About Blackbutterfly Cards



I started making cards for pleasure in 2007, and quickly found my home was becoming swamped by cards everywhere. I decided to put some of them up for sale on a webpage in an effort to recoup some of the costs of my hobby. I called the webpage Blackbutterfly Handcrafted Cards, and it can be found at http://www.blackbutterfly2007.co.uk/

I try to take my cards to a couple of table sales or craft fairs a year, but make my cards mainly for friends and family. I would love the website sales to take off, as I nowhere near cover the costs involved in this all absorbing hobby, but for me the main thing is the pleasure I have in making my cards.
Recently I have decided to expand my blog to cover my other interests too. It's a sort of substitute for going to work and chatting to people, as due to ill health I was unable to work, and since the beginning of 2014 I am officially a pensioner.
Although I'll still show my cards, I'll also be covering my other interests and how I attempt to make ends meet day by day.

In fact anything that crosses my mind will be on here, so be prepared for waffle and a wasted five minutes as you read. Make coffee and settle in, why don't you?



Sunday, January 06, 2013

Taking my time, and doing my best

I've joined one blog challenge this year, although I'm attempting 2 or 3 of them. I just don't want to publicly claim them, as if I should'nt be able to keep to a set time scale I might feel as though I'm failing and lose heart. I'm just privately promising myself to 'do my best' and 'taking my time', The only one I'm claiming out loud and being held accountable for is the sealed pot challenge, which you can find out about, (and join in if you wish,) HERE.
I'm collecting £2 coins and 20p pieces in an old money box I've had for some years now, and I'm already looking forward to opening it on December 3rd.
 
I began, yesterday, to sort out and declutter my bedroom, which due to lack of space has become a general dumping ground for everyones' belongings that won't fit anywhere else. I haven't got very far yet, and this is going to be a work in progress for some time. Any bits that are suitable to sell I'm going to list on E-bay and then add that to the sealed pot to boost the savings. 

I have my craft desk and supplies in my bedroom too, but don't get a lot done lately as its so dark and depressing. Despite the fact that my living room will become very messy for anyone to visit, I'm going to move my craft stuff in here, the light is much brighter in general and I actually get to see some sun! We don't get that many visitors anyway.

I'm trying very hard not to spend very much this month. I've got plenty of food in the cupboards and freezer. The night before last I cooked some spaghetti bolognaise, and saved some of the sauce for last night. Then last evening I added some cooked brown rice to it and put it into 2 red peppers that I picked up at my local Tesco Express. They were marked down as out of date, but there wasn't a thing wrong with them. Then I had a portion of cauliflour left over from Thursday's meal. It wasn't a very large cauli but it had been sitting in the bottom of the fridge since Xmas and the leaves were all yellowy, and some black specks were appearing, so I cooked it all, and saved what we didn't eat. Last night I covered it with a cheese sauce that I made  with some small bits of left over Stilton , and some dried out Edam and some Cheddar. Then I cooked them both in the oven for about 20mins. It was delicious, and I felt really as though I'd achieved something amazing. A few months ago I would have looked at the Cauli with horror, or at least not saved any to make another meal. I've been inspired over the last few months by several 'Frugal Living' blogs I've been following, so grateful thanks to them, and I'm heartily ashamed of how much I've wasted over the years. Well, retirement on State Pension is creeping up fast now, and I refuse to struggle with costs. I need to learn to live within my means, and I mean to live well!
I'm going to have to remember to take more pictures so I have something to show. Anyway, time to go and do something with wool. I'm making myself a hot water bottle cover, I'll definitely show that when it's made! bye now
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2 comments:

  1. Scarlet6 January 2013 at 20:28

    You sound so much more positive Bets, which is wonderful - slow and steady definitely wins the race in my experience, and doing your best is all anyone can ever ask for. I've got some leeks in the fridge which are looking distinctly past their best - they are going to be turned into leek and potato soup tomorrow, which will do us for lunch for a couple of days with some homemade rolls. Looking forward to seeing your 'finished article' ! :)

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  2. Unknown6 January 2013 at 21:13

    Hi Bets, Lovely to hear from you! So glad you're embracing the sealed pot challenge. You will have enough air fare for Holland by December, I know it!

    Love your pot. I blog about the challenge each Sunday in SEALED POT SUNDAY if you want to pop along and let the others know how you are getting on-especially ebay sales!

    Sft x

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