Time flies!!!

I just can't believe that this week has passed so quickly! I must be getting really old as they say that time passes quicker as you get older. LOL

Down to the promised piccies of mum and dad's 'do'. They had a fabulous time and everything went swimmingly well. Dad got quite emotional when he saw us all coming down the aisle and again at the end of the service when the piper walked in playing (he thought the music "Flower of Scotland" was on cd!!) It was definitely worth all the long hours and sleepless nights to see the sheer enjoyment on their faces.

Sis, Mum, Brother and me! Michael Gordon (the piper), Mum and Dad Me, Michael, Mum, Dad, Sis and Brother

So now onto work! I have been working on another wedding order this week as well as finishing two and sending them out. I also had five cards ordered yesterday and I managed to ................(I hope you're sitting down at this point LOL) complete a challenge over on the Just Bex forum! The challenge was another one of Sue's templates (I just love these, they make my life so much easier)

Here are my efforts (I actually made more than one of these), the first being a Christmas card

Papers are by K & Ko and Blonde Moments and the stamp is by Rubber Stampede and is one of the first stamps I ever bought. The image is simply coloured with water colour pencils.

The next one is a thank you card to the vicar who performed last Saturday's service, from Mum and Dad. Papers are again by K & Co. Tag is from Crafts by Carolyn and the star brad was from my tub.

And the inside

I'm quite pleased with this, it's my first ever pop up card.

Yesterday I was asked for two congrats cards for the same girl who had passed her driving test and here are what I came up with

The next cards were another order which came in yesterday and one of them fits (sort of) Sue's template again.

Papers again by K & Co, can you tell I still love these pads?! Flowers are a mix of Papermania and Prima and the lovely pearl brad is by Papermania. I do like these brads at the mo. The second anniversary card is for the same person.

And that is it for now. Hopefully this week I might just manage a couple more challenges but don't hold your breath! Tomorrow I hope to finish the current order. All the seperate elements are done, I'm just in the process of putting them all together.

I'm also going to add a couple of new blog links to my side panel. These are blogs of ver talented people whose blogs I try to visit regularly.

I almost forgot, I was tagged the other day by Louly. I think this is the same one I did ages ago. Please be patient with me, I can't be bothered to go back and look what I put last time ;) If you haven't done it and would like to be tagged, then please feel free.

Here are the rules :1. Link to your tagger and post these rules.2. Share 7 facts about yourself: some random, some weird.3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post and list their names (linking to them).4. Let them know they've been tagged by leaving a comment at their blogs.So, here are my seven facts

1. I love (most) music with the exception of Jazz and most C & W.

2. I always wanted to visit the Falkland Islands!

3. I would like to go up in a helicopter.

4. I always wanted to go down in a submarine (not sure why!)

5. I lived in Germany for 7 years.

6. I was a Teaching Assistant for 7 years.

7. I bit my nails until I was 26.

50 years of wedded bliss.....

......give or take the odd barney!! LOL

My sister, brother and I, along with our kids and a couple of other relations have clubbed together and booked a cottage in the Lake District for mum and dad a week away so we don't have a present to give them. They were adamant that they didn't want any presents at all as they have amassed so much stuff over the years that they have stuff they don't use! As my brother will be making a speech, I decided to make them a booklet containing all the details of the cottage inc T & C, and he can present it to them after dinner tomorrow evening. This is what I came up with

The card has taken me ages as I have had to rake through a humungous box of photos to find the ones I wanted but it paid off as I am really pleased with the outcome. It is a trifold gatefold card.

I just have to sort boxes for them now and I have cracked it!

I must just show you the table markers, I think they are fab. I got them from Chocolate Chatter As I have planned the whole thing for them I more or less had a free rein and they just kept handing over the cash :)

I've been and had my nails done this morning and am having my hair done tomorrow morning. We then have to travel down to the venue which will take about an hour. Once there I have to dress the car as hubby is driving mum and dad to and from the church, then I have to set the cakes (we are having cup cakes with a top cutting cake) on the stand and also dress all the tables with the favours etc. Then I can get myself ready and I have 2 hours to do all this (then stay awake for the rest of the day!) I have worked till about 1.30 every night this week and I am kn*****ed
Ok that's it for now, I will be back on Sunday armed with photos :)

Tick tock!

Yesterday I made lottery envelopes and two clocks and today so far, I've made the boxes for the clocks. The boxes for the clocks.
I love the diversity of my work, it isn't very often that I do the same thing for more than a couple of days. I have also half done a 'brochure' for my mum and dad and will present it as a booklet. I have to have it finished as soon as poss so will show it tomorrow.
Right, now I need to tidy my desk ready to start the next job (the bit I don't like! LOL) and before the lady comes to collect the clocks ;)
Till tomorrow.

At last........

......I have finished everything for my parents' golden wedding celebrations on Saturday except a card and 'honeymoon' voucher, but all the really important stuff is done. I have just taken a few photos of the favours but unfortunately I don't bond naturally with a camera! Hubby takes all my 'decent' piccies.

We only have 3 children coming and as they are all under 5 we decided to do them teddies with chocolate buttons instead of the 'grown up' favours.
The adult favours contain gold coloured 'Smarties' and as well as having the names printed on the front, I have added each menu choice to the reverse. The meal choices were made so long ago I didn't want people arguing over meals and this way makes sure it doesn't happen!

And so to round two-lottery ticket envelopes!

Before I go, I would just like to say another huge thank you to everyone who leaves lovely comment on my blog. I do try to visit as many as possible but don't have a great deal of time at the mo. I have you all bookmarked and will keep visiting and leaving the odd comment. As soon as I have five spare minutes I would like to add some (or all) of you to my buddy list. If you would like to do a link swap, please leave a message and let me know.

Back soon. xx

Wedding fayre update

Thank you for all the "Good Luck" wishes for the wedding fayre yesterday. I have done loads of wedding fayres and they don't bother me any more but I was very nervous about this one in Sheffield! The museum is beautiful, the food is lovely and once I got set up I felt really at home. LOL I sold tiaras, gave out loads of brochures, some of my tiaras were used for the fashion show, I made lots of new contacts and generated a lot of interest so I feel really pleased with the whole day apart from the astronomic parking fees. It cost us £9.30 to get out of the NCP car park, it's a blooming rip off. Any way, moan over! Here are a couple of photos. The first one is my set up and the other two are a couple of the models wearing my tiaras.

So that's it for now. I am busy making favours today so must get on.

In the frame!

I can't believe that I haven't blogged since last Wednesday! I haven't actually had anything to show as my time has been take up with prospective clients visiting and making wedding stationery. Today, however, is different because I crafted for me (well sort of)!!! I made a couple of new seating plans as I have a big wedding fayre tomorrow at the Millenium Galleries in Sheffield city centre so if anyone is in the neighbourhood, pop in and say hello. I haven't photographed them yet but will do so tomorrow and put them on here.

I made a card for hubby as he has got a wedding this evening

Papers are from the McKenna mat stack by K and Co and the hearts are Sizzix inked with gold (which hasn't shown up in the scan).

My second card is for the DCM dare from yesterday. It was Lynne's turn to set this dare

This week I’d like you to use a FRAME or FRAMES on your card. You can use any type of frame you so wish. How about a die cut frame or a hand cut frame. You can frame your card with brackets or flowers or how about some doodling - the choice is yours.

The papers used for this card are the remaining pieces from the card above! The cute little stamp is from the New Home set from Tanda Stamps they are absolutely lovely and only £2.95 a set. The frame is cut using a Sizzlit frame and finished off with a couple of diamantes.

Well I think I have everything ready for tomorrow so I am going to have a drink then it is shower and bed.

Va Va Vroom!

Another combined challenge from me today and I thought I would use it to make a birthday card for my brother! He will be 39 on 10th October and doesn't do serious at all so this card will really appeal to him! The card fits the midweek little extra on the DCM blog and a challenge set by Nicky on the Just Bex forum
This is what the DCM team set this week
Cars, Boats, Trains & Planes is the theme for our Little Extra challenge this week. A good chance to stock up on kids cards and make a few of those poor, unloved "cards for men", maybe? How about "congratulations on Passing your Driving test" or "Got your Wings" for newly qualified pilots? - ok so we may be reaching a bit far with that one, but you never know! Basically, what we'd like you to do is put some transport on your cards this week, how you do it is up to you
and these were Nicky's instructions
And your next challenge is...........to make a folding card like the one below . It's made from one sheet of cardstock, and is very straightforward! Take one sheet of 12"x12" cardstock, and score lines at 4" intervals both vertically and horizontally to make a 3x3 grid, like this:
Then cut away each corner square, and you'll be left with this:

and here is my card.

All card, paper and rub ons are by Doodlebug.

That's it for now. Wedding stationery calls!

Yippeeee

So what have I been up to since Saturday? Well, I had my first appointment at 10.00 am and sold a tiara. I then went onto my mum and dad's to deliver the OoS and seating plan and they are over the moon with them! We then went on to the next appointment at 7.00 pm and they weren't in!! We drove around the block and went back and they still weren't in so we came home. It so annoys me when people do this. She has my phone details so could have rung to cancel. I know anything can happen at any time but it doesn't make it any better when it happens! Moan over :)

I spent yesterday in the garden and we are now weed free and all the daffy bulbs have been planted.
I had a leaving card to make for a collegue of DH and a very good customer of mine! They work for a railway company and this is what I came up with

I just love the little Cuttlebug train and carriage and thought it was appropriate for this card!

My next card is the DCM challenge from Friday. I got a lovely bag of lace from a charity shop a couple of weeks ago so thought I could use some on a card. There was loads in the bag and it all looks brand new and cost me the grand total of..................50p!!! So, this is their brief OK, here's this weeks dare:Let's go Charity shoppingor Op shopping (as we call it in Australia)
I DARE you to visit your local Charity Shop & make someone else's
TRASH your STASH!
.........and make a GORGEOUS card from what you find.You'll be amazed at the special little treasures you'll find if you only take the time to look with CREATIVE EYES

and this is my take on it

I can't remember where I got the foil printed card from as I found it in one of my drawers! The lilac backing card is DCWV, the 'baby' is a Sizzlit die, the lace is from my cheapo bag and the little hands are from Crafts by Carolyn

I've also started the favours for mum and dad's do today. I've done the 3 children's favours and 10 adult so far. Will show piccies when they are done. I have also made a wedding invitation sample to be posted off tomorrow.

I must clean up in the morning too, I have a couple coming to see me about a stationery order!

Take care. x

Have a peep

I finally got them finished and meant to post yesterday afternoon (as midnight has come and gone without me noticing!) I got the Orders of Service and seating plan for my parents finished and here they are

I have an appointment tomorrow morning at 10 oclock (from one of my wedding fayres) so am going from there straight to my mum and dad's to deliver these and some other stuff for the 'do' then I have another appointment tomorrow evening at 7pm so will do that one on the way home. (the evening appointment is from last Sunday's wedding fayre).

My last weekend off was 8th and 9th September, my next weekend off is at the end of October!! Then I will sleep LOL

Bed time now. Whatever you are doing, have a lovely weekend. xx

Almost the weekend!

Does anyone know where time is going? The weeks just seem to disappear along with my time management!!

Yesterday disappeared in a blur and I got slightly distracted from the order of services. Well, I say distracted...............I didn't actually make any *blushing icon* But this is what I did make

On the stand
In the box. The lid has an acetate panel so the card can be seen. I don't make many Bookatrix cards now, just special orders. I got put off slightly when I had to make 16 with boxes for a shop!!!

The phone charm is for one of my best customers. It is made with black and clear glass beads.

I still feel ropey as I can seem to shift this head cold/sinus problem. Not good when you spend all day with your head down.

Right, I really must do the order of service today. I have the seating plan to do as well and I am delivering them on Saturday. Next week I am doing the favours and then that is mum and dads stationery finished. I have a leaving card to do today too so if I revisit, I need a size 10 up the bum!!

With this ring....

....I thee wed!
Just had a look at the DCM midweed Little Extra and realised it fits the order I'm working on at the moment. They are the Order of Service for my parents' Golden Wedding/Renewal of Vows ceremony.
Here is what the team came up with this week
This time we are giving you just One Word as the inspiration for your card making and that word is GOLDEN You can use the word in any way you like - the word itself doesn't even have to be on the card, for instance you could make a card in golden shades, or maybe inspired by the seasons of Spring or Autumn which both feature lots of golden colours. Or maybe you could make a card to celebrate a Golden Anniversary, and of course Gold is a great colour for Christmas cards.....It's up to you - just go for Gold

The dragonfly is hand crafted using seed and bugle beads and acetate and mounted onto gold organza ribbon.

Right, back to work for me. I have another 52 of these to make today then get the seating plan made!

TTFN xx

Look what I've got!!!

A clue...................it starts with C and ends with J and it is just luuuuuuuurvely. Another busy day in the Party Nights household so I thought I would show my third CJ which came home to roost about a fortnight ago. The groups involved were all members of the JB forum. We kept the groups small and the turnaround quite fast as there were a few peeps who were interested in joining but had never done one before. This acted as their 'taster' and everyone so far has said how much they enjoyed it.

Front and back covers

welcome and rules pages My pages

Baabaa's pages
Funky Fairy's pagesIosagan's pages

My sign in pages.

I was tagged by Hazel last week and after my 'harrowing' week ;), I promised I would do it today so here goes

1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet & current car) Sox Astra (I suppose it could have a 'famous' ring about it LOL)

2.YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (fav ice cream flavor, favorite cookie) Vanilla Jaffacake (!)

3. YOUR "FLY Guy/Girl" NAME: (first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name) JWes

4. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal) Yellow Cat (I like that one)

5. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born) Eleanor Glasgow (has a definite soapy ring)

6. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first) Wesja

7. SUPERHERO NAME: (2nd favorite color, favorite drink put "The") The Black Coffee (which is what I spend my days drinking! lol)

8. NASCAR NAME: (the first names of your grandfathers) John William

9. STRIPPER NAME: ( the name of your favorite perfume/cologne, favorite candy) Miss Dior Fudge! (I'm saying nothing)

10. Witness protection name {mother & fathers middle names} neither of my parents have middle names

If you feel like playing along, please consider yourself tagged.