Art Journal Project Kit

There's lots going on at Cocoa Daisy right now.
It's definitely the place to be.

Have you seen the Art Journal Project Kit Sneak?

  Cocoa Daisy is teaming up with Julie Fei-Fan Balzer’s for a December Art Journal Kit.
There's so much interest so far that pre-orders have begun.
Take a look at this link here for more details.

The October Reveal takes place at Cocoa Daisy tonight. 9PM EST. Sleepy time for us European girls though. I've started some pre-reveal chat on the CD boards here though so we can join in a little too.
The addons have been selling out so fast lately so Christine has increased the amount for October.
As well as the addons tonight (for the subbers) there will also be the Halloween Project Kit for sale.
'Bag of Bones'

So don't miss out at Cocoa Daisy this month.

xxx

A Sketch, Some LO's and some Chat

Good Morning.
I'm cozy in joggers and mousie slippers today with a latte in hand.
The kids got a lift to school. So all is good : )
It feels very calm.

I thought I'd share some Scrap365 stuff today.
I met Katy, the editor from Scrap365 and Craft Stamper at the weekend with Paula who works alongside her. Such lovely ladies. It was so good to finally meet after working on Scrap365 for a year now, since it started.
I was able to pass over a whole box of creations for upcoming features and I also received a huge box of work that has been published this past year. It felt like Christmas : )
I'll share a couple of older pieces at the end of this post.

Have you seen the October Sketch on Scrap365?

    The challenge runs until 19th October. You can see the challenge and play along here.
The latest issue is also out for sale right now. I have to confess that although I have flicked through, I haven't had a proper read. I thought I'd save it for my flight in a couple of weeks.

A couple of oldies.
Don't brick walls make the best background?? I just love that contrast.
This was taken during a really long walk st Virginia Waters. It would've been fun but Louis was dying for a #2 and there were no loos anywhere near. It's always Louis!!!! 

This LO was from the Crafter Stamper. I used the brick wall stamp in some moulding paste but dabbed some ink on the stamp before using it.

 And then this one was all about using a large photo.
We have so many beautiful photos of the kids on Charmouth Beach. Having gone there for the past 4 Easters, we have quite a collection. It was really nice to use a big photo for a change.
I love the colours, textures and the lighting when photographing on the beach. Some of my favourite photos have been taken here.

Today, I plan to get lots of work done.I have some work that I can do in front of the tv so I might just pop on a movie.
I'm also working on my Cocoa Daisy crop LO's. I did one last night and have lots of ideas for the next.
I also need to find a recipe for sweet and sour pork in the crock pot. I have some pork steaks for tea tonight and fancy sticking them in the crock and forgetting about them until tonight.
Think I'll take a visit over to pinterest now.
And Ade's just reminded me that my new printer is due to be delivered today. Yay!!
Typical my 3-in-1 jobbie packed in just shortly after the 3yr warranty. Something about the inktray needing replacing but it costs almost as much as a new printer. 

Have a lovely day. I hope you have some nice things planned xxx

More Cocoa Daisy Sneaks..

 ..For you today 

I got some serious scrap on yesterday.
Having Steph over really inspired me and I ended up making loads
My Cocoa Daisy October gallery is now ready to upload ready for the kit reveal on Friday 28th.

I really love this kit. I only actually got the 1 addon this month as we are going away. I knew I wouldn't have as much time to play as usual. But I still have so much left and so many more ideas.

And yet again, I love the stamps this month.

So pencil in your diaries. Cocoa Daisy Reveal night 9pm EST here.

I will be kick starting some chat earlier on for all us international scrappers.

xxx

 

4 Facts About Me

Hello.
I have a LO to share today.
This is the page that I designed for my class at the Paper Arts retreat on Saturday. I wanted to make a LO with the class covering a subject that most scrappers scrap least about. OURSELVES. I thought it would be fun to document some fun facts about ourselves.
So using some of the My Minds Eye - Nostalgia collection we made this.

We did a touch of misting, lots of layering and we journaled our 4 facts on to the matching journal cards and slotted them under the photo.

I love these colours and papers.

Today I'm having an arty day with my friend Steph.
She's currently painting wooden blocks and I'm about to start designing some LO's for Papermaze.

I love making!!

Hope you are having a fun day too xxx

Summers End Paperbag Mini Book

Good Morning and how are you?

It's raining hard and is cold and grey. Feels rather wintery.

I was away teaching this weekend.
I thought I'd share the paper bag mini book that I taught Saturday morning.
I love these paper bag minis. They are so fun to make and don't take too much time either.

We used the Fancy Pants, Summers End Collection.
The 6x6 pads are so perfect for mini books. We used a pack of journal embellishments and the matching sticker sheet to decorate throughout.
 

We added a fold out flap to the book to add extra photos.

The pages are made using the 6x6 papers and then stuck back to back.
As everyone had so much freedom to decorate their books it was lovely to see so many variations.

We also created a vellum pocket on one of the pages.

And here's the back of the book.

It was a really fun class with a great bunch of ladies.
I enjoyed it so much : )

I have a tonne of things to catch up on today.
It's lovely going away but there's so much to do when you get back.
See you soon xxx

A Little Quality Time

''A Little Quality Time''

That line just makes me think of The Grinch. I love that film and can quite happily watch it any time of the year. Makes me feel all 'Orlando'. 3 weeks to go!!!!

I chose to do a scraplift from the Cocoa Daisy gallery recently and I picked the lovely Crystal's.
She has such a sweet style and scraps so lovingly about her kiddies. You can see her LO plus some beauties that I spotted on the Cocoa Daisy blog here.  Crystal's blog is also worth a visit. It's fun, bright and a happy place to stop by.

I scrapped 2 photos just like Crystal. I picked some photos from when our niece Millie stayed last summer. Considering how little our two have to do with little ones they are so good with Millie. Both just adore her and love spending time with her. I love watching them together.
 

I used some paper from the August Cocoa Daisy kit and then teamed it up with bit from the Sept Kit.
I love the Echo Park. I added some Cosmo Cricket mini alphas, a Crafters Workshop Sunburst Stencil (my fave right now) and the star stamp is from a set from MME.
This LO feels rather summery.

I'm heading for Swindon first thing in the morning, around 7.30am.
I'm teaching 2 classes at the Paper Arts retreat. A Mini Book and a LO.
Should be lots of fun : )

I hope you have a lovely weekend xxx

Cocoa Daisy October Sneaks

I have to say, the new October Cocoa Daisy Kit arrived this week and it's totally 

I've been happily cutting and sticking away, so I thought I'd share few little sneaks with you before the reveal on the 28th.

It's full of beautiful colours and a touch of Autumn (Fall).

I just want to make, make, make.

I also wanted to share this with you today.
Alissa has set a new challenge over at CD this week. It's all about 'Lists'.
I am such a list person. I need and live by my lists. Even if you don't fancy joining in with the challenge I found the post really inspirational and recommend a look.
It's sparked an idea off for a new mini book for me : )

I'm being brave today.
I'm letting the kids walk home from school together for the first time.
I worry that
1. Hollie will forget Louis.
She's supposed to meet him in the playground.
2. He will be silly on the way home.
3. The one road they need to cross.

They both have strict instructions covering every eventuality, but I guess it's only natural to feel nervous.

I hope you are having fun today.
Lots of love xxx
 

A Special Moment

Hello.
The classes went really well at the weekend.
I think the Scrapbooking Club in the 'Make me it Said' store in Basingstoke is going to be lots of fun.
A couple of the ladies had attended my Mini Book Class there before the summer. It was a really friendly, chatty group with all levels of scrapbooking.

Our next class in this store is on Sunday 7th October.
We will be scrapping about 'a special moment'.


We will play with paints, stamps and work with layers.




If you are local to Basingstoke and would like to come a join in, please see further details here.

Thanks for stopping by today.xxx

Cocoa Daisy Sneaks - Aspen Grove

Fancy a peek at what is coming to Cocoa Daisy at the end of this month?


And the Addons.....






You can read more about the kit here.
I just love those colours. So perfect for this time of year.
The full reveal will be on Sept 28th and the addons will go on sale to the subbers on this date.
The kit and addons will then go on sale to everyone else on the 1st October here.

We will also have a Halloween project kit this month.
Bag of Bones



There will be a limited amount available and it will go on sale the same times at the Aspen Grove Kit.

Cool eh?!!
: )

Her First Flowers

Hello : )
And a happy weekend to you. I hope you are relaxing and having fun.

I have a LO to share with you today. I took some photos of Hollie's first bunch of flowers back in July. My Mum had them sent to her on her 13th birthday. With Mum being a florist, she wanted to be the one to give Hollie her first bunch of flowers.





I made this LO as a sample for this months 'Just for Fun' Cocoa Daisy challenge.
It's where we use this months new kit with the leftovers from last months.
If you have the kits. come along and join in here.

I had a really busy day yesterday. I taught in Basingstoke in the morning and Fleet in the afternoon. It was really fun, but I was sooo tired at the end of the day. I've only just unpacked everything now.
We've had a lazy day today.
Some Florida planning in bed this morning with lattes. Adding some bits to our lists to take.
And I found a cool restaurant at Universal, Orlando. Margaritaville
One of these places where there is lots going on inside. Looks so fun. We seriously have so many places we want to eat though.
Hollie was in charge of movie time today and picked Beauty and the Beast. Louis said it was child abuse. He bought he his lego and watched it though : )
I haven't watched the movie for so long and loved it.
I did some holiday ironing and folding whilst it was on.
Why doesn't holiday ironing feel so bad???
We have alot of our clothes in piles in the spare room now ready. With the weather cooling down this week I'm washing/ironing it and putting it out ready to pack.

We now have a roast dinner on and it smells so good.
I love Sundays like these : )

Hope you are loving yours too xxx

Into Perspective

I've been feeling so sad today after reading the news about Kimmy S : (
Such a lovely lady.
Kimmy gave me my first DT spot back in 2008. I was so so excited to have been noticed and picked. She was always so supportive and encouraging. I loved her fun blogposts and creations. Always full of energy.

A fundraising page has been set up in memory of Kimmy if you wish to donate.

http://www.justgiving.com/kimmy-sonksen

This really puts things in to perspective doesn't it?!!
We really should live life to the max everyday.
You just never know.

Big big hugs to all my lovely friends and my thoughts are with Kim's family xxx

Scrapbboking Club - Basingstoke

This Saturday sees the start of the new Scrapbooking Club in Chineham, Basingstoke at the 'Make me it Said' store.
Each month we will have a new theme. This month is 'Fun'
Read here for full details.


We will start by making this layout and you can then stay for the rest of the day and work on your own crafty projects in the sweets store : )



I have friends coming for dinner tonight.
I'm making my own red thai curry with phad thai and thai rice. I'm also making apple cheesecake crumble.
Yummy!!!

I must go and make the base of the cheese cake. I'm rather behind.
See you soon xx

December Art Journaling

Have you seen this???




Cocoa Daisy have teamed up the Julie Fei-Fan Balzer and come up with a fab December Project Kit called “Art Journal Everyday: December”

For more details take a look here.

I've been a bad blogger this week.
I haven't had much scrap time at all. With the kids back at school I've been catching up with work. We are going to Orlando in just over 4 weeks for almost 3 weeks so I need to get organised. The trips feels very organised. Everything else, not so : )
But I have 2 scrapbooking classes this Saturday local to me, so I'm looking forward to the weekend.
Louis is away this week with school on an activity trip down in Weymouth. The house is so quiet. Painfully quiet. I am tackling Hollie's room later with her. Her messiness drives me beyond crazy. It was last done just 2 weeks ago and looks like it did before. So messy, dirty clothes everywhere all mixed up with clean clothes, bed unmade even though I asked her 3 times before school today to make it : (
I hate messy rooms.
Wish me luck : )

Thanks for stopping by and sorry for the lack of creating. xxx

Somethings ....

....just can't be bought.

Like my friendship with my sister.
There's not a day that doesn't go by when I don't feel lucky to have her.

I was printing off some photos yesterday of our time together this summer and this photo instantly made me pull out my Cocoa Daisy Kit.



And I made this.
I used some of the papers from the paper addon along with some Basic Grey Sticker from the 'His' addon.


And a couple of Crafters Workshop Stencils and Maya Mists.


And because I love her so much I've just made this for her.


It will look very pretty in her house.
Funny, just whilst I'm blogging this at 10.30pm she just called. Six sense??


I love the October Afternoon butterfly paper from the paper addon.
Love those colours.


Better dash. I'm blogging and chatting on the phone at the same time : )
Lots of love xxx