah, fanfare please, I'm here and do I have a project for you.  Three words 'Ink Pad Storage', oh yes indeedy, we all need it and I've done a tutorial for them on the Studio 12 Blog.  So if you want to have a go at making one get on over there.  Its not hard to make I promise. I used the Studio 12 picknix collections 1 and 2 CD's for this project and I have to admit I'm pretty chuffed with it. I've made several since this one and I now have my most used ink pads at hand on my desk instead of in the drawers (which drove me crazy).

The challenges over on the Polkadoodle blog are now open for two weeks, plenty of time for entries now.  Give it a try if you've never entered before, fabby prizes and loads of inspiration from the uber talented Design Team.

Thats it for today. I do have other stuff for you to see but it's late and my eyes are about to jump out and scurry off to bed without the rest of me!  I will be back soon but in the mean time have fun crafting.

Hi everyone, I'm here with today's make for the Polkadoodles Sudio 12 blog post. I hope you are all looking forward to Christmas.  I have only just started shopping myself which is very late, but there's not much I can do about it now is there lol.  Anyway getting back on track I've made a real cute little wall plaque/tray/hanger/thingy! not really sure what to call it if I'm honest.  This was a little wooden box that had wooden embellishments in it, I've had it knocking round the work room for a couple of years now.  I always knew I would do something with it and inspiration hit yesterday.

I used a few different stamps from the studio 12 and Susan Weckesser studio 12 stamps, shrink plastic and Sakura Stardust and Wink of Stella pens.  I painted the box with mushroom and light blue acrylic paint then I used scraps of backing papers from the Studio 12 Collection 1 CD in each compartment.  I added a  few odds and ends from my stash to finish it off.

 I took this pic with it by a ruler so you cab see just how small and cute the shrunk elements are.  Each compartment is just a smidge over 3cms so that shows the scale for you.

Here are the remaining Creative Expressions TV samples from my last show.  The Creative Expressions DT have now been given these Henna stamps and are making some fabulous creations with them, you can check them out of the Creative Expressions Facebook page and on the team Blog.

If I don't get back before Christmas I hope you all have a wonderful time.

Hi everyone, where does the time go? I'll be on Create and Craft TV Monday 11th Nov at 9am and 4pm.  I have some lovely new Creative expressions stamps, masks, texture paste, gilding flakes and much more so please join me.

Have you seen the Dottie Hearts design gifts yet? just the perfect personalised high quality Christmas gift ideas.  Gorgeous designs all created by Nikky Hall, no stock pictures here they are original NH images and while some items are printed some are hand pained especially for you exactly to your requirements, what more could you want.  You can find them here

It was my partners birthday last week and I wanted to make him a card that wasn't too slushy but said what I thought of him (only good things).  I looked through my rather large stamp collection but nothing jumped out at me till I got to the Polkadoodles Studio 12 stamps, and there I found the perfect stamps for what I wanted.  The circle and heart stamps are firm favourites of mine and the sentiment was just perfect because he is incredible (well most of the time lol).  I also used 2 of the faux stitching stamps and the distressed dogs-tooth stamp which are very useful stamps indeedy.  Red, black and white inkpads with some white embossing powder and kraft card and voila, a special card is created.  As this card was made with Studio 12 stamps it is also my project for the Polkadoodles and Studio 12 blog.

Nicky has been working really hard and filled the Polkadoodles shop with loads of gorgeous new goodies, so many in fact that I cant possibly mention them all or I'll be here all night.  Check out the digi section as there are new digi stamps being added daily, don't worry if you are not a digi fan though as there is plenty fantastic stash such as stamps, stencils/masks, alterable objects, metallic Pan Pastels and so much more.  If you are quick you may even catch one of her special offers.

And at last here are the samples from my last Create and Craft show for Creative Expressions.