A mad scientists musings.......

Musical Blog...

2012-01-31T16:55:00.005Z

One of my favourite musicals is Joseph and his Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat.

I first recall hearing it played using a scratched 33rpm record in a music lesson at my secondary school back in the 1970s (showing my age now!) We loved it, and used to sing along to the songs in class.

I'd sort of forgotten about it until the 1990s. One of my daughters came back from a camping holiday with the Brownies. Brown Owl had taken the group to see Joseph, and Hannah loved it too, so I bought her a copy of the music and it was regularly sung about the house. It was shown a few years back at my local theatre, so I took the girls along (twice!) and it was even better live.

At school last Friday our Year 4 teacher retold the story of Joseph with her class as an assembly for the school, and they sang lots of the songs from the show, bringing back happy memories. I was delighted when another member of staff told me that Joseph was being re-staged at The Belgrade, and so booked tickets for the spring.

There are some shows worth experiencing far more than once!

Back to Christmas....

2012-01-28T13:52:00.003Z

Although I make my Christmas journal each year, I also try to make a 12x12 page for each of the children's scrapbooks, and at least one for my Christmas Scrapbook.

Here's one that includes the problems I had getting a decent photo of the kids in their Christmas pyjamas, but i do like the funny photos!

Looking Back

2012-01-26T17:41:00.003Z

Here's a page from long time ago, Harry only looks about 2 0r 3 in these photos taken on holiday.

I made the page at a retreat last November, using thing's I'd picked out of a lucky dip.

We all donated bits of stash for this, and were nominated to take a pick throughout the weekend. I tried to use as much as I could while on the retreat.

My favourite thing on the page is the little beach hut, made using a pricking template and stitched using various colours of bakers twine.

Not my style..

2012-01-24T15:00:00.004Z

.. but I'm always up for trying something new. On UKS this year there is a monthly challenge set by Shimelle called & now for something completely different.

This month involved getting messy with paint, mists and glitter, and resulted in this page.

|It definitely isn't my style, but I'm glad I tried something new.

Back to Last Summer

2012-01-22T12:43:00.006Z

If you are fed up with seeing festive pages, here's one from Katie's prom photos last July.

The jewellery I bought her was hand made as it was impossible to find anything mid summer to go with emerald green, so that is the theme to the page.

The title is stamped using a variety of stamps, as are the journalling block, pins and buttons.

This is the end.....

2012-01-20T08:22:00.003Z

...of my JYC for another year.

A really simple page for the 6th, and as I made a DLO for the review of the year it finished the book of nicely.

It is really fat this year, I think I might need to track down some bigger rings for it.

And here's a slide show of the whole thing!

Picture slideshow personalized with Smilebox

Putting away..

2012-01-19T11:35:00.003Z

I don't normally complete this page as we always take the tree down on the 6th every year, but a conversation about Really Useful Boxes (RUBs) led to this page.

Katie is really sick today, I'm just feeling wiped out now. Hoping the bug has gone.

Still sick...

2012-01-18T08:05:00.003Z

Thought I was going back to work today, felt a bit queasy yesterday, but convinced myself I was imagining it. No, no, no.... sick again. It's been a week now and i really am getting fed up; and now Katie has it too.

Another really useful page, if I remember to look at it before next Christmas. Lots of reminders of things to do to make next year better, or that i need to do again as they went so well this year (note pizza bribe.. made my life so much easier)

Must go, daytime TV to huddle up in front of :(

Love my Kindle

2012-01-17T11:29:00.003Z

Getting close to the end now....

The prompt was all about a favourite memory from the Christmas season. As I had been given a surprise present of a Kindle by Kevin it made the perfect subject for this layout. I even got him to add some of his handwriting by writing the tag for me.

Happy Birthday Mum.

2012-01-16T10:30:00.003Z

Not well again, the deadly tummy bug has returned so a quick post between here and the bathroom :(

Funny times...

2012-01-14T17:02:00.003Z

Managed to finish my JYC today, so should have uploaded it all by the end of this week.

For today's page the prompt is about a favourite memory of Christmas, so mine is about a Rolf Harris beard bought by Kevin for Katie to go with her Stylophone. The funniest thing about this gift was that she opened it before the Stylophone saying, "Who on earth has bought me a beard and glasses?" and then proceeded to open the rest of her presents wearing it!

We liked the beard so much we almost all had a go wearing it during Christmas day.

Can you spot a hirsute me amoung the beardies?

Poorly...

2012-01-12T18:49:00.004Z

There's something about working with kids, they share all their lovely germs with you, so I had a yucky stomach bug over the past two days. I could wish that it would help to shift some of the added festive flab, but that's not going to happen is it! (See previous post!)

Back to JYC....now where was I? Ah yes, January at last. I decided to look back at the resolutions I made last year to see how I got on with them, and this reminded me why I don't really bother setting New Year resolutions!

And I liked the photo of Kev and I taken on the 23rd, so added it just because :)

10 on the Tenth.. chocolate

2012-01-10T16:27:00.004Z

As I love chocolate so much I think it deserves a ten on the tenth to itself.

Here are some of my faves :)

Raspberry and white chocolate anything!

Chocolate fondue

Hot chocolate with cream

Twirl

Flake

I know, the above two look very similar, that's why I like them!!

Salted chocolate; sounds weird, but you've got to try it!

Chocolate brownie

Chocolate nuts and raisins, I know the choc is usually naff, but they bring back fond memories of going to the pictures as a child!

Chocolate orange (milk)

and my all time fave (no idea why!) Mint Choc Aero!

Note: chocolate cake and chocolate ice cream are missing.... yuck!!!!

If you want to see any more 10 on the tenth collections visit Shimelle to find the links!

What's your favourite?

New Years Eve..

2012-01-09T19:21:00.002Z

.. with a difference! I spent a lovely few hours at a breakfast crop on the 31st this year (what a fab idea Mary!) Such a lovely way to end the year. We shared croissants, fresh fruit and an amazing bacon, egg and potato breakfast casserole, and did a bit of crafting too!

Here's my LO from the day, I do love the Bedworth Crafternoon as I'm the only scrapbooker, but I get to see lots of other amazing crafts there. Kara was making these gorgeous snowmen from socks, rice, twine and other crafty bits and bobs like ribbon and buttons. I think I might need to have a go next year!

End of 2011 summary

2012-01-08T16:39:00.004Z

On the 30th of December Shimelle asks us to summarise the year in readiness for the new one approaching. I decided to make a DLO this year, and made a collage using PSE of some of my favourite moments from 2011. I was going to leave it at that, but I can never seem to resist putting pen to paper, so I made a matching page for the journalling, with a small square punched out for each month.

The LO did take a while, but as I was at a crop on the day I made it, the time was well spent!

I'm almost done with the journal for this year, 2 more pages to make, and with upcoming crops next weekend that's when I'll finish it.

29th December

2012-01-07T23:12:00.004Z

This is always a catch up page, and I have used it for the last couple of years to record the picture we go to see on Christmas Eve.

This year we went to see the new Sherlock Holmes, I hadn't seen the first one so was a bit dubious about it, but anything with Jude Law in has got to be worth a look :)

I was pleasantly surprised about the film, it was really funny,especially the scene with Stephen Fry playing Sherlock's brother. Well worth it, if you are looking for a night at the pictures.

28th December...

2012-01-05T22:37:00.004Z

This is a page all about treats and indulgences!

As the girls made such a good job of decorating the gingerbread house this year, it took centre stage.

Day 27

2012-01-04T22:04:00.002Z

Now I'm back at work I've fallen behind with the journal, I think the 3rd is the earliest I've ever been back in school after Christmas in over 20 years of teaching.Here's day 27...

all about sleep habits during the Christmas holidays.

The 12 Days of Christmas

2012-01-03T16:21:00.006Z

Early in December I took part in an online photography workshop run by Cheryl of Feel Good Photos called The 12 Days of Christmas. Here are my favourite images from the course.....

Sorry about the ads, I didn't want to pay for making the slideshow :)

Customize your own slideshow design

The Big Day

2012-01-02T14:58:00.004Z

Here are my pages for Christmas day

and Boxing day. Seems so long ago now, as work starts again tomorrow. :(

23rd Dec The Start of Christmas...

2011-12-31T15:40:00.003Z

My brother's birthday, always the beginning of the festive season for us :)

The Hollybush is the name of the pub we go to for our festive curry!

Day 22 The lists

2011-12-30T10:05:00.004Z

This is one of the most useful pages every year, as there is always so much to do in the run up to Christmas. I used a photo of the cake Kevin iced on the page, mounted it on 3D foam pads and slipped the lists (stamped using Autumn leaves journalling blocks ) in behind once i had finished them.

Day 21 Right Now.....

2011-12-29T10:06:00.004Z

The days closest to Christmas are so exciting, and I always enjoy making this page, another snapshot of the house on the day. I went hybrid with this page and used a template in PSE and added journalling to my photos for a speedy job. It's funny looking back I can't believe we still had a tree to put up on the 21st!!

Day 20 Ladies day

2011-12-28T12:47:00.004Z

Every year I meet up with other ladies who are members of my Mums extended family just before Christmas. It's a shame but the numbers have dwindled of late, but we still met for a pub lunch on the 20th. Last year the snow was falling as I drove out to the country pub, but with this December being so mild the weather was good enough for my girls to talk to the donkeys behind the pub for a few minutes before we left for home.

I've managed to catch up partly with the journal today, but a hideous cough is keeping both me and Kev awake at night and waking me before dawn in the mornings..... oh for a lie in :(

Day 19 A Letter to Santa

2011-12-27T23:06:00.003Z

Pages are getting close to Christmas now...but it's never too late to write to Father Christmas!

As usual the girls really got into the spirit of the whole thing, and Harry just moaned...."What? Writing? Gaaaaaah!!" He did get round to it in the end, so I have his letter to show him in the years to come. Boys and writing..........not a match made in heaven.

Boxing Day

2011-12-26T08:23:00.004Z

I hope you all had a lovely day yesterday, I laughed so much with my family playing a 'you hum it, we''ll identify it' singing game that yesterday my sides ached :)

Some illness here (2 colds and a tummy bug) but we still managed to have a good time. All are at my house today, so a quick post with a JYC update...

Day 18, a crafty friend brought her beading kit to our Christmas crop and we made our own presents, great idea!!

Merry Christmas

2011-12-25T00:09:00.001Z

Whatever you are doing today, have a peaceful, joyful Christmas.

I look forward to spending mine with family, presents first thing, church and carol singing after breakfast, possibly an afternoon snooze, a late dinner and then parlour games for fun in the evening.

It may not be white this year, but I'm sure it will still be warm :)

Christmas Eve is here....

2011-12-24T11:39:00.003Z

The first line of a song learned by Hannah when she was in the infants, and still remembered today!

Day 17 was about the perfect present. Harry bought his cousin Max a pulley for him to use in his shed. I know it seems a weird gift, but I'm sure Max will love it!

Out to the pictures this afternoon if I can get all the jobs done.... must get off this computer :D

Day 16 The Tree

2011-12-23T21:21:00.003Z

Feeling a bit full after just returning home from a local Indian restaurant, we have taken to going there on the 23rd December to celebrate my younger brothers birthday.... and what has traditionally always been for my family, the beginning of Christmas.

Today's page is all about the tree, after a very dry spring last year many of the trees on offer are much shorter and more expensive than usual. Never mind, we still found a nice looking one.

Day 15 Secret Santa

2011-12-22T19:44:00.003Z

I made my Secret Santa gifts for work this year, a calendar and a felt decoration to hang on the tree. I must admit being reluctant to part with them, but I did remember to take a photo of them!

Day 14 Once upon a Radio Times

2011-12-21T09:55:00.006Z

I really love the vintage style of the Radio Times this year, so decided to include it my JYC.

I know lots of people do every year, but this is the first time I'v remembered to do so.

Christmas and Easter were the only times we bought the magazine when I was a child, and I still carry on the tradition today, it just wouldn't be Christmas without them!

Days 12 and 13

2011-12-20T18:04:00.004Z

Am still making progress with the journal.

Day 12 was about Christmas memories. I had scrapped this photo of me a couple of times before, but only just noticed the tree in the background, it would have been my first Christmas in London back in 1964.

Day 13 was about Christmas music. I used photos I took (with Harry's help) signing the title of the hymn O Holy Night. These were taken using the inspiration from Cheryl's 12 days of Christmas photography course. The journalling is about the fact that we sang the hymn a few years ago as a choir, but murdered it somewhat, as it is just so high!!

Days 10 and 11 A Victorian Christmas

2011-12-18T17:31:00.005Z

Managed to get back up to date again today thanks to the Nuneaton crop...
This page ended up being a double LO as Harry and I went to our local art gallery last week where they ran a Victorian Christmas day. There were lots of activities, including card and decoration making, spooky ghost stories in a medieval undercroft and traditional carols. We had a lovely day, and I was inspired to make Victorian cards with my children during the last week of term as part of our history topic.

School's Out....

2011-12-16T22:11:00.004Z

and the Christmas holidays are ahead of us! We put up the tree tonight, it's a bit shorter than usual, but at £50 we couldn't stump up for a bigger one :o .

Day 9 is about the wrapping i used this year. i had noticed that Scandinavian seems to be in this year, so I took photos of my presents under the tree (and no, i haven't yet wrapped them all!) wrapped courtesy of Ikea!

Hannah returns home tomorrow, and I'm going to try and finish my wrapping.

Day 8, An Ordinary Day.

2011-12-14T22:07:00.003Z

I always enjoy the 8th day of my journal, as it's just a snapshot of the house prior to Christmas each year. I do like scrapping the ordinary things.Not too tricky either, i just went round snapping photos, printed them and added them to the page.

...and even though i have made this page every year, I always find something new to photograph!

Day 7, Remembering Mike.

2011-12-13T16:30:00.004Z

Am amazed I'm still up to date with the journal, but I am doing a lot of my own thing this year, and not always following the prompts.

On the 7th I went to a memorial service for a colleague of mine that I stopped working with over ten years ago, but still had a real soft spot for. He died far too young in the autumn, less than three years into his well earned retirement, and I met up with many old friends from my old school in Rugby.

The page also met a tricky challenge set by one of my team-mates on UKS, to use Christmas papers on a non festive page, i thought this fitted the bill perfectly.

JYC Day 6. Teacher Gifts

2011-12-11T20:36:00.003Z

This page was off topic for the journal, but I wanted to include this cards since one of the children in my class made it for me last year, and kept it specially. The journalling is all about my complete puzzlement over gifts given to teachers at Christmas and at the end of the school year. I think it may be because most of my experience is in secondary schools where giving gifts to teachers is rare, but I still don't understand the whole thing of teacher gifts. Is it another import from the US?So no gifts for me please, but I do love and appreciate anything the children make for me :)

10 on the 10th

2011-12-10T17:12:00.010Z

Shameless theft from Shimelles' 10 on the tenth last month :). 10 fave JYC pages of mine.

If you want to see other festive 10 on the 10ths go to Shimelles blog.

First three are from 2008, my first journal, and I used 8x8 size.

Love Harry's letter to Santa on this page.

On this LO it's the photo that says it all.

And here is my favourite decoration I have had since childhood with a LO all to herself.

Now for 2009, when I was unemployed (note the increased level of work in these pages) and went with 6x12" portrait.

This one for the photo.

and this page for the amount of effort it took!

This one for the snow!!!

and this page for the journalling, it's the last in the journal.

And now 2010, 6x12" again, but landscape this time.

This one for the unbelievable cold we had that December

and this one for the handmade decoration that goes on the tree when it's up

and finally this page from 2009 is my favourite of all my JYC pages ever, and it's the story of something that happened to my eldest daughter on the 23rd of December that year.

and this is why i love journalling my Christmas.

Day 5 Advent calendars.

2011-12-09T23:15:00.000Z

I wasn't sure I could come up with a page following this prompt as this is my 4th year of making the journal, then I remembered this funny story about my OH with his brothers when they were young men, so the page was made.

Behind the big door is a photo of the brothers back in the 80s, and I cut the other doors open to record the journalling behind them.

It's one of the reasons I love my journal, it helps me to recall memories long since forgotten.

4th Day, A Perfect Christmas

2011-12-06T21:37:00.003Z

I used the image from the end of the remake of Miracle on 34th Street as inspiration for this page. I always remember seeing this at the pictures, and loving the decorated house at the end of the film, it just seemed so perfect.

Quick pages for in the week, busy busy at work !

Day 3 A British Tradition.

2011-12-05T22:14:00.004Z

We had a panto in school on Friday and I was lucky enough to snap some fantastically bright photos of the cast in costume, so this had to be theme for my LO. I decide to go off topic with the journal because of this.......

Might do cards another day.

JYC Days 1 and 2.

2011-12-04T12:53:00.003Z

Thank goodness for yesterdays crop, I've never been behind with JYC before this early, so was relieved to be back on track by the end of the day.

Day 1 is always the Manifesto, why I'm making the journal, and mine is really short and sweet this year!

I used my self portrait taken for the 12 days of Christmas, I'm sure lots more of these photos will be appearing in the next couple of weeks.

Day 2 is about the weather, and as we had our first frost of the year on Friday, and DS had his new scarf on I grabbed a photo of him just before he got into the car for the school run... just happened to have my camera handy!

Can't believe how grown up he looks now, but at least with the scarf covering his mouth you can't see the teen pout...'Muuuuuuuuuum, do you have to?'

JYC 2011 and 12 days of Christmas

2011-12-03T10:39:00.004Z

Regular readers will know that this is the time of year when all scrapping stops for me, and I spend my time making my Christmas Journal. I have already organised the papers and embellishments for this years journal, and decided to use an A4 format, after using 6x12" for the past two years.

I do admit to being late getting started this year, but hope to get pages done at a crop in Bedworth today, photos are ready, so I've no excuse at all!I did find myself asking the question, "Will I have anything new to record?" but 3 days in and I already have a number of photos and ideas to include.

And as if I didn't have enough to do, I'm also enrolled on CJs online photography course 12 days of Christmas, to give my photographic mojo a kick up the backside.

First job was to take a festive self portrait, here's my effort... took ages, but can see it getting into the JYC!

I look a bit miserable, but that's only because this is the last of about 100 shots using the self timer. Very wearing.

The shot was taken in the mirror, and as HoHoHo reads the right way if you turn it upside down in the mirror I was pleased how it turned out.

Birthday LO

2011-11-28T21:26:00.006Z

I had a fab weekend away with my friends, made 7 layouts,

and laughed myself stupid.

We had a pyjama party theme, and along with onesies, Wee Willie Winky and a glamorous vintage 70s style nylon number similar to these lovelies:
I think every possible type of nightwear was on show with the exception of babydolls....(huge sigh of relief here!) I hope we manage to get away again next year.

Here's a page I made before I left. A few small photos of Katie blowing out the candles on her cake,

and some lovely Imaginisce autumn papers made for Katie's birthday layout.

The title is made using Tim Holtz alphabet masks, inking the edges and hand cutting the letters. Not used them for a while, glad to see I still like the effect.

Hope to upload some of the retreat layouts before JYC begins again.

3 days and counting.........

Crafty Retreat

2011-11-24T22:25:00.003Z

It's that time of year again when I go away with a group of friends to Shropshire to craft the weekend away!

We are going to the same lovely venue as last time, wonder if we'll get snow this year?!

I'm just amazed I fit all of my stuff in the boot of the car.

Halloween Page

2011-11-23T22:59:00.004Z

This was a LO for a challenge on UKS, to use a new technique, and this sketch designed by a UKS member Mary Buttons.

Not having 3 small photos I used 2 recent ones taken of Katie at Halloween.

The panel on the left has been embossed using Tim Holtz folders, and then sanded to reveal a purple core. My new technique was to punch all over the page using a new Martha Stewart punch. I liked the effect but it was hard going to punch all of a 12x12 piece of card!

The title was made using a Papermania die and foam, along with a Sizzix embosslits die and some more sanding.

I have made a good few Halloween pages over the years.....

as we have 2 family birthdays at the end of October, but the fact that this time it included a funny story made Katie's page so much easier to scrapbook.

Scatty Scrappers November crop

2011-11-20T16:40:00.005Z

As I was almost a month late posting my October page, I thought I'd try a bit harder this month and only be a week late!! Dawn gave us this lovely sketch:

from this site, which should have one large photo, she also asked us to scrap a picture of ourselves :)

I had photos that i have been using as my Facebook profile picture for ages, so I thought I would use two to try and fit the sketch! I had the title in mind since seeing the photos, and added embellishments stamped, cut from the Heidi Grace papers,

and used a lovely heart punch borrowed from my friend Sharon at the crop. Yet another good reason for crafting with friends :)

UKS Team Crop

2011-11-17T21:43:00.005Z

Every month on UK Scrappers my team mates and I get involved in a mini cyber challenge to try and increase our scrapping. In October we were given a sketch by Jo (taken from Shimelle's blog, always a wealth of inspiration there!)

....and although I was late making the LO, I'm even later posting it here!!!

I used photos detailed here, to make an autumnal page about Harry. I turned the LO 90 degrees to suit my portrait photos, and added a bit of blanket stitch.

A lovely crafty weekend is ahead, 2 crops!!!

Stamped cards

2011-11-13T17:57:00.003Z

Most of my Christmas cards were very simply stamped this year, some with all over patterns,

others with a stamped border around the edges,

and a few with a sentiment alone.

I also chopped up a scrapbook paper into strips to make a dozen of these with a simple doodled border and stamped sentiment.

Now I've got time to get started with the preparations for my Christmas journal.

Calendar Shots...10 on the 10th

2011-11-10T22:49:00.005Z

I've made my own calendars using my own photos, here are ten of my favourites that I've used in the past that show the passing year.

I know the last one seems to be wrongly labelled, but it really did snow on Easter Sunday a few years back!!

Happy 10th of November :) If you've enjoyed my ten on the tenth, then check out Shimelle's blog for lots more!

Nom Nom Nom

2011-11-09T21:03:00.007Z

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a teenage boy living within your house is always in search of more food.

Not quite Jane Austen, but true nevertheless.... and Harry has been 'peckish' every minute of the day for the past year now; no wonder he towers over me already. In honour of this ability to eat until the cows come home and still remain thin I made this LO using more photos from our holiday this summer.

You may recognise that the page is the third I've made using the ten minute sketch, and I used yet more offcuts from the WRMK bargain kit I picked up at TK Maxx in the summer.... I could probably squeeze just one last LO from the kit!

Edit... Gaaaah, just noticed the missing apostrophe and 'e' in my journalling, must go and add them.........schoolgirl error!

Embossed Christmas cards

2011-11-06T18:46:00.004Z

I was late making my Christmas cards this year as finishing the study took over my half term, but after two weekends effort I've done over 70. Should be enough for this year.

As time was pressing (I need to prep my JYC too ready for the start of December) I went with repeats of quite simple designs this year.

Here are the cards I made using embossing folders.

Stamped cards later in the week, plus details about a lovely day at the NEC today with Mum and Harry.

A rare page....

2011-11-02T20:18:00.004Z

... not just because it features a peck on the cheek, but as I'm in the photos!!

Lots of stamping a la Anna Griffin on this page, the stitched border on the right

, and the border with real added stitches towards the centre

are also from this stamp set too.

Looking at the date of the photo I think the title should read 'Birthday Kiss'!

Recycle, re-use or refuse?

2011-10-31T21:15:00.005Z

This is another LO made using the ten minute sketch I mentioned in an earlier post.

This did take quite a bit longer than the time allotted as I just couldn't leave it looking so simple (I don't really do clean and simple designs... well, not on scrapbook pages anyway!) So I added extra detail by stitching a border with the help of my WRMK Sew Easy tool, and as the needle was out I stitched the buttons on too.

The girls look very young here, and very brown too, it must have been a good year that summer :)

The bit of trim was a tiny piece left over from a class kit that I just didn't want to part with...

I know they say crafters are thrifty, but I've got to the stage now where I only keep bits and pieces that I really think I will be able to use somewhere down the line. If it's just plain old cardstock scraps, then they are destined for the bin I'm afraid!! What about you, do you keep all your scraps, chuck the lot, or are you somewhere in-between, like me?

Decorating Leave

2011-10-27T20:53:00.004+01:00

Not been here as we have been trying to finish the study (started back in August!) and now the computers are back in situ, and the room is finished. We just need to clear the dining room of all the stuff that's been dumped in there as we decorated.

Katie had a birthday last Friday, here's her card, hoping to have a day off slaving tomorrow, just as half term comes to an end!

A House Full of Teens

2011-10-17T22:26:00.003+01:00

When I had Harry I knew the day would arrive when all 3 of mine were in their teens, and it's today!!

He's 13, Katie is 16 (17 on Friday) and Hannah is 19. We had the obligatory Pizza Hut tea, and Harry still isn't too old for Lego, so lots more Harry Potter kits appeared this morning.

His card was made using freebies from The Scrapbook Magazine papers given away earlier this summer.

Happy birthday sweetheart xx

A 10 minute LO.

2011-10-16T19:09:00.004+01:00

As part of a challenge set by my teammate Jo on UKS she gave us a link to this article by Creating Keepsakes. Now I am a speedy scrapper, but a LO in 10 minutes is pushing it, even for me!

So this is the LO I made (turned through 90 degrees), I did get most of it done within 10 minutes, but added the journalling block and the grungeboard skull in an added 5 minutes!!

I liked the LO so much I used it 3 more times.... with a bit of added embellishment!

10 on the Tenth

2011-10-10T18:59:00.007+01:00

Ten Autumn Photos.....

October birthday

Garden colour

Apple picking 2008

In the garden 2007

Japanese maple leaves

Blackberrying

Another October birthday

Pumpkin Carving by Katie

Autumn in the Lakes

So, which is your favourite season?

.....and if you like my 10 on the tenth then pop over to Shimelle's blog to see the links to lots of others.

His idea of crafting :)

2011-10-08T21:44:00.004+01:00

Harry came into the lounge tonight bearing a pumpkin we had bought on Friday saying "There's no need to carve it now Mum!!"

Take one pumpkin, a pair of scissors, pen and some scrap paper, along with a plant pot and a bit of blu tac.... all makes for the ideal Halloween decoration (according to Harry!)

.. and I thought....

2011-10-06T21:17:00.002+01:00

.. I'd posted all my holiday pages (not made them all yet :) )

A really quick post, just had two parents evenings back to back, so am a tad tired!

Made at a crop last month, used a piece of die cut paper that's been hanging about in my stash for ages!! A few Cosmo Cricket strips rolled up ...

and a bit of journalling, add a stamped and Glossy accented (is that a word?) title and some bakers twine to finish off. Even though we have just had a few beautifully hot autumn days this seems like ages ago now :)

Roll on Saturday.

Quilting

2011-10-01T16:59:00.010+01:00

Pam, a friend from the Nuneaton crop I attend, came to us back in the spring with an idea for branching out craft wise. She had heard of a scheme for quilts to be handmade in preparation for the London Olympics next year, where those quilts submitted would be given to participating countries. So we had a go, and produced a quilt for the event. It was finished about a month ago, and just before we sent it off we took lots of photos, as we won't be seeing our quilt again!

I made a couple of the coloured blocks (we stitched ribbons and braid onto fabric after raiding our collective stash) and Pam and Sharon did the donkey work of stitching the squares together, backing and edging the quilt. I also embroidered a panel for the reverse with our names on. When it came to it, we were quite reluctant to send our 'masterpiece' off!!!

To record this undertaking for my Book of Me I printed a copy of the photo onto canvas paper, along with a couple of other pictures and made a double layout; very unusual for me!

The colours were dictated by a UKS challenge, but i like how the bright pages match the quilt. It didn't seem right not to stitch onto the page after all that sewing, so I added buttons with embroidery thread.

I just hope the recipients of the quilt like it as much as we did!

Summer Lovin'

2011-09-29T20:56:00.004+01:00

Here's the last page I've made about my friend's wedding this summer.

A really quick LO made at a crop last month, still loving the Kraft cardstock (this ledger one by Papermania) along with the patterned paper which seemed perfect for a wedding page.

Looking forward to the weekend, just can't believe how hot it is, got into the car today and the dash read 29 degrees, at the end of September that's unheard of.

First Christmas crafting

2011-09-25T11:06:00.004+01:00

I know it seems early to start making things for Christmas, but after talking to a friend at work, we started to think about what we would make with the children this year for Christmas. As a result I had a go at mocking up a couple of ideas yesterday. My friend also runs the enterprise group within school, and we are planning to replace the books within the classroom libraries, that have definitely seen better days!!

The first thing I had a go at were christmas decorations, then I made some really simple tags, and finally a card I plan to make with my class as part of a maths lesson (Lots of measuring!)

The tags will be really easy to make with a couple of dies, paper punches and a simple stamp on the back. We plan to sell them in packs of 10.

The card came from an idea I saw in a Hobbycraft magazine last month, I think it needs thinner paper, but should work nicely for the children to make.

Have you started your Christmas crafting yet?

Remembering Summer

2011-09-20T19:10:00.006+01:00

Autumn seems to have come around so quickly this year; the trees were losing their colour half way through August.

This page cheered me up a little by reminding me of our holiday back in July...it had the added bonus of meeting the challenge for UKS last week.

The cardstock is Core'dinations embossed and sanded, I used it to cover a chipboard journalling block that I added the title letters to. The title had to be an advertising slogan.... remember the Wonderbra ad from the 1990s?

The papers were a really old set of Doodlebug ones I found lurking about in my stash, I punched and cut the shapes from this to act as embellishments.

Finally the bunting is stitched on.

I had a new head for my WRMK Sew Easy tool that pierces the holes, I know lots of people don't get on with this tool, but I love it!!

Mega busy at work as ever, looking forward to vegging in front of the tv now!!

Growing Up.

2011-09-17T09:14:00.008+01:00

Yesterday was the 18th birthday of my eldest nephew Jordan. As he and his family live up in Southport we rarely get to see them, but i do know from fb that he is a rugby nut, and a massively tall young man now!

Here's his card, made with lots of Tim Holtz bits and pieces.

The gears are cut using a Sizzix die, background stamped (Unity) and I made tiny tags to add his name and age using a really cute Stampin' Up punch.

Hope your hangover's not too bad Jordan :)

And Hannah returned to Uni yesterday for her second year...

very quiet here now! Her she is in her new room, might be the only time it's tidy this year, so I took a photo!!

Team page

2011-09-17T09:08:00.004+01:00

Following the previous post all my UKS friends and I gathered around our computers and craft spaces last night to complete this LO as part of our first monthly online crop.

The page is made using a circle cut from a dinner plate, with scalloped circles punched, cut in half and slid underneath to make a faux die cut paper. A little bit of inking, distressing and stitching, along with a lot of hand cutting of flowers completed the page.

The photo is of me (looking a lot thinner!!) and Hannah about 9 years ago, with my nephew at his baptism.

Off to Derby today taking Hannah back to Uni.... when she gets out of bed that is! Ahhhh teenagers, don't you just love 'em!

Scatty Scrappers Crop

2011-09-11T22:35:00.006+01:00

I've been a member of a team on UKS for a couple of years now, it gives me a chance to chat with like minded scrapbookers, and I've even been able to meet up with one member during a charity crop in Lancashire.

To help us to keep scrapping we've decided to do a mini crop online starting next week, and to kick us off I've designed a page for the team.

So here for my team mates (and anyone else who's interested) here are some sneak peaks of the LO we'll be making next Friday.

Stitching (if you're up for it!) distressing, punching and plenty of cutting!

See you Friday.

Ten on the Tenth

2011-09-10T08:21:00.019+01:00

As my youngest son is approaching his teens, it got me thinking about how grown up my kids now are, and what I miss about the days when they were younger.

1. Stories at bedtime.

2. Cuddles on demand (they demanded!)

3. Paddling pool fun

4. When they believed.

5. Sucky cups!

6. Wanting to help!

7. Dressing up.

8. Pushchairs, so handy to carry everything!

9. Letting me choose what they wore.

10. Face painting fun.

If your children are small, enjoy it while it lasts!

For more 'Ten on the Tenth' posts take a look at Shimelles blog.

A Wedding Gift

2011-09-06T18:25:00.006+01:00

I didn't give Michelle and Rich a gift on the day of their wedding, but waited to take some photos and made them an altered canvas as a present.

The canvas was a very inexpensive one (think pound shop!)

and I started by simple obliterating the original design using a couple of coats of acrylic paint. The design around the edges was stamped using a Martha Stewart Stamp around the page set, then I stamped the edges of the canvas too with various words.

One of the reasons I love canvases is that I don't have to worry about the 3D parts getting squashed, or about keeping to the size so they fit in a scrapbook. With this in mind I went a bit mad with Amy Butler papers and a few Sizzix dies to make the flowers, swirls and journalling block.

The swirl top left is grungeboard, inked

and then heat embossed with a glittery embossing powder.

I added an old Making Memories metal book plate some Beadazzles to the flowers, attached everything with a hot glue gun for longevity, job done!

I'm glad to say they both really loved it :)

Supplies;

Acrylic paint cream

Sizzix dies Extended dies: Swirl, Antique Market alphabet: rosette flowers (small).

Sizzix Bigz die Tattered Florals

Nestabilities Label 1.

Martha Stewart Stamp around the page.

Tim Holtz grungeboard swirl.

Ink Stampin' Up turquoise.

Beadazzles Silver

First day back at work with the kids done.... they were really well behaved and hard working... long may it last :D

Hen Party

2011-09-02T19:17:00.006+01:00

Looking at this page this hen party seems a long time ago now; my friend posted today on fb that she has just returned from her honeymoon.

This page shows us messing about prior to the big day back in May on a surprise Hen afternoon.

I used Amy Butler papers, stitched around the edges, stamped the tickets and the birdie.

The star stitches at the top were made using the WRMK Sew Easy tool, a really handy piece of kit.

The day involved eating, playing games, designing wedding dresses using lots of paper towels, sellotape, dust masks etc etc, and a fair few drinking forfeits :)

This Weeks Challenge

2011-08-31T10:54:00.005+01:00

...on UKS was to scrap holiday photos, use a sketch and add flowers or butterflies.

My page uses the stash I bought in my last visit to Stampeezee, and photos of the girls on Portland.

The flowers are all cut from the patterned paper, title die cut and Glossy Accents added.

Need to do some gardening today, a little bit of rain and the grass has started to grow again. Just wondering if I can talk Harry into helping me, or if I'll need to drag him away from the TV.

Sad crafty news

2011-08-28T18:20:00.005+01:00

Yesterday I received an e-mail from the owner of my local B&M craft shop telling me that the shop will be closing within the month. I've been going into Stampeezee for the past 5 years since I discovered it, and the shop introduced me to Unity Stamps, Graphic 45 papers and taught me how to use friendly plastic. Although the shop will remain online, it's not the same as going in and stroking the papers.

I will miss the personal service (I'm ashamed to admit that Debbie the owner knows me by name... must be something to do with the frequency of my visits :o ) and the specialist advice given by someone who really knows about crafting. So Hobbycraft and The Range will be my only local craft shops, I don't think they will be teaching me anything new any time soon.

So here is a LO made with lovely Graphic 45 papers bought from Stampeezee (The Wizard of Oz range) that seemed perfect for a page about Katie's prom dress. Lots of bits and pieces of stash used on this

page too.

Cardstock; Bazzill Kraft

Papers; Graphic 45

Hinges; die cut, grungeboard inked and embossed in gold

Letters; American Craft Thickers

Stamps; Martha Stewart

So if you have a local independent Craft Shop get out there and support it... far too many have closed of late.

Results Day

2011-08-26T20:51:00.004+01:00

Katie got her GCSE results yesterday, and with 2 A*s, 4 As, 4 Bs and a C it proved to be a very expensive day for us!!

She's going to study maths, further maths, physics, chemistry and history at A level, so I think the scientific genes are strong in her too.

I made her a congrats card, using stash old and new!!

Kraft cardstock.

Tim Holtz stamp.

Tim Holtz papers, WRMK gromlet.

Sizzix embossing folder (one of the really old brass ones)

The study decorating is coming on very slowly, we are awaiting wood to finish the edges of the floor, but it has taken far longer than promised.... Kev is just hoping it's here to the room is done for back to school.

A Visit to QVC

2011-08-20T08:40:00.013+01:00

Close friends will know I do like to watch a bit of selly telly if nothing else is on... it's inoffensive,

sometimes interesting and even brought scrapbooking to my attention over 6 years ago.

Just before we went away on holiday Kevin received a letter inviting him and a guest to a Craft Party at QVC in London. Imagine my horror... why him? I assume it is because he had bought a few crafty items in the past as gifts for me, including the Sizzix eClips he got last Christmas. I knew Kev wouldn't want to go, so after a swift phone call, they agreed that I could go in his place with a guest, so Hannah accompanied me to London yesterday.

We had a fab day, won a studio tour, I got lots of great photos for the scrapbook, lovely make and takes and a great goodie bag.

Even better news it appears that QVC are bringing back scrapbooking shows, and seem to be upping their game in terms of the level of crafting , more techniques, and less cut/pop out and stick.

And so on to a lovely crafty weekend for me... crops today and tomorrow Woo Hoo!!

A Wedding Page

2011-08-18T08:18:00.004+01:00

I've been quick to scrap one of Saturday's photos as i like it so much, and it met the challenge this week on UKS. I had to use a celebration, and this seemed ideal, had I not had the challenge I don't think I would have one for blcak, but I am really happy with the page. I also used some new stash (the embossed Core'dinations cardstock) and some old (the flowers, chipboard, and metal frame.)

Took Hannah up to Derby yesterday to see her rented student house, it is identical to one I had in Nottingham as a fresher back in 1982, but much more up to date. We had no central heating, no fridge, lots of orange gloss paint (a job lot I think) and the occasional rodent visitor! No photos alas :)

The best thing about it though, is that it is a 2 minute walk form Derby City Centre, with a lovely little craft shop en route!!

Wedding day

2011-08-14T11:30:00.005+01:00

A lovely friend of mine from work got married yesterday, the weather held off, the service was beautiful, and a great day was had by all.

She had cupcakes instead of a traditional wedding cake, so I used this to make her wedding card. And they fly off to the other side of the world for a 3 week honeymoon later today... lucky pair!

Back Home....

2011-08-06T21:54:00.004+01:00

..after 2 lovely weeks on the Dorset coast, having had wonderful weather.. so good that we spent most days just lounging about on the beach and didn't really bother doing much else! Looking forward to a relaxing 4 weeks holiday ahead (but not so much the decorating we've planned!)

Summer pages

2011-07-21T22:58:00.005+01:00

As it is only a day now until the school holidays start I might not be online so much in the next few weeks. Here is a page from a spring trip to the seaside on a baking hot day... seems impossible now that the weather was so good then, as we have had a dismal June and July since.

It was such a hot day, and Harry had forgotten his hat, so he took to wearing a very old cotton sarong of mine as a kind of turban! WRMK papers again, lots of stamping, and those little SU tiny tags.

A Prom page

2011-07-17T09:54:00.008+01:00

I made a layout about Katie's prom last week for the challenge on UKS. It involved using a single photo, doodling, brads or eyelets and circles.

I took the opportunity to use loads of old flowers I found floating about in my stash!

Crop cancelled again today, might need to get crafting at home.

Stash Lust

2011-07-14T16:57:00.004+01:00

Lots of new releases in the US as the big trade fair approaches (CHA). Love this Sizzix die to make your own 3D pine cone by Tim Holtz....

Take a look at his blog for more stash you just might have to have!

Ten on the Tenth

2011-07-10T21:11:00.008+01:00

Shimelle encouraged bloggers to share 10 random facts on the tenth of the month, so here are my ten favourite things to smell!

1. Rain after a hot summer day.

2. Bitumen

3. Cinnamon

4. A new baby

5. Freshly mown grass

6. Petrol (See 2!)

7. A real christmas tree

8. Clean, line dried sheets

9. New acrylic stamps (!)

10. Cristalle by Chanel

What are your favourite sniffles?

Prom Queen

2011-07-09T08:12:00.004+01:00

When I first started this blog, one of my first posts was about Hannah's Year 11 prom. Now she is at University,

and it was Katie's turn on Thursday.

Now, you couldn't get two more different girls when it comes to getting ready for the big night: Hannah's dress was bought many months before the event, hairstyles and makeup planned, limo transport organised etc etc, it was a military operation and very lovely she looked too.

Katie was far more laid back, we managed to get her out of bed to find a suitable dress at a local bridal shop, but the jewellery and shoes were a very last minute affair, she was taken there by me in the Mondeo.

Different approach, but the same outcome, my little girl is a beautiful young lady :)

An English Lesson

2011-07-03T14:18:00.003+01:00

I don't know if it's because I have to teach English now, but the poor use of grammar, punctuation and spelling really annoys me at times!! I do appreciate that many have difficulties in these areas, with a dyslexic husband and 2 children, but when it comes to businesses making basic errors, I start to see the red mist descend!!!

This card was bought in a rush by a TA at our school, and it was only once we had started to sign it that someone looked at the front and noticed the mistake. ... and with us being teachers we reallty couldn't send the card now, could we?!

I was given the offending article, and with the help of a die cutter and some card i repaired it to read like this....

Now that's better isn't it?

Apologies for any error's in this text, I have spell checked it, just put them down to typo's!

(Just got to love that apostrophe!)

Happy Birthday Sis

2011-07-02T07:20:00.010+01:00

It was my sister's birthday in the week, here's the card I made for her.

I don't normally spend long on a card, but as she loves the seaside, and I had picked up this really cute stamp set at a local craft fair I had a play!

The images are coloured with Marvy pens, I drew and coloured the bunting, adding bit of bakers twine.

Weather's looking fine again.... but must be a better blogger!

A Hot day..

2011-06-26T23:21:00.003+01:00

.. messing about with my blog and deleted today's post by mistake.

Must be the heat, so here it is again.....

A page about our recent visit to Boscombe, papers and stickers WRMK, title stamped.

Had a lovely family barbecue today with visiting Aunt and Uncle from Canada, and took some lovely photos ready for more summer scrapping. Just a shame we have to go to work in this heat tomorrow :)

A Birthday Page

2011-06-22T22:15:00.006+01:00

Not too happy with this layout, but i do like the photos, taken in April on my 47th birthday.

Papers are Amy Butler, I made the scalloped border by punching small circles and gluing them under the edge of the striped paper, title stamped and coloured using Souffle pens. The words were cut from the packaging the stickers came in.

This weekend's crop is cancelled, so I might have to get scrapping in the kitchen :(

Happy Fathers Day

2011-06-19T10:10:00.003+01:00

to all Dads out there.

The kids had fun this morning having made Kev cards (a cross stitch badger!, dinosaur and origami shirt) and buying him some in-joke pressies (socks, many 'pear' items after his fave joke , badger beer, and a picnic bag for the beach. Although he grumbled lots, I think he really liked his presents.

I made 2 cards for my Dad and Father in law, and have been playing with my stamps and markers.

And we are out for a pub lunch today with three Dads, Kevin, my brother in law Colin and my own Dad.

No Sunday dinner to cook.... woo hoo !

Clever Kitty

2011-06-14T19:08:00.004+01:00

A few months ago, as I was 'working' on the computer our cat came to join me. She lost interest in what was online, and jumped onto the shelf above the PC, to sit on top of our science text books. Although it was an odd place to sit she eemed comfortable there, and stayed for a while, soaking up some scientific knowledge!

Obviously I needed to take her photo, and these have now ended up on this page about our 'Clever Kitty'.

This was a great stash busting page, using loads of brads along the sticker border, I even used the little dots that were left behind when I took the sticker from the backing paper. Papers (yet again) WRMK Sunny and 72, title Cosmo Tiny Type and BG chipboard.

I have been a bad blogger of late (that's working full time for you) but did manage to get 3 pages made this weekend... now just need to upload some!

48 and a day...

2011-06-09T18:04:00.006+01:00

He did get the card on time, i just didn't get time to wish my lovely husband a happy birthday on my blog until now!!

His present is, however late...

A year ago Kevin left his favourite Aussie hat on a train on the way down to Weymouth, he'd picked it up at a carboot sale, and subsequently they were constant summer companions. The loss of that hat was a tragedy for poor Kev, and as it was unusual we found it hard to get a replacement. Well, the internet is a wonderful thing, so a new hat is (hopefully) winging it's way here from the other side of the globe, expensive to ship, but as he wants for so little, I felt it was really worth it :)

Back to work again.

2011-06-07T17:53:00.006+01:00

7 weeks to the summer holiday, not as though I was counting!

Here's a photo of Harry that had been floating about the house, so rather than it getting wrecked I thought it needed to go on a page. It was taken on his first family holiday back in 1999.... he was so cute, and so bald!

Papers are WRMK Tiffany, title stamped (Doddlebug on the little tags and TH) and the journalling block is a lovely new Stampin' Up one. The tags are also Stampin' Up, I just had to buy the mini tag punch after borrowing it at a crop :) Paper beads are made out of scraps of the paper, and threaded to hang on the page.

Dinner ready (thanks Hannah!) then time to put my feet up.

A day at the Seaside

2011-06-04T12:57:00.006+01:00

This half term seems a carbon copy of May half term last year, cold and miserable to start, glorious weather at the end. We spent yesterday on the beach at Boscombe near Bournemouth;(and came back slightly pink too!) I hadn't been to Boscombe since I was about 6 or 7, so it was nice to return there. I don't remember much from out very early family holidays there, except one night my younger sister got up out of bed to pay a visit, and returned to wrong room! She was brought back after getting into bed with the couple in the room! One thing yesterday reminded me of, is that I really don't enjoy a sandy beach, sand everywhere, pain applying suncream, and being totally sand-blasted when the wind blew at all!
And as this is a crafty site I suppose I ought to upload a layout... remember this day?

Well here is the very quick page I made using some of the photos. The page was so quick as the cardstock was pre-stitched and the embellishments were cut from a piece of patterned paper. Clouding over here now, I think that's it for summer now :)

What a Washout

2011-05-31T11:30:00.004+01:00

Another typical British bank holiday, after the dryest spring ever, it bucketed it down all day yesterday!
Sun's out today, so maybe I'll get some gardening done.

A page to share, the second I made for the Exhall crop a couple of weeks ago.

This is my one of my MILs favourite pictures of her parents, as it is just how she recalled them as a child. I love how proud they look outside their Yorkshire house. The journalling is hidden behind the photo, and the flowers are cut from the papers. Title is part stamped (Tim Holtz) part stitched.

Sun is still shining... better go outside and enjoy it.

Doodling

2011-05-29T09:15:00.008+01:00

It's been a while since I doodled on a LO, and after making this page about Katie's art projct doodling seemed the perfect way to finish it off. She got me to help her take the photos as part of her GCSE art project, with a theme of clowns, and after painting her own face and uplighting her we got these great images.

The papers are WRMK (more of the TK Maxx bargains) a kit ideally suited to teen boys, but I thought the grungy style of them were perfect for this page. The circles down the left are stickers, and I doodled across the top with Sakura Soufle pens to continue the border. The title is stamped an colured in, crown is a Cuttlebug cut and embossed.

I also added the story of the page onto the LO, must keep up my journalling!

Half term looking forward to scrapping time :)

Woodland Walk

2011-05-25T16:48:00.004+01:00

Here's a page with recent photos taken in a local bluebell wood. No matter how many pictures I take, if the weather is good, I'm always back for more the next year.It's yet another UKS challenge, and i used up some (more) of the bargain WRMK papers picked up in TK Maxx. I think I've managed to make at least 4 pages from this one kit costing only £2, and I still have a lovely die cut paper left to use, along with other bits and pieces.

Cardstock and ribbon? , Papermania

Papers WRMK 72 and Sunny

Title die cut (Sizzix Man O Man)

2 days to half term ; what a lightweight... I've only been back at work a fortnight!!

Vintage Class

2011-05-22T22:22:00.004+01:00

Here is one of the layouts I made for the Exhall crop today, although the crop was quiet, the pages seemed popular, and I managed to make over two pages of my own during the day. The flags for the banner were made using scalloped circle punches (3", 2" and 1") punched, snipped and folded over. The photos are contact prints of my dad taken over 60 years ago, the only ones I have of him as a child.
Where on earth did that weekend go? Last time I looked it was Friday.

Almost there.....

2011-05-19T20:39:00.006+01:00

Friday tomorrow, and I have survived the week :) It's been hard though, teaching 3 hours of maths a day means I have had to be creative in a different way, to prevent me boring the kids to death!

Last time I went to the NEC I picked up a hot rhinestone applicator, after all, why just be interested in one craft when dozens will do! The girls had had their beady eyes on it for a while, and we got round to playing bling, as they 'Gok'ed' some items a week or so ago. Katie finished a crown design onto a plain T shirt, and amazingly enough they do survive a cool wash if stuck down properly. Wonder how many gems I've got left now.....

and the finished article looks like this.......

A crafty weekend ahead, teaching on Sunday, and just doing my own thing at the Bedworth 'Crafternoon' on Saturday.... Oh, and Hannah is home for the summer :)

Weekend Blogger

2011-05-15T19:40:00.003+01:00

I've been busy crafting this weekend. The ladies at the Exhall crop asked me to design the pages for this month's class for them, and as the crop is next week, and I received the kit on Friday, it was a bit of a rush to get them ready to say the least!!

Want a sneaky peek?

Don't think I've given too much away!

And after so long off, can I survive the full week at work ahead?

Only time will tell :)

...and as predicted...

2011-05-14T16:11:00.006+01:00

.. now I'm back to work the blog goes to hell in a handcart!

A good week at work, children were lovely as ever, but it was an easy week, comparatively speaking. Next week I've got 5 days to do, with almost all of it being maths, and a bit of english thrown in. Makes for a big marking load.

A quick page, as I have a scrapping 'job' to do today. I've been asked to design this month's class for the Exhall crop, which is next Sunday; no pressure then! The photo was taken back in 1992 and is my eldest with her Great Grandma. I managed to use up lots of old stash, the die cut paper that was all the rage a couple of years ago, tape left over from a crop kit, and last piece of trim from a lovely pack... that didn't last too long. The ticket strip is made with a Tim Holtz die, stamped with a very old set of tickets by Autumn Leaves that fit it perfectly. Title is stamped (TH) and die cut (TH).. can you see some sort of pattern here?

Image top left is a combination of a freebie stamp, and a Prima frame.

Gotta go, things to do :)

Back in Harness

2011-05-10T19:30:00.007+01:00

After a month off, I'm back to work again today :) Am spending the next couple of days getting organised, and then am maths guru to a varied group of children up to the end of the Summer Team. Ah well, only 2 1/2 weeks to half term!!!!

Talking of children I made this weekend for the monthly challenge on UKS. I had to use this sketch, and the theme for May was to use multiples of photos. I cheated a little bit and used these little pictures taken of Harry when he was a very cute 3 year old.

It's an odd thing about sketches too, I never seem to follow them too closely, this one was no exception, as I turned it through 90 degrees to fit my portrait photos.

The papers were a bargain find in TK Maxx in Coventry... if you get the chance to pop in there, they had loads of WRMK kits reduced to only £2 each with enough in each kit to make at least 3 layouts, worth a trip I think if you live nearby. I thought I was quite restrained only picking up 3!

So, with me being back to work now, will I manage to update my blog before the weekend? Watch this space!

Romance..

2011-05-08T19:42:00.004+01:00

.. is certainly alive and kicking in our house, and as my OH like to bake, this is how he shows his more soppy side! He bought some silicon heart shaped bun cases yesterday, and had to try them out today.... and really well they worked too!The cakes are still sitting on the cake stand, but only because Harry has been threatened with a fate worse than death if he hogs the lot :)
Last day of unemployment tomorrow, so out for lunch with my sister as a treat!