Trouble int'Paradise..

Eee, pet.. t'path of true love never runs smooth, does it, girlz? (sigh) Having a few issues with my Yorkshireman, but I'm hoping we'll be sorted yet.

Any road up, you'll never guess what? I have a couple of cards to show you! Wahey!! Both CAS.

This one is from just over a month ago to mark the anniversary of Eric and I getting together...

And this one was for Eric's eldest daughter's birthday, Amanda. One of her main obsessions is Northallerton Football Club, so this was easy.

That's it for now. I will try to get back here more often. Hopefully, it won't be another four months!! Yeh.. I know..

Love to all
xxx

Bucket alert.. Bucket alert...

Not crafty, I'm afraid, but I couldn't resist a little gloat... This arrived for me yesterday! (happy sigh)

Yes, still very loved up and ecstatically happy.

Hope you're all well and thriving. Miss you loads.

XOXO

Happy Father's Day, Eric..

My Father's Day card for Eric. Seems a bit odd, I know.. sending a boyfriend a card for Father's Day, but we have spoken much in recent weeks about how we were meant to be together all those years ago, and he could have been the father of my children, and he would have been a great dad. He IS a great dad.

 THANK YOU again for all your lovely comments on my previous post! :o)

This is one of those embossing errors.. I embossed the little hearts before die-cutting the bigger hearts, which kind of squished the little ones, but I quite like the effect, so left it as was..

I'm in luuuuurrrrvvvvee....

Get your hankies out, ladies.. Have a real Mills and Boon moment for you...

When I was 16, I met a very handsome soldier. He was a Lance-Corporal in the Royal Signals, 21, very tall, dark and utterly gorgeous, and we fell in love. He was my first grown up love. We talked about potentially getting married, and decided we would review things when I was 18 and had completed my 'A' levels. We were both completely smitten. However, my dad was not. He was a Wing-Commander in the RAF at the time.. a senior officer, equivalent to Lieutenant Colonel in the army. He did not approve of his daughter being associated with someone in the "other ranks", as they call them, and he used his authority and channels through M.O.D. to force us apart. My soldier stood up for us, but lost the battle. He was given no choice except to end our relationship or lose his career. I was heartbroken.

Long story short(ish!), we found each other again on Facebook a few weeks ago, and we are both single again. Guess what? He had been equally heartbroken by our break-up, and I had always been on his mind, too, throughout the 36 years we've been apart.

After much communication over the past few weeks, we are now back together and totally smitten all over again! :o)

Now you know why I haven't been back in a while!! *lol*

ALSO.. I have just finished my old job today, and start the new one on 7th June! :o)

Life is soooooo good! Hope you're all doing as well, and enjoying life. :o)

Ribbon addict..

Isn't that brill??!! *lol* Just one on an email I received recently full of hilarious cat pics. (If you'd like a copy, email me at allshecrafts@btinternet.com.)

Please note copyright details.. www.joannascheezeburger.com. (I've not looked yet, but I'd guess you can probably find the pics at that site.)

xx

Brace yourselves!! New Post Alert!!

FOUR of 'em! Yep, mojo is stirring.. Just a little, but there are definite signs of life! *lol*

There's a big 'Thank You' in the post below, too.

Hope you like, and hope you're all having a fab Bank Holiday!!

Hugs,
Chris xx

Butterfly card..

For a friend whose surname is Butt!! Not surprisingly, BUTTerflies are her thang! *lol* Have always loved this sentiment, but saw it again on my buddy Lesley's blog recently. Very cool.

Inkadinkado flourish and pretty butterfly stamp, blinged with Stickles, silver antennae and Swarovski crystals for extra sparkle.

THANK YOU
Just wanted to say thank you again for your patience and support while I've been 'off the air'! *lol* Have received some lovely emails, too, and comments on Facebook. I'm sorry if you're still waiting for a reply! I thought things would relax a bit after getting the job offer, but oh noooooooooo!! I still have another month to do on my old job, and had pretty much run out of things to do so was coasting and not doing much except job-hunting. Thought I would be virtually 'on gardening leave' for the last month, but not a chance! Have been given a whole bunch of other stuff to do. Not that I am compaining. They're entitled, and I still count my blessings every day that I HAVE a job in this climate, and still pinching myself that I managed to find another one to go on to.. an even BETTER one! Hallelujah! :o)

So.. my thanks again. Please bear with me.. I WILL get round to replying soon, I promise!

Hugs,

Chris

xxx

Niece's Birthday Card..

A little card for my lovely niece, Laura... 23 tomorrow (but she definitely won't see this, so it's OK to post). Pity glitter is sooo difficult to photograph!

Navy blue Bazzill and SU punches for the scalloped circle (and the circle cut out of the middle), lighter blue Bazzill for the smaller Martha Stewart punched butterflies. The main butterfly was cut out of a magazine, edges inked then painted with Stickles, decorated with gems and silver wire antennae. Sentiment is computer-generated with Word Art and a font called 'I'm Bored'!! *lol*

One more to come.. above!

Wedding Card..

This is a commission from a friend at work. She asked me to produce something reminiscent of the invitation design. This was as close as I could get. What do you think? Good enough? I quite like it. I am into simplicity at the moment, after the "over-complicating the life out of everything" groove I got into last year!! ;o) I also rarely use ivory or hammered card as a background, so this was a nice change. Also christened my Hero Arts cling stamp damask thingy. Loving it. So versatile!

More to come.. above! :o)

Brother-in-Law's Birthday Card..

Hmm. If my mojo is coming back, I think this is indicative of a slow return!! Not very happy with this disjointed little effort, but it will have to do. Happy birthday, Phil..

Harlequin stamp and Versafine Majestic Blue ink (stamped off for a paler effect), script stamp, silver plated chain, silver spiral clip and seashell charm. 'Birthday' text stamp and hand-written 'happy', matted onto navy blue Bazzill.

More posts to follow (above)!

Hugs,

Chris xx

Happy St George's Day!

The world is made up of two kinds of people.. English people, and those who wish they were English people! hehe ;o)

So to my fellow English people - and to those who can only hope - I wish you a lovely day!

Chris xx

Good news!!

And about flippin' time!! (phew)..

Got me a job, girlz!! After the emotional roller-coaster of the past couple of months or so, it is very welcome, I can tell you. Had my interview on Friday, and got on so well with the chaps I'd be working for. They made me feel so relaxed, and we had a giggle, and I left on a real high. But then the voices start and the doubts creep in, and I spent the whole weekend torturing myself... I should have said things I didn't say, and should have phrased differently things I DID say.. and when they didn't call until nearly noon today, I had convinced myself I hadn't got it, but then I got the call, and my face is hurting from grinning so much!! *lol*

There was an awkward moment in the car park as I was going in.. I met the previous candidate on her way out, and I know her! We used to work together at Business Link a few years ago, and she's good, so that didn't help my confidence much, either.

Anyway, it's mine! All mine! ;o)

What's that? What is it? Oh!! It's 'Management & Development Projects Officer, which is very similar to my current role, but with a little bit more authority and a little bit more money! Yayyy! I will be working for the Local Resilience Forum for Cambridgeshire & Peterborough, which is a joint committee between all the public bodies in our area who are responsible for responding to emergencies, like police, fire, ambulance and local authorities, etc, and I will be based at Cambridgeshire Constabulary headquarters in Huntingdon. I am supposed to be in my current job until the end of May when my redundancy notice expires, but they have said I could leave a bit earlier, so probably starting mid-May-ish, to be confirmed tomorrow.

It's perfect. Just perfect.

So.... Thank you so much for all your lovely good wishes and supportive emails. I'm sorry I've been a moody mare, but it's been a tough few weeks, given the current climate, and being (almost) 52 now, etc. Haven't wanted to look too closely at this and have been in denial most of the time, but underneath it all, I think my faith has wavered a tad, and if I'm truthful with myself, because of difficulties I've had in the past, I have been quite scared.

But now I can relax and breathe again, maybe my mojo will come back.. ???

Happy Easter, everyone..

An ATC from the archives.

Wishing you all a happy and blessed Easter.

Hugs,

Chris xx

Oh Mojo, Mojo.. Wherefore art thou, Mojo?

There I sat on Sunday morning.. still no card made... at my craft table, waiting for inspiration to strike. The wind whistled through the room. Ghostly tumbleweed drifted through the space where my mojo once lived... and this is the best I could come up with. (sigh) I know. You don't have to tell me. Bluuurrrgghh. But my mum liked it.

No news on t'job front. Will let you know when something happens. Meanwhile, keep those digits limbered, OK?

Hugs,

Chris xx

Poo!

Now girls, you weren't crossing hard enough, were you? Some of you were uncrossing to make a sneaky card or two, eh? C'mon.. 'Fess up.

Didn't get the job. Never mind. There will be others and I didn't really want that smelly job anyway. God's in charge. It obviously wasn't right.

I'll let you know when I need you on finger-crossing duty again next time. Thank you for your good wishes and extremity-contortions this time, even if some of it from some people was a tad feeble, let's be honest.

Hugs,
Chris xx

...aaaannd relax!

It's OK.. You can uncross everything now. Normal crafting service may resume.. that's if cramp hasn't set in. *lol* (That did make me chuckle, Jules!! ;o) T'interview went well, I think. Not 100% convinced it's the right one for me, but a bird in the hand, and all that. Anyway, we'll see. Hopefully news of the outcome tomorrow evening.

Thanks again for all your support. :o)

Hugs,
Chris xx

A Quick Thank You..

Hello, girls! Just wanted to drop by quickly to say thanks so much for all your lovely comments and encouraging words.. I really do appreciate them, and I'm sorry I haven't had chance to reciprocate lately.

I have my first interview tomorrow for the Fundraising Manager's post I told you about before. Have been busy preparing my presentation today. Just a few more bits of reading to do to refresh myself on the details, and prepare some halfway intelligent questions... bit of laundry and a manicure, etc, and I'll be ready!

4.00pm GMT tomorrow... I want all fingers and toes crossed, and prayers headed to heaven, please.... *lol* ;o) I know you will.

Will let you know the outcome.

Hugs,
Chris xx

Birthday Card for a Delicious person..

.. Paperlicious Delicious, that is! *lol* This was my birthday card for my lovely pal, Lesley.

It uses Papermania DP, Nesties label die, and about nine different rubberstamps! If there are any you'd like to know about, please do ask.

I also made a giftbox and a charm for whatever Lesley wanted to hang it from ~ a dingle-dangle for her dongle ~ but I forgot to take photos, so you'll have to visit Lesley's blog HERE (which I would definitely encourage, anyway), as she DID take pics! :o)

TTFN.. xoxoxo

Who's a clever clogs, then?

We-ell.. almost. I've got an interview at least!! *lol*... I don't believe in jinxes, so I'll tell you what it is.. Fundraising Manager at a well know national Cancer charity that has a lot of coffee mornings!! ;o)

Have a couple of other irons in the fire, too, and I would love any one of the three jobs I have applied for this week. They're all little crackers! The other two are marketing and communications managerial posts.

So pleased to have been shortlisted for interview for one of the three already. It's very encouraging and has put a big smile back on my face. :o)

Interview's on 8th March, a little ahead of the closing dates on the other two, but maybe I'll only need the one, eh? :o)

Anyway, I'm in danger of rambling again, so will shut up now. Hope you are all hanging in there, and managing to keep warm if you're up t'north or across the border in bonnie Scotland.

Hugs,
Chris xx

Time for a change..

Hi, all..

Just a quick message to let you know that I may not be around much on my blog, nor able to visit you as much for a while. Nothing sinister going on; just that I need to spend my spare time job-searching and I may have to down-size fairly soon in order to economise, and that means I need to undertake a major de-cluttering exercise to prepare for that. This project is going to take a while, so will only be crafting for birthdays, etc, and not just for fun.

As I de-clutter, I expect to be selling as much as I can, so please do subscribe to the feed from my 'Flog', if you can bear it, as there will be some crafting items coming up for sale amongst the detritus of my life.

Link to my Flog is at the top of my sidebar >>>

Thanks, friends. Didn't want you to be concerned if I seem to have dropped off the planet!! *lol*

See you soon..

Hugs,
Chris xx