What a Washout

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.

Vintage Class

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.

Weekend Blogger

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 :)

No excuses..

.. for being so lazy about posting when I've not been working, although I have spent 2/7 of this week trying to get work! As readers will know from Tuesdays post I had secured a job for September, just leaving a small financial black hole of 6 months to fill between now and then. Well, my efforts yesterday were rewarded, and I was offered a temporary full time job starting Tuesday to get us through to the autumn...stash shopping here I come!!!
I am hoping that now I can finally settle into a job long term, after having so many positions (not all sucessful or happy) since being made redundant from a job I loved in 2007.

Here's a page about my school of 16 years. The page is based on a design by Claire at the Exhall crop, using Cosmo Cricket papers, and lots of lovely layers.

Now at last it must be time to finally move on.

A Big Page

One of Shimelles top tips for posting scrapbook pages on the Beyond Blogging course was to make the full LO as big as possible for other crafters to be able to see. I've had a trial run here with an older page, and am now ready to try with a new layout. The page is based on a design of Claire's at the Exhall crop, using Cosmo Cricket papers, and I took the photo while on holiday of Kev and my brother in law on the beach. I love the layering of all the little elements on this page, and those tiny circular letters are so cute!! Just a bit disappointed with the quality of the larger picture, I've tried uploading a high quality image, and saving it beforehand to the exact number of pixels in the image, but it still seems really blurred. Any tips please?

Today is my first day of proper unemployment, Kev and the kids are back at school and work, so it's just me and Hannah at home until she returns to Uni next week. I have got a job interview next week, so fingers crossed.........

A Birthday Page

Here's a LO made at the Exhall crop last month, designed by Claire.

I used photos of Hannah on her 19th birthday, wearing the funny little hat Harry made for her. The title is stamped and I doodled around the edges. The frame around the main photo is hand drawn, and I love the thick velvet ric-rac that was in the kit.

Quick post, nearing the end of a really busy week!!! Kev's home from Alton castle where he's been for the past 3 days with his class..... and absence does make the heart grow (a bit!) fonder!

Back to Work

tomorrow, as half term draws to an end. I have been to a crop today at Exhall, and made 2 lovely pages designed by Claire. This first one is a rare photo of me and Kev together, taken by Hannah at Stonehenge back in August 2009.

The frame was cut using the photo as a guide from cardboard, and covered in the Pink Paislee papers that came with the kit, it was then pierced and stitched. Also in the kit was a fab square doily, huge fluffy ric-rac, chipboard flowers and tape that is used here to add a border to the page.

The title letters were all stamped (Autumn Leaves and Studio g), and I cut the flourishes from one of the papers.

Am just finishing a job application tonight, ready to post tomorrow. Fingers crossed as my current contract runs out at Easter.

Half term is here!!!

I would normally say "Hooray"!! but as I am heading towards my last half term in work, impending unemployment has it's worries. With a bit of luck I'll get a job soon after Easter and not have too long out of work.

As Hannah is home we had a treat today as I took her out shopping for her birthday, thank God none of my kids have ever been bothered about designer gear, so a trip to Matalan and TK Maxx resulted in carrier bags full of stuff for her, including 2 handbags, a colouring book and pens(!!), tights, a dress and even a few sweeties.

This page was made at the Exhall Christmas crop based (very loosely!) on a design by Ifa Zainon who taught the class. It uses papers from the Dear Lizzy Christmas range, and just goes to show that Christmas papers have a multitude of uses! I made the title by spritzing some Glimmer mist onto a craft mat, and then using it to load up my Tim Holtz vintage alphabet and then stamp. Even though the alpha is big and bold I like the way using the misters as ink gives a more muted image. I then cut these out, and finished the title by stitching it.
OK, off to use some stash bought on my shopping trip.... Oh, didn't I say I had called in at The Range as well....?!

Retro Toys

Was talking to Katie tonight as she surfed the Internet, she seems to have a thing about old toys. After Christmas she spent the last of her money from Grandma and Grandad in Ireland on an original metal slinky, now she's coveting a Rubik's cube. This page is about the slinky, based on a design by Amanda made at the recent Exhall crop. I altered mine slightly, and made little paper spirals (or slinkies) to decorate the layout. The journalling is on a circle attached with a brad so it can be spun out and read. I don't normally do hidden journalling, but I thought this was a very clever idea.

Had to take Katie for an early eye test yesterday, as she had noticed her vision getting blurry, and it has deteriorated markedly since last year... poor Katie. At least she gets 2 new pairs of funky specs though.... although I now have to pay for more of them as she is 16... not sure how that works as she is still a school girl :( Am sure the new glasses will be gracing a page all too soon.

A Winter Walk

After yesterdays sunny page, here's one from the Christmas holidays 2009.

It's odd to think that after so many mild festive seasons we have had 2 on the run that were really cold. Not much snow in 2009, but severe enough frost to freeze the local ponds in the country park solid. Katie and I were too nervous to step more than a couple of feet onto the ice, but some crazy children were cycling on it.

This page was designed by Amanda at the Exhall crop, I added the bit of lace i found in my stash, and cut the buttons as an extra embellishment using the embossing Martha Stewart punch, such a useful tool . The pattern at the bottom is made using a card mask made with another deep edge Martha Stewart punch and blue ink, I then sprayed over with some Glimmer mist.

I managed to get this weeks challenge done for UKS, a very complicated one involving way too many choices for me, might post it later in the week. My brother is home from London again today, so am looking forward to seeing him again :)

A non festive page

As I have so many recently made LOs, and an upcoming journal to share I think I should show a page not yet uploaded. I made this LO at the Exhall crop last month, although the original (designed by Sharon) had faux stitching I went crazy and actually stitched not only the patchwork sections, but part of the title as well.

Photo is of Kevin and his family at his youngest brothers 40th last February.

JYC starts tomorrow, just hope I can keep up with my full time full on job :).

.... and aren't you impressed, blog posts two days running!!!

A Layout at last....

I made this page at the Exhall crop last month, it's another of those where I would never have bought the papers as they just didn't seem to appeal to me, but I love the final LO.

The circle is drawn and cut out using a plate as a template, and a WRMK sew easy tool to pierce the stitching holes around it. Almost all the embellishments are cut from the papers, but I used a couple of my own stamps to add to the page (Unity and Tim Holtz). The chipboard tree is inked in autumnal colours (for an October birthday) and Glossy Accents added on top for a bit of shine.

Photos are recent ones of Katie at her birthday, I love the way she is in her PJs blowing out the candles on the cake.

I am off on a weekend retreat to Shropshire with other ladies from the Nuneaton crop, a cottage has been hired and off we go on Friday for a weekend of scrapping, silliness and lots of chat!! You never know, I might get some pages made... just hope the impending snow doesn't start until we get there! I have a feeling we might be in for a cold winter, I can't remember having snow forecast so early in the year before.

A Crafty Weekend.

I have enjoyed spending two days making things, one was at a 'crafternoon' in Bedworth, with a class run by my friend Anna. We made a little item ready for Christmas, I'll upload it when I remember to photograph it!! Today I was in Exhall and made two lovely pages. Before I upload them I need to show you the second page I made last month at the Exhall crop (I know, I've become a very poor blogger!!) designed by Claire who runs the crop. The papers are Cosmo Cricket Material Girl, and the photo is of Harry, looking out at the Old Harry Rocks at Swanage in Dorset this August(Hence the title).

The flowers are all cut from the papers, and the title is stamped using American Crafts stamps, with a bit of Glossy Accents on top to highlight it.

What with the NEC craft show looming and a scrapbooking retreat with the Nuneaton crop, a Christmas workshop and at least 2 more crops this side of Christmas I can't help feeling that the Midlands is a hive of crafty activity!!

....and can't you tell it's half term, two blog posts in two days..... conclusion; work doesn't half get in the way of enjoying life :)

Autumn's here

Now we are in October I'm sure autumn has officially started.

I spent yesterday in Derby with Hannah and Harry, we had a lovely time together, and Han was pleased when I took her shopping. She seems to have learned the value of money now she has none :(

Talking of Hannah, here is a page I made at a crop last week about her 18th birthday. The page was designed by Claire, and is made using the Cosmo Cricket Material Girl range of papers. There is so much detail on the layout, and although the roses were time consuming I love the final effect on the page. Just not sure how to fit it into an album!!

The background was stamped with green acrylic paint using a docrafts foam swirl stamp, and overpainted with a brush in white. A circle frame was added using a bowl as a stamp and some more white acrylic. this was then stitched in blue.

The title uses the Tim Holtz mask alphabet again, with Glossy Accents on top.

To make the flowers, cut a circle of cardstock, ink and cut a spiral shape into it, leaving a circle in the centre. Roll the spiral from the outside in, and glue with a strong wet glue when you get to the middle. Weighing them down during gluing helps to hold the flower in shape as the glue sets.

I was hoping to get some crafting done today, but have a lesson observation on Tuesday, so need to make sure everything is in place for that. Maybe later.......

A Happy Page

This LO is one I made at the Exhall crop last month, with LOTS of cutting out (and RSI of the scissor hand!) The whole flourish is all cut from a patterned paper.. no idea of the make.

The photo is one I really love of my Mum and Dad on holiday with us back in August. It was my nephews birthday, and his treat was a trip to the best local fish and chip shop, so all of us who were there at the seaside (Our 5 plus an added boyfriend, my sisters two boys and herself, my brother and Mum and Dad) filled half of the restaurant for fabulous seafood dining!!!

The reason I love the page is twofold, a happy memory of a lovely meal out together, and the fact that Mum looks so well in the photo. She was very unwell at the beginning of the year, but seemed to be back to her old self once summer arrived. The page has lovely flocked acetate down the left hand side, and I hand stitched the title, and added extra journalling to the original design... I just can't leave a LO without the journalling :)

Hannah had a special lunch out with my Mum and Dad today before she heads off to Uni, she said the pub seemed to be full of young people with their Grandparents.. maybe they all had the same idea on the same day.

Altered birdhouse.

It's taken me ages to get around to posting about this cute little thing I made at the Exhall crop back in June (designed by Rebekah Brumby), mainly because I had taken photos of it, uploaded these onto my PC, and then couldn't find them. .... How many others does this happen to "I know I have a photo of xyz, but I can't find them...."

The birdhouse itself was bare MDF, we covered it with papers cut using the house as a template. I love the roof covering with buttons, the notice on the front was made using a piece of an old corrugated box, stamped (Prima), cut out, I inked and tore mine too, and added some brads and a ribbon to hang the sign. The bird is chipboard covered in UTEE in the melt pot, and the flowers are fabric. it sits nicely on the dresser in my kitchen... Hannah has been trying to pinch it to take away with her as she likes it, but I've said no!!!

The only thing I don't like about it is the fact that it is empty :(

Friday tomorrow, and as Katie did so well in her science exams (A*'s !!!!) we'll be out for pizza, any excuse really!

Another class LO.

This is a page I made at the Exhall crop last weekend (designed by Claire Horsham Bell ), I love the flowers made from torn circles of paper with inked knotted string for the stamens, I can see these making another appearance on pages in the future.

The photo was taken when I took Hannah up to the Lakes last half term for a visit. We made a trip to Ikea yesterday to start buying bits and pieces for her to go off to university.... £161 later.....!!! The thing that annoyed her most was me taking photos of her with a full trolley, as I really embarrased her!! Another scrapbook page in the planning i think!!

Almost a week..

..since I posted, very poor!

Another page from the Summer scrapbooking class I went to 3 weeks ago. The photos are the ones I took of me and Katie playing with water filled balloons, and the design is another Ifa Zainon one (this time closer to the original). Proud to say the image of the bursting balloon was judged an image of the week on the online photography course I was taking part in.

Title is stamped, along with the frames (Prima) and the LO includes more of the spayed and stitched calico shaped as the clouds and the little red balloon.

Well my excuse for being so slack in posting is that we are still limited to this really slow computer... hoping the replacement one arrives soon.

Summer workshop... first page

I went to a day long summer workshop last Sunday, and after a very hard days crafting (i felt like I had spent a day at work, we did so much!!) came away with 3 finished items, and 3 more to be completed. Here is one I finished at home, based (very loosely!) on a design by Ifa Zainon. I used the papers provided in the kit, (Websters), but changed almost all of the rest of the design (hence it looks suspiciously like one of my own pages anyway!!)

The photos are of Hannah taken for her sixth form prom a week ago, I used a Tim Holtz alphabet stamp set for the main part of the title, and a matching die (won at the crop... lucky me) to finish it off.

The embellishments were made from calico sprayed with glimmer mist, cut out and stitched (heart) love this idea and will definitely use it again. The flower is chipboard, coated with Glossy Accents and Beadazzles sprinkled on top. The original design was far more grungy than mine, but i decided to leave mine with a cleaner look... for a change. Pretty pleased how it turned out anyway. The red roses were part of a piece of ribbon trim, cut up and embellished with a button and gem, journalling paper Making Memories.

Busy day today, shopping with my sister, church fete, then more shopping with DD2 in town as she needs some new things for the summer.

Summer's back!!

I've been out in the garden today, reading in the sunshine with two of the kids... it got so warm at one point that we all got in the paddling pool!!! Just glad we have a private garden!!!

Here's a page with images from last summer, it was the day before we went on holiday, and our plum tree was absolutely laden with fruit. I took loads of photos, and when I went to the Exhall crop last month this page designed by Claire was the perfect choice for so many pictures. The mini book is made from a second piece of 12x12 cardstock, folded and cleverly cut to make the booklet, it's ideal if you want to get lots of pictures onto one LO. I love the banner at the top too, they seem very trendy in scrapbooking at the moment. Mine is stitched on, and i curled the individual pennants and left the threads long at each end.

The papers are the lovely Dear Lizzy by AC, punched border at the bottom is Martha Stewart, and thickers by AC.

Planning to have a day out in the sunshine with the kids tomorrow, if we can get them out of bed that is!!