Things getting back to normal...

...I hope. Last year was a bit of a disaster for me. Financial problems with the council taking 8 to 10 weeks to sort out a claim for housing and council tax benefits. This started when youngest son found work. Any changes to your circumstances means that any claim you currently have is suspended. Meaning that during this time I was liable for full rent and council tax. Well this caused a lot of problems with the housing association..my landlords ..by constantly phoning and visiting, demanding full payment and threatening eviction. I could have understood their insistence if I hadn't been paying anything but as it was I was paying over the odds which left us very short. No wonder my doctor got a bit worried when my blood pressure went sky high.  Finally got things sorted when I spoke to another member of their "management team". So much for them saying" they are always there to help"...NOT!!!  Suffice to say Christmas was a quiet one all round for us.
During all this I had no computer and it made me feel very  isolated. I'm getting out much less now due to the pain and fatigue caused by the ME and arthritis.  Not been able to get out in the garden either ..and it really does need some work before spring.
I have managed some crafting but not a lot. Got to get a wriggle on though as I have a few family birthdays coming up. Any way here a few pictures of some of my work.....not many 'cos I forgot to take pics.
First off....a card for granddaughters birthday. It wasn't as bright as it looks in the picture....my rubbish photography.

Next a few Christmas cards

And finally  a card for grandson.

Well that's all for now. May I take this belated opportunity to wish you all a happy and healthy New Year.

I'm back....!!!

After a long spell without my computer. It crashed BIG TIME!! I've been using sons laptop to keep up with my emails and important stuff , but he didn't want any of the programmes I use downloaded on his computer. Perfectly understandable: so he bought me a new one as a late birthday and early Christmas pressy. Yay!! I lost a lot of stuff but luckily I had most of it on my portable hard drive. It's been a bad year all told and things are still not sorted. Lots of issues going on but more about those later. Just glad to be back online and not so isolated. 
Well that's it for now..going to get back to finding stuff and trying to get organised.

Oh ****** just deleted my signature....doh!

Take care everyone
Sue x
                                                                

Halfway through February......

....already! Where is the time going?  I'm still struggling with my health. I have had a cold that hasn't developed fully for months now and it's really draining my energy. I will be glad when the warmer weather is finally here (whenever that might be!).  On top of that I now have a raging toothache. I have to confess that I haven't been to a dentist in nearly eight years, ever since my dentist of twenty five years went private and I couldn't afford the fees. Been browsing on the web trying to find a NHS dentist within a reasonable distance and who has places. Think I will end up at the dental hospital. Here in South Yorkshire we haven't been as badly affected by the weather as some parts of the country. Thankful for small mercies. Still doing a bit of crafting but not as much as I'd like to. I'm trying to get ahead with family cards but not making much headway. I have done what I needed to though.
The first one I saw in a magazine and decided it would be perfect for youngest grandson.....he loves his Lego. Had a bit of a job cutting out the circles for the bricks though....I don't have a circle punch or die the right size.

The next one.....for another grandson. I loosely followed a sketch ..again from a magazine....and used some of my scraps of paper. Got lots of scraps. It's my intention to try and use them as much as possible.

This one was for my eldest's birthday. I used a Dustin Pike image. Kept it black and white and only coloured the artist's materials....and added some buttons. A crafter himself and loves buttons on cards.

 He also attends an art therapy group (he suffers with depression) and he's becoming quite an acomplished (sp?)  artist.

An the last one..a card for youngests girlfriend. Again inspired by a craft magazine....great for when your mojo decides to go walkabout.....and used op some more of my scraps. I also entered this for this months challenge on Crafters Re-united. Haven't entered a challenge for a few months, but realized that it fitted the bill with all the right elements. 

Just a week...

...to Christmas day. Am I ready for it?....no I'm not!  Those lovely people at the benefit department have made an almighty cock-up. Was supposed to collect my benefit from the post office today.  Shopping in town tomorrow and having my grocery order delivered Thursday.  It ain't happening!! Why?  Someone has inputted a wrong house number on my claim so nothing has been paid out. After half an hour of answering security questions to confirm my identity,   (D.O.B.  N.I. number, post code, nationality, how long at present address, phone number etc.),  I've been told that someone from the office responsible for my claim will phone me tomorrow to try and sort it out.  You really couldn't make this up. Nearly eight years of claiming, and a week before Christmas someone goes and b**** it up.  I am not a happy bunny. I certainly will be glad when this year is over..it hasn't been a good one. 

On to some pics now. 

First...two things I made for my friend Anne. a little birdhouse inspired by Leonie.  The cross stitch was for her birthday last May but have only just got round to being able to give it to her.
 I apologise for the rubbish photography.

Next....granddaughters birthday card

A selection of Christmas cards made.

This will probably my last post this year, so I will wish you all a peaceful, healthy and happy Christmas season, and a big thank you for visiting.

3 months since my last post

The reason?  I'm struggling with my health. My energy levels are very low and the arthritis is getting worse and slowing me down even more. The computer has taken a bit of a back seat as my concentration levels are practicaly nil.  I haven't been in the garden for months and it really does need some attention before the really bad weather sets in.  I have been crafting though....mostly making cards for my son. These have been orders he's had, but been unable to fill because of major decorating and all his craft stuff being packed away. Well I got them done..the customers were really pleased with the cards, and now it looks as though we both have potential Christmas orders in the pipe line. Still got to make a start on my own!!!

Here's a few that I've made...not posting them all.....it would take me too long and probably bore the pants off you!....LOL 

These 3 for son's friends 

5 cards for a special lady from members of her family. I used papers from Making Cards magazine  and the last one was done with the help of Craft Artist. The customer requested a floral theme for all of them.

Finally a card for son's friends 1st  wedding anniversary

Thank you for looking.... and being patient

Another one...

...card that is. This one was a bit more difficult as I know practically nothing about the recipient. My son passed this on to me to make as with everything going on with him at the moment he didn't feel that he could do it. All I know is that it is for an elderly woman to give to her husband. He likes gardening but has had to seriously downsize owing to his health, and it had to have husband on it. I hope it fits the bill. I madee it using CAP (Craft Artist Professional) and it is a hybrid. The background was printed straight out and the verse panel and butterfly was printed separately then matted and layered. I added glossy accents to the clock and the butterfly, and a bit of raffia. just need to find out if a sentiment is needed for the insert.

The last two days have been glorious weather wise so I have taken advantage and spent a lot of time in the garden. It's been hard work and very tiring, but worth it. Sons have been very helpful with the housework and cooking. I think they are beginning to appreciate how much work it takes. It's been swings and roundabouts with some of my plants though.    Things have really flourished..especially the Buddlia (which is 3 times the size it was last year) and my shrubs. The casualties have been my pansies and snapdragons which the heavy rain washed out, and my dwarf lupins. I bought them last year and they did really well. I've never been able to grow them in this garden before. Well they were flourishing this year until the snails got to them...and my hosta....decimated!!!

I made a card..

...for this months challenge at the Crafters re-united forum. The theme is "sweet treats".  Used a stamp by Adam Prescott...I love his stamps. Didn't go overboard with the embellishments as I didn't want to cover up too much of the lovely embossed handmade paper. Had it in my stash for ages. The flowers were made from the waste of a big papermania punch. Added a small gem in the centres and a couple of Woodware leaf sprays, a tiny sentiment and a bit of sparkly ribbon. The mirri frame is showing as gold but is actually silver.

I'm still here...

..just been engrossed. I've been spending a lot of time on the Craft Artist forum...(CAP). There are so many very knowledgeable and talented people on there. I'm determined to use CAP rather than it being sat on my computer doing nothing. It is a fairly simple programme to use..even for me! My problem is the brain fog I get with the M.E. I can read something and a few seconds later have forgotten everything I've read. I've started by slowly reading something, then finding all the instructions on the CAP help files and printing them out, then actually trying the techniques for myself. It works for me even though it is a bit slow and  time spent on the comp tires me very quickly. I'm getting there.
The rest of my time has been spent dodging the rain. Trying to catch up with my gardening in the short spells of nice weather, and also going over to eldest sons to try and keep his garden from running amok. He badly damaged his hand and now has had carpal tunnel surgery which has meant that he is very limited to what he can do. Me and one of my other sons are going over there tomorrow to help with shifting carpets and furniture. New central heating is being installed next week and the council have told him that the workmen have got to be able to get to the pipework and radiators or else it doesn't get done. You'd think they would offer him some help...he is registered as disabled after all.
I haven't done much crafting at home but have actually made two cards at the craft group...and something new to me...iris folding.  I've never been able to actually make a card before as we are so busy helping the others. No sentiments on the cards as yet.
I didn't like the leaves on the tulip pattern so used quilled leaves instead. Pearl papers and silver peel offs.
(Not used peel offs for a long time.)

Used some patterned papers from my stash and gold peel offs

Blogger not playing nice at the moment..wont let me put pics where I want to...grrrr

Scrapbooking...

....that's what I've been up to. Not to good at it yet..only done three pages so far.  At least with digi scrapping I can just alter or delete if I don't like it and no papers or embellishments wasted. Anyway here are my latest efforts. They are both of my friend Anne. Both done using Craft Artist and the free digi kits. I snagged the pics from her face book page and had a play.

I can't believe....

....that it's almost a month since my last post. Where have the last few months gone?....it'll soon be Christmas!!  Again I have been very busy with the weather dictating most of my activities. We had what could be described as almost a tropical heatwave....then more downpours. I've been helping my eldest getting his garden tidied. A few weeks ago he broke his hand (an argument with a door that the door won unfortunately) and has found.....and is still....finding it very difficult to use. His hand is permanently damaged and combined with his other health problems it isn't easy for him. It's also meant that I've had to do more at the weekly craft club.....he hasn't been able to help some of our members as much, being right handed and it was the right hand that he injured.
My yearly eye test was due and I've had that with no problems.....my prescription has altered very slightly but not enough that I needed new glasses.  Also had my prescription review at the doctors. No problems..my blood pressure was slightly up but the doc said that  may be due to the medication, and I've lost some weight,,,again. Really pleased about that considering I don't get the exercise I used to and I don't do diets.  It helps the osteo arthritis if I can maintain it.
Anyway.....this week was the turn of my garden again. I got the front garden done at the weekend, was only going to cut the grass but ended up doing it all. Today I managed to cut the two lawns in the back and edged the bottom lawn and weeded the flower beds before the rain started.  The plants are really flourishing but so are the weeds.  The weather has forecast for more rain over the next couple of days so I can't see me getting the rest done this week. A good thing really, otherwise I would be tempted to get out there and get it finished...and then I would be paying the price with pain for the next few days and then nothing would get done.
Billy and Olly (my two cats) have been loving going outside, but I worry when they are out now. Ollie hasn't wandered from the garden yet.....preferring to lie in the sun.......but Billy is venturing further afield. Not far...only the neighbouring gardens....but my little Theo wasn't far from home when he was killed on the road.  I always give a sigh of relief when Billy comes back safe and sound.
No cards made this time .....just been playing with things in my stash and trying things out. I want to make a card for this months forum challenge but my mojo is having a little holiday. Perhaps it will come back with the rain.