WOYWW #683 - Circle Wreath Die (from China!)

Nothing like a new die to get me crafting although truth be told I did start the double LO before the die actually arrived. 

Many thanks to Cindy who managed to find a source for the much wanted circle wreath die and as it wasn't that expensive we thought we'd have a go ordering from Ebay/China. 

It took 18days to arrive, didn't cut too well in it's original state (3 dies held together by metal tabs), so I separated them and did a double run through the Cuttlebug individually and all OK.

I managed to use the good cuts AND the not go good ones on my layout entitled THING. 

If you are of an age you'll remember The Addams Family's helping hand called Thing. I'd fussy cut my pre-op hand photo and this was what came to mind. 

Got a load of dies stacking up on order from Kraft Crazy, expecting to be crafting much more when I eventually get those.

Have done a jigsaw too. It's of Burning Shed a music supplier that my husband uses "a lot". 

I made myself do the sky first and the rest was pretty straight forward. 

I've had a little play with the fact that the 1000 piece jigsaws are made using a 500 piece die which is rotated for the second half of the picture. 

It takes all sorts....

And for the record my desk on Saturday - Hubby's 66th birthday... 

Totally inspired by Jan's Poppy bag fabric from last week.

So I got out my pieces of that same fabric and made my Hubby a couple of covers for his wheat heat bags (beany/hotty).

Nice surprise when he got back from his cycle ride.

Happy WOYWW Everyone

WOYWW #682 - Horrah Duplicate ATC Arrived

I was just a tad excited to receive the duplicate ATC from our esteemed host last week to replace the one which decided to get lost in the post last month.

I took my photo of my desk first thing then life took over. Even uploading the photo this afternoon caused me to revisit what photos exist on my phone so here I am LATE TO THE PARTY YET AGAIN!

I adore my Connections ATC from Julia, who managed to even get my age on the door/windows - amazing. Much better than the lady who guessed I was in my sixties - NOT - last week. I'm happy to share my age but I certainly do not want it to be rounded up!

Thank You Julia. 

I went to a church ladies evening last Friday and did a bit of colouring in of a scripture verse - from Jeremiah 31:12. 

"Your soul shall be like a well watered garden."

When I got home I popped that and a sheet about "Who I Am In Christ" in my journal and added some stamping etc.

I did the wood block when I got home too. 

I guess this is the sum total of my crafting this week, but having that and my ATC on my desk make me smile.

My scripture memory verse this week is Isaiah 58:11

"You will be like a well watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail"

All very encouraging.

Happy super late WOYWW everyone.

WOYWW #681 - Carpal Tunnel - 9 months on...

So it is now 9 months since my hand operation to release the Carpal Tunnel which was causing numbness and tingling in my right hand.

The tingling and numbness has been cured - highlighted by my left hand's increased occurrences of this symptom.

As for recovery from the operation itself, I'd guess it is 90% sorted as I can do most day to day stuff OK but it is still tender to touch, and still looks like a wonky zip. 

I can't put my weight on it so staplers and punches are out of the question as is squashing the recycling! 

My wrist is still affected and doesn't extend like it used to either. All of which makes me sure that I will NOT be having the same done to my left hand.

Needless to say zilch in the crafting arena but I have revisited a jigsaw from 2 years ago and recorded Hallelujah on my harp - enjoy...

Happy WOYWW Everyone.

In Memory of My Dad

In memory of Aubrey E. Hares who was called to the Lord on Thursday 18th June 1998.

Here are the words I spoke at his funeral on Thursday 25th June 1998.

The last time I really saw my dad, was at my wedding, earlier this year; where he stood, as I do now, and made the most beautiful speech which touched the hearts of everyone.

Now I have the privilege of doing the same for him.

My dad, father also to Peter and Simon and Aubrey to the rest of you, was a kind and gentle man, who enjoyed the simple life and always let you be what you wanted to be. But the one thing he would like to be remembered for was his passion for the skies. Not only was he in the RAF as a young man but he followed his dream by engineering and building countless model gliders and planes. He would always stand in awe of the Buzzard's as they soared effortlessly above the moor and he tried to imitate their skills with his models.

So now he has left the confines of his earthly body, his spirit is free to soar on the winds, and I hope, that ever you should see one of these majestic birds, that you may stop for a moment and know in your heart that he is right up there with them.

Praise be to God.

Isaiah 40:31 - But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

It may be 24 years ago but he will always be special to me.

WOYWW #680 - Birthday Card

Oh my gosh where does the time go now Hubby has retired? Totally late to the party this week!

Managed a craft call with a mate Saturday evening and actually made Hubby his birthday card amidst all the chat and banter. She was making a card for a 1yr old and using a dinosaur, I thought I'd do the same for Hubby then remembered the die cut said friend gave me some time ago of an alligator, so used that. Hope he doesn't think it is of an old Croc! LOL

Hubby's favourite colours are orange and green so I used a piece of green paper gifted to be in the ATC swap we did last month. That is the extent of my crafting I'm afraid

I have been in the garden a lot and my Nasturtiums I grew from seed are at last flowering. 

Currently I am hiding from the heat as it does me in big time. Had to leave dancing early last night as I was shattered. Today I have managed to twist my knee vacuuming so badminton is off tomorrow....

Happy WOYWW Everyone.

WOYWW #679 - ATCs

Only momentarily inspired by #1 on last week's index prompts list so made an ATC for "Asterisk". Used up an ink spotted paper I'd made ages ago and also found a stamped image of Great Britain so coloured that as I was in Jubilee mood.

Had a super Jubilee weekend and Hubby's first few days in retirement. Saw the Beacon up on Epsom Downs after badminton. Went for sunny walks in the quiet of the work day. Watched most of the Jubilee in TV. Saw "Top Gun :Maverick" on Monday, walked in the rain and got a few caches yesterday and I even went back to dancing last night.

Highlight was receiving an ATC and card all the way from Australia from Susan Renshaw with a Jubilee Stamp (not seen any here in the UK) and just noticed the post mark has the word "Connected" too!

How great is that!

I have also been learning a new harp piece for June, "Hallelujah". Hope I'll be able to get a good video of that one soon.

Happy WOYWW Everyone.

WOYWW #678 - Comments & Jubilee

It would seem that some comments are not appearing on my blog.

I have email notifications set up so I believe I receive all the comments that way but no idea why some don't show up on my blog.

My settings are such that you'd need to be signed in to Google to comment, but I don't think it is that. Who knows?

Anyway, I finished up the 2 LOs from my desk last week, did 2 more on top of that and have a further 2 laid out on my desk.

Having a bit of a section thing going on - using up lots of strips of papers/card. 

Although the Germany page was on purpose but the following one was just because... Had a sticky ribbon moment too!

I also made a friend's birthday card and the only cup cake topper I had was in my last jubilee selection pack so it ended up being a jubilee themed birthday card.

She makes lots of cakes hence the cup cake topper requirement.

I have decorated the house too. Made the bunting a age ago, but had to get the union flag bunting from Ebay as not a jot of Jubilee stuff in either Asda or Sainsburys. Thought I was late to the party but my neighbour has been looking for weeks and nothing? Hubby retires today too - WooHoo!

Happy WOYWW Everyone.

And have a super Jubilee Weekend

WOYWW #677 - Back to Scrapping

Here's my desk with new computer PLUS all the other crafty stuff back on it this week!

WOW - what a great week to have made my come back last week with the 13th anniversary. I managed to make 3 ATCs, posted 2 and kept one.

My connection theme was quite "loose" and abstract as in Yellow and Blue connect to make Green. Then whilst making the background I was reminded of Ukraine and I'm sure we all connect with them in the current situation.

I also received a gorgeous ATC from Kyla plus some papers and toppers - thank you so much.

Love the world die Kyla used and of course the background and glitter in my favourite colour.

And so to the scrapping. A double LO of more geocaching my hubby and I did last Summer. I used the google pin drop on the map photo, like I saw on an ATC last week, thanks Spyder.

Got another couple of LOs on my desk in the process of being done, so should have some more by next week.

Happy WOYWW Everyone.

WOYWW #676 - Happy Anniversary

OK So I didn't actually plan to come back for the Anniversary it's just a happy coincidence :) 

In the 2 months I've been absent I have had a new computer as the old one's capacitors had blown and it kept dying until it really died completely.

Lots more room under my desk now as it is so much smaller. It is a reconditioned one from Amazon for about £150. Hubby let me have a one of his bigger monitors too which helps with paperless stuff better.

I haven't really been crafting much lately, so I thought I'd wait until I'd actually done a scrap page before showing my face above the ramparts. 

A few throw back photos from Sept 2000 of my late Mother-In-Law, Hubby and our Son aged 1 3/4yrs. We have been walking in the fields behind our house a lot lately and always remember her coming with us that time.

I made a couple of birthday cards too.

I have also had my first pair of NHS hearing aids fitted and can hear oh so much better now. Obviously not something noticed on-line but I was missing out on a section of sounds in the higher bracket. They are way smaller than I thought and match my hair colour LOL.

Consequently my harp sounds so much more divine and I've been learning a new piece called "May It Be".<- CLICK

I guess that is about it.

Happy WOYWW 13th Anniversary Everyone...

WOYWW #668 - Stripped

Well I managed a bit of colouring despite colouring not being my "thing". 

Don't do any of the nice shading thing you guys do, I just bung the colour on!

Other than that I've been in the garden mostly. 

Also stripping our son's old room! Some of you wondered how long it would be till it became a craft room? 

Well we've decided to leave it as a bedroom for the time being in case he visits. I just needed to rid the tiny room of all the dust and posters!

I stood on the bed base and broke it so it's in the process of being mended and all the stuff therein is on the landing - so many toys!

Here's me vacuuming and also our son's new "work" desk. Love his dinosaur. He even got a plant! Not seen the "play" desk yet! 

Happy WOYWW Everyone

Ukraine Appeal

If you'd like to donate for the crisis in UKRAINE and know it is getting to the right place, Renata is from my church, she is Polish, and she has taken a team of 10 volunteers out to Lublin, her home town, to help transport refugees from the front line/border with UKRAINE and to support them.

This is her JUST GIVING link

WOYWW #667 - Space Again

It was certainly sad to drop our son off in Cambridge on Saturday to start his new chapter, but on reflection so nice to have the space at home again, a 1/3 less washing, easier to park car etc. etc. 

I made him a New Home card but that was the sum total at my desk other than the catching up with the house paperwork chores.

I'm reliving this month as February as I lost out with Valentine's, Birthday and Anniversary last month due to Covid. 

I finally made it to the garden centre and have planted up 2 of my 6 containers so far.

I visited a friend who gave me the Jesus colouring book as a "late" birthday present too, so sweet.

Anyway that's about all, managed some desks last week, getting there slowly although still coughing a bit (week 5!!).

Finally, if you'd like to donate for the crisis in UKRAINE and know it is getting to the right place, Renata is from my church, she is Polish, and she is taking a team out to Lublin, her home town, to help transport refugees from the front line/border with UKRAINE and to support them.

This is her Just Giving Link.

Many Thanks

Happy WOYWW Everyone.

WOYWW #666 - End of an Era

This time next week my only child will have left home to start his adult life in Cambridge. He's been trying to sort a rented house with a couple of his Uni mates ever since I got Covid-19 back in mid-February so it's been a doubly difficult time for me. 

I think I am nearly over the Covid, still coughing a bit and loads of catarrh but mainly OK, until yesterday and my dental check-up which brought on a severe attack of IBS. I was in agony for over 24hrs and finding my medication was well out of date I had to pop to Asda after the dentist to get some from there.

I tossed and turned with the old menopause night sweats all night but woke relatively pain free this morning - Horrah!

Sorry yet another week of not visiting desks last week but I truly hope I will be able to this week.

So to the main update. I SCRAPPED, yep, actually felt well enough to get out my photos this week and did a page, even got a couple of my new word dies on there too.

Happy WOYWW Everyone

WOYWW #665 - Still Coughing :(

Unfortunately despite 2 consecutive negative tests last weekend I still haven't recovered fully.

I'm totally shattered and still coughing.

Managed to finish the jigsaw though.

I have been making myself go for a walk around the block the past 3 days, but really slowly.

Took some daffodil photos on my walk yesterday as it was St David's Day.

Happy WOYWW Everyone