Loving Random and a Winner

Isn't this sunshine just fab!!
I made the decision to change tonight menu from lamb meatballs and persian rice to a bbq : ) Peri Peri chicken, cous cous salad and green salad now.
Got to make thos most out of this hot weather.

I have the latest Sketchy Thursdays Sketch today.
This is what I made.



I love this photo taken on a water ride with Louis at legoland.
And here's the sketch.


I love this Crate collection 'Random' from Crate. This colours are so me. I love that blue.
I bought a 12x12 sticker sheet to match with the alphas, words, tags and allsorts.



We are sponsored by Freehand Scraps this week. A yummy kit is up for grabs.


I also have my winner to announce.
Thanks again for all the sweet comments re the new SCRAP365 venture.
One person was picked at random.

Blogger Lisa-Jane said...
Every time I visit a blog I'm getting more excited about the new mag. I'm new to inky hands but I love your style and I'm enjoying playing.
22 September 2011 22:08

Lisa-Jane, please email me at : lisa@funkyfairies.co.uk with your address and I'll pop your goodies in the post to you : )

Enjoy the weekend. It's going to be a hot one in the UK.
love

lisa xxx

Farmers Market #1 (Abit Cheeky!!)

Good Morning.
And it really is. Bright and sunny. I can't believe the tempuratures we are having in the UK now.
I want to camp this weekend, but Ade has a cold : (
Such a woss!!

Last night was the reveal of the October Kit 'Farmers Market' at Cocoa Daisy.
I love the reveal nights, they are really fun.
This kit is yum. I wish I had gotten more add ons now, I was trying to be sensible.
But I can now share my DT gallery with you.
I have 2 today.
This ones abit cheeky mind.
I did wonder if I should scrap it or not but it's funny so I though what the heck!!
It's real life.

Give a Man a Camera
and this is what you get!


We went to legoland for the day and had a camera each.
When I checked his photos when we got home I spotted this!! Taken without me knowing whilst we were sat watching the 'Jack and the Beanstalk' puppet show. Totally unappropriate. **ROLLS EYES**



I painted over the Jillibean woodgrain alphas from the main kit. And also drew around them very roughly for the top half of the title.
It was the pp from Crate that gave me inspiration for this LO though. A whole 12x12 paper full of these words. Tut Tut!!!


Next up, I love the pics of Louis and my nephew Charlie.
We had a family outing out to Oxford in August.
Mum had treated the boys to a book each. They started reading straight away : )
We were waiting for the Park and Ride bus in the town centre and they were both fully engrossed. Quite unusual to see 2 9yr old boys like this. But I like it!


We have a Cocoa Daisy honeycomb stamp in the main kit. Great for backgrounds. I stamped it with the green Maya Road stamp (also in the main kit) and pressed it into wet moulding paste.
You get the colours and the texture by doing this.

More bits and pieces from the main kit.
Stickers, Maya Road wooden buttons, Kraft tags.
The kit goes on sale on the 1st October if you don't sub.
Take a look here.
The addons are stunning and the last few months have been selling out super fast.
I know Christine has increased the amount to sell recently, but get in there quick.
I bought Canned Peaches. But now really regret not getting Pumkin Soup and Apple Pie.
The Cocoa Daisy stamps are also dead cute this month.


One last bit of news before I finish here.
As I said goodbye at Cocoa Daisy last night. It was after midnight but before shutting the PC down I had a little blog nosey.
I clicked on MME and saw that I was picked as this months challenge winner.
I was so excited, but then couldn't sleep.
I just adore MME, so I'm really REALLY excited.
This LO really meant alot too.
I took the pic of Hollie and I at the start of the summer.
We were having some tricky times with her. Attitude and acting really out of charachter.
To the extreme that we ended up cancelling her birthday party and main prezzie (ipod touch).
Throughout the summer though she's really come full circle and I have my sweet girl back.
I know there will be more trouble ahead, but right now alls good and it has been the last couple of months. I think she can now have that ipod touch. I wanted to see the attitude remain good throughout the summer and whilst she was back at school. I didn't want her being nice for a week, getting the ipod touch and becoming a cow again.
I always stick to my word!!


I am very excited about lunch today.
Ades been doing lots of overtime at work and coming home late.
They have a Starbucks next door, so him and his collegue who's been working with him go in there on their way home to get goodies for the kids.
Last night they got given loadsa stuff for free as it was going to be thrown away.
We have muffins, cookies and Ade bought me home a tomato and mozzerella salad. Yum!! I can't wait for lunch now. I'm not into the sweet stuff, so this is perfect for me.
Roll on lunch time : )

Have a lovely day and enjoy the sunshine UK girlies xxx

No Scrap!

Nothing scrappy from me today.
I am though in the midst of making some cards in aid of National Crad Making Day.
Thought I'd take a break and heat up some of last nights left over curry and pop on here.

The winner of the SCRAP365 blog hope has ben announced here.
Did you visit the stand at Ally Pally this weekend?
I will be randomly picking my winner tomorrow night and annoucing on Friday.

It's the Cocoa Daisy reveal night today. It's 9pm UK time (4pm EST). Come along and say 'Hi'. Meet the new kit and play along with the games and maybe win a prize.

Back to work now.
See you later xx

October Sneaks

Hello : )

Tomorrow is the Cocoa Daisy reveal.
You get to find out what's coming in your October Kit 'Farmers Market.
For now, I have some sneaks of what I've made this month.



You will love this kit **wink wink**

We start the reveal party at 9pm UK time (10pm EST - Cocoa Daisy time)
There will be games and freebie giveaways.
You don't have to be a CD receiver to play along.
Come and join in here tomorrow.

So today, it's just after 9am.
I'm sat here with a latte and a red velvet cupcake.
I have no fuel in the car. It's been on empty a couple of days now and now I fear to drive it incase it runs out. (it's happened before)
This is one of those things I hate, filling the car up. I hate, absolutely HATE going to the petrol station. I get so nervous. So then I go into denial when the petrol gage starts to run low and just hope that Ade sees and fills it up.
I hope he's home early today otherwise it looks like we are walking to footy tonight too : (
A curry is on ready for dinner tonight and I need to plan a class today that I'll be teaching at Arty Crafty in Goldalming, Surrey in November.

Have a great day xxx

Get Your Stamp On

Monday Morning.
Aren't you supposed to start the week feeling refreshed after a weekend off?
I feel so knackered!!
I swear the weekends are getting busier.

I'd like to start today by saying thank you for all the sweet comments about the new DT position with SCRAP365.
I really appreciate it : )
I can't wait to grab a copy now.
Did any of you go to Ally Pally this weekend?
Aparently there were going to be some sneaks of the mag there.

By the way. My giveaway is still running if you haven't joined in.
See the post below.

I've started this week with a new challenge at Cocoa Daisy.
For this challenge we are getting the stamps out.
Ideally stamps you've had and still haven't used or at least not used for a long time.

Here's my LO.

The story is this.
Ade has a big head!!
He's forever trying on hats when we go out and they just look stupid. See!!
They just don't suit him. But it does make us giggle.



I used a couple of Unity Stamps that I've had for a good couple of years and they were still in the packaging (along with lots more like that). I love stamps and keep buying them and then forget to use them.
I also used an old CD alphabet stamp on my background.


If you fancy playing along and digging out those old stamps, then join us here at Cocoa Daisy.
The challenge runs until Sunday 2nd Oct - 10pm est.
And we have an original Cocoa Daisy Stamp to give away to a lucky winner which you can see here.

I baked loads yesterday.
Ade didn't get around to taking in cake to work for his birthday back in August.
He was off work for a couple of weeks and he's been working more from home these days and then his birthday seemed so long ago. But there's been complaints and now an email on Friday threatening strike action if the cakes don't appear by Wednesday!! : )
So I decided to go full force.
I baked a big pear upside down cake, red velvet cupcakes and choocie cream cupcakes.
He's taken them in along with my pretty glass cake stands to really make a point.
I also bakes ice cream cup cakes for the kids and a batch of choccie chip cookes.
Whilst at the same time making a chicken roast dinner.
So thankful for a big double range oven and a daughter that loves to bake too.
It was a long afternoon. (and then evening frosting all the little buggers!)
Hopefully that'll keep 'em quiet in the office now.

I hope you had a good weekend.
Thanks for stopping by. xxx

BIG & EXCITING NEWS!!!

Finally I can share my news.
I've kept it in for so long now and I've been dying to tell.
Not just because I'm excited for myself but also for all of us UK girlies.
What do we all need in this country???
A decent Scrap Mag!
Finally it's coming.



Can you imagine how excited I was to receive an email not only telling me about this new magazine but actually asking me to be part of it and join the design team.
I still get butterflies now when I think about it.
I feel so honoured.
I have a good feeling about this. And seeing some of the designers on the team now too, I know it's going to be amazing.
So pleased to see my very close scrappy friends Anna (my Cocoa Daisy Teamie)and also Amanda who I've been working with for quite some time now.

Anyway, to launch this new mag we are having a Blog Hop.
There will be a prize of a years subscription to the Craft Stamper magazine and stamps worth over £20 for one lucky person.
All you need to do is visit each of the designers blogs and leave a comment and on the SCRAP365 blog too.

So after leaving a comment here please visit Tomoko's beautiful blog here.

I would also like to offer a prize.
I will put together a yummy parcel of scrappy goodies to send to one person.
All you need to do after leaving a comment is become a follower here please.
One person will be picked at random next Thursday.

To find out more about our new SCRAP365 Mag, you can visit the blog.
On Facebook
And on Twitter.

The first copy will go on sale on 18th November the newsstands and digitally worldwide.
And you can visit the ladies on Traplet stand (#63) for a sneak peek of the mag and a special subscription deal at the Big stamp and scrapbook show at Alexander Palace in London over the weekend of 24th September.

So now it's onto Tomoko.

Big Hugs xxx

Something to Share

I do, today I have something to share.
First off is our lovely new sketch from Sketchy Thursdays.
I love this weeks and will be using it over and over.
I created this using some Crate loveliness.
(click to enlarge)


I feel so happy to have been asked to stay on at Sketchy Thursdays again.
I love this family so much. I think I must be into my second year with them now.
Their sketches never disappoint and Heidi and Diana are two of the sweetest girls ever.
Thank you for having me again.
You can join in this week here. We are sponsored this week by 'Your Memories here'.
Who have donated some Tim Holtz limited addition Distress Inks.
The new Sketchy Thursdays Team was announced yesterday. Congratulations to our new girls. Looking forward to playing along side you x Really pleased to see The Green Horned Unicorn lady joining us again : ) I just love Antonia's blog. Her style is so different to mine. Really clean. But I'm so drawn in and find her so inspirational. They say opposites attract eh?!!


So, back to my LO. I've sidetracked.
I have these cute photos of Hollie and our neice Millie taken last month. We all went strawberry picking whilst Dad was over. Hollie and Millie were sitting in the field, all alone and Hollie fed Millie strawberries. (Much to Louis' disapprovable as they were obvioulsy stolen) It is normal to test a few when you PYO though isn't it?!! Louis really struggles with this.

My photos were too green for the green Crate background, so I plastered on some moulding paste and splodged some Yellow Ranger Acrylic Paint in with it too for contrast. Once dry I misted over a Maya Road wooden heart to get that look above.
Punched some daisies from cardstock that was in the bin and added some teeny Fancy Pants buttons.
I recently found my uberlong stapler (so chuffed) so can now staple wherever I want again.


Now I do also have something rather exciting and rather big to share.
But I have to keep that to myself until after 6pm. So pop back then : ) (if you want to that is!!)
And in the meantime I shall work a little, have another latte, start a CD LO, finish a project I've started, collect kids from school and look after a friends two aswell.
I kind of wanted to bake a pear upside down cake for after school, but I think that's pushing it a little too far seeing as I have to go to school in 1hr30.

Back later xxx

A Scrappy Day

Today is officially a scrappy day!!

Steph is coming over for the day and we plan to scrap and chat til it's time to collect the kids from school.
I have so many assignments to get done.
My October Cocoa Daisy kit arrived yesterday and I have so many other projects on my to-do list aswell.
I worked until midnight last night and then started again at 6am this morning, so I feel like I can scrap guilt free today.

LESSology have the second challenge going now.
The book challenge was a great sucess. So many beautiful entries.
But I love these boxes made by the other team.



You can see them here.
I love those book boxes that Laurel picked up from a garage sale. They were a stunning find but she transformed them so beautifully.
And take a look at the flowers Kirsty made out of book pages.
I need to give that a go. Amazing!

This challenge is sponsored by Market Street Stamps who have kindly donated a really good prize.
If you fancy tarting up an old box, then join in here : )

Happy Scrapping xxx

'Challenge'

Hello and Welcome to my happy blog today : )
I hope you had a lovely weekend.

Today I have a word inspired challenge for you over at Cocoa Daisy.
The word to be inspired by is 'CHALLENGE'.
What does this word mean to you?



For me the thought that comes to mind is what a challenge Louis was as a toddler.
The tears I shed over the years over his behaviour. He was such hard work.
We got there in the end though and since starting school he's the other end of the scale altogether. Personality, behaviour, so caring of other people's feelings, loving, very academic and just lovely : )


I used the new Fancy Pants line 'off to school' on this LO.
The glitter cuts, papers and stickers. Along with a couple of Crafters Workshop templates too.


If you would like to join in with this challenge, pop on over to Cocoa Daisy to play along. You don't have to receive the kits to play. You have until Sunday 25th Sept - 10pm EST to upload.
And a lucky winner will receive a Cocoa Daisy Stamp here.

Enjoy your day : )
xxx

Bad Grandad!!

The weekend is here!!!

My LO today has been inspired by the lovely Olivia.
Olivia is a sweet lady who I've known at Cocoa Daisy for a few years now.
Olivia has been receiving the monthly kits from the start, so I thought seeing as we are celebrating 5 years of Cocoa Daisy this month it would be fun to scraplift one of Olivia's LO'S as one of our September challenges.

Here is my page and you can see Olivia's LO here.

(click to enlarge)

Olivia likes to tell a story when scrapbooking so this challenge at Cocoa Daisy right now is not only to scraplift Olivia's LO but to tell a story too.
I chose the story about my Dad.
He's so bad at times.
Funny as he was ultra strict as a Dad.
But he gets the kids to do stuff they wouldn't usually be allowed to do.
Such as when I was trying to take this photo. Instead of saying 'cheese' he kept saying 'ship' but making it not quite sound like that and was trying to get the kids to say it too, but they were nervous about joining in.
Told you he's bad.

I used an older CD kit from the summer.
And stuck some book pages on to the bazzill first and spread some moulding paste over befores misting.
If you want to play along, the challenge runs until 30th Sept and the prize is a crafters workshop template. You can see the challenge here.

After a very manic week I'm playing catch up today.
Washing, scrapping, working and I want to start a paper mache project this afternoon with the kids. A little idea I have had : )

See you soon xxx

She Loved that Goat!

Yes she did.
A little too much for my actual liking.
I like goats, but I wouldn't kiss them and cuddle them like she did.
She's an odd one my sister.

(click the photo to see my sis smooching with the goats)

It was really good to just scrap.
Just scrap a page using random papers and bits and pieces.
I've used Studio Calico paper, wooden heart and mists. Cosmo Cricket flowers and butterflies along with Sassfras and Basicgrey alphas.


And the sketch I used was from Sketchy Thursdays : )
Fab eh?!!


Lots of DT inspiration this week for the fun sketch and we are sponsored this week by Burlap & Buttercups who have kindly offered their Sept Kit as a prize for one lucky winner.
If you want to play along, please visit us here to link up.

Sketchy Thursdays has a DT call right now.
I love this team.
One of the friendliest teams you'll ever find. Promise.
See here for more details.

And the October Guest Designer Challenge is still up until Sept 17th.
Click here to enter.

My crazy week is still continuing.
I attended a wedding event at a local hotel yesterday. I forgot how much they make your feet ache.
But my table looked pretty. I can't find the camera right now so will show you another time.
I now need to sort my stuff out. I left all the boxes in the car last night and I have 2 wedding magazine deadlines to work to now.
I'm so tired : )
Thanks for stopping by.
Hope you've had a good week xxx

Fancy This???

Today I'm over at Fancy Pants with this gardening gift.
I have step by step instructions on how I made this using the new Fancy Pants line 'Saint Nick'.
You can view it here.



See you soon : )

The Weekend

I hope you are having a good weekend.
I had hoped for a slightly more relaxed one but it feels like I haven't stopped.

I have finished this LO over the weekend though inspired by the My Minds Eye sketch on their blog here. Circles and journaling strips are on the sketch, so I had to use it. My favourite things right now : )
And here's my LO.
(click to enlarge)



I love these Lime Twist papers from MME.
Orange and green is a fave combo of mine.
I've teamed them up with a MME Jornal tag, sticker and some twine too.
All these bits and pieces can be bought from Papermaze.


I have so much on this week, my tummy is already tied in knots.
Work is busy, plus I have in total 4 magazine deadlines. Work being collected tomorrow, a wedding fair to attend on Thursday and I have nothing prepared. Plus I have 2 school meetings, our dentist appointments and Hollie's opticans on Tuesday.
I don't like that feeling from rushing from one thing to the next and somethings overlapping.
The menu is prepared for the week, thank goodness for the crockpot.
And Hollie and I have been baking lots today so lunchboxes are organised.
It's all about the organisation, isn't it?!! Lots of lists this week.

Thanks for stopping by.
Hugs xxx

Up for a Challenge????

Cocoa Daisy is celebrating a year with Christine this month and 5 whole years as a kit club this month. So we have lots going on to celebrate.

Cocoa Daisy is now on Twitter. You can follow us here.

We are now also on Facebook here.

Ronda put a beautiful sketch together this month here for this months sketch/scraplift contest.
I love her sketches.
Here's my page.


I've used bits from our older kits along with some Fancy Pants 'Baby Mine' and a new 'Saint Nick' doilee.


And a couple of older stamps. With scrunched and painted tissue paper. Love that texture.



My second weekly challenge this month is to scrap any kind of celebration.
You can play along here to win a $10 voucher to spend in the online store.
I have chosen Hollie's 12th birthday.



She wanted to make her own cake this year. I left her to it and she made this red velvet cake.
Have I mentioned that she wants to be a desert chef when she's older?


And I used the summer 'Cherry Soda' kit on this page.
So many fun bits and pieces. I love those Lilybee stickers.

It's Friday already.
It feels like it's been a long week.
Seems strange to think that Dad was here at the beginning of the week. Seems so long ago now.
Everything is back to normal.
School routine, work, house organised and eating. We do tend to eat takeways and eat out alot when Dad's over. He misses the English breakfasts, fish and chips, kebabs and we also have lots of other treats. Can you believe I've shed 6lb since the beginning of the week??? I was rather chuffed when I got on the scales this morning. I happended to weigh myself on Monday when he was weighing he checkin bag and was shocked. But I've lost all I put on and a lb extra too. Just by eating how I would usually eat. No crap!! Good homemade grub : )

I got lots of scrapping done yesterday and need to finish some more now too.
I have quite a few things up my sleeve right now which for the time being need to remain there. But I can't wait to tell more soon.

We plan to take the kids swimming after school today and finish at the healthclub after for the £2 special burger and fries in the bar : )

Enjoy your Friday xxx

My Art Journal

As I mentioned yesterday, this week at Lessology we are altering books.
We have come up with many different ideas between us.
Today is my day along with Amy.
Here's what I've made.

An art journal.
This art journal has a little story which you can read about here.
And see more piccies too.






Thank you for all the sweet messages this week.
Life is getting back to normal again.
A serious scrap day is in need today. I have so much to do.

Thanks for stopping by. Have a lovely day. xxx

Altered Book Challenge

So the altered book challenge continues over at Lessology this week.



Take a look here at Angi's and Julie's today.
And feel free to play along yourself.

My turn tomorrow to see what I did with my book.
Here's a sneak for now : )



And for the US girls, have you seen the Fancy Pants challenge?
Take a look here.

Have a lovely day xxx

My Girl

Hi,

This month we are celebrating 5 years at Cocoa Daisy.
To add to the celebrations we are having 2 weekly challenges throughout September.

Here's the first:

Gimme 5!!

This first celebratory challenge is all about the number 5.

To play along please create a LO with at least 5 layers, with at least 5 different patterned papers and 5 of something on your page.


I've used papers from the last 2 Cocoa Daisy Kits. All pretty Basicgrey papers.


I took this photo of Hollie last week.
We were having some attitude issues with her towards the end of the school year and I'm so thankful to say that she's been an absolute gem all summer long.


I made these 5 flowers by cutting the circles out the Basicgrey pp, crumpling and attaching with a pretty bg brad.

If you want to join in, play along here.
There's a lovely Crafters Workshop template up for grabs.

The first Lessology challenge is now now live here.
Go and take a look and see what Audrey, Kirsty and Yvonne have made.
I love what they've done : )

My Dad went back to the states today, so I'm feeling really tearful and sad.
We've been doing this since I was 18 and I still can't get used to it. I swear it gets harder each year.
I'll be back tomorrow with a happy face.
Lots of love xxx

Printers Drawer Part 2

Hiya,

More from this months new Cocoa Daisy kit today.



I really do love this kit!!


And a frame I picked up.
The flowers are from Basicgrey papers in the kit and I've stitched the flower stem.

And lastly today, this LO got picked in the Sassafras top 10. See here.
How happy am I???!!! : )



Another busy few days after today. Spending it with all teh family until Dad goes back : (

Have a lovely weekend xxx