About Me

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My name's Alison but for reasons too long to go into I'm known as Cockney Blonde or CB for short. I've been rubber stamping for several years but now spend most of my time either knitting or crocheting. However, with the advent of a New Year I have bitten the bullet and am tackling my usually hated pastime of sewing. I've even bought 'Sewing for Dummies' to guide me on my way. I've been with my hubby Dave for 24 years and between us we have 4 kids and 5 grandkids. We also have 2 cats and a dog, the latter features as my 'photo' image. I used to be able to blog daily but these days I struggle to blog weekly. Hopefully now we are settled into our new home in the country, I can get back to a daily (well almost) update from the room I now have to share with hubby. No more personal crafting space for me!!! Thanks to all the blogs and sites I follow for all your brilliant inspiration, and thank you to everyone who finds the time to comment on my blog.

Wednesday 30 June 2010

Hanging Baskets

I did have a card ready to upload and then my camera died....well, the battery went flat. So that's now on charge and you'll have to wait until the morning for the card.

So in the meantime I thought I'd share a couple of photos of my beautiful hanging baskets.
The top one was planted by my son, Mark. Mark has many problems, learning and health, including Aspergers. Twice a week he attends a Garden Centre through Social Services which he absolutely loves. The bottom basket I bought from the Centre and the following week he took in an empty container and potted up the one above by himself. They are giving such a brilliant display of colour.
I've taken some more photos, for Mark, of other containers he's planted up and also his thriving veggie garden which I'll share with you soon.
In the meantime, enjoy the flowers, x

Monday 28 June 2010

Simon Says; Lilli of the Valley; Treehouse Thursday # 55; Corrosive Challenge #70

Yeh! A card at last, lol

I've used the Lilli Of The Valley Challenge Sketch to base my card on and as the Simon Says Challenge was based on Friendship I thought what a perfect reason to create a card for my SOTH (Sister Of The Heart) on our KCUK Group.

The Treehouse Thursday Challenge (THT055) was to use the colours pink, moss green and white. I hope the combination of Adirondack inks in Lettuce and Cranberry cover this ok.

Finally, Corrosive Challenge wanted flowers. I think the image and DP covers this challenge.

The DP is from a selection I received from my SOTH. The main image is 'Lilac' by Papermania, and the background stamp is 'Wildflower Background' by V & A.

I hope you like it and the challenge links are below, x

http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.com/2010/06/simon-saysyou-gotta-have-friends.html

http://liliofthevalleythursdaychallenge.blogspot.com/2010/06/challenge-56.html

http://treehousestamps.blogspot.com/2010/06/treehouse-thursday-challenge-055-color.html

http://corrosivechallengesbyjanet.blogspot.com/2010/06/corrosive-challenge-70.html

Another Grandma Blog.....


As promised here are a couple of photos of Daniel's wee cousin Rose. She is modelling a beautifully crochet hat by the ever talented Jo of
Considering Jo has never met Rose she made a really good estimate of the size, as you can see it fits perfectly. Rose's Mummy was looking much better this visit although she is still suffering dreadfully with morning sickness (not necessarily in the mornings).

As for this photo, Rose wasn't meant to be dissecting a flower but I actually think it's a really good picture. I can see it ending up in a frame.
I feel truly blessed to have 2 such lovely Step-Daughters and consequently 2 adorable grand-children.
Enjoy the piccies, x

Boring Grandma Alert !!!!!!!

Here are a couple of photos of our adorable little Grandson, Daniel, from our weekend trip to Edinburgh.

He is nestled in the proud arms of his Uncle Mark where he slept peacefully for an hour.

We had a lovely couple of hours with him and his Mummy and Daddy. Mummy, by the way, looks truly amazing. No sign of a recent pregnancy anywhere in sight.

Another photo to follow shortly of our darling Scottish Grand-daughter, Daniel's big cousin, x

Friday 25 June 2010

Sketch and Stash # 38; Cupcake #96; Paper Sundaes # 23; Crafty Creations #73

I'm still not quite back into my crafting yet but I'm getting there slowly. Although I've cheated somewhat with this one as there's no stamping involved - my Yahoo Group Mum will be disappointed in me, sorry!

Anyway, I wanted to leave you with a card for the weekend as we're whizzing up to Scotland tomorrow to see our new Grandson - 1 week old today. We'll also be able to see our wee Grand-daughter while we're up there so look out for some piccies next week.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Sketch and Stash #38 - following their sketch and the stash is the buttons
Cupcake #96 - Strawberries and Cream - I hope I've covered that with the colours I've used
Paper Sundaes # 23 - Pretty as a Princess - I've used a Craft Stamper digital vintage image and popped a grunge board crown on her head, coloured with dabbers and distress ink
Crafty Creations #73 - Add some shine - plenty of bling there with the pearls from The Hobby House.

I hope you like it and the challenge links are below, x

http://sketchandstashchallenge.blogspot.com/2010/06/sketch-and-stash-challenge-38.html

http://cupcakecraftchallenges.blogspot.com/2010/06/challenge-96strawberries-cream.html

http://papersundaes.blogspot.com/2010/06/paper-sundaes-challenge-23-pretty-as.html

http://craftycreationschallenges.blogspot.com/2010/06/challenge-73-we-want-to-see-you-shine.html

Monday 21 June 2010

The Pixie Cottage and Crafty Creations Challenges

OMG I hear you say, another creation, 2 days on the trot, lol. Talking of trotting.....I'm off for another riding lesson tomorrow. I'm trying a different riding school which is a little cheaper now that my birthday lessons have expired, lol.

I've made this card following The Pixie Cottage sketch #23 for inspiration and also using their suggested theme - patriotic. This little fella looks really fed up, probably at England's performance in the World Cup. The text was just perfect 'I would rather be rubber stamping'.

Crafty Creations #72 were asking for stitching - faux or real - and anyone who knows me knows that real stitching doesn't feature in my top ten of things to do.....

Hope you like it and the links are below, x

http://thepixiecottage.blogspot.com/2010/06/pixie-cottage-challenge-23-sketch-and.html

http://craftycreationschallenges.blogspot.com/2010/06/challenge-72-its-stitch-up.html

EDIT - Forgot to say the cute little image is from Lisa's Altered Arts

Sunday 20 June 2010

Friday Sketchers and Pile It On and a very special birthday

Perhaps my MoJo is back as 2 cards in one day is a miracle at the moment. I've not made 2 in one week lately. Anyway I wanted to get this one done as I promised Vix http://vixykins.blogspot.com/ that I'd make a card for a very special lady in her family who is 90 this week. Vix is trying to get 90 handmade cards for her.


While I was at it I used the Friday Sketchers sketch challenge #107 and Pile It On #24 was asking for stickers. These are the top and bottom borders from KanBan.


I've coloured the Sarah Kay image with my copics but as it was done a while ago I'm afraid I can't remember the numbers.


DP is MME - Asparagus.


I hope you like it and the links are below, x


http://fridaysketchersblog.blogspot.com/2010/06/challenge-107-sponsored-by-klm-digi.html


http://pileitonchallenge.blogspot.com/2010/06/challenge-24-stickers.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+PileItOn+%28Pile+It+On%29

Truly Scrumptious # 34 and Treehouse Thursday #54

Bet you can't guess who this card is for, lol. Yep, its for the new parents of our little Grandson born on Friday. If nothing else its got me in the craft room again and given me a chance to enter a card for 2 challenges. Truly Scrumptious provided the inspirational sketch and Treehouse Thursday were asking us to use a favourite tool - currently mine is my recently bought nesties and Big Shot.
The image, one of my favourites, is 'Christmas Love' by Stamp-It, although I think it makes a really good new baby card. I've coloured it with copics.
The DP is Papermania's Rose Garden and the flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts, the pearls from the Hobby House.
Hope you like it and the links are below, x

http://trulyscrumptiouschallenges.blogspot.com/2010/06/challenge-34.html

http://treehousestamps.blogspot.com/2010/06/treehouse-thursday-challenge-054-tool.html

Friday 18 June 2010

Announcement

No piccie but just wanted to share the news that we have a new Grandson, Daniel. Mum and Baby are both well and sounds as though it was quite straightforward. So excited. I have a wee boy to buy for now, x

Friday 11 June 2010

Another Non Card Upload


This time I'm uploading a picture of our wee Scottish Grand-daughter, Rose, big sister of the baby in waiting scan.

We're off to a wedding today, for tomorrow, of my husband's Niece so as per is usual at the moment no time for crafting but wanted to leave you with a piccie until I return.

Hope everyone has a good weekend, x


Wednesday 9 June 2010

The World of Wezz Vacation Challenge

OK, I know its been a while again and it's not even one of my cards but every time I think I'm able to get back to blogging more of the proverbial hits the fan.

Anyway, I wanted to share this card with you which I won over on Wezz's blog http://cyberwezz.blogspot.com/ for correctly guessing her vacation to Venice. I was so so jealous as I love Venice.
Thanks again for picking my name out of the hat and sorry its taken so long to share it with my fellow bloggers, x

Sunday 6 June 2010

Grandchild in Waiting

Yep, you guessed it...I'm still not back crafting but hopefully having spent a brilliant day on a Liz Welch Friendly Plastic Workshop my Mojo will soon be back in it rightful place.
In the meantime, with my step-daughter's permission, I am sharing with you the first ultrasound scan of our latest Grandchild to be, due in December. He/She already has an adorable big sister who we were able to spend some time with last weekend. Meanwhile my other step-daughter is due her first baby in 6 days time. So exciting.


Enjoy, and fingers crossed I'll be back soon, x