We're getting ready to...

...do Something Funny for Money

With 2011 being an 'odd' year (rather than 'even') it means that Red Nose Day is on its way. At work this is a charity that we support because it gives us a chance to be a 'bit nutty' and after all...it only happens every other year (Red Nose Day that is - not being nutty) LOL

This year RND is on Friday 18 March - so we have plenty of time to get things organised.

Because we have a lot of part-time staff we normally organise events throughout the week of RND so that everyone has a chance to participate in something.

We are intending to have a red-themed quiz, silly dressing up events and one of the managers is going to be sponsored to eat a "Yard of Jaffa Cakes"...there will be a time limit set.

In addition we will be holding our ever popular "Red Tombola" and requests have already gone out to folk in the building for donations for this...given the amount of time we have there should be a good collection as folk are normally very generous. To meet the 'red' theme items need to be either the colour red, have red in their name or be packaged in red. We have a lot of fun as folk can be quite inventive or literal...a tin of 'red' kidney beans/red wine/ready salted Walkers crisps...you get the idea. Our collecting box for these goodies is a large cardboard box covered in white paper with lots of different size red circles (noses) stuck randomley over it.

I'll be making a few red mug hugs for the tombola but I also wrapped some candles/holders in cello-bags and added a red topper...
It is amazing what you can find in the cupboards at work if you have a rummage LOL There was some red card, Tipex, fine black markers and of course sticky tape (the cello-bags were from my stash).
A bit of fancy cutting out with the scissors, some faux stitching with the markers and a bit of artwork with the Tipex and there you have it...

I'll have to see if I can think of anything else to come up with...............

Frustrating...

...tell me about it.

**Huff, puff, moan, grumble**

Although I can access my blog from my work PC (and create posts as this proves) I am very limited as to what I can access in order to make comments. This can be soooooooooo frustrating if I get to pop on here during lunch or tea break and I want to leave a comment and find I can't.

Oh well, I'll have to catch-up when I get home........................

Thursday crop and...

...another LO completed.
Another snowy LO using some more of the Best Creation Inc PP that we are using at the crop. The PPs are lovely and have glossing & glitz already on them...problem is that it makes it difficult to decide how to do the LOs without covering too much of the pretty design.
This crochet-edged coaster was a bargain that I found in Poundland - a pack of 12 for...yep £1 LOL I thought it worked well as a matt for one of the photos.
As you can see here - the PP has plenty of it's own blinginess (is that a word? must be a crafting term). I added a few small red gems to just lift some of the berries a bit.
The title was made from some of the Thickers that we got as part of the pack.

There is just one session left of this 4-week block...need to sort out some more photos that will work with the remaining PPs..........................

The latest Star...

...amongst the hugs.
The yarn for this one is slightly fluffy and has a bit of a sheen to it along with tiny flecks of blue & lavender. The buttons were from a mixed pack of stars (pink/blue/lavender/yellow) that I found today in the 99p Store.

I actually knitted most of this on my way into work - the first time I have done any knitting on the train for ages - I finished it off at lunchtime and put the buttons on this evening.

In addition to the 'stars' I also picked up a pack of 'apples' which will be put to use in the not too distant future...it is surprising what you can find in these bargain stores if you are willing to have a look...................

Antiquated Espresso...

...according to the Stylish Home that's me LOL

Results: You most resemble a "Antiquated Espresso".

Details...
An intimate home of modest proportions. Kitchen ambitions move slow by design. Resort, retreat, getaway - all inside your bedroom. As with a technical dance, your style has it's own volcabulary. Set your table in a festive fare. Afternoon caffeine breaks to change your point of view. Pre-war, upper east side attitude. Bookcases, reading nooks and private studies provide a learned atmosphere at home. .

Suspected "Antiquated Espresso"

- Tom Waits
- Humphrey Bogart
- Kathryn Hepburn

...not quite sure about this LOL found the link on Sandra's blog...but some bits are pretty close...........

Edit:
I decided to go back to the quiz as there had been a couple of pics I'd been torn between and this is what happened...

Results: You most resemble a "Handcrafted Obsession".

Details...
A quite life… more simple, with your priorites in place. To cook a grand meal in an elegant kitchen is your joy. A bedroom with distinct character - warm and charming. Blown away by the handcrafted nature of art. Set your table in a festive fare. Watch the grass grow in the hot summer sun. Pre-war, upper east side attitude. Bookcases, reading nooks and private studies provide a learned atmosphere at home. .

Suspected "Handcrafted Obsession"

- Frank Lloyd Wright
- Grace Kelly
- Michael Caine

...now that is closer; I think...probably a mix of the two........................

It's Tuesday and...

...Scrappy night has resumed.

A small group of us meet up at our friend Diane's on a Tuesday night to have a bit of a scrap and a natter...an enjoyable way to pass a couple of hours. Due to Christmas, colds, weather etc. this has been the first get together since well before Christmas.

It was lovely having a chat and catching up on all the goss...

I took the opportunity to have a play with the sheet of miri card that I die-cut the other day using the cart - Love Struck.

2 hours of fiddling around with a pokey tool and I have come to the following conclusions...

1. Love Struck is a beautiful cart but the designs are too intricate to be done in the smaller sizes.
2. Miri card isn't ideal for anything this small and intricate.
3. Make sure there is a new sharp blade for the craft knife to assist with the pokey tool.
4. I need to play a bit more to get to know these things LOL

I did put together a very basic Valentines card using one of the fancy hearts and the word love. Love was glued directly to the card whilst the heart was raised slightly using 3D foam pads. The base card was a pearl cardstock which I punched down the side with one of my Martha Stewart border punches. A panel of the red miri inside the card shows off the punched design to good effect.

As you can see, I'm still on that learning curve with my Cricut but at least I'm trying (I know...very trying LOL) and the thing is being used...............

It can't be February already...

...where did January go?
Wasn't it only yesterday that I was wishing everyone a 'Happy New Year' and everyone in the crafting world was getting excited about the countdown to CHA...

Well, the month has gone and February has arrived here cold & frosty - at the speed the days are passing it will soon be Christmas (no!! don't thump me - it's true...)

I think I've made a reasonably good start to the year with this old bloggy thing and I've also made an effort to use some of the craft equipment that I am lucky enough to own. My Cricut is sitting happily in its new home - the side table in the study (minus the bird cage LOL) - and it has been played with more in the last week than in all the time that I've had it...had a play with some miri card last night and now need to think what I'm going to use the 'cuts' for...

The mornings are starting to lighten but it is still dark when I come home of an evening - never mind, things are moving in the right direction. Just wish the weather would warm up a bit.

So it is now February 1st - wonder what this month has in store.................