Jammin...

Ooh! Yes, it's definitely Autumn now.  How do I know this? Well....

I have managed to get the hubby to agree to having the heating on...but not on the timer yet:(

We have moved up a level of duvet tog rating:)

The familiar soreness of throat and ears tells me a cold is coming (I get one every September/October).

It's an effort to get out of bed in the morning.

I have an urge to cook huge vats of comforting hot casseroles.

The battle of the coat starts with the teen. (the one where he won't wear one even when it's raining...why?)

More craft time.

So while I am desperately sucking my way through packets of soothing throat sweets and swallowing the Vitamin C, I am dreaming of a few weeks ago of when the sun was still out (although there was enough of a nip in the air to remind you that summer was over)and the blackberries and autumn fruits where in abundance.

The punched edges idea I got from a layout by Tracee Povis, winner of the July Scrap365 sketch challenge.......here.  Bits and bobs acquired from my box of 'useful stuff'.

The mosaic photo app is called 'My week in pictures' which I was able to send wireless to the printer for printing.....ooh, you should of seen my gleeful face when I found that worked.

Simple things...

Love to thrift...

Another layout using up all my old bits and bobs.  I even used some free scrapbooking papers with this one.  The papers came in one of the card making magazine (which actually wasn't that good a magazine) but it did have some decent papers for a change, especially some 50's style print papers.  So I used the fruity design on here.  I though it went with the retro feel.

We have a lovely Vintage Emporium in the next town.  You could spend hours there often exclaiming   'My mum had one of them'....or....'Ooh, that's lovely'.  It's like a huge charity shop with little cubby holes rented out to private sellers. Quite often the pieces are over priced, sometimes the same item can be found on another stall cheaper but I suppose the value is in how much you really want it.  I have resisted many an item but the 70's style soup bowls I loved from the minute I saw them.  But there was only two.  I ummed and aahed for weeks but eventually I had to have them.  My soup now tastes so much nicer in them.

In waiting for the printer to be attached (and so the delay of printing the photos)I forgot that I was going to add a different photo other than the typewriter.  Never mind, it's an opportunity for another layout and story. 

Oh my gosh...

Oh my gosh, just where is the time going?  I can see the end of September on the horizon already.  And as for this working lark, I'm not sure I like it.  I just haven't had any time to myself recently to play with paper.

Anyway.....after waiting for a new printer to be installed I was able to print a few photos and finish a couple of layouts.  

Our new printer gives the facility of writing on the photos so I typed PASSED repeatedly along one side of the photo.  I thought this was a great idea for us scrapbookers.  Apologies to those who are already in the know, I'm a bit behind the times you know as I have been on a stash and technology diet.  

Actually it's been great using up a lot of my scraps.  I'm determined to use up a lot of those older papers that maybe aren't in fashion any more.  Whenever I get new clothes, I take off the labels and save them along with any other interesting bits and bobs I find from magazines etc.  The 'Happy Virus' label was attached to a bag I bought from Artbox once. The 'Joy' bottle picture was from a 50's inspired advertising calender and one I also added a couple of my home made buttons. 

Yes, it was a joyous day in the 'The Little Blue Shed' household when Rob finally passed his Maths GCSE.  As you can see from the photo he does look rather pleased.

Btw, Robs hair has got to Yeti proportions now and I have demanded he gets it cut before he starts some work experience....I'm taking him to the hairdressers myself.  Oh, yes, of course I will have my camera ready though I'm not sure I can (or the hairdresser can) convince him to have more than a trim.  

I'll be back with more thrifty layouts soon...and maybe a less shaggy haired son?

  

This week....

Apart from going back to school and the usual daily chores, I haven't been up to much. You see I haven't had time recently to visit my craft room, finish my knitting or sew my patchwork hexagons because I have a new obsession......preserving.

It's the thrill of making something out of nothing. Blackberries in the hedgerows, a bag of windfall apples from a friend, a fruit and veg garden needing to be house sat, mums greenhouse tomatoes.....all free! Now I have instead, Blackberry and Apple conserve, Plum and Lime jam, Rhubarb, Pear and Ginger jam, Chinese Plum Sauce, Tomato and Roasted Pepper chutney and Spiced Plum and Apple chutney.

Come join the revolution, snub the supermarket Blackberries, laugh in the face of pre-packed apples, wave your wooden spoons in the air, rattle your preserving pans and shout YAY! for jam, chutneys, sauces, relish and pickles:)

Too cool for school..

Hello there! Welcome to another edition of Storytelling Sunday hosted by the wonderfully talented Sian.  You can find her residing at her blog 'High in the Sky'.

The theme is Back to School...

Like many, I have my rituals of getting ready for a new term of school.  Even though I left as a student a long time ago, now I work in education I still want to buy the new shoes, bag and new season clothing.

I'm a real Autumn baby, I love the rich earthy and jewel tones that we often associate with Autumn, the cooler weather and the wearing of  big fluffy woolly jumpers.

I'm afraid I am that person who delights in the ritual of putting away the summer clothes and re-arranging the wardrobe ready for tweed, wool and teal...

Anticipating the chilly mornings with my opaque tights at the ready, buffing up the boots and looking forward to a healthy cheek glow.

You see, having a typical Celtic appearance I just don't enjoy the hot summer days.  I can't sit outside without the fear of my skin frazzling like pork cracking!  I don't go anywhere without my factor 30. My hideous bunions protrude from sandals.  The sun gives me a headache and the grass and pollen the sneezes....so you can understand my relief when the days start to shorten and the dew turns to frost.

So with my school diary covered, my cardi at the ready, my school bag packed, I'll be skipping to school on Monday ready to brace myself with the sight of my colleagues desperately trying to eek out the summer months with their bare golden tanned arms. Painted toenails peeking out of their delicate sandals....moaning about how cold it is in the chilly classrooms whilst I quietly nod and agree feeling smug and warm wrapped in my new jewel layers.

Last Hurrah!

I'm counting down the days to the Autumn Term starting and going back to school:(  A new class teacher, classroom and year group for me.  A new college campus and modules for Rob.

  So with a few days to go I thought I would try and get some crafting projects that have been popping up and filling my head started.  Starting with some handmade cardboard buttons.  Very easy and they don't cost anything to make.

Ooh, lots of lovely buttons...

Using a die cutting machine, cut out the smallest three circles of a circle Nestabilities die from any old cardboard.  If it's quite thick you may have to hand cut the bottom layer of cardboard with scissors.  Then die cut the same size circles out of any scraps of patterned paper.  Stick on, punch two holes beside each other so it now resembles a button.  Coat with either Crackle Glaze or Glossy Accents.  I used crackle glaze and I may swipe some ink over them to highlight the cracks depending on the project I'm using them for.

A close up view and an excuse to show off my new nail polish....It came out more blue than the lilac I thought it would be.

I like them:)

I have also started knitting an autumnal coloured scarf, started a patchwork cushion and plan to make Blackberry and Apple Jam.

Nigel and I took a walk to check on our secret blackberry bushes (I could tell you where they are but then I would have to kill you, sorry!) Lucky for us Nigel had the foresight to take blackberrying Tupperware containers...just in case.  Wowza! Blackberries galore and loads to ripen too.  We may of *cough* scrumped an apple or two to go with them.  The apple trees are on a public footpath so I think we were safe from the farmers gun.

So much to do before Monday, I'd better get started on trying to finish a project or two.

P.S. I was tinkering with the blog backgrounds and layouts and I seem to have all the info stuck at the bottom of the blog.  So please ignore this until I can work out how to get it back to normal:)

Summers nearly over...

The summer holidays are drawing to a close and I feel that I need to catch up on a few bloggy things...

The craft room is sorted...

Look! It's tidy!

I have actually scrapped today...shock...horror...but the printer ink has run out:(

Never mind, I worked around it without the photos and hopefully will be able to share them with you soon.

In other news, Rob passed his long awaited Maths GCSE...what a relief, I was beginning to think he would be drawing his pension before he passed it.  Onward and upward to other things for him now...Behind him is his college grounds, beautiful isn't it?  His course is moving from the town centre location to the main more rural campus shown here.  It's a fantastic new block that the art and design department is moving to but I think he will miss his fast food and town centre lunchtime jaunts.

Ok, that's all for now, a few crafty things to show you next time hopefully.