Wow...

This year is passing so quickly... I can't believe we're in June already!!!

I've been working quite a lot... but I've managed to get some crafting time in... I completed the Sweet 16th Birthday Party Invitations and have had many card orders to keep me busy!

There's a lot going on in the world of Stampin Up!

The retirement list is available in preparation for the new catalogue which will be available to customers from July 1st :)

Have you been thinking about joining the Stampin Up world... would you like to become a member of my S.W.A.T. team... now could not be a better time! Until the end of June you could join for £50, choosing £55 worth of goodies from the new catalogue sneak peek as your starter kit, goodies only available to demos until the catalogue goes live on July 1st!

I can't wait for my pre-order to arrive,  so I can create some samples for you to see :)

If you have any questions please do feel free to contact me... erika.sissons@gmail.com 

Apologies if this post seems jumbled... I'm having to compose it on my tablet due to my pc having a few problems and I haven't quite worked out the Blogger app :(

Until Next Time Hugs 'n' XXX

Hi guys..

Hope your all having a wonderful New Year... I know it's been a while... but I'm back!!!

I'd like to say Thank-You for staying with me... I hadn't planned on taking a blogging break let alone a crafting break but I needed to spend my time elsewhere and whilst things are still not on an even keel... I feel the need to create!

There's a lot in store for this year... the 28th January marks the start of not only the Stampin' Up! SAB (Sale-A-Bration) but we also have the New Spring/Summer Catalogue making it's appearance... I do have a few of the new products to play with but wont get a chance to play until the weekend... I have a Sweet 16th Birthday party invitation to design as well as a few birthday cards so will have those to share really soon.

Until Next Time... HUGS 'N' XXX

Book Review… Making It Last!!!

 

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17704528-making-it-last

RITA finalist Ruthie Knox returns with a brand-new eBook original novella, the finale of her delightfully sexy Camelot series!

What an amazing book… I started it last night and just could not put it down until it was finished… There was so much about this story that I could relate to… it was like the author knew how I was feeling and put it into words for me, quite scary that I’ve just turned 35 and the character Amber was the same age… I’m thinking 35 is the mid-life-crisis age for us women   

Amber Mazzara is exhausted and lonely. Three young kids and a husband that works more and more for less money has taken a toll on the young housewife. She’s on her way home from Jamaica with her family when she’s given the opportunity to stay there and relax for a few days by herself. Like many married couples who’ve been together a long time, somewhere along the way, they lost their ability to communicate clearly with one another. When Tony arrives home, he’s berated by Amber’s mother for letting her stay in Jamaica alone and he promptly recognizes that he’s in danger of losing his wife. So he heads back to Jamaica and when he spots her in a bar, he sees her sporting a brand new hairdo and talking to an older single gentleman.
His first thought is that she’s cheating on him, but soon enough he sees her send the man on his way. When he approaches Amber, he introduces himself by a different name and she responds in kind. They pretend to be total strangers that are meeting for the first time. Some of the sentiments regarding marriage expressed in the text were extremely raw and heartfelt.

This book is real, but that doesn't make it any less beautiful. Because despite how tough marriage is with the day-to-day grime and kids and stress, these are two people who are still in love, although they both have moments of doubt. 
I challenge any reader who's been in a long term relationship to not be affected by this book. It's inspiring to watch the two characters work through this tough time and come out stronger in the end. I personally loved what Ruthie did here. Because the reality is that marriage is tough. It's not all romance and flowers and rainbows. It's kids and finances and problems and stress and it's so easy to lose sight of the love and the romance in the midst of all that. This book is a beautiful reminder of that. The fact that all that stress isn't worth it if you lose the things that matter most. It's about refocusing on those you love and not the day to day details that can suck the life and love out of a relationship.

It certainly has me thinking!!!

Reminiscing…

Today I should have been attending a Wedding with HisLordShip… right up until last night he was asking if I wanted to go… he wasn’t taking anyone else and he was happy for me to go with him!

Whilst I wish Sarah and Chris all the best with their marriage… I just can’t face a Wedding at the moment… they’ll just have to be happy with the fact that I made their Invitations for them!

From the age of 15-16yrs old when I first saw HisLordShip up those ladders decorating at my aunt and uncles house… I knew I wanted to marry him… teenage crushes aren’t they great!!!
I don’t know what it was but I just knew he was the one… I didn’t see him for a while after, and was seeing someone else when I saw him again… those feelings of him being the one were instantaneous again and the flirting started, my relationship ended and in May HisLordShip said he’d take me out on his motorcycle… it wasn’t until the 31st May that we finally got to go out and we just connected so easily… that was the start of the next 17yrs of my life… There’s only ever been one man in my life and having been engaged to him twice… I always thought maybe third time lucky… but… there isn’t going to be a third time and my dreams of being married, traveling and growing old together are gone!!!

A few photo’s…



June 1996… Ah… so young!!!

25.12.1997… What a bump!!!

15.02.1998… The day we were bring the boys home!

08.07.2001… A nice family day at Bridlington for my birthday!

04.09.2004… Sam’s Wedding Vow Renewal… Can you see the rings on the fingers???

04.09.2004… Sam’s Wedding Vow Renewal 

03.01.09… Otley Chevin

15.03.2013… Celebrating HisLordship’s Birthday

I treated myself to Ali Edwards Big Picture Class… Hello Story for my birthday it started on my birthday so I was just destined to do it and plan on using these photo’s to do a Time-Line layout… just need to get them all printed, then I’ll be back to share it with you all!

For 17yrs… there’s not a lot of photo’s of us together is there… I can only find 2 photo’s of all 4 of us… Myself, HisLordShip and the boys and they are from when the boys first came home  

If you’ve made it this far… Thank-You for enduring my ramblings… I have a question for you all

How do you organise and store your printed photo’s?

I ask because I’ve had to search through a whole heap of unorganised photo’s to find the very top photo of HisLordShip and I to scan in so I could share it… I would like to get my photo’s organised so I know where certain photo’s are… all Help and Advice is gratefully received

Until Next Time… HUGS ‘N’ XXX

OMG!!!

Today I turn… 35… half way to the big 40… how did that happen???

A lot has been going on in the recent few months… as you know I got a job… of which I am still loving!

Relationshipwise… I let HisLordShip back into my life again last End September/Beginning October 2012… I know some of you who know me in person will think I am completely bonkers after everything I’ve been through with him, but I love the guy, he’s the father of my boys and I had to give us another chance despite his indiscretions! I told him clearly what would happen if anything else were to happen… especially with 2 certain women… don’t think he actually listened to or believed me!
We celebrated our 17yr anniversary on 31st May… even though he wasn’t here the night of the 30th, I sent him a message on the morning of 31st saying Happy 17th Anniversary xx… I got a message back asking ‘Had it really been that long?’… well for me it had! 
I had already booked the day off work as a new freezer was arriving… HisLordShip arrived around 2-3pmish having booked half day off work… I was upstairs and came down to… 
He helped me install the new freezer… or rather he installed as I sort of watched/passed tools etc (Cupboard needed removing first)… we had to nip to B&Q as my idea for keeping the woktop up kinda fizzled when I realized it wasn’t a full piece of wood that was holding it up at that moment… so off we went to get a proper worktop leg… home again to finish it off… then we went for a ride on HisLordShip’s ZX6-R motorcycle, How I love to be on the back feeling the wind in your face, it’s just amazing… he asked if I wanted to go to Squire’s Cafe I didn’t so we just went for a ride around the country roads for an hour or two… home again and Chinese take-out for tea… on him as it was his treat to me… a film and bed!
Sunday came the big argument… can’t even remember what I said but basically during the argument, In which I didn’t agree with him ‘WhatsApping’ another women, first thing in the morning, throughout the day and last thing at night… feeling they had a better relationship than he did with me… I was told that he wasn’t willing to give up his ‘friendship’ even though back in October he told me he wouldn’t speak to her again, so I told him that was his choice and that I didn’t have to put up with it… apparently they were that close that at 2am in the morning she would have been quite happy to come and get him… so I told him to ring her (he wouldn’t) and she could do so as I wasn’t going to be a second option anymore… so that was the end of our 17yr on/off relationship and half my life… right then and there!!! Heartboroken… yes I was, I didn’t sleep a wink that night!!! 
I felt he didn’t Respect me and I had no Trust in him… not the grounds for any relationship… just took me a while to realise what my head was saying… my heart… well that’s another matter completely!!!
A month or so on… Do I still love him… yes I do, I think I always will! Do I still miss him… yes I do, he was a huge part of my life for so long! My first and only love… I was always there for him, maybe a little too much… but I know I must let him go and move on with my life… don’t know what I’m going to do as everything I did was for him and the boys… I guess it’s time to start doing for myself and finding who I really am!!!

I must also state that I was no angel in the relationship… I’m stubborn, emotional, think too much, too independent but also I was too dependent on him for certain things… so it wasn’t all down to him… I must own my own faults and flaws!!!

I’m not putting it out there for sympathy… I took him back into my life that was my choice… I’m just working through things and need to get it down somewhere… for so long I’ve felt unable to come and post on here about things going on in my life as I knew a certain person was here reading it… but if she don’t like what she reads then stop visiting… everything I’ve posted about is the truth!!!

So now today… I turn 35… what am I to do??? What do I want for my future??? I don’t know… I know I want to start my driving lessons… I keep putting it off as I let my fears take over… I need to push through them!!!
I have so many things going through my mind I guess I’ll just have to take things one day at a time!!!

Craftwise… I have done a few layouts… but I haven’t really played that much, I was working too many hours, but that’s had an adverse affect on other things so I’ve cut the overtime off, so I’m down to my basic hours, which at the moment have been cut down even more until further notice… so I’m scraping by until my hours get increased again… kinda knocked me for six, what with dealing with the above relationship issues… I just haven’t had the heart to craft… but I am hoping that’ll be rectified soon as I do miss it! 
So I will be back shortly with the few layouts I did finish… I have a few more layouts in mind, once I’ve got my scrapping supplies sorted to where I want them I’ll get them done!

I’ve rambled on enough… hopefully I’ve not depressed you too much and you’ll come back for the more upbeat and crafty updates… for now though I’ll leave you with a layout I did of HisLordShip and Uncle Z  the ‘WoW Buds’ when they met on the camping trip to Wales!

Can you spot their names in the letters???

Until Next Time HUGS 'N' XXX

OMG... You Can now Order Stampin' Up! ONLINE!!!

Marvelous news from Stampin' Up! this morning.

As of today, you can now order Stampin' Up! online - 24 hours a day, 365 days a year!  Seen a project you love and want to order the supplies right now?  No problem!  Fancy a little midnight shopping?  No problem!  Whatever you want, whenever you want it!

I would love it if you would like to order your Stampin' Up! supplies through me at my lovely new Online Stampin' Up! site... TwinTroubles Stampin' Up! Page

Simply click the Shop Now link at the bottom of the page.  Fill your shopping cart with all your chosen goodies and then check out.

There is a delivery charge of £4.95 for every order and your goodies will be delivered directly to you via UPS.  Delivery takes approx. 3-5 working days but please allow a little longer at busy times, like the first day of Special Offers or the launch of a  New Catalogue.

If your order total reaches £150+ you will qualify for Stampin’ Rewards (Hostess Benefits) and you are able to spend the reward pounds on any items of your choice in any of the current catalogues.  To reach this sales total, why not gather orders from your friends and family and put them together to reach that magic amount.

Products from Stampin’ Up! are fabulous in both design and quality and I am confident you will not be disappointed with your new goodies. If you do have any problems though, please don’t hesitate to get it touch.

Placing your order online is certainly the quickest and easiest way, however if you want to discuss your order beforehand, or ask a question about any product, you can call me on 07922385870 or email me at: Erika.sissons@ntlworld.com and I will be glad to help you with your order.

 

Until Next Time HUGS 'N' XXX

Ok... Who Stole February & March???

Come on... own up!!!

February passed in a flash... and March just whizzed by in a whirlwind of celebrations... time is speeding by!

So what have I been up to... spending time with family... looking for work & finally getting a job... creating Name Place Cards and Thank-You Cards to go with the Wedding Invites I made for a friend last year... a few cards were also created...

 

Products Used: All Stampin' Up! unless otherwise stated

Stamps: You Are Loved

Inks: Marina Mist, Riding Hood Red, More Mustard 

Card Stock: Marina Mist, Old Olive, Whisper White

Accessories: Rhinestones, 3D Dimensionals

 

 

Products Used: All Stampin' Up! unless otherwise stated

Stamps: You Are Loved

Inks: More Mustard, Riding Hood Red

Card Stock: Baja Breeze, Old Olive, Whisper White

Accessories: Elegant Bouquet Folder, Rhinestones, 3D Dimensionals

 

 

Products Used: All Stampin' Up! unless otherwise stated

Stamps: You Are Loved, Something To Celebrate (Hostess Retired)

Inks: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso

Card Stock: Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Pretty In Pink

DSP: Pretty In Pink

Accessories: Top Note Bigz, Beautiful Butterflies Bigz, Embosslits Beautiful Wings,
Crumb Cake Seam Binding Ribbon, Antique Brads, Pearl Basic Jewels

This last card was created on Saturday Morning, just in time for the party at the local Working Man's Club... Little Maisy turned 2 and celebrated with family and friends!

 

 

Products Used: All Stampin' Up! unless otherwise stated

Stamps: Kidoodles, Alphabet (personal collection)

Inks: Regal Rose, Pool Party, Basic BlackMarkers: Pool Party, Regal Rose, Certainly Celery, Pretty In Pink

Card Stock: Pool Party, Regal Rose, Shimmery White
DSP: Regal Rose

Accessories: Pool Party Ruffled Ribbon, 2-3/8" Scallop Circle Punch, Petite Pennants Builder Punch, Itty Bitty Shapes Punch, Circles *2 Originals Die, Rhinestones, 3D Dimensionals

Hope you like the newest creations... I have some more in the works so I will be back soon, but for now I have to grab some lunch and get ready for work :)

Until Next Time... HUGS 'N' XXX