I cried....

When I lay down sometimes the tears just flow themselves, just because I'm exhausted or frustrated. As the years go on and on of my marriage it makes me more anxious to realise that my life is still pretty much the  same, nothing is falling into place as I keep dreaming it will. Maybe one day I'll be able to sit back and laugh about all of this but right now I just can't see that light at the end of the tunnel.

 

How about you? When and why was the last time you cried?

Love

being on holiday and having all the time I would like to do my own thing. Shame we don't work 6 months and have 6 months off.

The World Needs...

• Love
• Happiness
• Peace
• Jobs
• Nature (as a lot of its being removed for expanding towns/cities)
• Chemical Free Food
• Faith

Can you add to this?

Afraid!

Life always being as stale as it is now. People always say you can change the path your life is heading in but I've begun to think that is not true at all.

• I have made an offer on so many houses but for some weird reason it is never ours that is accepted... I have come across houses that have had everything I wanted and so much more so I don't believe I am aiming high with my expectations.
• In September I tried to go back to studying but couldn't get on to the course I wanted to do considering I studied like mad for it before hand. I am however going to try again in September this year so lets see how it goes.

There are so many more things but I'm sure you get the picture. I just get scared sometimes that I'm getting older, my life is pretty much the same and I don't feel I've lived it to the maximum that I can. Now I am even less motivated as I never seem to have the energy, I feel like an old lady as I go places and only think about the time I'll go home to relax. Everything feels like a chore.... Don't I sound awful! I really hope that my life takes a sudden turn...I just have to continue having faith!

My mistake

I always wish that I had never gone in to working after I completed my nursery nursing diploma but took up some course for a year before deciding what I really wanted to do as education was free in those days but I would hopefully have had more job opportunities then I have now. If I ever quit my job there are no jobs at all if I ever wanted to get back in to it.

Christmas Crafting Part 2

I was busy creating the last of my Christmas cards on Saturday when my niece called me down by saying 'I'm here Khala, come down!'. So I had no choice but to... she handed me a piece of paper, 'I've made you a picture Khala' before I got the chance to question her about it, her mum piped up... its a picture of her dad sleeping... erm ok... I actually asked her why I needed a picture of her dad sleeping but got no response.

To me though it looks like dads dreaming of spring or summer as he's got a flower above his head but best of all 3 sunshines even though the yellow one isn't visible. I think I know how dad's feeling there as we're all nearly dreaming of some warmer weather.

 

I couldn't help laughing on my way to drop my niece off to school on Friday as we turned the corner and were hit by a blast of cold air.... she went 'oh its cold. It's freezing!' she sounded like such an old lady. Her dad got a phone call later saying she wasn't well and can they give her some medication, my mum went after a hospital appointment to get her but they refused to let her go home saying she was fine now. Well when I went to get her, I got a lecture on having dropped her off at school poorly when she had been perfectly fine for the hour and a bit she was with me... I'm guessing she caught a chill from that blast despite being wrapped up in tonnes of layers, gloves, hat and scarf.

Anyway back to Saturday after she gave me this picture, it was like someone pressed a repeat button on her as she kept continuously asking to make Christmas cards as we hadn't finished the few she had left. I decided to share another type of card I made with her in case you'd like to do something like it yourself with a little person. Its so easy and one you can more or less leave them to do.

You'll have to excuse the photos as I took them about 8pm on Saturday night as my sister had mentioned she was going to write them to give on Monday. They are a peach and beige colour but they both look exactly the same. I have a tub of glitter glue from my days of making FBs and Decos which I hardly use anymore and weirdly still work. Before she had even started she told me she was going to make lots of spots so I told her to go for it even though I knew they would flatten out. They remind me of fireworks, baubles or fairy lights.... her mum has some Christmas foam stickers at home and I said if she wanted she could get her to stick some on top but she liked them as they are.

I've since told her not to write the cards as I saw a post on GypsyofJaspers blog about Salt Dough ornaments that I thought it would be so much fun to make with my niece as she's been begging for me to bake with her for ages only this will have a different twist of course as she can paint them. I've decided to make circles (baubles) and stars and she can give one each to the adults that work with her which in reality I don't actually know how many there are so I'll make about 20 if I can. Its one of the things my niece has always found hard is not knowing who would be there on the days she went.

I've only seen salt dough used once at work and it was a nasty experience as the children used it like play dough to make something in pieces so they were differently thicknesses. It ended up taking a whole day to cook it so the thin bits snapped and the fatter bits were still squidgy... so you can imagine where that project ended up! We had no choice as it was just crumbs so I hope the same doesn't happen here.

Hopefully I'll leave work straight away at 4pm tomorrow (I'm getting home about 4.30pm due to parents not collecting their children on time) so that I can do this with her as on Tuesday I'll be viewing a house which has probably sold by now as we had to wait a week to view it at the time we wanted! Its been put on the market for the 3rd time! Then I'll work until 4pm on Wednesday too.... I hardly do anything with my niece anymore and feel so guilty... I can't even remember the last time we went to the library.

I'll blog about our salt dough adventure soon though as I will give this a try.

The world right now!

1. Peace
2. Compassion
3. Acceptance
4. Teamwork
5. Patience

What do you think?

Important right now....

1. My niece of course

2. My job as without it I wouldn't have the money for my hobbies

3. My health, even though I complain about it I know I'm so much better off then other people.

4. Being able to take a deep breath and appreciate the things around me. I sometimes forget but for some reason stepping outside and looking up at the sky makes me realise things could be much worse. This morning it was scrapping the ice of my car for the 2nd time this winter that made me smile.

Map of my little world....

Meet my Atlas, I bought it in 2002 when I first got my car even though I'd been passed for 2 years already. I have thought many times over the years to pull it apart and use it to craft with but I couldn't bring myself to do it... I haven't used it for years as its been sat in my bedroom but last weekend I decided to finally take out the staples and chop it up. It was a little weird to look at places at realise they no longer exist, something new has ended up there or that the names of things have completely changed. It made me realise it was high time to do something with it even though it may have made some money one day... I don't have a sat nav though but the internet is always there.

I mentioned a while back about a mini letter, decorative envelope and postcard exchange. The person I'm doing it with listed maps as something they love. It made me think of something I think I saw on Pinterest where a person did the place they met, got engaged and got married in a heart shape...I loved that idea so created this (not quite along the lines of a 2 people relationship love)...

I decided to do the journey of my envelope instead. I wanted to do each square as a circle so it looked like a telescope looking in but when it came to finding the locations I wanted all 3 of them were the square next to the spine so I couldn't cut my circle completely of the map which meant they ended up staying as a squares.

The first square is my home, the second is the post office which is marked with a star. Its so weird to see how many of them have now been forced to close. The last one is roughly where the sorting office is. I couldn't find the exact location for some weird reason but I think it may just be it.

The background is meant to be like a letter with the writing, the postmarks and then the punched stamp shape along with the stars to match the Post Office. I don't know if its the white card or something else but this card just lacked something for me but I do still like it.

I then of course decorated an envelope. I would have loved to have made one but my sheets weren't big enough.

This I decorated with places that I love. On the front the city center. Despite my moaning about the lack of shops I just love wondering around the city when I do go and most of all I love the old stone buildings.

On the back is Lister Park which I just love going to and have blogged about a few times. My niece loves it there too and the last time we went we saw such a variety of animals it was lovely for an autumn day.

Even though the postcard was meant to be the letter part I had to create the little notepaper to explain the postcard as I just ran out of space... it definately is going to be a challenge doing these mini letters.

The place on the note paper is the area around the woodlands and the woodlands which I love and would love a house there.

 

I'm really going to enjoy this mini letter exchange....

Christmas Crafting....

My niece always asks me if she can make someone a card which sometimes we do but mostly we don't. When she realised I'd be home on Wednesday she asked to do some baking! Well you know I'm not such a great baker but also with not feeling well there really was no way I could bake.

A while ago I thought of the idea for my niece to make cards using stamps etc... so when my niece woke me up when she came from school I gathered everything together and more or less left her to it.

She started by stamping all the cards and envelopes which she was just as bad as me with as she had to fill in all the gaps.

I showed her once where to colour and she just got on with it. I even had to leave her at one point and she picked up the next item and got on with it. I was amazed that she had the initiative to do it.

We finished them off with some sequins but I made the mistake of buying some PVA glue with a flat nozzle so my niece couldn't glue it and I didn't have a spreader for her to do it. We actually did the sticking a couple of days later as she suddenly ended up really clingy on Wednesday, she kept crying as she couldn't stop coughing. It got worse over night so she didn't go to school the next day, her dad had to take her to the doctor as she was so pale and thankfully he gave her some medicine that knocked her out which meant I could rest too. We finished these cards off on Saturday as her mum left her with me whilst she did her weekly shopping.

The envelopes match the cards. I only made 4 for her to give to staff at school but my sister turned round and mentioned her neighbours too so now we'll have to make some time to make those too.

 

I decided to share this with you now incase you have little ones that would love to make Christmas cards but you don't know what to do. My niece is 3 years old and she could just be left to do it with only a little prompting and she didn't get bored. If anything she got annoyed when I suggested putting things away as I thought she might be tired.

 

I will be posting my handmade postcards on my bubbles blog next month which are all address/stamped and ready to go.

 

Have you sorted your Christmas cards out yet? I haven't got my presents ready at all.

Your Perfect Vacation

My ideal vacation would be to have the chance to leave the country, have plenty of sunshine, enjoy lots of action filled days by visiting all kinds of local places (so that there is never an empty day of not doing anything and trying local food.

 

In reality my perfect vacation is just having the chance to relax, enjoy all my hobbies as well as just getting up that day and deciding on the spure of the moment to go somewhere or do something.

 

What about you?

Favourite time of Day....

My favourite time of day definitely has to be night time, I always find it the most calmest time of day as I guess because I've got all the house work out of the way, nothing needs to be done etc... and I can just sit and do one of my many hobbies... also though I love it when it is raining, windy, thundering or lighting at this time of day as it feels like such a cosy blanket being indoors with the world going insane outside.

 

The thing with morning is that you are cosy in bed and have to force yourself to get up, to do things, to go places, to think......

 

I use all of these reasons but in reality I've always been like this as a child too, we all loved to be up late at night and wanting to sleep during the day. My older brother doesn't even want to work day shifts, my dad also worked nights, my mum even now stays up late into the early hours of the morning and goes to bed to wake up around 9am-10am and I would probably do the same if it wasn't for my job be a day related one.... still maybe working nights isn't the same as having leisure time.

 

What time of day do you prefer?

With Love....

On Instagram I have received a couple of offers from people to write letters but unfortunately I haven't been able to take people up on it as I worry about not being able to write back. One person though I decided to become a postcard pen-friend with as I've read about it on a few blogs and liked the idea. We agreed to create our own postcards but to send them in an envelope which meant I also had to decorate that which is fun.

As you can see I decided to follow the theme of what I created for make my day with this one too as I was having so much fun. I can't wait to think of new themes to create for her if she decides to continue with these exchanges.

This postcard is smaller then the ones I created for make my day but it didn't matter with the word being shorter... I nearly cut up these tickets to remove the words but now I'm glad that I waited before doing it. I really wanted the tickets but didn't like the choice of words on them which I didn't pay so much attention to when buying it. These rubber stamps are now half price compared to when I bought it (£3 a complete bargain if you ask me). I have since bought some blank tickets so won't be chopping these ones up.

I managed to squeeze only a small amount on the back about myself which was hard as I'm used to rambling for England in my letters but it also makes it quite a challenge to see what unfolds over time in our postcards.

I decided to go a little further and add some extra love in the envelope with these origami hearts and some half made origami lucky stars which she'll have to squeeze herself to create the stars. All those stars are one of each design of my paper strips that I own. I will soon need to buy some more strips as I'm starting to run low but I'll wait some time before doing that as it will only tempt me into buying some stationery from Janet Stores.

 

If this goes well that I may ask some of you if you'd like to do a handmade postcard exchange too on a regular basis.

Do you do a regular postcard  exchange?

Happiness

Bright colours always make me happy which is why Summer is my favourite season but in their own way I like each one but suffer for winter blues pretty badly after Christmas. I also think sparkly things make me cheerful too.

What about you?

I've mentioned the C word....

 

I thought once my holidays end I would be back to regular blogging again especially since my husband isn't in the country at the moment which means I have a lot more time to do my own thing. You would think that's the case anyway but I'm getting up at 6am every morning for my niece which means I'm completely shattered by 8pm and just want to go to bed.... of course I don't as I want to make the most of having my bedroom back to myself that I've been crafting and writing letters.

 

During the week I made some British themed postcards for make my day which are still available. Then last night I finally made a start on my Christmas cards.  

I had planned on using these square Christmas images that I bought from Crafty Individuals some years ago but couldn't bring myself to do anything with them even though I tried as I found them boring and couldn't understand why I bought them. I finally decided to do something with them when I bought a pack of GB stamps and they were 90% Christmas stamps which really annoyed me of course.

I decided to buy some Christmas paper as I wanted something brighter compared to last years. I know its not that bright but most of my things are Vintage looking so I couldn't go for cutesy bright. Anyway once I got last year pack out I realised I had way more paper left then I imagined so I've ended up using mostly that in order to finish it off. If I don't finish that this year I think I'll have to give it away as I can't have another year using that same pad again.... it didn't even have that many sheets.

 

When I went to the craft store yesterday I was so excited to see washi tapes, its come in so handy already to make my cards with that its tempting to buy some more from Angoo-Mart but I won't as I have already placed 2 order this year. I have asked the lady in the craft store in the city though to see if she can get hold of some as then I will hopefully save on shipping but if not at least it means I can choose what I really want rather then filling a box. Also like the tape I bought above, the green one was cut twice so when I peeled it off, it came away in layers so I was able to take it back where as if I bought it online I wouldn't have said anything.

I mentioned that I started making my cards last night but when I actually sat down the images and stamps just wouldn't work so I decided to back all the cards and round all the edges in the hope that an idea would come to me and thankfully it did after I'd been to the opticians today. I decided to not use the postage stamps and just focus on the images, paper, washi tapes and my templates from last year to create something. I'm not 100% satisfied and I've not co-ordinated the colours at all but its a lot better then I imaged. Also they are completely flat at the moment so maybe this year I will post my postcards naked.... if  I don't then I can use the Christmas Stamps on the back.. I'll have to see.

 

Are you thinking about Christmas already?

 

I am trying this year as I always end up feeling rushed with taking so much on as you know from previous years of me almost having a melt down and wondering if I'll get them done in time as I've over done things.

Projects

I really want to start doing a project a month which I've done ok with so far but I have to admit this month I've struggled with it to this point due to work and of course the fact that I couldn't help going over the top as usual... basically its a case of biting off more then I can chew. It would have been ok if I'd started it now as I have the next month free...Still I'm pleased with how its turned out and I'm sure most of you have enjoyed looking at the envelopes on my Bubbles blog.

Here are some projects I'd love to do.

1. Take Some Love: I saw this one on someones blog (I can't find who you are!) and loved the idea of it. I'm thinking of creating 10 and leaving them in random places. The idea is the same concept as the picture above except its all full of Love.
2. Kerri Smiths 100 Ideas: I had come across her Wreck This Journal and wanted to buy it but in the end I got it for someone else. I then noticed quite a few blogs taking part in the 100 ideas and I decided this would suit me better as I'd get to create my own journal. Of course there are quite a few that I can't do but still it should be fun.
3. More Journals: I've bought plenty of notebooks, I now need something to fill them up with.
4. A Drawing Challenge: I came by a couple by chance and would like to have a go despite not being such a brilliant drawer. Challenge
5. Make my own Washi Tape.
6. Christmas Cards
7. Paint some pebbles and leave them for people to find. Pebbles
8. 30 Day Recipe Challenge: Find 30 different recipes online and try them out as I really want to try new things and I have quite a bad relationship with food so I want to find that balance.
9. Make a Notice Board/Chalk Board
10. Garland/Buntings

There are of course other things I'd like to try but they will come over time.

Is there anything that you would like to try?

Project: 30 Day Journal Challenge

This is the last of my journal and I really can't believe June is over, where did the days and time go! Its been a month full of rain with a little hint of sunshine but now I hope that July will be full of lots of sun especially since on Thursday I'll be spending the day at the seaside and Friday at a sculpture park... it will be really appreciated on those days!

Day 23: Today I want you to fill an entire page in your journal with one of the elements of art. (Here they are: 1. Line 2. Color 3. Shape 4. Space 5. Texture 6. Form)

I decided to do one continuous line, I could probably have done it fancier but with working on this journal at night, my brain wasn't up to thinking.

Day 24: What is your most favorite place in the world? Is it a country, a town, a room, a secret place that no one else knows about? I know you have one, I want to see it!!

My desk in my bedroom. I one day hope to have a little office in any house that I own but of course that may soon disappear if we ever have children.

Day 25: I want you to think about your day today. If you had to describe to me in one word, or one short phrase what would it be?? Us this phrase or word repeatedly on your page, trying out new fonts

Monday to Wednesday is usually a long day and next year it will feel even longer if I'm expected to work with the children through their lunch and having mine before or after (or even split). I'll need to discuss that.

Day 26: Today you are going to write out your favorite recipe!! This can be written, illustrated, cut and pasted, something. It is always really good to document these small little pieces of your life. Don't you think?

I used to watch Ready, Steady Cook after work and one day one of the chefs made a mixed vegetable pasta with egg. Basically boil your pasta, cut your veg and put it altogether with a beaten egg. Cook it on the hob to cook the  bottom and then place it under the grill to cook the top. Eventually it turned into me just simmering the veg and boiling the pasta. Adding them both together and topping with cheese and sticking it in the oven to brown on top. My siblings preferred this way so it stuck but I don't make it often enough as its a pain to cut all that veg.

Day 27: If you could change one thing, what would it be. This could be something about yourself, your situation, your city, your country, the world...anything!!

I'm curious to know what funky career choices you'd like to make.

Day 28: What are you most looking forward to? This can be something tomorrow, in a month, a year, or way into the future :)

Day 29: Today I want you to write a letter to either your past self, or your future self. What are some things that you wish you would have known in the past? What are some things that you want to remember in the future? Write yourself a love letter today!!

A letter to my 20 year old self as I decided to just take 10 years off. My 16 year old self was just floating through life oblivious to life really.

Day 30: What did you do this week that moved you closer to reaching your goals?

This will be the last project I will post on this blog, all my others will be posted on my Bubbles blog. I have however not completed my July project yet as I've ended up getting caught up in reading and spending time with my niece. Hopefully I'll get to blog about that soon.