I'm Back in the land of the living ! It has been an eventful 3 weeks but the surgery went well and I am now at home recovering and beginning to spend a little more time each day at my craft desk. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their care, thoughts and prayers over these last 3 weeks. Knowing there are so many people that care for me certainly helps the healing process.

I have been trying to get on top of a couple of Christmas presents whilst I have the time and also as I am hoping to go to the UK for 10 days to finish my recuperation it makes sense to try and take as many with me rather than risk posting them.

So far I have just made this Jewellery tin for my niece, good job she is too young to look on here ! (sorry Karin if I spoil your surprise) I bought the tin from Hobby Lobby for about $6 and got a very good friend to make me the cushion for the inside. I then set about decorating the edges and top. It was actually a really easy project and I think it is very effective. Hopefully Princess Emma will enjoy putting all her crown jewels in it.

I have made a couple of these Tic Tac snowmen boxes as little stocking fillers for friends and family. I got the idea from the Cricut web site and then just worked out my measurements to work around a large pack of Tic Tacs. A very cost saving gift that I hope will bring a smile to peoples faces.

Typical for me though, I decided if you can make a Christmas gift from Tic Tacs, then why not a birthday gift ? I am not as happy with this one as I was unable to get the flower to have as large a centre as I wanted, and therefore show the sweets . However it is now on its way to the UK and I hope the birthday girl will like it.

Last week was our 24th wedding anniversary (how did that happen? and when did I get old enough to be married that long ?) well I forgot to organise a card before going into hospital which was really stupid as I ended up only coming out 36 hrs before the big day, well bless my DH he went and bought a card for me to give him, knowing how upset I would be. But in true Sue style, (determined and stubborn) I decided I could make card! Well this is the result, I went for very simple and could not believe how much effort and energy it took. By pure coincidence it has 24 crystals on it! I of course told him it was deliberate.

My Sisters birthday is next week so a card for her was next on the plan, again I had to go for a simple design as for some reason my crafting brain had left me for the 1st week I was home. I am always thinking I should clear out some of my older crafting items, but then I go ahead and make a card with probably my oldest clear stamp. Oh well maybe instead of getting rid of stuff I should just get more drawer space. At this point my DH and DD will scream...... NO MORE DRAWERS!

This last card for today is for someone who has recently lost their husband, I wanted to make a very simple sympathy card and hope I succeeded. Both this card and the 'LOVE' card were made using my latest Cricut cartridge 'Storybook' which I am loving.

Well I think I will sign off now as have been sitting at the computer for long enough today. I hope to get back to updating this weekly now.

Thank you for looking and any comments are much appreciated.

Have a good week

Sue

Happy Halloween !

Oops sorry lost a month, however if you take a look around the stores you could be mistaken for thinking it was Halloween next week ! This week I was treated to a night out to the 'Mickeys Not So Scary Halloween Party' at Magic Kingdom. I have been once before, but I was still in awe of the fantastic decorations, fireworks and parade. I especially liked the hug from Aladdin (A good friend of mine is 'friends' with him) In the UK Halloween is such a small celebration in comparison to here in the USA. It is still quite amazing to me how Halloween parties can run from early September through to Nov 1st and have sooooo many people attend them. This year we decided to join in and try to dress for the occassion, but with only 24hrs notice and no real time to make a costume for 3 , we pulled out all the stops and went as pirates. Not very imaginative but at least we took part. The picture below shows our elaborate costumes.

I decided to continue with the theme of the week and make a couple of Halloween cards and a note pad holder to put in the shop where I have a baskets of things for sale. Lets hope they sell. The cards were made using the Paper Dolls Dress Up Cart (cricut) and the pumpkin came from Stretch your Imagination. All the dolls shown this week were cut at 4".

I again made this next note pad holder as I wanted to show that they don't all have to be Disney based so I tried for something pretty that might appeal to anyone. Time will tell if I am right and it is saleable. It was probably the easiet one of these I have ever made and I think it took me about 20 minutes.

It is my Nephews Birthday tomorrow. Happy Birthday Matthew. I have all but given up on making cards for teenage boys as I find them impossible, but Matt is a fantastic tennis player and as I now have the Everyday Paper Dolls Dress Up Cart (cricut) I decided to go for it and make him a card this year. I was really pleased with how it turned out, just hope he likes it. He will now be entitled to learn to drive so stay out of his way !!!

My last card for this blog is just a simple girls birthday card, again using PPDU. I needed to spend my time this week restocking the cards from the shop, so have not had much time to create and play.

Well I think that's all for tonight, I am heading into the hospital tomorrow for a few days of rest and relaxation!!!! I wish! Unfortunately I have to have some surgery, so I hope it wont be too long before I am back and able to show you some new creations.

Thanks for looking

Sue

Just a quick mid week update this time to share some of the bits I have been making. I am really starting to get to grips with Christmas presents now as I am hoping to maybe get a quick trip back to the UK this side of Christmas, so it makes sense to get them made and take them with me rather than having to post them all. I really enjoy being able to make gifts for people rather than having to keep looking around the shops trying to decide on what to get. I just hope my family enjoy receiving them as much. Managed to get to a Hobby Lobby yesterday for more than just 5 Minutes, its a good job there is not one close by me. It was fantastic and I got some really good bits and pieces.

This 1st picture is of a scrapbook frame I made my hubby for his birthday. The Vinyl record is actually the original I have had for more than 25 yrs and I used to play it over and over and over again, listening to the words when I was hoping and dreaming he would notice me. He eventually did and the anniversary of our engagment is today (25 yrs ago). He really liked the frame and I think it was made more special by the fact that it was the original that I have kept all these years. Heres to the next 25 years.

This recipe tin was my next project. I really enjoyed doing this although it was quite a challenge. Covering the lid was the hardest part but I think the finished project was well worth the effort.

I made a couple more of these post it notes stands this week as an order for work. It seems that no sooner do I think I have finished the orders, then someone else orders one. Its great; I'm not earning enough to retire just yet but every penny counts. Going to make a Halloween frame today so looking forward to making a different style.

Finally for this blog are these really cute hanging decorations. I bought the baubles at Michaels and had not realised they had a flat front. It worked out ok in the end and they were so easy to do. I am really hoping to be able to set up a craft table somewhere soon to sell some of these.

I would really like to thank my DH for these latest photos, He has now set up a small studio lighting area to take the photos in and I think the quality is now so much better.

Well better get back to my craft desk, will post again at the weekend.

Thanks for taking the time to look.

Hi to all, the weather here in Florida is finally cooling down just a few degrees, its been a really nice week here. Still too hot to be outside for too long but the evenings are beginning to draw in and with the darker evenings the cooler weather starts. How I just love still getting up every morning to clear blue skies, it really makes your day start well.

I decided this week to have a really good tidy up in my craft room and as it looked so nice and clear, I took some photos to show you all where I create all my bits and pieces. Believe me it never stays this tidy for long. I am one very lucky lady to have all this space and an ever patient husband when I tell him 'I really do need another set of drawers.' Having showed a couple of people at work some pictures they all commented how organised I was, well let me tell you with this much stuff I really need to be or I would never find anything. I think that probably 98% of all this craft stuff was actually shipped here from the UK. The only real additions since we have been here is my Cricut and cartridges, oh and of course paper. I will NEVER have too much paper. My motto is to 'always buy 2 sheets, one to cut and one to look at'.

I have still been busy making photo and Post It note frames for friends, family and orders from people at work. They are just so easy to make yet very effective. As my daughter now goes to the University of Florida, she and her friends are Gator fans so these were made for them.

Mickey is my friends favourite character, so when her 60th bithday came around I could not resist but to make her a special card. Diane loved her card.

This next card is for the same person as unfortunately she has had to undergo some hospital treatment this week, she is on the mend but our thoughts are with her as she goes through a trying time.

The Daisy Duck card was for another friend who also turned 60 this year but unfortunately I did not realise it was her birthday until too late ... oops sorry Melody, better late than never. The Inside of the card says 'I just forgot the date' a very useful stamp especially for me who has a memory like a sieve.

Well as much as I don't really like thinking about it, Christmas is looming and therefore I have actually started making those presents. When you handmake gifts it takes such a long time that you just have to start early! Next week I hope to get a couple of ideas up here for you, so you too can start on those Christmas presents. even hoping to visit a Hobby Lobby on Monday as last time I went I only had 5 minutes in the store before it closed (whose fault was that Hannah???) and 5 mins is nowhere near enough!

Have a good week and if you visit please be sure to leave a comment so I know who has dropped by.

Sue

Well thats another couple of weeks gone flying by, soon the shops will be full of Halloween and Chistmas (sorry wont mention it again) goodies but I am certainly not thinking about that yet. It has been a busy couple of weeks, we had my sister to stay, John and I both became another year older and Hannah left for University to do her Junior year. It's no wonder John and I are feeling tired. I have still had a little time to do some crafting so will share some pictures of what I've been up to along with some great pictures of my birthday celebrations.

Ok, so yes I got a Tattoo.... YIKES ! It has been a long time coming and I have been thinking about it for a few years on and off, but finally decided having had a pretty rough year I would get this one to mark my birthday and to celebrate having survived this last year and to remind me that I can continue to fight. The Dragonfly is to represent freedom and the 2 small hearts are to show my love for John and Hannah. A bit soppy I know but its for me and no-one else.

We had a great night out at Kouzzina, the new greek restaurant by Cat Cora at the Boardwalk. The food was fantastic and I would recommend it to all.

Now for what you really have come to see, here are some of my little craft projects I have made over the last couple of weeks, not much due to how busy we have been.

These Frames have all been made as orders for people at work, some are being used as photo frames and others as this Donald one, are being used to hold Post It Notes. Both work really well just using a clear plastic free standing photo frame.

This next project is my 1st attempt at a word book , using the Cricut and the Design Studio on my computer. Once I had finally got to grips with merging my letters using the kerning button the rest went together really easily and I am looking forward to trying it with longer names. Look out, these could be your Christmas presents this year.... opps mentioned that time of year again when I said I wouldn't.



Mum if you see these pictures before it arrives...... surprise a little gift from me to you XXX





Well I think that about wraps up my week, back up to Gainesville at the weekend to finish putting shelves up for Hannah, but hope to have some more time to finish a couple of projects I am working on.


Have a good week


Sue

Well another week has passed and unfortunately I have really not had much time to do any craft work. My sister Kerry arrived with her hubby Neil and son Bradley this week and it is sooooo nice to see some family, that is the hardest part about living away from the UK. Thank God for msn and web cams which make it all a bit more bearable. Just a couple of pictures to post this time so here goes..

I have made this frame for Kerry as a belated birthday pressie, she really seemed to like it, and for those who are not aware Kerry and I are actually 'step' sisters (how I hate that word !) but you would never know it. We have been together since I was 6. The sentiment on this frame is so relevant for us.

This card below is for a friend at work (Disney) who loves Belle, she would actually make a very good Belle. Happy Birthday Jenny !

The last one for today is an order I had to make a wedding card. I got the inspriation from the Cricut website, thanks to Tracey Gough, here's a link to her blog http://camsmum-tg.blogspot.com/search?q=ampersand

I hope you can see on these pictures that I used embossed paper then highlighted it with 'stickles' and black crystals.

Well thats me done for this blog, will catch up again sometime next week.

Thanks for looking