A Long Time Coming

Hello peeps, especially to those who follow my blog (which I've sadly neglected over the last few months).  I say this each time I do blog, and promise to bring more - then something gets in the way and I seem to crash and burn before I carry out my own promise.

Hmm, i've just thought of a better way to make it look like I blog regularly while only writing posts when I'm in the mood or when I feel I have the time energy or inclination - I'll schedule them...  You know, that little bit of technology that everyone else in the blogesphere seems to use, but I neglect to use or get in the habit of using...

In the past, when I have the urge to write, I tend to post one after another in quick  succession, but find that no one seems to comment on them all if they've read one.  I suppose I like to read one blog at a time, rather than one comment on one blog at a time rather than then coming back to comment again.  I've seen some wicked posts out there just recently and the talent is awesome.  When I'm on bedrest and I have some energy to do a little surfing, I like to have a look on some of the fabulous DIY blogs that seem to be really popular in the States.  I love some of the names they call their blogs, but this is something I want to touch on in a later post, so i'll not say too much right now.  

I hope when you have read this post and visited my blog that you would be so kind and leave me your comments or just say hi.  Just to reassure me that I am still writing the kinds of things that are interesting.  I know that predominantly I set this up as a craft blog, but I always said that I wear my heart on my sleeve and would bring you stories about my life.  As it so happens, finding out I had the tumour only happened one week after I started my blog, so people who followed me from the outset from January 2010 have been through everything with me which mean I tend to update a lot about my ongoing health issues.  Had it not been the case, I would have been talking about how busy work was and how this meeting and that meeting had gone and then perhaps would have been able to talk about the holidays i'd been on or had got planned.  Unfortunately work and holidays all went belly up because of the hand fate dealt me, so you get updates on my health issues and cards instead.  

Blogging therefore now has become a way of keeping in touch with the outside world seeing as I spend most of my time in my little house.  To receive a comment reassures me that people out there still want to keep in touch and take an interest in what I have to say or show.  Its the reassurance that people are still there that means the most so to receive comments means a heck of a lot.  So, please leave a little comments to say you've popped by -even if it is to say hi... Right now, I feel like I need a bit of 'love' leaving in my comments box, and this is why...

Last week, I had my latest appointment at the pain clinic at the Chesterfield Royal Hospital.  I've been going to the pain clinic ever since the surgeon referred me after I went back to see him about the pains I still had following my surgery (which will be 2 years ago this month - wow where's that gone)!  I was getting nowhere fast with my doctor at that time, so I was fortunate that the surgeon had 'left his door open' for me to go and see him if I had any concerns after the surgery... It must have been a while after because pain just wasn't getting any better and I was planning on returning to work sometime in the future (that's another story that can be found in the depths of this blog).

Anyway, as usual, the consultant starts off asking me about my medication and how I feel, so I explained how I was still in pain around my ribs (where I was opened up), and around my left shoulder blade and under my left breast (the ribs there).  It still hurts as if someone had hit me with a baseball bat.  It aches like crazy at times, although not as much as it used to, and my skin is so sensitive that I can't bare to have it touched. Without too much thinking - and no debate at all, he finally decided to do a nerve block which he did there and then.  This is something they were talking about doing almost 18 months ago but never actually carried it out - instead they had me try this and that - infact I'm still on the same medication and have been told that it is likely that i'll be on it for a very long time.  I asked him if he was happy for me to be on it long term - he said that it was necessary for me to take all what I was taking and be on the patches too because it is managing the pain, but concurred that it would never get rid of my pain completely, and that if I thought that would happen, then my expectations were too high... if only things like this had been explained to me all that time ago!!!  Anyway, the nerve block consisted of several cortisone injections around the left side of my back/ribs all with the idea of blocking the signals from my intercostal nerve.  The nurse told me that I would feel worse before I felt better.  This week has been mixed between the usual tiredness and the pain that these injections kicked up which also made the usual pain feel ten fold.  The nurse said that I could feel the benefit of the nerve block for weeks or months - this is down to the individual and all cases are different.  I've also been given the Capsaicin cream to try again only have been told to put plenty on.  The last time I was asked to try it, I felt very little benefit from it.  For those who don't know (and i'm no expert either), I'm aware that it has chemicals extracted from chilli's that do funny things to the nerve receptors stopping them from sending signals to the brain telling it you're in pain (well, that's my understanding anyway).

So, this treatment had been a long time coming, but very welcome indeed.  I'm hoping that the benefits from the injections are felt sooner than later.  I asked him about the Fibromyalgia and Joint Hypermobility pain, but he said that I was on enough of the right medication to manage that even though this pain is very tough to deal with sometimes, and something that I also have to deal with on a daily basis.  I am currently seeing a health psychologist who is helping to manage pain through relaxation, coping strategies through some cognitive therapy and generally making sure I don't overdo it all in one go; something known as pacing.  Apparently it's harder to do than read about!

Anyway, that's what's been happening on the health front.  Apart from that, I've been able to complete a wedding stationery order (mentioned in a previous post) in between bedrest etc.  They are already packed waiting for delivery to the bride to be... As she is the manageress at our local, and it's my Birthday next Sunday (also my son will be 19), I think that could be the perfect excuse to deliver them and have a drink while watching the Sunday entertainment - whoever it may be!

Now to show you a card that I did a few weeks ago for a little boy.  Even though I have 2 boys myself, when they were small I didn't craft or make cards (I did do stuff with the boys and make them their birthday cakes every year (well, until they told me they wanted them from Tesco... I don't know whether I was glad at not having to spend all night baking and decorating one, or whether I felt put out that they no longer wanted my efforts! 

oops, back to the card.  This card was made using Serif Craft Artist... I love this software, it's so versatile, easy to use and full of features but produces quality artwork each and every time.  I have started to use it more than MCS actually and if you look hard enough, there are plenty of free digi kits out there to use with Craft Artist.

Here is the card (at last):

picture taken while card laying down on my laptop, hence the funny angle/perspective

This was made using the American Crafts 'Junior Bumper' kit which is great for boys projects.  There are also sports themes within this kit.  I embossed a panel of holographic card with an embossing folder... sorry but the name evades me at the moment.  I'm sure someone will remember or know it.  The card base was an 8x8" size which is fabulous for large cards if you don't want to go the whole hog of an A4.

oops... a bit of reflection to blind you...

I do apologise about the quality of the photographs.  I did them at night on top of the laptop so the flash came on and reflected back.  Unfortunately, I also forgot to edit them in my editing software (having said that, this is also something that Craft Artist can take care of).  If I manage to get a better version of either of these pics, I'll come back and edit the post and add it in at the end just to compare the difference (if any).  If no pic appears at a later date - i've either forgotten, or I wasn't able to improve on the one above.

Thanks for reading, I know there isn't a lot of craft going on in this pic - apart from the late offering, but I just want to give those who might be interested, an update with the goings on with my pain etc.

Crafty Hugs to one and all

Paula x x x

Forever Friends Black and Gold handmade cards

I LOVE Forever Friends. 

I've loved them for years (I was even alive when Forever Friends hit the high streets - was it 1987 or thereabouts?)!  So, when the cute little character came to crafting, I was over the moon.

I first delved into crafting with him after purchasing the original Docrafts triple CD ROMS collection.  Only trouble is, the programme wouldn't fully load on my laptop.  So instead, I had to copy all the images off the CD and put them in files on my laptop so that I could still use the imagery.  That way, I could use them with other programmes such as My Craft Studio or Serif's Craft Artist to enable me to craft with it still.  Then came the Black and Gold collection.  Again, the programme wouldn't load up on my laptop so I also copied all the jpeg files to my folders on my PC so I could still use the images etc.

Now, I just thought I'd show some of the cards i've done using the Forever Friends Black and Gold collection... there are some I've done for birthdays in the last few weeks and some that are a bit older (yes, I was late with them all).

The above cards have been made in the last couple of weeks.

this one is a bit older.  Apologies for the quality of the pictures.  I must have taken them at night in unnatural daylight.

Recently, I got the black and gold CD ROM for free with another purchase of the NEW Docrafts Digital Designer.  I like this software and the features are ever improving and come free - for ever.

Just a couple more...

I have loads of toppers I made, which are in my scrap box (remember i'm going to show this in another post).  I have a plastic wallet specifically for Forever Friends Black and Gold - sorted into papers, toppers, greetings, ribbon and die cut shapes for matting and layering.  I might even give you a little peek when I blog about my bits lol!!!

Ooh - just something funny to tell you before I sign off... My mum is here as I write this post.  Earlier on out of the blue, she said "Paula, have you got any nuts" to which I replied "no, I'm a laydeeee" (imagine the voice of David Walliams when he dresses up as that woman who's a lady)... She fell about laughing then explained what she actually meant (like I didn't know)!  To explain, she had bought a massive bag of almonds and wondered if I currently had some because I usually have some in a tub to put on my 'flakes with red berries'. Yum.  And banana chips.

Right - I'm now very tired after making two posts in one day.  Tomorrow I will be visiting a few desks on WOYWW, amongst doing my filing and telephone calls (we've been changing bank accounts and of course this has caused a fair amount of paperwork and telephone calls). It feels like I am working full time but from home - it's been very tiring.

Back soon with news of my 'bits'!

Crafting hugs

Paula x x x

WOYWW and a little bit of sorting out!!

OK, so I've not posted this year.  There's a lot of things I've not done - apart from doing more 'sorting' that is.  I think that sorting things out seems to have been my forte for the last couple of years since I've been off work - which incidentally coincides with the conception of this blog of mine.

In the Christmas aftermath, the 'craftroom', which is our conservatory, was not a pretty sight.  In fact it had almost just become a place to pile things up and store things - although once I had done all my Christmas crafting, I did put my Christmas drawer away (yes I have a Christmas drawer).  Because of increasing exhaustion, my Christmas crafting was a tad slow-going.  I didn't do nearly enough of what I actually wanted to do.  But that was how it was.  I was still printing out napkin rings and wraps for the table candles at well turned midnight into Christmas Day!

So, onto my New Year resolutions.  There's this one resolution I make each year.  Whatever other ones I might make - this one particular resolution is always on the list.  My OH laughs and doesn't know why I bother to say it.  Now I papercraft and make cards, you would thing that this is something I shouldn't get wrong.  It's a simple one - remember everyone's birthday ON TIME!  Well, I'm embarrassed to say that I've already broken it in January and I only needed to make 3 or 4 cards (you may roll your eyes here!!!).

Back to the crafty mess... It took me no less than the best part of 3 weeks to get on top of the 'sorting' and tidying up,  and afterwards, I could even sit down again on the sofa to watch TV and relax with my sweet cat Katie Kitten on my knee.  There I was wrapped up warmly in my slanket with the heating cranked up of course!  

The best part about the conservatory is that it is built just off the 'dining area' of the kitchen and when we had the kitchen renewed in 2006 (OMG, doesn't seem that long ago!), we removed the doors and plastered it up to make it more cohesive but open space.  Not having doors ensures that, while the temperature is colder in the conservatory - there is a huge difference by not shutting it off. The temp is more even between the kitchen and conservatory than it used to be.. We know that if we wanted to sell thought, we would have to re-instate the doors.  It is great that the kettle is literally round the corner  from my chair.  The downside is that if I don't keep the area tidy - it can be seen from the kitchen by visitors - although most of my visitors by and large know all about my crafty habits.

Here is a peek at how it looked before I started to sort it out and tackle some little projects (that I'll post about separately):

oh dear!

 Then there was this:

There is a desk underneath all that believe it or not!  Although it looks heaps better now (well, certainly better that this), it has started creeping back to being a mess but that seems to be because I've had a really good sort out and have been able to empty some of those clear A4 and A5 storage boxes you put paper and stuff in.  Today only, I brought an empty cardboard box in from the garage today (well, dragged it in) and tidied some of the empty plastic storage boxes away. 

Squinty eyed (because I daren't look properly) I decided to take a photo while writing this post just for your amusement.

not too bad?

getting there!

More work needed to make it a bit better.  There was a interim period when it looked even better than this but alas, it didn't last long!

You may see on the sofa on the right (back) of the picture; I have had to make a nest with a cream fleece blanket for the cat.  Next to that is a wicker bread type basket with a handle on.  I've put a fleece blanket in that too.  She swaps between both so has no particular preference.  She also comes over to talk to me while I'm sat the desk.  Well, when I say comes to talk to me, I really mean she comes over, meows loudly, grabs my leg in an attention seeking way, uses me as her 'stretching post' drawing blood while casing the joint to see if it is OK to go through the open 'Buddy' gate.

During my 'sorting out phase', I wanted to make my paper scraps a bit more accessible.  They were already sorted into poly pockets and put into 2 lever arch files - one for the colours and the other for the metallics, black, white etc - the more neutral colours.  These just ended up sitting on a shelf though, so I decided to put an idea I'd had into action.  I will show what I did in another post because, as usual, this post is a bit long.

That's all folks, I'd love to have you come back to my little area of the world wide web to read future blog posts - if you haven't already, please consider subscribing, then you'll have my post straight in your in-box (if you can bare it).  If you are not already a follower, consider becoming a follower too as I am well overdue a give-away for my blogaversary which happened while I've been busy sorting out.  There will be something special for my followers to celebrate this, so it will be my followers that are up for a little something (not sure what it is yet, but I will make it nice)!

Anyway, I'm pleased to report that the exhaustion hasn't been as bad recently - its still there but just before Christmas it was at an all time high. However, I've managed to be able to fight it off.  The pain in my arms and legs, hands and feet has increased - it almost feels like a pay-off!  I'm at the pain clinic at the end of this month though so I'll mention all of this to my Consultant.  I'll have to write it down on the letter I get from the hospital because my memory is so bad, I constantly forget to mention things.  I'm also going to ask him if there is any alternative to the pain patches I wear because they are really damaging my skin in the places that I wear them.  I make sure that they are on my upper-body because of sitting in the bath.  If they get wet - which they often do, they dry out really tightly and pull my skin then dry wrinkled.  This hurts my skin and there are marks and dry patches where I've worn them.  I'll just have to mention it to him to see if there are any alternatives, and if not, has he any advice for me.  I'm still on all the other medications I was on but in quite a few instances, they've increased in strength since I started them.  We'll see.

Anyway, I'm going to show my desks to the world and link up to Julia's WOYWW where she gets a load of us crafters to share our spaces with you - whatever that space may be!  Go HERE to see what I'm talking about and perhaps join in if you feel like it.

Your comments are really important to me - who doesn't like to read a comment on their blog posts... please consider leaving me a comment to make my day!

Lots of crafty hugs

Paula x x x 

 

My Christmas Crafting 2011

For my handmade Christmas cards this year, I bought some new material over the summer despite still having some of last years Kanban kits left (which I'd bought from QVC last summer), but I didn't think it was enough and sometimes it's nice to actually get the pens and inks out rather than just use a paperkit - having said that, amongst the new stuff I got for this years Christmas crafting I bought another kit which was the new Christmas blockbuster kit from Kanban when they moved over to Create and Craft.  I also bought: Humphreys Corner Christmas CD and Stamp collection; Me to You CD ROM which had a Christmas collection on from Docrafts (for their new Digital Designer software); Papermania Christmas collections from the Digital Designer CD; Me to You clear stamp collections (x2 different sets); a Hero Arts Christmas stamp set; My Craft Studio Papercraft Library 'Winter Whimsies'; several free gifts of stamps from craft magazines plus a Christmas paperstack from another, and of course my Funky Hand Papercraft Factory '12 Crafters Crafting' collection (I believe there is a 50% discount sale on at the moment).

In my stash, I already had fair collection of Christmas digi stamps from various resources - both freebies and purchases; I have my gorgeous Anna Griffin Christmas stamps which have some great vintage images amongst them; The original Forever Friends CD which has a massive resource of Christmas images for that much needed dose of cute (essential); a large resource of Funky Hand Christmas papers, as well as freebies collected over time and other digi collections bought in the past from Pink Petticoat. 

Despite having all that resourse, and when I finally got round to it following numerous speights of bedrest, my chosen medium for my Christmas cards, was Funky Hand's '12 Crafters Crafting'.

I'd spent some time getting stuff ready to make my Christmas cards by pre-making the embellishments bit by bit using the MCS die cut Christmas embellishments kit which included the Christmas roses, poinsettias, mistletoe and holly and individual ivy leaves.  I also printed out a lot of the pre-coloured digi images from the 12 crafters crafting CD and printed some papers out too.  However, following my bedrest I seemed to have the crafting version of writers block...aaaarrrrgggh!  I thought I'd better have a look round blogland for some inspiration then I remembered that my crafting friend Ruth (Tip Top Toppers Things)  actually ran a challenge blog for Christmas cards called  'Crimbo Crackers'.  I noticed that the challange at that time was a sketch... I made a card to fit the sketch but didn't end up putting the card into  the actual challenge because I literally felt like I didn't have the time to write the blog post and link it up, but was thankful that I'd looked to see the challenge in the first place as it was something I felt was doable enough to ease me into the Christmas craft frenzy I was about to commence; it certainly gave me the kick start I needed... here is that card: 

Made following a sketch from Crimbo Crackers.

Anyway, because I liked the look of this, I did a great deal of my cards on a variation of this.  These ready coloured images from the 12 Crafters Crafting CD were great and a godsend.  I did go around the image with a grey Promarker to make it pop from the page, then I added some glitter to the rim of the hat and the pom pom on the end.  I really liked the look of this card - some of my crafting friends might recognise that their card would look something like this card.

On the 12 Crafters Crafting CD there are 12 collections of 20 papers - each collection being a different set of colours.  There is one collection called "all I want...".  When I first saw this collection, it was my least favourite - but do you know what?  In the end it was the collection that I used the most of and just simply fell in love with it.  The collection is based on red, black, white and two tones of grey.  Also fantastic for the male cards - although it looked great with a robin on the front... Here is another card actually made using this collection:

picture taken before snowflake embellishment and glitter added

Because I started my Christmas crafting so late, I knew that I had to work hard to make the deadline of getting all my cards in the post in order to get them delivered in time for Christmas.  While I'd finished the majority of the cards, I still needed to write in them - and some of my greetings ran into the realms of small letters (not like me eh?).  Because of this, I ended up missing the post for the last day for gauranteed Christmas delivery.  I soldiered through and got them in the post the very next day, sending each and every one by first class.  Some of them slipped into the large letter catagory so in all, my small pile totalled over £17.50.  Some where regular shop-bought cards for non-crafting friends, but for my crafting friends, each and everyone of them were freshly handmade.

With the relief of getting those in the post, I could now concentrate on friends and family close to home - and not all of them got a handmade card...  Of course, in the middle of it all I had another printer nightmare where the blue ink just packed up on me - even though it was coming out of the ink wells and into the CISS pipes, it just wasn't coming through the print heads.  Depsite my best efforts to carry out numerous nozzle cleaning it wasn't happening, so I had to swap the printhead for the coloured inks.  Eventually, it all came good (thank goodness) as getting a replacement in time for Christmas was highly unlikely.  Not long after that - I ran out of black ink.  I couldn't believe it.  I'd gone below the minimum line so it stopped coming through.  Thankfully my sister came to the rescue and lent me a new bottle she hadn't used.  I'll just replace it after the holidays when everyone is back to normal and open for business again... I think I should buy a bottle of each of the colours while I'm at it.  They have lasted me a year so I can't complain - and when you see the volume of printing I do, I think I've done really well.  It should cost me less than £25 to buy 4 bottles of ink which should last me another year - not bad eh?

I will show you some more of my cards over the next few posts, but first of all, I'm going to check out to see whether I can enter any of them into any Christmas challenges.  If I post them before I check, I won't be able to enter them because no back links are allowed usually.

Do you work to the wire or do you like to get things done as early as possible.  In my former life as a Governance Officer where one of my jobs was to co-ordinate everything to do with the company's board meetings, learning to prioritise was key to my role, so with so much stuff on usually, we were all working to the wire - and there was no bigger flaunter of the report submission deadlines as the Chief Executive!  She'd be putting in and changing reports minutes before the meeting - and if it went pear-shaped - she blamed me!!!!

Hey ho.  Card making is supposed to be for fun so while we all have deadlines for challenges,  the post, someone's birthday etc. - I'm pretty sure that no one ever died from a late hand made card!

Sending crafty hugs

Paula x x x

Being a Bad Blogger!

This is a very wordy post with few pictures, so if you don't want to read on, I'd click off right now.  I tried to find some good clip art, but couldn't find quite the right depiction of the message i'm trying to get across.  Anyway, if that doesn't bother you (that there are a lot of words without pictures), you are more than welcome to read on.......

Quite often, I will think about writing a blog post on a subject then by the time I've actually remembered I was going to do it - the moment has gone.  I also feel like I need a reason or a card to blog - not sure if that bothered me when I first started blogging as I was uber-excited about talking which brought many new followers.

 

When I started to write this post, it was way before Christmas - in fact it was at the end of November, and for a few days prior, I'd been on a bit of bedrest - exhaustion had been and still is a bit of a problem - and the most frustrating part is, I've not exactly done anything that might tire me out - apart from sleeping lol.. well that's what it feels like.  You know, if I'd run a marathon or taken the dogs for a nice long walk (I wish), I wouldn't mind it so much, but when it's just a regular part of your everyday - then it can be frustrating.  Also - I could understand it if I just sat there for hours on end doing absolutely nothing, being all moronic, but that's not the case either - I try and do as much as my body will physically let me before the pains start.  

If I gave you a couple of examples, it might set the scene a little better. At the beginning of November I went to the NEC Hobbycrafts show with my husband and sister (another post started and not finished).  We spent a good few hours there (as you do) walking round.  We went for lunch out in the main concourse to Wetherspoons, and the sit down was heavenly.  I found that I could barely get up let alone walk when I got back up.  By the time we had finished near to the end, I could barely put one foot in front of the other.  I was dragging my right leg almost because when in a lot of stress or pain, I get a real bad pain in my right groin/top of my leg in the inner joint.  As happens often, I find myself having to literally lift my leg into the car to get in.  Thankfully I had taken my walking stick with me and used it from the offset.  By the time we were making our way back to the car - I could have done with a walking frame.  My lower back had also gone - something that can happen by just standing still for a short length of time - or even if I have to bend.  Bending over the bath to bathe the dog is leaves me with excruciating pains across my lower back (straight across the back of my pelvis (or so it feels) and then I have to walk around the house with my stick (sorry, I digress)...  

Anyway, after dragging myself back to the car - which was parked in the blue badge area (and not nearly near enough to the event), I knew it had been the right decision not to have driven myself there - even though I had to put up with my OH rolling his eyes when random people told him he looked fed up (which he could have tried to hide), I knew I couldn't have done it without him.  My sister took her trolley on wheels for all our goodies - which was also another plus because I couldn't have carried a thing.  Anyway, once we were on the road home, I think about 10 minutes into the journey, I fell to sleep and slept almost all the way home.  I was then 'out of it' and in my bed asleep for the following 5 days.  That was one example - and while it sounds extreme, it is a very typical scenario for me - although walking around something like the NEC is definately not a regular occurance and one I know that, unfortunately, I won't be able to repeat until everything is under control.

Another example is when i've been out to lunch with a friend - It's taken so much out of me that I've ended up dropping to sleep when I return which might also affect the next day too. 

The feeling of 'exhaustion' can even be present when I've just woken up - which might be early - in that I really didn't get a decent sleep so I get up anyway or it might be late, in which case my OH might leave me there to sleep - after all, he figures that my body needs it if I'm still sleeping.  Either way, I feel like I could go straight back and sleep right through to the next day and find myself dropping off all the time.  One of the worse things I can do is read - 2 lines and I'm gone... my OH says if he didn't know better, he'd say I had sleep apnea because he can be talking to me one minute and the next, I'll have dropped of.  And no, he's not really that boring, it's just that he's the one that's there when it happens.

I appreciate that the amount of medication I am currently taking, along with the pain patches, may have a big part to play in all this, but I am informed that the Fibromyalgia itself has a very big part too and is often associated with other chronic fatigue syndromes or disorders.  In the New Year I will be starting on a programme through the hospitals Health Psychology department which is called 'building blocks' (I think) - the programme is supposed to help me come to terms and help me to manage my 'long term chronic health condition'... It's run by other sufferers who have been on the programme too, so I'm looking forward to that because I want to learn about 'pacing' myself so that it's not all or nothing each day.  With the pains and exhaustion, I calculate to have only one to two good days per month - maybe three.  There is always something that sets it off, or its just there when I get up (if I get up).  

So, what do I do when I'm on bed rest (and not asleep)?  Well, the laptop of course is almost a constant companion and I have a plethora of magazines by my side.  I read for a bit, fall to sleep, wake up, have a look round the net, have a look on Facebook - see what is happening in the world of craft looking at all those pages that I 'Like'!  Follow a couple of links and end up in a maze of blogs and websites I didn't know existed as a regular card maker.  I SKYPE my sister a lot while she shows me what she's been up to on her Craft Artist and Silhouette Cameo, then drop to sleep again.

This pattern repeats itself - often.

At the moment, as well as getting re-acquainted with blogger dashboard and google reader (both of which I am still pants at keeping up with - bad blogger (me that is, not blogger.com)!  No. I've been trying to catch up with everyone but I don't seem to make it very far from the top!  Google reader recons I've got 1000+ posts to read.... I don't think so.  I apologise to all those mutual followers that will be reading this - all I can say is that I will try harder at reading stuff from hereon in.

Also, added to that - at this precise moment in time (at the time of typing that is) - I have 277 emails to sift through... That's one of the reasons I'm pretty slow at getting back to my lovely crafting friends who often send me lovely emails.  Thing is, I like to sift through the rubbish first (you know, the stuff I thought I'd quite like to read so subscribed to the newsletter - times by too many)!!!  Once I feel that I have nothing to distract me, I can sit and reply to said emails - and if you know me by now - they never stop at a couple of paragraphs!!! (another NY resolution perhaps?)!!!

On that note, I've deleted everything hereafter that I'd written so that I can make further and hopefully shorter posts.  No point in telling all my news in one go, then not blogging for a while and then doing a massive one again!  That seems to be the cycle I'm in, so we're on to perhaps NY resolution number 2 then????!!!

Before I 'sign-off' this post, I've decided it's time I had a little candy give away - afterall, it will be 2 years since the PaperPlayground was 'born'.  On 4th January to be precise... 4 days before my tumour was discovered and I shared the rest with blogworld!  Anyhow, i'm not at all sure what it will be yet but I know that I want to do it because it's important to me to give something back.  I am so grateful for every single one of my followers but not sure who actually reads my posts out of them all - so it would be great if you are reading this and just say 'hi' so I know you're still around.  I'll be back with another post later and more  news of my bloggaversary giveaway in due course...

Crafty hugs to all.

Paula x x x

When was the last time you got 43% discount?

Yep, you really did read that right... Anice is having a one day 43% sale to celebrate her Birthday.

So, for 24 hours only  - starts 00.01 on 24th November and ends on 00.00 25th November,  go HERE to say Happy Birthday to her - bet you can't guess how old she is though!!! lol.

Everything is included in the sale - so go and get some BARGAINS for Christmas presents... Anice also ships free with any £10.00 and over purchase - to anywhere in the world.  Downloads also count towards this so, if you buy say a CD which needs shipping but is under the £10 and you bought a download which took you over the £10 minimum - you will still receive free postage and packaging... Imagine that!

Some examples of prices in the sale:

12 Crafters Crafting (brand new CD recently launched)  £16.99 

during birthday celebrations £9.68

 

 

 

All I want for Christmas (download)  £3.49 today only: £1.99

 

  

 

'Tis The Season (Wordbook download) £4.89 for 24 hours £2.79

 

 
Happy Happy Birthday (as seen on C&C) usually £16.99 - today only £9.68

So - what are you still reading this for??? Go HERE to get you some bargains - and if its not for you - how about for a daughter or granddaughter or friend who is into crafting - at those prices, they're Secret Santa presents (the CD's).

All include papers and images with an easy-to-use software interface - so perfect for children to teenagers to crafters to the elderly... 

Above is a screen shot to show you how easy it is to use - you work in the one screen all the time - printing is one click once you've found the paper you want to print.

Papers can be used for wall art - either on a canvas or in a frame to brighten up a plain wall, for lining drawers - line your drawers with some funky designs adding a touch of scent to the paper before you lay the sheets in the bottom.  How about backing all those dreadful school/college books - with all the choices of colour - you could colour code your lessons.  Or what about regular scrapbooking, paper construction and of course card making.

If you struggle to match papers up with each other - each CD has 12 collections.  In each collection, there are 20 papers which are based around 5 matching/co-ordinating colours so any combination of papers from the same collection will match - there are even plain colours to co-ordinate with the patterned ones.  They make great stocking fillers anyway...  Downloads are also colour co-ordinated around 5 colours too.

Let me know what bargains you've got recently or if you know of any sales - bet you won't find many as good as this though...

In the States - the last Friday in November - which also coincides with Thanks Giving  is known as Black Friday (Happy Thanks Giving to all my American Crafting Friends)- you won't believe the bargains our American friends are able to take advantage of.  Now, I wonder if there are any bargains good enough that its worth getting goods shipped over to us... Remember though - don't go buying electrical goods from the States.  They are completely different from ours - and it's not just the plug, the power the appliances are run on is a different speed of motor so our 240v system is too powerful (I used to work in the textile machine industry - we manufactured cutting machines for the domestic market and to ship to the States (Buffalo, New York)... different voltage motors were used).

If you are a Silhouette owner  (SD or Cameo)- and don't know this - they are also having a 50% sale on their downloads (the ones you get from their on-line store through your software).  All shapes are just $0.50c all weekend - starting midnight Mountain Time... 25-28th November.  These are the times to take advantage and increase your library. There is no discount on the Cameo machine though.

REMEMBER: for that 43% discount from Funky Hand,  GO HERE

Take care and happy crafting.

Paula x x x

The new Get Funky Challenge for Nov/Dec

Well, it's the 15th of the month (Funky 15th) which can only mean one thing... there is a new challenge over on 'Get Funky' - the Funky Hand Challenge Blog.

This month, it is the turn of Jackie to pick the theme of the challenge, and she's decided that she wants to see 2 cards from us this month using the new 12 Crafters Crafting CD, which is the recently released (and seen on TV) Christmas CD... And while she wants to see a Christmas card from us (of course), she's also stated that one of our cards has got to be a non-Christmas card.  Now that really is a challenge... or is it?

With so many lovely bright and vibrant colour collections on the CD - I'm sure that we'll find much inspiration in the colours alone to make a non-Christmas card... there are stripes, stars, dots and circles that can be used all year round... oh, another twist... the Christmas card has to be made using the traditional colours of red and green.

Just a little hint from me - you can use more than one colour collection to make your card.  There isn't a Funky Law that says all of your card has to be made from the same colour collection... of course Anice does a fabulous job of choosing 5 colours for each colour collection and they never fail to be stunning, but once in a while, it doesn't hurt to step out of that comfort zone.

So far be it from me to tell you what to do, but that's what i'll be looking at doing come my turn.  In the meantime, I'll be upping my Christmas card tally while practicing.... best start making card number 2 in my tally then eh!!??? lol (and no, I really haven't started my Christmas card crafting yet!).  Shame on me!

Right if you want to join in but don't have anything by Funky Hand to join in with... if you go HERE, you will find a fabulous freebie to make a card with and join in with the challenge this month - and remember that, in order to qualify for the challenge - your card has to have at least ONE Funky Hand element on it...

Can't wait to see this months entries -  but don't forget to keep checking out what the Funkettes will be sharing with you all month for your crafting inspiration.

Happy Crafting,

Paula x x x