Inseperable

I've had a bit of a tricky mojo recently.  Its been there, just not working as I would like it.  I'm completing projects but they are leaving me feeling a little disappointed.  This week also, I've had a nasty stomach bug and I'm still not over it, and I'm part way through a blog post about our horrific camping adventures this weekend.  In an effort to turn things a bit positive, I looked through my spreadsheet of layouts (oh yes, you did read that right) which I have to keep now to help me track deadlines, publishing deadlines and when I have blogged projects etc.  I found this layout that I hadn't shared yet and it reminded me that sometimes I can make things that I really love.  I used a sketch that I found on Pinterest and it came together really well with the Salt Air papers from Cosmo Cricket.  The colours were perfect with the photos of Louis and his Grandma (my MIL) who are inseperable when we get to see her, often to the exclusions of everyone else.

I don't often use printed journalling but in this case there wasn't much to say (the photos are from our Wales album) and so it worked well to have it in short phrases on the strips.  I also used a Cricut for the first time ever for my title.  I was at an Artful Angels crop and they have one there with various cartridges for you to use which is really handy if you don't have one of your own.

I liked being able to match the colour to my layout exactly so I would definitely use it again even though it is quite fiddly.

So there you are.  A sunny layout for a day that is not sure if it is sunny or raining stair rods!  Now, I must go and load the washing machine again.  Oh yes, it was THAT sort of camping trip.  More on that very soon.

Bye for now
xx

Olympic Challenge

Its time for another challenge over at S J Crafts and this time we have a highly topical Olympic theme.  Of course the possibilities are endless for this really - anything sporty, maybe something about London or your country's flag, did you see the torch, how has the Olympics affected you?  

My layout is about my own little Bradley Wiggins when he finally sussed pedalling and riding properly on his bike with stabilisers.  Goodness he was so cute back then!

The first idea that came to me was to use the idea of rings to echo the Olympic symbol.  This lead the way for the layout and I also wanted to include flag shapes and my country's colours.  I was stuck for a title so as an extra nod to the Olympics, I used the idea of one of the qualities needed to be an Olympic athlete - Perseverance.

It was an ideal time to use some of my favourite October Afternoon Rocket Age along with various stickers, buttons, and Teeny Alphas.  

There are lots of other ideas for the challenge over at the S J Crafts blog so why not play along?  You could win your choice of 6x6 pad from the shop (and if you need ideas on how to use them, watch this blog space!)

The challenge closes on 15th August at 1pm.

Go Team GB!!!

Bye for now

xx

Teacher Presents

I worked for a while as a Teaching Assistant and I was amazed by the amount of gifts I received at the end of term and at Christmas.  I don't remember giving presents to my teachers when I was at school so it was quite a pleasant surprise.  I experienced a range of gifts and cards but I have noticed each year that there are more and more things available in the shops especially for such occasions.  I thought back to my gifts and the ones I remembered were not the bunches of flowers or the epic amounts of alcohol and chocolate (although they were VERY welcome), but the slightly obscure, the really odd, and the ones that were home-made.  I decided that I would avoid the really odd and try for something a little out of the ordinary and most definitely home-made.  I had an idea for spraying a gorgeous design onto the 99p Hobbycraft canvas totes and it started really well but the final butterfly messed up big time and I had to have a rather swift rethink.  I was making a Dundee cake for my Dad and I thought it might be a good option for the teachers as it keeps well and isn't chocolate :-)

Obviously I wanted to make the thank you cards as well.  I've been waiting for the right time to use this little owl and now seemed very appropriate.  All the papers are My Mind's Eye and both the owl and the bunting punches are by Stampin Up.  I punched out the scallop circle before I adhered the background card to the card blank and the little owl fits right in the negative space - perfect!

I needed to stick the baking paper down with something and I literally squealed when I remembered my newly purchased Smash tape.  It had just perfect wording on it for edible loveliness.

I wanted the finished gift to be wrapped in brown paper and twine and then prettied up with a tag that they could keep.  

Here's a close up of the tag using papers from Echo Park's Everyday Eclectic range in 6x6 (more on that very soon!)

I will go back to the canvas bags but I need to do a bit more experimenting with the spray inks to try and stop them bleeding but either way, one won't be going to Louis' next teacher as it is a man.  No pretty trinket boxes or notebooks, no floral bookmarks, I need to get my thinking cap on for this one!

Bye for now

xx

Life is pretty amazing

She's here again with another page!  Its one from our retreat as I didn't get anything actually finished at the crop on Saturday (despite.. ahem... plenty of planning!)

The page was inspired by a sketch from Shimelle using 2 photos top left.  Its not something I would have done without the sketch but I will definitely use it again.  The papers (This and That Graceful) make me want to lick the screen and I was really pleased to finally put that wonderful Jenni Bowlin butterfly to perfect use.

The chipboard title was perfect to sum up how we felt on the day these photos were taken over 6 years ago.  I was VERY VERY pregnant with Louis and we went on a Babymoon (pre-baby final holiday as a couple) to Bradford-Upon-Avon.  We were excited and nervous and had absolutely no idea just how much our lives were going to be turned upside down.  

And yes, if you can manage to read the journalling, it does say that I had a fight in a car park.  I blame the hormones.... I went into Mummy Tiger mode.... Management was NOT impressed.

This was the first time I used washi tape on a layout!

Despite a cracking headache on Saturday, it was lovely to see Sarah again from S J Crafts and actually stroke, touch and sniff her shop.  We hatched a plan for a series of projects involving the new Everyday Eclectic collection which I'm very excited about.

Talking of hatching and life being amazing, we finally got to release our painted lady butterflies.  I admit, I was quite emotional.  They had lived with us since they were caterpillars and had become part of our family.. sniff.  This was an amazing experience and in Louis' own words "the best birthday present EVER!"

How beautiful is Bob?  Bob was the largest of the caterpillars and the first of the four to hatch.  He was quite happy to sit on Louis' finger while they had a chat about going off into the big wide world.  Bob was less impressed when Bella started shrieking loudly when she tried to cuddle him and he fluttered his wings.

Good luck Bob and friends!

Bye for now
xx

Just Me

I've had this layout planned for ages.  The photo is the first one I ever tried to take of myself nearly 2 years ago now.  I thought it was about time I featured in my own albums now and then!  

I wanted to use lots of the things I love so I included some of my favourite hoarded papers and ribbons, lots of pink and aqua, pieces of craft packaging, music paper, book style paper and cupcake transparency.  

This little chipboard house is a nod to my love of being at home.  There is bunting, hearts and roses, oh my! Everything on the page is special to me and relevant.  Its about what I liked at that time (which is much the same as now really!)

Of course what I really like is scrapping with my friends and eating delicious things like cakes and chocolate and chips.  However I am being very very good with my eating at the moment (more on that in another post)  so on Saturday I will be scrapping with my friends and eating fruit and a jacket potato!  Still, as long as I am playing with paper I am happy.  To be honest it will make a lovely change from the other playing with paper that I have been doing which is ripping it from our hallway walls.  I am literally twitching.  I despise the disruption that decorating causes but I hope to goodness it will be over quickly and worth it in the end.  Sing with me now "This too shall pass"... :-)


Bye for now
xx

Is it finished?

Do you ever those layouts that you finish what you intended to do but you are just not sure it looks .. well... finished?  I had this layout in my head, inspired by Kelly, and I wanted to keep the clean lines but I fighting the urge to add more "stuff".  Is it because it is less clustered than my usual style and it is just something different or is it actually that yes it does need something more?

This photo is coming up for 2 years old now and Bella still loves Fruit Flakes just as much.  I often wonder if they have some addictive quality.  They are very useful when you are trying to keep her in one place for a few minutes as we were here while Louis went on a ride at Oakwood theme park.

So, what do you think?  Would you add something or do I just need to adjust my eyes a bit ;-)

Bye for now
xx

Scrap scraps?

I just mentioned to Management that I had made 3 cards this week, "all from scraps!" I said proudly.  He looked confused.  "Don't you always work with scraps?  Isn't that what scrapbooking is?  How do you get scraps from scrapbooking?"  I rolled my eyes, huffed and turned away.

Here they are, new from old.

One for Louis' teacher who has been in hospital.  Old chipboard, old papers, old gems.  It got me thinking about some of the other stash I have that never seems to make it to a layout.

One for a little girl's 4th birthday.  Shocking photo, just couldn't seem to get the light right.  I blame the weather, not my poor photography skills.  I promise you that the gems are straight, I learned something here - never use small round embellishments with polka dot papers.

Lastly one for Bella's ballet teacher.  I am so pleased to have been able to use this fab ballet shoe ribbon.  I used a tutorial by Kirsty Wiseman over at Fantastic Ribbons for the bow so big mmwwaaah to you Kirsty!  The black card is actually embossed with swiss dot but its a bit hard to see here.

You may have noticed in these pictures that things have moved a little in my craft room.  With all the organising that went on in the last 10 days, things got a bit shifted in my room too but I'll save that for another post.

Bye for now
xx