New Year and new beginning

Well folks don't hold your breath but there might be some action on the blog front. Think I will search out the ole' camera and get taking some shots again. Everything needs updating including my header so will have to buckle down.
Remember back in September I said we were waiting for a wheelchair-well we got it and it's not as easy as it looks.
I was struggling to shop too but that's sorted 'cos it's all done online now and a lovely delivery driver brings it to my door. Woe betide him if there's anything they can't supply.
Everyone tells me if you do your grocery shop online you save money-well not this lady-oh no. It's fantastic to be able to sit down with a cuppa and just amble around the pages looking at all the goodies and wondering what you can cook with them-not that you could call me a cordon bleu chef or even a little chef ha-ha.
Talking about cooking that's another thing that's happening too on the food front-cutting down. There's a wedding taking place in June, number one son is marrying his lovely partner and said partner and I are determind to look our best on the big day so it's no to biccies, no to puds and no to crisps and spuds (well not quite no but a lot less).
Since Monday I've been walking tall because despite being umpty stones overweight the Wii fit tells me my Wii fit age is seven years below my actual age so underneath all that wobbly stuff there's a fabulous body determined to get out.
What about crafting-yes I'm still crafting and loving the new Stampin' Up sale-a-bration goodies so must get something on here as well as updating all my Stampin' Up info. I'm also head over heels for the Tea For Two DSP in the Spring/Summer supplement the colour combo of Calypso Coral, Early Espresso, Island Indigo, Lucky Limeade, Pretty in Pink and So Saffron is just gorgeous. That's something I love about Stampin' Up-the way you can use the colour combos in the DSP to guide you how to coordinate the colours in your projects so everything gels.
Like I said, don't hold your breath but Spring is coming and maybe a bit of change is in the air.

Just popping by

Thought I'd stick my head around the corner to let you know I'm still ticking along. Could do with winding up a bit at the moment.
Had a bad night last night as DH was restless. His Parkinsons disease causes him to have terrible dreams -talking, laughing, fighting, running (in bed-not out of it) and cycling all seem to feature. Unfortunately none of this mixes with FMS-one poor night and I lose a day-or two or three. Forward one step then back three! We are waiting for a wheelchair for DH so that he can get out a bit without being completely drained. I'm determined to try it although I might not have much strength for the job. You never know until you try do you?
Crafting has taken a back seat for quite a while and the year has flown by with various hospital appointments and meetings with physiotherapists-occupational therapists etc etc. Managing without a car means a lot of time and spare energy is taken up with shopping but at least it gives us spare money-no bad thing.
Still enjoying Pinterest. Lots of love to anyone who pops by. Hope you're all still enjoying crafting. Hugs Betty

Pinterest

Blast! Just when I'm resolved to have a little blogginess bloomin' blogger has to start playing about with the format. It's hard enough to remember my head. Now where did I put it? Ah yes. Any FMS peeps out there will know what I mean. You begin to think you've got a slender grip on things and then the rug is pulled out from under you. So-Pinterest. This is my latest obsession because my head is full of techniques but the part of my brain that helps me make a card seems to have shut down completely. Pinterest is a way of hanging on to all that stuff you spot while surfing without cluttering up your hard drive and also checking out what everyone else is hanging on to. The magical bit is the way it links to the original blog post thus enabling you to discover talented people all over the world. It's not just for crafters -oh no-but crafters definitely use it. Problem is they don't all write in English! What a nuisance. So I'm raking in the back of my brain to get the O level German out and wishing I'd studied it longer. Flipperty flump, it is 50 years ago. French isn't too bad. I am loving Paulines Papier,(German with fab pictures) but my latest discovery has me stumped completely. Why? IT'S ALL IN SQUIGLY STUFF. Think it's Chinese but it could be Japanese. Very tantalising. My Chinese friend has gone to see her Mum and Dad in China so she can't help. If you would like to look at my board it's here Snag is it's like blogging and eats into your crafting time so tata. (If you are wondering "Wot no paragraph breaks?" I've put them in but blinking blogger has removed them on the preview so suspect there's something I'm missing))

Just for Julia

Here's a close up which might just show the silver embossed on the vellum
BTW daft slip up merchant that I am-good job I rang Yvonne to ask if she would bring a particular stamp with her, turned out we're meeting next Saturday, not yesterday.
Can hear my Mum saying "HMMPH you'd forget your head if it was loose"

And our next little exercise

Well you are all aware I'm a Stampin' Up gal now and have been for a while, there's even a tiny team courtesy of Yvonne and Becki, my downline and her downline, so we decided to meet up when work and other annoying commitments allowed.
It's easiest to meet at mine due to my lack of transport and as I'm the Mummy so to speak I get to suggest a subject to concentrate on. This time I've decided we are going to do some heat embossing and that's partly 'cos yours truly hasn't done any for ages. Now this is one of those moments when my mojo truly deserts me. Lately there's been a lot of surfing the net and relying on finding something to case.
In fact that is one of the reasons I love Stampin' Up -great products- and thousands of experienced demonstrators and customers all applying themselves to getting the best out of them and sharing the results online, not to mention the Idea book and catalogue (plus the regular minis).
Anyway this time I decided I had to try to make something of my own to showcase a bit of embossing. This is what I've come up with so far.

Card used-Brushed gold,Brushed silver, Very vanilla, White vellum.
Stamps used-Teeny tiny wishes,Heard from the heart.
Stampin' Emboss powder- Gold, Silver.
Crochet trim-Chantilly (for flower),Victoria.
Embossing folder-Designer frames.
Punch-Eyelet border.
Stampin' Up Exclusive Sizzlits die- Little leaves.
Jewels- Rhinestone.
Think I've just realised why I gave up blogging, the photography has defeated me completely and the card is definitely much nicer in the flesh with the silver embossed leaves against the brushed silver card, the sparkly crystals and the luxurious lace. Sometimes it's lovely to break out the luxury stash instead of letting it moulder in the cupboard

I MADE A VOW

When I went to a training session with Julie I filled in one of those little slips she gives us where we have to say what we are going to do etc etc-you know the sort of thing. Now when I was working I detested those blessed things plus feedback feedback blah blah blah and thought Iwas done with them -after all I'm a sick woman and a sick RETIRED woman. I am only doing this for a hobby but Julie is so lovely and so enthusiastic and she devises such a fun time for us all and everyone else looks as though they are filling them in so what's a girl (girl -who am I kidding!) to do. So I filled it in -in January-but only in pencil so does it count?
What was it I put -in JANUARY?
I quote -from a very poor memory-"I will try to blog more"
Now Julie I know you are very busy devising even more treats but if you are reading this 'cos you did sign up to follow my blog aeons ago get up off the floor where you are probably rolling with shock that I'm making some kind of bloggy effort. No pictures yet but I could surprise you all as Yvonne has awarded me something or other and she is my downline. She has the misguided idea that I inspire her -crumbs she inspires me-just don't know how she fits in what she does fit into her day. She is full of energy. So I'm making an effort for Yvonne and Julie and all my other bloggy crafty friends out there and I promise that there is more to come-just don't hold your breath as I wouldn't like to be responsible.
Hugs Betty

Merry Christmas everyone. Am going to make an effort to blog again in the New Year. I've got a lot to do though. We are having a stairlift installed in January as DH had a nasty fall going up to his playroom in November. We are swapping rooms so he will be able to reach his with the lift. Trouble is I'm the one who will have to move the STUFF!!!!!!
Should be a doddle.