Just a small rant about Magazinesdirect.com

I love the magazine Ideal Homes and last year I went to a website called magazines direct and got out a subscription. I took out a rolling year subscription as I didn't want to miss any issues and when you set up a subscription you always miss a couple before it gets started. On my invoice it says £21 every year.... and this year I was charged £28.49!!!! The subscription charge goes to IPCMagazines direct. I rung them and they said they sent out a letter around 8 November informing me of the rise, but I didn't receive this letter. I know I didn't as I was unsure what kind of subscription I had got out until they took the money from my bank account at the beginning of December. I was surprised it was so much so checked my invoice (I never throw anything away) and the words were £21 every year. If I was to take out a new subscription with them it would only be £22.49. They said I could cancel my subscription and take out a new one with them so saving me money, but then I would again miss a few whilst it was all being set up, so I said to leave it how it is but cancel it after this subscription runs out.....

Okay rant over.... just a warning not to believe everything you have in writing....

Anyway, I guess you have stopped by to see what I have been making...... it was my sons Christmas Bazaar last week and I made some small sewing kits for the tombola stall... they had several tombola stalls one with sweets and fizzy drinks, another with tins and edible food and another with lots of other goodies.... here are a couple of things that I made...

I printed out the pictures and made them into tags and cards with envelopes.  I wish I had of made them before I made my Christmas cards as I like them very much.

This is a little sewing kit I made, inside are needles, thread and buttons.  Aren't they cute?  These are all over the internet so not sure who to credit them to.  If you are the person who originally thought of them please let me know so I can credit you.

Thanks for taking the time to stop by and look.  I do have some more things to show you so pop back soon. xx

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Amazing

I have had the most awesome of weekends. I went to see The Killers on Friday night. Have been waiting 3 years and 5 months for them to tour again and the show was well worth the wait. And as a double bonus we got half price tickets for Saturday night and took the boys with us to see them again. They even sung songs Saturday night that they hadn't on Friday and we were right next to the stage on Saturday too.











I spent Friday trying to keep myself occupied as I was so excited about the concert and I made a Christmas Ornament. Loads of people have been making them and one is shown on the Stampin' Up! Christmas catalogue cover but I decided to do mine in a different colour way.



I bought some white tulle to use. I used black card and embossed the stamp images on to it. The embossing powder is sparkly but you cannot see that in this photo. I also used the silver elastic from SU. I think it looks really striking. What do you think?

Am currently in the process of making a couple of mini albums but have run out of paper so am trying to match some to it. I also have to cut some mount board for the cover which I am not too good at either. Watch this space!!

I will be back soon with some more of my Christmas makes. Xx

Christmas is coming.....

Yes, I will probably get shot for that remark.  I was with some friends yesterday who said that Christmas was banned as a topic of conversation as it was coming round so quickly.  Well this year I am trying to be organised and am succeeding to a degree too.... I have made about 3/4 of my christmas cards, the boys have bought ones this year, so I have 80 less to make, but I am attempting to put a hamper together for each of my kids with some homemade stuff in as well as some bought stuff, so am in the process of starting that.  Still no word from the hospital on my operation date either.

Since being ill, my creativity has taken a nose dive so I have been CASEing a lot of cards until my mojo comes back, so some of these picture I am about to show you have been CASED from some very talented ladies, but I cannot remember who, so if it is you, drop me a line so I can credit you for them.

So thats it for today, hope to be back soon with some more.... take care xx

Happy Monday Morning

I am trying to stay jolly this week despite being in a lot of pain with my gallstones.  We are off to see The Killers on Friday at the o2 and I am determined not to go to the hospital before that, not taking any chances of them rushing me for an emergency op so that I cannot go.  I have been waiting 3 years for this concert..... lol.

I have been really busy lately making Christmas Cards but the weather is so dull it is impossible to get a good photo, so I will show you some things I made previously.

This card I made for my son's class to give to their drama teacher who was leaving.  They had a director's chair made for him with his name on and I made this card to go with it.  They were very pleased...

Another card I have made recently is this...

This was for my dad and I used files from the Silhouette Store.  I seem to have been using my Silhouette Cameo a lot lately, am thinking of selling my Cricut Imagine and the cartridges as my silhouette cameo does everything that does and I dont really need to machines doing the same thing.

We had a pretty lazy weekend, I spent a lot of it in my pyjamas due to not feeling too good.  That is a recent thing for me as I never used to own any pyjamas, well only a pair that I used in case I had to go into hospital, but I have treated myself to 2 new pairs lately and I love them, I change into them in the evening so slob on the bed in..... very lazy and indulgent!!

Hope to see you all tomorrow, I have been busy compiling my Christmas list today, now just need to decide what to buy everyone.  There is a lot I want to make so have compiled that list... now to see if I actually make it... lol

Take care xx

Half Term Part 2

So are you all back for part 2. Much shorter post today as we don't take many photos at Alton Towers. It would be much of a muchness, but I do have a few things to show you.

Our first day at Alton Towers was Halloween and there were lots of people dressed up. Their were also zombies walking around the park to scare you. The rides also stayed open until 9pm so rode some roller coasters in the dark. There were 4 scary mazes but it cost from £9 for tickets for them so we didn't go in them but on the second day they extended the maze opening by a day and reduced the price to £5 so we took the opportunity to go in them then. Boys were pretty scared in a couple of them but they did enjoy themselves and they haven't had nightmares so all is well and good.




Do you know what these are? They are fireworks and these are just a few of the ones set off on our last night at Alton Towers. They were awesome. I have never seen fireworks like them before and I think they were even better than the New Year fireworks in London.












Not brilliant photographs but my camera was on go slow and the fireworks had almost disappeared when the shutter decided to close. The rides were also open after the fireworks had finished so we took the opportunity to ride a few more before they shut at 9pm and we went back to our hotel for the final time this year.

And because I haven't shown you anything crafty for a few days I will finish off this post with a photo of one of my recent makes.


I made a wall banner for my grand daughter. It's not a big photo but you get the idea. The name Alicia is in sparkly glitter pink card and there is an owl either end of the name. All joined together with ribbon.

Hope to see you all tomorrow. Xx

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Half Term

We never go away at half term and it is generally the boys playing out with their friends. This half term was different though as we never had a summer holiday this year. Daughter said she would look after our animals and so off we went.
We booked a Travel Lodge Hotel for our nights away as they were quite cheap and after making sure we had everything packed we set off on Tuesday morning. First of all we went to our nearest Beefeater for an eat as much as you like breakfast. Everyone ate until they were stuffed and then we set off for our trip to Warwick Castle. We arrived just before lunch and this enabled us to watch all the shows that we're on. First on our list was a walk through the scary trail. Here are a few photos that I took.












We next came across a bowman who told us everything about bows and arrows through the ages and how the arrows had evolved. He also told the boys about the 2 fingers they used which amused them greatly and they still talk about now.



And the best part of my day was the boys in the stocks. Shame I didn't have any rotten food to throw at them.



The next show we saw was Duel of the Dead. This was a sword fight and also educational as they told you all about the different swords and demonstrated on a pumpkin what they could do.



We also love the Birds of Prey and were so pleased when they flew different birds to when we were here last Christmas.



This first bird was a baby vulture.



This was a bald eagle.



This was a sea eagle. I absolutely love eagles and was really pleased to see these magnificent birds. I also got the opportunity to watch it bathing later on too.




When we went to the castle last December we didn't see them shoot the trebuchet and my 11 year old son was very disappointed. This time we saw them shooting it twice. Once in the dark and once in the lit. Each time they shot flaming rocks.









As you can see the night time photo wasn't very good and the rocks broke up into several bits.

They had some scary people appearing at the castle during the day.








As it was Halloween week they had a scary show in the main part of the castle. It was about a woman who had murdered 7 people there and gouged their eyes out. It was set up like a crime scene being revisited by the jury and we were the jury.



The boys were scared but were most scared before anything happened. We also went into the dungeons where scary scenes were enacted in every room. And I think I must have a pick on me type face as I was picked to go behind a curtain and be bashed over the head and have my innards gouged out. Shame he didn't remove my gall bladder. In the next room I had to read someone's death sentence in my poshest voice. Ben didn't escape either. He got called into the dock in court and was found guilty of waddling in the well and Malachi was also found guilty of living in Essex. Lol

We watched a jester eat fire too.



There was so much to do. The boys enjoyed watching a professor make stink bombs and letting them set them off and also bangers too. They now want to make them at home. Me too!!!

Around 9pm we set off back to the car and went back to our hotel. A good nights sleep was had by all after our very busy day.

And as this has turned into a really long post I will call it a day for now and will be back tomorrow with photos of everything else we did. Have a good evening all xx

Alice Cooper

Good afternoon.... bit behind today as we are off to Warwick Castle first thing in the morning and then Wednesday we are going on to Alton Towers for 3 days, so we are there for Halloween and for the Fireworks.  We are definately get the most of our Merlin Passes this year.  We will be staying in Travel Lodges overnight and so I like to take some food with us, as we will be eating as these venues during the day and only need a snack at night.  Also I have been packing too.

Yesterday we spent getting ready for the Alice Cooper Halloween concert we were going too and we didn't get back until 1.30 this morning, so rather tired today.... here are a couple of photos from yesterday.

I definately attracted some attention going around London dressed like that and total strangers came up to me and asked if I minded if they took my photo, of course I didn't coz no one would recognise me in real life anyway.  Even at the concert people were taking photo's....lol

So today I have a little pram to show you.  I made this for my daughter when she gave birth to her daughter in July....

I was really pleased with the way it turned out and she really loved it too....

I even made a little box for it too, a bit of a tight fit with the acetate as it was the longest I had, but it worked out just about okay.

Hope to be back over the next few days with some photos of our days out.....  take care all xx

Zombie

I really need to make my son a birthday card for next week but have been busy today being a zombie. We are off to an Alice Cooper concert on Sunday and I am dressing up as a zombie so my daughter practised my make up today. Not sure whether to wear the wig or not. What do you think?



Or without the wig?



Better get on with the card tomorrow then.

Just a quick card for you today



I made this for my son's 16th birthday at the end of September. He seemed to like it.

See you tomorrow. Xx

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Good Excuse.....

as to why I haven't been posting.  I have been in hospital.  I was diagnosed a few weeks ago with gallstones, they have been playing up for a while on and off now, but recently they have been worse, resulting in 2 trips to A&E in less than a week, and Sunday morning at 5am, that is where I was.  They admitted me and gave me really strong morphine.  Kept me in on Monday and gave me a scan and I was told I had lots of small gallstones.  "what's lots"?  I asked.  Radiographer: "in excess of 10...".  Me: "what's small?"  Radiographer: "between 5mm and 6mm"... "thats not small" I said.... lol

So was kept in Monday into Tuesday and they have decided they are going to take my gallbladder out within 6 weeks.  I have to have an endoscopy first and then the op.  I came home Tuesday afternoon armed with 4 lots of tablets and painkillers which I hope will keep the pain at bay until op time, especially as next week we are going to Alton Towers for 3 days....  so there you go, a perfectly good excuse as to why I haven't been around.

I do have something to show you though.  It was my mum's 70th birthday at the beginning of the month and I made her an extra special card.

And we all went out for lunch on the Sunday, here is a photograph of us all having our dinner...

Right, I have to go pick my car up now.  Had to have a new clutch on it, cost me a fortune, £420.... eeeek.  Thats all I need with Christmas around the corner.  Hope to see you all tomorrow.... xx