I Hate VAT

What a disaster of a day, 3 hours entering Dads accounts into my computer and then the accounts program decides to fail, ring help line and told I must pay £40 before they can help me, just about ready to tear hair out in frustration.
 
On to some good news, I managed to lose 7lb last week so I was chuffed to bits when I got on the scales at slimming on Thursday, just have to keep up the good work and stay away from the biscuit tin.

On a sad note, it is Sheila's last week in the shop, not looking forward to Friday, I am not only losing an employee but also a really good friend.  I have told Sheila to be prepared to have kettle on, on Wednesday's when I have a day off.

The card is still on a Christmas theme, made using the Forever Friends range of stamps. 

Must go, that VAT is still waiting to be completed, I am going to have a try on my old laptop, before getting paper, pencil and calculator out,
Have a good week, Deb x

Busy day!!!

We have had a busy day at the shop with 2 workshops, it was a little sad as some of the customers were saying goodbye to Sheila, I am dreading next Friday when I have to say goodbye, I know there will be lots of tears.  All I seem to have done today is cut and score cards for the 2 all day workshops we have coming up.  Next week is going to be really busy, 2 all day workshops, Dads VAT to do and to top it all off my sister in law is moving house on Friday, should be good for the slimming though which is where I am going tonight, hopefully a few pounds should have gone due to not picking and lots of walks with Jazzy.
The card is another cutie from Kanban, hope you like it, off now to be weighed, wish me luck,

Deb x 

Teddy Santa

This was a fancy fold card we made a few weeks ago in the Saturday morning class, using the Kanban cute teddy Christmas stamps with fluffy stuff to make him look most festive.

Sunday started with a wake up call from Jazz our German Shepherd dog about 8 o'clock requiring her breakfast and then an extra long weekend walk, I just kept thinking 'this is good for me' and all the calories I must be burning.  I then had the joys of food shopping, buying only healthy food as I started at Slimming World last Thursday and I want to be really good this week to drop a pound or two!  I will let you know on Friday how I have got on.  The afternoon was spent making healthy food for the rest of the week, including a low fat curry which actually turned out to be really tasty, even Hubby cleaned his plate!  Sunday night was spent in front of the telly catching up with Strictly, the X Factor and the new series of Desperate Housewives then an early night, mainly to stop me eating anything else!

I have had a good day at the shop, lots of tiding up and I had an appointment with a lovely lady called Sarah to help her design her wedding stationery, I hope she was pleased with the samples and has taken them home to get her partners approval.

That's all for now, Deb x

Saturday Class

We had a lovely class this morning, with Janet, Cathy and Deb.  It was only three ladies but that made things much easier for me.   We made two cards using the Little friends stamps by Kanban, promarkers, acetate, punches and assorted card stock.  The first card was a box card with an acetate window and flowers to decorate.  The second card is for you horse lovers, yes I know you think I've gone mad as both cards are very cute!

I have not been to well this week with a nasty infection which caused very bad headaches and hard lumps on the back of my head, so it was off to the Docs on Thursday for a batch of antibiotics, they have kicked in thank goodness and I am now feeling much better.

I have Lorraine and Bob in the shop at the moment which is a great compliment as they have come all the way from Shropshire to visit the shop.  

Here are the cards we made today:

Hope you like the cards, have a lovely weekend.  Catch up soon, Deb x

A day at home

I have spent today at home catching up on the ironing, thought I had better get a few jobs up to date before Sheila leaves.
I have bought a few half finished cards home with me and hope to complete them tomorrow. I have been to the Dunelm shop this evening to their friends and family night and yes I won on the raffle, 2 lamps, I will let you know what they are like when I pick them up tomorrow.

The card is one we have made in several workshops and has been made with the very popular Kanban stamps.
Thanks for looking in, Deb x

My Shop

Hello , I thought I would tell you a bit about how  I came to open my shop and why I named it  Monks Den Crafts.  I used to run a garage in Tutbury and in November 2002 decided to sell craft goodies in part of the garage shop.  The garage was on Monk Street in Tutbury and was very small hence the name Monks Den.  I then moved from the garage to Tutbury Mill Mews where I first met many of my customers, in December 2007 I made the move to Ashby de la Zouch, which was like going home as Ashby is where  I was born and bred and my Mum and Dad still live there.  Mum is often at the shop, popping in for a coffee and  lending a hand.  It has been good moving to Ashby as we now have a lovely work room upstairs for our classes and I have made lots of new friends as well as still seeing many of my Tutbury customers.  If you are ever in the area pop in for a cuppa and a browse round it is always lovely to meet new crafty friends.

Off now to get last few things together for tomorrows workshop, catch up soon, Deb x

Saturday Class cards 2 & 3

Christmas Wreaths and Robins.

Stockings waiting to be filled.

Hope you like the cards, they are quite simple and easy to make.  I have used Tombow pens for the colouring and some Stickles to add that extra sparkle.

Off to tidy the workroom now and get ready for next weeks classes, thanks for looking at my cards,

Deb x

Saturday Morning Class

We had a lovely class this morning, thanks to Brenda, Deb, Dana and Kathleen, with help from my Mum Janet.  There was a photo taken of us all but silly me had not put the SD card back in my camera and I cannot find the lead to put pics on to my computer,  sorry ladies, will put you on next week.  The cards were made using the Art Impressions range of stamps, perfect for Christmas cards.
Deb xx

Second half of all day workshop.

Sheila made this lovely card and matching bag.

New to the World of Blogging!

Hi everybody, sitting here with Sheila teaching me how to be a blogger!  Much harder than I thought, will need a few more sessions before my lovely Sheila leaves me.  I know, very bad news but Sheila is going to be looking after gorgeous Ruby her grandaughter when her mum starts work at the beginning of November.  

I will be using this blog to showcase workshop projects and to keep you all updated on what we are up to, previews of new goodies we have in and generally to keep in touch.

The box above is made to keep your acrylic stamps in, or whatever you fancy. This is available as part of an all day workshop, other half of all day workshop to follow when I have got the hang of this blogging!!!!!

Catch you soon Deb xx

Hope this is ok for a first attempt!!!!!!!!