Happy Birthday...

The day has arrived and I promised to let everyone see the card that I made, well here it is...

Ain't punches and peel-offs wonderful things! The odd brad, a metal flower and some real pretty ribbon and, Voila...!

It's exam time at Uni so I thought something 'girly' would be a welcome change from all those boring old text books.

Happy Birthday Kristy, don't overdo the celebrating tonight, don't think a hang-over will help the exams, lol. :o)

Happy Birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Kristy, happy birthday to youuuuuuuu!!!

(Oh what Aunty's will do for their nieces......)

Time flies...

...way too fast, if you ask me.

Tomorrow is my niece's birthday and she will be 20. Where has the time gone? It only seems a short while ago that we were celebrating her christening (and this is one of the few occasions when my sister wasn't hiding from the camera...),

taking her on her first holiday to the seaside,

and admiring her last senior-school photo...

It doesn't seem possible that all those years have passed and tomorrow she will by 20 (I know I've already said that, but I'm still trying to let it sink in!). However, I have to admit that she has had a very 'grown-up' head on her shoulders for some time and she is one determined young lady. For as long as I can remember, she was telling everyone that she wanted to be a lawyer when she grew up, and through sheer grit and determination she is currently working her way through 2nd-year law at University. I know that whatever she puts her mind to she WILL achieve - not that she is stubborn or anything, lol (think she takes after her Mum on that point) but I know when she sets herself a goal she will work flat out to reach it.

Hope you have a wonderful birthday, Kristy.

Love and best wishes from one very proud Aunty...

Pipped at the post...

...well actually, ran out of time.

The Artbase crop project today was the wonderful BoBunny Desk Calendar and even though Margaret and John pre-cut all the papers and cardstock for us it was still an uphill struggle to get done by 4pm.

I felt pretty pleased with myself at getting all but December completed (I have just finished it on my return home so my calendar is done).

I still have to make up my mind whether to sort out some photos that fit the months or wait to take pics during this year...have to think about that one! However, I will try to remember to post the pages as and when I get them done.

The day was fun as usual and I am still amazed at the topics of conversation that arise. Waste collection & recycling to SEX - well to be precise, "pink sacks" but some how that was taken as 'pink sex' and everyone dissolved into fits of laughter of the 'tears running down the face' kind. I don't think I can go into detail without giving this a lot of careful thought (ROFL). Needless to say, I think the conversation started over a comment about NOT following the project instructions - this went meandering into problems with not checking the Christmas timetable for waste collections (as it would) and ultimately ended with PINK SEX - quite logical really...

I know them...

Isn't it great when you see something in a SB magazine and you suddenly realise you know the person who created it.

It has become one of the first things I do when I get a new mag - flip through to see if there is anyone I know... I have become quite good at picking out Carter (Nicola's eldest) even before I see Nic's name. This month's SB Inspirations was a real treat. Couldn't miss Nic's double page LO as she was actually in the photos but it was a lovely surprise to see work by another lady that I see at the Thursday crops - Zuleika (well actually, I recognised the pic of her boyfriend before I realised it was her work) and not just one LO but 3 !!!. I love visiting her blog as she has taken some stunning photos at gigs.

It's really nice to see things that are 'closer to home', so to speak, it makes things more real...

Ho Hum...

Remembered the coffee yesterday so all is right with the world (well that bit of it anyway).

Generally a grotty day at work only to be followed by just as grotty-a (is that a word??? - doubt it but I'm sure you get the sense of things...) journey home. Strange thing, British Rail just doesn't seem to be able to cope with the extremes of British weather - just waiting for the snow to arrive at some point this year because it is sure to be the 'wrong sort' !

Am now home, in the warm, checking on everyones blogs to see what exciting things are going on out in the world of 'blog-land'.

The first Artbase crop of the year is this Sunday and I'm really looking forward to it and I've just seen the posting for the Feb crop project so am really glad that I managed to get booked in.

What shall I do now...perhaps another wander through 'blog-land'..........

No Coffee...No Workee...

Note to self: - GET MORE COFFEE (keep forgetting to get more coffee for work and am getting fed-up with the fruit tea...)

Just realised that I haven't been in Starbucks over the Christmas period so have missed the Gingerbread latte (bawwww).

Trying to work out how I can justify a trip to Lakeside - nearest Starbucks - just to get a coffee.............

Have to work on that one !!

Yipeeeeeeeeeeeeee...

Scrap night has restarted...yay, go scrappers, go scrappers (sorry, have been suffering withdrawal symptoms for the last couple of weeks).

Tuesday nights are spent at a friend's house scrapping, chatting, swigging tea (and the odd red wine...) and generally putting the world to rights. Normally, four or five of us gather at Diane's and we share suggestions, give encouragement and occasionally we are quite productive (I did say, occasionally...LOL).

Well, I was late - British Rail at it's best, yet again (don't get me started - see yesterday's posting to get the gist...). As I pulled up outside I was surprised to find I was the first to arrive.

Poor Diane has a grotty cold but it's Tuesday night, so scrap we did - just the two of us...! One lady is currently off in warmer clims, and the other two - well I think they must be hibernating. By twenty past the hour it was clear that no-one else was going to arrive so the kettle went on and we got stuck in.

Nicola (Clarke) set me a challenge just before Christmas and I have been fiddling with it off & on but getting nowhere...tonight I finally got patterned paper stuck to cardstock (don't faint from the shock Nic) - decided to make it a double LO so it's not finished yet but I know what I what to do and I'm pretty pleased with the way it's going. Diane also had a good 'play'. A family friend had recently purchased the Cricut machine and she had given Diane a selection of die-cuts. A bit of heat-embossing and cutting photos into unusual shapes and her Christmas LO is well on it's way.

Thanks for a lovely evening Diane - it really is great to be back scrapping.....