Problems with Blogger and PC running extremely slowly

I know some people have been having probs with blogger but is anyone having probs posting comments or reading comments?  I can post on some blogs but not others and yesterday I couldn't read comments on my blog, though that seems resolved at the mo'.  But now I can't edit things in my side bar grrr! Any suggestions would be very welcome.  Also I know PCs slow down over time but mine started running extremely slowly just yesterday, so it hasn't been a gradual thing.  I've looked online for solutions and one of them I tried was to stop certain progs running on startup (things I know I don't need to start such as my Craft Robo) but I was unable to do it - got some message about it being denied, so again any suggestions will be gratefully received :)

While you're here I thought I'd give you something to look at.  I'm making one of these but a bit smaller.  Aren't they fabulous!  I got the link for this from someone else's blog but can't remember whose, so my thanks go to that person (I did leave a thank you on their blog) and like whoever it was I'm stitching my petals rather than glueing to keep the shape.  My pic doesn't do the colour any justice the felt is a beautiful fuschia xx

Sunday Stampers - Gold

Check out Hels' blog for the Sunday Stampers weekly challenge.  Each Sunday there's a new theme always based on a song title, this week's theme is 'Gold'.  I've used a tag that I coloured some weeks ago.  I made the gold framey thing by impressing an Anna Griffin stamp into Efa Plast modelling clay which can be cured in the microwave.  I painted it with Lumiere Metallic Gold paint (the colours of these paints are incredible and can be used on fabric).  I stamped a Tim Holtz stamp in the centre and used Rock Candy crackle glaze round the edges.   I've used four flowers each folded in half.  Can't remember whether the metal thingy below the bird is a Tim one or 7 Gypsies
Hels is having another candy giveaway for the Sunday Stampers - see pic in my sidebar :)

WOYWW - 11th May

For anyone new to this WOYWW stands for 'What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday' hosted by that wonderful woman Julia.  Wednesday is the day that intrepid bloggers round the globe show what's on their workdesks.

I've got a new cover for my desk ('cos it's soft wood I decided to have a cover) as I was fed up with the other one, this one is a lovely lilac :) As a result my desk is quite tidy this week.  I did take the pic last night just to save a bit of time this morning.  4 pairs of scissors out this week!    I'm working on something for the Sunday Stampers challenge hosted by another wonderful woman, namely Hels.  The messy thing covered in ink and paint is a piece of  plastic which I sometimes use for messy stuff.  At the moment there's a bird on top with a layer of 3D gloss on.  My MS punches now reside in the plastic tub on the right of the desk.  I'm also showing what I'm working on for WOYWWAC (if you're new and haven't read about this yet WOYWW will soon be celebrating it's first anniversary.  Check out Julia's post dated 27th April for more info  I think it's ok to tell you this is fabric paper, made by glueing tissue paper onto muslin,it's been coloured with paint and mica powders.  I'd knocked my tub of ribbons on the floor and as the lid is very loose they all fell out, but as they are just dumped into the tub it's super quick to tidy them up LOL  For those who want to see the AG box lid I madeover last week see the previous post :)

Sunday Stampers - Key

Hels hosts the Sunday Stampers challenge each week.  You can make anything you like so long as it has some stamping and includes the theme.  As you can see this week's theme is Key.  I decided it was time for my Anna Griffin box; which is being used as a scraps box; to have a makeover.  Of course there's a before and after shot.  I've only done the lid so far but will eventually do something with the base.  I painted it with white acrylic paint and mica powders, I also used the paint to stamp the circles, and used stencil relief paste coloured with mica powder for the diamond pattern.  The heart started off as red metal coloured with alcohol inks (the alcohol inks lifted the original colour off which was fine) and embossed partly with a Cuttlebug embossing folder and partly with a plastic rubbing block.  The flower is a fabric one I hand cut and coloured with paint to co-ordinate.  I made the little wire chain using my finger - did you ever do that with knitting yarn?  The key (to my heart) is grungeboard :-)Only noticed after posting that the bottom row of diamond shapes is wonky - heyho :-)

WOYWW 5th May

Well it's that time of the week again, time to show what's on your workdesk, what you're working on or just finished, tidy or messy.  If you want to join in pop over and visit that wonderful woman Julia.  Mine is very messy this week.  I haven't tidied stuff since finishing my entry for the Sunday Stampers challenge; not blogged it yet but you can just see a bit of it.  I decided it was time to give my Anna Griffin box a makeover, I've only done the top for SS but will do the bottom too as they don't go together.  I also made a card for Susie + Vikki's Christmas Club (prev post) - don't want to still be making cards on Christmas Eve like last year!  You may be able to see some circles I cut out to use but changed my mind but I did colour and stamp one which is why you can see the back of an old glass chopping thing (can't call it a chopping board I suppose?) which I sometimes use instead of a non-stick mat for ink blending.  There are some paints which I used on the box lid, pinking shears in case you're wondering what the chunky looking scissors are and my MS punches stuck in what is supposed to be my.table bin 'cos now I've got 4 of them they need a new home.  The turquoise on the left is some iridescnet fabric which I've used to cut out some fabric flowers along with other fabrics (used on the card in prev post).  Someone wondered what was in the tin at the back, well it's empty I'm afraid.  It was a project on a weekend workshop in March; I probably will use it to store something - ooh perhaps my MS punches :-)
Off for a snoop at other desks ;-)

Susie + Vikki's Christmas Club - Stocking

I decided to join in with Susie + Vikki's Christmas Club challenge as I was still making cards onChristmas Eve last year so decided to avoid that this year.  Why not pop over and then join in, after all making one a week is easy.  There's a different theme set each Saturday, this week's is 'Christmas Sotckings'.  I've used PaperArtsy's Rum + Raisin papers for the background and the stocking and added a fabric flower; hand-cut I might add ;)

Distressed Tag - Tag It On

I'm joining in the Tag It On challenge over at DragonsDreams this week the theme is 'distress it' and I really have ;)  I've used DIs and Tim's stamps for the background and added a flower and a metal dragonfly which I've also distressed.  I tore the tag a little near top right and added 2 staples.  I distressed it using sandpaper and the edge of scissors.  There's also some Blogaversary Candy up for grabs - see pic in my sidebar :)

Happy Saturday

Happy Saturday all ;)
I've made a birthday card for a very sassy lady (hint hint) which I can't share yet but will give you a sneaky peek :) I cut out some fabric flowers on Thursday and have used some on this card.  Can't wait to get my little mitts on the new Sizzix die-cutting machine when it's launched.  I bought some of Tim's Alterations Dies but hadn't realised they are too wide to go through my old red Sizzix! - the 'On The Edge' dies fit though. Then I'll be able to cut out loads of fabric flowers using the Tattered Florals die!
I had to sew some strips of fabric round the top of the grandkids trampoline net (shown here) as it was all ripped and also some strips of wide elastic for tying it to the poles.  It may not seem much of a job but the trampoline is a 14ft one - you can work out the circumference if you want hehe.  Next job is sewing a basket thing for one of the swings which is all ripped but it looks like we may have to take the whole thing down including the rope.  it won't be easy to sew, someone will have to hold the metal frame while I sew but can only do it by having a seam on the outside of the fabric.
Hope you all have a lovely weekend - nice long weekend for most of those who work ;)
xx
EDITED to include some candy I won from the fabulous Susie  there are 6 each of the cute images

WOYWW - April 28th

It's that time of the week again the one where WOYWWers show what's on their workdesk. I haven't got any WIPs this week; I haven't done any crafting since going to the ICHF show in Liverpool last Saturday (if you want to see what I bought see previous post) I haven't shown my full desk for a while so decided it was time to rectify that. It's not too bad really, though there are things that haven't been moved for weeks that should've been. I know some of you will have seen my entries for the Sunday Stampers challenge which is 100 this week. Hels who runs it has a MEGA candy giveaway and as the theme for this week is 'Free as a Bird' you can do any artwork/craft you like so long as there's at least some stamping on it. If you want to bare your soul along with your desk pop over and visit the delightful Julia and join us, it's all good fun ;) I know some of you have seen my completed entries for SS before but as some other WOYWWers asked to see them I'm showing them again. Have fun :)
EDITED Please Note: I left a comment on Julia's blog 'cos I couldn't upload my pics (would only let me upload pics from my blog, from a URL or a Picasa Web Album. I've reverted to the old editor for now but if anyone can help with this problem I'd be most grateful :)
EDITED AGAIN - Post editor sorted - see Esmes comment (I'm off to linedancing now so will visit more WOYWWers tomorrow) x

Another page for Sunday Stampers and Report from ICHF

I had completed this page when I completed the other 2 (previous post) but photo'd it later and couldn't get a good pic.  This is another entry for the Sunday Stampers and also for the BIA (Bind-it-all) book I'm making.  As the SS is now 100 Hels is having a Mega Candy giveaway so for the chance to win why not pop over and join in.
Well, had a great time at the ICHF show in Liverpool yesteday.  Tracey and I went down together and met up with another friend the lovely Ann (originally from Craft Swap Forum) and also the lovely Nicci - think I contacted her initially via WOYWW and as she lives in Liverpool we arranged to meet up.  As a Stampin' Up demonstrator she was on the SU stand on the Friday but as she lives not far from where the show was she had a mooch round yesterday.  I enjoyed the show but I think if suffers from being a mix of papercrafts and stitchery stuff.  I love both as do many others but many more prefer just one or the other so I feel this affects the number of people attending.  Also I overheard quite a few stallholders saying it wasn't as busy as such and such a show - presumably dedicated papercraft shows.  I bought some stamps, Tattered Floral die (£11.50 from the Craft Bug, unfortunately they'd sold out of the birdcage die on the Friday) by that guy whatsisname (I'd be able to remember more easily if he was much better known LOL) For those who haven't heard of him, where've you been? I mean the fabulous Tim H.  I also bought some flowers, archival inkpad 2 MS punches, fab book on natural dyes and woad seeds; yes WOAD seeds!  I've just read that I need to sow the seeds either March or November, tut, long time to wait!  So Googled 'Can I grow Woad indoors' and got this: 
Marijuana growing Indoor, all the steps for growing weed indoors hehehehehe.  Hmm, maybe I can start a cottage industry! LOL
The little tubs of alpha stamps are Studio G and cost £1 they're  fantastic value and great little stamps, they do quite a few different fonts; I have 4 sets now.

Sunday Stampers, BIA book and a trip to ICHF show

I've completed the pages I'd inked and showed on WOYWW (scroll down) but as I photographed 2 earlier and they turned out fine but the 3rd keeps coming out blurred trying to photograph at this time of night and it's irritating me so I'm not posting it now.  I just wanted to post the others so if you visit tomorrow there'll be something new to look at, see how I think of you LOL  These pages are for my BIA book but also my entries for Hels' Sunday Stampers challenge.  The theme fo SS this week is 'Free' so we are free to do anything.  As Hels uses song titles to inspire the themes this week's song is Free As A Bird so she said we could inclued a bird if we wanted and I did, on 2 of them anyway.  As the SS will be celebrating it's 100th anniversary this Sunday Hels is having a  MEGA CANDY giveaway, so pop over and join in.  The great thing about SS is you can make any art project you like so long as you include some stamping.  The birdcage is courtesy of Dan   I won't be around tomorrow as Tracey and I are off to the Creative Stitches + Hobbycrafts show tomorrow at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool yippee!!!
:o)

Susie + Vikki's Christmas Club - Very Vintage Christmas

The theme for Susie + Vikki's Christmas Club this week is 'Very Vintage Christmas'.  Pop over and join in if you want to get a head start on making your Christmas cards this year - how hard can it be to make just one a week?  ;-)  I thought I'd struggle with this as I thought I didn't have any vintage Christmas stamps but had thought of using an angel stamp and did have some papers I thought would be suitable, problem is I couldn't find them, though a thought has just occurred to me.  However I remembered I have a Tim Holtz mini Christmas stamp that would've been suitable but have ended up using an image from the Rum + Raisin PaperArtsy papers I bought a couple of weeks ago.  The background papers are also Rum + Raisin.
xx

WOYWW -April 21st

Ooh I've already read Julia's post for today and it's all very exciting, a challenge and talk of meeting up as the cult known as WOYWW is nearing it's first anniversary!  But first if you're not a regular follower of WOYWW (what's on your workdesk Wednesday) please pop round and visit Julia and find out then join in :)

On show today on my desk are 3 pages in progress intended for my entry for the Sunday Stampers challenge for this week (this one's actually running for 2 weeks).  My intention wasn't to do 3 entries merely to ink 3 pieces of card and then choose one of them to complete but I can enter all three.  The pages will also be included in my BIA (Bind-it-all) book.  For one of them I'm going to include a birdcage, courtesy of Dan  I decided to go for single colours on the pages using Distress Inks; I've  used Spiced Marmalade, Worn Lipstick and Tumbled Glass.  You can just see the doll's chair I started some weeks ago which I've been working on this week and managed to find some beaded braid in my stash to put round the edge of the seat.  So come on what are you waiting for have fun taking a peek at what others are up to and see if they make you feel better or worse about the state of your own desk.  The eyes are still there you may notice (more important things to do than find them a home!) :) xx

BIA book - another page

I've done another page for my BIA book (mentioned in a previous post).  I did have one which I'd inked and stuck part of a page from a book onto it, but have temporarily mislaid it :-/  I've spent quite a few hours gardening today but managed to do the page this morning.  I've used DIs then sprayed over a stencil with a homemade mica powder spray and did a bit of stamping.  I used Grungepaper for the heart then decided to triple emboss it and stamp into it - I mention this 'cos I could've used card for the heart.  I did some stitching down the side using my sewing machine so decided to stitch the heart on.  The pieces of shell are from an old necklace.  I added a piece of sinamay - used in hat making -  and a few beads.  For info: sinamay can be wetted (?) and shaped and left to dry :)
xx

Completing UFOs

I'm trying to complete some UFOs - Unfinished Objects to the unintiated ;)  I don't think papercrafters have as many as people who work with fabric, though I could be wrong.  I've got some that have been hanging around for years!  But this isn't one of those.  I've completed the felt vessel I started a couple of months ago, I've just added some fancy knitting yarn and a felt flower with some leaves.  It's approx 4" high and circumference 15".  For those who haven't seen it before I made the felt myself using the wet felting method :)
xx

Sunday Stampers - Silver

I did finish my entry for the Sunday Stampers some days ago but have been having probs with Trojans and screen freezes.  I'm hoping it's sorted now!  The theme for this week was Silver.  I used 'silver' metal sheet which I embossed with a Cuttlebug folder, coloured with black alcohol ink and sanded.  The bird is a wooden one which I'd stuck those tiny beads onto for something else but wasn't happy with, but coloured over the beads with silverleaf pen.  I also used silverleaf pen on the chipboard letters.  The little floral spray is a piece from a lightshade thingy - I think when I saw it it was just kind of arranged around a light as it can hold it's own shape, but I've got it wrapped round a lamp.  If it looks a bit funny here it's 'cos the leaf is mesh so you can see the metal underneath :)

Susie + Vikki's Christmas Club - Blue + Silver

The theme for Susie + Vikki's Christmas Club this week is Blue + Silver.  I've used PaperArtsy Rum + Raisin paper for the background.  The scalloped circles, Noel, pennants and snowflakes were all cut on the Robo.  The larger circle, pennants and snowflakes are silver mirri card (doesn't really look silver here).  The reindeer stamp is from the Inkadinkado Christmas Silhouettes set.  Had this ready a couple of days ago but had PC problems, thought they were sorted and PC was ok Wednesday, but I didn't get time to post it, then more problems Thursday.  I'm hoping it's sorted finally!

WOYWW - 14th March

If you're wondering what this is all about pop over to our leader Julia's blog then if you're feeling brave join in ;)  My desk is quite tidy this week.  On show is a piece of metal I'm working on for the Sunday Stampers challenge, the theme this week is 'Silver'.  I've also made a start on another page for my BIA book (post further down).  There's also a 12x12 stencil from 'The Crafter's Workshop' which I used on the green plastic first aid box I was altering.  However after rubbing it down, suing Mod Podge to decoupage paper napkins on, painting it wih acrylic paint and mica powder and stencilling then changing the colour I've stripped it all off and  decided to buy some Plasticote spray paint for it!  I'm sorry but I've forgotten to take a pic of granddaughter with her Viking costume on, was going to do it this morning but they were getting ready to go out.
Hmmm do you ever get the feeling you're being watched? LOL (DD gave me some googly eyes last week and I did put all the small ones away so not sure why these were left)
PS OMG!!! I had some nasty infections yesterday - well my PC did and I ended up with the following on my PC - RudeTube.com; PornTube.com and YouPorn.cop :0 I kid you not.  Of course I did check them out just to be sure - noooooooooo not really hehe. Managed to get rid of them!
xx

A Frock for Miss Dolly

I made a rag doll for my granddaughter about 7 years or so ago.  It ended up with the toys for the kids DD minds.  Poor miss dolly ended up with no frock and no hair so DD asked if I wanted it - how heartless!  So I made her a new dress and gave her some hair.  I made her long before I got into cloth dolls - so very different.  The cloth doll is from a pattern by Jan Horrox :)
PS if you have boob envy I can make you a pair LOL

BIA - What's that?!

My poor BIA has been languishing half-forgotten on the shelf for far too long.  I've used it very rarely.  I had every intention of making lots of books when I bought it and must try to rectify it.  One of the problems is what type of books to do!  Anways I bought some of Tim's new Alteration Dies including 2 'On The Edge' dies and decided to make a book utilising one of them.  I've made 2 pages so far but unfortunately as is my wont I haven't left sufficient space at the edge of the page to punch and get the wires in so I did think about putting the wire at the top of the page however I'm thinking I may stitch some pieces onto the edge of the card to accommodate the wires.  I've used DIs for the backgrounds.  I've used my fabby new Stampotique stamp on one.  The leaf shape was done using a stencil and gel medium coloured with mica powder.  I've added a metal charm and sewn beads round the edge, the heart charm is from a set of All My Memories zip pulls and charms from QVC that I've had since Adam was a lad.  I bought some invisible sellotape to see how it would work - I've stamped amour onto a piece using Stazon.  I think it works well and is useful hear as I wouldn't have been able to stamp over the raised stem.  I cut out some metal flowers and coloured with alcohol inks for the other one.  Embossed the bottom edge and added some transfer foil, one of the zip pulls from AMM and text from an old scrapbooking kit.  I've stamped a beautiful Anna Griffin stamps at the top of the page.
:)