Long time, old friends and new

Funny how the years pass and time just passes you by! The strict lockdown here in Wales certainly has provided the impetus to restart hobbies. 

After years of infertility, my hands are most definately full with 2 little ones under 7 our little miracles. My advice to others would be do not seek answers to the unknown, try to adapt and make new life changes whilst holding dearly to your faith that what will be you will embrace with courage uncertainty and hope in your heart 💕💟💞

  

Sadly at Easter our beautiful big friendly giant (The BFG) Buster the standard labradoodle lost his battle, fought bravely but kindness must always repay loyalty x Buster passed on to rainbow bridge, even now our hearts are still tinged with sadness and especially so this coming Christmas without him. 

But Buster had other plans for us it seems, fate has brought to our door another hound seeking a good forever home. After a quick enquiry email to a responsible reputable breeder, I receive a random call asking whether I would consider rehoming a nervous, inquisitive, rebel - a grey 18 month standard poodle. Of course, we said yes! We have always said we take them as we find them and set them on the right path using positive reward based training methods. So Louie, the standard poodle is the new kid on the block, is coming along and has settled in quite nicely to family life becoming my shadow 😊

And so as i have a little more time on my hands whilst away at school my mojo is returning. Sad in many ways blogging has fallen by the wayside as it's such a pleasure reading how someone has created a card step by step to inspire creativity in others. So I intend to keep this blog journal going in protest to social media platforms lol 

Luckily ink pads are still moist (although a handful did not quite have longevity assumed - chalk inks), stamps have been rediscovered and await their first reinking rekindling my old passion for stamping.  Although after much deliberation and relief, i've decided to retain my extensive collection of house mouse and penny blacks as they were such an investment and timeless treasures especially now my old supplier The Glitterpot and Windrush Cards are no longer in business.  Now to using up all those beautiful cherished patterned papers which by now are probably classed as vintage so don't expect to see anything current i'm afraid.

Until my next post old friends and new,

Daffodil Nellie & Friends 

New Life In The Country, Welcome 2012

After a brief period of unemployment after being made redundant, I have found a new job and officially a 9-5 girl working in a local civil service department! : )  2012 has started on a lot of positives and I hope the remainder of 2012 is just as abundant with good fortune. Commuting is a thing of the past, 5 minute drive or by public transport to work, no more traffic queues just scenic country lanes! What a change from the hussle and bussle of London. I am officially a 9-5 girl which leaves me more time for crafting.

We shall soon be moving to our new home, here in the heart of the Snowdonia National Park in the coming weeks! Lots of lovely walks at the lakes and countryside to draw inspiration from for crafting, an inglenook fireplace to keep warm and and a whole room in the house dedicated to crafting and wave goodbye to my craft storage boxes.

Here is a sneak peek of the view from the bedroom. I feel very blessed and fortunate to be waking up to this view each morning:

Redundancy Looms... A New Start into the Unknown

Sorry I haven't been posting much lately, there have been some rapid changes and announcements affecting my employment. The likelihood is redundancy is looming or stay and weather the storm by accepting a 30% pay cut and fewer benefits.

Today, its really hit home this offers a potential new start into the unknown. Whether to continue with working in the charitable sector or to disembark by accepting redundancy, starting my own voyage of self-discovery and follow our dreams. Redundancy will be a welcome change after the long consultation period, uncertainty and upheaval. Afterall, every cloud must have a silver lining! x x x

Valentine: Love Is All Around

This my quick Valentine's Day card to the most patient and wonderful husband in the world! He is a very good tea maker and always takes the dog for a walk at the weekends so I can enjoy a nice lie-in lol. Sometimes its the simple little things in life which mean the world, and its nice to acknowledge and appreciate all the little things people do 364 days a year.

Here is a Valentines Day Card I made recently:

The sentiment is a stamp by Penny Black inked up with Papermania Pigment Ink followed by a liberal scattering of Personal Impressions Clear Embossing Powder before heat gunning. The paperstock and cardstock used has been embossed in a Cuttlebug machine.

Products & Materials used:

Sentiment/Greeting: Penny Black Inc "All Around" (W/Mounted 3807C)

Papermania Black Pigment Ink

Personal Impressions Clear Embossing Powder

Papermania Dome Stickers PMA560 Pink Hearts 

Nestabilities: Standard Circles & Lacey Circles

Gems: Eastern Treasures (Clear) & Papermania (Pink)

Cuttlebug Embossing Folders: Swiss Dots & Heart Blocks

Paperstock: Anna Griffin 12x12 Pink Paper (retired)

Cardstock: Paper Cellar Pink Pearlescent Card & Black corrugated card (Stash).

Just a quick and simple card, really liking the pink, kraft, black and touch of green. Somehow it just really comes together and goes some way towards using all my scrap pieces of paper and cardstock.

That's all for now,

Daffodil x x x

Acetate: Recycle & Reuse

One of my many weaknesses is acetate sheets - plain or patterned hand it over and I'll have it. Its just the same with stamps and patterned paper, but embellishments and stickers I'll leave for other crafters!

This plain acetate box was recycled from a christmas gift. I thought it was a waste to thow it out and decided to recycle the box instead as handmade LUSH goody box.

The box is decorated with a base layer of green indian handmade paper. All patterned papers & die cuts are by Fancy Pants. Flowers are by Prima Marketing, featuring dew drop centres. The ribbons are all  off cuts of recycled ribbon, the pink organza ribbon is from a set of PJs from Primark lol.

The image is by Magnolia, called Jam Tilda and has been coloured using Copic Ciao markers but I can't remember the exact colours used (sorry!).

Back soon,

Daffodil x x

Monkey Business

I've managed to squeeze time to make a card in the last fortnight, although I've encountered several mishaps with glues : ( I have given up on Silicone glue, its now officially relegated to Room 101. I'm also a leaf punch short after breaking one trying hopelessly to punch through handmade glitter paper (from experience this is not recommended).

The layout for the card is from Sketch SaturdayChallenge (Week #138)

This is a card I made using all my tiny scraps left over from a sheet of MME 'Bloom & Grow' Collection. The image is from a wood mounted stamp by Whipper Snapper Designs called 'Swinging Monkey' CY905 which I recently bought in the Sir Stampalot January sale and coloured with Copic Ciao pens: E35 Chamois, E33 Sand, E21 Baby Skin Pink & G00 Jade Green for highlighting.

The biscuit coloured card, glitter paperstock & gems are from the craft section of Poundland, mostly the 'Crafty Bits' mixed bags (contents vary) for £1. The self-adhesive gems are sold in packs of 110 in various colours and available at selected Poundland stores. These bags are great value provided you have a die cut machine or punches as most of the contents is the residue from die cut sheets but the paper is mega glittery and I find it doesn't come off on your hands! : ) The biscuit cardstock has been embossed in the Cuttlebug using Swiss Dots folder. Flowers are Prima Marketing.

Until next time!
Daffodil x x

Flu-ed Out!

This post is overdue, the only one in our house without swine flu over the christmas period was the dog! Christmas was a wash out in every sense of the word, with no inclination to eat Turkey & Venison. There is always next Christmas!

In my last post, I referred to a 'green project'. Here it is, a project involving reusing a glass Kenco Coffee Jar to package a Goody box. The jar was decorated and filled with Max Factor goodies as a thank you gift to my lovely Mother in Law Jules. She is the lip gloss, eye shadow & mascara queen!

Main view:

Products used include: Magnolia Tilda Hugging Bunny stamp, Copic Ciao Pens, Spellbinders Nestabilities Large Scalloped Circles, Fiskars border punch, handmade glittered papers (£1 discount store), Fancy Pants (retired, no idea which collection), flowers by Prima Marketing Inc & Mulberry Crafts UK (Dahlias), ribbon (stash), Papermania Gems.

Side view:

Back view:

Hope in these hard times this has inspired you to create your very own gifts!

Until next time,
Daffodil x x x