Poundland Haul and Challenge

When I started this blog last week, one of the things

 I wanted to concentrate on was affordable crafting 

and crafting on a budget.

I had an idea for a post that I wanted to do 

and today has been my opportunity to do it. 

There are so many expensive 

and overpriced craft items on the market these days, and 

many opinions that you have to have 

all these gadgets and tools in order

 to make good cards and enjoy crafting.

What a load of old Pooh'y!

Crafting is about being resourceful and finding ways to make

 things from very little.

Yes having die cutters, embossing folders, 

alcohol inks and the likes are nice to have.

But is it all really necessary?

CAN you craft and make nice things for very little?

The answer is YES.

If you're prepared to think outside the box, and dig 

around in bargain shops, you can 

actually find some real gems.

Today I went in to Poundland.

Everyone knows that they sell some good stuff,

 and some utter tat.

However, their crafting section is actually really good!

My purchase list included:

A small heart paper punch, yes you read that right.

Dozens of colour sorted buttons, in little packets.

A pre die cut toppers sheet, 

with very pretty country chic images.

A pack of Jute/Hessian flowers and butterflys,

 in natural tones.

A multi pack of die cut flowers, some glittery

 and all with a little gem in the middle

A sheet of glittery gold Letters, which sell in the range

 for an extra 19p (yes it does add up)

A pack of 8 different kinds of ribbon, 

both solid colour and polka dotted, 

each one a metre long.

And a littel pack of Tilly Daydream clear stamps 

(which I have seen on Create and Craft a year or so ago, 

selling for a lot more than a quid!)

The thing I liked about the things I bought,

 was the fact that they were all done with a 

matching color scheme in mind. 

The buttons matched with the colours of the ribbons

and the flowers.

I personally think I have purchased a few bargiains in that lot,

 especially with the punch and the stamps.

The stash haul I got from Poundland

Anyway, I set myself a challenge tonight.

To make a card from nothing but the craft

items that I bought in Poundland, 

basic card stock, tapes, glues and tools that I already had, 

and I also used some of my gold peel off lines.

I decided to do a simple thank you card, 

using a few matting and layering techniques.

I used the heart punch and flowers to create accents,

 added ribbon and even used the gold full stops, 

from the glittery letter sheet, to add extra spotted detail.

please feel free to leave a comment, 

if you've liked this post or anything specific from in it.

Don't forget to tag me if you try the design yourself.

And if you instagram it, then tag me  

at #lindsiloolabell79 so I can take a look. 

XOXO

.

Healthy, Hearty Spiced Winter Vegetable Soup, On a Budget.

Ok, I decided to make this blog into craft and cooking one,

 as now and again I cook things that go 

down well with my family. I'm also living on a budget, 

so everything I cook has to be mindful of that. 

I joined a facebook page that's all about food on a budget, 

and making it go further, 

called Feed Your Family For About £20 A Week.

It's full of great ideas to make food and money 

stretch that bit further. 

I will leave a link at the bottom of this post.

This Spicy Winter Veg soup has been a family favourite for a

 few years now and my oldest daughter 

always requests it when she's feeling ill.

This week she has been off it with a bit of a stomach bug, 

and the usual request got made.

I made a huge pan up, that kept in the fridge has done for three days meals,

 or in between meal 

snacks, in the case of my husband.

 I promise to work on getting new batteries for my Fuji so I can take better picture.

This soup is super healthy.

Or you can add that bit of naughtyness with crispy bacon lardons sprinkled 

on top for that extra bit of texture, and smokey flavour.

To make this soup you will need:

6 large carrots or 9 smaller ones.

1 large white onion.

1 medium Swede.

1 teaspoon of mild curry powder.

1 teaspoon of Garlic Salt.

3 Chicken stock cubes.

Salt and Pepper to taste.

150g Smokey Bacon Lardons, fried off until crispy

Chop and peel all the veg and cut up into roughly 1 inch pieces.

put them in a LARGE non stick pan and saute off for a few minutes 

before covering the veg with 

water, and then add a cup or two of extra water in too.

Add the Stock Cubes, Garlic Salt and Curry Powder and boil. 

Once it's started to boil, reduce the heat to low and leave to simmer, until the veg is tender.

When the Veg is cooked and nice and soft, blend until a smooth, 

thick soup is achieved. 

You can use a stick blender, which is the easiest option, 

or do as I did and add so much at a time to my food processor.

Taste and season accordingly before serving with some nice warm crusty bread.

Add the Smokey bacon at this point and enjoy.

I'm being hounded already to make another batch of this soup up, 

so I'm going to do a huge batch and freeze it.

If yo give this recipe a try, don't forget to tag me in your instagram pictures at

 #lindsiloolabell79.

XoXo

link to my favourite fabebook page

Crafting with Fibromyalgia and Other Chronic Illnesses

I am one of millions of crafters who live with a debilitating chronic pain illness.

 Mine is fibromyalgia.

I posted on a craft page a few days ago, asking how people managed 

with things like the big shot, 

and other craft techniques, when dexterity and chronic pain can be 

brought on by such things.

There were over 190 comments all from people, 

saying how they had also got things like 

Fibromyalgia, and ME, MS etc.

Many of them commented that in a nice-yet upsetting-way, 

they were glad they weren't the only ones coping with such things. 

They shared their views on the kind of crafts that they liked, the kind they'd 

had to give up, and spoke of how isolated they felt, and misunderstood.

For those of you that haven't heard of Fibromyalgia, it's a debilitating condition, 

that causes widespread pain throughout the body. 

The pain can be severe, sharp stabbing, burning or shooting, 

and often occurs in more than one place in the body at any one time. 

Other symptoms can include, terrible memory and cognitive problems,

 tinitus and sleep deprivation, 

It can also cause extreme sensitivity to light, sounds, smells and even touch.

The slightest touch can cause pain.

It causes stiffness, like 'makes you feel like a 90 year old' stiffness.

 Fatigue can come on at the drop of a hat, and be swift and relentlessness.  

Headaches, Irritable Bowl and dizziness often occurs as well as anxiety, and are all things to 'not' look forward to.

It can also cause server depression.

This is because we have to suffer, not just from pain, but from other people's opinions on or 

illnesses. 

They see us with no physical evidence of what's wrong with us, so they judge...and tell us ridiclous 

things like 'Well you look fine' and 'maybe if you just got a decent night's sleep'.

The thing is, that's not even a possibility.

There are three levels of sleep, the last being, full, deep sleep. 

The one our bodies need to regenerate and heal.

And unfortunately, it's a stage of sleep that those of us with Fibro can't achieve.

We are told that the pain is all in our heads, that it's not a real illness and other things 

that can bring us down.

Being met with such things causes a lot of sufferers to keep quite and suffer alone.

 They become isolated and that's when the depression can set in worse. 

I am incredibly lucky to be surrounded by people that do actually get it, 

and give the support needed.

I'm also part of a local support group in my home town for Fibro, 

and we meet up on a regular basis 

to try and help people in our area, so other sufferers know they are not alone.

Anyway, back to the top...

The post I put on the craft group got pulled, because Admin felt it had gotten of topic of craft 

(even though it didn't).

This upset me a little, as all those people that had been

 suffering alone, had seemed hopeful for once.

 As a result of my post,

 I received a few friends requests. But I was disappointed that so 

many others were obviously 

suffering in silence and needed a place to convene.

So I decided to set up my own Group.

 A craft group for those with fibro and other illnesses, where 

they don't have to feel alone but can still share their crafts and ideas. 

So here it is, for if any of you out there that are suffering, and just want a place to hang out,

 share ideas and be able to talk, form friendships and just be able to feel human, 

without judgement.

                             

My little craft group for those with illnesses and need to know they aren't alone.

That's the link above, should any of you that suffer, want to pop over and join

XOXO

Digi Designing

When I took crafting back up a few weeks ago, I couldn't help but notice the 

changes that had happened in the craft world, over the past two years.

I love rubber stamping,and that won't change, but there has 

been more and more use of crafting 
CD ROMS and Digital Images (I called them digi stamps in our local craft shop

 and got a sweet telling off from the lady that owns it. 

Aparently I shouldn't call them stamps because you don't actually stamp anything.)

I digress.

So on looking through various media's, mainly Pinterest, I was mesmerised with this 

relatively new-to me at least-trend. 

The way everyday people are now colouring these images in, as if done by experts 

was mind blowing. 

Of course, I desided I HAD to have a go myself.

SO I set myself off designing some images, It was all new to me, and I have never put so 

much work into drawings, I usually paint, rather than choosing a pencil.

But I surprised myself with how into it I got.

I spent hours drawing up the designs on A4 paper, going over them in fine liner ink, rubbing 

out the original pencil lines, then tracing them up so I could duplicate them.

I (as previously mentioned in my Trick or Treat entry) I did major battle with my, now 

deseased, PC, waved a white flag, then scanned in all the images on my daughter's laptop.

Eventually I managed to print of some smaller versions of my images. But also scanned 

some of the bigger one's that hadn't quite made the standard to be scanned. I used these 

cast offs as a trial run and my first attempt at grown up colouring in.

I plan on colouring the rest in as my promarker collection grows (another 13 on order)

and I will share them as I go.

XOXO

Who'd have thought...Little Old Me

I am seriously overwhelmed by the response my jelly tot idea got on a card group I'm in on 

facebook.

I sat in bed watching as tons of notifictions come in, liking and commenting about how much 

people liked them. I finally went to bed an hour after I had posted, with 164 likes.

I woke up to a ton more notifications so took a look.

I was totally blown away by 735 likes! that's how many there were after just 8 hours!

That number has continued to rise since.

So I did a little video tutorial as a couple of people didn't quite understand how I had made 

them.

I posted it on the group and have had an overwhelming response to that too, with people 

commenting to tell me they  had made some, and how easy and effective they were.

I've since discovered that you can make jelly beans in the same way,just create a small 

banana shape, they dry slightly opaque giving the crusty shell appearance. 

Try to refrain from munching on them, for obvious reasons 

So this post was mainly a thank you for all the lovely comments on facebook, and as a 

result of my post on there, I've had a few more page views on here.

P.S MY phone is going to be hating me as much as the PC did with all the notifications...bt I'm not complaining :) 

P.S, just an update, those 900+ likes, has now turned into 1064!!

XOXO

Happy Accidents

Omdays!

have you ever had one of those times when you try to do one thing...and it goes wrong.

 BUT from  the result it gives you another idea?

That was me today.

I sat trying to replicate something that I had seen on the mecca that is Pinterest, involving a 

glue gun and trying to make embellishments with it.

I was trying to make a heart for on my 'sprinkle of love' card, inspired by a certain Youtube 

mummy known as #sprinkleofglitr, and using one of my own, newly designed, Digi Images.

It sort of worked, but not how I wanted it to. So I covered it with iridescent glitter, which 

helped a little but did nothing for the slightly odd symmetry of the heart.

This was the card with the 'heart'. I also added three squished beads of glue, covered, 

again, in glitter.

And this was what led to my epiphany!

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not claiming to have come up with an original idea here, 

for all I know- and I do know- that there are beads made with a glue gun, plastered all over 

Pinterest, 

I didn't however find any of my version on there.

My squished glittery beads resembled a certain favourite sweet of my oldest Daughter...

 Jelly Tots, 

or I think they are known as Gum Drops in the U.S.

 (insert Ginge, from Shrek's 'Not the gum drop buttons!')

Either way, I played around with the idea until I was happy with the result.

I squeezed enough glue from the gun, to make a bead of glue, 

I did this on specific colored card so as to get the different colour sweets/ candies.

When I had reached the desired bead size, I swirled the nozzle of the gun, slightly up from 

the bead, and in a circular motion. This limited the stringy bits that are annoyingly left when 

working with a glue gun.

Once I had created several of these beads, I then covered them with the iridescent glitter while the glue was still tacky. 

The iridescent glitter also then gave the little Tot's their sugary appearance. 

This was what the different colours looked like, once they had cooled and been cut out.

I made lots of these little embellishments and decided the best use for them would be for a 

Christmas Gingerbread House Card.

I haven't quite finished it yet as I got stopped in my tracks by a horrible migraine, but this 

was what I did so far. I'm going to put a seasons greeting banner above the door, 

and call it done.

I even did a youtube video for it!!!

See Below

I only used basic card stock, which I drew out my shapes from, and then layered them. 

If there is a Gingerbread House die out there then please feel free to use that if you have it, 

and if you want to give this idea ago then don't forget to hash tag me with your pictures on 

instagram at #lindsiloolabell79

I hope you've found this idea interesting and helpful 

And 

Happy Crafting!

Oh and just a quick note...

I think I killed my PC, It has passed on to the big Micro chip in the sky. My husband made a 

valiant effort to revive it tonight, but failed in his attempts...there will be a memorial service 

held tomorrow and a minutes silence in it's memory.

0-o

XOXO

Only A Day Late...Halloween Card.

Yesterday was just a total loss in the end.

My grand plans of creating a Halloween card, to post here on my blog, was completely washed down 

the swanny, after doing a battle, of epic proportions, with the Jurassic beast that is my PC.

So I vowed to myself that I would not be defeated, and still actually make the damn card

Come Hell or high water!

So I got up this morning with the determination to complete my goal, so much so, that once dressed, 

I raced downstairs to my little messy craft cave (which is actually only a corner of my living room, 

that I share with the grumpy, and temperamental PC; which I need a name for, so all suggestions 

welcome.)

Once in the craft cave, I set to work.

I was still met with the odd 'grrrrrr' moment, when accidentally cutting of the wrong bit of a letter, 

needed for the greeting. Though everything else seemed to go well. 

I have finally lost my Halloween card virginity...

Yes, this has been my first time making a card for this particular Holiday, so please...be gentle with me.

I did fear that after yesterday's fiasco, that i might find it both tiresome and chore'like, but I can 

honestly say I have enjoyed making it.

I don't have a die cutting machine, (yet) so everything I do has to be cut out by had and stuck 

together. My stash is also very limited at the moment, so I'm working with minimal options. Saying 

that I don't think the end result was too bad, considering...

This is what I used to make the card;

Basic thin card, in yellow, green, black and orange.

White hammered card stock for the card blank.

Glue dots,generic wet glue, foam pads and double sided tape.

A printed digi of my own design.

Promarkers;

Blush and Dusky Rose for her skin,

Holly Green, Lime Green and Lime Zest for her top,

Ice Grey 1,3 and 5 for her hat and skirt,

Umber, Mustard and Vanilla for her hair,

And finally Purple and Orchid for her shoes, eyes, and belt.

Sunflower, umber and Mustard were also used to add a little detail to the pumpkin.

Scissors.

Dovecraft Jet Black and Spring green pigment ink pads

craft knife, pencil and fine liner.

And the following stamp, I bought it a few years ago (it escaped my old stash that got sold),

that I can't for the life of me remember the make or name of.

I used the radar looking bit at the bottom left of the picture, with black ink to create a sort of 

cobweb'y look.

So this is the finished card...

I borrowed my phone SD card and hoofed it into my Fuji and managed to get a pretty decent pic,with 

no filters used on them, just my camera, and normal room lighting.

Unfortunately my rechargeable batteries are just about kaput, meaning I will still have to revert back 

to my phone camera, until I can buy some more

Well that's it for now. Hopefully you haven't found this to be all too boring, lol.

If you fancy having a bash at something similar, then please feel free to use these ideas, and if you do then please don't forget to tag me on instagram at #lindsiloolabell79