WOYWW 420 - French Bulldogs, Dragonfly & More

I made it!  Our internet was not working from yesterday evening and it required a phone call from me to the company that provide our community wifi system (we cannot get 'normal' broadband due to our rural location) to get the engineers to 'look at it'.  It took them nearly 2 hours, but now we are connected again.

Happy WOYWW to all those that I do not manage to visit this week - and get on over to Julia's Stamping Ground for the linky thing.

I have spent the morning getting various little jobs done - old coffee machine cleaned and stored away (I would rather chuck it out, but hubby insists it might be needed one day!), nails varnished and grass cut.  Inbetween these bursts of activity, I mainly constantly checked the internet to see if it was working!  I had plenty of non-computer stuff to do, but this warmer weather has just meant that I have even less inclination to get on with useful stuff.

It has not been as hot as other areas of the UK in Pembrokeshire, but certainly warm enough for me to get some sunbathing done over the past few days.  Magazines have been read (cannot see the screen of my phone in the sunlight to read books via the Kindle app - for those who have an IPad, is that better in the sunshine?) and I have gained a few more freckles (I do not tan as easily as everyone else who seems to spend one day on the beach and go golden the next day).

I was up early this morning to let our aging Jack Russell, Buzz, out in the garden.  He seems to need a toilet trip a lot more often now (I know how he feels).  Therefore, I tackled some of the half-finished ATCs that have been sitting on my desk all week.

I used some of the really cute French Bulldog images that came with a craft magazine recently, plus various peel-offs/washi tape (remember when we all bought loads of peel-offs !!!).  I then added some acrylic paint in two of my favourite colours right now.

The remaining cards are either cut from some packaging or a scrap from a journal page - again with further embellies added.  No idea how to finish these ones off - but I am sure that inspiration will hit eventually.

There is a story to go with the tags in the top left - and I will do a blog post - but basically they were attached to cocktail glasses as a surprise gift from the restaurant owner that we went to on Friday night to celebrate our wedding anniversary (12th).  Such a sweet thing to do.  For anyone anywhere near Swansea or visiting, the restaurant is Mosaic and I would recommend that you all go (tapas of incredible quality).

The strip of card was used to 'mop up' the leftover acrylic paints from doing the ATCs - and I plan to cut it into narrow strips to make up some more ATCs.

The Costa Blanca book and map are there, as we are off to the area in October and I am already dreaming/planning.

Will get this published and then it is time for lunch.  I plan to go and investigate a local golf driving range (with cafe and 9 hole course too) this afternoon, so I have somewhere to practice in less pleasant weather.  I really need to practice - went up to Haverfordwest Golf Club on Monday evening and attempted 4 holes; was rubbish, but enjoyed myself (only lost one ball in the water).

Ali x

WOYWW 419 - building up ATC stocks and my new golf addiction

Hi, everyone.  I had decided that I was going to have to miss this week, due to hosting a farmers' meeting today.  However, I left it early (my body wanted some rest!) and escaped to my craft room.

My photo shows my 'computer' area - but I am sorting out ATCs (some traded ones to post) and also some suitable card to make up more ATC bases.  I have recently got back into ATC trading - and joined two Facebook Groups.  I only have one spare one left, so trying to get some batches made to keep me going for a while.

You can also see a scorecard from the golf club I am having lessons at.  At our last lesson of the previous 6-week course we went out on the actual course and managed to play two holes.  Exhausted after that!  Now we are spending a few weeks going back to basics - last week was putting (and I won the competition - no idea how!) and I think tomorrow night we are doing chipping, which is my favourite.  I am really enjoying golf - I do struggle with all the bending down and walking (I know that a golf buggy will need to be used if we are doing more than a couple of holes) - but it is very addictive.  Now I know why so many men disappear off to the course all the time!  I have even upgraded to Sky Sports so I can watch the US Open this week.  It does involve some shopping (one of my favourite pastimes) - a set of clubs, trolley, shoes, coat and other clothes bought so far - and need balls/tees etc this week.

Back to cutting up card into ATC sizes.

Hope everyone is having a good week (and my thoughts are with all affected by the tragic fire in London last night).

Ali x

WOYWW 417 - furry companions

Good morning to everyone taking part in this weekly tour of crafty workspaces (go to Stamping Ground for more details), or even if you are just reading my blog in a random way!

I have literally nothing to show on my craft table this morning.  Having a busy week as usual and off to Silverstone tomorrow for a F1 event on Friday, so I can't even show a half-finished project.

I do have a couple of furry companions whilst I read my Bible - here they are.

Buzz the Dog

Milky the Cat

Note that Milky has the comfy bed next to the radiator, whilst Buzz has his mat !  He does sneak onto her bed when she is not around.  They are both 10 this month and doing pretty well for their age.

This may be my shortest blog post ever - I will show some crafting next week.

Ali x

WOYWW 416 - 8 years, ATCs and my Bible

Happy 8th Birthday WOYWW.  Doesn't time fly when you are having fun?!  Julia over at Stamping Ground is the creator of this weekly event, and you can join in there.

We are doing an ATC swap to celebrate - and I have one spare to give away.  Let me know if you would like to swap with me. (gone)

Some creative stuff is happening on my craft table this morning.

I wanted to journal the image that has appearing on the television and social media since the horrible events in Manchester, so I searched for a Bible verse that would represent courage.  Psalms 31:24 caught my eye.  Simple words.

I had read about how good Crayola Twistables were for Bible Journaling, so I bought myself a selection of pencils and crayons to try out.  They are brilliant - definitely no bleed through, and can hardly see any shadowing either (even with the very thin paper in my particular Bible).  Using them for highlighting text and adding colour to images.  Definitely need to get the big packs now, so I have even more colours to play with.

You can see my little pile of ATCs ready to go in envelopes.  I used some left-over pieces of card from a project making affirmation cards.  Lovely shades of blue.

I rarely buy craft magazines now, but Making Cards this month had some really cute Boston Terrier designs that I couldn't resist - and when I opened up the wrapping there were a set of really useful border stamps too as a bonus.

Otherwise you can see my pen box etc.

I hope to visit some blogs today, but Wednesdays are always busy with my evening golf lesson, and we also have to go into town for a solicitors appointment (finalising stuff on the sale of a property), and I plan to visit the post office too.

I will be blogging in more detail about my Bible Journaling this week, plus finally showing some of my scrapbooking.

Ali x

WOYWW 415 - my first scrapbook layout

Good morning to you all.  I am a bit later than planned due to my new morning routine of staying in bed until the dog asks to go out, plus Tesco delivery this morning.

No crafting - yet.  I fully intend to do some Bible Journaling later and perhaps even start on my next scrapbook layout (another cycling event).  However, I may run out of time - with financial stuff to sort out and my next golf lesson at 6 pm.  I accept now that I never get everything done in one day.  My health - physical and emotional - is more important.

My craft table is showing the completed layout, which now I see needs some more journaling, a pile of photos/event number, my new Bible, and my 'scrap journal' (for using up leftover paint, doodling etc).  Apologies for the blurriness - hands shaking this morning.

I hope to get round and visit some crafters in the next few days.

Ali x

ps  Whoops - forgot to add the link to the lovely lady who is the Queen of WOYWW!  Click HERE

Crafting Fun For Kids Aged 3-8

I had a card with my latest HelloFresh Box (send me your email address and I will get a code over to you for a free trial box of 3 meals) with a link to a new company called Toucan Box.  I rarely turn down the chance to get something for free, so have signed up for my free Petite box to be sent direct to our eldest granddaughter.  She is 3 and she loves to craft, so this will be perfect for her.

I will come back and update this once she has received the box and we know what the contents are, but basically you receive a personalised box addressed to the child.  All materials are included for a fun craft activity.  Free delivery to the UK.

You can cancel your subscription at any time (I only sign up for free trials where this is the case) - and the Petite boxes are £5.95 fortnightly.  You can also receive a box monthly.  There are two larger boxes - £12.90 and £19.90 per month - and you can add in a sibling for a smaller fee.

Click HERE to receive your very own free box to try out.

Come back and comment below when you have received it.  I would love to know what you think about it.

Ali x

CBD oil - what is it and is it helping me?

CBD oil - or cannabidiol oil - or medical marijuana - or many other names!

I had heard of it as medical marijuana and thought it was only available in the US and perhaps other countries.  I had heard a lot of good things about its use for chronic health conditions, but always assumed that it was illegal in the UK (as I did not know what it was exactly) and something I would never get to try.

Well, then someone on a Fibromyalgia Facebook group in the UK mentioned that she was trying it, and gave a link to the Facebook group set up for people in the UK who would like to try CBD.  I joined immediately and a new world was opened up to me.  It turns out there are lots of very good suppliers of CBD based in the UK, it is legal and it could definitely help me.  (If anyone would like to join the Facebook group, it is CBD Users UK.)

I went to the website of the most-mentioned company, CBD Bros, and ordered some capsules first of all.  I had been warned of the horrible taste of the oil and thought that capsules would be a gentle introduction (turns out that the taste is ok and that dropping under the tongue is a better way of absorbing the oil, so I am now buying the oil).

The smart packaging of oil from CBD Bros.

I have been taking the oil for nearly 10 weeks now, and am still experimenting with different types/doses to see which best helps me (I take it for increasing energy, improving sleep, reducing pain/stiffness and also my Psoriasis).  Just about to order a different oil to take in the day which has been recommended by other Fibromyalgia sufferers.  (I will blog again in a few months with an update.)

I could not even start to explain all the different types of CBD oil and how it works, but this website seems to be very useful - CBD Family Information Centre

Cost - the oil I have been taking in the day costs around £20 per month for the dose I am taking currently.  A very small price to pay for reduced symptoms.

If you have any questions, then I would definitely suggest joining the Facebook group.

Ali x