What's on your to do list for 2012?

Happy New Year everyone. Are you one of those people who makes New Years resolutions or not? As a rule I don’t really tend to make new year resolutions as they tend to end up more like a to do list for the first week in January!. Having said that there are certain things I would like to work towards this year. The first is expanding and growing my Scratchycat craft business. At some point this week I need to sit down and write some goals and a business plan on how I aim to do this. I have a few ideas in the pipeline but need to work them out on paper. More importantly I need to become better organised. I always thought I was a fairly organised person until things became really busy before Christmas and then I realised I really wasn’t prepared for the rush!.

Now then have you all managed to get any crafting in yet?. I have managed a couple of projects so far.

They are pressie's for my little niece.

This week I am going to be working on Valentine’s Day projects and some IPad cases so I’ll pop up some pics when I have finished. If I get chance I might also do a tutorial for the ipad case.

I'm still alive!!

No I’m not dead even though I have been absent for a few weeks. Sometimes life just gets in the way and its been pretty hectic in the Glover house over the last 3 weeks. Miss G had 2 weeks off at half term and it was her birthday and things have been really busy with Scratchy Cat too. On top of that we have found out that Mr G is being made redundant for the third time in 18 months. I really feel for him as at the moment he is always the last in and then the first out. We are both in the construction industry and things just aren’t stable (and I can’t see them becoming so in the next year or two!). A lot of the projects Mr G was working on were part of the Governments Building Schools for the future. Most of that funding has been withdrawn meaning the projects aren’t being built. Anyway there is no point feeling sorry for myself as that won’t change things so I will be really busy trying to make sure my Scratchy Cat shop stays busy to bring in some extra pennies whilst something else comes along for Mr G. I’m sure it will as he is a very talented and well respected guy (ok I may be biased but he is!).

Anyway no more woe is me lets get looking at what I have been making recently. I have been busy with orders and making stock for my Folksy Shop and unit at botany bay. Here’s some of the items.....

 Mavis the sock monkey

 This little fella sold as soon as i had made him!

 This is my first attempt at making Christmas bunting and i love it.  i have put this in my folksy shop but i'm tempted to take it out and keep it as i think it goes great on my fireplace!

 I have made a few kettle chalkboards and these have been popular.  I only have one left so i'd better get making more.

Finally this plaque was an order for a lady at work. i also made her 2 girlie ballerina ones.

 

Busy weekend,a trip to Hospital and first of the christmas makes!

This weekend Me and Mr G went away for our wedding anniversary for 2 whole night. It was bliss. We stayed at the very posh Lowry hotel in Manchester which was gorgeous and my very thoughtful hubby had arranged for a bottle of Chablis (my fave wine) and a huge bouquet of flowers to be in the room. We did lots of shopping and then relaxed with a lovely meal in the hotel on the Friday. On Saturday we did some more shopping and then met up with friends for a Tesco wine fair at the GMex Centre. After 4 hours of tasting oodles of wine we toddled (or wobbled in my case) off to a lovely restaurant for a meal. A good time was had by all and to top it off Hubby’s favourite football team (Manchester United) were staying in our hotel and were leaving on a coach as we were going out on Saturday so he got to see them – I didn’t recognise any of them!!).

Whilst we were shopping on Saturday morning I got a blister on my foot (bare with me there is a reason I’m telling you this!) from not wearing socks. When we went out on Saturday I put a plaster on it and thought nothing more of it. On Sunday morning it was aching a bit but still not worth thinking about until….. by Sunday afternoon my whole foot , ankle and calf had completely puffed up. I went to bed on Sunday night to find that I couldn’t get out of bed on Monday morning!!. I ended up at A & E to find that after an x-ray I have a chip in my ankle that apparently isn’t a new injury and hasn’t been bothering me at all (no idea when I have done that!!!) but because my foot had become so swollen it was aggravating the chip!. The swelling apparently was from the blister which had become infected!. The doctor ordered me to have it completely rested and elevated for at least 48 hours with minimal pressure for a week -clearly he has no kids then!. I have to say Mr G has been amazing. He made me completely rest on Monday night making tea sorting Lili and even packing her school bag, pack lunch etc.

Anyway on to more interesting things like crafting. I haven’t been able to do much because of being away and then my ankle but I have managed to make a few Christmas Makes. I have been wanting to start for ages but resisted until September. There will be no stopping me now though!.

 I wanted to do a santa stop here sign last year and never got round to it. In the end i went and bought a cheap one from Poundworld - it was one that you stake in the ground it didn't last long!!  This one i have made will hang on Lili's bedroom and i have made an extra one to put in my Folksy shop

 This magnetic calendar note holder is made from a cheap coaster which i have covered with scrapbook paper and added a 2012 calendar and a cute little strawberry peg that i got from John Lewis.  It has a magnetic strip on the back for popping on the fridge. 

A 5 minute room plaque

Now i know i said i wouldn't do any more projects until i had gutted my study but i couldn't resist making a really quick and easy room plaque for one of my nieces.  At the moment i am really into wooden projects having ordered loads of random wooden shapes online before Christmas. 

This is a really quick gift and the only time involved really is waiting for the spray paint to dry.

Here's the step by step....

1.  Take a thin piece of MDF or thin wood.  I used these and they are approx 14cm x 7cm

2. Using spray paint (or a tin if you haven't got spray paint) cover your plaque and leave to dry. Once dry turn over and repeat.

3.  Once fully dry use a gel ink pen to write on your text.  I also added lines around the border to jazz it up. 

4. Embellish with stickers, chipboard etc.  i used accessorize stickers on mine.

5.  Turn over and add a sticky pad to the back .