Sad week, but with a good day out at the NEC

Hi everyone,

I haven't been around much this week, it hasn't been the best of weeks for me, Friday was the first anniversary of the day my husband died and it has been really hard to get my head around the fact he's been gone a whole year. I still miss him terribly and it feels like only a few months not twelve. I received lots of beautiful flowers from family and friends, a few cards, and a couple of lovely emails too, thanks for those you know who you are.

On a lighter note though, Diane, my mum and I had a day out on Thursday at the NEC. We had a really good day which was a great distraction for me. Diane hadn't been before and I think she really enjoyed the experience. We both came home wishing we'd bought more of course. I was going to buy some nestibilities and forgot to go back to the stall where they were the cheapest - 'Durhhh'. There was a few stamps I wanted but resisted - WHY..!!! Anyway I was happy with just a great day out with my bestest buddy and my lovely mum. Thanks to both of you for cheering me up. xx

Here is a photo of the goodies I did buy.





Tracey x

Never Again..!

A work colleague asked me to cover an album she had bought for her daughter's 18th, 'a doddle' I thought - ha ha, NEVER AGAIN..!!! (she says), what a fiddly awkward job, it was. It was covered in this vile gold padded shiney plastic cover, which made it all the more awkward to cover. Anyway this is the result. I do hope she likes it, trouble is I haven't a clue what to charge her, a lot less than it's worth if I know me..!

Tracey x

Well worth all the effort

I was up at 4.30am on Friday, to arrive at work for 5.45am in order to catch all those workers who start early, I was working on the 'get them while they were half asleep' approach, hoping they would just hand over money to get past me. It certainly worked Ailsa (on the right), my partner in crime, and I raised a total of £140 just from the buckets. I was really pleased with that and it was well worth the effort. In total, over the last 3 weeks, our site raised over £1600 to go to Breast Cancer Research, the company overall raised over £3600.

Tracey x

Breast cancer - Pink or Pumpkin Day at work

Goodness me, this has been a busy week, where does the time go? Sadly I haven't been able to find time to go blog hopping. This week we are having a big fundraising event for Breast Cancer Research at work, a wonderful charity I'm sure you will all agree. A very good friend of mine is at present recovering from a mastectomy due to this terrible illness and so I was really pleased to be asked to join the fundraising team at work. Tomorrow everyone has been asked to go dressed in Halloween fancy dress or somethink pink. I have chosen to wear a pink stetson, a pink feather boa and a tickled pink t-shirt, not very inventive I know. I agreed to design and make some collection buckets, so I roped my wonderful mum and daughter in to help and these two buckets were created. Everyone at work thought they were great, tomorrow I hope to fill them with lots of coins.

Tracey x

New Home

Last week I managed a first, I was really brave (for me anyway) and drove all the way down to Colchester (from Yorkshire) on my own, take into consideration I could get lost in a paper bag. I was visiting my very good friends who Steve and I were on holiday with when he sadly passed away, so it was rather an emotional visit but at the same time a good one as I was so pleased to see them. They made me feel so welcome as always, we fitted in a couple of great nights out and as Liz loves cardmaking too we managed to grab some crafting time. I took my BigShot down for her to play with and she loved it, can't wait to see what she does with the bits she made. They are moving house next week so it was all go. I do hope they love this card I've made for them, the image is from the wonderful Pinkpetticoat range.

Tracey x

FAB BLOG CANDY AT NATALIE'S

Hi there, get yourself over to Natalie's blog and check it out, she has some beautiful cards to look at. To celebrate her 1000th hit she is offering some great blog candy too. Fingers are well and truely crossed.

Tracey x

Baby News

I got some fab news this week, my sister told me she is going to have another baby so I am really chuffed I had already guessed weeks ago using my babydar but she denied it. It gives me something to look forward to, however it does make me sad when I think it is something else that my lovely husband will miss out on, he loved children. So I need to make a card to congratulate them both.

I have also heard some bad news this week about the very talented Barbara's hubby, he was involved in a terrible accident, however there is a post on Debs blog with an update and it sounds like he is showing some good signs. Please log on and give Barbara your support.

I seem to have a very busy life lately what with college, work and cards that once again this blog seems to be neglected. Anyway here is a few cards I made in the week.

Hugs to everyone, especially Barbara and Debs who I know needs one right now too.

Tracey x

Exactly what do we class as 'handmade'

Goodness me, where does the time go? I seem to have been so busy with things I never seem to have time to blog. Busy yes, but do I ever do anything interesting enought to chat about....Nope sorry busy but boring....! I went to the Harrogate paper extravanganza last weekend, that was great, it never ceases to amaze me how many of us love this craft, the place was heaving. I can't say there was anything new and exciting there unfortunatly. Something did cross my mind while I was wandering around, exactly what do we class as handmade? I felt some of the products on sale are aimed at people who want to make a 'handmade' card but really don't want to do any of the work. There seems to be so many pre prepared, ready cut, stuff to just stick on a card even with instructions of exactly where to stick it! I know I cheat myself too I use a big shot to emboss and cut out some shapes. I use printed images such as Pink petticoat, or images from google but that's is because I am useless and can't draw, a flaw I am sure many of us have, I really wish I could. Sometimes a quick card is needed and yes I can see the point of these ready made toppers and things for that but really what is 'handmade' and what is just 'assembly'?

and on that note, here are two Pink Petticoat ones I made earlier....!!!!

Tracey x

Christmas is coming..!

Like a fast moving train Christmas is charging it's ugly head towards me once again. I say 'ugly head' because sadly I really don't think it will ever be the same for me again. Last year's was a real effort, it was all a blurr and although we all tried so hard it seemed all so pointless. I don't think I am going to feel any better about this one either. So not wanting to depress you all I will talk about the cards which, it has to be said is the best thing about Chistmas...!

As I have taken on two further education computer courses this year I am not going to have too much time to make them for other people, however one lady asked me a long time ago to make these two for her Grandchildren who live in Australia. I've chosen snowy themes because they don't have snow at christmas in Aussie and I wanted them to be very 'English'. I do hope she is pleased with them. Before I tackle the rest of my Christmas cards can someone please tell me how to have a 'glitter day' and not get plastered from head to toe in the stuff. Does it have a life of it's own to jump off the desk and onto me, I look like I've dipped my nose in it....!! What I am doing wrong....?!!??!?!

Hope you have fun making all yours

Tracey x

The lovely Denise has given me this award, thanks Denise much appreciated, which is great and I am really pleased but now I have to find 7 wonderful blogs who hopefully haven't already got this award. That's not so easy because you are all so fab you've been given it already..... so where do I start..... Well of course it has to go first and foremost to my pal Debbie

Debbie - MeandlilG

Dawny - Pinkpiggy -

Emma - Elf Creations

Lainy - Lainy's little blog

Tracey - Tracey's crafting Corner

Barbara - Hunnybunnycards - Barbara already looks to have this award but she deserves it again!

and last but certainly not least

Summer - Summertime Designs - This is an amazing site I came across recently, Summer designs papers and lets you download them free. You really must check out her blog. She has been having a bit of a break from designing lately as her beautiful little baby Claire has been having an op, she deserves this award more than anyone...!

Rules:

1. The winner can put the logo on hers or his blog.

2. Link the person you received your award from.

3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs.

4. Put links of those blogs on yours.

5. Leave a message on the blogs of those you've nominated.

My black & white phase !

Hi there,

Well I have been a rubbish blogger once again. I just seem to be so busy with card orders that I don't seem to have a minute to get into blogland. I have been having a black and white phase over the last few days, here are a few of the ones I've done. The smurf one is for a collegue of mine who is leaving work to go into the prison service, hence the image !

Still have lots of orders to complete, there is another batch of redundancies at our place next week so I have been preparing myself with lots of good luck cards. Please check out my DC gallery if you want to check them out.

thanks for visiting, take care

Tracey x

Hiya,

This week I have been such a lucky bunny, I have had a gorgeous card full of beautiful lace and a CD full of fab papers from my best buddy Diane. A lovely folder with lots of great images enclosed from my lovely mate Debbie, and I have also received two awards, one from Debbie and the other from my good friend Tracey, details of which I will post later when I have decided which clever bloggers to send it on to. Here are photos of the fab goodies I received this week. I was so touched by them both.

Tracey x

Bad bad blogger !

Oooo I have been such a bad blogger, I have been so busy, I have tons of orders for cards and just never seem to have enough hours in the day. Today was a big day for me. I have now officially become a college student, a rather mature student, but a student non the less !! I have decided to take some further qualifications in IT, and today I enrolled for one of the courses. Now had I known this lady was going to point a web cam at me and take a photo without any warning I would have been prepared with a smile, but oh no she gave me no warning other than, "I need to take a 'click' photo for your ID card". Ahhhhh....... gruesome photo, of face in shock, printed on plastic for all to see!

This week someone asked me to make a parchment card, so bliss back to some real crafting, I love doing parchment, just rarely have the time. This is one of my favourite patterns and I was so glad she chose it.

Great Day Out !

Today I spent the whole day with my mate Diane, to do some crafting - nothing but... fab idea don't you agree ? Not that we managed to make many cards it has to be said !! (too much laughing going on !!) We spent more time swapping ideas, checking out good crafting websites and getting some free papers off the web, than actually making cards. Diane gave me some painting tips and we painted some Sarah Kay images, we used the free papers to make two very similar cards, my version is here. Here's a link to Diane's card on her docrafts gallery.

Thanks Diane for a great day and lunch was fab.

Tracey x

What Possesed them to change Docrafts !!

Lou Lou woke me up good and early this morning, I wish he would learn that I don't go to work on Saturday and Sunday !!

Maybe it is just too early in the morning, I dunno, however I managed to make a few cards on Thursday evening so I thought I'd upload them to my Docrafts gallery, 2 minute job !!! Please understand that now they have changed it all it takes me 3 times longer, 60 more squeezes on the stress ball, and a thumping headache at the end of it all. Please someone tell me 'WHAT POSSESED THEM TO CHANGE IT * ! * !' So when I had uploaded the last one I went to view the gallery and there was no sign of it, I waited a little while, still no sign of it, assuming, as you do, 'I'd done it wrong' - I did it again, I returned to the gallery and 'OH NO' it's there twice ***!!!! People will think I'm either a total twit or that I think my cards are so fab they need to been seen twice ! 'Best delete' I think, no problem doing that before.......... HOW ?, not a blooming clue, not a delete button to be seen. 20 more squeezes on the ball and I'm none the wiser. GAVE UP in the end....... Please docrafts bring back the old one we liked it so much better. So here is the culprit card, it's so fab I want you to see it 3 times !!! he he he. I made it for someone at work who had been made redundant and in the end really didn't want to go, so it was sad to wave her off.

Tracey x

Look what I found.

WOW !!! look what I have discovered, the amazing Rachelle Anne Miller, who does the most fantastic illustrations allows us to use them for our blog banners. How kind is she? you probably all knew that anyway but as I am new to this bloggy thing I was totally unaware. I have visited her site on many occassions to check out the lovely artwork she does, but that was in my sane days before I got blogging !!!

My son has returned from a few days camping in Newquay, Cornwall, sounds like he's had a great time with his girlfriend and some of his mates. He had a car problem on the way home and nearly had a burst tyre, thank goodness he didn't I dread to think what might have happened, thankyou to the AA for the rescue!

I have lots of card orders to make so I really need to get on with it and stop this blog hopping that seems to be my new favourite pastime, oh Debbie what have you got me into !!!!
bye for now

Tracey x

Sarah 4 Carla

I haven't had a very good week, felt a bit weepy for most of it, I have these bad weeks but they pass. However because my head has been a muddle all week I have totally forgot some VIP's birthday which is today. So when I remembered at 7am this morning I set to and made this card, which is now in the post. It has to wing it's way to Colchester so unfortunatly she will get it late, but I hope she doesn't mind too much, she'll understand I'm sure. Another beautiful day, and what did I do with it, went shopping in York retail outlet under cover !! Well I needed card and that is crutial so I had to go to the Papermill Shop. Typical me, we get max 5 sunny days in the whole of the summer and I spent one of them indoors. Anyway hope you like the card.

Tracey x

Wow - Sun at last.

Wow, what a beautiful day we had today, about time too! Infact it was so hot I had to resign from the gardening after an two strenuous hours and lie down in the sun, such a shame eh? About time I got a chance to get a slight tan. My mate Debbie called me a 'lazy daisy', but I hate being so pale, so it was very necessary.... well that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it !!!

I managed to create this card this evening, surprising though as I just can't stop surfing these blogs it really is distracting and addictive, what have I got myself in to !!! So this is my latest creation, it is for a lady at work whose daughter is passionate about horses. What a lovely topic to be asked to do. Hope you all had a good day in the sun.

Tracey x

I got the WYLDE WOMEN award !

My wonderful mate Debs thought I deserved this award how nice of her. It's called the WYLDE WOMEN award and the purpose of it is "to send love and acknowledgment to women who brighten your day, teach you new things and live their lives fully with generosity and joy", which is a lovely sentiment.

The rules are:

1. You can give it to one or one hundred or any number in between - it's up to you.

2.Make sure you link to their site in your post.

3. Link back to this blogsite (tammy's blog) so Tammy can go visit all these wonderful women,and

4. Remember the Purpose of the Award.

So who to send it to, I am struggling as a lot of my new blogland pals have it already but here are some who I have hand picked.

Sharon

moondaisy

Debbie

Barbara

Anniversary card

YEAH - INK ARRIVED !!! Here's a card I made late last night, I did my usual trick and left the order 'till the last minute. Will I ever learn? - I don't think so !! Not had much time over the last few days to post anything, will catch up with everyone and everything this weekend.

Hey, music on my blog

Well I managed it at last, I have spent all evening choosing my favourite songs for my playlist, I wasn't going to have many - ha ha ha, once you start you can't stop. There are a few in there dedicated to my wonderful late hubby, two that we played at his funeral and a few that remind me of the great times we had together in the good old 80's. I have also added one for my bezzy mate Diane, I've tried to persuade her to have a blog but she says she is too busy. Nevermind If you click on her name it will link you to her fabulous DC gallery page instead. I think you will agree she has some fantastic cards in there. We are getting together on the 4th of August so she can teach me her fab painting techniques cos I am rubbish at it !
bye for now... oh still waiting for ink by the way....
Tracey x

A Big Thank you

Hi there, can I say a big thankyou to all you kind people who have welcomed me to blogland. I have spent the evening putting some of my creations onto a slide show, wow isn't it a maze of complications this blogging thing. I suppose I will get the hang of it eventually. First of all I manged to get a slide show, then when it appeared it wasn't where I wanted it to be. Have now managed to put one in the right place and now I have TWO.... wow this is fun !!!
Will play more tomorrow.

Tracey x

Check out my Slide Show!

Starting Off

I have been talked into setting up my own blog by my friend Debs. I must say I am feeling a bit of an air head trying to navigate myself around the instructions. I'm getting there, slowly (very slowly) but surely. Today I have been trying my best to make cards but things are not going my way at all. My printer has run out of ink, this is tragic. Being a total airhead I didn't think to have any ink on standby so I am going to be 'out of order' till it is delivered. This to some crafters who make cards would not be a problem but I make cards for friends at work and they like them personallised so without my printer I am well and truely stuck !! I have had a house full all morning, daugher & boyfriend, son & girlfriend and son's friend but now they have all dispersed and life in my craft room is peaceful again. when I have figured this blogging thing out I will add more to it. Bye for now Tracey