T.I.G.G.rrrrr

Its just me and my girl here today because the boys have gone camping so we are doing our nails and getting our craft on and watching lots of girly films :-) 

Miss Bella is very girly, and I don't know where she gets it from.  She loves having her face painted too.  This double layout was about a trip to Beaulieu near Halloween a couple of years ago. 

She sat sooo still and the finished result was amazing.  How can a tiger look so cute??!

I used lots of orange and harvest type colours to reflect the time of year as well as the colours in the face paints.  I also used lots of textures with buttons, felt leaves, sheer ribbon and that gorgeous canvas tag.

I think I made this layout at a Christmas retreat a couple of years ago and just never got around to sharing it on the blog.  I've still got others from around the same time that got missed and because things have been so hectic here with summer holidays and house sales falling through etc (don't ask) my poor old craft room hasn't seen much actual crafting!

This little girl is full of attitude and sass and definitely has some very tiger like qualities.  Me and my little tiger cub are going to do a lot of snuggling up together this afternoon.

What have you got planned for this weekend?  For some of you it might be last weekend before the children go back to school - is that a good or a bad thing? This summer has been a mix of good and bad but I am looking forward to getting back to some sort of routine and definitely looking forward to getting back to some regular blogging!

Bye for now
xx

WOYWW 257

If it wasn't for the plethora of sharp objects around me this morning then I think I would fall asleep on my desk!  Its been a busy week but today is a day for washing (boo!) and working on One Little Word (Yay!).  The gorgeous rainbow chevron paper is part of the Simple Stories Daily Grind collection that I'm using for this project which has been sadly neglected recently but I'm exciting about doing this month's painty prompts - stand well back, paint will be splashed about!  

On my desk this week there are also some new things - last year's Spring Summer Promarker pens (reduced to £10 for all 12 in Hobbycraft!!) and some things that came free with a magazine (the scrabble tiles, chalk speech bubbles, card pack).  Also these rather yummy bright pink bottle caps which I hope to make something out of very soon.

 One of the many reasons I am so behind with housework and am needing an art day is this....

A very long line of toy cars...  Over 2 kilometers actually we think.  The end result was smashing the World Record for the longest continuous line of toy cars which finished at 24,189 cars!  A team of staff and volunteers (including myself and Management and both children) laid them out all around the Beaulieu Motor Museum, twisting and turning around and about and doubling back, all around the inside and the outside and up and down the paths.

This was part of Bella's area - a line which had to be changed several times as the logistics of counting versus opening doors etc proved very tricky indeed...

 This was the area that I stewarded while the official count took place.  The line at the bottom of the picture went right across the walkway and the rules are that the line cannot be broken until the count has been completed.  Which took nearly two and a half hours.  While people in wheelchairs and mobility scooters were trying to get around!  But they did it!  All the cars will now be sold off to raise money for Naomi House Children's Hospice so I hope they get lots of lots of funds as a result.

My knees, feet, and hands are blistered from crawling and I have sunburned nose.  I'm just pleased it wasn't raining!  Oh and that car there... its a Gordon Bennett!  I couldn't help saying Gordon Bennett, what a lot of cars!  Well... it was a long day...

If you are a crafter of any sort and you'd like to share your work space or whatever you are working on this week with other kindred spirits then please do link up with Julia who is the host of this wonderful world wide snoop entitled What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday.

Bye for now

WOYWW 240

Happy New Year!  Lets get life back to some normality shall we?  The children went back to school yesterday but I am suffering with a horrid virus so it doesn't feel quite like normal yet but it is getting there.  Also I am 40 on Friday *twitch* so there are still a few celebrations to come.  I shall be spending the day in my studio, crafting for me, not making things for other people but me!  There will be lots of cups of tea too.

Don't worry that there is no tea in this picture, it was taken in a hurry this morning and I have hardly been in my studio since Christmas.  This photo is as new to me as it is to you!  Lets take a look around.

Top left is my Christmas present - a Selphy printer.  Not had time to try it out at all yet but hoping to very soon.  Sellotape dispenser, which I wouldn't be without, that it looks like Management was using for my birthday presents and couldn't "manage" to put away.  Next to my ATG gun is a Christmas card with what looks like Elvis on.  Its actually a picture of Lord and Lady Montagu dressed as Elvis. In the middle there is my Festive Planner. It is looking a bit worse for wear because it had an entire glass of Bucks Fizz tipped on it on Christmas Day.  Thank goodness for the Mod Podge!

My cake stand with my bits and pieces for Journal Your Christmas is still there and that is ongoing but I do have another project on the go too.  This year I really wanted to make some changes in my life so I signed up for Ali Edwards One Little Word - I thought it would be cool to do this for my fortieth year.  I'll be working on that on Friday, accompanied by tea and biscuits - well it is my birthday ;-)

This post is brought to you by the wonders of What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday with the lovely Julia.

Bye for now
xx

WOYWW213

I'm pretty sure that time is on warp speed at the moment and I wish someone knew how to turn it down a bit!  Things were supposed to get easier once my course finished but obviously I stacked up a load of stuff for "after" and still haven't quite caught up with myself yet.

I have managed some time at my desk this week, to make a card for a lovely friend's 30th birthday.  I hope to goodness that she likes pink!

We went out for a drink for her birthday last night and the night before that I went to see Strictly Confidential with another couple of friends.  Seriously, I go for months without going out at all and then I go out two nights on the trot!  

Today I am doing a photo shoot in Beaulieu with my lovely niece.  She has some great ideas for her and her baby but I hope she is not disappointed.  I get a lovely shot once in a while and then people think I can do full on shoots!

We've also been busy with Bugsy Malone recently which is now finished.  Here is my boy sporting the remains of his pencil moustache after his performance.  Considering they are only just 7, they did amazingly well.

Please link up with the rest of the desks at Stamping Ground if you want to join in the fun.  In the meantime, keeeeeeeeeep dancing!!

(and if you were interested in the viewmaster reel from the scrapbook layout in the previous post, it was in an ephemera pack from October Afternoon.)

Bye for now
xx

Big Foot and Jaws!

We had an amazing BH weekend with lovely weather and some rather exciting activities.  

On Sunday Management and I went to Twickenham to watch the Premiership rugby final.  It was never going to end well when we were cheering for opposing teams but as it happened the match was rather tinged with controversy usually reserved for football matches.  Leicester Tigers (my team, naturally) won and I don't think Management will ever get over the manner in which it happened (his captain was sent off at the end of the first half).

He couldn't wallow in his upset for long though as it was straight back to work on Sunday with a very busy day at Beaulieu.  It was the first time for a new event called Trucmania and there was a couple of very special visitors too.

Richard 'Jaws' Kiel and Blanche 'Dolly' Ravalec came to meet James Bond fans and the queue was over 2 hours long at many points.

The children knew he was from posters but are too young for the films as yet.  That didn't stop him terrifying my normally very brave Bella!  He was 7'2" in his prime but he struggles to stand straight now.  He has a hormonal condition which is the reason for his incredible height and features - look at the size of his hand on Louis's shoulder!  He seemed a genuinely lovely guy and stayed well over his allotted time to see more fans.

Part of the new Trucmania event saw lorry cabs doing agility tests with a bath tub of water on the back!  There were trucks through the ages, remote control trucks, big trucks, little trucks, you get the picture.  We were really excited to see the monster truck Big Foot though.

We've never seen a real monster truck before so this was a big treat for us.  My goodness though my heart was in my mouth the first time he went over the cars because it looked like he was going to come off the side several times.

Of course the children thought it was AWESOME!

Poor Management didn't get to see any of this as he was so busy with other stuff.  However, it was probably a good thing as he is the person in charge of health and safety!

We're very lucky to be able to visit Beaulieu so often and especially on sunny days and special days like these.  We are very grateful for Managment's job, particularly in these extra difficult times.  When I am busy counting my blessings, this is right up there.

Bye for now

xx

Pick your precious - Trainers

This post is brought to you by Story Telling Sunday with Sian from High in the Sky.

Its been a frantic but wonderful bank holiday weekend here.  I've just realised that it is Monday and not Sunday so I am a day late with this post, THAT'S how lovely this weekend has been.  The sun was shining which always makes me happy and we had our first BBQ of the year.  We put our sun shade up for the season and even purchased some new garden furniture that we have been discussing for about 4 years now. There was a little bit of time for crafting, a day out at a country fair, a brief visit to Beaulieu to see Management at work, and I still managed to find time to put my trainers on.  These are my "precious" for this Sunday (Monday!)

Now many of you might think, well I know she is mad, but trainers?  Really?  Has she totally lost the plot?  Well yes, I am crackers and I make no apologies for that and I shall be honest and say that the last 2 weeks have been some of the lowest ever in my life but thanks to my trainers, I am pulling myself out of it again.

I am mid assignment for my writing course and my story is all about things that happen at the gym.  It was while working on that that I realised just how much my trainers have come to mean to me.  I bought them in September 2011 when I first considered needing some proper running shoes but they still look fantastic because I train on a treadmill.  Ordinarily I hate spending more than about £15-20 on shoes but these were £95!!!  I went to a specialist running shop for gait analysis and I was videoed running in different trainers to find the best support possible.  Knowing how much they cost means I don't wear them to walk to school or to go to the shops etc.  When I put these on, I mean business.  I know that when I wear these, I am doing something really good for myself.  As a bare minimum, we should all be doing 3x30mins per week for general health but yet it still feels a bit frivolous to spend that time on myself but it's becoming much more of a habit for me now.  Aside from the weight loss (I've lost a stone so far this year), the benefits to my mental health are better than any pill or therapy I have ever tried.  When I put my trainers on it's like taking a happy pill because I know that the endorphins are just there waiting for me to let them out.

I have a couple of set routines during the week and then I fit in other things around those.  On Wednesdays I do Combat training which is a mixed martial arts inspired cardio work out.  It feels like I am literally kicking and punching my demons away.  I'm working on my technique to get more out of the class but oh boy do I get sweaty or do I get sweaty?!  On Sunday afternoons I go to the gym to use the treadmill.  I do a combination of running and walking and I am working up to doing more and more of my time as running but it is hard on my shins.  I've got dodgy knees which is why I run on the treadmill rather than outside on hard pavements.  We live in an area with lots of slopes and I'm fine on the uphill but my knees just can't take the down.  I hope to rectify this as I get fitter and my legs get stronger but for now I am content with brisk walking in the local area.

Any time I am walking or running I use an app on my phone called Zombies, Run!  It's basically a story that plays clips in between your chosen running songs, all about the zombie apocalypse.  You are a runner helping to rescue people, retrieve medical supplies and technological equipment, find information about a vaccine etc to help build a base and rebuild a healthy population.  It uses GPS / pedometer to track your progress and rewards you with materials and unlocking extra missions.  If you are really crazy then you can enable the zombies to chase you and you have to speed up by 10% for one minute or risk being caught and you can hear them coughing and groaning and getting closer by the second.  Seriously, I've never been into zombies or anything but I can't wait to get my trainers on and find out what the next part of the story is - it has totally transformed my training.  They have just released Season 2 and have included missions written by a fan who had written some fan fiction about the characters in the story.  If ever there was a reason to praise fan fiction, this is it!  Can you imagine getting that call from the game you love asking for you to write some stuff for them?!

I'm really enjoying getting fit and even loving the ache in my muscles the next day (or two or three!) because I know it is because I am doing something really good for myself.  I have to continue to make time for this because the hard work reaps so many benefits.  I am looking forward to putting my trainers on again very soon.  And of course, at the end of the day, I am worth it :-)

Bye for now
xx

Oh how I loved that shirt!

Look at that little face!  I can barely remember him like this.  These photos are from a trip to Beaulieu just before his first birthday so he wasn't quite on his feet just yet.  I loved this little te-shirt and shirt set and I squeezed him into it any time I could!

As soon as he was on his feet he was able to kick a ball which they are not supposed to be able to do for a while.  He absolutely loved chasing a ball around and we were convinced he was going to be a football star.  As it turned out, his skills stopped there and as he grew he got so gangly that he has always seemed really un-coordinated since then!  Of course we rather hope he will be into rugby but as long as he is happy.

This was another of the layouts from the recent retreat using Echo Park's For The Record 2 from S J Crafts.  I have no problem with using flowers on boy pages, especially when he is wearing a floral shirt and the colours are so vibrant and go so well with the photos.  This is definitely a placement that I will be using again too.

Bye for now

xx

Goals? What goals?

Back in September I wrote this post about my short term goals.  To date, far from any progress with my goals, I have actually gone backwards in a few of them!  Here they are again, just for fun.

I want to get back to my running and hopefully start to attend the regular Park Runs held locally. 

I want to make real progress with my weight loss and head towards losing another 2 stone. 
I want to engage more with the children in the precious times that we have together now. 
I want to get back to enjoying cooking by planning ahead and researching my Slimming World recipe books. 
I want to stay in control of the house in terms of the housework, the de-cluttering and the decorating.
I want to make positive progress with my shoulder injury.
I want to keep on track with my coursework and start to look for outlets for my work.
I want to make progress on my unfinished projects and keep adding to my haul of finished layouts.
I want to make progress with my photo workflow.
I want to be calm and happy and feeling like I am moving forward.

Several things have gotten in the way of this, just normal life things like birthdays and parties (which seem more frequent when we are already busy... or is that just me?), illness (colds ALWAYS come when you really could do without them) and (still battling with side effects of anti-depression medication and trying to get the balance right), random events at Management's work causing him to be busier than normal (this week it is the new Bond film preview) and general family crisis type stuff (tests and results that don't go as planned, the inquest into my Step-Mum's death which, as we expected, gave no more answers than we had a year ago when she died).  

I tried to get this photo blown up onto a canvas for my Dad's birthday last week but I didn't check the size.  When I went to collect it there was no way it would fit in the car.  It was 1.5m tall and 1m wide.  My step-mum ended up bigger than Miss Bella when she stood next to it!  The quality wasn't brilliant but it was passable, however it was just too ridiculously big.  The hassle involved in getting it sent back was yet more time I didn't have and it left my Dad with no present for his birthday.  Thankfully we have another one on the way from another company at more realistic size and quality.

One event that took up a lot of time this week but was awesome, was a night out with friends from school, some of whom I haven't seen for 22 years!  I had a new outfit, I had my nails done, I even had a spray tan!  A friend did my face (she's a make-up artist for celebs dahling) and we went clubbing and then crashed out in the hotel room.  I felt absolutely fantastic on the night, better than I have for ages, it was such a boost to my lagging self esteem.  Unfortunately the come down has been less awesome but it reminded me just how much I used to love going out and looking after myself etc.  A lot happened over the weekend in terms of things being talked about or noticed or admitted (amongst all of us) and we all came back with a determination to make some changes in our lives.

I don't know where I am going to get the energy from as I am still carrying this cold about like Quasi Modo's hump but I need to make some changes and fast.  Life is always going to be hectic, that's our crazy life now and I have to find a way to work around it rather than trying to wait until is passes.  With that in mind, I am going to have an early night and hope I wake up refreshed and ready to attack!

Bye for now
xx

You Are Lovely

Firstly I wanted to say thank you to everyone who has been in touch recently both in the comments, and by private e-mail.  My Story Telling Sunday post which featured the loss of our first baby, and my WOYWW post about being at my Great Nephew's birth that morning prompted some amazing messages of support and love from people across the world, most of whom I have never met.  I feel very privileged to be part of such a wonderful on-line community that takes the time to show complete strangers that they care.  You are all lovely!  

And with that in mind, I realised that I had one more layout to share from the Scrapbook Getaways retreat in the spring!

Oh ho!  What's this?  Another 6x6 inspired layout?  (Don't forget that the 6x6 Celebration challenge is still open at S J Crafts for a few more days if you fancy being in with a chance of a prize!)

How cute is Miss Bella standing by the... erm... pink flowers at Beaulieu?  I seem to be doing more and more double layouts at the moment and the 6x6 pads are cracking for this.

I used My Mind's Eye Lime Twist here which isn't available now but they have just released their new 6x6 collections called The Sweetest Thing.

Once again I used my bunting punch by Stampin Up and changed the look a bit by stitching through it.  I also borrowed someone else's teeny Stampin Up punch for the little flowers on it.  If you are interested in any Stampin Up stuff then I do know a lovely person (Fiona) who can give you further information.

I used up some random bits from my stash (I am REALLY trying to use up odds and ends) including this cute but very cheap umbrella charm and some but expensive shiny brads.

I'm particularly fond of that folding ribbon embellishment there.  Layouts often don't feel finished to me without ribbon.  I went to the Artful Angels crop yesterday and a wonderful little shop called Handmade Treasures visited us with the most delicious collection of ribbons and buttons.  I...ahem.. may have purchased an item or two so expect to see some glorious and more unusual pretty ribbons coming up here soon.

Bye for now
xx

Summer Time Challenge

What luck that this post should come on a day of glorious sunshine!  I am rather pink myself after our little holiday to Wales and I think, despite going there regularly for the past 20 years, it is the first time I have ever been sunburned!  We had a wonderful time as usual and it was over too quickly as usual so we are pleased to have some sunshine to come home to.  I mean't to schedule this post before we went away but a very special little person finally arrived and I was frantic getting the house ready for them to use while we were away for a few days.  So my apologies for it being a little late and for going so long between posts - this will not do!

My Summer Time layout is about Louis and his friend and how close they are.  They are so similar, both fighting to control their emotions and yet living life to the full every day.  It was a rare sunny day in September last year and it was wonderful to be at Beaulieu in such glorious weather.  I MAY have gone a little mad with my camera that day!  I've used one of my most favourite Summer colour schemes - yellow, aqua and red.

I also made some of my favourite embellishments - windmills, which I think are perfect for summer sun projects.

I'm sure that this weather is inspiring you to make something Summery so why not upload it to the S J Crafts challenge and be in with a chance of winning some embellishments.It can be about Summer, sunshine, beaches, Summer colours or style, anything that makes you think of a little bit of Summer fun.  The challenge is open until 19th September so plenty of time to get busy with making something and enjoying some of this lovely weather too.

I'm using the lovely weather to dry my holiday washing and I think we might just light the barbecue this evening.  Now though I have 2 small people who NEED the paddling pool to be filled up RIGHT NOW.

Bye for now
xx

Red, white and blue challenge

Its time for another challenge over at S J Crafts and this is a very topical one, perfect for scrapping all those Jubilee photos.  All you have to do is create something that includes red, white and blue - easy peasy!  

My layout for this challenge is something different for me.  I usually squidge everything up with lots of layers but because there is a lot going in the photos and that Union Flag paper, I felt I needed a bit of space between the elements.  

This challenge was the perfect opportunity for me to scrap some recent pictures from one of our more recent trips to Beaulieu.  They have a new exhibition there this year called "50 Years of Bond" celebrating 50 years of the films by displaying 50 iconic vehicles including a cello case and a crocodile shaped submarine!  The crocodile is a favourite of the children, as is all the fantastic footage of amazing car chases.  

My own favourites are the Austin Martin Vanquish and the Aston Martin DBS that you can see under the title there.  Its the car from Casino Royale that flipped 7 3/4 times making it a world record breaker.  I've never been a Bond fan really but after seeing these awesome vehicles I just might have to become one!

So do you think you can come up with a papercraft project involving red, white and blue?  If you can, please do upload it to the S J Crafts website and you could be in with a shot at the prize.  The closing date is 18th July at 1pm.  Have fun!

Bye for now!

One from the weekend

I have a number of layouts to share from the Scrapbook Getaways retreat and I thought I would start with this simple one using October Afternoon's 5 and Dime collection.  There is no journalling because it is part of a series from a mini photo shoot I did at Beaulieu in September.  This particular photo was taken inside a grass hut in the Victorian gardens, hence the darkness, but the children loved it inside there and insisted on having their picture taken.  (Special thanks here to Jaki Morris who sent me that gorgeous twine which is a perfect thickness).

So, having said there is no journalling, and having explained it a bit, I now feel I need to add some journalling!  I think I will jot a little note opposite the lower pinwheels.  I think Shimelle's Cover to Cover class is rubbing off on me!  (More on that in a forthcoming post).


We were away this weekend at the Out-laws so they could look after the children while we went to watch a rugby match.  It was for Management's birthday, very late as we couldn't get to any other matches.  Sadly Northampton Saints lost in the final few minutes but we had great seats and could clearly see ourselves on the TV when we watched it back.  Management was also interviewed just before the match but we still don't know who it was for!  All this reminds me that I still haven't scrapped our rugby tour adventures from last year... another "gap" to add to add to the list (for those doing Cover to Cover)!


Bye for now
xx

S J Crafts Challenge - Favourites

There is a new challenge up on the S J Crafts blog and this months theme is "Favourites".  There is endlesss scope for this challenge - colours, places, products, people, you name it, you can make a project with it.

For my "Pretty As A Picture" layout, I chose a piece of patterned paper from my favourite manufacturer, October Afternoon.  I've been hoarding it for a while, wanting to use it but not sure how.  I also used my new favourite bunting punch.  A few people have asked me about this punch - its called "small pennant" and its made by E K Success (so a solid product) for Stampin Up.  I do know a couple of Stampin Up Consultants if you want to get your hands on one.  

Some other favourites include the pink paper which is some sort of Papermania effort I think, Jenni Bowlin butterflies and the pink and green combination.

The photos were taken on a rare sunny September day last year in one of our favourite places, Beaulieu.  I don't think it is Managent's favourite place as he is there every day for work but we are very lucky to be able to visit him any time we like and wander in the grounds.

I've just spent the last couple of minutes wiping a finger mark off my computer screen but now I can see that it is actually on the photo!  I do apologise.  Poor Bella having a moment of fame marred by one of my oily hand prints!

So, if you think you can create a paper project for the challenge involving something that is your favourite, then make sure you link up to the challenge at S J Crafts and you could be in with a chance of a prize too.  The closing date is 16th May at 1pm.

Bye for now!
xx

...and breathe....

Well I did it.  I can't say it was easy but it was brilliant once I got into it.  What am I talking about?  Stash Diving of course!  If you want to know how to pick the right papers etc then you'll have to sign up for the Pretty Paper Party class over at Shimelle's.  I can honestly say that its the best class I've done of hers (and I've done a few!) and part of what I love is that her classes are always available once you've signed up so you never have to feel behind or worry about not having time etc.

So for the stash diving experiment, we had to take a pile of carefully selected papers and some matching cardstock and chop them up.  Okaaaayyy..... But back up a second, did we miss a step here?  What about choosing the photos or thinking about the page design?  Nope, none of that, no sirree.  Just chop up the papers.  Here is my pile (and those in the know will see I made a mistake by choosing some cream based and some white based but I think I made them work in the end...)

I almost hyperventilated when I started because this concept is alien to me but I trust Shimelle with anything that involves paper and if she told me to set fire to my stash I would.  So I ended up with about 7 pages from the Echo Park Country Drive collection, an odd My Minds Eye, an October Afternoon Boarding Pass and a Jillibean Soup.  I did pick out about 8 pieces of cardstock but I had to add to that a bit in the end.

I cut all the pages except one pattern that I was happy to use as a background and only had one serious wobble which was right at the beginning with my first 4 chops into that stripy paper which I chopped the wrong way!  I almost cried at that point but I turned the paper over and it was orange dots so no big problem except that I had intended to have some 12 inch strips of stripes so I had to do some careful patching.

By the time I left, so within about 5 hours, I had chosen my papers and cardstock, chopped them all, had a few cups of tea to steady my nerves, stuck all the pieces down onto various layouts, chosen photos from a large stack, and stuck them on.  I ended up with 10 single page layouts and a double.  Oh my word, yes!  I just need to "titivate" as Paula (who runs the crop) said and that is easiest to do at home with all my many ribbons and buttons and stickers and what nots.  Its truly a great way to scrap, especially if you are away from home because you don't need to take loads of stuff.  It has been a revelation.  Shimelle, I salute you!

Sadly I couldn't stay till the end because we were dashing out to the Beaulieu fireworks which always has a Halloween theme.  They were totally amazing as always and photos never do fireworks justice but I can't resist sharing these with you.

 
 

It was a little bit drizzly but we didn't mind.  Despite our best intentions to get out today, we seem to all want to stay in the warm and dry!  Suits me, I have 11 layouts to finish ;-)

Bye for now
xx

WOYWW

How did it get around to Wednesday again so soon?

Well here is my table with an almost complete layout for Shimelle's 4x6 photo love class (with 8 photos!!!) which may or may not have some MME Lost and Found papers on it ;-)

I WILL be updating on LSNED in the next couple of days and also sharing photos of my re-organised workspace but I am waiting for semi-decent light to take pictures of the latter and waiting to get going on the former!

In the meantime, I can share a couple of the layouts that I completed on Saturday at the crop.

I used my Dear Lizzy papers!  And I cut them up!  I needed to have a little lay down after that... ;-)  I quite like the effect of the circley-flowery things on pop-dots to add a bit of texture.

This next layout will be featuring not once, but twice, in LSNED.  The photos were taken at Beaulieu and the children are sat in a car in one and on a truck shaped see-saw thingy in the other.  I've had the pictures out for a while waiting to scrap but I was trying to think of a suitable title when I suddenly realised that they are wearing different clothing!  I thought they were taken on the same day but it appears not - oops!  I made the journalling quite general then about how they can play together there so nicely when we are on our own.  Lesson for 3rd Sept - check the photos actually relate to what you think they do.     Ahem...

I broke into a new kit for this layout called Country Drive by Echo Park.  I love the bright summery colours and the stickers etc.

Initially I stuck the red check paper too far up and although in some lights you can't see it, there is a scuffy area where I pulled it off and moved it.  I added a bit of a green splatter to try and hide it but it didnt really work.  Anyway..  Pleased that I had completed another layout, I was eager to get it into my newly organised album.  Hence this not quite splatter effect...

Lesson for 4th September - Wait for the paint to dry before putting the layout in your album or you will get blotches where you intended pretty splatters to be.... * embarrassed cough*

What's on your desk this week?  Share your creative space on Julia's blog so we can come and have a nosey.

Bye for now xx