A time to share...

Hello. I just wanted to share some of the wonderful gifts and cards I have received from my crafty friends...

I've received this gorgeous card off my gorgeous friend Debbie as a thank you for a bracelet I sent her...her work is stunning and I am so honoured to be on her DT...thanks Debs...

This is a selection of the wonderful hand made Christmas cards I have received so far from my bloggy friends...they are all stunning and I love them! So many thanks to Chris in Gib, Debbie, Natalie, Christine, Cathy, Joana, Pauline, Ali, Nessy, Kath, Dawn, Lainy, Linda, Donna, Sammi, Chrissy, Cass...

Sammi also sent me my very own Princess Amber stamp...and its adorable...fab present from a fab friend....

And then the postie brought me a huge parcel from my SBS Secret Santa...and I was in heaven! (There should have been a big bar of Galaxy chocolate to show you as well wrapped in the star paper....now I wonder where that went! LOL!) So whoever you are...my lovely secret sister Santa...thank you....

But then I also received this oh so cute hand made phone charm from my pal Donna...its very me and goes perfect with the new pink phone that Santa got me as an early Christmas present...thanks Donna....

And then Chrissy sent me these!!! To say I was over the moon is an understatement as after my mammoth bracelet making session a few weeks ago my bead stash was wearing a bit thin....thanks hun...they are perfect....

My pal Tina decided this year not to make Christmas cards...but to make us individual calendars with personal photos on them...this photo is of my beautiful daughter Belle on her third birthday a few weeks ago...thanks Teen...it will be treasured...see you Christmas Eve!

And finally...well I couldn't leave this wee card out could I? Even after having a new born baby (and boy does he look like his mother!) my best mate Gill still managed to get hand made cards out to everyone...and its gorgeous...thank you babe.x

Considering I've only been blogging for less than a year I've been incredibly lucky to have made some wonderful friends...and I can't wait to craft along side you all for another year!

Thank you to everyone for all your support and love throughout the past year and I can't wait to see what 2009 brings us...

Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas!

Sarah I am speechless!!!

I received this absolutely stunning book in the post today from the lovely Sarah C. Its amazing and is full of inspirational quotes and beautiful photos. There are lots of tags with sayings on as well and these photos just do not do it justice....thank you so much Sarah...you are such a sweetie!

Lots of thank yous and 'THAT' Santa stamp! (2 of 4)

Yes its 'that' Santa stamp!! Pauline managed to get her hands on some extra ones, then did a draw to see who could buy it off her...and it was me!!! I couldn't stop grinning when I heard as its for another bloggy friend to use....I bet you can guess who! Many thanks Pauline.x

Belle then received this in the post from our friend Sammi in Oz and she hasn't stopped walking round with it. Its now looking slightly battered but she loves it so I'm not complaining! There was also lots of little crafty bits and pieces but unfortunately I cannot show them as Belle got to the envelope before I did...need I say more!?!
Sammi also included this beautiful card for myself which is one of my favourite 'Maggie's'...thanks hun.x
And then these gorgeous images arrived from Donna...perfect as I was running really low on Christmas images.....
and they were inside this stunning card which is so autumnal its gorgeous!
So I'm feeling thoroughly spoilt once again but its such a lovely feeling so thank you to everyone that has sent me cards recently!
Hugs,
Em

More thank yous!

Hello. I just wanted to share these two beautiful cards that have been sent to me.

This one is from my friend Kirsten on Docrafts who also sent a huge amount of cards for the appeal...she was worried they wouldn't be good enough but they are gorgeous...thanks hun.
And this one is just simply stunning. Its from Kim and has already been stolen by Belle for her bedroom! Thanks Kim from me and Belle!
Hope everyone is well.
Hugs,
Em.x

Half naked men!

Not really but I needed to get your attention! LOL! Well its already the 1st of October and by rights the cards for the appeal should have stopped...NOT! They are still flooding in thick and fast and are slowly taking over my dining room!

We will be taking them over to Aby at SOS in Aberdeen on Saturday and she has kindly agreed to do the draw for me so any cards received up until then will be put into the hat. This appeal will be featured on the SOS website so I'll let you know when its there.

I promise (faithfully) that next week my blogging will be back to normal and I will be back on track visiting you. Spending each night sorting the appeal cards at the mo when Belles gone to bed so just not enough hours in the day. I'm also working on a couple of bits but will show them later once the card appeal is over. For those of you that have asked...my FM is still misbehaving but I'm just kicking its backside!

Now comes the gushy bit....the cards I have received this month for myself have cheered me up so much and it feels wonderful knowing I have so many good friends out there in craft land. I do appreciate that many of you have problems at the moment, so to know that you are thinking of me really does mean an awful lot...probably more than you realise. I'm sorry for not sending any out like I normally do but will once this week is over. (And boy is my postie going to be relieved!!)

So once again many thanks to....

Joana and her gorgeous family for sending me this beautiful get well card and images....
Fe-Fe for this very cute card....
and Tracey who's words had me in tears...thanks babe.x
And to Tina...who gave me these beautiful roses today and who always knows just the right words to say...
So that's all til Saturday folks. Thanks for reading...and thanks for being there.
Big hugs
Em.x

Thanks Natalie!

I've received this gorgeous 'Get well soon' card and goodies in the post from Natalie. Its stunning as she has actually glossed the image so that she looks wet from the rain! Thank you so much sweetheart....it really made my day!
Hugs,
Em.x

BIG appeal update and HUGE apology...

Hello I hope everyone's having a lovely weekend. I just want to apologise for not getting round to any of your blogs but this is the reason why.....

These are all the parcels that arrived for the appeal...this week!
I am really happy to say that the total now stands at 618 cards and its all down to YOUR hard work. You should all feel very proud of yourselves as you have done a remarkable job! Thank you all so much.x

On a personal note I am sorry that I've been such a crabby friend lately and all your lovely comments and e-mails have meant so much. Things have just been a lot harder than I expected but the dark cloud is lifting slowly and hopefully normal service on this blog will resume shortly.

Big thanks as well to the gorgeous Debbie for this beautiful card and for what she wrote inside....
And to the forever patient and understanding Ruth who is an absolute gem....
The wording on the card says 'Among life's precious jewels, Genuine and rare, The one that we call friendship Has worth beyond compare'.

That pretty much sums up how I feel about all your kind words lately...thanks girls.

Em.x

Ya wee darlin's!

Helloooo! Yes I am still around but only just. It been a really busy week so I can only apologise for not returning e-mails or visiting blogs but can hopefully let you know next week what I have been up to. Thanks to everyone for the concerned e-mails...I will get back to you all over the next couple of days...you are all so lovely!


One thing I have been really busy with is the SOS card appeal.....236 have already been received and that does not include what Gill and I will be adding as well...well done to you all but please keep them coming. Every card WILL make a difference and brighten someones day....huge thanks to all who have already donated.x (Big thanks to Tina as well who is helping with all the sorting!)

Thanks to Cathy for passing an award onto me...I will collect it soon and pass them all on...thanks hun.

Lastly as well as receiving cards for the appeal I have received some gorgeous ones for myself and they have really made my week. So thanks to...

Natalie for sending this beautiful card with some lovely stamped images..
Donna for this fab PB card with images...
And Linda....who even though she is having a bad time of things still thought of me...thanks sweetheart.
I'll catch up with everyone over the next few days and I hope you are all well.
Lots of hugs,
Em.x

A bit overwhelmed....

Hi. (After re-reading this I have just realised that you may want to go and grab a cuppa or just switch off now....) Just bear with me on this one as there's no point in me saying how tough the past two weeks have been because you all know that. I still feel that its not really happened and I keep waiting for someone to tell me that its just a horrible joke and that she is OK. It all feels so surreal. I find myself one minute smiling at something the kids have done and then sobbing my heart out. I know they say time is a great healer but I feel that things will never be the same again.

Don't worry I'm not going to go on about it...I think you've all put up with me enough lately and I feel that everyday I am thanking someone for another show of kindness. I originally set this blog up so that my friends and family could keep up with what I was up to but if anyone had told me what wonderful friends I would make through this I would never have believed them.

So without further ado I am going to say yet more belated thank you's.....

Cathy who has saved my sanity as well this week sent not only 30 cards for the troops but this beautiful card for me....its so sweet....
Kelly my gorgeous friend from SBS 15 sent me this card and the colours are stunning...
And Kath...sent this which is decoupaged and the swirls are actually cut out of the card...stunning...
Jane sent be this oh so cute note pad after I commented about one she had done on her blog.....I just need to save it from Belle!
Tina (my own private shrink!) made this beautiful felt brooch, card and earrings for me......
Chris sent me this gorgeous card and the photo just does not do it justice.....
My lovely SBS sister Lisa sent me this cute ATC for our friendship swop but also a beautiful card and some crafty goodies.....
Jane also sent me this card...
My Docrafts friend Fiona sent this lovely ATC...
A big thanks to Becky, Dawny P, Tracey, Debbie, Donna and Sarah C who have all kindly passed on tags or awards to me. They are much appreciated and I will one day eventually get round to collecting them...thanks girls.

I also need to say thank you to everyone who has been sending cards for the troops. There is a slide show at the top right so you can see them all. Thank you.

And finally....I have tried to contact everyone individually to say thank you for all the messages and e-mails of support and if I have missed you I can only apologise as my head is still not all there...so a HUGE thank you to....(I told you to grab a cuppa!)...

Gill, Tina, Natalie, Debs (meandlilG), bunnyb, Lainy,Christine, Manda, Kim, Lisa B, Becky, Pauline, Kelly, Teresa, Monica, Jennifer, Emma, Amanda, Jessica, Cass, Dawn, fe-fe, Trace dee, Gina, Donna, Sammi, Cathy, Nessy, Sarah, Sue, Debbie, Tracey, Sarah C, Vicky, Louly, Chrissy, DawnyP, Pam, Linda, Sammi Jay, Tara, madge, Ruth, Kath, Jane, Jan A and tiptop......

with heartfelt thanks to you all.x

I know I've not been a great bloggy friend lately and I can only apologise but....some how saying 'thank you' seems so little in comparison to the love, friendship and support you have all shown me.

With much love to you all,
Em.x

Having a bloggy break...

Hello. Not going to be around for a few days as my gorgeous hubby is coming home for the weekend!! Over the moon as I have missed him so much and am already dreading next week when we will be parted again.

Apologies as well for not getting round to comment on everyone's creations but having a bad FM/ME flare up and looking at the screen for too long is causing major migraines. I'll catch up with you all next week.

Big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my pals Pam and Rachel as well...I hope you both have a lovely day!

The cards for the troops have started rolling in and I already have a boxful but there is another box to fill so keep sending them! A big thanks to Tina, Tracey and Jane for their wonderful cards and Jane also sent me a gorgeous handmade book as I had admired one on her blog...thanks girls! I'm going to put everyone's cards onto a photo show next week so everyone can see them.

I've also been given the most beautiful earrings and necklace that Tina has lovingly made for me but will show them next week as I want to take a really good photo to show the beautiful bead work.

And finally...another blogger has had me in tears this week but for a good reason. This beautiful card arrived from Cass and not only is it the most beautiful card but what she had written inside had me in tears. Cass is a very special person to me. We met a long time ago on a forum and started our blogs at the same time. Not only is she a great supporter of my blog she understands my frustrations as a mum and always has the best advice where kids are concerned. We will be meeting up and I can't wait to me her and her wonderful family. Thank you sweetheart.

Now stop yawning and pretend to show some interest in what I write! LOL!
Have a great weekend,
Crafty hugs,
Em.x

Heffalump hugs....

I'm sending HUGE heffalump hugs to....

Debs and Lil' G for sending me this gorgeous wallet card filled with images. The photo really does not do it justice as the colours are stunning.
And to Dawny who sent Belle and I this stunning card after I admired it on her blog. Ellie's were the one thing that used to make Belle giggle when she was in hospital so they are our unofficial mascot....unlike bees! It was full of stamped images and elephant dies...and....
all these as well!
Girls you have really spoilt me and Belle and I can't thank you enough. A special thanks to Lil'G as well who decorated the front of the card with ELF and stuck some gorgeous flowers inside...Debs I think you are going to have to watch your very talented daughter...competition in the making me thinks! LOL!
Please check their blogs out as they are amazing!
Hugs,
Em.x

To 'bee' or not to 'bee'...

As well as an influx of giant bees in the garden I have also received these gorgeous cards today...both with a bee theme!

This one is from the lovely Mrs T....And this arrived from Lainy who is not only my SBS sister but a fabby friend as well...
and it was full with lots and lots of bee images!
Thank you so much and I promise to 'bee' nice to the little guys in the garden in future!! LOL!
Hugs
Em.x

Bucketfuls of cards...thank you!

Hello. Just thought I'd show you some of the cards I have received lately...

This lovely CD was from Tina...

This gorgeous card was from the oh so talented Chrissy!

Another one from Tina...inside she had written 'Friendship-support, fun, giggles, tears and joy'...

This one arrived this morning from the lovely Jane. I knew she was sending the bird template but the card was unexpected and is beautiful!

A received this from my pal Rachel....but wait...

this is the back of it...how fab is that!

And lastly...but by no means least...this arrived from my SBS sister Kim with all the blog candy she sent me...its scrummy!

I can't thank you all enough as they are gorgeous and have really brightened my front room up...thanks girls!

Apologies for not getting round all your blogs at the mo...still working on the new one, doing some bits for my SBS and working on some of my own stuff as well so a bit maxed out. Will catch up with you all very soon...promise!
(Thanks to everyone that has joined the new blog as well...Debs had me wetting myself this morning with her post!!)