McNeed!

Hello friends

Glad to report yesterday's radiotherapy went very well too - so much so Elliott was definitely 

in the mood for McDonalds as soon as we left the hospital.

We stopped off at the services on the M25, not the nicest place but if you are

in needs of McDonalds urgently .....!

The hospital have joked that they are making me an honorary Radiographer,

this is because I get to set Elliott up in the treatment room, see everything on the screens

and chat to Elliott through the microphone,

(and probably ask too many questions!)  I did wonder if I would get a badge...

Elliott then opened his lovely Day 2 gift from Anne which was chocolate coins,

I got to see them briefly before they were eaten up!

Yesterday I featured Ned, Elliott's mascot dog.  There was a request to see him

without his mask and here he is...he does have eyes, they are obscured by fur.

I still have some craft projects to share.  Again, an item that is being featured 

in this month's edition of Cardmaking and Papercraft Magazine.

A table favour box.

I think this design has 'me' written all over it, much more my style.

The box is Square Petal Top Box and the flower is much loved Layered Poinsettia.

A rhinestone brad to the middle gives a nice finishing touch.

A little tag is featured - please stop by in a day or two as I have information

about all the tags I like to use on projects.

Already Wednesday, this week is rushing by and I am pleased, I am marking the 

next six weeks off the calendar and wishing away 2013.

2014 is going to be a fantastic year! 

Oh yes...before I forget, my first website newsletter went out last night -
if you would like to subscribe please visit the site and click on the newsletter tab.
It will be monthly and contains news, info and special offers :)

I will keep checking back for new subscribers and make sure you get the newsletter -
I don't want you missing out!

Take care friends - thank you so much for your comments and for your

amazing support.

A Good Start!

Hello friends

All your good wishes certainly paid off - thank you. 

Elliott sailed through his first radiotherapy treatment yesterday.

We have been warned that later it does get more difficult but we are happy right now,

he has coped with his mask and is feeling confident.

Heading off to the hospital again today feeling a lot more positive.

Here is a photo that I forgot to share with you.  When Elliott was having brain

surgery in King's, the staff gave him a soft toy dog. 

(Elliott chose to name him Ned - short for needles!)  He has become a sort of mascot.

When Elliott attended the Marsden to have his mask moulded the staff automatically

made one for Ned and here he is wearing it.

As you can see it does have a sort of Hannibal Lecter look about it! 

Everyone's kindness has totally overwhelmed us and another amazing gesture is from

blog follower, Anne Riley Davies. A parcel arrived and we discovered it was a 

Radiotherapy Calendar for Elliott.  A gift for every day of his treatment!

Anne is sending them in batches and this is numbers 1-5. 

As soon as he finished his treatment yesterday he opened gift number 1 and

he was very pleased to discover chocolate teddies.

I was very touched that he instantly gave one to Mitchell! 

Thank you so much for your kindness Anne.

Today a very different card to share with you....it isn't my usual style at all!

I was asked to use this owl stamp - Christmas Hoot by Cardmaking and Papercraft Magazine and

I turned my hand to a bit of colouring.  It truly was a first attempt but I think he looks

quite a happy festive owl!  I'm pretty sure my creative niche remains in die cutting but

sometimes it is good to step outside of our comfort zones.

Thanks again everyone and I will be back soon.

Just in case you missed it.....

Hello friends

Yesterday's blog post went up a little later than usual so just in case you missed it....

my new website has finally arrived!

You can view it here.

Some more info regarding ordering, navigating around the site etc can be found in

yesterday's blog post too.

And, talking of the new website - thank you for all the comments and messages - 

you all like it, yippee!

My Amazon shop will be closing shortly as I want to concentrate fully on the 

website.  Elliott is going to be my assistant through all of this, health permitting - 

I thought it would be nice for him to have something else to focus on.  

He is going to design some new sliders/banners, something festive is on order I believe!

Yesterday, knowing we were starting the six weeks of treatment today I thought

it would be good for all of us to get out, take in the fresh air and walk...it was very cold though!

Greenwich Park, London at twilight.  Canary Wharf and the 02 in the background.

We all had to wrap up warm including Bella!

I like to think this is her country tweeds look....it is my clever Mum that knits her jumpers.

Now how about something crafty!

In this month's edition of Cardmaking and Papercraft Magazine the cover gift is festive metal charms, they are really nice and I got to make some cards using them.

Here is one card using the 2013 Snowflake Pendant and I've placed a metal snowflake 

charm to the middle.

The papers are Kaisercraft - Christmas Carol collection.

I intend to still blog as much as I can - so keep your eyes peeled!

Take care friends, keep warm and wishing you all a good week.

It's here!

Hello friends

The day has arrived when I can finally say it's here!!!

The NEW website - queue fanfare please!
You can click on the picture below to take you there....

My web designer man - Stuart Gibbins has worked hard to make a site that I love,

a tall order believe me, especially as most of this was organised by emailing
from hospital waiting rooms!

Like all new websites there may be a little tweaking needed but I am hoping it will

run smoothly.  I didn't realise just how much goes into it all but I'm learning fast!

Purchasing is organised under the a main tab 'Shop', a drop-down menu appears with sub-tabs across for items e.g. for Spellbinders™ it will list: Nestabilities®, Die D-Lites® etc -
I think that makes all the lovely goodies easier to locate.

There is also there is a search button in the top right hand corner - handy!

Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L™ have their own little home - I am proud to say

that I think I'm the only UK retailer that has nearly their entire range,

(and more exciting sticky new releases arriving soon!)

I've got some special sale launch items across the entire range of dies, adhesives and paper.

Paying for your items is bang up to date too - you can use debit cards, credit cards 

and PayPal.

There is a gallery section - some of my favourite projects there. When you click on the images
they open in a light box so you get to see all the detail.
My Advent Frame is featured and all the items are available -
the Square Bracket Edge Box die, the wooden frame and the numbers!

Other areas include FAQs and the boring but necessary legal stuff!

There is a link to my blog, I've decided my blog will stay here - it seemed a lot of work
to move it across somewhere else and here you all know where to find me!

There is also the option to subscribe to a monthly newsletter and book classes.
The classes tab is empty right now as the one Christmas class is fully booked
and with the logistics of hospital daily for six weeks new classes are not starting until January.
But keep checking back...I promise there will be lots more - New Year - New Start!

I hope you enjoy having a little roam around - I wanted to make it clear and easy to use

so fingers crossed!

Take care friends - I hope you are all having a wonderful weekend.

The Full Tour!

Hello friends

Apologies straight away...a photo heavy blog post and, if you are not a 

Harry Potter fan, this may not mean a great deal to you!

As mentioned, for my birthday the boys and I took a trip to 

Harry Potter Studios (near Watford).  

Elliott and I have been before but it was Mitchell's first trip.

I am huge fan and more so recently as I've been listening to the audio books

expertly read by Stephen Fry.  I cannot begin to tell you how many sleepless nights I have 

had since Elliott was diagnosed but a good friend recommended audio books to help induce sleep 

and I am very thankful.  I go to bed each night with Stephen Fry ....reading to me!

So here we go..it's like those times when friends offer to show you their holiday snaps!

The boys in front of the HUGE Christmas tree in the foyer.

A Christmas feast in the Great Hall, fully prepared by house elves.

I want a house elf!!

 One table was laden with savoury, the other with sweet...

 Ice cream anyone? 

Keeping score with the house points.

 The door to the entrance of the Chamber of Secrets. Elliott and I.

 No 4 Privet Drive in the rain.

 An empty Diagon Alley - being on the first tour we had the place to ourselves.

Mitchell captured Elliott and I deep in talk outside Flourish and Blotts!

It's us again!

And again....!!  The Hogwarts model - it is incredible.

Finally it is Mitchell!  Wearing the Sorting Hat.

And this is Hermione's Bag, during the Deathly Hallows she used an Undetectable 

Extension Charm so she could fill the bag with everything needed - clothes, books, a tent! 

You can purchase this bag, I must admit I'm really quite partial to it ..although I doubt if

the charm is included, shame - I could do with it for storing all my craft stuff!

I hope you enjoyed all the photos.  

I will be back soon to announce the winning number for November's Charity Add-On Kit and, 

of course, announcing the news of the special December kit very soon.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend - keep warm and take care friends.

Just one pic....or maybe two!

Hello friends

Speedily stopping by this morning to say huge thanks for all your birthday messages,

here, on Facebook and emails - all so very lovely.  I'm a lucky girl!

I want to share with you just one pic from yesterday's trip to the Harry Potter Studios.

(many MANY more on their way...!)

Had a fantastic time despite the horrible weather.

And it appears adverse weather has reached Hogwarts, the entire model has been sprinkled

with snow - it looks amazing. 

Heading off to my London job today and tomorrow - my final days before

taking six weeks off for Elliott's treatment. Trying to get organised and do lots of

planning and Christmas shopping beforehand...luckily everything I need is 

readily available and not obscure items like...

Thank you again dear friends.

I will be back very soon.