Care Package - Afghanistan

My brother is currently in Afghanistan working in a civilian capacity. Since I am not working at the moment, and I have an abundance of time on my hands I decided to put together a care package to remind him of home comforts. Not only did it keep me busy for quite some time, I know it will make his day.



Back row l to r: Homemade Cranberry and Pistachio Biscotti, Cake Mix Chewy Chocolate Smartie Cookies, Homemade Spicy Cashew Nuts

Middle: Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix

Front row l to r: Homemade Fudge, Bombay Mix, Marshmallows for Hot Chocolate Mix

All packaging and labeling was designed and made by me using Photoshop CS3 and a selection of cardstock and Christmas themed scrapbook paper.

Brown paper bag, tea tin and small tins at the front are courtesy of Papertrey.
The tall tin at the back is a recycled shortbread container.
The two medium sized tins are recycled Golden Syrup and Black Treacle tins.

Birthday Girl - BLEH

Ugh! Today I turn 30 whole years old. Another birthday spent on my own with no prospect of things changing before I turn 31. I know I should be more positive, but I firmly believe I was Eeyore in a former life, so pessimism comes so naturally.

On the Move

This will be my last post for a while. My internet is being disconnected tomorrow in preparation for the move on Saturday. Yup, it's goodbye Wales, hello England. I can't wait to get my stuff packed into the van and stick two fingers up at my psycho neighbour.

I am going to miss my cousin and her kids, but I know where they are and I can still visit, but it won't be for at least six months. I need to put this place well and truly behind me.

My boxes are packed and I am just tying up the last few loose ends. Roll on Saturday, it can't come soon enough!

Goodbye & Sweet Dreams

My dear, sweet Aunty Joyce passed away this morning. The news came in the early hours that her long battle was over. We knew it was coming, but no matter how much you prepare yourself, it still shocks, hurts and numbs you. Rest in Peace Aunty Joyce, I will miss you greatly.

Aunty Joyce

Yesterday I drove to Plymouth with my parents and brother to visit my Aunt in the hospital. Despite all of the radiotherapy and stem cell treatment, the Leukemia is winning. She faded in and out of consciousness, but was lucid just long enough to recognise me and my mum and give us a smile. She is the only family my dad has left, so I know how ever long she has left is going to be especially hard for him. I wish we didn't live three hours away, because all we have left now is time and there simply isn't enough of it.

A Whole Year

Well, I have been in Newport for a year now, and to say it has been a good year would be an outright lie. The first few months were great. I loved my new home, although it was on the small and pokey side, it was perfect for me, and I made it mine. Just before Christmas however, the problems began. The neighbour above me obviously has some mental issues, but because I asked her to keep the noise down, once, she made me a target and enlisted the help of her family and friends to harass me in any way possible.

The last year has been a never ending culmination of having to report threats of violence to the police, her friends and her family abusing me outside my home, in the street, even yelling at my flat, attacks on my car, multiple false police reports made by her, calling solicitors/citizens advice/the council for help, taxi's and pizza deliveries being sent to my address...the list goes on.

At one stage she even convinced her friends that I had threatened her with a knife in my flat and encouraged them to call the police. Three armed police officers knocked on my door. What they were expecting, I don't know, but thankfully I had been in bed and it quickly became obvious to them that her friends had made a false report. Since she has never stepped foot in my flat, I have no idea how I was supposed to have threated her with anything.

The last straw was when my car was vadalised. One of her friends attempted to puncture the petrol tank on my car. It was 1.30am and I was in bed and woke with a leg cramp, looked out the window and caught him in the act. He saw me and legged it. I turned my lights off and called the police. The numpty must have thought I had gone back to bed and all was forgotten, because he came back and had another go at my car. He got the shock of his life when the police officer and pulled up with his police dog and and wanted to know what the hell he was playing at. I went out and tore into him, and the police officer let me. He was sorry, not for what he had done, but for getting caught. It was nothing short of a miracle that he hadn't actually done any serious damage, but he was given an £80 fine anyway.

So after the year from hell, I have decided to move back to Dorset. The reason I moved to Wales in the first place was to distance myself from everything that has happened in the last few years and regain my independance, but I guess the grass isn't always greener on the other side. However, I am sure there were kinder ways of teaching me that lesson than this awful experience.

I have given my landlord notice that I will be leaving, now I just have to break the news to my boss. Oh well, another chapter over and done with, and best forgotten.

Track Day

My brother bought a motorbike last year and it didn't take long for it to take over his life. He had been thinking about getting one for a while and after he returned from his stitnt in Iraq as a civi he bought a Honda CBR, took his test and he hasn't looked back. From time to time he goes on track days and they take photos of you as you go round as souvinirs. I thought I'd share as he does look pretty cool.

Llandegfedd Reservoir

I joined my cousin and her family at Llandegfedd Reservoir this weekend. I have lived in Newport for nearly a year now and I had no idea this place even existed, but it is such a beautiful place to visit. I took the trip as an opportunity to test out my new toy;



I have wanted a good camera for ages, and after putting a little bit of money back each week I was finally able to splash out and treat myself. It is a Nikon D40 SLR and I am in love with it already. This weekend proved it was a good investment and not just for photographing my craft projects. I have never really been any good with a camera, but I am over the moon with my pictures of Laura's family. Watch out Annie Leibovitz!



And by far my favourite:

Emma's Wedding

Yesterday my cousin, Emma, married her long time partner Craig. The church service, although not my cup of tea, was very special and they tailored it to fit their situation so beautifully. Emma and Craig have a beautiful son, Isaac, who was born with both physical and mental afflictions. They are the most loving of parents and I am amazed at both their resilience and their positivity. Isaac is just over a year old now and they included him in the ceremony, and he played his part to perfection.

Picture 1: l to r - Aunt Shirley, Craig, Emma, Uncle Frank
Picture 2: Emma and Bridesmaid
Picture 3: Emma and Craig (I love the way she is looking at hm in this one)
Picture 4: The Happy Couple




After the church ceremony in Okeford Fitzpaine, we went to the reception in Tarrant Keyneston. The weather turned brighter and we all congregated outside the reception hall for drinks before the meal and toasts.

Picture 1: The siblings l to r - Uncle Frank, Mum, Aunt Theresa, Aunt Kate
Picture 2: My Cousins l to r - Laura and Joanna



As an end note, I must add that the day didn't start all that well for Laura and my Aunt Kate. Somehow while getting the kids fed and watered for breakfast, they managed to lock themselves in the conservatory. They had a mobile with them, thankfully, so they called our house and my brother grabbed our spare key, hopped on his motorbike and rode to their rescue. But not before he took some photos.

Card Collection

I was rummaging through some odds and ends yesterday, stuff I had put in a safe place and forgotten about, and found a bunch of cards I made aaaaages ago. I would love to make cards more often, but whenever I get the motivation, I have no inspiration. So I was pleasantly surprised when I came across my little collection, it proves that at some point in time, I had both motivation and inspiration in equal measure.

Be Creative - Embroider

I am flitting from one craft to another at the moment. During the week I decided that with a quiet weekend ahead I would try my hand at some embroidery. I had a project in mind so I paid a quick visit to Hobbycraft after work last night and purchased some embroidery floss and a hoop. When I got home I dug out some left over material from another project, and using my sewing machine made a small curtain pull to cover the mess in my crafts bookcase.

I printed off a phrase in cursive lettering on the computer, pinned it to my fabric and off I went. I have never embroidered before so I was sewing through the paper, which actually worked surprisingly well.

I am very pleased with the result, and rather proud of my efforts in the initiative department. My craft bits and bobs are hidden away and I have another favourite craft to add to my growing list of hobbies.

Cupcakes for the Neighbour with no Conscience

I have a very noisy neighbour with absolutely no social conscience. I thought by approaching her with a gift she might be more accepting of my pleas about the noise. As it turns out, these were wasted on her! Luckily, I made quite a few so I was able to treat myself. I was much more appreciative of my efforts.


Cupcakes are Chocolate Chocolate, Apple Crumble, Banana & Walnut and Vanilla Vanilla.

He's Growing Up so Fast

I took these photos of my cat, Munch (named ater the Law & Order: SVU character) yesterday. He was basking in the sunshine and enjoying the warm weather. I can't believe he is 11/2 years old now. He has really found his feet at home and is in his element in the garden.

My dad's birthday is fast approaching and with money being a little on the tight side at the moment it means I can't aford to get him a gift (although he is near impossible to buy for anyway). I still wanted to do something special so I have made him a birthday card myself. I have to say although this is a simple card, creating masculine cards is a real challenge.


He is a man of few words, so whether he will like it or not will be sure to remain a mystery. But I like it, and it's the thought that counts, right?

Mini Herb Garden Housewarming Gift

My Aunt Theresa is a qualified horticulturist and has recently bought a new house so I made her a mini herb garden housewarming present.


Tools:
Six small terracotta pots
Small stones
Soil
Mixture of seeds (I used various herbs)
Paper Mache box
Cardstock
Ribbon
Double sided tape (or other adhesive)

I filled each of the terracotta pots with a mixture of soil and stones and put a sprinkling of seeds in each one. I used Rosemary, Thyme, Oregano, Basil, Chamomile and Garlic Chives.

I made little labels for each pot to note which herb was in each. I then covered a paper mache box with white cardstock and a strip of ribbon and decorated the box with a rubber stamp from the See D's collection. I also made an insert out of white cardstock to secure the pots once in the box. Using a large scallop punch, coordinating cardstock and Papertrey stamps I made a little medallion to adorn the top of the box.

Aunts and Bookthongs

I have been busy over the last few days making various gifts for aunts and cousins. I am driving down to Plymouth to see my Aunt Joyce and cousin Tracy next week. My Aunt's Leukemia has returned with a vengeance and I wanted to make her something special to cheer her up. I made her a get well card from various stampin' up stamps, watercolour pencils and whisper pens. Many years ago when she lived in Hong Kong my Aunt Joyce bought me a beautiful Jade bracelet, so in line with that wonderful memory, I made her a jade bookthong too as she does a lot of reading when she is in hospital receiving treatment. I also made a matching pillow box to put it in.



I also made Tracy a bookthong together with a little pillow box.


Another of my aunt's lost her son a short time ago, and she has been having a tough time ever since. Shortly after my cousin Antony passed away, a butterfly flew into my aunt's house, and she firmly believes it was her son's spirit coming to tell her he was ok. So while I was making gifts for my Aunt Joyce and cousin Tracy, I made a special butterfly bookthong for my Aunt Theresa.

Birthday Baking and Card Making

Last year for my birthday my cousin Laura and her daughter, Abbie, made me a delicious Apple Crumble Cake. So for her birthday this year, I wanted to make her something equally special but unique at the same time. I made her a card and a bunch of little cupcakes plus a special supersized birthday cupcake and handmade box, just for her.








Cupcakes are a mix of Double Chocolate and Vanilla Vanilla. I decorated each one differently, some with frosting, sprinkles, fresh cream and fresh fruit and personalised one or my cousin. I hope she will take the time to read her cupcake before eating it. hehe

Get Well Care Package

My cousin Laura has the flu and is suffering at the moment. As a little pick-me-up I made her a small care package aimed at getting her well again.

Supplies:
Red Cardstock
Patterned Scrapbook Paper
Coordinating Ribbon
Double Sided Tape (or other adhesive)
Coordinating Brads
String
Scalloped Punch
Corner Punch
Hole Punch
Maya Road Chipboard Hearts
Papertrey Stamps

I made a teabook that holds four enveloped teabags. I bought some Yogi Cold Season and Revitalise tea. I also made two packet soup envelopes and added two of Ainsley Harriot's French Onion Soup packets. I adapted a pillow envelope pattern to hold some honey sticks, Chai Honey, Lemon Honey and Plain Honey. As a special treat I also made a criss cross box and filled it with various chocolates from a box of Celebrations. Hopefully all of this will cheer her up, and make her feel a little bit better.