My Life's Ingredients

Scenario - you promised your kids Hogwarts robes for their birthday party (which is of course a Harry Potter Party). However, you've left things quite late and then had to go to Germany for holidays. So, after you managed to finish all the pencil wands, mini cauldrons and most of the golden snitches, you decide to start on the robes... on the twins' birthday (the day before the party) at 5:30pm... But all should be ok... because the pattern you found says it will only take 1 hour to make ... Ok... I suspect somehow that's withouth ironing and cutting... or most likely that the lining fabric has the same width of the outer fabric so would be easier to cut? But of course my lining is a bit more than half the width of the outer fabric which resulted in me having to measure and then double them up and sew at the top. It IS actually a very good pattern/instruction. I managed to get everything done like they said (mostly, but that's my measuring issue), h...

The aspirations for 2016 were.... General/Non-crafting Get a part time job after summer (a bit at least ... to get back into my being "Kat" and not "mummy/mami/mum" etc. ) Actually... Doctor suggested to take 3-6 months out from anything really once girls started school (daily tension headaches have returned ... but I AM looking for a part time job for later this year!!).  Lose another stone (or 1.5 ... we'll see) Bit stuck since WW changed from ProPoints to Smart Points ... but hopefully will get there eventually... Declutter the house After Con and holiday...  paint living room/get new couch That'll be on the plan for June/July sort out girls' "play room" on middle floor That'll be on the plan for June/July Declutter crafts/get craft room/study set up Hoping to get that started this Friday ... will be a long ongoing thing for the year... More Geocaching with the girls! Definitely will do that... it's on the plan and we'...

Just a quick update on crafty things... ;) I've signed up for another swap on Craftster ... :o But hey ... it's for a great person and fab crafter and I'm looking forward to making items for her (edited - that's already finished and sent - "Back to Hogwarts Swap" for Ant Bee). Whittling down the lists Nursery teachers' presents for when the girls leave in less than 2 weeks (pinterest to the rescue ... I have now found an idea I quite like and hopefully get sorted!)  -  DONE An order placed with  Kat'sGeekKrafts   for bags .     DONE Crochet summer hat for wee Erica Crochet summer hat for wee Finlay (re-do as the wee boy has a bigger head than anticipated!! ;) )  2/3 Done!! YAY Instead of the Wooly ghan below I'll make a FiS inspired something in time for DH's birthday Wooly ghan for hubby's Christmas (?) Wooly ghan for big sis (that will be most likely for Christmas if not next year, not her birthday) OAHPT Swap for Ginny (got...

YAY! Finished an item off my list! ;)  The Thank you/Leaving gift from the girls for the nursery teachers.  Getting the photos set up was a bit of a fiddly thing, but I really like how it came out.  The box contains 2 packs of flower seeds, 2 packs of vegetable seeds and 2 packs of Werther's Original.  I quite liked the quote I used, which is why I added the seed packets. :) 

Mmmmh... I really wish Microsoft Live writer and Blogger would sort out their problems ... so much easier to write and then upload, but hey ... just have to be on blogger itself to update *gasp!* the blog. ;) Some thoughts running through my head ... how many kids can we accommodate comfortably in our house/garden for the Hobbitses' birthday? I think taking everyone into account we may have 10 kinds around. Is that ok? We don't really want to have a big party this year with going somewhere and paying a lot of money - there's no need for it really. Garden, games and some sausages/potato salad/pasta salad was all I needed when I was a kid?! Only problem is of course that it's the two of them ... instead of just one kid, but so far they have the same friends, so no added numbers! ;) And then for craftiness ... I'm currently thinking about a fandom bookshelf quilt, based on the PoD ( Project of Doom ) bookshelf quilt on Fandom In Stitches .  Was thinking of doing th...

Well… when it comes to crafts I don’t have much time for due to the girls demanding my attention during daytimes and me being just flat out tired/cannot be bothered (oh oh!) in the evenings. Effectively I only have Tuesdays to do crafts for long when the girls are at the grandparents for the day and a sleepover.  And that’s usually the day I catch up with housework… Despite all this I’ve decided to sign up to 2 swaps at our local crop group (in addition to the monthly layout Chinese Whisper we’re running at the moment – the only thing I get scrapped at the moment) – a Christmas tag swap (15 tags) and a “Merry Christmas Bunting” swap – each person is doing 14 triangles with a certain letter (mine is “E”) in certain colours (fortunately most are doing the traditional gold/green/red, but we have a couple more modern Christmas colours , too). Can I make it? I just HAVE to. So this Tuesday I just declare a CRAFT DAY – with maybe some washes on and cleaning the kitchen floor, but tha...

Well... hopefully able to post some more crafty results over the next weeks/months. ;) Dani's Forum is doing a Advent Calendar again and here's my contribution to it: AKW 2010 - meine Paeckchen I had bigger plans for this, different packaging, but life got in the way and I really wasn't in the mood for anything that time ... glad I managed to get the box to Mellie though - and last thing I heard my Advent Calendar is on its way back to me now. :) Cannae wait!! Other things - we had our November crop yesterday and I actually DID something else than blethering and looking at other people's stuff ... ;) Still searching for my crafting Mojo, mind.... I found the instructions from one of the ladies at Dani's forum, "Yosemite" who posted this Teabag book with instructions on her blog. She's really very talented and does a lot of nice instructions for crafty things on her blog, definitely worth looking!! Tea bag book I've used one of ...

… posting a lot of crafty stuff lately – well, no wonder … I’ve hardly done anything. :o However, I’ve managed to make some cards and even took photos! So here they are… ;) That’s the card I made for my inlaws’ Ruby Wedding anniversary – Wording is from Dimension Fourth (last year’s renewal gift) and the stamp … huh … I think I got that one way back from Rebekah at Stamper’s Grove (before she sold the business). Stamped on red card, layered with gold.     The card to the right is the belated birthday card I made for my best friend, Sharon . :) The stamp is from one of the monthly Stamp kits from Dimension Fourth. Embossed in Dusky rose I think … from Stamper’s Grove years ago. :) I’ve done a couple more cards I’m sure, but can’t find the photos (IF I’ve taken any of them! :o) ). Hoping to get more crafts done soon, but with workout plan (doing something cardio-related nearly every day of the week!) and work and Christmas prep etc … you know what that ...

MISSING: 1 Scrapbooking Mojo LAST SEEN: Very long time ago RANSOM: No calls for ransom have been received so far If anyone finds it, please return it to its rightful owner (i.e. me). Come to think of it .... its siblings CARD MAKING MOJO, CROSS STITCHING MOJO and KNITTING MOJO have been absent for a long time too ... and the little brother QUILTING BROTHER was last seen yesterday but has no knowledge of his siblings whereabouts!

I saw this one on Lynz's blog and thought I was too late to sign up ... but the girlie just told me there are only 2 sign ups so far, so there! ;) I think it sounds like a bit of fun and I quite like the idea! :) 1. I will make a little something for the first three people who comment on this post. It will be a surprise and it will arrive on your doorstep when you least expect it! 2. I will have 365 days to do it in. What's the catch? To get a handmade prezzie from me, you have to play too. This means YOU pledge to send a little handmade something to three readers of your blog. It doesn't have to be quilty or scrapbooky - just handmade. 3. You must have a blog. (obviously!) 4. BEFORE you comment here, you must post about your Pay It Forward on your blog to keep the fun going, and display the Pay It Forward button. I know I have lots of people reading my blog ... and as I have a couple of followers as well, I hope I won't have a problem with people taking part. :) I wi...

Not much, but I've been doing it! ;) Sharon's belated birthday card - one of my new "Whiff of Joy" stamps: Whiff of joy stamp "Fall Willow holding baby Turkey" Cuttlebug Embossing Folder "Swiss Dots" Cuttlebug Cut & Emboss Starter pack (included in Cuttlebug machine purchase) Ribbon Patterned Paper: Then her "New Job" card...: Prima flowers Bitmap courtesy Microsoft A tag for the latest "One Stamp Swap" (Pam's Indian Stamps): Stazon Gold Acrylic paint dabber Beadazzle Ribbon Gloo And then the CJ entry I have been procrastinating about for the last 4 (!!!) months! Apologies to the girlies at Dani's forum (life and all that getting in the way!). This is the one with the theme "Moments of Love". I am planning on doing the entry for the "Where I live" CJ this week. I have of course also been doing the Chinese Whispers (still got 1 to do) and will post the...

Well... still had to get up early to find the 2 Walking booklets from the Scotsman for my MIL and the cutting plates for my Cuttlebug, which always seem to disappear! :o Then went to Stamper's Grove for a nice Cuttlebug Christmas class. NICE cards and lots of inspirations. Will post pics later today or tomorrow. ;) Then for a "quick" stop (the usual - want to stay for 20 mins and ended up staying for an hour!) at the Inlaws, shopping at Tesco and getting back home with LOTS of time for me to pick my NFL Fantasy team for today (DH was not so lucky, Sky did freeze the picking before the agreed time, so he's not happy and has sent a complaint to them - with SkySports he can actually win stuff - I am just playing against some Wolves players and their friends and it's more fun than anything else really). Now catching up with internet and having NFL on in the background. :) Not totally a Sunday without football of course.

as it seems. At least not for myself. I usually get some stuff done in the kitchen (like washing up, emptying and filling the dishwasher, put on a wash, hang up washing, cook dinner and prepare much work lunches). But do I get done anything crafty? Do I EVER!! :( So I am planning to take up my dinner and make the 3 birthday cards I have been trying to do for AGES! 2 belated birthdays and one still to come. Also plan on preparing my recipe cards for the Christmas Cupcake/Muffin Recipe Swap on UKS . Let's hope I'll get at least the birthday cards done, eh? Probably spend too much time on the PC/laptop ... and I believe with the craft area still being a mess (YES, I KNOW!!!! :o) ) it doesn't really get me in a crafty mood. Won't be able to clear out the room before October though, with Britbowl and my annual trip down to London looming... :o AND we've got our Awards Night for the Junior and Senior Wolves the first weekend in October ... and I have to think of someth...

Finally managed to finish my CJ "Mein Lieblingsrezept" (my favourite recipe) for the CJ group at Dani's Forum . Due to the headaches it took me a little longer to finish it, but at least it's going in the post tomorrow. Looking forward to doing yet another German CJ. I've also got a picture from the Mother's Day Card I made for my MIL. Used the Pansy Set of the Rubberstamp Tapestry stamps - the first time I actually used them in that way. LOVELY! ETA - no connection to main PC just now ... will load the photo tomorrow. :D

for about 2 weeks now on and off ... went to work yesterday with it and left at 2:45pm because I couldn't take it anymore and the painkillers didn't work either. Off today (maybe back at work tomorrow) as still not feeling well. It's not really migraine as I don't have the other signs, but it's like a vice clamped around my head and fingers pressing into my eyesockets. DH suggests it could be actually sinusitis (without the "gunk" as my nose is more or less dry). Got an appointment on Friday and will see what they are saying. Really have to get some crafty stuff done by Saturday ... my CJ entry and introduction and sign in pages and a Mother's Day Card for MIL. Why do the Brits insist on celebrating Mother's day on another day than everyone else??? Because of this I either send her the card 2 months late or my Mutsch and stepmom get theirs 2 months early!!! Might have a go at scrapping/card making/CJing later today. Right now I am in the mood for ...

... was the 2nd day with frost! No snow yet though. Have been fairly busy today, mostly doing housework (again!!!) but also got the picture for the Wolves Christmas Card 2007 (for our sponsors). As none of them is reading my blog I can show it to you. Courtesy of my trial run on Photoshop Elements (and I think I'd really like this software!! :D ) - photo of Dave handing off at the game Wolves v. Tigers on 19.5. @ Meadowbank. I am going to stick the photo onto card blanks and then will write an insert for the inside of the card. I finally managed to get my Stollen into the oven as well... I'd done the dough on Friday already but didn't have much time to bake - and as I am still not 100% sure about my oven (fan assisted) I'd rather be in the kitchen while the stollen is in there. So this time ... NO burnt raisins, no dark brown top ... "just" a nice stollen, soft enough in the middle and just yummie!!! Doug said it's the best stollen so far! :) Wonder if...

...and guess what - still not the right time for me! :o Back to yet another blood test tomorrow ... this time even earlier than before, between 8 and 8:30am. They will have trouble finding a vein again though. I definitely need to add some arnica cream on my bruises. Work was very busy today but at least I got a different "queue" from our work system this time. Fairly refreshing! :) Also received a pizza box this morning, without the RM ringing the doorbell. But at least they left the box outside. :) Was my order from A Trip Down Memory Lane (for my "Nikolaus" from the SBS Forum and raffle pressies for the crop.) YUMM!! I also got my first "Klartext" stamp sheetfrom Dani Preuss - nice Christmas sayings in German. VERY useful for German Xmas cards. Just couldn't resist. Can't wait for my next day off ... although I suspect I have to pop in to EFREC on Thursday morning as well... yawn! Feeling tired and my eyes are feeling tired as well ......

Scrapbooking-wise. Haven't done anything in ages ... and ok, my brain just doesn't work at the moment for that. I hope I can do something once I have my result ... and hopefully it's going to be a positive one!! I have been doing frantic Xstitch yesterday night and today though, MIL's birthday card. :) Doug and I went over to see them in the afternoon, after I've spent nearly all day in bed (with crampy tummy, trapped wind - sorry TMI - and else totally worried about the whole result). Stitching kept my mind focused at least. :o Had a nice piece of choc cake at the inlaws and spend some time with them - they will be off to Madeira on Sunday and BIL will follow a week later. So ... we need to text or e-mail them with the result on Monday.

...just now due to TIME (mostly used for studying ... even though my body is totally against it and throws colds and defunct brain at me!!!) I thought I upload a couple of pictures of the things I have done for Christmas Presents in December...just to keep the "crafty quota" up in this blog ... LOL. The first two pictures are the present for my big sis - an exploding box (thank you, Anso for the easy instructions!!)with pictures of her at different ages plus some quotes about sisters. She said she loved it!!! :) The third picture is of a double LO (6x4) for my friend Anam who moved to Canada last year (gosh, that must be coming up 1 year now!!). She had asked her friends to make the LO so she can take something of us with her ... and of course I didn't get it done until December (she moved in spring)!!! :o Waehrend ich im Moment nicht gerade sehr kuenstlerisch bin (saemtliche Stunden, die ich wach bin, sind fuer's studieren da...auch wenn mein Koerper sich dagegen ...