Has it really been that long ??

Wow !!!

Its been a while hasn't it ?
What can I say... So much has happened since I last posted.. Its taken me a while to pull myself back up.. I had lots of downs.. Lots of ideas  followed by lots of ups ..
What was that song
'The only way is up'  Not sure who it was by although I have the song in my head.

So where do I start... My darling Grandad passed away. My dad was found to have an aeortic anerorism , so had to have emergency surgery. I found out the company that I worked for was going into administration and then that our shop was closing. We buried granddad and the shop closed... That was all within 5 weeks and can I add just 6 days before Christmas.....

New Year started and I was determined that I had to do something.. Due to my mobility issues I wouldn't be able to walk into another job.. Even with experience that I had so..... I created my own shop then I had a job...

If I am 100 % honest, which I do always like to be ... Its my shop that saved me !! I have no idea where I would of been if it wasn't for me chanelling all my time and energy into getting my little shop open.
I love it there... Just going to work each day is just amazing... It makes me smile.. I have some of Grandma and Grandads furniture there with me too so I know they are always near.. ( Even though it has been painted up a little ;O) )

So now I have a little shop blog which you are welcome to follow if you wish too .
Or if you live anywhere near and fancy dropping in... Let me know as we love having a reason to eat cake ;O)

Heres a link to my shop blog
Oona Kay



Great big Hugs
Choccy xxx

OSAAT Challenge Time

Its Sunday, so that means only 1 thing .... OSAAT. Well maybe a roast dinner too lol ;O)

I have finally made the time to, join back in with the team and make cards again... Its been far far too long. For my .... comeback I got to use a gorgeous image/ paper pack by the stuntastic  Coosty Creations  and I used her brilliant Steampunk Ship Digital stamp and Paper Pack  Its such a great image especially for men. Which as we all know is one of the hardest cards to make ;O)

Heres my creation

I have used ric rac ribbon and hessian on my card along with 2 papers from the kit. Not forgetting the stunning image which I have coloured with my Pro Markers and a gold signo pen ;O)

Pop over to the challenge blog and join us in our Anything Goes Challenge.

The prize this week is all the images that our DT  girls used in challenge #184. So a fabtastic prize worth well over $20

Hugs
Choccy xxx

Saturday Demo Day

Now I must write a note to myself .... When doing a demonstration day at work. Put my camera into my craft bag !! I can not believe I forgot it .... again :O(

Ahhh well I suppose I can tell you about my makes and then update my blog with a photo when I go back into work on Monday ;O) Now theres an idea :O)

Today I made a Christmas Stocking bunting :O)  Using a template from the Creativity magazine think it was the September issue.. I made one for each staff member in Christmassy colours.. Then I added everyones names using a new Fabric Metallic letter stickers. They are soooo cool. For only £1 , I will buy some more.
I also continued to make some more of the Twelve Days of Christmas card set that I started on the last demo day.. So that's 8 out of the 12 made so far :O)  They will be finished on the next demo day.. Then the store will have 12 cards to give out to our sister stores. ;O) So that's a helpful demo make by me.
Lots of crafty questions were asked and answered. Overall a lovely day :O)

I promise I will update with a picture of the cool bunting :O)

Hugs
Choccy xxx

Team B Just Inspirational

Well its time for Team B to shine this week at Just Inspirational .... So that's me :O)

This week we are sponsored by the of course fantastic StitchyBear Digi Outlet

With a fabby prize of yummy digi images :O)

This week we had a great image to use as inspiration.. Here it is

 

Then heres my card using an image by one of their many digi image creators.

 

 

I used only 2 brads ... not a whole heap like the image ;O) But, picked up on the red and the blue brads .. I used glossy accents on the skateboard and his trainers. The image was coloured with my Promarkers.

 

Why not pop over to the Just Inspirational challenge blog and join in the fun ?

 

Hugs Choccy xxx

Not a card today

There isn't a card on my blog today. Just a little poem that was shared with me today at my Grandfathers nursing home....
The words are so touching, they never fail to bring a tear or ten to my eye..
My granddad is such a super star. Hes fighting myloema ( blood cancer) , his kidneys are struggling and now he has Alzheimers...  Seeing him struggle is so heart wrenching.. To think just a few months ago he was living in his own home, doing everything for himself and driving still :O)

So my post for today is one for my Grandad.. Who I love with all my heart xx

Do not ask me to remember
Don't try to make me understand.
Let me rest and know you're with me,
Kiss my cheek and hold my hand.

I'm confused beyond your concept,...
I'm sad and sick and lost.
All I know is that I need you,
To be with me at all cost

Do not lose your patience with me,
Do not scold me or curse or cry.
I can't help the way i'm acting,
I can't be different though I try.

Just remember that I need you,
that the best of me is gone.
Please don't fail to stand beside me,
love me till my life is gone

New challenge. New Design Teamies and a new start

Theres a brand new challenge over at OSAAT. One Stitch At a Time.
Its Everyones favourite !!!! 

'Anything Goes '

We also have lots of new Design Team Girls that have joined us too... Well they have been announced but at going to be joining in the fun for challenge #186..

I am off today so I shall be making a few samples up for my first ever card making ( Stamp a stash )  event.. There will be more about the event on here soon.... I need to finalise all the details. Then I am hoping that some of my local crafty friends or crafty want to have a try friends will come and join in..

Right off to the craft cave ......

A wave from me

Well its been a long while !!!
Where has she been you may be asking ? LOL ..

Wellll Choccy has been suuuuper busy working :O(  Now luckily I do love both my jobs But I also love sofa days where I can just relax.. That's what I have done today :O) 
My Grandad has been poorly and now hes in a nursing home :O(
The boys have been off school , for 6 weeks.
I have been doing demo work at the shop that I work at too. The interest in them has grown so much since I took over that we are now having monthly card making demos :O) The last one that I did was the busiest ever !! They are such great fun and I meet such lovely people. Both regulars and new visitors..  Hopefully I teach them new techniques and share little secrets with them ... They keep coming back so they must be enjoyable ;O)
Today is my first day off in 23 days and apart from sending out images to the DT... Working on setting the new DT into challenge teams ..
I've been planning a super duper Stamping Up Event.. My first ever !! A card making event... Oooh super excited. But I have huge butterflies trying to escape from my churning stomache ..
Venue ... sorted
Date ..... sorted
Make and takes ... sorted
Now to order all the items we need to order then order them ;O)
Then most importantly .... advertise advertise  advertise

Hopefully work will sort itself out now, with the holiday season over. The boys have gone back to school and college, well 6th form.
I must start creating again for both the design teams that I am on.

So I will be back with my regular postings again

Hugs to you all :O)
Choccy xx