Card making

As we will be away for a while, and my nephews birthdays both fall during the holidays, i had a play with another Basic Grey card making kit that i picked up from TK Maxx today.

I didn't follow any of the instructions, but just did my own thing with the papers, and came up with some very cute cards.

Once i had finished, i used the scraps, and some of my own stamps to make some cards with the leftovers. This cupcake has been paper pieced, and glossy accents and micro beads added to the top of the cake for decoration.

I think the cards worked out to be around 60p each, so not a bad price overall!

Still not packed, most of the washing is done and we are sort of tidy. Hannah has spent the day giving away the huge crop of plums from the tree in the garden, i still think that most of them will be rotting on the ground when we return.

Happy crafting all, and happy holiday us!

A page about Independence

This weeks SLYMI challenge was all about independence. It really got me thinking (but that's the point isn't it!) until i found these photos of Harry taken after he'd spent the night in his little shed in the garden.. on his own :) The challenge was fab as it made me write the journalling with a slightly different slant, and i'm really pleased with how the page turned out. It was our last Coventry crop for a while, and the last one my workmate Christine will be able to come to, as she moves south in a couple of weeks. Hope we can still keep the crop going, as it's so nice to crop with friends.

Back to the page, another painted acetate (From Papermania), Cosmo Cricket papers, and LOTS of stamping.

Alphabets for the title using Autumn leaves stamps.

Tickets stamped using Autumn Leaves stamps... this has been a really useful set of stamps.

I loved these little caravan stickers, and had been saving them for a special project, they were just perfect on top of hills cut using a 12" abstract die by Sizzix.

And journalling spots (including this really cute sun, from July's kit of the month) from Unity.

Tidying, washing and packing tomorrow, as at the weekend we head off on holiday. I have got a couple of cards to make (2 nephews birthdays in August) and then a break for me from crafting and blogging for a bit.

School's out...

I normally feel much happier at the start of the summer holiday, but when i look back at this year and consider how bad it has been, i just feel terribly let down and sad.

Luckily i have a few days before we go on holiday, to try and sort the house and washing, and get into the holiday mood.

The nicest thing about going today were the kind things that were said to and about me by my colleagues.

A quick page today, about starting school.

K&Co Remake cardstock, Cosmo Cicket papers, and a sketch from the mojoholder site here, Unity stamps and Thickers.

Two very cute little girls, about 10 years ago :)

To cheer me up..

.. i'd nearly forgotten that i had been given another award for my blog from the lovely Julia here on her blog. The only rules are that i have to nominate recipients too, and add a link to their blogs.

So I want to nominate the lovely Sue, who always makes me laugh, Sheena, another Coventry cropper who makes beautiful pages, and has just started blogging, and Caroline for her inspirational blog.

An oddly stressful day at work today, i saw a member of staff who runs the staff association, they have apparantly bought me a gift , but after my illness earlier this year i don't think i can face going to the staff room to receive it from the Head. The worst part was that as i tried to explain this to him i burst into tears... i felt sorry for him as blokes just can't handle this kind of thing....i think he'll be glad to just hand it over at break in the science dept tomorrow.

I'll be relieved when tomorrow is over.

Nuneaton Crop

I had a lovely day at the Nuneaton crop again today. Not too many of us were there, but i managed to get a little project completed, even though it took me almost all day.

The challenge this month was to make a page about our scrap space, so i came up with this page...

I remembered that this ridiculous craft room (in the States of course!) was talked about a huge amount on UKS last year, so i based my LO on a pic of this, and then i added a lift up flap with pictures of my own little corner of the kitchen underneath....

The journalling was about the differences in how we approach scrapbooking in the UK than in the States (they are very serious about it sometimes!) and just looking at that photo of the craft room, it really doesn't look as if anyone has made a page in there, all that stash unused, and how tidy?

To make the page i used Chocoalte Core'dinations cardstock, sanded, lots of Unity stamps (including the new little calendar that i can't seem to resist!), buttons, flowers, Autumn Leaves Scribble alphabet with added Glossy Accents (Note to self... must buy some more of this!), ribbon, and a piece of die cut paper.. can't remember the manufacturer.

Last two days at school coming up, am looking forward to seeing the kids tomorrow, and wondering how many staff and kids have been ill. The local paper reported that over 2000 people in Coventry had been prescribed Tamilflu last week, and that's only the cases that have consulted their doctors. It really is rife here.

Another acetate page.

If i hadn't been diagnosed with flu, and told to stay home until 5 days had passed i would have gone into work yesterday. So as i felt well, i managed to do two pages, and quite a bit of housework. This page is for the SLYMI challenge on UKS, this week it was to use 3 of something on the page. When i made this LO in the Exhall Summer class, i thought i would have another go at using acetate in the future, as i like the effect so much. ( That's the great thing about classes, i always pick up something new to have a go at. ) On the Do crafts site they had a few bargains, so i picked myself up a load of stash, including 2 packs of acetates.

The one on this page is from the Garden pack, i painted the reverse with acrylic paints in yellow, green and white. After adding 3 photos , doodled around the edges, a mini journalling block (again Papermania) and some left over letters from a class it was almost done. I also managed to use up some old stash; a felt border from Queen and Co, PM paper flowers and a bit of glitter glue.

The other page is for a challenge at the crop i i'll be going to tomorrow, so i'll wait to post this. I also have another page made last weekend that i haven't got round to photographing yet.

Two more days at work for me, then i'm done at Newman. I have mixed feelings about leaving. I will miss my Form and many of the classes i take, i hope for their sake that it goes well in the department next year. I'm not used to this nomadic existence, moving from school to school, so it does make it hard to settle and remain motivated. I was at Bishop Wulstan for over 15 years, i just want to find another place where i can stay and make a difference.

As this is supposed to be...

.. a crafty blog, i think i ought to post a LO; one i made a few weeks back at a class taught by Tracie Hudson. I was really pleased with the two Prima LOs we made, and i enjoyed the messing about with paints on both pages.

The patterned paper behind the photo of Kev and I on our wedding day was made with a small background stamp, the edges of the board were distressed and painted, and the flowers had paint added too. I like this page so much that i haven't put it away in an album, it sits on the mantelpiece in the dining room, i might even keep it out and frame it. The addition i made to the page was to add the journalling block, stamped with a Unity stamp.

Harry seemed a bit unwell tonight, i really hope he hasn't caught the dreaded flu, so i'm keeping a close eye on him at present. Might get some crafting done tomorrow as i'm still confined to the house.

Feeling better now...

You may have guessed that i was struck down with the flu early Tuesday morning. After contacting the doc, as she has already diagnosed Kev, she thought it was likely i had the virus too. It was bad Tuesday and yesterday (couldn't drag myself to sit at the computer... too hot and achy) but i feel quite a lot better today. According to my kids a number of the sixth form tutor team (of which I'm a member) are off sick too, and Hannah's A level performance last night was cancelled due to illness among the cast.

I don't think i was hit as hard as Kev, i took the Tamiflu much earlier in the disease than he did, and it seems to have kept the pesky viral particles at bay. Doc says i can't venture out until the Tamiflu is done, so no school for me till Monday. In a normal illness i think i would have been back tomorrow. As i do work with 2 staff in higher risk groups i feel better staying off, i would feel so guilty if i passed it on to either of them.

The funniest thing is that Hannah took some photos Tuesday ( i felt too bad to resist) as she thought i would want to scrapbook them when i felt better. Thanks for all your good wishes... i think they have helped us get over it!

Swine Flu

Kev came home from work today at lunchtime with symptoms of flu. When he contacted the doc he was told that he is a presumptive case of swine flu, as there has already been a case in the school he teaches in, so he has to stay at home this week, and take his Tamiflu.

As a family we have treated the whole thing a bit lightly, but as i drove home from picking up his prescription i heard of two further deaths... it's all a bit worrying. Me and the kids have to go to school as normal unless we develop any symptoms... so watch this space, we all seem OK so far:)

Same photos, different Layout

I have had these photos of Kev and my nephew printed for ages, the theme for SLYMI last week was to scrap a happy page, so these seemed to fit the bill. So i made the 12x12 page using traditional colours, and put it into my christmas scrapbook. I used lots of old stash on this page, some Paper Adventures patterned papers, and the stamps are Banana Frog and Autumn Leaves.

I then discovered that i had some smaller versions of the photos, and as i hadn't made a page for my sisters book in ages, i re-did the LO but at 8x8 size. I had great fun with my Unity stamps on this page, the journalling block and the kitchen things are all Unity. Not sure which one i like best... but i decided on the title way back when i took the photos, so that appeared on both pages.

I even got to make my first Christmas card of the Year with the scraps.

Do you ever scrap photos more than once, and do your extra pages always look different?

What a difference a week makes....

... as it look set to rain all day today, not sure how i'll get the uniforms washed and dry :(

I made a LO for this weeks SLYMI challenge using my lovely new Unity stamp set (see the post below) and my Cosmo Cricket papers. Out of the ones i bought a couple of months ago this kit (Cogsmo) has been my fave. The photos were the ones i took back in April on one of the first warm days of the year. The challenge for this week was to use needle and thread, i stitched arrows around the cogs to show how they would move, and eyes on the robot.

I love this new calendar stamp, i can see it being so useful on pages, and for my Christmas journal if i have another go at that this year. I marked the dates using WRMK gromlets, that worked really well too.

One week left at work (and 2 days) still nothing being advertised yet for September. Am going to a craft demo at the Range today... do i have the strength to resist the urge to purchase? :)

A Lazy blogger

I can't believe it's Sunday since i last posted... but with such a busy week (dentist, parents evening and a concert tonight AND full time work too) it's been tough to fit my blog in. A varied week at work, some lovely lessons, others (mainly groups i don't usually teach) horrible. I had my last full teaching day today, so with one more week and a bit to go, i'm staggering to the end of term.

I did buy a bit of sale stash this week, as i am still earning i couldn't resist some bargains on the do crafts site, and made a few cards from some 6x6 papers they sent in a kit. i know i rarely make cards, but Mum needed a Get Well card for a friend of the family who is (unsurprisingly) unwell, and i had very few to choose from, so i got stamping and cutting, and this is what i came up with.

I had also got my eye on this lush set of scrapbooking stamps from Unity, and they were a great deal last Wednesday, so i couldn't resist them either i really like the calendar stamp and the journalling blocks... i can see this set being really useful! I was amazed that they arrived yesterday, only a week to come all the way from the States. I think i'll have to cancel my Unity kit in September if i'm not earning, but am looking forward to 2 other kits before then.

And Happy birthday to my Blog.... one today!

A Day out...

Despite the terrible forecast, yesterday turned out to be a lovely warm and sunny day, that's the thing about showers, you can never predict whether they will fall exactly where you are or not. So we had a day out, with a picnic in our local area. It was lovely, as it almost felt as if the holidays were here already. We visited Lunt fort, a reconstruction of a wooden Roman fort that had been on the site almost 2000 years ago on the outskirts of the city. There were a few re-enactment people on site (turning wood, with armour the kids could try on and stitching bags) Harry and Katie had a turn with the armour and ended up chasing each other around the site, swords in hand!

A short trip to a very sunny garden centre with some very unusual plants.. we had never visited it before so it was a good place to find. Harry then went off on a sleepover, Hannah to the Godiva festival and we took Katie for a walk to our local pub for a nice bite to eat.

For the crafty readers, here is another page from the crop i attended last weekend, i think it might be my favourite!. The photograph is one i took of Katie for CJs PWL 2 online course back in May. This one as highlighted on the shortlist for the image of the week. Although the title seems a little bleak, the page isn't meant to be so, it's just about Katie's love of her own company at times, she's happy to be on her own.

I really like the techniques used on this page, i have never used the Prima paintable acetates before, so it's a new departure for me. it's one of the reasons i love going to the Exhall crop, even though i have been scrapbooking for almost 5 years now, i love to learn and try out new things. The acetate is painted with white acrylic on the reverse, then a bit of colour added (i chose yellow and green) and left to dry. A border of transparent acetate is left.. you can see my tablecloth through it!! When i put the page into an album i might put a piece of coloured cardstock behind it. On the right side we got in touch with our arty sides, and painted over the vines, again with acrylics. Journalling was added with a marker that would write on acetate, lots of lovely Prima flowers, and a bit of black bling and it was done. I will definitely have a go at this technique again... although if i don't find a job soon for September it might have to wait, as i feel a stash diet beckoning :(

Nearly one year on....

As i think i might forget, i thought i would post about the start of my blog, almost one year ago. I did intend to keep it going, but never thought i would make so many posts in my first year. It's almost become an obsession. :)

In celebration i thought I'd go back to what i started my blog for, and that's posting some of my photos online. i have been taking part in CJs sequel to the fab Painting with light course over the past month. I'm ashamed to say that despite the good weather I've found it quite hard to keep up this time, but as ever she has challenged me and my camera to come up with some different images. This week was the last task, and we had to use our camera and Photoshop to clone a person within an image. I chose Harry, and am so pleased with this bizarre picture of him... it's got to be destined for the scrapbook (along with the lush Cosmo Cricket snorkel papers i picked up last week!)

Finally... Toothwatch....(am reluctant to post this in case it all goes hideously wrong) offending bridge has stayed put since Tuesday... so all that poking about by my dentist was worth it!

How hot...?

Blimey, it's been a while since we saw temperatures like this! It's currently 29oC here (about 84oF for any non scientists) and it s really too hot to be outside. I don't know if it's because we have had 2 poor summers, but was surprised when i looked up the temp, it feels so much warmer.... maybe it's because we are not used to it.

Tooth update.. dentist tried again yesterday (God bless him) used a stronger cement, dug about in my gums to ensure a firmer fix (aaaargh :o), and we tried again. So far, so good.... if my computer table were wood, I'd be stroking it with vigour.

Now for another page. This the second of the Tracie Hudson Sassafrass LOs. Seems very appropriate for this hot and sticky day as the photo is of my two youngest in the paddler earlier this year. Now the page didn't exactly match the class LO, as is my wont, i added a lot of journalling to the first page,only to find that i needed half the journalling spot for the second page. As i seem to take half the kitchen sink with me to a crop, after a delve in my bag, i found a stamp to replace the journalling spot, and got to replacing it. Unfortunately being a very messy crafter, i got ink on the corner of my cardstock, so the stripes in the bottom right hand corner are my own addition to cover up this mess! I quite like them actually!

We also made this little denim flower by cutting a circle from the fabric, adding a running stitch to the edge, pulling this tight, and a little flower is made... a perfect background for another embellishment. Most of the rest of the page is made from stickers, so i also made this do for my SLYMI page for this week.

Weather update for the weekend... tipping it down. Bl***y typical :)