Inspiration Wednesday

Hello,

I hope everyone is having a good week.
I have that end of school term feeling, so much going on, needing to check the diary everyday, constant money being requested by school for one thing and another.
And on top of that I'm trying to keep up with work too.
I haven't scrapped as much this week, I have though made 5 projects with my winning Cocoa Daisy kit, so look forward to sharing those very soon.

In the meantime, here's todays Studio (footy extra) challenge for you.

Let Zakumi (the World Cup Mascot, see below) be your inspiration.
Full details, examples and lots of DT LO's can be seen here.

Here's my LO. I took the colours and spots for my page.



This is where we walk, it's just a 5min walk from our house (Yateley Commom) we love it here. (click the photo to see better)



Come and visit us at the studio if you want to join in. And don't forget, the Design team call is still open too.

That's it from me today. Back to work again.
Lots of love xxx

Daisies Day Out

I'm am having a fab weekend.
I have made some really really good friends over the years through scrapbooking. I love meeting so many like minded friends that I can really click with. One of which is sleeping over right now, Nicky and another is Laura.
Nicky and I have been friends online for years and try to get together 3 or so times a year. Laura we met through our Cocoa Daisy kits (US scrapbook kits) about a year or so ago. We all chat on the Cocoa Daisy forum along with some wonderful girls, but it's just the 3 of us from the UK.
So, yesterday we all met : ) We had a great time at a craft village in Swindon and also found this little Aladdins Cave of a scrap shop. Sparkle Dreams. What a great surprise. It was so good to find a UK store that sold decent brands. The owner Solance was so welcoming and lovely, it will definitely be a place that I go back to.
So, here we are. In order from left Laura ( with little Kate), me and Nicky.



Now onto the serious stuff : )
Any spare time these next few days? Fancy joining in with a challenge?
Our next challenge is live now at The Studio. It's time to get those summer photos out and get scrapping. With all the sunshine right now, what better time to scrap them.



I've scrapped some pool photos from our Florida trip this year. It was bloody freezing though. People walking past all wrapped up in coats thought we were crazy, but the pool was like a hot bath, it was wonderful and very very quiet : ) We got so hot we had to keep getting out to cool down abit. Must be the English in us, we don't let the weather get in the way of a great time : )
I also need to tell you that we need a new DT member over at The Studio. Fancy it? Come and read more here about how to apply. We would love to have you xx

Now over to Papermaze.
I was lucky enough to get sent a whole little bundle of My Little Shoebox goodies. Mmmmmmmmmmmmm
I made these two LO's, completely cutting up the papers and making the most out of the fun and bright designs. Sometimes papers like these can be so appealing to the eye but once it comes to actually using them you can suddenly become abit stumped.
I have given full details on how to really make the most of these papers over on the papermaze blog. Take a look here : Scrappaperscissors There are also links to all the products I used.



I loved these photos of Louis and love the crisp blue in the background and really really wanted to bring this out in the page.


My friend Juliette took this photo a couple of years ago, but it still remains a fave of mine.
I loved making this page and getting very scissor happy. I felt that I really bought these papers to life. Lots of distressing, doodling, hand stitching, using 3d foam in places and adding curly wire to the butterflies really did the trick.



I now plan to get scrappy for the next few hours.
Enjoy your Sunday.
GO ENGLAND!!!!!

Hanging Around

I'm bringing my Sketchy Thursdays LO on Friday this week.
We had a really busy day yesterday and ended it watching Hollie's end of year 6 school performance at the local theatre. It was such a great show, we thoroughly enjoyed it. Hollie was super confident on stage : ) I felt very proud.

So, here's the next Sketchy Thursday sketch:



I went with 3 photos. We both took quite alot of photos of the kids messing around here at Epcot. We'd just come out of the Nemo ride (one of my faves : ) ), it was sunny and they were silly : )



I used my May Cocoa Daisy kit, added a couple of crotched flowers and cut leaves out of some prima packaging. That stuff is far too good to throw away.



I love this kind of sillyness. Just being happy and playing together. I could watch them for hours : )



I'm very excited today. My bestest scrappy bud in the whole wide wide world is driving from far away to come and stay with me for the weekend. Nicky. No kids, just us and lots of papers, paints, ribbons etc... Oh and not to forget us meeting up with Laura tomorrow. We have yet to meet Laura, but she makes us laugh over on the Cocoa Daisy forum every day and not to mention she's a super talented scrapper too. We are all very excited : )

Have a lovely Friday girls xxx

Nothing like a new kit

to cheer you up and get you creating again.
I'm sorry Nicky that I haven't waited to delve into this kit with you at the weekend (I know you are bringing your's with you) but I just couldn't wait.
Look what all us Cocoa Daisy girls received this month. Nice eh?!! : )
I think there may still be some on sale if you fancy one too. Take a look here.



I love this kit. It's so different from what we've had in a long time.
I went with last weeks Twisted Sketches. Abit late I know, but I liked the sketch.
The twist was to go bold. I think it's quite obvious where the bold influence lies.



To create my painted title, I actually used the large chipboard alphas in the kit above. I painted into the front, stuck to my finger and pressed down. They cleaned off nicely with a baby wipe. I love finding new ways of using my stash. And multi useage is even better : )



This stamp also comes in the kit. I can see this being used alot.



I then created this card also yesterday afternoon using the same kit.
I used the sketch also from Twisted Sketches. My step brother in Indiana, USA is getting married on the 4th July. So off to post this in a sec.



And lastly today, I want to share with you the invites that Hollie and I made for her 11th birthday bash.
A pudding party with abit of nail painting and hair curling too. We plan to have lots and lots of puddings with cookie and cupcake decorating too : )
12 little girls, should be fun. I'm glad my sis is coming to give me a hand.
We have matching rsvp cards tied on the reverse of the invites.

Time for me to dash.
I'm meeting up with fellow Studio scrapper Rebekah this morning for a coffee and natter.


One last thing....yay to the footy. Yay Yay Yay xxx

Bright and Funky

I need a good kick up the bum today.
Feeling really low.
The comedown from the weekend still, a couple of bad nights sleep and a really really bad headache yesterday (I always feel rather hung over like the day after a really bad headache).
Trying to stay positive.
Here's a bright LO to cheer myself up. Hollie's 2nd birthday. It doesn't seem possible that in just 2 weeks she's going to be 11. Wasn't she cute?

I've used this photo for the next Footy Challenge at The Studio.
It goes like this:

Use gold on your LO and to include 5 of something to represent the number of penalties each country gets to kick.


(click to see my cute girl close up. I can't believe how tiny I look in that photo and I was pregnant with Louis!!)


I've used my new Studio Calico Kit along with some gorgeous Claudine Hellmuth Paint.
I adore using this stuff. I need more, I really do.



And some hand stitching too.



Want to see what the rest of the DT came up with? Want to play along?
Then visit The Studio.

I need to scrap. That will cheer me up.
I received my Cocoa Daisy kit last week along with my winning prize, the freebie July kit that I get to create with and show along with the Cocoa Daisy DT. I finally started cutting into the DT kit yesterday and I'm so excited about what I'm creating. It's something to go on the wall in our room and I just keep adding bits.
I can't wait to show.

One last thing, Louis took part in a talent show at school yesterday. He did a dance to Michael Jackson 'Beat it'. He got voted into the semi finals. LOL So funny : )

Will be back tomorrow in a better mood, promise.
xxx

Keeping it Real

Monday morning.
Another day another week.
Need to get back into work but really really struggling after the best weekend ever.

Let me start with this weeks challenge at The Studio.
Here's the challenge that Amanda set for us:

Grrr! What gets right on your nerves? Tell us all about it with a spot of creative therapy! Get it off your chest... you'll feel much better for it

I decided to go with a LOVE vs Hate theme.
I love my sister but hate the smoking. Yuk!!!
She's smelly at the best of times, but even more so like this.



I handcut a little frame to highlight the photo and stitched along the centre. I like bringing in a touch of the red and adding a bit of texture.



If you can think of something that really grates on you. Scrap it this week. Come and show us at The Studio and be in to win a prize at the end of the month.



Still on a Green Day high and I guess abit of a low today too as I know it's going to be a good while since we see them again. I should be thankful for seeing them twice during the same tour really.
But here's a couple more pics : ) and a mini video too.





(click the black triangle to see)
Enjoy (i did) xxx

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Off to go and get the kids now but couldn't wait to share these amazing pics.
We got access all areas passes in got right in the golden circle at the front. Amazing or what???!!!!






And us before the gig started.



Sore throat now from all the singing and screaming and achy legs from all the jumping and dancing.
Loved every single second and LOVE Billie Joe even more now : )
Green Day really do ROCK !!!
XXX

Fabulous Friday!

Yay for Friday!!

Yay for my Cocoa Daisy Kit arriving today (whilst I was still in bed)

Yay for the footy tonight!! Come on England

And Yay for something very very exciting happening tomorrow. (tell you about that in a bit)

So, The Studio Calico Sunday Sketch.
I've really got into these lately and really enjoy using them.
This weeks was so different to any sketch I've ever used.



My lovely scrap friend Steph came over yesterday for a scrap day and I came up with this using last months Cocoa Daisy kit.
To Share...or not to share.



The day after my sister's wedding party, Hollie was having cereals and my little niece just climbed onto her lap and started helping herself to Hollie's breakfast. It's amazing what you can get away with as cute when you are under 2.



I love all this bunting, even though it took ages to cut out. So fiddly.



Butterflies and pins, fully inspired by Wendy. I bought a really cheap set of pins recently. 144 pins for £1. All the heads are various colours. This one is a pinky red and I've then added a couple of beads and glued the pin in place on the butterfly. Pretty.

And now onto our exciting weekend.
The boys are back in town : ) : ) : )
Oh how I love Green Day.
Here they are in Wembley, when they announced the new date (19th June 2010) last autumn.
We were so excited at the time as we have only just seen them at the O2.



We have fab tickets, diamond passes. Side entrance,no queuing. Amazing seats and our block has access to a bar and Mexican food all inclusive with after party too.
How excited are we????
I was pretty gutted as I tried and tried to win a competition on Radio one this week to meet them before the gig, but just couldn't get through.
Oh well. I shall just wave at Billie Joe instead. I hope he comes into the stand again this time.

Better snap out of my dream world and back into reality.

Have a lovely weekend xxx

Sketchy Thursday

Before I head out to school I just want to show you this weeks sketch.



And my LO.


We've been making 'shrek' juice for years. Apples, baby spinach,lime and celery.
The kids love it!!



Visit Sketchy Thursdays to see more LO's and to join in this week xx

Hump Day

.....as quoted on Glee


from the urban dictionary:
Wednesday, the middle of the week, implying that you have to get "over the hump" before you can anticipate the weekend. The term was not originally intended to carry a second, more risque meaning.

So, on to The Studio's mid week challenge.
Which goes like this...

Scrap using only the colours on your country's flag (and black)

For me that's red and white.
I decided to go down the footy route and scrap these pics I took during the England/USA footy match on Saturday during half time.



The kids aren't into football and neither am I. I had actually planned to go and scrap during the match, but Ade gave us all England tops to put on, put up the flag and we were all glued to the TV. We LOVED it!!



Looking forward to the game this Friday now.



I also wanted to show you these cards I made for Papermaze recently.
They are featured on their blog with instuctions and links to buy the supplies used.
Take a look here.



Here you can see a whole selection of the My Little Shoebox papers.
Bright and very fun to use.



Enjoy your 'Hump' day.
Lots of love xx

Butterflies and Bunting

You just can't go wrong with those two ingredients these days.
I hate following trends, but they just look so pretty.

I've used both in the new Butterfly Crafts Challenge.

If you want to join in simply scrap a LO with a song title.

For some reason the very first song that came to mind was by Bonjovi, It's my Life.
I have no idea why. I'm not even or never have been into them. Strange what pops into your head sometimes.
So, I came up with this.(click to see in more detail)



I quite like this simple LO. A few painty rings (I can't remember what I found to paint around this time) a bit of bunting and I love this new butterfly punch.



I bought the Martha Stewart punch recently, but can't get on with it. I'm wondering if I should take it back to HobbyCraft. If I punch through thin paper it tears on one wing and though scrapbook paper it cuts better but I have to pull it out of the paper.Whereas this one is £6 cheaper and cuts clean and crisp each time. I got it from Papermaze if you want to see. Here.

Monday Madness

Good Morning,

A sunny morning here today.
Before I show you my LO I made this weekend. Remember this LO here that I made last week of Hollie? Well it was one of 2 winners for the Studio Calico sketch competition. Yay!! I'm so pleased. I get $ to spend in their online shop : )

So onto this new LO.
Celine's online class kicked off Friday night. We were given a sketch and a colour combo of turquoise, orangey colour and pink. There was also a new technique which I still need to give a whirl. I'm saving that for another time.
So here's the LO.



I took the camera on our school walk one day. It's quite a pleasant walk and our time for catching up. We've had some of the funniest conversations on our walks.



It's also a nice way to start and finish the school day. It's not the shortest of walks and the kids (mainly Louis) do moan lots, but a good chat and a giggle keeps his mind occupied.




I really like these summery colours. Those pink spotty flowers are made from fabric.


A work day for me now. Hollie is out tonight so Louis and I plan to bake banana cake, his fave.
Not much else going on here today.
Have a good one xx