4 years on...

Hello friends

A non-crafty post today about my boy...

Yesterday was 4 years since Elliott's brain surgery and 

I wanted to write a post to mark that, a diary entry if you like.

I would like to say it has gone quickly but truthfully it feels longer and Elliott agrees.

It is difficult to remember a time when there was no 

injections, scans, medication and appointments but given a choice

there is no contest...

His tumour is still there but dormant, I often talk to it and tell it to stay that way!

I've mentioned before we are a family with rather a dark sense of humour

but without it I think we would have drowned.

The photo above is the night before his surgery in 2013

 and he wore his favourite t-shirt.

That's now become a bit of a tradition...

2015

2016

This year so far marks two special events:

The publication of Paperhearts and Summer Kisses.

Discussing 'our story' meant revisiting a difficult time but 

chatting to Carole was a cathartic process.  

Carole captured the close relationship I have with Elliott, that was

very important to me.  Following publication I had people

question whether that is true, surely no teenage boy would behave like that?

Well, you don't know my Elliott :)

My family asked why a lot of the medical details were not included 

but that would have made it exceptionally heavy reading.

Those who have been following my blog for all these years may

recall the radiotherapy trauma, sitting every evening at home with 

Elliott next to me wearing a huge blue mask to try to become accustomed to it!

That mask is still in his room - he does not want to part with it...
And him laying in a cardboard box for hours on end to try to come
to terms with MRI scans - those felt like long days for us all.

Another special event ...

Elliott being accepted at Greenwich University.

At the point of Elliott's surgery he had just sat his GCSE's.

The surgeon told me that he could not imagine how anyone could get through 

them knowing what was about to happen. 

Not only did he pass but he applied for college to study further
and has now been accepted at Greenwich University.

Since diagnosis he took just one year out for being unwell.

So here he is today over 6 feet tall, towers over every other family member.

The 'Blink 182' t-shirt really is too small for him now but we cannot part with it.

He still has to take a cocktail of meds every day, still has scans, blood tests,

injections, eye tests but never complains. 

Honestly - I don't know how he does it but I couldn't love my boy more.

Crafty stuff resumes tomorrow :)

A little follow up to printing sentiments

Hello friends

Such a lovely response to my printing sentiments post earlier 

this week.  I did receive a few more questions and I've answered

those within the comments.  I also thought it would be useful to share them today.

Please could you tell which size of font you use and 

how you space your sentiments so it allows space for the dies?

I normally use font size 14 or 16 depending on which design I select. 

 Print onto normal copy paper first to get an idea of how well it will work when

positioning your die. 

When typing leave at least 3-4 lines between each row of sentiment 

so there's enough room to die cut each sentiment individually.

After a while you become used to what size works.

  

Do you have to type the whole page for the sentiments, or is there a repeat button? 

If you type one sentiment and then 'copy and paste' to duplicate. 

You can do this by highlighting the sentiment with your mouse

(hold down left click button), once highlighted

right click to 'copy'.  Position your mouse for the next sentiment

 and then right click again to 'paste'.

Another option is to highlight the sentiment and press Ctrl + C and then Ctrl + V. 

Another tip - making the most of your paper by using columns.

If you are using 'Word' click on 'Page Layout'.

On the top bar is a 'Columns' button - click and select two columns.

This automatically gives your document two areas to type sentiments.

If you click on the screen shot image below you should be able to see it larger.

It shows Bell MT as the font and size 14.  Two columns of 'Happy Birthday'

which are centered - another tip is to centre your sentiments for more 

die cutting space.  Highlight your entire typed page by pressing Ctrl + A 

and then click on 'centre' button - see arrow.

Hopefully today's post will assist further with printing sentiments,

please do not hesitate to ask any further questions, more than happy to help.

And now something NEW to make life very easy if you do not have a printer
or would rather not type your own sentiments.
There is the option to buy sheets of sentiments on the website here.

All printed on linen ivory and white cardstock, assorted wording and fonts,

printed to be ready to be die cut,
there's Anniversary/Congratulations, Birthday and Thank You.

OR
even easier, there is now available packs of printed
and die cut sentiments here - 28 in total, a combination of white and ivory,
all in a handy wallet and ready to pop straight onto your projects!
Again a choice of Thank You, Congratulations/Anniversary and Birthday.
All the details are here.

Take care friends - enjoy your Sunday.

Heat Embossing and E-Z Squares

Hello friends

Yesterday on the Scrapbook Adhesives blog I posted a tag tutorial.

I used E-Z Squares with embossing powder to create a background.

It's so easy to do!

I've posted all the steps so please feel free to hop over and take a look.

All the details are here. 

It works so well with E-Z Squares, here's a project I did some years ago

using the same technique.

E-Z Squares is available on the website here - remember all the dispensers

are interchangeable and it is fab adhesive.

I hope your week went well, please stop by tomorrow as I've got

a little follow up to my printing sentiments post.

Take care friends - have a great Saturday.

Friday Die Day

Hello friends

This week's Friday Die Day features Bag 'n Tag It.

A die designed by Debi Adams for Spellbinders.

A three piece die set and the approximate measurements are:

Bag: 3.45 x 3.90 in.
Circle Clip: 1.25 x 1.80 in.
Rectangular Clip: 1.00 x 2.00 in

This is how it looks cut/embossed.

To create your bag you need to cut two from the largest die.

Affix them side by side as pictured.

Fold along the embossed crease lines.

Secure the base by folding in the flaps.

I also cut a strip of card from matching kraft as a handle for your bag.

I also like the option of securing the bag closed with a peg.

I stamped the circle tag/clip with 'Thank You' from Altenew Stamps.

A decoration for the front of the bag - Flower Play dies with twine loops.

The finished bag.

Assembled size is approximately 3 inches x 2.5 inches, width 0.5 inches.

Bags and boxes always appeal to me and I love this one too.

I'm going to be a real dilemma when making table favours 

although I love this bag for gift cards.

Bag 'n Tag It is available on the website here.

Take care friends and have a wonderful weekend,

hopefully no more rain!

Cats, Cuppa and a Decagon Delight!

Hello friends

Bit of a long blog post so grab a cuppa!

Yesterday the boys and I had a day out in London town. On the agenda
was tea and scones at Lady Dinah's Cat Emporium.
This is tucked away in Shoreditch so not quite the West End!

You get to spend time with lots of rescue cats (13 in total) in a tea room environment.

Not everyone's 'cup of tea' but because 

we are all potty about cats in my family this was an ideal treat for us.
Here's just a few photos of our cat antics!

Inside there are lots of climbing activities for the cats including pretend trees.

A rope bridge!

Lots of hideaway places if they fancy some peace and quiet.

Regular food and an abundance of treats.

There's also a 'catio' (a cat patio) area fenced off so they get some fresh air and
chatter at the pigeons!

I confess this one was my absolute favourite - meet Petra.

 The staff are knowledgeable and all the cats are in tip top condition,
being rescue cats they have all definitely fell on their furry feet!
If you would like more details of the Cat Emporium please check
out their Facebook page here.

Following our feline fun we took a trip to Spitalfields Market.

I had to photo these but was not tempted to buy them!

A detour on the way back to the train station to visit Forbidden Planet -
the most geeky shop ever.
All in all a special day and rare that I get to spend so much time with both my boys.

Finally...

Today's crafty offering!  I'm revisiting Decagon View today.

For my card design I've used this die to emboss only.

I then die cut patterned paper (small designs works well)

and placed some of the fallout pieces over the top.

Blooms One to the centre and printed and die cut sentiment.

Decagon View is on the website pre-loved at a bargain price today!

Hope you made it to the end, thank you for stopping by and reading!
I'll be back tomorrow.

Take care friends.

Tuesday Treat and Colouring Competition!

Hello friends

How about a Tuesday Treat today?

I do love a giveaway and while Elliott is sorting through

website stock I've been grabbing some items.

(I'm sure he'll never notice!)

Love in Flight - a combination of pair of wings and a double embossed heart.

This die works so well with foil card.

I have a brand new set to give away AND I'll also pop in a copy

of Paperhearts and Summer Kisses!

To enter, please leave a comment on today's post 

(either here or on the Hope and Chances' blog)

and I'll pick out a winner next week.

There'll be more giveaways coming up so stay tuned 

(shhh don't tell him!)

Also news of a special colouring competition 

with wonderful prizes.

The Paperhearts book cover has been designed for colouring

in any way you wish.

If you click here you'll be able to download the cover image 

and read all the competition details.

So pens, pencils, paints, glitter whatever you like at the ready please! :)

Take care friends.